Li Jiangyao stood up slowly and glanced at Cheng Dong. Cheng Dong reluctantly left his seat and introduced him: "The Protector, this is my roommate, whose nickname is Cheng Wen. Sister, come and meet the Protector."
Cheng Wen moved her lotus steps gently, walked up to Li Jiang, and bowed: "See you, General. Thank you for asking me, and for giving me a good gift. I am so kind and kind, so I should accept it. Wen'er is very grateful."
"You're welcome, Miss. It's just a small gift, nothing worth mentioning." Li Jiangyao hurriedly raised his hands and responded, "Li is going to the mansion for a banquet today. There are a lot of troubles. Please forgive me, Miss."
Cheng Wen smiled brightly, turned to Cheng Dong and said: "Brother invited the world's best general and the great hero of the Shengtang to have a drink, but he didn't even ask Wen'er to accompany him. Did my sister offend you somewhere before?"
Cheng Dong was a little embarrassed and said with a sneer: "How can I offend you? It's just that today all the brothers are accompanying Dadu to have a banquet, and most of the topics involved are military matters. I'm afraid that you will be bored, so I didn't invite you. "
Cheng Wen glanced at him meaningfully, turned to Li Jiangyao and said, "Dadu Protector, I also want to offer you a few glasses of wine. You won't mind it, right?"
"How dare you, how dare you," Li Jiangyao said with a smile, "Miss, it is a great honor for Li. Please take a seat."
Seeing this, Cheng Dong had no choice but to order his servants to add seats so that Cheng Wen could sit next to Li Jiangyao.
The disciples also followed them back to their respective seats. However, for a while, no one was drinking and talking and laughing as before. Instead, they all looked at Cheng Wen politely, waiting for her to speak.
Li Jiangyao had heard from the Seventh Princess before that Cheng Wen was smart, capable and resourceful. After her father Cheng Kaiyang died, she took care of her mother while taking care of all the rooms in Cheng's house. When I saw him today, the rumors were indeed true.
While thinking about these thoughts in his mind, Cheng Wen had already picked up the wine and said with a smile: "The Protector is an unparalleled hero. Wen'er proposes a drink to you."
Li Jiangyao raised his glass to greet her: "Young lady is so complimentary, but Li doesn't dare to accept it."
Cheng Wen obviously had a good drinker. He raised his head and drank it all in one gulp. He said with a smile: "Fighting alone, resisting powerful enemies, and regaining thousands of miles of mountains and rivers for the Holy Tang Dynasty. In the past 800 years of the dynasty, no one has achieved such a feat as the Great Protector. You Definitely worthy of the title of unparalleled."
She put down her wine glass, paused for a moment, then pointed to the people present and said: "The Duke of our town is a nobleman of the Holy Tang Dynasty. He has been favored by the emperor in his life. Although there are many children in the family, in the end, those who can serve the country in the army can , only my father and second brother Cheng Xi."
As soon as these words came out, all the children of the Cheng family, including Cheng Dong, felt a little embarrassed, and they all smiled to cover up their embarrassment.
Li Jiangyao waved his hand: "Miss, what you said is wrong. Serving the country may not only be in the military battlefield. The prosperity and tranquility of the Holy Tang Dynasty requires all kinds of talents. Whether it is governing the country or teaching and educating people, it is not Less than the contribution of going into battle to kill the enemy."
Hearing this, Cheng Wen smiled faintly: "The Protector is trying to find a way out for our Cheng family. In times of peace and prosperity, everyone can naturally show their talents, but when the country is in danger, saving the country is the most important thing. A husband, a husband There is no other choice but to join the army and fight bloody battles."
Cheng Nan nodded and said: "Sister is right! I also want to join the army and fight like my father and second brother! Protector, do you still need people in the Zhenjiang Army? Do you think I can do it?"
Li Jiangyao laughed loudly: "What's wrong with that? As long as you are willing, the Zhenjiang Army is always welcome. By the way, which legion is your second brother currently serving?"
"Cheng Xi is in the White Tiger Army." Cheng Dong answered for his younger brother: "He served as a lieutenant in the Qing Suppression Camp for a period of time, and was later incorporated into General Gong Chengze's command."
"Oh, that's right." Li Jiangyao nodded: "I remember that the suppression camp was dedicated to fighting poison soldiers, right?"
Cheng Nan responded: "Yes, yes, when the poisonous soldiers were ravaging the Central Plains, the second brother secretly ran from Yizhou to Luoyi, the eastern capital, without telling his mother, and followed General Gong to form a suppression camp. He fought bravely and made many military exploits. , has now been promoted to captain in charge of the third banner of the White Tiger Legion."
Cheng Bei is also quite proud: "My second brother didn't rely on the family's reputation. He made it all by himself."
Li Jiangyao praised: "It is indeed not easy! I have seen the power of those poisonous soldiers in Zijin Pass. I dare to fight with them to the death. Your second brother did not embarrass the Duke of Zhen."
"So I also want to join the army," Cheng Nan said: "I don't want to join any other legion, so I just want to join the Suppressing Border Army. Protector, now that the rebels in the south have not been wiped out, I think there are still many battles to be fought."
Just as Li Jiangyao was about to answer, Cheng Wen next to him smiled and said: "Brother Nan, if you want to go to the Suppressing Xinjiang Army, you can go there? There are all heroes and heroes who are not afraid of death. How about you? You will cry every time you scratch your skin. "
"Sister, why are you making fun of me like this?" Cheng Nan said dissatisfied: "You are exposing my shortcomings in front of the Protector!"
