Under Ji Ling's guidance, the group of people drove slowly into the city.
Among the seven heroes of the Warring States Period, the state of Chu respected the east. This can be seen from the fact that the highest god in "Nine Songs of Chu" is "Donghuang Taiyi".
As the old capital of Chu State, the layout of the city of Shouchun is naturally centered on the east, with the siege in the northeast and the main urban area in the southeast. After passing through more than a dozen clear streets and alleys, it then bypasses the outer city.
After surrounding the city wall, Wang Zheng finally arrived at the palace located in the northeast corner.
Destroyed by hundreds of years of wind and rain, the dilapidated palace was extensively renovated after Yuan Shu took over, but it has formed the frame of the past and the wall of the new dynasty, and has regained some of its former glory.
After entering the palace, after passing several palace gates, a great avenue suddenly came into view. It was infinitely long and ten feet wide. Wang Zheng couldn't help but be secretly speechless.
The area was just that, mainly because he glanced briefly and saw that the road was paved with yellow bricks one foot square, as smooth as a mirror, and spotless. After asking Ji Ling on the side, he knew that this was paving a road.
At that time, the floating soil was compacted very solidly, and then grouted with high-quality glutinous rice, so that it could be as smooth as possible.
Yangzhou is indeed a fertile land.
Wang Zheng secretly complained that it was so extravagant to allow the Skeleton King to build a road.
According to Ji Ling, in the past, apart from Zhou Mu, only a few of his relatives and descendants were able to ride horses on this road in the past. Today, it was because of Wang Zheng's honor that they rode on it for the first time.
While chatting and walking forward, Wang Zheng looked around and saw on both sides of the road, every five steps there were soldiers holding halberds, standing like rocks. Looking at the size alone, they were not inferior to his own Tianzhu camp. They were obviously both.
They are the elites selected from a thousand.
Yang Hong, who was at the front, had already taken care of everything. When he saw Ji Ling and Wang Zheng arriving, the guard guarding the gate immediately opened the door to let him go. After walking through the avenue, the palace was already a forbidden area behind, but the Heavenly Army soldiers could no longer accompany him in.
Instructing them to stay outside the palace, Wang Zheng and Ji Ling continued to move forward. Along the way, there were green grass, Yao flowers, pavilions and pavilions, all filled with the aura of wealth and nobility.
After crossing a wooden bridge that leads to the Hu Pavilion, we walked another mile or two and finally came to a main hall.
Looking up, he saw a plaque hanging on the palace door. The dragon-flying and phoenix-like seal script made it harder for Wang Zheng to recognize it. At this moment, Ji Ling stopped, leaned closer and whispered: "My lord will be waiting for the general at Zhanghua Palace."
After saying that, he said to the guards outside the palace: "The governor of Xuzhou, Wang Zheng, has arrived. Please spread the word quickly."
Oh, these two characters are Zhang Hua?
Although he is a pure country bumpkin in this life, Wang Zheng in his previous life also visited the Forbidden City. Although the palace is magnificent, it does not make him feel overwhelmed and timid. In terms of gains, Wang Zheng looked at it carefully along the way.
I had already seen many signs of renovation, and I couldn't help but have a general understanding of Yuan Shu's personality.
To put it nicely, it means paying attention to pomp and etiquette; to put it worst, it means being indulging in pleasure.
Soon, a well-dressed person came out to send a message: "The state pastor is here to invite you."
Damn, there are even eunuchs?
After secretly complaining, Wang Zheng nodded with a smile, then nodded to Ji Ling and walked towards the palace.
He was not worried about handing over the divine sword to Yuan Shu. He had guessed that there would be a request to remove the weapon before entering the palace, and had already handed over the victory to his own soldiers in advance.
.....
Wang Zheng had just walked in, and when he took a quick look, he saw that there were already many people in the hall. There were forty seats on each side of the east and west sides, all facing the large square-like space in the center of the hall. The seats were divided into two rows, front and back, and of course the front seats.
He is the so-called noble minister, and the back seat is composed of family members and particularly distinguished samurai generals.
Facing the palace gate to the north is naturally the king's seat. The middle-aged man lying reclining at this time must be Yuan Shu.
