"Lead the army in the center, lead the army in the center!"
Hearing someone talking behind him, Wang Wenzuo turned around and was surprised to find that the person calling him was a handsome boy of fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing a bright yellow round-collar short robe, with a purple goldfish hanging from a silver belt around his waist. He was the sixth son of the emperor. Empress Wu's second son, King Pei Li Xian. I saw the other party smiled at me sheepishly and said: "Wang Zhongling, you are the elder brother Youwei who leads the Zhonglang general. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, the Zhonglang general led the emperor's personal soldiers. In Jian'an, Emperor Wen took the command of Wugan Zhonglang. A general is the leader of the internal troops, also known as the middle leader, so it’s not wrong for me to call you the middle leader, right?"
Wang Wenzuo was made to laugh by Li Xian's bookish words: "It doesn't matter, His Highness King Pei can call me whatever he wants. However, the people I command are only the soldiers of the East Palace, not the soldiers of the emperor, so I call me the leader of the army." Some of the words are not true. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince usually calls me Sanlang, and some also call me Wenzuo!"
"That's true! Then I'll call you Sanlang too!" Li Xian thought for a moment and then smiled: "That sounds closer! By the way, I once heard my brother say that you have never been defeated since you led the army. ,real or fake!"
"I don't dare to be flattered by His Highness the Crown Prince!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "It's just a fluke!"
"Lucky?" Li Xian showed a sly smile: "Then why are others not so lucky? That year you led your brother's polo team to defeat the North Gate Forbidden Army, and I was also in the stands. You can't even think of lying to me!"
"How dare you!" Wang Wenzuo hurriedly defended: "The difference between polo and fighting in battle is more than a few miles? If you treat polo and hunting as a battle, you will probably suffer big losses!"
"That's true!" Li Xian showed a solemn look: "Guo Daifeng regarded these two things as real wars and always talked about them. As a result, once he went into battle, he lost completely and cost so many lives!"
"Guo Daifeng? Is he good at polo and hunting?" Wang Wenzuo was stunned for a moment, and then he remembered, wasn't this after he tricked Xue Rengui, a famous general?
"Yes!" Li Xian nodded, his expression darkening: "Not only his polo hunting, but also his calligraphy and poetry are very good, so he was very famous in Chang'an, and his father and mother were also very good. I value him very much and regard him as a thousand-mile horse. The last time I made him serve as Xue Rengui’s lieutenant was just to give him experience, but I didn’t expect that——”
"Hey!" Wang Wenzuo sighed. He could understand Li Zhi's mentality at that time. Although civil and military talents cannot be neglected, military talents, especially commanders who can command large armies, are much rarer than those of Zaifu. After all, It would take ten years for the prime minister to destroy the country, but it would only take one afternoon for the commander-in-chief to destroy the country. More importantly, it is difficult to establish trust between the monarch and the commander-in-chief, so the best situation is for the monarch to select the commander-in-chief from relatives, palace playmates, domestic slaves or other small circles. The most ideal situation is that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty Now, he married a beautiful woman from a humble background, and got two talented generals with him. More than ten years after Li Zhi ascended the throne, he found that the group of famous generals left by his father were gradually withering away. Naturally, he wanted to find a successor in a small circle, so he chose Guo Daifeng.
The sound of singing and dancing brought Wang Wenzuo's mind back from the unpleasant memories. He picked up the wine glass and took a sip. The maid next to him immediately filled it up. The moon has not yet fully risen, and the tables in front of you are already filled with all kinds of delicacies. The aroma of fine wine and women's makeup has spread everywhere. The guests are exchanging cups and cups under the light and chatting cordially. There is no doubt that this will be a wonderful time. The night, filled with song and splendor, represented the future of the empire and displayed the wealth and power of the Tang Dynasty, just like a blooming peony.
From a territorial point of view, there has never been such a vast empire on earth. Thanks to Wang Wenzuo, the eastern territory of the Tang Dynasty has included the Korean Peninsula, the Japanese Islands, the Ryukyu Islands, and a large area of Liaodong. The ships of explorers and merchants are Along the coast of the Sea of Japan, the Kuril Islands, and several major rivers such as the Heilongjiang and Songhua Rivers, you can go upstream in search of gems, gold, pearls, and high-quality furs. There are already seasonal settlements at the mouths of these rivers, and there are abundant migratory fish. Human species, trade with local indigenous people along the rivers, and fertile and vast land are all attracting immigrants.
