You have truly caused me great suffering!

Henan Prefecture, Luoyang City.

As dusk falls, Luoyang retains some of the grandeur of a former capital city. Lanterns gradually illuminate the vermilion gates and tall houses along Tongtuo Street, making the stone beasts appear almost alive.

As the New Year approaches, this old capital of Xijing has lost some of the lively atmosphere of Bianliang.

In the reception hall of the Sima family's Dule Garden, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and several scholars in wide robes and long sleeves sat holding whisks.

"That scoundrel Qu Duan refuses to leave. What do you all think?"

"If we don't drive them away, Henan Prefecture will end up like Hedong sooner or later."

Sima Zhi listened to their discussion and felt inexplicably irritated.

These soldiers were rude and uncouth. Although they had not caused any trouble since arriving in Luoyang, they were still enough to make people uneasy.

Especially Qu Duan, who is arrogant and conceited, and extremely annoying.

"In today's world, the social order has collapsed. Although Li Gang, Wu Min, and others have been appointed prime ministers, they are simply no match for military men."

"We must also unite the villagers and our servants to avoid being controlled by others and having no other options in the future."

During the Song Dynasty, after more than a hundred years of rule, any local family that dared to call itself a wealthy household or gentry naturally had countless connections with the officialdom.

Li Tangchen of Taiyuan was able to win over all the officials from Hedong in Bianliang with just a few letters.

In Luoyang, the situation was even more pronounced, as powerful clans and families had intricate and inseparable ties with the officialdom.

Because of Emperor Huizong's consolidation of power, many of the scholar-officials in Bianliang chose to move to Luoyang, the western capital, to enjoy a life of leisure.

After Emperor Huizong of Song, that incompetent and tyrannical ruler, passes away, everyone should support the crown prince, and then I can go back.

This wait lasted for twenty years. No one expected that the Song Dynasty royal family, which was always short-lived, would produce such an anomaly as Zhao Ji.

Twenty years of being a womanizer did not drain his body; on the contrary, he became even more energetic.

Sima Zhi was devoted to cultivating Taoism, and no one dared to compete with him in terms of longevity.

Zhai Jin nodded and said, "I have several estates in the countryside, where I keep a lot of farmhands. With a little training, they can be used as soldiers."

Sima Zhi frowned and said, "These country bumpkins have never been to the battlefield. What good are they? It would be better to bribe the generals in the Western Army so they can be used by me in a critical moment."

Zhai Jin said, “In chaotic times, how can one entrust one’s life and death to others? Moreover, the Western Army has always been crude and barbaric, and they have formed their own faction through intermarriage. The two Grand Commandants of the Zhong family have been rumored to be in poor health in recent years. If they are gone, who will control those arrogant and fierce soldiers?”

Zhai Xing spoke up for his brother, saying, "That's true. The Western Army might not actually be able to fight. Look at Liu Yanqing and his son; they've made a complete fool of themselves!"

The two brothers were determined to return and form the Zhai Family Army to deal with the impending chaos.

Wang Xiang nodded and said, "That's good. It's always a good thing to have your own people at crucial moments."
-
Meanwhile, in the suburbs not far from Luoyang, Qu Duan was seeing off another group of people.

These were the defeated soldiers from Fuyan whom he had painstakingly gathered and trained.

To be honest, Qu Duan was really serious this time; he wanted to bring all the Fuyan troops under his command.

When the Jurchen Tartars march south next year, I will advance eastward again, leading my troops to conquer them.

I can still win battles without the Yinzhou troops! That way, Zhu Lingling won't always take the lion's share of my credit.

Unexpectedly, the Tartars retreated.

Qu Duan also felt quite helpless.

"Spending all day here dealing with a bunch of self-important gentry from Luoyang is really annoying."

That being said, Qu Duan has not been entirely without gain these past few days.

Dealing with this group of aristocratic gentry actually tempered his temper and made him more tolerant.

Even someone as arrogant as Qu Duan grew up in an environment where the Song Dynasty valued literature over military affairs. Despite his harsh words now, he would have to give these people some face when the time came.

Moreover, he was worried that he would be looked down upon for not being well-read, so after arriving in Henan Prefecture, he would read a few books every night.

