Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

“At the end of the year, frost covers the fields. People call it the end of the year, which is the boundary between yin and yang.

All households followed the old custom of inventorying their granaries and counting their debts, because winter taxes and spring taxes came one after another, and it was time to settle accounts in the market.

Beacons were frequently sounded in the border towns, and the number of merchants and travelers on the post roads gradually decreased. Only the village head could be seen walking through the alleys with books in his hands, and the sound of him urging payment mixed with the north wind.

Before closing the government office, the money and grain had to be verified. The clerks pressed for more and more taxes, so the villagers had to pawn their oxen to pay the taxes.

The elders led their sons and daughters to sweep the ancestral temple, slaughtered animals and poured wine to offer sacrifices to the altar of the land and grain, and prayed silently in the midst of the curling smoke for a quick end to the fighting.

Here, no matter whether you are rich or poor, everyone has to face the empty granaries, the survival of family members and deaths. Even if you have new peach charms and boiling pepper wine, it cannot conceal the cold air inside and outside the windows.

The end of the year is not just a change of seasons, but also a difficult time for heaven, earth and human beings to experience.

belch--"

Yang Bangyi held the wine jug with his left hand around Lou Minzhong's shoulder, turned his head and burped, then turned back and said drunkenly: "Brother Lou, do you know? Before I became an official, I thought I could change many people's lives after I gained power, but what a pity..."

Hua Hua Hua——

He took the wine and filled the cup held by Lou Minzhong: "In the government, those who are firm, strict and decisive are like the Big Dipper that determines the time, and the people receive the sweet dew; those who waver between the two ends are like fog blocking the ferry, and the people are trapped in the misfortune of a lost boat; those who are mediocre and weak are like a rotten rope restraining a galloping horse, and they will eventually cause the people to fall into the abyss of water and fire.

In the past, Shang Yang moved a tree to establish trust and Qin became strong; the Niu and Li factions fought and the Tang Dynasty declined; during the Five Dynasties, the rulers were foolish and the ministers were incompetent, and the nine provinces were in turmoil.

You and I should all use history as a mirror to see that the key to success or failure lies in the purity of the government, so that the people can live and work in peace and contentment in the future. Drink a lot——"

Lou Minzhong's eyes twitched. It made sense, and it touched his heart, but...

Why in this situation?

I have not yet accepted the official position of Qi...

Before you could finish your thoughts, you heard the sound of wine gulping beside you. Yang Bangyi raised his glass, indicating that it was your turn.

"..."

The corners of his eyes twitched violently twice, and Lou Minzhong raised his hand and drank the wine in the glass: "Ahem——"

Perhaps he choked because he drank too quickly and coughed violently. His face showed the unique red flush of drinking too much, and then he burped in an unpresentable manner.

bang——

Putting the wine glass heavily on the table, Lou Minzhong blinked hard, his already drooping eyelids trying to open wide, glancing at the eight-sided sea beast white porcelain cup on the table, a few words suddenly popped up in his alcohol-anesthetized mind -

Why the hell are the wine cups in Qi filled with eight liang?

Isn't this just a ceramic bowl for wine covered with a layer of Jun kiln glaze! ?

You really thought I wouldn't be able to tell if it changed its shape?!

He raised his head with difficulty to look at the opposite side. The generals there were also drinking. Lou Minzhong wanted to leave, but unfortunately Yang Bangyi blocked him with his arm to prevent him from getting up.

And more importantly.

He has more than one such arm on his shoulders.

"Come on, come on, I'm not as good at making big statements as Brother Yang."

The arm that was stretched out also held a wine jug. Amid the sound of pouring wine, Zeng Nong said to Lou Minzhong's other side: "I just know that people are just like horses. If you tighten the reins, they will kick their hind legs. If you loosen them..."

The person who was speaking took the wine glass on the table and handed it to him. The clear wine swayed in the glass. Lou Minzhong straightened his eyes and mechanically reached out his hand to take it.

