The days of lying down with peace of mind always pass by quickly, and autumn comes in the blink of an eye.
In the past few months, many changes have taken place in the general situation of the world - first, the State of Chu formally entered into an alliance with the restored State of Qi.
The State of Qi recognized the land south of Qi occupied by the State of Chu as the territory of the State of Chu. At the same time, Qi and Chu strengthened trade exchanges and reached a series of military agreements, forming an all-round iron-clad alliance.
From this point alone, Xiong Wuliang did not help Qi to recover in vain.
With such an ally, Chu State no longer has to worry about threats from the east and can focus on 'taking care' of Qin State in the west.
At the same time, Wei and South Korea also sent envoys to show their goodwill to Chu.
If the State of Qin had not just engaged in a "marriage" story with the State of Chu, it is estimated that a war between Chu, Qi, Wei and Han would soon be organized to attack Qin. Since the initial confrontation at the Xiong Wuliang Political Palace, King Huai of Chu Qin has always been regarded as the enemy.
In short, the diplomatic situation is excellent, and the war in the Central Plains has stopped.
The Chu State itself is rapidly digesting the territory it has swallowed up in the past few years, while at the same time accumulating money and food to replenish its already empty treasury.
The Qin State also stepped up its efforts to take a breather, and at the same time spent a lot of energy to suppress the increasingly crazy turmoil in the Bashu region.
The Yan Kingdom in the north was in a state of collapse - King Yan Zhao died of illness more than a month after returning to the country. There was a miserable wind and rain in Jicheng, and all the people in the country shed tears to pay homage.
The most outstanding king in the history of the Yan Kingdom died young, and Prince Ji Lezi successfully ascended the throne and was known as King Hui of Yan in history.
Fortunately, King Yanzhao Ji Zhi died quickly, otherwise Ji Lezi's skin would probably have been peeled off because of Yan Qi's story...
It is said that the national power of the Yan State was greatly weakened, coupled with the death of the shrewd and capable King Zhao of Yan, and the new king had just succeeded to the throne and was in a period of political turmoil - the Zhao State in the north took the opportunity to use a large number of troops and marched into the Zhongshan State in three groups.
Zhao's generals Fei Yi and Lou Xu led the Chinese infantry and chariot troops to advance forward. Prince Zhao Zhang led the infantry on the left and general Niu Jian guarded the right to fight decisively with the Zhongshan army.
Zhao Yong, on the other hand, personally led the light cavalry troops of Lin Hu and Dai Di. Taking advantage of the intense fighting situation, they inserted themselves directly into the back of the Zhongshan Army and launched a 300-mile raid. They burned the enemy's food and grass, killed six captains, and sealed the victory in one battle. .
Zhongshan's army suffered tens of thousands of casualties, and the rest were routed - Zhao Yong successfully captured the capital of Zhongshan and completely destroyed the country.
The territory of Zhao State expanded rapidly, reaching Yan in the north; Yunzhong and Jiuyuan in the west; the border of Qi State in the east; and Zhongmu in the south - a territory of more than 3,000 miles and a total population of millions.
A new superpower is born!
Of course, the above has nothing to do with Xiong Wuliang himself.
King Huai of Chu also sent envoys to the fiefdom, inviting Xiong Wuliang to preside over the Qi-Chu alliance, to receive the visiting envoys from Wei and South Korea, and so on... But Xiong Wuliang excused himself from all these things on the pretense of illness.
Now Xiong Wuliang’s daily life is very unrestrained——
Wash and cut large chunks of tender mutton into pieces and soak in blood.
Xiong Wuliang personally took charge - put the mutton into the pot, add a little rice wine, tender white shallots and other seasonings to blanch it, and then take the mutton out.
Then heat oil in the pot, add onion, ginger, star anise, cinnamon and other spices. After the aroma is released, add the spicy herbs (the equivalent of chili pepper) and continue to stir-fry.
