"Shopkeeper, the wine is here." The person who delivered the wine said to Xu Xuewu after entering the room.
Xu Xuewu turned to look at Mao Chenglu and said, "General Mao, where should you put these jars of wine?"
"Just put it in the house." Mao Chenglu said, and then said to the soldier who entered the house, "Pick out a jar, scald it with hot water and bring it back."
"Yes." The guard agreed, holding a wine jar and retreating.
The people with the Tiger Character Flag piled the remaining wine jars in the corner of the house. After finishing the work, they also retreated from the house.
There are no fresh vegetables in winter. What we eat here in Pidao are some fish and shrimps, which are boiled in water and served on the table. In addition, there are a few pieces of meat from unknown beasts, packed in wooden basins.
Food is a little simpler, but only Mao Chenglu, a guerrilla general, can eat it on Pidao.
The wine was warmed and served to the table.
Xu Xuewu poured a bowl of wine for Mao Chenglu and Chen Zhong respectively, then raised the wine bowl in his hand and said with a smile: "The common people borrow flowers to offer to Buddha and respect the two generals."
Mao Chenglu picked up the wine bowl and took a sip.
Chen Zhong on the other side did the same. He picked up the wine bowl and took a sip.
After drinking the wine, the smell of alcohol rose in their stomachs, and their faces immediately turned red.
"Good wine." Mao Chenglu burped, grabbed the wine bowl and took another sip.
Xu Xuewu said with a smile: "This is the sorghum wine brewed by our Hu Zi Banner. The wine is strong enough and has enough stamina. When the weather is cold and the ground is freezing, one sip will warm you up."
"Well, this wine is indeed strong enough." Chen Zhong glanced at the wine bowl at hand and nodded in agreement.
Mao Chenglu held the wine bowl in his hand and said: "Your Tiger Flag is so unauthentic. You have such a good wine, but you have been hiding it, and you are not willing to take it out until today."
"This is to blame the common people. The common people have to apologize to the general." Xu Xuewu bowed his hands in apology and said immediately, "On the ship that came to Pi Island before, the common people only wanted to bring more food, soldiers and armor, but they forgot to bring them. Some wine was sent to the island, and I asked the two generals to be considerate."
"Okay, I will forgive you. In the future, when your Tiger Flag ship comes to Pi Island, you should prepare more of this sorghum wine." Mao Chenglu picked up the wine bowl and took another sip.
Chen Zhong, who was standing next to him, said: "This sorghum wine from your Tiger Character Banner is indeed good wine, but we can't just drink it. The adults haven't tasted it yet."
Mao Chenglu raised his hand and pointed to several wine jars in the corner, and said: "There are several jars there. I will leave one jar later and send the rest to my adoptive father."
Chen Zhong nodded and said: "Why don't we arrange for someone to deliver it to you now, and let you try this sorghum brew earlier."
"Two generals, don't be anxious." Xu Xuewu stopped him, and then said, "The wine for the commander-in-chief has been prepared by the common people, and it should be delivered by now."
When I told the people below to get the wine at the dock, in addition to sending some to Mao Chenglu, Mao Wenlong, the deputy commander-in-chief of Dongjiang Town, also prepared a larger quantity.
"You are quite sensible and have not forgotten your adoptive father." Mao Chenglu said to Xu Xuewu with a smile.
Xu Xuewu bowed and said: "When Tiger Character Banner comes to Pi Island to do business, it still relies on the care of General Mao and the two generals. Although General Mao was not able to see General Mao, the filial piety that ordinary people should give to General Mao is still You have to prepare it in advance and ask someone to send it to you, don’t lose etiquette.”
"So you are also prepared for General Chen's filial piety?" Mao Chenglu looked at Xu Xuewu.
Xu Xuewu said with a smile: "General Chen's share has been prepared. As long as General Chen opens his mouth, my people from the Tiger Flag can send it to Iron Mountain for General Chen."
After hearing this, Chen Zhong stroked his beard with a satisfied look on his face.
