General's Mansion.
A group of maids came in and out of the hall carrying delicacies. In a short time, there were dozens of dishes.
There were actually only three people sitting in the hall, with Wang Cheng taking the chair, Bao Zheng, the Guanglu doctor, and Zhang Zhao, the captain of the Yulin Military Academy, sitting on his left and right.
Regardless of whether it was Dazhou or other surrounding countries, people with a little bit of status were all trying to separate the cases.
At this time, Bao Zheng had long lost the demeanor of a dignified third-grade official. He held the knife in one hand and the lamb leg with the other. While cutting, he put the meat into his mouth.
Wang Cheng sat on the main seat, his eyes a little dull, and he had a new understanding of Dr. Guanglu.
Sensing his gaze, Bao Zheng stopped the knife, swallowed the meat in his mouth, and said, "Boy, are you surprised?"
Wang Cheng nodded subconsciously, but immediately realized something and stopped again.
Bao Zheng put the grease on his hand into his mouth, sipped it twice, and said, "It seems like your kid has never been hungry."
He wiped his mouth with a cloth and said: "When I was as old as you, I worried about not having food every day. It was common to not have a full stomach. Sometimes I couldn't have a full meal for several days. At that time, I secretly thought I swear that when I become successful in the future, I will eat with an open stomach and never let myself go hungry again."
Zhang Zhao, who was sitting opposite, saw Wang Cheng frowning and explained: "General Wang doesn't know something. Mr. Bao's ancestral home is Nanli County."
Wang Cheng was startled, he really didn't know about this.
Bao Zheng poured a sip of wine into his mouth and said: "I came to issue an edict to you this time. I took the initiative to request it from the king. I was born in Nanli and grew up in Nanli. It can be said that I spent almost the first half of my life in Nanli." Spend time in Nanli. After so many years, this is my first time to return to Nanli."
"It turns out that you are a native of Nanli." Wang Cheng nodded.
"What a pity! Time has passed and things have changed when I returned to Nanli again."
Bao Zheng shook his head, then looked at Wang Cheng and said, "Boy, I want to thank you. If you hadn't led the army to recapture Nanli this time, I'm afraid Nanli would have turned into scorched earth by now."
"Your Excellency, you are exaggerating! Without General Song's strategizing, how could I have recaptured Nanli?" Wang Cheng said.
Bao Zheng stared at Wang Cheng and said meaningfully: "You have a serious intention."
Wang Cheng smiled and asked again: "Sir, I don't know General Song..."
This was what he had been holding back in his mind and couldn't help asking. He was now the commander of the southwest military affairs. What was Song Huchen doing?
"You're worrying too much! Although Song Huchen was at fault this time, he still deserves part of the credit for recovering Ji County and burning Yanzhou. Yesterday he returned to Beijing to report on his work." Bao Zhengdao.
"Go back to Beijing to report on your work?" Wang Cheng repeated.
Bao Zheng nodded and said: "Yes! To reward him for his contribution, the king has made him the Marquis of Guannei. Next time he comes back here, I'm afraid he won't be the General of Zhenxi."
"Who is in charge of the defense line to the west?" Wang Cheng asked again.
Bao Zhengdao: "I see you are quite smart, why don't you take a guess?"
Wang Cheng was about to say, "How did I know?" Suddenly, he stared at Bao Zheng and said in surprise: "It can't be you, sir?"
"You're a smart kid!" Bao Zheng said with a smile.
Wang Cheng opened his mouth. He didn't understand. Why would the imperial court send a civilian official to take charge of the military in the west?
"What? Do you think I can't lead troops to fight?" Bao Zheng smiled half-heartedly.
Wang Cheng didn't speak, but it was as if he had already spoken.
"General Wang doesn't know that Mr. Bao has been an official here for more than 20 years. From an official to a county captain, from a county captain to a county magistrate, and then to a county captain and a county guard, he also led troops and killed many people. Human!"
Zhang Zhao first explained, and then solemnly introduced: "The king has ordered that Lord Bao has been promoted to the governor of Huangzhou and is in charge of all military affairs in Huangzhou!"
"The governor?"
After hearing this, Wang Cheng quickly stood up and saluted Bao Zheng: "I have seen the governor!"
"Okay! I have overstated my point! King Meng will not give up. He still remembers this rotten man."
Bao Zheng waved his hand and said: "When it comes to the ability to lead troops in war, I can't compare to you after all. The reason why the king asked me to take over the military affairs in the west this time is because the two countries are negotiating peace."
"Negotiation?" Wang Cheng was surprised again.
The current military operations between Zhou and Xia on the border can no longer be described as friction or conflict. The Xia Kingdom suffered the capture of Ji County, the burning of Yanzhou, and the killing of generals. In the Great Zhou Dynasty, the villages and towns of Yinshan County were destroyed, Nanli County was massacred, and the soldiers suffered heavy casualties.
This is clearly a real fire, and we are ready to fight. How can we just stop?
"Hmph! It's said to be a peace negotiation, but in fact it's just the two sides testing their respective bottom lines. Things lost on the battlefield can only be regained from the battlefield. It's absolutely impossible to expect negotiations!" Bao Zheng said in a deep voice.
"I see!"
Wang Cheng understood that on the surface the two countries were negotiating peace, but secretly they were definitely deploying troops.
