You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 39 Leng Shao
Lunar New Year's Eve arrived as scheduled.

During the Song Dynasty, there was a holiday for the New Year, and officials and the emperor would also have a holiday.

Later, Bao Zheng felt that only useless people were given holidays, and that he, as a pillar of the state, should also work during the New Year. So he kept writing to petition that the holiday be shortened to three days.

This despicable behavior successfully secured the New Year's work bonus for the Song Dynasty's emperor and his officials.

Chen Shao's troops who supported the Japanese also had shifts for rest.

The emperor bestowed many gifts upon Tong Guan, which he then distributed to his subordinates in one go.

Chen Shao received more than the others.

His two outrageous actions towards Cai Jing in the past few days, which seemed to have earned him a reprimand from Tong Guan, actually earned him a lot of points.

Tong Guan didn't need subordinates like Zhuge Liang; character and ability weren't the most important things to him.

Loyalty is the most important thing.

He wished that every one of his men was like Xu Chu or Dian Wei.

On the morning of New Year's Eve, Chen Shao washed his face and distributed most of the things that Tong Guan had sent to his subordinates.

Although he only had four personal guards and had not yet been promoted, everyone knew that he would be given an important position after returning to the Northwest.

Da Hu was carrying some brocade fabrics and was smiling very happily.

"I'll go home and make a dress for my mother, just like the one Chun Tao is wearing."

Cui Lin and the others chose gold and silver ingots, as well as some banknotes.

Because it's Lunar New Year's Eve, people inevitably think of their relatives. The three brothers, Cui Lin, Zhao Shan, and Zhao He, combined, couldn't even have a father and a mother.

Hearing Da Hu's words, the joy on his face faded somewhat.

"Work hard with me, and in the future you'll settle down, start a family, and have many children."

The usually taciturn Cui Lin rarely spoke up, saying, "I'm following the boss not for these things, I just want to build a career with him. I've long seen that the boss is no ordinary person."

Chen Shao said: "Let's change our way of life."

The words would echo in Cui Lin's mind from time to time. Sometimes when he had free time, he couldn't help but think that his boss was right!
What's the point of living like that, even if you lived to be a hundred?
Chen Shao patted him on the shoulder, smiled, and said nothing.

When the sound of firecrackers rang out on New Year's Eve, Chen Shao's first thought was of Li Shishi.

This woman, who didn't even have a formal title, somehow evoked a sense of kinship and warmth in Chen Shao, like that of family.

Without her, spending the first New Year after transmigrating in this cold yet bustling Bianliang City would probably be somewhat desolate.

Thinking of this, Chen Shao couldn't wait to meet her.

"Da Hu, come with me to Marshal Xuan's residence."

At this moment, the side door opened, and Chun Tao came out carrying a basin of water. After splashing the water, she waved.

Chen Shao took a few steps and said with a smile, "Chuntao, wait for me to go out and I'll pick out some clothes and jewelry for you."

"It's the New Year, what shops are still open?" Chun Tao asked, blushing. "Are you coming back tonight?"

"It's really hard to say."

"Come back sooner and pour me some water, okay?" Chun Tao said coquettishly, twisting her body.

Chun Tao went from being shy at first to getting used to it now.

Chen Shao nodded and said, "Okay, I'll come back again."

After saying that, he turned to leave, but Chun Tao suddenly called out, "Brother Chen!"

"what happened?"

"You," Chun Tao asked shyly, "how do I look in these clothes?"

New Year, new clothes: a pale yellow top and a light-colored long skirt. Chun Tao's outfit was borrowed from Li Shishi by Chen Shao.

She wore it only a few times before Chen Shao declared it new, and Chun Tao loved it.

Li Shishi's taste was undoubtedly impeccable.

Chen Shao smiled and praised him a few times, then picked up his waist knife, mounted his horse, and rode away with Da Hu. Chun Tao stomped her foot and went back to her room in a huff.

She was wearing jewelry that Brother Chen had given her, but he didn't even notice it.