It has an excellent hypnotic effect.

This reminded him of Commander Zhu, who was illiterate. After he submitted to the military governor and took up residence in Yinzhou, he hired several scholars to teach him to read and write every day.

Later, he was even able to personally write a thousand-character essay for the general.
Although Qu Duan always pretended to be indifferent, he actually admired Lao Zhu very much.

Beside him, Commander Zhang Zhongfu said, "Most of the troops used by the General are now transferred from here, which shows how much the General relies on you."

Qu Di nodded, his expression softening slightly. The head of the military commander's personal guards who had come to deliver the order a few days ago had also been ordered to bring him a book.

The book was covered with dense annotations by the military commander; it was the "Seven Military Classics" that Chen Shao had just finished reading.

On the title page, there is a handwritten note by Chen Shao: "Do not say anything that is detrimental to unity."
He did heed some of Chen Shao's advice, and recently he has reduced the frequency of his verbal attacks and his language has become less extreme.

He waved his hand gently, and the Fuyan Army began their westward return. They were to meet up with the Fuyan Army released by the Zhe family outside the Fuyan Road.

They then joined Liu Guanglie's forces, becoming part of his core team when he returned to inherit the Fuyan Road.

Chen Shao had already done everything for his third brother.

Once he returns to take over the Fuyan army, the Western Army will find it increasingly difficult to unite against him.

The scattered Western Army posed little threat to Chen Shao.
-
The last day of the first year of the Jingkang era.

This year, a large quantity of mutton was transported from the Northwest, but it still couldn't keep up with the demand from Taiyuan Prefecture.

In the Song Dynasty, people ate "jiaozi" on New Year's Day, which is what we now call dumplings.

The origin of this custom is now impossible to ascertain.

However, it had already become very popular during the Song Dynasty, which shows that the lives of ordinary people in the Song Dynasty were far superior to those of the people in the later Qing Dynasty who could only eat sweet potatoes.

During the Song Dynasty, people valued mutton and despised pork. In Hedong, which bordered the north, mutton was plentiful and not particularly expensive.

Even before Chen Shao arrived and the caravan route was opened, the people of Hedong still bought large quantities of mutton from the Khitan to eat.

On ordinary days, mutton is used to make a sauce, which is fine to eat with a meal. But on New Year's Day, the dumplings must be filled with plenty of mutton.

Every butcher shop was so crowded that you couldn't turn around. People were passing money over their heads, and the butchers and their assistants were sweating profusely.

They changed their thick clothes into thin ones, so thin that they almost wanted to peel them off.

Chen Shao did not keep Liu Guanglie to celebrate the New Year; instead, he sent him away early.

Back in the city, looking at the bustling scene of Taiyuan, Chen Shao felt that this was the kind of life the people should have.

Thinking that if he hadn't led his troops eastward, Taiyuan City would be a living hell right now.

Wanyan Zonghan's army is presumably besieging the city, which has already run out of food.

It's truly remarkable that Wang Bing and Zhang Xiaochun were able to hold on. And that old scoundrel Tong Guan is really inhuman. If you're going to run away, you could at least go to the rear and provide some supplies.

Wrapped himself in the thick fox fur, Chen Shao didn't feel cold at all. Since Li Shishi came, his quality of life had improved rapidly.

It's not about indulging in delicacies every day, but rather about becoming more regular and healthy.

Although this matter was a trivial matter, a detail of daily life, it was extremely important to Chen Shao and even to the overall situation of the world.

Now that things have come to this point, the better Chen Shao's health is, the more years he can live, the more significant the difference will be.

Many brave and valiant heroes have suffered because of this.

If Liu Yu, Chai Rong, and Tuoba Hong had lived a few more years, history might have been completely different.

Moreover, it's not just about lifespan; being free from illness and disease, and being able to focus on planning, is also very important.

Liu Jizu, who came to see Chen Shao off, laughed and asked, "Has the General ever seen the New Year's Day celebrations in Bianliang?"

"What is the difference?"

Liu Jizu looked nostalgic and said, "Bianliang City must be brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations at this time. When night falls, firecrackers and fireworks, lanterns and horses, will never stop. Men and women, with flowers in their hair, will walk around all night without sleeping. It is a true city that never sleeps."

