weaving

Chapter 1445 Erhu's brothers are my brothers
On the second day of the eighth lunar month, at exactly 9:00 AM, at the Yongning Earl's camp of the Dragon King Temple.

"General Liu, how have you been?"

The Earl of Yongning, Zhang Cheng, was quite kind and approachable to Liu Tichun, which puzzled Liu Tichun as it was very different from what he had expected.

Before Liu Tichun could react, the Earl of Yongning spoke again: "I have ordered people to prepare wine and dishes. Although we are at the front line and there are no delicacies, there is still enough meat soup and dried fish."

The more enthusiastic the Earl of Yongning was, the more uneasy Liu Tichun felt. He smiled awkwardly and said, "The Earl of Yongning is truly kind and righteous. I have not yet repaid the Earl of Yongning for releasing me. How could I trouble the Earl of Yongning to be so concerned?"

Zhang Cheng looked at him with a smile in his eyes and said, "What are you talking about? I have never looked down on you because you are a bandit. Besides, if you have enough to eat at home, who would want to live a life of rebellion with their life on the line?"

Before Liu Tichun could speak, he continued, "Tichun, this is our second meeting. As the saying goes, 'practice makes perfect.' If you don't mind, from now on we can call each other brothers. You can call me 'good younger brother,' and I'll call you 'good older brother.' What do you say?"

Liu Tichun was startled by Zhang Cheng's words. He had never expected Zhang Cheng to say such a thing and was completely unprepared. He felt that it was inappropriate for him to address Zhang Cheng as a brother, and he did not dare to actually call the Earl of Yongning "good younger brother".

However, he was more worried that if he did not follow the advice of the Earl of Yongning, it would displease him and affect the mission he was undertaking.

Thinking of this, Liu Tichun quickly stood up from his seat, bowed and clasped his hands in greeting to the Earl of Yongning, saying, "I am deeply grateful for the Earl of Yongning's favor and kindness. I can only repay this kindness in the next life. However, I dare not address the Earl of Yongning as a brother. I hope the Earl of Yongning can understand my predicament."

He then added, "If the Earl of Yongning thinks highly of Ti Chun, he can simply call him 'Er Hu'."

"it is good."

Zhang Cheng didn't hesitate and agreed immediately. Then he said to him, "Brother Erhu, the soldiers usually call me 'Commander-in-Chief.' If you don't want to call me brother, why don't you just call me Commander-in-Chief like them? Don't keep calling me 'Earl of Yongning' all the time; it sounds too formal."

Although Liu Tichun was still somewhat unwilling, he couldn't refuse now that things had come to this point.
"it is good."

Liu Tichun replied with a smile, "Then from now on, I'll call you Commander-in-Chief, just like everyone else."

“That’s right.” Zhang Cheng smiled happily. “Brother Erhu, come on, take me to see the twenty warriors who came with you.”

Zhang Cheng stepped forward, took Liu Tichun's hand, and headed out of the command tent.

…………

Inside a side hall of the Dragon King Temple, two large tables were laden with horse meat, dried fish, and other delicacies, as well as several large jars of strong liquor.

Each table was occupied by twelve people, ten of whom were cavalrymen who had come with Liu Tichun, and the other two were drinkers arranged by Zhang Cheng, the Earl of Yongning, all of whom were eloquent and articulate men in the army.

As Zhang Cheng and Liu Tichun entered the side hall, everyone put down their bowls and chopsticks, stood up in unison, and stood stunned at the table, unsure of what to do. Clearly, they had not expected this scene to unfold.

"What's going on here?" Zhang Cheng spoke first: "Erhu and I are just here to visit everyone. Don't be shy, sit down... sit down, and continue eating and drinking."

The brave soldiers who were serving drinks naturally obeyed orders, but no matter how they tried to persuade them, the bandits at each table remained unmoved, their eyes fixed on Liu Tichun, clearly waiting for his orders.

