Chapter 900 Chapter 900, Banquet
Xiao Mansion.
The officials sat in the living room somewhat stiffly. They thought that Xiao Yeyang was just being polite when he asked them to come for dinner, but they didn't expect that he actually called them over.
One of the more alert officials, noticing the subdued atmosphere, smiled and made small talk: "Sir Xiao, I wonder what's installed on your windows and roof? Even without any lights on in the middle of winter, the house is still bright."
Xiliang is cold in winter. In order to prevent the cold wind from penetrating, thick curtains are hung on the doors and windows, making the light in the house very dim.
Xiao Yeyang smiled and said, "That's glass."
Fan Tong's eyes lit up. "Is this what the Xiangyang Glass Factory, which was just built outside the city, produces?"
Xiao Yeyang nodded and said, "When you leave later, take a few pieces back with you. The glass factory was just built not long ago and hasn't produced much yet. By the beginning of next spring, there should be some for sale in the city."
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up and they all started to express their gratitude.
Fan Tong was quite brave. He stood by the window and knocked on the glass, saying with a smile, "Ganzhou is very windy and sandy. With this glass, we won't have to change the window paper so often in the future."
An official immediately followed up and said, "Since Lord Xiao came, the lives of our Ganzhou Guard have improved a lot. Let's not talk about other things, just take honeycomb coal as an example, it has benefited the people a lot."
"Now that we have glass, we can imagine that our lives will get better and better in the future."
Others quickly agreed: "That's right."
Xiao Yeyang was chatting with everyone with a smile. Not long after, Defu walked in and said, "Master, the food is ready. Madam said we can eat now."
Xiao Yeyang stood up and said, "Everyone, follow me to the dining room for dinner." After that, he walked out of the room first.
The officials sat down in the dining room one by one, and soon they saw maids coming in with plates of various vegetables.
It is so cold in Ganzhou Wei in winter that the food will get cold soon after it comes out of the pot. Daohua simply goes all out and uses hot pot to entertain the officials of the Wei. This is simple and convenient, and there is no need to worry about the food getting cold.
Looking at the green vegetables on the table, many officials showed moved expressions on their faces.
In Ganzhouwei, it is really difficult to eat fresh vegetables in winter.
I didn't expect that Lord Xiao would value them so much. These vegetables must have been shipped from outside by the Xiao Mansion, right?
Fan Tong was a foodie. Looking at the vegetables that kept piling up on the table, he quickly said, "Master Xiao, this is really too much of a spendthrift. We can just have a simple meal."
Xiao Yeyang also knew how precious fresh vegetables were in Xiliang. He smiled and said, "I've been in Ganzhouwei for a year. I've been busy with official business and haven't treated you all to a meal. This is the first time I've invited you all to my house. How can I be so casual?"
"This is the hot pot sauce my wife specially prepared. Considering your tastes, it comes in two flavors: spicy and non-spicy. Everyone, please try it."
After everyone thanked them, they picked up their chopsticks and started eating.
Dong Yuanxuan, Su Hongxin, and Xiao Yeyang sat at the same table. Looking at the dining room that had suddenly become lively, Su Hongxin smiled and said, "It's a good idea for everyone to sit together and eat hot pot in winter, sister-in-law."
Dong Yuanxuan: "This is subject to a prerequisite. There must be enough side dishes." If they invite us to eat hot pot, we will probably only be able to eat meat.
Su Hongxin immediately looked at Xiao Yeyang: "Where did my sister-in-law get so many fresh vegetables?"
Xiao Yeyang smiled and said, "She built a greenhouse with glass on the farm she reclaimed."
Su Hongxin quickly said, "Then I'll take some back to eat when I leave."
Xiao Yeyang glanced over and said: "The temperature here is too low, and the vegetable yield is not high."
Su Hongxin didn't want it: "Then I'll eat more now."
Xiao Yeyang shook his head, and when Su Hongxin and Dong Yuanxuan left, he still packed a basket of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, etc. for them.