Chen Shao smiled and said, "I think that when the people of Taiyuan buy meat to reunite, it adds a touch of human warmth."

Tokyo's splendor is truly otherworldly.

Liu Jizu secretly noted in his heart that the military commander valued the people's livelihood.

From now on, I need to align my words and actions with this in mind.

Chen Shao returned to his residence early, and dozens of family members came to offer New Year's greetings. Chen Shao had people distribute the rewards and honors.

Fireworks and firecrackers were also set off at the mansion, and the smell of gunpowder in the air made Chen Shao feel nostalgic.

In Chen Shao's room, everyone arranged the square table into a long mat, making the room as bright as day, filled with the sounds of laughter and chatter.

Someone tried to bow to Chen Shao, but Chen Shao waved his hand and said, "Tonight, the whole family stays up to welcome the New Year. There is no distinction between superiors and inferiors, and no taboos are observed."

Even with many people, it didn't feel chaotic; instead, it was very warm and cozy. They spoke softly and gently, their smiles gentle and their eyes sparkling.

Jin Le'er said something that upset her older sister, who reached out to hit her.

The little girl wasn't afraid at all; instead, she threw herself into Chen Shao's arms and acted coquettishly, leaving everyone both amused and exasperated. She wore a light red floral-patterned jacket and silk trousers, her delicate face flushed and slightly sweaty.

Chen Shao held her in his arms, temporarily forgetting the important matter, and immersed himself in this brief moment of relaxation and joy.

Humans are not machines; it's best not to be constantly tense, otherwise, once you relax, it can easily lead to retaliatory indulgence.

This is why many accomplished leaders suddenly indulge in unrestrained pleasure and debauchery in their later years.

Although Chen Shao's household was never poor in terms of food and clothing, they were also rarely extravagant or wasteful.

Tonight, he gave special instructions to the kitchen staff to splurge a little. Soon, the maids brought up large trays, carrying dishes in a continuous stream. There were thirty to fifty bowls and plates, all made of Baofeng Ru kiln porcelain, with a variety of seafood, wine, and dishes, as well as dried and fresh fruits and vegetables.

After they finished eating, the maids could also eat.

Chen Shao still held Jin Le'er in his arms, letting her eat in his embrace. She ate some casually, feeling happy: "Today, let's not stand on ceremony. We won't offer wine or tea. Everyone, please have fun and help yourselves to eat whatever you want."

At the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), Zhe Shi took Zhong Lingxi and said he was taking Huanhuan back to rest.

Chen Shao said, "Put on your clothes before you go, don't catch a cold."

As soon as Huanhuan left, the group of concubines also took their leave.

It was past midnight, but the sound of firecrackers continued to ring out.

Chen Shao held Li Shishi's hand and said with a smile, "Shishi, don't go. I'll keep watch with you."

Li Shishi nodded, leaning comfortably against his arm, feeling a sense of peace and tranquility in her heart.
-
The first day of the first month of the second year of the Jingkang era.

Looking at this unlucky reign title, Chen Shao felt a bit unlucky.

But they still had to use this era name to carry out various celebrations.

From that day on, he officially placed the war at the front on the most important agenda.

The Jurchens in the north do not celebrate the New Year, but there are also quite a few Han Chinese in their area.

Perhaps influenced by the Han Chinese under his command celebrating the New Year, the Jin state also had some celebratory activities.

They also sent envoys to Bianliang to demand reparations.

However, Bianliang today is different from what it was a year ago. The officials in the court surrounded the Jin envoy and gave him a good scolding.

Although there are still factions in the court, those who hold the most power are all pro-war.

It's just a difference between ordinary war-oriented and extreme war-oriented approaches.

Li Gang and others were originally staunch advocates of war, always demanding that the court reorganize the army and resolutely resist the Jin.

However, at this time, they were constantly being impeached. Officials from Hedong seized on their defensiveness, which they saw as cowardice and lack of ambition, and launched a fierce attack on this point.

