Although Wang Xiaolie didn't know much, he knew about the conflict between Wang Yan and Yue Fei. Unexpectedly, the two of them met at their home today.
Yue Fei was originally Wang Yan's subordinate. When Wang Yan's army was defeated, he left him at the most difficult time. When he arrived at Kaifeng Mansion and took refuge with Zongze, he should have been killed according to military law. Zongze admired Yue Fei, appointed him to an official position, and asked him to rejoin the army.
In fact, at this time, there were countless people who left the army in the middle. According to military law, I don't know how many people would be killed. Yue Fei defected to Zongze. The saying that he should be killed according to military law was just talk. It is true that Zongze admired Yue Fei and asked him to lead the army.
When Yue Fei left, it was Wang Yan's most difficult time. After that, he gathered his troops, had no sleep, and changed his sleeping place every night. This is also the origin of the "Eight-Character Army". After such an experience, how could Wang Yan still have a good attitude toward Yue Fei?
Wang Xiaolie hesitated for a moment and said: "Commander Yue, Lieutenant Wang Yan is here today and we are planning to prepare some food and drinks. You are here just in time. Let's drink two glasses of thin wine and chat some gossip."
Yue Fei hesitated for a moment and said: "When the Taiwei sees me, he is like a life-and-death enemy. Why should I be annoying? Today is inconvenient. I will come back another day. These days, you lead troops to guard Gong County. If you stay behind, you have to send someone to look after you." It's a pity that there is no one to save me. Fortunately, you were lucky enough to be able to defend the city. Since the Jin Bing Dynasty came south, there are not many people who have achieved such great achievements. If you have the opportunity, you should ask for advice."
After saying that, he ordered the accompanying soldiers to hand over the gifts they had brought, two chickens and two big carp, and said goodbye.
Looking at Yue Fei's leaving figure, Wang Xiaolie suddenly felt a sense of loss. This is a person who will be remembered for generations to come and who has had a profound impact on the entire history of China. When we actually meet face to face, we feel that the person is a bit ordinary, but not ignored.
After standing for a while, Wang Xiaolie carried the chicken and fish into the camp gate. He said to Wang Yan: "Yue Fei came to visit outside and brought two chickens and two fish. I was going to treat him to some wine and meat, but it was a pity that he left."
Wang Yan looked at the chickens and fish in Wang Xiao's hands and said coldly: "Chickens and fish are rare in Kaifeng now. Please stay here. In the Taihang Mountains, I was trapped for a while, and Yue Fei led his troops to escape. You have trapped me in a desperate situation, and this hatred will never be forgotten!"
Wang Xiaolie shook his head slightly. After thinking for a while, he said: "How about we just eat chicken and fish at noon today? There are no good cooks in the army, so we can barely drink the food after it is cooked. Everything in Kaifeng is very expensive now, so we can't let it go bad."
Wang Yan said: "How can I be willing to eat the food Yue Fei gave me? I can't forget the days of drinking ice and sleeping in the snow in the Taihang Mountains."
Wang Xiaolie said: "The lieutenant said so, I told people not to clean it up. By the way, this morning the army bought half a pig. I have a way to make pork here, which is the most crispy. Please cook it, too." Lieutenant eats."
Wang Yan nodded before sitting down again. He changed the topic and never mentioned Yue Fei.
Wang Xiaolie called Wang Zhong over and ordered him to choose the three-layered part of the pork he bought this morning and cut it into large pieces. Find an earthen pot, add little water, add onions and garlic, and simmer until cooked. Wang Zhong turned around, and Wang Xiaolie asked him to come back and put some tofu in.
The famous braised pork in later generations is said to have originated from Su Dongpo in the Song Dynasty. However, at this time, the practice was not widely spread. Anyway, there’s nothing else delicious, so I’ll just make a simplified version of braised pork.
The pigs at this time were not as big as those in Wang Xiaolie's previous life, weighing several hundred kilograms. Generally, pigs are relatively small, about the same size as sheep. However, the meat is soft and tender, with moderate fatness and leanness, and is more delicious than the later pigs. In the process of breeding, human beings are not only breeding for high quality, but more importantly, they are selecting for higher yields. Comparatively speaking, some local pig breeds in Wang Xiaolie's previous life, especially the fragrant pig, are more similar to the pig breeds at this time. Because of this, pigs at this time were far less economical than pigs in later generations, and their prices were also high. Of course, even in Wang Xiaolie's previous life, real native Chinese pigs were more expensive than ordinary mutton if they were raised using traditional methods.
History is like this. The price of pork and chicken is actually not much different from that of mutton and beef. However, they were industrially selected and bred, and became the most suitable livestock and poultry for industrial breeding, so the price came down.
