As the night grew darker, everyone in the hall became more drunk. Even Chang Yu was already drunk, but he was still eloquent and told Zu Dashou and others some of the major events that had happened in the past few months, so that he could understand the current situation.
The Manchu Qing Dynasty was severely damaged and could not recover for a short time. It had no intention and no ability to invade the Ming Dynasty. But even so, the Ming Dynasty was still in dire straits. Drought, locust plagues, earthquakes, and plagues had made the people of the five northern provinces miserable. Although the weather in the south was more favorable, the war was still fierce. One after another, the Baiwang and Yuanzong tribes entrenched themselves in the Yangtze River Basin and caused serious trouble. Zhang Xianzhong had already raised the banner to proclaim himself emperor in Sichuan, not to mention the countless small groups of bandits from various places who responded.
All in all, the border situation is much better and there is time to recover, but things inside the border are not optimistic at all!
Chang Yu kept talking, and the eleven members of the Zu family listened attentively, and almost no one spoke. Most of them were Zu Dashou asking, and Zu Er, the madman, occasionally interrupted.
After a long time, Zu Dashou let out a long sigh and drained his glass of wine and looked at Chang Yu and said: "I have been in the army for decades. To be honest, there are only two types of people I hate the most, civil servants and eunuchs! But now I really hate the governor." Get up, because the kind of people I admire the most are those who say what they say directly without hiding anything, and what’s even more rare is someone who can say something that speaks from the bottom of their hearts!”
Chang Yu laughed loudly, stared at Zu Dashou and said: "Actually, our family is usually the kind you hate the most, and we rarely say anything that touches our heart, but in front of General Zu, our family really can't be hypocritical. How can I say this?" , maybe it’s because the two of us hit it off.”
The words between the two men immediately brought them closer. Zu Dashou laughed loudly and stood up to pour wine for Chang Yu. He drank three glasses of wine in a row. Chang Yu's eyes were moist, although the old man in front of him was already slightly rickety. But he seemed to have seen that sword-wielding horse riding in Jinzhou City. Gods came to kill gods and ghosts came to kill ghosts. When killing crazy demons, they even killed their own people!
This old man who once fought for the Ming Dynasty and shed blood but finally retired from the stage of history sadly was finally dragged back by himself.
Other descendants of the ancestral family also came to toast one after another, but Chang Yu's drinking capacity was really too strong. Fortunately, the important words were all said at this time, and he could ask his guests to come on stage.
So the wine jar Wuzhong, the wandering Taoist priest Li Muxian, Wu Sangui's confidant Shen Jianghu and others came to take over. They only drank and talked about old times without getting involved in military affairs. The scene was much more lively than before.
Chang Yu walked up to Zu Zehong with hurried steps, patted his shoulder gently and whispered: "Can you get some fresh air in the yard?"
Zu Zehong quickly helped Chang Yu out of the lobby. Zu Dashou glanced at the door with a vague look in his eyes, and then began to argue with Li Muxian. Li Muxian may not be as good as Wuzhong in other aspects, but his eloquence surpassed him. He can chat with anyone and anything, and he becomes addicted once he talks.
Because this guy is so good at deceiving.
In the pavilion in the courtyard, Chang Yu held his head against the pillar and was about to vomit. Zu Zehong was a little confused behind him, not knowing what to do.
"Did you get married in Shenyang?" Chang Yu suddenly turned around and asked. Zu Zehong was frightened and hurriedly said: "Return to the governor, we are married."
"You have a son?" Chang Yu asked next.
"Not yet" (his son Zu Liangdong has not yet been born)
Chang Yu hummed: "I know that you became an official there, got married, and had a wife, so you have a bond. I am an upright man. I just told your father to open the window and speak out. Say whatever you want." , it is still the case at this time. I only want to ask you one thing, do you want to go or stay? If you want to stay, just serve the Ming Dynasty and don't go to Qin Muchu. If you want to go, I will send you back immediately. I will never break my promise or add any crime. implicating others."
"I will humble myself and obey my father and swear allegiance to the Ming Dynasty!" Zu Zehong bowed and said without hesitation, because he was a smart man, no matter what the little eunuch said was true or false, and no matter whether he really wanted to stay or not. You can't even hesitate at the moment, because if you hesitate even a little, it means your heart is not so pure or sincere. If you hesitate, it means you are entangled.
This is not allowed. What does this person in front of me do? He is the leader of Dongchang! The emperor's confidant, the emperor's sword!
Although Zu Zehong is young, he is not stupid at all.
Regardless of whether the young eunuch is sincere or not, he must express his loyalty to the Ming Dynasty without hesitation.
But Chang Yu was not stupid. He looked at Hehe and sneered: "I have given you a chance. Since you said you would stay and be loyal to the Ming Dynasty, I hope you will do what you say. Otherwise... you know that I am not intimidating you." .
"What I say in my humble position is the truth from my heart. If the governor doesn't believe me, just kill me now," Zu Zehong said with a bite. Chang Yu laughed and patted her shoulder: "Although I am bloodthirsty, I don't kill indiscriminately. Over time, we can see the people's hearts. We will find out if it is true or not in the future." After saying that, he waved for him to go back to the lobby. Zu Zehong bowed. After exiting the pavilion, he suddenly turned around and asked: "Why did the governor only ask a humble person, my eldest brother and second brother..."