They felt that the imperial court should mobilize the entire nation to support the Dingnan Army's northward march, completely annihilate the Jurchen Tartars, and then reclaim Yanshan Prefecture and the former Liaodong territory.

At this point, advocating for war and taking a hard line had become the absolute political correctness.

So if you don't utter a few words of criticism, your official position will be in danger, or you might be labeled as a coward who advocates peace.

The Jin envoy had never suffered such humiliation, and filled with boundless hatred, he left Bianliang long ago.

And the Dingnan Army did indeed begin to take action.

For them, after the New Year, it's time to get back to work.

Fanshi County, formerly known as Yanmenyi Xia Sai, is now under the jurisdiction of Daizhou and is one of the northernmost counties of Daizhou.

This place is nestled between Mount Heng to the north and Mount Wutai to the south, with the Hutuo River flowing around it.

The Inner Great Wall stretches out in a winding pattern north of Fanshi.

During the Five Dynasties period and into the early Song Dynasty, the Northern Han established the Baoxing Army southeast of Fanshi. In the early Song Dynasty, many troops were also stationed there to defend against the Liao Dynasty and support the three passes.

However, after nearly a century of peace in the Song Dynasty, the days of war and conquest had long since vanished.

The border region is harsh and cold, and various industries are not thriving. Fanshi has not developed much either, and it still looks like the old city from the founding of the country. The population is not dense, and the people are quite fierce.

Those who are transferred to this place to serve as officials generally think it's not a good job; only unlucky people with no connections in the court would come here.

The only economic development point in this area was probably the fact that people from Hedong during the Song Dynasty would secretly come here to trade with the Khitans.

With the Jurchens' conquest of the Liao Dynasty and the resulting unrest in the border regions, the number of merchants trading horses, tea, salt, and furs decreased significantly, making Fanshi even more desolate.

At this moment, beneath the ancient road of the Inner Great Wall, groups of people were advancing along the valley of the Hutuo River.

These armored soldiers marched in complete silence, with only their mounts exhaling long plumes of white smoke in the cold wind.

Occasionally, the sound of armored weapons clashing could be heard, making this winter day seem even more chilling.

Anyone familiar with military affairs can immediately tell that a force capable of such a march is an elite unit.

Indeed, they were the elite of the elite, the heavy cavalry of Han Shizhong's Helan Mountain Legion. Although not as formidable as the two hundred heavy cavalrymen Chen Shao had built, the Helan Mountain Legion's strength lay in its sheer numbers.

Their march from this place had only one purpose: to reach Weizhou.

The Lingwu army was indeed unable to break through Weizhou, so the front line decided to rotate its defenses, with Han Shizhong taking charge of the breakthrough and Wu Lin leading troops to garrison Datong in Yunnei.

Han Shizhong and his subordinate Wei Minglitong stood side by side on horseback in front.

The two of them gazed silently at the small, dilapidated city before them. The weather was clear, visibility was excellent, and the roads were frozen solid.

This county seat of the Song Dynasty was within a short distance of the galloping horse. There were several sections of the city wall that had collapsed, and since there were gaps in the wall, the four city gates were simply left unclosed.

The moat that was dug more than a hundred years ago has long been silted up.

Both Han Shizhong and Wei Minglitong, seasoned veterans of many battles, knew very well that such a city was tantamount to being completely undefended.

After the reconstruction of the Daizhou camp, the defenses around Yanmen Pass were indeed quite good. However, further inland, one could see how neglected the Song Dynasty's borders had become in recent years.

At this time, Han Shizhong was as capable as ever compared to when he was in the Northwest, but his temperament had become more profound.

Holding a large army and standing alone is the ultimate test of character.

If a general keeps winning battles, he will gradually develop the demeanor of a great general.

However, Po Hanwu is shrewd. He usually hides his true abilities by laughing and joking. In fact, he is a shrewd person despite his rough exterior, and his mind is quite sharp.

"After taking Datong, we have been dealing with Wanyan Zonghan's counterattacks, and the Yunnei front has been mostly defensive with little offensive capability. Now that we have been preparing for so long, it is time to make a change."

Han Shizhong was very confident, while Wei Minglitong laughed and said, "I heard that the Jin Kingdom has already started internal strife."