Originally, he didn't understand why he directly skipped the post of Zhonglang General and became a higher-level general, and also oversaw all military affairs in the southwest. He was clearly making pre-war arrangements.
"It seems that you have also guessed it. I won't follow you around anymore. This was Song Huchen's arrangement before he left."
As he spoke, Bao Zheng took out a document from his arms and said, "You kid, take a look first."
Wang Cheng quickly walked down from the main seat, took the document and opened it. The more he looked at it, the more surprised he became: "Sir, up here..."
He hesitated to speak, because what was written above was of great importance and had to be approved by the person in front of him.
"I agreed to the above suggestions!" Bao Zheng said without hesitation.
Wang Cheng was so happy that he was almost speechless with excitement.
Because what was written in the document was nothing else but Song Huchen's arrangements for a group of soldiers before he returned to Kyoto to report on his duties. A large part of it was about him, Wang Cheng.
Song Huchen wrote in the document: All the men and horses under Zhang Han were transferred to his command, and the men and horses of the former Yangwei Zhonglang General were also under his command.
Not only that, Song Huchen also transferred his old subordinates, the three thousand troops still stationed in Ji County, to his command.
As a result, the number of troops under Wang Cheng's command suddenly increased to more than 7,000, and they were no longer as stretched as before.
Of course, such a large personnel transfer would be easily implemented if Song Huchen was still there. Now that Song Huchen has left, Bao Zheng is in charge.
Bao Zheng agreed to this arrangement without saying anything. How could Wang Cheng not be excited?
Bao Zheng warned: "Man, I have already given it to you. You have to make good use of it. Don't let me get slaughtered in Nanli County again."
"Your order!" Wang Cheng snapped and performed a standard military salute.
Bao Zheng raised his hand casually and said, "Go back to your seat and don't disturb me while I'm eating!"
Wang Cheng accepted the document, happily returned to his seat, and began to feast like Bao Zheng.
The three of them were eating and chatting.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Wang Cheng asked Bao Zheng a lot of things. After all, once Bao Zheng went back, it would not be so convenient to ask again.
He specifically asked Jianwei Zhonglang General Zhu Bangguo about his situation, thinking that even he had been promoted to a higher rank, so this old boss would definitely receive awards.
As he expected, Zhu Bangguo also received a reward, was promoted to half a rank, became the "Dang Kou General", and got a count directly, skipping the baron and viscount.
His son Zhu Pengfei was also promoted from school captain to Zhonglang general, but there was no change in his title.
In short, in this battle with Xia Kingdom, all soldiers who have made meritorious service will receive corresponding rewards.
The meal took nearly two hours to finish, and all the food piled in front of the three-person table was swept away.
Bao Zheng wiped his mouth and said, "The food from home still tastes good! I can't get enough of it."
"If you like it, sir, just bring two chefs back." Wang Cheng said with a smile.
Bao Zheng pointed at Wang Cheng, shook his head and said, "You are not as honest as you look!"
Wang Cheng rubbed the back of his head out of habit, thinking that at least he didn't understand the sophistication of human nature.
Bao Zheng simply arranged his clothes, then stood up and walked out of the hall.
Wang Cheng followed immediately.
When he arrived in front of the door, Bao Zheng said: "You have done a good job in building the temple, cheering up your spirit, and strengthening your mind. However, I would like to remind you to leave a few more seeds with Nanli."
Seeing Wang Cheng's change of expression, he explained: "This is not an order, it is my personal request."
Wang Cheng nodded, feeling calmer in his heart.
Just as he was about to explain, he heard Bao Zheng say: "Boy, I know that the conditions in Nanli County are poor, and the food will often be unable to keep up. However, now that I am here, these will no longer exist.
Wang Cheng said happily: "Thank you, sir!"
"Okay! After eating and drinking, it's time for me to go back. If you have anything, you can send someone to Wuping County to ask."
Bao Zheng said and walked out of the hall. Seeing Wang Cheng still following behind, he pretended to be angry and said: "Why are you still following me? Go and pick some chefs and bring them to me."
Wang Cheng hurried back and picked a few cooks.
After watching Bao Zheng lead a group of royal guards away, he returned to the mansion.
As soon as I returned to the hall, I saw a row of beautiful women standing in the hall.
No more, no less, exactly ten.
"Where did these ten beauties come from?"
Wang Cheng was dazzled by the sudden appearance of ten beauties. Suddenly, he remembered, weren't these ten maids the King of Zhou rewarded him?
But if you look carefully, where is the maid?
All of them are dressed like ladies, and their appearance and temperament are far beyond those of the maids in the mansion.
The leading woman in a pink skirt bowed and saluted: "I have met the master."
The waxy, crispy voice gave Wang Cheng goosebumps.
But why does his grandma's music sound so comforting?
This evil feudal society!
Wang Cheng nodded slightly and said, "Take care of this place and get everyone out!"
"yes!"
The woman in pink skirt bowed, then led the other women to tidy up the hall and went out carefully.
Wang Cheng returned to the main seat and looked at the retreating figure, and a beautiful figure appeared in his mind.
"Ask the world, what is love? Directly teach the promise of life and death? Traveling from the south to the north, how many times have the old wings been exposed to the cold and summer! Pleasure is fun, parting is bitter, and there are even more crazy children among them."