In the western territory of the Tang Dynasty, although the failure of Dafeichuan prevented the Tang army from controlling the surrounding areas of Qinghai Lake, the two governorates of Anxi and Beiting still controlled the vast land north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, as well as the access to Central Asia and Qin Dynasty. By exploring the trade routes in the grassland, the empire can not only obtain huge economic returns, but also obtain a large number of servants to enhance its military strength. In fact, most people at that time did not regard the failure of Dafeichuan as the pinnacle of the Tang Dynasty's expansion. They generally believed that it was just a trough in the Tang Dynasty's expansion wave. It would not be long before the Tang army would make a comeback.
And the people in this room were just the handful of people who stood at the top of this glorious power pyramid. Wang Wenzuo couldn't help but feel a little dazed. It was hard for him to imagine that such a small number of people could actually achieve this with just such primitive means of communication and transportation. Being able to rule billions of people in such a vast land.
"Master!" Sanqiu whispered in his ear: "The Duke of Zhou is here, come in immediately!"
"Duke Zhou? Is he here?" Wang Wenzuo frowned subconsciously and looked towards the door. Although it was completely dark outside, countless candles and oil lamps still illuminated the hall like daylight. The guests who had arrived were arranged into their respective seats. The male guests and ladies who were entering were informed of their names and official positions in the Yang family's master's loud voice, and then were led through the spacious front hall by the maids in gorgeous clothes. In front of your seat. Both sides are full of musicians, including drummers, piano players, pipa players, flutes and Xiaos.
"The permanent attendant of Zuo Sanqi, the bachelor of Hongwen Hall, the Duke of Zhou, the guest of the prince, and the secretary of the school inspection, Changzhu (He Lanmin's nickname is Changzhu) are here!"
The loud voice of the Yang family's manager echoed under the dome of the hall.
"Master Wu is extra handsome tonight!" A middle-aged lady not far away covered her mouth and exclaimed. The girl next to her blushed, her eyes staring at Wu Minzhi who was standing at the door of the hall. Face. He was wearing a purple tight-fitting short robe, and a Shu brocade cloak with a pattern of riding and shooting deer. He wore a jade crown elegantly on his slightly curly hair, and his slightly pale face had a kind of morbid beauty. Even Wang Wenzuo had to admit that this man was handsome and impeccably dressed, not to mention the women in the hall. Countless eyes were focused on his face, as if there were magnets on it.
"Cousin Helan is always so handsome! If only I were so beautiful!" Li Xian sighed.
Wang Wenzuo couldn't help laughing after hearing this. He turned around to comfort the half-grown child, but found that the future crown princess was also staring at Wu Minzhi, her eyes clearly full of longing and love.
"What the hell, doesn't this guy know what the occasion is tonight? Even His Highness the Crown Prince wants to steal the limelight!" Wang Wenzuo muttered in his heart. He suddenly felt that the banquet was quite boring, so he picked up the wine glass and took a sip. At least Yang The wines provided by the hotel are genuine.
Wu Minzhi sat to the right of Crown Prince Li Hong, next to another official from Shangshu Province, and six or seven seats away from the Crown Princess.
"The people who arranged the positions in the Yang family are not hopelessly stupid!" Wang Wenzuo thought to himself as he took a sip of wine: "Otherwise, if something ugly happens, you won't even have time to cry!"
Wu Minzhi was probably the last important guest to arrive. After he sat down, the host of the dinner stood up. He raised his glass and thanked all the guests loudly for coming, and then wished His Royal Highnesses good health and longevity. Long, the world is at peace. After reciting the prayer, he drank the wine in one gulp. The whole hall raised their glasses and shouted in response, and then he announced that the banquet had officially begun. Wang Wenzuo drank the wine in the glass like everyone else, and others hurriedly filled it up.
At this time, the maids served mutton in a basin and pancakes, which was a very common dish in Chang'an's upper class at that time. The Yang family's cook sprinkled a lot of pepper and onions in it. Wang Wenzuo had been busy all afternoon. He had just drank wine and had nothing to eat. So he broke open the biscuits and ate the mutton soup. The slightly spicy mutton soup entered his stomach, and he felt so comfortable all over. His whole body suddenly felt smoky. a feeling of.
"Do you like this dish very much?" Li Xian on the side did not do anything. He almost asked the maid to remove the mutton in the basin from his table, and looked curiously at Wang Wenzuo who was eating vigorously.
"I'm hungry, everything tastes delicious!" Wang Wenzuo took out a small comb from his sleeve and stroked his beard that was full of cake crumbs: "Of course, Yang's house makes this lamb soup very well too!"
"So have you ever been hungry?" Li Xian asked curiously, his eyes shining brightly.
