"Auntie, let me and my brothers propose a toast to you! I wish you a longer life than Nanshan Mountain!"
Yu Jie and others from the next table came over, holding wine glasses and toasting to Cao's mother with smiles on their faces.
They are brothers in the same discipline and colleagues in the military, so the relationship has naturally become closer.
"Okay, okay, you are all good men of the Song Dynasty! Let's go together!"
Cao's mother was beaming with joy, and the Cao brothers toasted together, enjoying themselves happily.
"Ms. Chen, gentlemen, I would like to propose a toast to you! I wish you all a happy holiday!"
Yu Jie and others raised their glasses again, everyone was very heroic.
"Thank you, generals! The imperial court has young talents like you, and we, the people of Lizhou and Lizhou, are blessed!"
Chen Yu toasted and complimented him, not knowing whether it was true or not.
All the officials drank together with the warriors.
Yu Jie and others walked away. Chen Yu looked at their backs, shook his head and sighed.
"The future life is terrible!"
"It's better than Cheng Xin being the head coach. Mr. Chen, don't you think so?"
Jia Zikun whispered, Chen Yu and Jia Zikun smiled at each other, raised their glasses and drank.
Yu Jie and others went back to sit down. Brother Cao Youwen came over to toast, and the atmosphere was extremely warm.
"Brother Yu, I heard that Li Zhongde refused to leave, so you killed him. Is there any order from the court?"
Cao Youwen sat down and asked with concern.
His younger brother Cao Youwan was the deputy governor of Lizhou East Road, and he held Li Zhongde's position.
"Brother Cao, I had no choice but to do this. Li Zhongde didn't leave, the soldiers in the camp didn't listen to orders, and there was no one to train, so I had to arrest him and a few of his confidants. Otherwise, brother, I wouldn't be able to control the generals or train the troops. .”
Yu Jie shook his head and said seriously:
"Fortunately, this guy has a lot of things going on, otherwise I wouldn't have gotten through it so easily. Your Majesty, His Majesty, passed the decree to me and praised me for my boldness and well-organized work. With Your Majesty's support, I will be more confident."
Speaking of which, had it not been for the "inside information" provided by the Anti-Corruption Division, he would not have been able to take down Li Zhongde so easily and eliminate the hidden dangers on Lizhou East Road.
Lizhou East Road captured Li Zhongde and others, while Lizhou West Road captured or killed Gao Yifeng, He Tao and his entourage. Next, I can finally let go and do something big.
Yu Jie's words made Cao Youwen nod and feel excited.
Didn't the emperor send them here to rectify the border troops? How can you do anything if you are timid?
As long as you have the support of the emperor and principal, you won't be afraid if the sky falls.
"Brothers, on the occasion of the New Year's Eve festival, I have a few words from my heart. I hope brothers won't take offense."
Cao Youwen picked up the wine glass and stood up, his face serious.
"Old Cao, tell me!"
"General, tell me what you have to say!"
Yu Jie and the other officers nodded, wanting to hear what Cao Youwen said.
"Brothers, Your Majesty sent me to the northwest border with a heavy responsibility and high expectations. In addition to killing the enemy and serving the country and making contributions, brothers, you must also keep yourselves clean and don't be greedy, let alone commit crimes. Your Majesty will not If you treat us badly, we must not let things go wrong for the state, and we must not let ourselves go wrong!"
After Cao Youwen finished speaking, he raised his glass.
"Brothers, do it!"
"What General Cao said is what I really mean. As a true man, we have made great contributions to the country and the people. The emperor will not treat us badly. We must live up to the emperor's trust and expectations, and we must not do stupid things. Brothers, it's done!"
Yu Jie said meaningfully, stood up and picked up the wine glass.
There are a lot of corrupt officials, but they can't stand the chance of getting rich and drunk. He doesn't want any of his subordinates to fall into trouble due to corruption.
"Making great contributions to the country and the people, done!"
"Done!"
Other officers who graduated from the Jinling Martial Arts Hall raised their glasses together, and everyone was in awe.
The imperial court vigorously fights against corruption, and the fate of those who are corrupt is clear at a glance. They, the disciples of the emperor, must not lose the face of the emperor and principal.
"Done!"
Everyone raised their glasses and clinked them together.
"Brothers, please sit down first. We brothers will go out and pay respect to the neighbors, relatives and friends outside."
Cao Youwen filled the wine glass and picked up the glass.
There is a distinction between high and low, high and low. Officials and generals are in the hall, but ordinary people are in the courtyard. This has been the case since ancient times.
“Fellow folks, we brothers, here’s to you all!”
Brother Cao Youwen toasted together and drank with the people in the courtyard.
"Official man, as the commander-in-chief of Lizhou West Road and a popular figure in front of the emperor, can't you find an official position for us neighbors?"
Neighbor Li Er, a clerk at a street grain store, had known the Cao brothers since they were young. His face turned red after drinking, and he asked loudly with the courage to drink.
"Official, what Li Er said is right. You have tens of thousands of soldiers and horses under your command in three passes and five states. If you add a few of us, we can be minor officials in charge of food, grass, food and drink. There will be no problem, right?"
Another neighbor, Zhu Youfu, the chef of the restaurant, was red in the face and looked like he had drunk a lot.
"That's right, senior official. You are the emperor's disciple. Isn't it too easy for us to be a minor official?"
Relatives and friends started making noises, but most people were just messing around and joining in the fun.
"Uncle Fu, stop joking. Do you still dare to eat it? Your belly is so round!"
Cao Youwan was so proud that he raised his wine glass and said loudly:
"However, you are your cook and run your restaurant. If anyone dares to cause trouble or extort money, just tell me. See if I don't skin him!"
"Brother Cao, General Cao, thank you very much!"
Zhu Youfu smiled happily, nodded and bowed his head repeatedly.
With two generals protecting us, we no longer have to worry about those local gangsters and government officials.
"Li Er, you are in good shape. It would be a pity not to be a soldier. But you have to practice well and not be afraid of death. Only in this way can you achieve meritorious service, and only then can I help you!"
After Cao Youwan finished admonishing Zhu Youfu, he said to Li Er seriously.
"Forget it, forget it. I still have my mother to take care of me at home, so just be a soldier. Thank you, General Cao!"
Li Er said with an embarrassed smile, it seemed that he was sober and he was just pretending to drink too much.
Cao You couldn't help but smile when he heard this. The younger brother hates evil as much as he wants and has a fierce temperament, but after studying at the Jinling Martial Arts Hall, he has learned to distinguish right from wrong and how to deal with things.
"Master Cao, you are a double elite in the Cao family. The Cao family is going to be prosperous and glorious again! Congratulations!"
Li Er's father, the gray-haired Old Man Li, raised his wine glass with both hands and toasted to the Cao brothers. He could not hide the envy in his eyes.
They are so prosperous in one day, why don't they, poor people, have such opportunities?
However, the Cao brothers have become successful, but they are not as successful as villains. The family tradition of the Cao family is indeed extraordinary.
"Thank you Uncle Li, thank you all fellow villagers! Let's eat well and drink well, and we won't go home until we're drunk!"
Brother Cao Youwen picked up his wine glass again and drank with everyone.
Cao Youwen sighed secretly. On a trip to Jinling, my life has undergone such a big change. It's a world of difference.
This is truly a great and generous favor from the Emperor!
