Chapter 422: The Hongmen Banquet 1
In Huang Degong's tent, Huang Degong and Gao Jie sat on the left, Shi Lang sat in the middle, and Wu Sangui, Kong Youde, Geng Jingzhong, and Shang Zhixin sat on the right.
"Come on, for victory, for the Ming Dynasty, let's drink!" Shi Lang said, picking up the wine bowl.
"Cheers!" everyone raised their glasses and said.
After finishing his drink, Shi Lang said, "Today's success in the Northern Expedition is inseparable from your assistance, the strategic planning of the prince and the governor, and the support of the court. This bowl of wine is a toast to the prince and the governor, to the court, and to your assistance! Come, another bowl!"
After Shi Lang finished speaking, he drank another bowl, and the others followed suit.
After finishing this bowl, Shi Lang raised the bowl again and said: "This bowl is for the dead soldiers and the dead Han people!" After that, he turned over the bowl in front of him and spilled the wine on the ground.
"Go! Have a nice journey!" Everyone stood up and shouted loudly.
Together they spilled the wine on the ground and then broke all the bowls on the floor.
"Okay, everyone sit down!" Shi Lang said.
"Thank you, Marshal!" everyone said, and then sat down.
"Everyone, now that the world is at peace, the court's rewards will be coming soon. I wonder what your plans are?" Shi Langhuan looked at everyone and asked.
"General Shi, I have received great favors from the court and instructions from the prince. I plan to go to Fuso and expand the territory for the Ming Dynasty." Wu Sangui immediately came out to express his loyalty.
Kong Youde, Geng Jingzhong, and Shang Zhixin would not be left behind. As soon as Wu Sangui finished speaking, Kong Youde said, "Marshal Shi! I also want to conquer a larger territory for our Ming Dynasty! Our hearts are as strong as the sun and the moon!"
Shi Lang nodded and said, "You are all so thoughtful. The Ming Dynasty needs more territory to support more people. Only by continuous expansion can the Ming Dynasty achieve better development. I will never forget the prince's teachings!"
After Shi Lang finished speaking, he looked at Huang Degong and Gao Jie and asked, "What are your plans?"
"I am also willing to conquer more territory for the Ming Dynasty, but as to where to go, I will have to obey the arrangements of the court and the prince!" Gao Jie said. He was young, so of course he wanted to make more achievements. He also hoped to become a prince, or even a county prince.
After Gao Jie finished speaking, Shi Lang turned to Huang Degong and asked, "I wonder what Duke Jingguo is planning?"
"My health is not as good as before. Now that I have made great contributions, I just want to return to my hometown and live in seclusion in the mountains!" said Huang Degong.
Shi Lang thought to himself: You? Still living in seclusion in the mountains? With your personality, can you really endure loneliness?
"Everyone has their own aspirations and cannot be forced! Then I wish you all your dreams come true. Come! Drink this bowl!" After saying this, Shi Lang raised the wine bowl and drank it all.
So, another bowl was drunk. Everyone chatted happily, even sharing some interesting stories. Everyone talked endlessly about their dreams and why they chose to join the army. Wu Sangui said that it was a family tradition, and he had always wanted to be a chivalrous hero, a hero who could avenge his enemies.
"Hahaha, Lord Wu is young, and a man should have such feelings when he is young! Didn't the prince say in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and "The Return of the Condor Heroes" that the greatest heroes serve the country and the people. We joined the army to pacify the world and wipe out the bandits and the Jianlu, isn't it to achieve peace in the world and realize the spirit of the greatest heroes who serve the country and the people!" Shi Lang said.
"Marshal Shi is right!" Everyone came to their senses, only Huang Degong remained silent. He felt that Shi Lang had hidden meaning in his words today!
"Marshal Shi is right. The greatest heroes serve their country and their people. But there is also the word loyalty and righteousness! I, Huang, am not talented. I have not made many contributions over the years. Except for this time, I have almost no contribution. But I, Huang, only know to be loyal to the royal family and loyal to the Zhu royal family and its country!" Huang Degong said proudly.
Everyone else was slightly angry, but Shi Lang remained expressionless. He said, "Mr. Huang, who among us isn't loyal to the royal family? Today is a celebration banquet. Come! Sing and dance!"
After Shi Lang finished speaking, several Han women walked into the big tent and several musicians began to play.
There were very few Han Chinese in Hetuala at the time, and their musical skills were certainly not comparable to those in the Central Plains; they were only average. Wu Sangui felt that the dancing of these women was unsightly, and nowhere near as good as his own concubine, Chen Yuanyuan. In fact, any of his concubines could sing and dance better than the women here.
The same was true for Kong Youde, Geng Jingzhong, and Shang Zhixin. They simply tried to find joy in suffering.
Huang Degong and Gao Jie didn't care, but watched with great interest.
Wu Sangui shouted, "Stop! What are you dancing for? Any concubine in my house can dance better than you! Back off! Everyone, back off!"
"Oh! General Wu, would you like to dance for us?" Shi Lang said with a smile.
"Hahahaha!" Everyone burst into laughter when they heard this.
Wu Sangui blushed for a moment, then smiled and said, "Marshal Shi, I'm a rough man, how can I dance? I can only watch! These women dance really badly!"
"General Wu, this is Hetuala! Not your house! It's already good enough to find these women who can dance!" Huang Degong said.
"Yes! Lord Wu, I spent a lot of effort to find these women. They were all dancers in the hands of the Jiannu. We rescued them, and they have no way to repay us. They usually do sewing and mending for the brothers in the army. Today, when they heard that there was a celebration banquet and someone was needed to dance, they were very willing! They all have a miserable life, so don't make things difficult for them!" said Gao Jie.
"I have no intention of making things difficult for them. They are just some women who have suffered. But since we are all military generals, how about having an interesting competition?" Wu Sangui said.
"I wonder how General Wu would like to compete?" Gao Jie asked.
"I heard that General Huang is extremely strong. I would like to compete with General Huang!" said Wu Sangui.
Huang Degong was older than Wu Sangui, but he refused to admit his age. He chuckled and said, "Sure! But you have to give me something as a prize, right?"
"Okay!" Wu Sangui immediately agreed, then took out a knife and said, "This is a wild boar skin sword of the Jiannu people. My soldiers found it in Shenyang City."
Huang Degong reached out and took it, weighed it and said, "Not bad! Good!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Huang Degong's soldiers brought a table. Wu Sangui's soldiers immediately came over to take off his armor, and Huang Degong's soldiers did the same.
Both of them showed off their strong muscles, but Wu Sangui's muscles were more toned.
Wu Sangui first put his right hand on the table. Huang Degong slowly walked over, then stretched out his hand and shook Wu Sangui's hand tightly.
Wu Sangui immediately felt a strong force coming at him, and the two men's arms immediately tensed up, with veins bulging.
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