As for the others, they only got a few pieces of glass.
That’s it, everyone was quite satisfied.
After seeing off the officials, Xiao Yeyang returned to his room.
When Daohua came back from work, she saw Xiao Yeyang lying on the kang with his arms and legs spread out. She smiled and asked, "Are your men eating well?"
Xiao Yeyang sat up and leaned against the headboard: "You took out so many delicious foods to treat them, and they all ate with their mouths full of oil."
Daohua smiled and sat down on the edge of the kang. "Since this is a banquet for your colleagues and a celebration of your promotion to commander, I naturally have to prepare something lavish. Otherwise, wouldn't it bring discredit to the palace?"
Xiao Yeyang smiled and hugged Daohua in his arms, sniffing the fragrance of her hair.
Daohua leaned against Xiao Yeyang's arms and said with a smile, "This time you're both killing a chicken to scare the monkeys and treating everyone to a meal. I think all the officials in the garrison will listen to you, right?"
Xiao Yeyang laughed and said, "Those who still want to continue working in the garrison should stop now."
"That's good."
Seeing the fatigue on Xiao Yeyang's face, Daohua took off her shoes and climbed onto the kang: "Lie down, I'll give you a massage."
Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua: "You've been busy for most of the day, aren't you tired?"
Daohua: "Compared to you running around outside every day, what I do is nothing."
Xiao Yeyang smiled and lay down on the kang.
After Xiao Yeyang lay down, Daohua sat on him and started to massage him.
Xiao Yeyang showed an expression of enjoyment on his face: "I really want to stay at home forever."
Daohua: "Now that the Dan River has been reclaimed, you should be able to rest for a while, right?"
Xiao Yeyang shook his head: "Do you still remember that Ma Teng?"
Daohua nodded: "I remember, what happened to him?"
Xiao Yeyang: "That guy is quite capable. I asked him to keep an eye on the movements of the Western Liao people. Not long ago, he sent me a message saying that the Western Liao people have also been training their troops in the past two years."
"The border troops on the Xiliang side are in disarray. Their combat capabilities are far from guaranteed, and due to the incompetence of the garrisons, they can't even get enough food. How can we expect such an army to fight?"
Having said that, he paused.
"This time, my uncle not only promoted me to the commander of Ganzhou Guard, but also gave me the tiger talisman that can mobilize the Xiliang border troops."
"There are four garrisons bordering Xiliang and Xiliao. My uncle wants the other three garrisons to be built into important military towns like the Ganzhou Garrison."
Daohua's face fell: "Doesn't that mean you'll be busy again?"
Xiao Yeyang nodded helplessly: "Building a military stronghold is one thing, but on the other hand, I also have to inspect the defense areas of the other three garrisons, and those border troops also need to start training."
Daohua was silent for a moment, then asked worriedly, "Didn't you say before that most of the commanders of the nine garrisons in Xiliang are subordinates of the Grand Commander? Will they cooperate with you?"
Xiao Yeyang snorted, "I have the tiger talisman, the border troops dare not disobey orders." He frowned and said, "If the garrison doesn't cooperate, it will indeed be troublesome."
The rations for the border troops are supplied by the garrisons. If the garrisons really want to take the opportunity to make things difficult for him, it will cause him a headache.
Xiao Yeyang sighed: "I have too few people I can use. They are all people who will use their fists when they disagree with each other. I lack counselors who can coordinate the relations between all parties."
Daohua: "What should I do? Write a letter back to Beijing and ask my grandfather and uncle to introduce a few people?"
Xiao Yeyang thought for a moment and said, "This is the only way. The education here in Xiliang is too backward. Nine out of ten people can't read a single word. It's very difficult to find a learned person who understands the local situation."
These rice flowers couldn't help Xiao Yeyang, so he could only say, "Maybe we haven't been here long. You can ask Jinlingwei to find out more."
Xiao Yeyang didn't hold out much hope: "Even if there is, it has been taken away by someone. I'd better write a letter to the capital later."
(End of this chapter)
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