As soon as this statement came out, everyone present couldn't help laughing.
Cheng Dong picked up the wine glass, smoothed his cheeks for his younger brother and said, "It made Da Duhu laugh. We brothers and sisters have always been like this. When we quarrel, no one will save face for the other. When my father was still alive, he loved to watch them make trouble."
Cheng Wen's expression dimmed and she sighed: "It's a pity that daddy left too early and couldn't see his children grow up."
"Yeah, it's been ten years," Cheng Bei lamented, "I can barely remember what dad looks like."
Cheng Dong looked at his younger brothers and sisters, then suddenly turned to ask Li Jiangyao: "Dadu Protector, when my father was killed, you were leading the troops in Western Xinjiang, right?"
Li Jiangyao was stunned for a moment and responded: "Well, I was fighting in Metasequoia City at that time."
"No, you remembered it wrong." Cheng Wen smiled faintly: "When my father was ordered to be transferred to the position of commander-in-chief of the Long Sword Army, Daduhu was indeed commanding the resistance against the enemy in Metasequoia. However, when my father was killed by an assassin in the army, you happened to I was just made Baron Metasequoia by the Turks, am I right?"
Such a sensitive topic was brought out to Cheng Wen's face as if it was a joke, which immediately shocked the children of each side of the Cheng family. Everyone immediately turned their attention to the Protector Li Jiangyao, their eyes full of fear and worry.
Directly offending the military generals who held military power might not be a big deal if it were replaced by the former Zhenguo Palace, but now that the family is in decline, once the chief protector is angered, it may immediately cause huge disasters.
Li Jiangyao was stunned for a moment, then suddenly raised his hand and patted his forehead, smiling sheepishly: "Miss Cheng is right, I was confused. At that time, the Turkic army had just swept across the entire Ghost Desert in Western Xinjiang, and I was beaten by them. I almost belched my fart."
Cheng Wen asked with a smile: "So Dadu protects the heroes from immediate losses and pretends to surrender?"
"That's pretty much it," Li Jiangyao nodded and said calmly: "At that time, the main Turkic forces were in Western Xinjiang. Our Xinjiang Army was unable to resist forcefully, so we could only make concessions to the enemy and protect ourselves for the time being."
The fact that Li Jiangyao was granted the title of Baron Metasequoia was deliberately spread by the Turks, and even led to the late Emperor Li Chengwu personally issuing an order to convict and arrest him. Therefore, no one in the Holy Tang Dynasty knew about it. Later, the Zhenjiang Army proved its loyalty to the country with its actual actions, and gradually no one mentioned it deliberately anymore.
Well, counter-measures on the battlefield have been popping up in endlessly since ancient times. Is it possible that we really believe the Turks’ words?
However, having said that, it is not a glorious thing to succumb to the strength of the enemy. Cheng Wen's talking and laughing like this still makes the Cheng family a little worried.
Cheng Bei had a quick mind. In order to avoid Li Jiangyao's embarrassment, he quickly changed the topic: "Dadu Protector, you are not only good at land warfare, but you are also extremely proficient in water warfare. It is really impressive. Can you tell us about it... "
Before he finished speaking, Cheng Wen said again: "Defender, you were in Western Xinjiang at that time, not far from the two passes. You should know the whole story and the whole story of my father's assassination, right?"
Li Jiangyao thought to himself: It’s finally here.
He coughed twice slightly and responded: "Miss, please forgive me. At that time, Western Xinjiang was controlled by Turks and rebels, and there were wars everywhere. The situation was very chaotic. We have been alone in Metasequoia, with no information, and we have been unable to contact the court. This also includes the Long Sword Legion commanded by Your Majesty. Therefore, I am not very clear about the whole story of the assassination of the old Duke."
He glanced at Cheng Dong, who was sitting next to him with a gloomy expression, and continued: "But later I heard Murong Xue say that your father-in-law was killed by Xie Guang and Lao Jianhua in order to let Xie Guang's nephew Xie Biao seize military power. At the same time, it will give the Turks an opportunity to invade Shengtang."
Cheng Wen followed Li Jiangyao's gaze and glanced at her brother, and then said lightly: "Later, I also asked someone to ask Shen Shaoqing about this matter. His statement was the same as General Murong. However, the assassin..."
When Cheng Wen was about to continue speaking, Cheng Dong suddenly interrupted: "Wen'er, let him go past what has happened! Daddy has been gone for so long, why bring it up?"
Cheng Bei also helped: "That's right, I'm going to invite you to a banquet today. Let's not mention our own family matters."
Cheng Wen rolled her eyes at her brother, then showed a charming smile, raised her glass and said to Li Jiangyao: "It was Wen'er who was rude just now. You shouldn't talk about those unpleasant memories. Come on, this glass should be for the guardian of the capital." Make amends."
After saying that, Cheng Wen drank the wine in one gulp.
At this moment, Li Jiangyao couldn't help feeling a little confused.
In the situation just now, Cheng Dong obviously knew about Lian Ji, so he stopped Cheng Wen when she was about to reveal the identity of the assassin.
However, why Cheng Dong did this and what the purpose behind it was is worthy of scrutiny.
Does he really want to expose Lian Ji's matter so as not to offend Li Jiangyao, a person who must never be offended? Or should we temporarily stabilize Li Jiangyao and then have other plans?
Do they, the Cheng family brothers and sisters, have their own agenda? Or are they joining forces to perform a double act at this banquet?