Wang Zhongzi went to arrange for the meat to be cooked. Wang Xiaolie and Wang Yan drank tea together and chatted.
Wang Xiaolie said: "Lieutenant, in your opinion, can we cross Hebei in summer?"
Wang Yan was silent for a while and then said: "Only relying on Zong Liu to guard this matter and the efforts of us people are not enough. Without the support of the imperial court, even if we regain it temporarily, it will not last long. The Holy One has arrived in Yangzhou, I don't know——"
Having said this, Wang Yan shook his head.
Since the Jin soldiers went south, Zhao Gou fled all the way south without any intention of fighting a decisive battle with the Jin soldiers. For the Jin soldiers going south and the fragmented country, Zhao Gou had only two strategies. Suing for peace with the Jin army, taking advantage of the vast territory of the Song Dynasty, they could escape as far as they could. The Jin army was originally a small clan, and it was not long after they first rose up that they could not annex the Song Dynasty. When they are tired of fighting, there will be peace.
Wang Xiaolie looked at Wang Yan and didn't know what to say for a moment. How could everyone in the world not see Zhao Gou's thoughts and the ministers around him? But what if you can see it? The only thing I could do was to give a memorial and persuade the emperor to change his mind. There was nothing else to do.
Wang Xiaolie could see this, but Wang Yan might not. In addition to serving the royal family, it is difficult for people in this era to think of another way. Even if you know it won't work, you still have to go one way.
After a moment of silence, Wang Xiaolian said: "If you can't go north, or even fail to defend Kaifeng, where will the captain go?"
Wang Yan said: "I want to go south to the Holy One. Tell the Holy One the situation of the two rivers personally. If the Holy One is surrounded by traitorous officials and does not know the situation on the front line, it will be difficult to make a decision. The soldiers on the front line should come to the Holy One."
Wang Xiaolie didn't know what to say for a moment. The emperor is surrounded by traitors? The emperor himself has no problem, so where can he be surrounded by treacherous ministers? Throughout history, isn't it always the case that emperors create problems first and then keep treacherous ministers around them? It is not when powerful ministers are in power, the emperor is not a puppet.
But how do you say this? It's not a matter of right or wrong, but my own thoughts, which are fundamentally wrong with the world.
At this moment, Wang Zhong brought two bowls over. Each bowl was filled with meat and placed in front of Wang Xiaolie and Wang Yan respectively. He took some more wine and poured it for the two of them. He cupped his hands and said, "Xiaoshe people, Taiwei, you can have some wine and meat."
Wang Xiaolie took the chopsticks and said to Wang Yan: "The food in Kaifeng City is difficult, and the Taiwei should not be dissatisfied with its simplicity."
Wang Yan smiled and said: "At this time of year, the leader of the army is the leader, and wine and meat are not available every day. You are too polite today."
Wang Xiaolie said: "We worked hard along the way. Finally we arrived in Kaifeng. The soldiers had a good meal as a reward."
Yesterday, Zongze distributed a reward, and Wang Xiaolie had enough money to eat a few good meals. But I don’t know what will happen next.
He and Wang Yan drank a bowl of wine and each ate meat. Wang Xiaolie saw that there was no tofu inside, and couldn't help but glance at Wang Zhong's back. I guess he picked out the tofu when the meat was cooked. Today Wang Xiaolie entertained guests and served tofu. He was afraid that the people in Xiaoshe would be looked down upon.
Everything is difficult in the city of Kaifeng, so we must save money and save money. Wang Xiaolie now has five to six hundred people under his command, so he must save everything. Wang Xiaolie doesn't need to care about these things, but Wang Zhong and Yang Shen need to be careful.
While drinking, the two chatted.
Wang Xiaolie is cautious and knows what to say and what not to say. Wang Yan chatted casually and felt that he and Wang Xiaolie were very compatible. The hard years in the Taihang Mountains and the uncertainty of the future come one by one.
It can be heard that Wang Yan cannot see clearly about the future. In autumn, the Jin army will definitely come again. If Zhao Gou keeps running away like this, only thinking about his own enjoyment, what will be the consequences? Who can tell.
While Wang Xiaolie learned about the current situation from Wang Yan, he recalled historical knowledge and planned his own retreat.
Zhao Gou has arrived in Yangzhou now, and he must go to Hangzhou later. According to history, he should have been active in the southeast. That was also the focus of the Jin army's initial operations, and they kept chasing Zhao Gou.
He can't go to the southeast. It's best to stay as far away from Zhao Gou as possible. Where is the appropriate place?
