In the process of returning to camp, the retainers of Lord Xinling's Mansion and the retainers of Lord Liang's Mansion in the military camp came out of the procession one by one and stood by the roadside with Lord Xinling and others. After the rear camp had completely left, Lord Xinling led them and followed the chariots into the city.
A grand banquet was arranged at Huayang Wei Mansion. Huayang Lieutenant Lai was in Cangcheng, and Lord Xinling sent someone to invite him back--even the Xu family and his son were invited to the mansion. There was sufficient food in Huayang City, and each of the military soldiers and civilian troops stationed inside and outside Huayang was distributed a liter of rice.
A tripod was set up in Huayang Mansion, and Xu Jia took out the cured meats, five animal sacrifices and other items as offerings from the fleet. Although Huayang City was short of everything, luckily it still had salt plums. Add fire to mix and cook, and the aroma of meat enveloped the entire city, and even floated out of the city. The soldiers and civilian soldiers who smelled the smell seemed to have an appetite.
Huayang Wei and Xinling Jun sat in the east together. Daliang Wei, Jin Bi, Xu Jia and others were guests and set up a banquet in the hall. Under the corridor were all the young masters, led by the three newly arrived young masters. The retainers and Liang Liang who had no positions The retainers accompanying the Wei Mansion set up a banquet in the court. Han Bu was specially invited to serve as the guest of honor together with Mr. Zhong Yue; Huayang Wei's family elders and Zhang Yu were appointed as the tomb master. Surprisingly, there is a deep well in the courtyard of Huayang Wei Mansion. The water is so sweet that it can be used as sake. This adds a lot of grandeur to the banquet: unlimited drinks! Moreover, using well water to cook rice and meat adds a sweeter flavor than using water from ditches or lakes.
Lieutenant Huayang seemed to be in a very happy mood. Although he was just drinking water from the newly filled well, he was still in high spirits. Mr. Xinling always wore his unique smile and interacted with others from time to time. Lieutenant Daliang is the guest chief. He looks good and interacts frequently with others. It seems that the mental trauma caused by the fall of Qifeng has been fully recovered. Below him are Xu Jia and Jin Bi. Although today's meat was brought by him, it came from Wei's official funds, so he could not sit on the main seat and could only be regarded as a guest. As for the meat that was not used being misappropriated, he didn't care: after arriving in South Korea, he could buy some to make up for the shortfall, or he could pay some money to the person who counted them, and he would be able to return "everything is as written." Jin Bi sat as calm as a mountain. Compared with others, the interaction seemed a bit passive. Everyone in the hall knew Jin Bi's character and didn't care.
There were all young people under the table. Compared with the polite people in the hall, their interactions were more lively. From time to time, some people got up and went to other seats to talk. There were the largest number of people in the court, but because many of them didn't know each other, the atmosphere was relatively dull, and they just sang and sang according to the etiquette. There are three big cauldrons in the back courtyard, where meat and millet are cooked respectively, emitting an alluring aroma.
Most of the young masters came with Mr. Liang Wei, and they were more intimate with Mr. Liang Wei. From time to time, someone came up to talk. The Mang brothers were sitting together, and from time to time people would come over to talk and say some words of admiration. The two of them seemed very excited.
Among the guests of Lord Xinling, Mr. Xiahou refused to sit down as usual, citing his official duties. Mr. Jin, who had returned with Mr. Liang Wei and the military soldiers, was praised by the guests as the chief guest and took the chief seat in the east seat. The teacher naturally took the title of Wei. The old leader. Xiaojian is dressed in white. Although he has a great reputation, he only mixes among the guests in the court, singing and singing with others according to the etiquette, with a smile on his face, but he is thinking in his heart.
A bell rang in the back courtyard, the noise stopped, and everyone returned to their seats and sat down. After the banquet became quiet, Mr. Huayang's voice came: "How dare you invite Prime Minister Han Bu to be your guest!"
Han Bushen turned out from the steps and saluted: "I don't dare, please resign!"
Captain Huayang said: "No!"
Han Bushen said: "Greetings!"