"Because I don't like them both." Chang Yu chuckled: "Except for your father and your second uncle, among all the people in the hall, you are the only one who can enter the eyes of this governor."
Zu Zehong's breathing became rapid in an instant, and he kowtowed quickly: "Lord Governor..."
Chang Yu interrupted him with a wave of his hand, and said with a trace of disdain: "The Tatars' official positions are not as legitimate and majestic as our Ming Dynasty official names. Don't forget that we are Han people, so of course we should be Han people's officials. Besides, the Tatars have sesame seeds." What's the point of being an official? Your father will be knighted within two years. At that time...hehehe."
"Thank you very much, Lord Governor, for your support. I'm humble..." Zu Zehong was so excited that he didn't know what to say.
See, sometimes winning people's hearts is just that simple.
It was late at night and the noise had died down. The candlelight was flickering in the inner hall of the General Military Mansion. Zu Dashou drank strong tea to sober up the hangover. He raised his eyebrows and glanced at Zu Dalue. Zu Dacheng and the others said, "After a meal of ecstasy wine, they all fainted. Is it done?”
"I think this little eunuch is sincere. He exchanged us for reinstatement. As long as he takes Jinzhou, the surrender to the Qing Dynasty will be cancelled. This is reliable. After all, we had no choice but to surrender back then. After all, we He is still a Han, and it is legitimate to serve the Ming Dynasty. Even if he dies, he will have the honor to meet his ancestors." Zu Dacheng said lightly, while Zu Dalue nodded slightly beside him.
But Zu Dashou smiled: "I have been idle for two years with the Tatars. Is my brain rusty? Can I write it off? What are you thinking? Have you heard the story just now in vain? Wu Sangui resisted the edict at the beginning of the year, and the court has only been in the court for a few months. We will settle accounts with him after the fall, divide his military power and transfer him to the customs to serve his life. He is just resisting the decree, we are surrendering to the Qing Dynasty!"
"Brother, what do you mean, the little eunuch just wants to use us to regain Jinzhou, and he will kill the donkey afterwards?" Zu Dale frowned and was about to curse. Zu Dashou shook his head and said, "If you want to regain Jinzhou, "Wu Sangui is a ready candidate. He has the ability and strength. There is no need to spend so much effort to bring us back to Jinzhou in one fell swoop."
"Then...brother, what do you want to say?" Zu Dacheng was anxious. Zu Zehong beside him couldn't help but interject: "Dad, the little eunuch told me that you will be knighted within two years!"
oh! Zu Dashou and others were startled, and then they all couldn't help but stand up and pace back and forth in the hall. It was obvious that they were very excited. In fact, he was the only four people in the hall, and the others were already drunk.
"Is he deliberately throwing bait?" Zu Dale asked.
Zu Dashou sat down slowly, took a sip from the teacup and said, "Whether it's bait or not, as long as he throws it, we will eat it." He smiled slightly, raised his head and scanned everyone: "What do you think this little eunuch is like?" people".
"It seems that humans and animals are harmless, but in fact the city is very deep," Zu Dacheng said.
"He is a ruthless man. As he said himself, he is warlike and bloodthirsty, and maybe he is really good at fighting," Zu Dal said.
Zu Dashou looked at Zu Zehong again.
"My son feels that he really admires his father. It's not like he's making it up, but he admires him from the bottom of his heart."
Zu Dashou smiled: "That's the point. This is one of the reasons why he is willing to use his head to guarantee Azig in exchange for us, because he and I are the same people, warlike and bloodthirsty! And the other one The reason is that we should divide Wu Sangui’s military power to prevent him from growing out of control.”
"Then he's not afraid that we will become bigger?" Zu Zehong asked.
"He is afraid, but he has already planned it." Zu Dashou chuckled and said, "Believe it or not, once we take Jinzhou City, Wu Sangui will come back immediately and continue to take over Ningyuan." "Wu Sangui was the one he used to contain us."
"But Sangui is your nephew, he is not afraid of our family..." Zu Dacheng raised his eyebrows.
Zu Dashou smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I once wrote a letter to persuade Wu Sangui to surrender. There was a estrangement. Now I have occupied the magpie's nest and divided his military power. The relationship is over." He said with a long sigh: "Dacheng is right, this little The eunuch's city is very deep. He used us to divide Wu Sangui, and later used him to contain us."
"This little eunuch is so treacherous," Zu Dale couldn't help but cursed, while Zu Dashou smiled faintly: "This kind of thing is normal. Isn't it the same for everyone employed in the court? The little eunuch's method is not new. , no matter how you say it, he is quite honest, and he has shown his heart to me, so I can trust him!"
"That father will really be knighted within two years." Zu Zehong was very happy,
Zu Dashou laughed and said, "Let's just let it happen. Anyway, now that I'm back, my back can be straightened. I no longer have to bow down and be a slave to others. Even if I die in battle, I will be innocent and worthy of my ancestors."
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