"Well, needless to say, when I was in my hometown, I suffered from hunger when I went to attack Baekje!" Wang Wenzuo sighed: "At that time, we were surrounded by Baekje rebels in the city. We were short of food and had to sell a mouse. Dozens of meats are good!”
"Ah? Have you ever eaten a mouse?" Li Xian covered his mouth, his eyes filled with disgust and curiosity.
"I didn't, because I broke out and robbed a lot of food from the Baekje people, but I saw that others had eaten it!" Wang Wenzuo smiled and shook his head: "Later, when I was promoted, I never suffered from it again. hungry!"
"I saw a letter left by Emperor Wen. It said that during the Battle of Queshu Valley, my grandfather did not take off his armor for eight days and eight nights, and the gaps between the armor leaves were filled with fleas!" Li Xian sighed: "Do you also have this experience?"
"How dare I compare with the late emperor!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "But leading troops to fight, marching in armor, and having too many fleas on your body is not a hardship at all!"
Li Xian nodded, his eyes full of yearning, and Wang Wenzuo smiled. This young man in the royal family is more ignorant of worldly affairs than his brother, but this kind of innocence is really enviable!
At this time, there was a burst of clear laughter from across the seat. Wang Wenzuo raised his head and saw that Wu Minzhi's seat not far away was surrounded by women. To be precise, he was surrounded by all kinds of beautiful women, including married women. Women, there are also unmarried girls, and even widowed women. They all have sweet smiles and their eyes are full of passionate light, as if Wu Minzhi is their sun, and they are the moon and stars.
"Fortunately, our future crown princess is still in her position! Otherwise, the host of the banquet will be completely embarrassed!" Wang Wenzuo looked at the face of Si Wei Shaoqing Yang Sijian. It was obviously a bit unsightly, but due to the identity of the host, I couldn't say anything, I could only let it go, pretend I didn't see anything, and say something to His Royal Highness. Although his daughter stayed where she was, Wang Wenzuo could notice the woman's inadvertent glances towards Wu Minzhi.
"It seems that the daughter-in-law of His Royal Highness will not be a fuel-efficient lamp in the future!" Wang Wenzuo sighed secretly.
A woman sitting at the end of the sixth table to the left of Yang Sijian attracted his attention... She seemed to be the wife of a certain host's family. She had a big belly after pregnancy, but it did not affect her innate delicacy and respect. Enjoyment of food and laughter. Wang Wenzuo watched her husband feed her. They shared a wine glass and were inadvertently intimate with each other. Every time they kiss, the husband's hand will be placed gently on his wife's belly to comfort and protect her.
"I hope His Royal Highness will be like this after marriage!" Wang Wenzuo sighed. He finished his glass of wine again, and then a new dish was served - a roast lamb, with mushrooms stuffed in the lamb's belly. , pine nuts, eggs, Wang Wenzuo cut off a piece and stuffed it into his mouth. The delicious soup immediately overflowed from the corners of his mouth.
The sound of music sounded from the corridor behind, and the pipa player's paddle crossed the strings. The hall was filled with sweet music. People put down their tableware, stopped talking, and listened to the beautiful melody. When the music ended, they cheered warmly. Voice.
The second song is a familiar melody, "The Music of the King of Qin Breaking the Formation". The music ignited the fire in the hearts of many people. Wang Wenzuo didn't pay much attention to what he heard, while eating steamed glutinous rice sprinkled with date paste, bean paste and honey.
Next, the food was served faster and faster, and the performances became more numerous. Wang Wenzuo ate and drank. After the music stopped, three monkeys danced under the flute command of some Western juggler while the guests enjoyed trout stew. Two jugglers, one standing on stilts, fought each other with swords and guns during the banquet, while the guests tasted roasted pheasant and venison biscuits. The six dwarfs came out somersaulting or standing upside down, sometimes balancing on one foot on the plate, sometimes forming a great pyramid together. Accompanying the show were chunks of lamb chops braised in arrowroot cakes and onions studded with generous amounts of raisins and nuts, and freshly grilled fish patties that were scalding hot.
Finally, a program appeared that interested Wang Wenzuo. A Hu monk who claimed to have mastered the power of fire walked into the hall. He controlled two giant fire beasts, leaving the two shield-wielding warriors accompanying him in a panic. The maids served Bowls of soup, including wolfberry beef soup and lotus seed and white fungus soup. Then two sword-swallowing artists entered the hall and performed separately. A juggler was rotating three swords and three axes at the same time, and blood sausage was sizzling on the spit on the table. The aroma was very tempting. Wang Wenzuo patted his belly, but finally had to ask the maid to take it away.
(End of chapter)
