"Your Highness, the Duke of Qin and his entourage are approaching!" A military attache in civilian clothes walked in and reported.
Upon hearing this, Liu Yang, who was chatting with Murong Defeng, immediately stood up, waved his hand and said: "Let's go, follow me to greet you!"
When they were about to go out, Yi Cheng was holding a roll of account books and preparing to present them with hesitant steps. Seeing this, Liu Yang winked at Murong Defeng, asking him to accept it, and ordered: "Look it up!"
"Yes!" Murong Defeng accepted the order.
"Yi Cheng!" Liu Yang looked at Yi Cheng again.
"The villain is here! Please give me your orders, Your Highness." Yi Cheng bent down very low.
"Prepare a banquet!" Liu Yang ordered calmly.
"Yes!" Hearing this, Yi Cheng couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief, and asked proactively: "I wonder what your Highness's requirements are for the banquet?"
"Request?" Liu Yang sniffed the smell of roasted lamb in the air and chuckled: "Just prepare a whole lamb feast!"
When the prince Liu Yang came out of the palace this time, he naturally did not just go on an outing to visit, but he learned that Liu Xu, Liu Fang brothers and Zhao Kuangzan, who were patrolling the sky, were about to return to the court, so they came specially to welcome him.
This is not an arrangement by Emperor Liu, it is Liu Yang's own decision. After all, they are brothers and have been on good terms since they were young.
By the post road, Liu Yang, escorted by some casually dressed attendants, took his seat in advance and stood in the cold wind. He was dressed simply and only added a cotton robe.
The car drove slowly forward, the dragon flag fluttering in the autumn wind, and the knights guarding the front and rear. They noticed Liu Yang and the group, and immediately three knights came flying over to check the situation.
There's no way he can't help but pay attention, after all, the people around Liu Yang are all fierce and powerful, holding swords across swords. However, when the accompanying military attache stepped forward to announce his identity, one of the three knights turned around to report, and the remaining two respectfully dismounted to salute, asking for forgiveness for the crime of collision.
Liu Yang is not that small-minded. Those who don't know are not guilty, and they are also responsible. Not long after, brothers Liu Xu and Liu Fang, together with Zhao Kuangzan, King of Dongping, came forward to salute Liu Yang.
"I see His Highness the Crown Prince! How can I bother the Crown Prince to welcome the cool breeze?" Liu Xu stood in the middle and bowed.
Seeing this, Liu Yang also showed a gentle smile and said: "Brother, you and I brothers don't need to see each other. I am also here for a spring outing. I heard that you have returned from the northern tour, so naturally I should welcome you!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Liu Xu still looked like he was a minister.
Looking at Liu Xu, Liu Yang secretly sighed in his heart. Their older brothers have always had a good relationship since they were young. However, as they grow older, start their own houses, and get married, this relationship will inevitably happen. There have been some changes.
The biggest change is the difference between monarch and minister, and the gap between the relationships is getting wider and wider. And Liu Xu, probably the most obvious one among all the brothers, has always followed the ritual system and the regulations, and has a clear view of the king and his brothers.
As far as Liu Yang is concerned, he doesn't know whether he should be happy or worried about this change.
"King Dongping, it's been a hard journey!" Liu Yang bowed to Zhao Kuangzan again.
Seeing this, Zhao Kuangzan naturally did not dare to accept it, and hurriedly said: "Your Highness is a very respectful person, and I don't dare to accept it!"
Compared to Liu Xu, Liu Fang was obviously much more natural. He cupped his fist at Liu Yang and said, "Second brother, let's find a place to discuss our gossip. Brother, I'm empty in my stomach. I wonder if I have any preparations for the banquet..." "
Hearing this, Liu Yang couldn't help but laugh: "I've told you to get ready, let's go, follow me to Yanxi Station, and I'll take care of you! Please!"
"Your Highness, please!"
In the old room of Yanxi Inn, a sumptuous banquet was being enjoyed by four people. The post was no longer as noisy as before. After their identity was exposed, people outside consciously controlled themselves and kept their noise down, whether eating or moving around, so as not to disturb the noble man.
Several people were drinking and chatting, and the atmosphere finally became more lively. The most relaxed person was Liu Fang. He held a roasted lamb spine in his hands and chewed it until he got a mouthful of oil.
Seeing that several people noticed him, Liu Fang took a silk handkerchief and wiped his mouth, and said with a smile: "The mutton cooked by us in the Central Plains must be more delicious!"
With that said, Liu Fang asked Liu Yang: "Second brother, how is the situation in Dali? I heard that the army has encountered some trouble!"
Without waiting for Liu Yang's reply, Liu Fang added, "However, you are busy with military and political affairs, taking care of many things every day, and you can still find time to leave the palace. I think the war in the southwest has also made some progress!"
Wei Wei glanced at his fourth brother in surprise, and saw that he looked confident and curious. Next to him, Liu Xu saw him and immediately said: "Silang is good at military affairs. If it involves military aircraft, I can't talk about it..."