"Come on, come on, Brother Lou, let's go. In the future, remember to serve the people."

Ding--

The wine glasses collided, Zeng Nong raised his hand and drank the wine, then showed him the bottom of the glass.

I……

You haven’t been an official in Qi yet!
This Qi State's husband...

Is persuading people to drink just using moral principles to pressure others? ! !
Someone who was caught in the middle roared in his heart, then closed his eyes and drank it resignedly.

The sight moved away from the three of them. At this time, the hall was already buzzing with noise. There were singing girls and dancers performing in the center, musicians playing some instruments in the back, music from the palace, and civil and military officials sitting on both sides talking in groups of three or five.

In the crowd, the brothers Ma Xi and Ma Jin were drunk. They took off their shirts, stood on the table with one foot and held a jar of wine in one hand, drinking with Li Gun and Xiang Yun, two deputy generals of the Xianzhen Camp who were also drunk. The liquid with the aroma of wine occasionally spilled on their chest hair, flashing an uncomfortable light under the lights in the hall.

Outside the triple curtains, Lu Bu had long since taken off his dark imperial robe and laid on the dragon throne. He was now sitting on the side of the military generals in a dark outfit with gold patterns, together with Hua Rong, Xu Wen and other generals. Yu Cheng and Wei He stood by with a faint smile on their faces, listening to people talk about the hardships they had experienced in the past. Li Bao and Ruan Xiaoqi were also here, listening with a few generals from the southeast.

Su Yi was holding a wine jug at the side, and when he saw that the cup in Lu Bu's hand was empty, he added more wine into it, and from time to time he laughed along with the sound of people talking.

Wang Yin and Bai Yanshou were holding wine glasses in the back, looking at the harmony between the emperor and his subjects over there with some emotion, and talked in low voices.

"The relationship between the ruler and his subjects in Qi is so good?"

"After all, it's a friendship that we built together. There were similar scenes when the Archbishop was still alive, but it was a pity that it didn't last long."

The latter looked around and frowned: "It's still a little different. The one with the heaviest martial arts aura here is Ruan Xiaoqi. The others all have that kind of, uh..." He blinked and seemed to have found a word: "a kind of smell."

"Ah?" Bai Yanshou looked at him in surprise: "How did you figure that out?"

"How fresh." Wang Yin curled his lips and glanced at him: "Don't say that I have no experience in distinguishing people after fighting with the Western Army in the past two years. No matter how long the outlaws have been in the army, there is a world of difference between them and those who were born in generals' families or have been in the army for a long time."

"Who would pay attention to those guys in a war? It's all the same if they are chopped to death." Bai Yanshou muttered.

Wang Yin glanced at him again and said nothing.

The two of them were whispering in the back, and the people talking in the front were also anxious. Ruan Xiaoqi took two steps forward and patted Hua Rong: "My dear brother, don't think about the past, I still want to bring my brother to His Majesty to see."

"Oh? Xiaoqi can speak eloquently now." Hua Rong was interrupted, but was not annoyed at all. He smiled and looked Ruan Xiaoqi up and down.

"What? After so many years, I can't make some progress?" Ruan Xiaoqi rolled his eyes and clinked his wine pot with Hua Rong's: "I was also taught by Mr. Yang, so I have learned some characters."

Hua Rong drank a cup with him out of amusement. The man in the water hurriedly said to Lü Bu who was watching the show: "Your Majesty, the brothers I mentioned some time ago are these two."

He pulled Shi Bao and Li Tianrun over and said, "They are both skilled in martial arts. They have been fighting in the bad place of southeast for two years. They are not rookies on the battlefield. They are both good fighters."

"And, and." Ruan Xiaoqi said as he pulled Pang Wanchun over and patted him on the shoulder: "This guy is also a sharpshooter, known as the Little Yang Youji." He looked at Wang Yin and Bai Yanshou standing behind him: "The two over there are also good at the battlefield, and Wang Yin is both civil and military. I think they can definitely fill the gap in our talent. What do you think? Your Majesty, take them all in."