Lieutenant Huayang dragged his heavy body out and bowed in front of the steps. His fat belly made it difficult for him to bow down. Han Bushen returned the greeting at the foot of the steps. Captain Huayang returned to the hall.
Then the voice of Lord Xinling came: "Dare you invite Mr. Zhongyue as your guest again!"
Mr. Zhongyue also turned out from the steps and saluted: "I don't dare, please resign!"
Lord Xinling said: "No!"
Mr. Zhongyue said: "Greetings!"
It is unprecedented for two guests to appear at a banquet. But everyone in the audience understood that this was to give Huayang Wei face, so they waited for the development of the matter with the attitude of not caring about themselves and watching the excitement.
Not long after, Huayang Wei's family elders and Zhang Ye came out of the back courtyard, went directly up the west steps, offered wine to Mr. Xinling and Huayang Wei as usual, and then sang with Mr. Han Bushen and Zhong Yue. The process is extremely simple. Basically, you scoop a glass of wine for the other party to drink, and the other party scoops another glass of wine in return. All the processes of washing the lamps are dispensed with, and the salute only requires a slight bow.
After the guests and hosts had paid their respects, Captain Huayang and Lord Xinling held up their cups to pay tribute to all the ministers and officials in the hall. The four guests and hosts first held up a cup to the young masters and paid them in turn. Then they took another cup and came down to the hall, held it up to the guests and retainers, and paid them in turn. The weather was getting colder, and when we started chatting freely, everyone had already drank a lot of cold water. When it came time for the official banquet, they couldn't drink much, so they went through the motions and took their seats.
When the four of them saw that everyone was no longer drinking, the two hosts retreated to the back court, and the two guests said, "Please file a case!"
At this time, except for the few officials in the hall who had cases at their table, there were not many cases in front of them - Huayang Wei Mansion also did not have so many cases. The two guests came to the last table and bowed to each other. The man didn't know why, so he had to get up and follow the two of them back. Others followed in turn. Then the two people at the front heard: "Take the board temporarily to replace the case." Following the two people's fingers, the person saw a stack of wooden boards in front of the backyard door. I took one myself, lowered my head and entered the back courtyard. Fruits, vegetables and cornstarch sauce had been divided into portions. I took a portion of each and put it on the board. Then we went to the meat cauldrons. Two meat cauldrons were guarded by two butchers. As they passed by, they cut out a piece of meat from each cauldron and scooped out a spoonful of soup. Everyone advances in turn, humble first and then honour. Finally, there are Lord Xinling and Lieutenant Huayang. The two of them each took vegetables and soup, and were about to return to the table when Captain Huayang suddenly said: "Anyone who has more than enough is willing to give it to his family!"
Lord Xinling was stunned when he heard this. When he came back to his senses, he smiled and said, "Here's to you! Doctor Xu Jia has some bacon chickens, and I'm willing to offer them to you!"
Lieutenant Huayang immediately beamed and said, "How dare you ask for your favor!"
Lord Xinling said: "Thanks to your help, I am very lucky if my mission is successful!"
The two of them returned to the banquet, and the first person to receive the food had already finished eating. When he saw the two of them returning, he came to bow and resign. Then one after another people resigned. Wei Huayang didn't care about that and just ate the food on the table. Lord Xinling saw that he ate well and only took a few bites of his own, so he pushed the food table in front of Huayang Wei's table. Then he went down to the hall and quietly told Zhang Ye that all the remaining food would be given to the family elders and sent to the back house. Zhang Zou understood and went over to negotiate with his elders. After Lord Xinling returned to his seat, he whispered to Wei Huayang. Wei Huayang showed gratitude in his eyes. By the time Captain Huayang finished eating the two servings of food, all the young masters in the corridor had already resigned; although all the officials in the hall had not yet resigned, they had all finished eating and all the dishes had been put away.
After seeing off Han Bushen and the elders of the Huayang family, Doctor Qing and several retainers returned to the hall. This was the first time they were all present since returning from Nanguan. Several people moved their seats closer to each other and talked. After some deliberation, they decided to call Mr. Jin, Mr. Cao Er, Liang Wei and Mr. Mang. While waiting for their arrival, several people exchanged what they learned about the situation.