"Never mind them!" Han Shizhong said, "When we fight, we can't rely on the enemy's infighting to win. Instead, we must always treat them as the formidable enemy that will overthrow the Liao Dynasty."

As the armored soldiers in front passed, the auxiliary troops behind them were much weaker.

They led the packhorses, scolded and trained them, transported supplies, and were also responsible for taking care of the mounts of the armored soldiers at the front.

The Central Plains were still cold in winter, and no one in the border regions was willing to move.

Even ghosts don't want to go out at night, and there's hardly any entertainment available then.

So even for an official sent to this post, it was a tough job. At night, he would crawl onto the kang (heated brick bed) and sleep in the warmth.

No one would have imagined that, under the moonlight, an armored army, braving the frost of the north, would continue its march through the night.

When the auxiliary troops arrived at the Yanmen camp in Daizhou, they took over the defense on the spot, but the soldiers continued to advance.

Han Shizhong's meaning was clear: since you've come, the powerful families of Weizhou should choose one side to support.

At this point, there is no such thing as neutrality; no one can remain uninvolved.

So he planned to take advantage of his arrival to raid several fortified villages.

In the Weizhou region, the fortified villages and strongholds that survived were all considered to be relatively powerful.

Han Shizhong, having fought his way from Dongsheng Prefecture, knew very well that if they weren't wiped out, this would be the granary of the Jurchen Tartars.

They deliberately left these fortified walls untouched, only to come and collect grain when necessary, and conveniently enslave the people here.

At the junction of Weizhou, Quyang in Hebei, and Daizhou, two countries and three prefectures, there is a valley where a large area of ​​houses can be seen.

This is Tianjiabao. It has existed since the Tang Dynasty and has occupied this place ever since.

In recent years, life in the fortified village has not been good, but the head of the family, Tian Biao, is very good at playing both sides.

He secretly delivered grain to Wanyan Zonghan and also secretly corresponded with Wu Lin, expressing his willingness to act as an inside agent.

So they managed to make a meager living here, managing to preserve their ancestors' legacy.

In the watchtower of the fortress, a guy woke up in the middle of the night needing to urinate, intending to relieve himself nearby.

But another brother, still half asleep, cursed at him: "Go somewhere else! You son of a bitch, are you expecting us to smell your stench all night?"

"If he dares to stay here, cut him off!"

The man, desperate to urinate, reluctantly came out and, braving the freezing cold, pulled out his weapon from under the stockade wall, muttering, "It's so cold, don't let us freeze."

The moonlight was very bright. The guy looked up unconsciously and couldn't help but open his mouth wide.

He stopped holding on with his hands and peed on his feet, but he didn't care.

I pulled up my pants and couldn't help but yell.

Under the moonlight, the ice surface of the Hutuo River reflected a silvery light, making it possible to see a large, dark mass of people silently approaching.

They were already three or four hundred paces away. The leading few hundred knights immediately split into several groups and began to increase their speed, heading towards the dilapidated gaps in the city wall.

Where did this army come from?
Could they be Jurchen Tartars?
Before he had much time to think, the sound of horses' hooves thundered in the night, and even by the moonlight, one could clearly see the ice shards tumbling and flying in the air under the trampling of hundreds of riders.

The neighing of warhorses followed, and the clanging of weapons and armor added a chilling sense of killing intent.

These armored soldiers were well-trained and experienced. They swept through the surrounding houses like a whirlwind, startling the dogs in the homes of the villagers, which barked loudly in the dead of night.

Just as the people were awakened by the noise, these mounted warriors had already swept into the breach in the fortress like a whirlwind!

The villager on the city wall, whose exposed body was freezing cold but didn't even feel it, instinctively shouted at the top of his lungs, "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

With a whoosh, the armored soldier who was riding forward on horseback looked up at him, took off his bow and shot an arrow, but it flew past the guy three or four steps away.

His distorted screams immediately came to an abrupt halt.

The knight laughed and called out to him, "Run for your life!"

Overnight, the Helan Mountain Corps almost completely cleared out the nearby fortresses and strongholds that had not surrendered to the Dingnan Army.

They did encounter resistance, but the disparity in strength was simply too great.