This prince, who was born in the Yuan family of Runan, has a very good appearance. He has a handsome face, sharp eyes, a broad forehead, and a dignified appearance. However, he is a little thin, his lips are not thick enough, and his face is a little too pale with alcohol.
The Han Dynasty respected the elders and the younger. The other party was older than him in terms of power and age. Wang Zheng would not trust him, so he stepped forward and bowed slightly to show that he was his subordinate. Then he said loudly: "Junior Wang Zheng, I have seen Yangzhou Mu."
Hearing this young and unfamiliar voice, many people at the table turned their heads and glanced at Wang Zheng, looking up and down.
Seeing that Wang Zheng's figure and appearance were far superior to those of ordinary people, Yuan Shu's eyes lit up and he laughed loudly and said: "Is this the king of Qingzhou who is under your feet?"
"Since you and I are allies, we don't have to be so formal."
"Prince Governor, can you take a few steps forward?"
Wang Zheng didn't understand what he meant, but judging from Yuan Shu's title and his very intimate tone, it was hard for him to say anything, so he nodded and walked straight away.
At this time, Yuan Shu also sat up straight, looked at Wang Zheng carefully for a while, and praised him: "You are really a brave and outstanding young man."
"It's no wonder that after our visit to Linzi that day, Yan Xiang often praised me here. He even commented that he was 'brave and mighty'. He is a great good man. He is a great good man."
"When you see the imperial bandit, you know that you will be feared in the future." At this point, Yuan Shu sighed and said, "I will realize that the sun and the moon are running fast, and the old general is here!"
His voice is soft and melodious, gentle and gentle, and his tone is gentle. Although he is full of praises after just meeting him, and he even directly addresses Wang Zheng with words, there is nothing abrupt about him. Instead, it makes people feel like a spring breeze.
"The state's animal husbandry is at its peak in the Spring and Autumn Period, which is the time to achieve great achievements." Wang Zhengyi said a few words, and then said: "Zheng Zheng came west to meet the venerable man. Xuzhou is full of waste and waiting for prosperity. There is really nothing that can be done. Okay.
There is a county in Xinde in Qianfan, which is rich in ginseng, and Wangzhou Mu Xiaona.
"
"You are a young man with so many etiquettes." Yuan Shu chuckled, took the gift list from him, looked at it twice, and said: "Taishan ginseng is a good thing, oh, and there are white pear... this is
The specialty of Feng County in Xuzhou is valued as a tribute and is famous all over the world. I once tasted it when I was a general in the middle, and I still think about it..." He handed it to the eunuch who had delivered the message before, took Wang Zheng's hand, and said with a smile: "
Yu Kou knows my heart well.
"This feast is just what I want."
He waved everyone over and introduced them one by one.
At this time, Yuan Shu was at his peak, and his men were very civilized and martial. However, Wang Zheng was polite on the surface, but his eyes were constantly looking around the palace. Whenever he saw a person, he looked at their appearance first without hearing their names, and he looked like he was judging people by their appearance.
It's just that he never heard the name he was looking forward to so much, which made him feel very resentful.
Damn, they are all nobody.
Where is my brother Gongjin!
Although Yuan Shu didn't notice anything strange about him, many civil and military officials noticed Wang Zheng's perfunctory behavior. They thought it was because this son had become famous at a young age and was arrogant, so he didn't take them seriously.
I cursed Zhu Zi endlessly in my heart.
"There are so many talents under Zhou Mu's tent." Seeing that Yuan Shu had finished introducing him, Wang Zheng finally couldn't hold back and asked, "Um, are they all... here?"
"Except Bo Fu who is busy with military affairs, he is not in Shouchun at this time." Yuan Shu said with a smile: "All the talents under my command are gathered here."
"Why, Yu Kou." Finally realizing that Wang Zheng was a little disappointed, Yuan Shu joked: "Is it possible that I fell in love with Bo Fu at first sight and didn't know him anymore, so I feel disappointed?"
"Haha, it doesn't matter. Since you are in Yangzhou, you will see her sooner or later."
Who wants to see that pen stuffer?
Wang Zheng laughed twice, but from the current point of view, Yuan Shu still praised him very much. If you respect me for eating, I will naturally respect you. The so-called beating of a dog depends on the owner. He also praised Sun Ce in return: "
Brother Bo Fu is a real young talent, and he is not as good as him in politics."
