Caizhou.
After giving up the plan to assassinate Zhang Xiu, the Cai family changed their attitude towards Zhang Xiu again, but they did not dare to touch the wall of getting married again and prepared to find another way to make friends; as for the marriage arranged by Liu Biao, it was not their Cai family's fault. Something for the family to consider.
Just when they were thinking about how to make acquaintance with Zhang Xiu, a piece of news that shocked them came: Zhang Xiu was getting married to Huang Yueying.
"What do you think of this embroidery?" Cai Hao couldn't figure it out. "He obviously rejected our arrangement. Now it's better. He can go to the Huang family to arrange marriage."
Cai Xi said nonchalantly: "No matter what he thinks, he is our nephew and son-in-law now. It's better now. He found it himself. Even if Liu Shijun is dissatisfied, it has nothing to do with us. He also brought Zhang Xiu into our Cai family's camp, what a blessing!" As he said this, he laughed, showing his empty and loose teeth.
Cai Hao nodded: "We are the ones who look at the profits, so I will prepare gifts and send them to you when we get married. Aweng, what do you think we should prepare?"
Cai Xi confidently said: "Food and grass!"
"forage?!"
Cai Xi nodded: "Zhang Xiu has great ambitions and will never satisfy the small Nanyang County. If there is a next plan, there must be sufficient food and grass, and our Cai family's greatest support for him is food and grass."
"Then how should I explain it to you?"
"Didn't Liu Shijun agree to Zhang Xiu's request: 100,000 stones of grain and grass, 50,000 pieces of ordnance, and a three-story ship? Who packed the quantity of grain and grass?"
"I."
"Whose food and grass?"
"Our family owns most of the food and grass for all the powerful people in Jingzhou, and I will arrange the food and grass... Oh!" Cai Mao suddenly realized.
The food and grass were packed by the Cai family. It was said to be one hundred thousand dan, but the exact amount depends on one's mouth.
Cai Xi smiled and nodded.
…
Marriage procedures in ancient times were very strict, with many procedures and a very solemn form; only after three letters and six etiquettes could one be considered to be married to a clear matchmaker.
July, 197 AD.
The sun shines high in the sky like fire, and the blazing sun steams the earth. All the insects, birds, and plants are so languid that they are about to fall asleep. Fortunately, a pleasant cool breeze blows, making people feel comfortable lying under the trees. It's so cool.
Zhang Xiu hates that this is the day he found!
The sun was so poisonous that it could kill a person. If it weren't for the cool breeze, he felt like he was about to melt.
Riding on a tall horse, leading drums, ceremonial guards, and colorful carriages (commonly known as sedan chairs), they went to Huangjiawan in the west of Xiangyang City to marry Huang Yueying; Huang Yueying got on the carriage and returned.
To ensure Zhang Xiu's safety, Gan Ning and Ji Ling led 5,000 infantry and were deployed at every strategic point in Huangjiawan; Wei Yan and Li Tong each led 300 cavalry to follow one after another.
In order to keep Huang Yueying from being stuffy while sitting in the carriage, Zhang Xiu used the gear technology of later generations and borrowed the rolling sedan shaft to drive the gear rotation. A wooden fan was installed inside the sedan, and the fan rotated as the shaft rolled.
Huang Yueying sat in the carriage, enjoying the cool breeze brought by the fan, feeling as sweet as honey pouring into her heart.
The entire Wancheng has been decorated in red. Today is the wedding day of Xuanwei Hou Zhangxiu. The warlords of the entire Han Dynasty are in a sensation. The few surviving powerful nobles in the local area have generously given out expensive gifts. Warlords from all over the country sent representatives:
Liu Biao's representative Cai Mao, Lu Bu's representative Zhang Liao, Sun Ce's representative Sun Quan, Cao Cao's representative Xun You, Liu Bei's representative Zhang Fei, Yuan Shao's representative Tian Feng and other figures all came to Nanyang to express their blessings for Zhang Xiu's wedding.
What Zhang Xiu didn't expect was that Gongsun Zan also sent people from all the way, and the person who came was Guan Jing.
Of course, these people did not come here just to have a wedding banquet, but they all had a purpose.
After worshiping heaven and earth, Zhang Xiu entered the banquet.
He raised his glass of wine and said: "Gentlemen! I have received so much love from you all today that I came to attend Xiu's wedding. I am very grateful to Xiu. Gentlemen, please!"
Zhang Xiu raised his chin, drank the wine bravely, and then stood upside down to drink wine, all in one smooth and free movement.
"Hahaha!" Zhang Fei felt doubly happy, "Brother Xian is such a good drinker! I did it too." After laughing, he raised his head and drank it all in one gulp, making a happy sound.
Others imitated Zhang Xiu and finished their drinks in a majestic manner.
Xun You toasted and said with a smile: "Xuanhou is a pillar of the imperial court. I hope that Xuanhou will always be loyal to the imperial court and the emperor."
Loyal to the court?
Is Cao Cao specializing in the imperial court?
Loyal to the emperor?
The world held hostage by Cao Cao?
Zhang Xiu answered tactfully with a smile on his face: "This is natural. I should follow the example of Duke Cao and be loyal to the court and the emperor." His words bit Duke Cao seriously.
Xun You heard the hidden meaning and drank with a smile.
Others sneered.
Zhang Fei has a heroic character. He took Zhang Xiu and drank freely. He was very happy and happy when he drank. He said regretfully: "If I hadn't met my virtuous brother when I was in Zhuojun, otherwise, I would have become a life-and-death brother with you." , so that we can often drink together." As he said this, he clinked glasses and drank.
Zhang Liao wanted to know what the secret message meant, so he came over to congratulate Zhang Xiu. After toasting, there were a few gleams in his eyes. There were too many people to ask, and he was afraid of missing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ask.
Zhang Xiu was happy, but he didn't notice Zhang Liao's eyes, and clinked glasses with Gan Ning, Wei Yan and others to drink.
"General, it's getting late. Don't keep your wife waiting for too long." Jia Xu saw that Zhang Xiu had almost finished drinking, so he spoke in time.
"Okay! Okay!" Zhang Xiu pretended to be drunk and hazy, "Gentlemen, tonight's spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold, so I won't spend more time with you!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Jia Xu helped Zhang Xiu out of the banquet and out the door. Zhang Xiu said soberly: "Humph, this Xun You is really hateful. He wants to embarrass me in public."
Jia Xu smiled and said: "The fact that Xun You can come shows that Cao Cao's attitude towards us has changed, but that's good, we will have enough time to conquer Yongzhou."
"How is Pang Tong's alienation plan going?"
"The likes of Li Jue and Guo Si are brave and foolhardy. They have already taken the bait. They are only waiting for enough conflicts to accumulate before they break out."
"Well... we must be careful in this matter so as not to reveal any clues. Also, what about the shadow guards arranged between these forces?"
The Shadow Guards were planned and formed by Zhang Xiu when he first strategized on the building ship. Of course, he followed the example of the Jinyi Guards established by Zhu Yuanzhang, and were placed as eyeliners among various forces.
In the era without telephone networks, information would lag behind. Only by obtaining sufficient intelligence can we make countermeasures in advance.
"Cao Cao and Liu Bei's armies are the most difficult to arrange, but they are recruiting a large number of troops and are already making arrangements. I believe they will be able to arrange them soon."
Zhang Xiu nodded: "You will personally control the intelligence network. When we get to Chang'an, if we can recruit Li Ru, he will control it."
Jia Xu nodded.
"The representatives of these forces must have their own agenda. You and Ziyang can consider the matter and tell me the result of the discussion."
Jia Xu bowed and said "hey".
