The spring water in Hangou is as green as oil, and the spring breeze lingers everywhere. The twenty-four bridges have their flutes resting, and the bright moon still shines over Yangzhou.
It ensures that the lake is connected to Hangou. Under the setting sun, the lake is also a lush green.
Zhang Shicheng sat in the private room directly to the north, facing the window and looking at the wooden platform below.
I saw a group of people busy decorating the stage below.
At this moment, there was a "squeak" sound, and a man wearing a green robe and a high crown opened the door and walked in with a smile.
"Isn't King Chu here yet?" The person who came was none other than Zhao Junyong.
Zhang Shicheng turned to look at him and frowned suddenly.
"Why are you here?"
Zhao Junyong walked to sit opposite him and hummed: "The King of Chu invited me here. Besides, I came here just for Miss Ge. How could I miss this kind of elegant gathering?"
Zhang Shicheng sneered and said: "No matter how bad you are, you will not put yourself in danger because of a dancing girl. It was Liu Futong who asked you to come!"
Zhao Junyong's face darkened and he said: "Zhang Shicheng, you and I are both leaders of the rebel army. Please be polite to me!"
Zhang Shicheng chuckled and said: "This is the first time I have seen a leader of the rebel army who makes a dog out of someone else."
Zhao Junyong said sharply: "What did you say?"
The two attendants outside the door heard the movement in the house, broke the door and rushed in at the same time. Seeing that the two men did not take action, they both looked at their master, waiting for instructions.
Zhang Shicheng did not look at the guards who entered the door and continued: "Just because Liu Futong gave an order, he went to Bianliang to kowtow to plead guilty. How can he claim to be the leader of a party?"
Zhao Jun stared at Zhang Shicheng and suddenly burst into laughter.
Zhang Shicheng said coldly: "What's so funny? Did I say something wrong?"
Zhao Jun narrowed his eyes and said: "No matter how bad Liu Futong is, he is still a Han. It's okay for me to be a dog for him. It's better than someone being a dog for the Tatars!"
This time it was Zhang Shicheng's turn to change his expression.
"Zhao, don't think that I won't dare to kill you in Jiangdu!"
Zhao Jun responded tit for tat: "Come on, I'm afraid you won't be a good man!"
Just at this tense moment, a voice sounded outside the door.
"Who wants to kill people in Jiangdu?"
They both turned their heads at the same time and saw Zhang Yangquan and Zhu Yuanzhang walking in together.
After Zhang Yangquan entered the house, four guards walked to the four corners and stood there. Yang Sanqiang led the other guards to close the door, and the other three guards were blocked outside the door.
This is the territory of Jiangdu Prefecture. This arrangement is very reasonable and the other three people have no objections.
Zhao Junyong smiled at Zhang Yangquan and said: "King Chu is here just in time. Our King Cheng is used to running rampant in Gaoyou Mansion. He doesn't even look at where this place is and dares to be as arrogant as he likes!"
Zhang Yangquan did not look at him. He slowly walked up to Zhang Shicheng and said with a smile: "We haven't seen you for many years. King Cheng's demeanor is even better than before!"
Zhang Shicheng chuckled and said, "The last time I met you, I was still in Gaoyou. Two years have passed in the blink of an eye. This time, it's your turn to be the host!"
Zhang Yangquan sighed: "Yes, it's been two years in the blink of an eye!"
When Zhao Junyong saw Zhang Yangquan, he acted as if he didn't exist. His face was gloomy and his eyes turned to Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Zhu Shuai has been making great progress in Jiangnan recently. He beat Tian Wanjun to the point where he cried for his father and mother. My brother admires him. Come on, please take a seat."
The four of them are all well-known people, so naturally they are not just sitting there.
The private room is a square table. When Zhao Jun used it, Zhang Shicheng was already sitting in the east seat, facing east and west. This is the second most honored position.
No matter how arrogant Zhao Junyong is, he still knows that this is the territory of Jiangdu Army, and the seat of honor in the north is naturally Zhang Yangquan's seat.
So he grabbed the west position and left the south position to Zhu Yuanzhang.
As a result, Zhu Yuanzhang was sitting in the last seat facing south and facing north. Moreover, during the dance duel later, the other three people could see him directly, but he had to turn his head to see.
Zhu Yuanzhang slowly walked to the south seat and sat down, and said calmly: "No, no, compared with King Yongyi's subordinate Mao Gui, it's just a small fight!"
As soon as these words came out, Zhao Junyong's face suddenly turned the color of pig liver.
What he hates most now is people mentioning money in front of him. One of his short-sighted subordinates died of exposure just because he mentioned it once in front of him.
However, the three of them were all people he couldn't touch at the moment. No matter how angry he was, he had nothing to do. He could only say harshly: "He's just lucky!"
Zhang Shicheng sneered and said: "You are indeed lucky. If I stay under your command all my life, I will be unlucky for eight lifetimes!"
Zhao Junyong smiled and said: "At least my subordinates can cultivate talents like Mao Gui, but there are no famous generals under King Cheng!"