"The commander-in-chief is asking everyone to sit down because he cares about you all. Please sit down quickly," Liu Tichun finally spoke.

The bandits then sat down again, but none of them touched the bowls and chopsticks on the table. They could only stare longingly at the horse meat, dried fish, and other dishes laid out on the table.

Seeing their eager yet hesitant expressions as they ate, Zhang Cheng chuckled inwardly, guessing that his appeasement strategy had already succeeded more than halfway.

"Oh, what's going on? Why isn't anyone drinking?" Though his tone seemed calm, a hint of murderous intent flashed in Yongning Earl Zhang Cheng's eyes. Zhang Cheng's adopted son, Zhang Fangyuan, who had been drinking with him at the table, immediately rose and knelt before Zhang Cheng, trembling. His voice trembled as he said, "Commander, please forgive us. We sincerely tried to persuade them, but the brothers in the rebel camp said, 'Without General Liu's order, we dare not drink,' and we couldn't force them."

After hearing Zhang Fangyuan's words, the murderous intent in Zhang Cheng's eyes disappeared instantly. He smiled and said to Liu Tichun beside him, "Brother Erhu, the fact that these brothers came with you here shows their loyalty to you."

At this point, Zhang Cheng suddenly changed the subject and continued, "Brother Erhu, I'm truly happy for you to have such brothers by your side. Come on, let's both toast everyone with a bowl of wine."

Before Liu Tichun could respond, he shouted at Zhang Fangyuan, who was kneeling on the ground, "Get up and pour wine for the guests."

Zhang Fangyuan appeared relieved. He got up and returned to the table, grabbed a jar of strong liquor, uncorked it, and started pouring drinks for everyone.

The other three brave soldiers who were drinking with him also got up to help pour the drinks, while Zhang Fangyuan took two new large bowls, filled them with strong liquor, and presented them to Zhang Cheng.

"Come on, Brother Erhu, let's toast all the warriors here with a bowl of wine." As he spoke, he took the bowl of wine and looked at Liu Tichun with a smile.

Seeing that there was no way to avoid it, Liu Tichun could only smile and say, "Okay."

Zhang Cheng led Liu Tichun to the middle of the two tables and said loudly, "You all are heroes today, having stormed the camp alone."

His first words stirred up everyone's heroic spirit.

"What I despise most are cowardly cowards who fear death, and what I respect most are heroes like you all here. Don't look down on us because we have different positions and we fight each other on the battlefield because we have no choice. If I had to choose, I would choose to be close friends with all of you here."

At this point, Marquis Yongning Zhang Cheng grabbed Liu Tichun and continued, "Erhu is my brother, and you are Erhu's brothers, which means you are my brothers. Today, I, Zhang Cheng, offer this first bowl of wine to my brothers."

"Brother Erhu, what do you have to say?"

Faced with Zhang Cheng's public interrogation, Liu Tichun, though unwilling, couldn't show it on his face and answered decisively, "Do it!"

"Okay. Let's do it!"

Zhang Fangyuan immediately stepped forward and refilled their bowls of wine.

"Today I won't ask why you heroes have come here. Let's just talk about feelings together. Let's have another bowl."

"Dry!"

After drinking two bowls of wine, Zhang Cheng, emboldened by the alcohol, asked, "Hey, we're all at the table drinking now, why are you all still wearing armor? It must be so uncomfortable... Take it off... take off your armor."

quiet……

The side hall, which had been bustling just moments before, fell silent instantly. Not only did no one get up to remove their armor, but everyone glared fiercely at Marquis Yongning, Zhang Cheng.

“Brother Erhu, they are your brothers, not mine. They only listen to you.” Zhang Cheng pulled Liu Tichun and continued, “Come on, teach them to take off their armor… then eat and drink.”

Seeing Zhang Cheng's attitude, Liu Tichun knew he meant well, so he blurted out the order: "Listen to the commander, take off your armor before you eat and drink."

The sound of armor plates clashing came from the side hall...