The news forwarded from the Jinan Governor's Office said that the Ministry of War had issued rewards to meritorious soldiers.
Except for Liu Yan who was promoted to guerrilla general and the officers and soldiers of the new Lingshan Guard Army who were promoted, the officers and soldiers of the other ministries in Shandong only received some commendations and were given some silver rewards.
Late at night, many guests dispersed one after another. Eunuch Wang Yue, as well as generals such as Zhang Youxun, Lu Tingyan, Han Xu, Xu Tonghui, Lu Huaiying, and guerrilla generals such as Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming were settled in inns in the city, and were also attended by dedicated personnel. .
In the main hall, Chen Xun, Wang Yue, Zhang Yi, Wang Bo, Shen Tuo, Miao Shao, Xu Ming, Xun Jingyun, Wang Wenzhen, Jia Hongyu, Tian Huixu and other subordinates gathered together.
At this time, everyone was blushing and dizzy, but everyone's faces were filled with smiles. Liu Yan was promoted to a guerrilla general, and everyone was optimistic about the future.
Although Liu Yan was also smiling, he was a little angry in his heart.
In the Battle of Jinan, Liu Yan led his troops to behead more than 9,000 people. Such a great achievement was only given to a guerrilla general. According to Liu Yan's previous estimates, such a great achievement would require at least one general, but now Liu Yan's expectations have come to nothing.
Wang Wenzhen and Tian Huixu saw that Liu Yan's smile was a little forced. They were both human beings, so they naturally knew the reason.
Wang Wenzhen said: "My lord, you don't need to think too much. The imperial court has always been like this. Anyone who has made great contributions will be suppressed intentionally or unintentionally by the big men in the court. What's more, your lord is a subordinate of Governor Lu, Lord Yang, the Minister of War... "
Wang Wenzhen did not continue, but the meaning was already obvious, and Liu Yan nodded.
Tian Hui's statement was even more direct: "Your Excellency is a famous general in the world. Those rotten people in the court should be jealous and suppress them. Only mediocre people will be ignored!"
Liu Yan said with a smile: "I don't care about promotion, but my soldiers fought bloody battles, but the imperial court's rewards are so stingy, I really don't want to accept it!"
Everyone sighed.
This time Liu Yan was promoted to the guerrilla general of Jimo Camp, in charge of the two acropolises of Lingshan Guard and Aoshan Guard.
Everyone in Lingshan Guard is bound to be promoted. When the time comes, who will go to Aoshan Guard and who will stay in Lingshan Guard, this is what everyone is thinking about.
Wang Wenzhen said: "Sir, would you like to go take a look at Aoshan Guard at some time? I heard that Aoshan Guard has a lot of problems, and the military equipment there has long been depleted."
Liu Yan said: "There's no rush, I'm going to take care of some things for our Lingshan Guard during this time."
"However, I am thinking now, what do the generals in Jimo Camp think of my promotion to a guerrilla general?"
At the same time, in an inn in the Lingshan Acropolis, Jimo camp general Zhang Youxun, guerrilla general Li Jiwen, and guerrilla general Hu Zongming also gathered together, and the three of them were discussing something in a low voice.
"I should have thought that Liu Yan would definitely be promoted to the Jimo camp because of his great achievements!"
Zhang Youxun frowned and said, originally he valued Liu Yan very much, thinking that with Liu Yan as his subordinate, he could be promoted accordingly.
But unexpectedly, Liu Yan was promoted to a guerrilla general by beheading more than 9,000 people. As for himself, a superior officer, the Ministry of War only issued a commendation for his skill in serving his subordinates. He was estimated to be rewarded with dozens of taels of silver. There will be nothing else.
However, Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming did not have too many disturbances in their hearts. After all, they had the most intuitive evaluation of Liu Yan's abilities and knew that Liu Yan would not stay under others for a long time. So this time Liu Yan was on the same level as the two of them, and the two of them just accepted it calmly.
But Zhang Youxun was different. He failed to be promoted from Jimo Camp, but he welcomed Liu Yan who was promoted to guerrilla general, and his heart was filled with a sense of crisis.
"When Liu Yan takes control of Lingshan Guard and Aoshan Guard, he will become the most powerful guerrilla general in the Jimo camp. Even I, a general, will not give in too much. You two are not even ranked. Could it be that Don’t you two have any ideas?”
Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming looked at each other and smiled bitterly in their hearts. Could it be that Zhang Youxun, a general with few soldiers in his hands, still wanted to compete with Liu Yan, who had beheaded more than 9,000 people?
Li Jiwen organized the language and said, "What do you mean, sir?"
Zhang Youxun said in a deep voice: "Liu Yan is appreciated by many superiors and has real power in his hands. Now he has been promoted to a guerrilla general and controls the Aoshan Guard. I am afraid that Liu Yan will have the final say in the entire Jimo Camp in the future!"
"I am self-aware and know that with the strength of a general, I am no match for Liu Yan. But I can't just watch Liu Yan climb on top of me, so I want you two to advance and retreat with me and resist Liu Yan together! "
Zhang Youxun sneered and said: "I am no match for Liu Yan if I do it openly, but I still have the means to stumbling and squeezing him secretly."
Hu Zongming asked: "What do you mean, sir, contact our generals from all over the Jimo camp to squeeze Liu Yan out together?"
"Exactly!"
Hu Zongming smiled bitterly and stopped talking, and Li Jiwen also lowered his head and remained silent.