Liu Yang raised his hand to stop Liu Xu and chuckled: "It's not a secret anymore! As Shiro said, a major breakthrough has been made in the Dali War. Ten days ago, the Privy Council received a successful report from General Wang Renfan, which caused great harm to our army. The Nongdong Mansion, which is causing serious trouble, has been captured, killing 7,000 enemies and capturing more than 10,000 people."
After glancing at the three of them, Liu Yang continued, with a slight smile on his lips: "Three days ago, the Privy Council received another report that Wang Quanbin, the envoy from the southwest, was summoned from the southwest. Before the breakthrough at Nongdong, General Wang led the West Army. It took one and a half months to cross the high mountains and valleys in central and northern Dali, breaking through more than 2,000 miles, and attacked the city of Yangjumei, the capital of Dali.
The main military forces in Dali were deployed in the lanes and the city was empty. Faced with General Wang Lao's magical troops descending from the sky, the kings and ministers of Dali were caught off guard. Although Yongcang Mountain was dangerous and organized a stubborn resistance, it was lost in a hurry. General Wang personally went into battle without giving him a chance to breathe. He spared no effort and attacked day and night. After resisting for three days, the city of Yangjume was broken! "
"Old General Wang is getting stronger and stronger, he is a true hero!" After hearing this, Liu Fang couldn't sit still for a while, clasped his hands and praised: "With such an old body, he can do such bold things and achieve extraordinary achievements, which is very admirable. , I wish I could follow him, flatten the enemy's capital, and capture his king and ministers!"
Liu Fang's eyes were filled with brilliance. After the excitement passed, he couldn't help but said: "If I had known that the imperial court was going to send troops to march south, I would never have gone to the northwest! Do you think my father was worried about me asking for a war? You deliberately asked me to go to the northwest..."
As soon as he said this, Liu Xu frowned and immediately scolded: "Silang, don't be rude!"
Liu Fang was not an ungrateful person. He probably knew that he had made a mistake, so he smiled and did not resist his brother's lesson.
Looking at Liu Fang, Liu Yang sighed slightly: "The hardship of the Southern Expedition is far beyond your imagination. Even I will not easily agree to your adventure in the mountains of the southwest!"
After hearing this, Liu Fang expressed his dissatisfaction: "I know your concerns, the mountains are high, the forests are dense, the wilderness is barren, and there is a miasma of poisonous insects... However, I also went to Lingnan back then and participated in the Southern Expedition. It is not that scary!"
After hearing what he said, Liu Yang said seriously: "Do you know how many soldiers were lost in the Southern Expedition until the city of Yangjumei was broken?"
Noticing Liu Yang's serious expression, Liu Fang looked more serious and asked: "Are there many casualties?"
Liu Yang replied in a deep voice: "According to the reports from the two kings, the number of casualties and missing soldiers reached 20,000, and half of them were injured without fighting. The West Route Army led by General Wang personally marched for days. They risked their lives and attacked with force. There were more than 25,000 people when they set out. After the city of Yangjume was captured, only half of them were left..."
Liu Fang finally fell silent. He could not help but feel heavy despite the light data. After all, it represented the bloodshed and sacrifice of countless Han soldiers.
Liu Xu sighed softly: "One general has accomplished so much! The soldiers of the Southern Expedition have worked hard. They are all heroes. The soldiers who sacrificed their lives should all enter the Zhaolie Temple!"
Suddenly, he felt that the meal was not that good. Seeing the performance of these brothers, Zhao Kuangzan took the initiative and said, "Since Yangjume City has been destroyed, Dali should be basically pacified!"
Liu Yang nodded and shook his head: "The centipede insect is dead but not stiff. After the city slope, the Dali monarchs and ministers led the remaining soldiers to escape to the Shanchan Mansion in the southeast. Although the West Route Army broke the city, they also suffered heavy casualties. Too exhausted to pursue.
Nowadays, the Han Dynasty only occupies a few prefectures and tribes in the northeast and east of Dali. It is still far from controlling the entire territory. Shanchan Mansion is also an important place in Dali, and its monarchs and ministers have fled here. If they resist stubbornly, the war may not be over in a short time.
However, now that the capital was destroyed, the monarchs and ministers fled, and the whole country was shaken, the local forces in Dali no longer dared to become enemies of the Han Dynasty. To the southeast, Lu Huaizhong sent Pan Chongche and his army to threaten.
It can be said that the battle situation in Dali has basically stabilized, and it is just waiting for the follow-up pursuit. The Political Affairs Hall has been ordered to start working on the post-war governance of Dali..."
After listening to Liu Yang's words, Liu Yang stood up and raised his glass: "I would like to use this cup to honor the soldiers of the Southern Expedition and pay homage to those heroes who died!"
Upon seeing this, Liu Yang, Liu Xu, and Zhao Kuangzan also stood up.
Liu Fang, Duke of Zhao, was also a man of temperament.