After a pause, he added: "No, there is still one, but it's a pity that people don't like you and switched to Jiangdu Army!"
Zhang Shicheng was furious, knowing that he was deliberately provoking, but thinking of Bian Yuanheng, he felt a little uncomfortable and couldn't help but glance at Zhang Yangquan.
Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly said: "Bian Yuanheng turned to the Jiangdu Army for family reasons. It is known to the whole world. No matter who mentions this matter, they can't help praising King Cheng's magnanimity. Mr. Zhu also admires King Cheng's broadmindedness!"
Zhang Yangquan's heart moved.
Zhu Yuanzhang's words clearly meant to resolve the dispute between Zhang Shicheng and himself. He was so pleased with himself that it seemed as if he wanted to surrender to him.
Of course, Zhang Yangquan knew that Zhu Yuanzhang would never surrender to him easily, so there must be another plan behind this.
Zhao Junyong's face darkened, he stared at Zhu Yuanzhang and said: "Zhu Tongqian, I'd like to toast you a glass!" He poured a glass of wine, raised his glass and extended it to Zhu Yuanzhang.
He called Zhu Yuanzhang Tongqian, which was obviously to remind Zhu Yuanzhang that he was now a general of Han and Song Dynasty, so he should not get his position wrong.
Zhang Yangquan suddenly understood Zhao Jun’s purpose in using Jiangdu Mansion.
It turns out that Liu Futong sent him here to warn Zhu Yuanzhang not to take refuge in him!
Zhu Yuanzhang raised his glass and said: "Thank you so much, King Yongyi!"
Zhang Yangquan’s eyes flashed again.
Zhu Yuanzhang called Zhao Jun as King Yongyi, but did not call him the Taiwei who was canonized by Han and Song Dynasties, which obviously showed that he did not care about the officials canonized by Han and Song Dynasties.
This expressed his unwillingness to be controlled by Liu Futong and his intention to break away from Han and Song Dynasties.
Zhu Yuanzhang said this in public, almost cutting off his own retreat.
You know, if this sentence reaches Liu Futong's ears, he will never forgive Zhu Yuanzhang.
Moreover, the Northern Army is going through the Northern Expedition with great momentum. As long as Liu Futong takes action, he will probably find an opportunity to attack him.
Zhu Yuanzhang is so decisive that anyone with a discerning eye will know that he is looking for another backer. Needless to say, that backer must be Jiangdu Army.
Zhao Junyong obviously thought of this, and his expression became extremely gloomy. After drinking the glass of wine, he looked at the stage below and stopped talking.
Zhang Yangquan held the wine glass and fell into deep thought.
At this moment, Yang Sanqiang's voice suddenly sounded outside the door.
"Your Majesty, Ge Xiao'e sent someone to ask for an audience."
Zhang Yangquan said: "Come in."
The door was pushed open, and a maid came in, bowed to the four of them, and said softly: "My girl, please come into the cabin to have a chat with His Majesty the King of Chu!"
Zhao Junyong's expression changed instantly.
He had asked to see Ge Xiao'e before he came here, but was turned away. Now Ge Xiao'e took the initiative to invite Zhang Yangquan. How could he not be angry?
Zhang Yangquan said calmly: "I am accompanying an honored guest and don't have time to see her. If she wants to see me, let her come by herself!"
The maid's face turned pale, she bowed and left.
Zhao Junyong secretly sneered and said: "A mere dancer really thinks of herself as a figure. Come on, let's drink and don't worry about her."
Zhang Shicheng sneered and said: "Why did I just hear someone say that I came here just for this dancer? Wouldn't that mean that I am willing to be humble?"
Zhao Jun glared at him fiercely, drank alone, and did not argue with him again.
At this moment, the painting boat suddenly changed direction and sailed towards Nie Hongniang's painting boat.
The two painted boats slowly approached. The sailors on the boats each threw ropes and wooden sticks to connect the two boats and sailed side by side.
The chatter below was getting louder and louder, and the spectators who were waiting on the lower floor all went up to the top.
With the platform as the center, form an outer circle.
The sailors held colorful lights and fixed them around the stage. In the blink of an eye, the stage was illuminated as brightly as day.
On such a quiet night, two painted boats are running side by side on the lake. The lake breeze is gentle, the colorful lanterns are shining brightly, and the beautiful lady is about to dance.
This is the first time Zhang Yangquan has experienced this kind of romance since he conquered Jiangdu Prefecture.
Looking around, I saw the visitors below were all in high spirits and immersed in this atmosphere.
Turning around to look, Zhao Jun's eyes were shining with strange light, and even Zhang Shicheng's lips couldn't help but raise, obviously enjoying this scene.
When his eyes turned to Zhu Yuanzhang, he happened to meet Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.
Zhu Yuanzhang reacted quickly and said with a smile: "This is the first time I have seen such a grand event. It is really eye-opening!"
Zhao Junyong glanced at him sideways and said secretly: "You are just a nouveau riche, how do you know how to enjoy it like this?"