Li Tianrun scratched his hair, looked at Ruan Xiaoqi in surprise, and joked: "Brother, you look a bit like a human trafficker. I feel like you are going to sell me out."

Several people around laughed softly, and Tang Bin, Guan Sheng, Hao Siwen and other generals who were attracted by the movement here also cast their eyes over here.

Lu Bu looked at Ruan Xiaoqi with amusement. Ruan Xiaoqi looked anxious, as if he was afraid that he would not agree. He turned to look at the people coming from the south and said, "Didn't you tell Xiaoqi?"

"Ah? What did you say?" Ruan Xiaoqi was stunned and looked at his brother in confusion.

Shi Bao, Li Tianrun, Pang Wanchun and others looked helpless: "We thought he already knew, so we didn't mention it. How could we have known that he didn't know either."

"Tsk, what's going on?" Ruan Xiaoqi was a little anxious. He didn't want to rush Lu Bu, so he patted his brothers and said, "Tell me something. I'm so anxious."

The sound of stringed instruments and orchestras rang in my ears, but the tune had changed to a different style.

Shi Bao didn't listen to what was being said, and spread his hands: "My elder brother, have you ever thought about how we came to the banquet today?"

"Ok?"

"There are only His Majesty and the ministers here." Li Tianrun said helplessly: "If we don't get His Majesty's approval, can we have a place here?"

Ruan Xiaoqi was somewhat confused. He looked at this and that and said, "That is to say..."

Lu Bu looked at him and said with a smile: "I told you that I would use them. How could I go back on my word?"

"Damn it, I'm busying around here for nothing." Ruan Xiaoqi breathed a sigh of relief, sat down, and leaned against Li Bao next to him without any image, complaining: "Li San'er, you saw it but didn't tell me, you are so disloyal."

"You bastard..." Li Bao rolled his eyes in disdain and pushed him away. "Who knew you were so brainless that you couldn't even see the lice on your bald head? You might as well change your nickname to "Living Blind Man"."

Ruan Xiaoqi was stunned and speechless. He opened his mouth but couldn't say anything. After a while, he cursed and muttered: "I have seen through it. You bastards are not good people. You are just waiting to see me make a fool of myself."

Several people chuckled. Lu Bu also looked at him with amusement, then turned his gaze to Shi Bao and the other generals: "Your official positions will certainly not be very high at the beginning, but I speak with military merit here. If there is a war in the future, you will definitely not be buried if you have real skills."

Shi Bao, Li Tianrun, and Wang Yin looked at each other, straightened their backs, and patted their chests: "Your Majesty, that's enough. Your Majesty gave us a chance. If we can seize it, it's our ability. If we can't, it's our incompetence."

"I'll wait and see." Lu Bu drank the wine with a smile on his face. His eyes moved around the hands and feet of several people. Just looking at the calluses on their hands, the length of their arms, and the thickness of their waists and legs, he could tell that they were men who practiced martial arts diligently. Now all he had to do was go to the battlefield to test their true abilities.

In the harmonious and warm banquet, many officials who were usually very reserved got drunk and were carried by eunuchs to a side hall to be taken to bed, waiting for them to sober up or for their family to come and pick them up in the evening.

The sun was setting, and the light outside was gradually dimming. The dancers and musicians in the palace had already left, and court officials began to walk out in groups of three or four.

Shi Bao and Li Tianrun were dragged by Ruan Xiaoqi to his house for a second drink, and took the opportunity to let their mother get to know their two sworn brothers. After all, they had a friendship of the same kind.

He had thought it through well. During this festive occasion, even if the eldest brother Ruan Xiaoer did not come back, Ruan Xiaowu would definitely come back. That would save him the trouble of introducing them twice. Besides, coming to the house at the end of the year would be a double happiness. His mother is old and likes the hustle and bustle. She will definitely be happy to see so many people.