Finally, add water to cover the ingredients - add some soy sauce and vinegar, simmer over low heat for half an hour, finally lift the lid of the pot, add some green vegetables, sprinkle with salt...it's really fragrant.
In his previous life, Xiong Wuliang spent a lot of time thinking about food when he was working on a construction site. Now he is trying out his skills - although many of the seasonings have not yet appeared in this era, they are still enough to make a good pot of mutton soup.
Xiao Yi on the side moved her index finger with greed, and looked at Xiong Wuliang with eyes full of admiration.
Xiong Wuliang waved his hand and looked at the cook beside him: "Have you learned it?"
The cook nodded repeatedly, looking at the fragrant mutton soup, and couldn't stop swallowing her saliva... The two brothers, Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai, were squatting on the side, looking at the mutton soup with longing in their eyes.
Old Zhong Hua has grown a long beard, his eyebrows and beard are a little gray, and his belly is bulging - he doesn't look like a warrior fighting on the battlefield, but more like an old man who is enjoying his old age.
Zhong Hua looked at Xiong Wuliang with eyes full of love - if the old Junhou had a soul in heaven, how happy he would be now!
The little dandy who was ignorant and unskilled back then is now a big shot with world-famous reputation.
Thinking about next year, the young Junhou will get married... Zhong Hua's mind flashed to the face of the old Junhou Xiong Wei, and he couldn't help but smile and his eyes were bright.
Nowadays, Zhong Hua is over fifty years old, which can be considered a long life in this era... The old Junhou and the old brothers who died in Danyang came to mind, and the corners of his eyes couldn't help but moisten.
Xiong Wuliang scooped out a bowl of mutton soup - this was the most common pottery bowl, not an expensive but impractical copper tripod - and handed the first bowl of mutton soup into Zhong Hua's hand.
"Uncle Zhong, try your nephew's skills." Xiong Wuliang said with a smile, as if he didn't see the glistening corners of Zhong Hua's eyes.
If Xiong Wu's conscience ranked him as being close or distant - Zhong Hua was definitely the closest elder.
Although King Chu Huai treated Xiong Wuliang well, he also hoped that Xiong Wuliang could support Mi Heng in the future - only old Zhong Hua really thought about Xiong Wuliang wholeheartedly.
No amount of courtesy can be too much for this veteran who had saved his late father's life several times and risked his life to save Xiong Wuliang's life.
Zhong Hua didn't refuse, took the mutton soup, smelled the fragrance, and praised it again and again.
At this moment, Xiong Wuliang is not like the noble Quyang Hou, but more like an ordinary cook who is looking forward to receiving praise - he divides a pot of mutton soup into many portions, and scoops out the last bowl for Xiong Wuliang himself.
The two brothers and sisters Xiao Yi, Zhong Hua, Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai who were present, plus the cook and the soldiers serving the firewood, all had a share... No one could care about talking anymore and just engrossed themselves in eating.
Xiaoyi smiled sweetly and ate a lot - just looking at this amount of food, she didn't look like a petite southern girl at all.
Xiaobai's face was covered with food, and he didn't know how he did it - even his forehead was stained with oil. Xiong Wuliang smiled and handed over a handkerchief and wiped Xiaobai's mouth.
A few years have passed, and Xiaobai has become like a grown-up child.
Although it can’t be said to be a beautiful girl, under the care of the Marquis Mansion, she also looks fair and clean, completely unlike the dirty little girl back then - now there seems to be a girlish curve under her loose robe. Wire.
Xiaobai immediately blushed after taking Xiong Wuliang's handkerchief.
Compared with his sister, Xiao Hei looked very grown-up - perhaps because Master Yan Zhong Hua was sitting next to him, Xiao Hei resisted the urge to wolf down the delicious mutton soup and ate it slowly.
Too much was done - there was still a lot left in the pot. Xiong Wuliang raised his head and whistled, and several Qingyu Guard spies appeared with flattering smiles on their faces...
"Everyone, divide it and eat it." Xiong Wuliang grinned broadly——
…