Even during the New Year, the streets of Bianliang are crowded with people, and the main roads are bustling with traffic.

Da Hu licked his lips and said, "Master, Bianliang is really great. I'd like to move here to live in Bianliang in the future."

Chen Shao laughed and said, "It's good to have this ambition."

"Putting everything else aside, this road is a hundred times better than the one we have back home."

The Northwest naturally lacks the financial resources to build roads.

The roads in the Northwest are notoriously muddy. The roads connecting the various camps are trampled into a mess. Once it rains, walking on them is like trekking through a swamp or being stuck in the mud of a rice paddy, making it difficult to move an inch. With each step, the mud goes right up to your ankles...

The roads and main roads were better; the soil was compacted by carts and horses over a long period of time, and rainwater could not penetrate too deeply. However, a thin layer of mud adhered to the surface of the hard soil, which acted like a lubricant, making it very slippery for people and horses to walk on, and they could easily slip and fall.

There was no other way; the Qiang people had more cavalry, while the Western Army had more infantry, so they dared not build roads.

Otherwise, the cavalry's advance would be even faster.

The two first arrived at Tong Guan's residence, only to find it already packed with people. Looking around, they recognized no one.

Because most of the people who came were military officers.

The sword rack had two whole rows of weapons on it, and there was almost no place to put them after Chen Shao took off his sword.

Dong Dahu had already handed the gifts to the servants of the Tong family. After returning, he reached out to take the weapons, led the two horses out, and waited outside together.

When he arrived at the flower hall, several guards nodded to him but did not speak.

Chen Shao found a captain, leaned forward, and asked, "Brother, why are there so many people?"

"Shao-ge'er, you're late. Every year at this time, generals from all over the country come to pay their respects to Commander Xuan. I'll hand over your invitation card, and you can wait here."

Chen Shao quickly took out the gift card written by Chun Tao from his pocket.

I thought I would have to wait a long time, or even not see him today, but to my surprise, Yang Keshi came out in no time.

He looked around and gestured, "Brother Shao, over here!"

Chen Shao pushed through the crowd and finally understood what it meant for "a powerful and influential family to have a constant stream of visitors."

Yang Keshi put his arm around his shoulder and said with a smile, "Brother Shao, Commander Xuan saw your invitation and specially asked you to come in."

After Chen Shao entered, he bowed respectfully. There weren't many people in the hall.

Tong Guan's face was somewhat gloomy, but it was clearly not directed at Chen Shao. Upon seeing him enter, he even instructed someone to bring over a chair.

Logically speaking, given his official rank, he shouldn't have received this honor, but Chen Shao didn't stand on ceremony and sat down happily.

Despite being surrounded by high-ranking military officers, Chen Shao acted as if he didn't know the rules and would just do whatever Commander Xuan told him to do.

Tong Guan was even more pleased after seeing it.

"I just don't understand." Tong Guan's calm tone suddenly became impassioned. "We are all serving the Emperor and the Song Dynasty. Cai Jing building gardens and Taoist temples for the Emperor is for the country and the people, while my campaign against Liao and the restoration of Yan is a disaster for the country and the people?"

It seems they are discussing Cai Jing.

Chen Shao almost instantly got into character, looking furious, and even gritted his teeth and muttered a curse under his breath.

Tong Guan looked around and was most satisfied with Chen Shao's performance, so he made an exception and asked, "Chen Shao?"

Chen Shao immediately stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and asked, "What are your orders, Commander?"

People around them secretly pointed and whispered, saying that this was the hothead.

They dare to criticize Cai Jing.

"We've received news from the Jurchens that they plan to launch another attack on Liao around May after the New Year, when the weather warms up. We're still being held back by the Western Xia. What do you think?"

Chen Shao shouted, "With such a hero as our commander and our brothers being such tough men, how can we not destroy Xia in five months?"

"Although I am not talented, I am willing to serve Commander En, donning armor and wielding weapons, and becoming the vanguard in destroying Xia."

(End of this chapter)