At night, the lights of the Zhenbei Hou Mansion were brightly lit, and guests were arriving one after another in the main hall.
Nie Ze, Xie Xing, Zhao Long, and Zhang Xiaoyu are all here, as well as Li Miaoyuan, Wang Hanshi, Peng Cheng, and Yu Ming who went out with the army. Today, Han Yun and Nie Ze came to take care of them, and everyone was relieved.
drink.
Zhao Long raised his wine glass and said,
"Thanks to the Marquis who led many powerful men to travel thousands of miles to rescue us this time. If it weren't for the Marquis, all of us would have been buried in Loulan City.
Come, everyone, let’s have a toast to the Marquis!”
"Honor the Marquis!"
Everyone raised their glasses together.
Drink it all in one gulp.
Zhao Long used to hate official socializing the most. Every time he drank with the governor and prefect, he would bite the bullet and suppress his displeasure.
But this time it's different. Everyone here is our own people, there are no evil intentions, they are all brothers who share weal and woe, and they have a life-long friendship. The Marquis and Nie Shuai will not try to show off their official status, and are very easy-going.
This made Zhao Long very happy.
Since I followed Mr. Hou, my talents have been put to use, and my life has not been happy. It has simply changed my way of living.
Han Yun put down his wine glass and said,
"You have won a big victory this time, and there will be rewards from the court later. The Zhenbei Army will probably expand, but I don't want to expand. Twenty thousand people are enough.
The expenses of the Zhenbei Army are very high, and it is difficult to obtain the desert wolf mount. It is difficult to support the army with the royal salary alone, and our money will have to flow slowly."
Zhao Long said,
"Master Marquis, for the Zhenbei Army, there is no difference between 20,000 people and 50,000 people. There is no need for us to attack the city. In field battles, we are invincible. The enemy that 50,000 people can defeat can be defeated by 20,000 of us."
.”
"Well, I'm not interested in military power. I won't expand the Zhenbei Army this time. I'll just replace the soldiers who were killed or injured before.
If we don't expand the army, the ranks of the previous soldiers and generals will not be improved. When the time comes, Zhao Long, you have to add more rewards and don't let everyone have any objections."
"Don't worry, Lord Marquis."
"Well, although the military power remains unchanged this time, you will all be knighted. This time we won a great victory, and you all deserved the most credit.
If nothing else happens, Zhao Long should be able to be made an earl, and you guys can also be made viscounts."
They are all subordinates of Han Yun, and Han Yun is a marquis. No matter how great their contribution is, they cannot be granted the title of marquis, unless Han Yun's title can be raised again.
"Hahaha, that's great, Peng Cheng, your boy will also have a title in the future."
Zhao Long looked at Peng Cheng and smiled.
Peng Cheng smiled shyly and said,
"We have to work harder. When eldest brother becomes a prince, we can all become marquises."
"Your ambition is not small, hahaha."
Everyone laughed, Han Yun laughed and said,
"Peng Cheng, since you want to join the army and make achievements, don't just be a vanguard officer. What's the point of only leading troops to charge? Follow Zhao Long and learn how to arrange troops, customize tactics, adapt to local conditions, etc. There will be nothing wrong.
Look at the military book.
Zhao Long has many of these books, and I also have them at home. You can come over and read them at any time.
When you are able to command an army alone, I will go to the Ministry of War to get a document, and you can also become a commander-in-chief in other armies."
"Thank you, senior brother. I will definitely work hard."
Peng Cheng smiled shyly.
After saying this, Han Yun said to everyone again,
"This war is over, and you have returned with a full load, having captured many kings and royal families alive.
Tomorrow we will sort out the spoils of war and send a team to escort the monarchs and royal families to Luodu City to sacrifice prisoners.
Let the others be sent alive, but not Talmu. He must be executed late to pay for his sins.
Put the talmu on a cart and follow the captive team to the east. After entering the land of two counties, they began to shave him alive. On the way, he announced his sins to the people along the way and cut him from his body.
Meat.
Don't let him die so quickly. Don't let him die after traveling two counties.
So many people were massacred by his people. Many people lost their relatives and hated him deeply. If we want to appease the people, we have to let them vent their anger, right?"
"Your Majesty loves the people like a son, and my subordinates admire him!"
"Zhang Xiaoyu did a good job in this matter. Without him, Talmu would have died long ago, and we would not have been able to bring him here alive for him to atone for his sins."
"Boy Zhang, you did a good job. Let me give you a toast."
Everyone toasted to Zhang Xiaoyu one after another, and Zhang Xiaoyu drank it all in one gulp.
These are his contributions and the contributions of those soldiers of Sichuan Ziying who died.
Everyone exchanged glasses, and after three rounds of drinking, it was very lively.
Halfway through drinking, Han Yun suddenly stood up and said to Zhang Xiaoyu,
"You come with me for a walk."
"The general will obey."
Zhang Xiaoyu stood up quickly, knowing that the Marquis must have something to say to him.
When they came outside, the two of them strolled in the garden, stepping on the white snow.
Han Yun asked some questions about Zhang Xiaoyu's stay in Loulan Kingdom, and Zhang Xiaoyu also answered them one by one.
After a while, Zhang Xiaoyu smiled bitterly and said,
"The Marquis didn't call the general out just to ask these questions. If you have any questions, just ask me. The general will not refuse."
Hearing this, Han Yun showed a little embarrassment on his face and said with a smile,
"That's right, I do have a question I want to ask you."
"If you don't take it seriously when you ask for advice, you will eventually know everything you have to say."
"Well, I just want to ask, how do your two wives manage to live in harmony? How do you do it?"
Zhang Xiaoyu was startled when he heard this, and then almost laughed out loud.
It turns out that you, Tangtang Zhenbeihou, also have troubles in this regard.
It seems that the rumors among the Heavenly Army that Zhenbei Hou had an affair with his aunt are true.
Now that I think about it, it must be that his aunt and Qi Xiaoyu don't get along, right?
Thinking of this, Zhang Xiaoyu said,
"Actually, I didn't do anything. They are both considerate and reasonable people. As long as they can be persuaded..."
"I'm asking you for your method, not for you to show off your ladylike character."
"Um...actually, we have to start with the personality aspect. Their personalities are actually quite similar. They are both tough characters.
Mengqi has been able to wait for me for so many years, standing at the city gate waiting for my return every day for five years, which shows her tenacity.
As for Jialan, she also had a tragic life experience. The day before I started the army, her life had been smooth sailing.
But suddenly, the country was ruined and the family was destroyed, and I followed me into this strange environment.
Both of them understand each other's difficulties, and they both feel that the other is pitiful. It's really easy to get along with each other even though they have similar personalities.
In fact, I dare to think that, Mr. Hou, rather than saying that this is the difference between your and my respective wives, it is more about the difference between you and me. The problem lies in your identity."
"Oh? What do you mean by this?"
Han Yun asked for advice humbly and was thirsty for knowledge.