The intensity of the war in Weizhou was actually not as great as that in the vicinity of Datong. Now that Han Shizhong has led his troops here, he has beheaded several fortress chiefs and local bullies, clearly telling everyone that there is no way to compromise.

They had to choose either the Jurchens or the Dingnan Army.

Because during my decisive battle with the Jurchen Tartars, I did not want anyone to become a supply depot for them.

To deal with the Jurchens, who didn't like to carry provisions during battles, a scorched-earth policy was crucial. The existence of these fortified villages and strongholds provided the Jurchens with easy prey to slaughter.

Han Shizhong's style also indicates that he is not there to maintain a stalemate, but rather to take the initiative to attack.
-
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

All businesses in Bianliang City have already reopened.

Especially for restaurants, the supply of goods in Bianliang this year is not as abundant as in previous years.

Previously, regardless of the situation in other places, priority was given to supplying Bianliang.

This year is different. First of all, the Hedong area will not pay, and other parts of Hebei no longer have this requirement.

In Bianliang, there were supposedly seventy-two main restaurants, and countless snack shops and eateries lining the streets and alleys. This kind of operation of the catering industry was undoubtedly the pinnacle of the world.

However, for people of real status, normal banquets are still held at home.

The restaurants and shops in the city were mostly catering to minor officials, merchants, ordinary citizens, and even peddlers and laborers.

Another major source of customers is those who travel for academic studies, as well as the students who are bored out of their minds and spend all day in this bustling city.

After gathering with friends and drinking to their hearts' content, poems and essays would emerge one after another, praising famous restaurants like Fanlou as if they were heavenly palaces.

Those who truly held power in Bianliang would not easily go to restaurants to entertain guests.

After all, in ordinary restaurants, the space is not spacious, and the people coming and going are chaotic. The waiters and maids who cut the meat are not as good as those who have been trained at home for many years.

Not to mention the many rare ingredients, which are difficult for these stores to stock.

The idea is simply to hire the female entertainers from the entertainment district to accompany drinks, and then bring them directly into the household.

At this moment, Wu Min's mansion was filled with the atmosphere of a wealthy family banquet.

Because of the recent palace coup, Wu Min and others completely imprisoned the retired emperor in Genyue, stripping him of all his power, and Wu Min was promoted as well.

Now that he is in charge of the Privy Council, he can be considered one of the top three figures in the Bianliang court.

The New Year has just passed, and the festive atmosphere is still there. The banquet is being held in the back garden, and guests are still exchanging New Year's greetings.

Bianliang is very cold this year, even colder than last year. For some reason, the seasons are always out of order these years.

Heavy rains, bitter cold, and earthquakes repeatedly ravaged the land of the Song Dynasty.

Although the weather in Bianliang was cold, the wealthy families had ways to cope, such as by setting up thick curtains all around today.

Instead of setting up a heated floor in the garden, countless charcoal stoves were lit, each tended meticulously by a servant in blue robes. The charcoal had to be carefully arranged to neither smother the fire nor produce too much smoke that would offend the officials at the banquet; this was a skill that required long-term practice to master.

One side of the curtain was open, but it faced a pond in the back garden.

Land in Bianliang City is extremely valuable, and even with Wu Min's status, which is close to the pinnacle of a court official, his residence is not very large.

Only someone of Cai Jing's or Wang Fu's stature could afford to build a mansion in Bianliang, the capital of the Song Dynasty, that rivaled even the imperial city.

The size of the pond in the garden was inevitably limited, but the skillful craftsmen decorated it with great care.

The surrounding pavilions and terraces are all ingeniously designed.

The weather is cold now, the water is frozen, and the snow and frost cover the surface, creating a unique and beautiful scene. Setting up a banquet here is enough to make people feel relaxed and happy.

Accompanied by Wu Min, Geng Nanzhong entered the room with a smile and took his seat, and everyone at the table stood up to greet him.

Before Geng Nanzhong left the capital, they were all good friends, including Yuwen Xuzhong who came to accompany him today.

Later, Geng Nanzhong joined the Dingnan Army, and their relationship became complicated.

Geng Nanzhong's actions dealt a heavy blow to them, especially to the Shilin community.