As for Pang Wanchun, he and Hua Rong had some common language. The two chatted briefly, exchanged their archery experiences, and made an agreement to hunt together in a few days. Then he became friends with several officers in the archery camp. However, he was worried that his sister would be bored in the inn alone, so he said goodbye and left when the time was up.

"In the end, it's the two of us who are together again." Bai Yanshou looked at Wang Yin, his wheat-colored face flushed with a hint of alcohol.

"Who said that?" Wang Yin shook his head: "And Lou Zuo... Brother Lou is here, the three of us can go back together."

"Oh..." Bai Yanshou patted his head: "Yes, I forgot about him."

He turned around to see that most of the civil officials had already left. He looked around but didn't see any familiar faces. He hesitated and asked, "Brother Lou left first?"

"No." Wang Yin also looked around but didn't see the thin face: "Maybe he went to the toilet. Let's wait for a while."

However, the two men waited and waited but no one came. Almost no one in the hall had left. The two men glanced at the eunuchs who came in to clean up the remnants of the dishes and hesitantly stepped forward: "Excuse me, may I ask where Yi Wensheng, who came with us, is?"

The eunuch bowed and said, "I am not worthy of your asking. All the drunken gentlemen are resting in the side hall. I will take the two generals there."

Wang and Bai then followed the eunuch into the side hall. As soon as they opened the door, they were hit by a foul smell of alcohol. The two men walked in as if they were unaware of it. Looking at the faces of the people who had fallen asleep, they felt more identification with these colleagues in the officialdom.

Drink in big bowls and eat in big chunks of meat.

This is what people like them with vulgar temperaments yearn for. There are many such people among the civil and military officials of Qi State. How can they not be happy?

"Here..." Wang Yin stopped walking as he looked at the familiar person, bent down slightly, and suddenly stood up while covering his nose: "Damn it, Brother Lou, how much did you drink?"

Bai Yanshou, who was listening from behind, didn't take it seriously and said, "If he doesn't drink too much, he can sleep here."

He stepped forward and pushed him: "Brother Lou, Brother Lou, let's go back. Hey! Hey! Wake up! Let's go back! It will be dark if you dawdle any longer! Brother Lou, Brother Lou!"

The eunuch who led the way was listening to the two men and was a little curious. He quietly leaned over and stretched his head to take a look. The moment he saw his appearance clearly, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's him. The two generals don't have to bother."

"Ok?"

Wang Yin and Bai Yanshou turned their heads as they listened to him speak. The former hesitated and asked, "What do you mean?"

"This gentleman accompanied Shang Shu Ling and Tai Pu Qing to drink four jars of Yu Bing Shao." The eunuch looked at the sleeping Lou Minzhong with admiration: "If he can wake up before noon tomorrow, it will be a good thing."

"How much more?" Bai Yanshou thought he had misheard. He looked at the eunuch and pointed at the couch. "This guy used to drink a jar of rice wine. How much do you think he drank?"

"Four altars."

The eunuch held up four fingers, thought for a moment and added, "He vomited three times. If it weren't for the wine, he would have slept soundly."

Wang Yin and Bai Yanshou opened their eyes wide and looked at the figure lying down: "Why didn't we know he could drink so much before? Has he found a confidant?"

Then the former seemed to remember something and said, "Then... where did the two gentlemen who drank with him sleep? Let us see them, and maybe we can send them home together."

The eunuch looked at the two men strangely and said, "Mr. Shangshuling and Mr. Taipuqing are both people who can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. These two are just a little tipsy. Now that they have left the palace, they will probably find another place to continue drinking."

Then he smiled and said, "But this is all my conjecture. You two gentlemen are very self-disciplined on weekdays. It's only today because it's a festive day that you're drinking to your heart's content."

The two Southeast Asian men twitched their faces, turned to look at Lou Minzhong at the same time, and sighed: "If no one can drink, then don't talk..."

"Why bother……"

Not long after, two strong men carried a thin figure out of the palace.

The new year is coming. (End of this chapter)