Daliang Wei said: "The soldiers who left Daliang are not in good order, the officials and soldiers do not know each other, and they cannot fight unless they are menstruating."
Xu Jia said: "Since General Mang came to sue the king for his plan, the king and the prime minister were very dissatisfied. The king has sent envoys several times to urge for reinforcements, but there has been no retribution. Although he is in bad shape, he still sent envoys Han to urge him."
Jin Bi said: "From the time it was opened to Huayang, it was more than a hundred miles away. Three armies were set up to defend it, each of which was ten miles away. On the day after the camp was pulled out, the front army set up camp ten miles away. The middle and rear armies advanced in sequence; the day after tomorrow they marched out another twenty miles. . Then go to the outskirts of Qifeng, thinking of a confrontation. Your Majesty Dan and the guards will stay in Huayang, thinking of dispatching."
Lieutenant Daliang casually reminded: "There are more than 10,000 soldiers, the essence of the Wei Dynasty. Five thousand have been lost, which seriously damaged our vitality. I would like to cherish them!"
Jin Bi also responded casually: "Greetings!"
Zhang He said: "Huayang City has been guarded on all sides: 500 in the middle camp, 250 in the left and right camps, separated in the north and south, with a large army in the east, a thousand militiamen left outside the east city, and an invincible militia in the west city. Four thousand soldiers have been prepared. Today, more than 2,000 soldiers have been moved from Nanguan. Their number is still uncertain. They are temporarily scattered in the two camps on the left and right, and officials are sent to lead them."
Wei Daliang continued: "Ten of the Wei family's sons followed me to the camp. Unexpectedly, nine of them lost their lives. Master Mangshen returned to the country. There are still three or four sons left. I would like to send them to their posts and lead their soldiers less."
Zhang Ye said: "Greetings! Your son has shouldered a heavy responsibility at a young age and led the troops to the camp. His merits are outstanding and he can be the deputy lieutenant of Daliang."
Lieutenant Daliang said: "What a merit, you dare to do this! But you can just recruit them into the city, sweep them day and night, and serve them as ordered."
Zhang Zou said: "Greetings!"
Mr. Zhongyue said: "There are only three grains in the city, but no military weapons, arrows and crossbows. If we lean against the city and defend it, it will last three months."
Jin Bi said: "There are 100,000 civilian soldiers and military soldiers, and the food supply is about to run out. I would like to send out food as early as possible to prepare for the long term."
Mr. Zhongyue said: "A hundred thousand people need a thousand rides a day. Although there is enough food and fodder, the chariots are not enough. What can I do?"
Jin Bi asked: "How many cars are there in the city?"
Mr. Zhongyue said: "There are only a dozen oxen and horses in the city, and there are also carts. There are hundreds of carriages in Xingyang, and there are hundreds of carts in the countryside, but there are only a few two hundred. The city is too small to accommodate them, and they all stop in the camp outside the west city." "
Jin Bi said: "Although the soldiers in each city are accompanied by chariots, the army also relies on them."
Mr. Zhongyue said: "We will set up camp tomorrow and the next two days. We can just send the best people out in front, and their carts behind, so that we can enter the city to load grain."
Jin Bi thought about it for a while and said, "If Mr. Xiao Jian can help us, we will be able to make the troops harmonious."
Lord Xinling said, "Mr. Xiao can be invited to join us."
Mr. Zhongyue got up, went out to send the guests to the flute room, then returned to the table and sat down.
Lord Xinling said: "The population is quite large. Fortunately, sir, we have managed it well!"
Mr. Zhongyue said: "Although Huayang is a small town, it is better than many small towns. So why is it difficult!"
Lord Xinling praised: "It is said that a wise man works hard."
Captain Daliang replied: "We have more than 2,000 newly arrived soldiers. Although they are broken, they are hungry and tired. I would like to help you!"
Mr. Zhongyue said: "This is where your sincerity and sincerity lies, how dare you resign!"