Many people, and even more so because of this, began to change their ways and went to the Northwest to try their luck in their future.

Now that he has returned to Bianliang, he has once again gained the emperor's trust and was appointed as a Grand Academician of the Zizheng Hall and a Privy Councilor, and later promoted to Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and Vice Minister of the Chancellery.

The group sat down again.

Since the curtain has been opened, wind is bound to blow.

The banquet here is set out with individual seats, and behind each seat are two pretty young maids who hold up feather canopies to shield the distinguished guests from the wind.

As soon as the wind direction changed slightly, the maids obediently turned the feather canopy in their hands to a different angle, without needing anyone to remind them.

In fact, this kind of feather canopy is quite heavy. Two delicate and timid girls have to hold it for a long time, and they also have to wear a charming and gentle smile on their faces at all times. Needless to say, these maids are also carefully trained by aristocratic families.

These handmaids alone would be very difficult for an ordinary nouveau riche family to tame, no matter how much money they had.

Only the masters of the Song Dynasty—the scholar-officials—were worthy of enjoying such wealth and luxury.

There were also people constantly and lightly moving around the table, serving dishes, warming wine for distinguished guests, and continuously offering warm water for washing hands and rinsing mouths.

There was also an instrumental band in one corner of the curtain, playing music to accompany distinguished guests when they raised their glasses.

As the distinguished guest spoke, the music gradually subsided, lingering faintly, almost imperceptibly, without any abruptness.

If a corner of the Heavenly Palace were to be opened with a curtain, any mortal who glimpsed it would lose all their pride and would never dare to boast of their wealth or status again.

Wu Min sat in the main seat and reminisced with Geng Nanzhong for a while. She then raised her glass with a smile and said, "Xi Dao, you have worked really hard these past few years in the Northwest. I'd like to toast you."

Geng Nanzhong also raised his glass and lightly clinked it with Yuwen Xuzhong and Wu Min across the distance.

"It's not exactly hard work. Xiping Prefecture is quite prosperous, but it certainly can't compare to our Bianliang."

He then began to talk about the Dingnan Army with a smile, and everyone else put down their chopsticks and wine glasses to listen quietly to his story.

It was clear that Geng Nanzhong was very happy; the entire banquet almost became an occasion for him to give a speech.

When he got tired of talking, he picked up his wine glass, took a big gulp, and then put the glass down.

A maidservant silently came over, took away the remaining wine, poured it out, and served a fresh wine cup.

Then pour another cup of warm wine. If he talks for a little longer, the cold wine is constantly removed so that the honored guest's hand is always warm when he raises his glass.

Geng Nanzhong was overjoyed. Although he had a decent status in Xiping Prefecture, he had never experienced such enjoyment.

Now that I'm back in Tokyo, it's time to gather all my belongings together again.

Unfortunately, the army in Dingnan did not have much salary, and it was not easy to make a living through shady means.

Although I have surpassed these old friends now, I am not as enjoying life as I did before I went to the Northwest.

Most of the prominent figures in the Dingnan Army lived relatively simply and did not pursue such things.

But Geng Nanzhong still values ​​this very much; today's banquet reminded him of the wonderful taste of life.

This banquet, without much probing, truly felt like a joyous reunion of old friends.

When Wu Min saw everyone off and returned to her study, Yuwen Xuzhong and the others had already returned.

They gathered in Wu Min's study, their expressions no longer as composed as they had been at the banquet, but rather somewhat serious.

"Uncle Tong, what do you think?"

Wu Min asked habitually, "Yuwen Xuzhong is their strategist, nicknamed 'the brain trust'."

There are no wrong nicknames, only wrong names; Yuwen Xuzhong was indeed resourceful.

When analyzing his old friend, Yuwen Xuzhong made no attempt to hide anything and said directly, "It's him. The Dingnan Army is like an iron plate; you can't get a knife in or water out of it."

"Only Geng Xidao seemed dissatisfied with his lower status compared to Cai Jing and Wei Li."

"He was originally a power-hungry man; he only came to the Northwest for power. Now that he's successful and arrogant, it shouldn't be difficult to lure him in!" (End of Chapter)