After returning to his long-lost home, Yang Qing relaxed physically and mentally, and could not finish talking to Xia Houyue.
Yang Qing encouraged the servants and asked them to leave, leaving him alone with Xia Houyue and his wife to talk to each other and enjoy this rare sweet moment.
"Yue'er, my husband has to attend the celebration banquet at the county temple tonight, so I won't have dinner at home."
In front of the window, Yang Qing and Xia Houyue cuddled together, admiring the scenery in the courtyard while talking about their respective current situations.
Xia Houyue moved her head away from her husband's shoulder, turned sideways and faced Yang Qing and said, "I have thought of it a long time ago and asked Mulan to prepare hot soup. My husband can take a bath before going to the banquet."
"Yue'er is still thoughtful. I was just talking and forgot about bathing and changing clothes. It's already late, so I'm going." After saying that, Yang Qing suddenly lowered his head on Xia Houyue's forehead. Kissed.
Xia Houyue was startled, and it took a moment to react. She hurriedly pushed Yang Qing away with an ouch, turned her back and said sheepishly: "The window is open, it's not good for others to see it."
Yang Qing stepped forward and hugged Xia Houyue in his arms. Seeing that her face was already flushed with embarrassment, and her pretty face was extremely beautiful under the blush, she moved her heart and lowered her head again.
Xia Houyue was shocked when she saw Yang Qing attacking her red lips this time. She quickly pushed Yang Qing away and ran to the window, too embarrassed to speak.
Seeing Xia Houyue being so shy, Yang Qing smiled in his heart and said jokingly: "Yue'er, come back, I don't want to tease you anymore, go take a bath first." With that, he left the room.
Xia Houyue turned around and ran to the door. When she saw Yang Qing walking towards the bathroom, she looked at his retreating back and smiled tenderly.
The full moon is in the sky, the moonlight is bright, and the clear water-like brilliance is sprinkled by the Taiyin Star to the world, making the entire Mianyang City seem to be covered with a veil, making it look so peaceful and peaceful.
Tonight, Mianyang County Magistrate Yang Xi canceled the curfew, allowing the people in the city to enjoy the victory of Ji Han's Northern Expedition. At this moment, every wine shop in the city was full of people, drinking, having fun, and joking. It was really lively.
However, the most lively place in the city tonight is not in the restaurants and bars, nor in the Qinlou and Chuguan, but in the Mianyang County Temple.
The back hall of the county temple has long been decorated with lanterns and bright lights. Dozens of tables have been set up inside the hall and in the courtyard outside, and the delicacies on the tables are almost ready.
Everyone filed in and took their seats one by one. After a while, the seats were full. Now they were just waiting for Zhuge Liang, Yang Qing and others to arrive.
"The Prime Minister has arrived."
Yang Yi, the parent official of Mianyang, acted as the master of ceremonies for tonight's banquet. He walked at the front and led Zhuge Liang, Yang Qing, Zhao Yun, Guan Xing, Xiang Lang and other important officials to take their seats. Jiang Wei, Liang Xu, Yin Shang, Liang Qian, Shangguanzi Xiu and others who were demoted from Longyou also followed and sat down in the hall, attracting attention.
"Prime Minister, everyone is here, would you like to say a few words first?" After listening to Yang Xi's report, Xiang Lang stood up and asked Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang smiled and nodded, raised his glass and stood up. Everyone saw this and stood up in response.
"Everyone, tonight's banquet is a celebration. This Northern Expedition captured tens of thousands of Wei soldiers and recovered dozens of cities. It can be said that we have achieved full success. We have fought hard for several months and finally lived up to the kindness of the late Emperor. The hope of the emperor.
Here, please raise your glasses to congratulate the late emperor and congratulate the emperor. " Zhuge Liang's eyes filled with tears when he said this, and he drank all the wine in one breath.
Everyone raised their glasses and said in unison: "Congratulations to the late emperor and congratulations to the emperor!"
After everyone had finished the first glass of wine, Zhuge Liang continued: "This second glass of wine is to honor those soldiers who died in the battle. They were not afraid of sacrifice, sacrificed their lives for righteousness, shed their heads and blood for the revival of the Han Dynasty. They are truly worthy of me." A great man's man.
Here, please allow us to wish that their heroic souls will live forever and their souls will return to their hometowns, where they can steam and taste their flesh and bones and receive sacrifices from their families. "As he said that, he poured the wine in the glass on the ground.
Everyone looked solemn after hearing this, and followed Zhuge Liang to scatter the wine in their glasses on the ground to pay respect to the fallen heroes.
With a thought in his mind, Yang Qing raised his hands and said to Zhuge Liang: "Prime Minister, Qing has a suggestion that you don't know whether to make or not?"