Both of them felt that Zhang Youxun was like a child, thinking about things so childishly.
Who is Liu Yan? Kill decisively!
How can such a powerful general be squeezed away with just some small means of suppression and stumbling? impossible!
Zhang Youxun saw that Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming were both silent, so he sneered and said: "I know that you are all Liu Yan's old acquaintances, and I can understand that you don't want to antagonize Liu Yan. But I also advise you: What happens in the future? , it’s best not to meddle in other people’s business, and don’t talk too much, otherwise you will reap the rewards!”
Li Jiwen thought to himself: "Then it depends on how long you can serve as a general!"
Then Li Jiye stood up, clasped his fists in salute, opened the door and went out without saying a word.
Hu Zongming also said secretly in his heart: "I think you are dissatisfied with Liu Yan's longevity!"
Hu Zongming clasped his fists and said, "Since your Excellency has made up your mind, I don't have anything to say, so I'll just say goodbye!"
Seeing Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming leaving one after another, Zhang Youxun was very angry.
Because of a reward order from the imperial court, all Zhang Youxun's original dreams were disrupted. He was not promoted to the first level, but Liu Yan took control of Aoshan Guard, and immediately took away a large part of his authority.
"I also want to get along well with Liu Yan, but I can't tolerate the power in my hands being taken away!"
Zhang Youxun slammed the table, loudly called for his accompanying subordinates, packed up his things and left Lingshan Guard overnight.
Not long after, Liu Yan broke up the meeting. As soon as all his subordinates left, Liu Yan returned to the backyard to hear the news for a while with Wang Yunhe, Shang Shan, Ruoshui and his son. After a long day, Liu Yan was very tired and in urgent need of rest.
But just when Liu Yan was lying on the bed, Wang Yunhe, Shang Shan, and Ruoshui also put the child to sleep, and were about to gather around him when they heard someone outside say: "Sir, Jimo Camp guerrilla generals Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming are here to visit. They are waiting in the front hall. .”
Liu Yan frowned slightly and sat up with a sigh. Wang Yunhe looked at Shang Shan and Ruoshui who were frowning and unhappy, and said with a smile: "It seems that someone will not be able to sleep tonight."
Shang Shan and Ruoshui's cheeks suddenly flushed, and they ran back to the side room shyly.
Liu Yan patted Wang Yunhe's hand and said, "You and the two of them should go to bed early. I guess I won't be able to sleep tonight."
"Husband, please take care of your health and come back early."
Liu Yan responded and came to the main hall in the front yard. He saw Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming both changed into dark clothes and were waiting for him anxiously.
"My lords, what do you mean by this? Could it be that the army of slaves and thieves is coming to kill us again?"
Li Jiwen said: "My Liu Da Guerrilla, you are still in the mood to joke, you are being targeted!"
Liu Yan frowned slightly and said, "Why, who wants to embarrass me?"
Li Jiwen sat down and watched Hu Zongming wave, and Hu Zongming said, "It's General Zhang Youxun!"
"Zhang Youxun?"
Liu Yan said in surprise: "No, why?"
Hu Zongming then explained what happened at the inn. Liu Yan frowned after hearing this, obviously not expecting it.
Hu Zongming continued: "In this discussion of merit and reward, Zhang Youxun originally thought that with the help of your military exploits, he could be promoted from the Jimo Camp. Even if he could not serve as the chief military officer of Shandong, he could still serve as a deputy general in the Governor's Mansion or the Governor's Yamen."
"But the imperial court only gave Zhang Youxun some money to settle the matter, and also took Aoshan Guard away from him and gave it to you. So the current situation is that you, Liu Gueryi, are no longer a help to Zhang Youxun, but a threat. Understand ?"
Liu Yan sat next to the two of them, pondered for a while, and then said: "It seems that I really think highly of Zhang Youxun."
Li Jiwen said: "Hu Youyi and I arrived at Jimo Camp early, and we know Zhang Youxun fairly well. He is greedy for power, money, and sex, and is known as the Three Greedy Generals in Jimo Camp. Now it is reasonable to change his attitude directly. things in."
Liu Yan asked: "How does Zhang Youxun plan to deal with me? Assassination? Framing? Killing with a borrowed knife?"
Hu Zongming waved his hand and said: "That's not the case. Zhang Youxun doesn't have such courage. I think what Zhang Youxun can do is to secretly stumble and try his best to squeeze you out. It's best to let you retreat from the difficulties and start from the other side." Get out of the Jimo camp."
Li Jiwen nodded and said, "I think so too, so you'd better be prepared to avoid being caught off guard."
Liu Yan suddenly burst into laughter, cupped his fists and said to Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming: "I'd like to thank you both first! You two can remember our past friendship and come over to remind me when Zhang Youxun has already made his attitude clear. I, Liu Yan, have remembered this friendship!"
Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming returned the courtesy, and then Li Jiwen asked: "Then how are you going to respond?"
Liu Yan said with a smile: "I haven't noticed Zhang Youxun, a mere person. I have a strong army at my disposal, what can he do to me?"
Hu Zongming said: "Then you should make plans early, or at least be careful to avoid being plotted by Zhang Youxun."
"I got it!"
Then Liu Yan asked: "By the way, come here, you two. Does Zhang Youxun know?"
"Zhang Youxun had already left before we came."
Hu Zongming said: "Li Youyi and I saw with our own eyes that Zhang Youxun left the city overnight and returned."
Some people died, but not completely...