"However, without the talent of Zhou Mu, such talents are like pure gold hidden in the gravel, unable to shine."
While they were talking, countless beautiful maids shuttled inside and outside the palace like butterflies, and jars of fine wine were brought to them.
Guhu
Then the singers, dancers, and musicians were ushered in by the eunuch. They bowed to Yuan Shu first, and then retreated to a corner to pluck the strings and tune the music. For a moment, the silk strings were in their ears, their skirts were swirling and dancing, and their eyes were filled with beauty like smoke.
After the banquet was set, Yuan Shu took Wang Zheng's hand and asked him to sit beside him. He smiled at everyone and said, "Everyone, please invite yourselves to the table."
The palace was large, but even when hundreds of people gathered together, it still seemed a bit empty. The seats were placed closer to the front, and there was a large area of space above the entrance to the palace. The singers and dancers all moved there under the instructions of the internal officials.
Yuan Shu said to Wang Zheng, "I don't know, it's just a coincidence that you are here today. All of you here are old brothers who have been fighting for me for many years. I originally wanted to get together today, so let's just get together. We are all our own people, so there is no need to be polite."
He first brought a glass of wine, took a sip, and said, "Everyone, please drink up!"
"Thank you, Lord!"
"Today's family banquet is all yours." Pointing to Wang Zheng, Yuan Shu smiled and said, "But you must greet my nephew, an ally of our army."
Everyone laughed, Yuan Shu said: "Yu Kou, since you have military skills, you must get close to these warriors."
When they were introduced just now, there were a lot of official titles and names, but Wang Zheng could not remember many of them. Hearing this, he quickly smiled and said: "There are like clouds of tigers and generals under the state pastoral tent, and Zheng has been like thunder for a long time. It is really a blessing to see him today."
Yuan Shu smiled and said: "It is better to have wine than to be lucky!"
Everyone laughed loudly and said one after another: "The governor of the state is right. The governor, Wang, please drink three cups first before talking."
At this time, a Qiu-bearded military general stood up and shouted: "Three cups and two cups are nothing. These small cups can't wet the root of the tongue, and they are really not refreshing enough. Why not change to a larger bowl, Zhou Mu, what do you think?"
Yuan Shu chuckled and said nothing. Wang Zheng, on the other hand, sneered.
He is the leader of a force, and he is the first to enter another family's territory. He should not drink alcohol based on emotion or reason, let alone drink too much.
This reckless man's suggestion was unsettling and well-intentioned, and he clearly wanted to make a fool of himself.
It's a pity... Glancing at the transparent box, Wang Zheng sneered secretly. His current strength is as high as 48 points, and his physique is far beyond that of ordinary people. Speaking of which, it shouldn't be too difficult to get him drunk.
Although Wang Zheng was confident, Wang Zheng refused repeatedly and deliberately showed panic. As expected, the general fell into the trap, and his shouts became louder and louder.
"President Wang, I heard that you started the war with your bare hands and built a fortune. I thought you were a heroic husband, but why are you acting like a sissy!"
Whether I am a husband or not, just ask your wife to try it and you will know!
Wang Zheng cursed secretly and continued to refuse. The general immediately became anxious and actually asked someone to change the bowl and put some cases in his hands. Even Wang Zheng was shocked.
Good guy, are you trying to trick someone to death?
At this point, he finally stopped pretending and finished three bowls first, then looked at the general with a smile.
Seeing that he suddenly drank so generously, the general was stunned, as if he realized something was wrong, but naturally he could not give in at this time, so he had to drink three bowls of wine in a hurry. Wang Zheng clapped his hands and cheered loudly, and then signaled the maid to fill it up immediately.
Three more bowls.
After going back and forth like this, in just a moment, more than a dozen bowls were down. The general's blood rushed to his head, his steps staggered, and he could no longer stand still. He had to sit down, knowing that he was drunk.
Wang Zheng was unyielding, but took the initiative to walk to the table without saying anything. He just poured the wine repeatedly, raised the bowl, drank it all, and then looked at the general without saying a word.