"When did you become naughty? If you have anything to say, just say it." Zhuge Liang said with a smile.
Yang Qingdao: "Yes. There are many generals and generals who were killed in the Northern Expedition. They sacrificed their lives for the country and their loyalty is commendable. The Qing Dynasty thought that it could build a loyalty temple on the north bank of Mian River to enshrine the souls of the fallen soldiers and make their heroic spirits worthy of recognition." Be sacrificed by the world forever.
In this way, it can not only inspire the fighting spirit and morale of the officers and soldiers of the three armies, but also show the country's commitment to honor justice. "
Zhuge Liang's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he suddenly realized that this was feasible. He was quite moved and thought to himself: "This method is even more clever than when I used to sacrifice the ghosts of the two armies in Nanzhong. This kid always has fantastic ideas. I want to surprise people. It seems inconsistent with etiquette to just build a Loyalty Shrine for ordinary soldiers, and I'm afraid it will arouse people's opposition."
"No, this matter is inconsistent with the rules. What is the ancestral hall? It is a place to worship ancestors and sages. Is there any reason to enshrine all the fallen soldiers in it? This is not in line with the court etiquette." Zhuge Liang has not yet spoken. Chang Shi Xianglang immediately objected.
After hearing this, Yang Qing secretly cursed an old stubbornness and was about to retort when he heard Xiang Lang say softly: "Of course Mingzhi's suggestion is reasonable, but if the country must build a loyalty temple, it should also select one or two virtuous ministers. Enshrining famous generals in it not only complies with the etiquette, but also has the effect of inspiring people's hearts. Isn't this better than putting the memorial tablets of all fallen soldiers in it?"
"I don't agree with what Duke Judaqing said. The soldiers are loyal to the country and their bodies are wrapped in horse leather. How can they not be called sages?
Worthiness and unworthiness should be judged based on personal character, not status. Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao were both in high positions at that time. Could it be that they were loyal and virtuous members of the Han Dynasty, but those who sacrificed their lives for the Han Dynasty were not? Yang Qing retorted.
Xiang Lang said: "I understand, what you say is sophistry. Do high-ranking people only have Han traitors and no loyal ministers?"
"The old man's logic is quite clear."
Yang Qing secretly laughed in his heart. In fact, he also knew that what he just said was sophistry, but the debate did not necessarily have to be logical. Taking the initiative in the debate was the key.
However, you can't always use sophistry to explain your views. In the end, you won't be able to convince wise men like Zhuge Liang. Yang Qing feels that he can finally convince people.
So he raised his hands and said to Zhuge Liang: "Prime Minister, the purpose of building the Loyalty Temple is to win over the hearts of the soldiers of the three armies and let the world know that the Han Dynasty has never forgotten these loyal and brave soldiers. Enshrining only one or two people is definitely not as effective as worshiping all the soldiers. There is still a gap. Prime Minister, please think deeply."
Seeing Yang Qing like this, Xiang Lang stopped arguing and stood in awe, but listened to Zhuge Liang's decision. Zhuge Liang took in the expressions of the two men, smiled slightly, and said loudly to everyone: "How do you think this loyalty temple should be set up?"
Zhao Yun was the first to respond: "Prime Minister, I think it is more appropriate to enshrine all the fallen soldiers as Ming said."
"Yes, Prime Minister, if the officers and soldiers knew that they would be worshiped by the imperial court at all times after their death, they would all die in service. This can boost morale and inspire people more than just offering sacrifices to one or two people." Guan Xing also agreed.
With the two of them taking the lead, more and more people spoke out in favor of Yang Qing. Zhuge Liang saw that most of the generals supported Yang Qing, while those who supported Xiang Lang were almost all civil servants.
But even so, only three or four people clearly supported Xiang Lang. Most of the civil servants did not say a word and remained neutral. However, this attitude was obviously biased towards Yang Qing. They were only hindered by etiquette and Xiang Lang. It’s just that I don’t have the face to talk.
Seeing that the situation was like this, Zhuge Liang knew what he was doing. He himself was actually more inclined to Yang Qing's suggestion, but it was also because of the poor etiquette in the court that he expressed his position immediately.
Now that most people agree to build the Zhongyi Temple according to Yang Qing's method, he no longer has any worries and said: "In that case, let's build the Zhongyi Temple according to Mingzhi's suggestion. I will discuss this matter when I return to Chengdu. Pay tribute to the Emperor."
After a pause, Zhuge Liang turned his head and said to Xiang Lang, who was on the lower left: "Master Juda, don't worry about the etiquette. There are many knowledgeable people in the court, and this matter will be handled in a systematic way."
His implication is that etiquette can be explained. By citing scriptures, worshiping all fallen soldiers will become in line with etiquette.
Xiang Lang naturally understood the meaning, accepted it, and stopped objecting.