After changing glasses, the three of them drank more than half the wine.
The sorghum wine was strong and strong. The three of them drank it with their faces flushed. When they opened their mouths, the smell of alcohol came out of their mouths.
Xu Xuewu held a wine bowl in his hand and said: "Two generals, this time the grassroots came here in the hope of deepening cooperation with Dongjiang Town. I wonder if the two generals can bring the grassroots to visit the commander-in-chief."
Burp... Mao Chenglu let out a wine burp, waved his hand and said, "My adoptive father is busy with official duties and has no time to see you. If you need anything, just tell me and General Chen."
"Yes, just tell us." Chen Zhong nodded in agreement.
The two of them had obviously drunk a little too much, and their speech and movements were slightly sluggish.
Xu Xuewu put down the wine bowl and said: "To be honest, my boss hopes to arrange some people in Kuandian. The number will not be too many, at most three to four hundred people."
Kuandian is on the edge of Dongjiang Town.
On the other side of a river from Kuandian is Houjin. Kuandian is located between Dongjiang Town and Houjin. However, because there is a river blocking it, Jurchens rarely cross the river to go to Kuandian.
Mao Chenglu and Chen Zhong, who were a little drunk at first, looked at each other and sat up straight after hearing Xu Xuewu's words.
Among them, Mao Chenglu said: "Your Tiger Character Banner is a business name of Datong. What do you want to do in Kuandian? Do you want to station troops?"
"Haha, general, don't be ridiculous." Xu Xuewu smiled and said, "We don't have troops to station in the Tiger Flag. We just want to place hundreds of people to cut trees and get more big wood for shipbuilding."
"So it's because of this!" Mao Chenglu put down his vigilance and said, "Dongjiang Town and your Tiger Flag have been cooperating for a long time. Don't worry, we won't be short of the big trees you want."
Chen Zhong on the side nodded and said: "General Mao is right. Your Tiger Flag doesn't need to arrange for people to cut down the trees personally. The Tieshan where I am stationed has as many large trees as you need. You Tiger Flag doesn't need to bother. Arrange for people to go to Kuandian."
Xu Xuewu smiled at Chen Zhong and said: "General Chen is usually stationed at Tieshan, and he also has to guard against Houjin. How can the tiger-character flag delay General Chen's military and national affairs because of such a trivial matter as a big tree."
Hearing this, Chen Zhong, who was sitting at the same table, showed a hint of embarrassment.
When he was trying to evade the Tiger-Character Flag man in Tieshan, he told the Tiger-Character Flag man that Tieshan needed to prepare for the backend and had no time to pay attention to such trivial matters as logging.
Mao Chenglu, who was on the side, naturally knew what was going on, and said: "There are often small groups of Jurchens near Tieshan. General Chen naturally wants to prepare for Houjin's sneak attack. When Houjin is no longer spying on Tieshan, I think General Chen will definitely meet them." I’ll take care of your tiger-character flag, Damu.”
Chen Zhong also said: "Since the establishment of Dongjiang Town, Houjin has never been peaceful for a day. He always wants to take action against Dongjiang. Now at the end of the year, Houjin has become more peaceful. When I return to Tieshan, The people below must hurry up and prepare the big wood, and let you people with the Tiger Flag take it away."
"Then I'll have to thank General Chen." Xu Xuewu bowed his hand to Chen Zhong.
Chen Zhong said with a smile: "Your Tiger Character Banner sent food, grass and soldiers to my family when they needed it most. I will always remember these kindnesses in my heart, so when your Tiger Character Banner needs big wood, I will definitely take care of it." Keep an eye on it yourself.”
"Thank you, General. The common people will give you a bowl of wine, General Chen." Xu Xuewu picked up the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
Chen Zhong was already a little drunk, but he couldn't help but drink. After all, when he was in Tieshan before, he felt guilty about the Tiger Flag, so he had to pick up the wine bowl and drink a bowl with Xu Xuewu.
After drinking a bowl of wine, his stomach was churning. He forced it down and let out a wine burp.