The general had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue to accompany him to the end. In this way, the two of them drank ten bowls of strong liquor in one breath. When the general fell to the ground completely exhausted, Wang Zheng's expression did not change, except for his lower abdomen being slightly swollen.
, actually not drunk at all.
"Wouldn't it be a pity not to drink such a fine wine freely?"
While the aroma of wine was filling the table, Wang Zheng looked around, raised his eyebrows, and after pouring himself another three bowls, he said, "Gentlemen, who would like to drink with me?"
At this time, everyone in the hall was already shocked. Seeing that Wang Zheng had drunk forty or fifty bowls and looked calm, no one dared to answer.
Yuan Shu also looked shocked and said: "Zhao Xun was born in Langya Brewery before he joined the army... You really have a lot of imperial guards!"
Wang Zheng suddenly realized that it seemed that the military commander named Zhao Xun was the one who wanted to get him drunk, and was not authorized by Yuan Shu.
In this case, he didn't want to be aggressive anymore, so he returned to his seat and sat down cross-legged. Suddenly he smelled the fragrance and immediately felt a heat on his thigh. He looked sideways and saw a woman wrapped in a gauze approaching.
.
That beautiful maid had graceful curves. When she saw Wang Zheng looking at her, she smiled brightly:
"Serve the general, please pour some wine." As soon as he leaned over to scoop out the wine, his plump breasts were exposed. Wang Zheng's heart felt hot and he quickly looked away.
At this time, Yang Hong, who was on the opposite side, came over with a wine cup. Seeing this, he smiled and said, "What? The governor has been in Xuzhou for a long time. He has tasted enough of the beauty of Xuzhou. Are the flowers and plants of Yangzhou hard to see anymore?"
"Sir, please don't make jokes." Wang Zheng couldn't be indifferent to Yuan Shu's chief adviser. He also stood up and said with a smile: "It's just that I drank too much just now, so I can't help but feel a little tipsy."
"Could it be that the governor looks down on me?" Yang Hong pretended to be surprised: "Just now he drank heavily, and now Hong comes to respect you, but he pretends to be drunk to push you away?"
Wang Zheng was speechless and had to continue drinking with him. Then everyone in the hall lined up and came up to toast one after another.
This made Wang Zheng a little helpless to resist. If Zhao Xun was provocative like before, he would not refuse anyone who came, and would even drink his opponent down. But now, everyone who comes here is holding a wine cup, making it clear that they are
Etiquette, drinking a cup but having to talk about it for a long time will inevitably bore him.
In desperation, when Ji Ling also came to propose a toast, Wang Zheng narrowed his eyes, reached out to touch the wine glass on the table, and pretended to accidentally knock over the dishes.
The serving maid hurriedly reached for the wine glass and put it into his hand. Wang Zheng showed off his acting skills, showed a drunken look, and casually put his arm around her shoulders, as if this was how he could stand firm.
"General Ji, the state pastor said that politics is too formal..." He looked at Ji Ling sideways and smiled: "I think you are too formal!"
"Come on, do it!"
He took a sip and drank half of it. His hands shook and he spilled half of it. His seat was adjacent to Yuan Shu, who had been paying attention to him. At this time, he said in surprise: "Is Yu Kou drunk?"
"Zheng is not drunk." Wang Zheng continued to perform. He held up his hands and wanted to bow to Yuan Shu. He shook his head twice and was so drunk that he finally couldn't stand up. He fell to the side and fell on the maid. He took advantage of the situation and stretched out his legs to kick her over.
After finishing the case, they heard a constant crackling sound, which immediately attracted everyone's attention and they all looked over.
"President Wang is drunk."
"Even if you're drunk, it's already a huge amount."
Amidst the discussion, a sweet voice sounded out: "This kid was so arrogant before, I didn't think he was very capable."
"It turns out it's nothing more than that."
Immediately, there was a burst of laughter like silver bells.
Where did the mother-in-law come from?
Hearing the vague hostility in the other party's words, Wang Zheng was a little angry, but since he was pretending to be drunk at the moment, he couldn't take a closer look, so he just quietly opened his eyes, revealing a gap, and followed the sound.
In a trance, I saw a group of figures, dressed in pink, with blurred facial features, except for a little bit of red lips, which were as delicate and charming as hibiscus.