Chapter 157

Ji Town is the first of the nine important towns. Its jurisdiction extends from Shanhaiguan in the east to Juyongguan in the west.

Jizhou City, the administrative office of Ji Town, is located nearly 400 miles to the east and north of Capital City. At the speed of Shengjia, it will take six or seven days to travel.

The weather in mid-August was perfect, and Emperor Yuanyou often got out of his car to exercise his muscles and bones on his maroon fire unicorn.

Invited by his younger brother, Hua Yang changed into a horse and rode on her white-haired horse, and accompanied Chen Tingjian on the left and right beside Emperor Yuanyou.

Chen Tingjian has read extensively and knows the customs and customs of various places like the palm of his hand. He can explain in time what Emperor Yuanyou is curious about along the way.

The Chief-of-Staff is dignified and dignified when dealing with political affairs. At this time, he is more like an elegant literati, with both literary talent and humor in his conversation.

Whenever he opened his mouth, the siblings would listen carefully, and then they would show happy smiles together.

Although Chen Jingzong was far away, he could still see the three people, old and young, chatting happily in the middle of the official road.

At dusk, the camp was set up, Emperor Yuanyou ordered people to light a bonfire, and then sent people to invite sister, son-in-law, and Qi Jin.

During the day, he spends more time with the elders, and even the five elders come to Dijia to teach him in turn. This is naturally the arrangement of his good husband, who refuses to let him waste his time all the way.Emperor Yuanyou was also willing to cooperate, but in the evening, he didn't want to study or listen to politics, but wanted to chat with his sister, brother-in-law and cousin.

Hua Yang's long princess camp was close, and she was the first to arrive, sitting to the left of her younger brother.

Emperor Yuanyou: "Why don't you see your son-in-law?"

Hua Yang: "He's over there in the guard tent."

Emperor Yuanyou remembered that the son-in-law seemed to live and eat with the soldiers of the same guard two days ago, and he didn't know if he didn't dare to go to his sister's tent, or if he did, he was disgusted by her sister.

Not long after Hua Yang took his seat, Qi Jin arrived, wearing the crimson official uniform of Jin Wu's avant-garde commander, with flames jumping, his face was like a crown jade.

Although Emperor Yuanyou admired Chen Jingzong's true temperament more, Emperor Yuanyou only got annoyed by occasional civil servants like Qi Jin who liked hypocrisy and submissiveness, and most of the time he was able to treat him fairly.As an emperor, when he is in a good mood, everyone is pleasing to the eye. When he is in a bad mood, even his mother, step-sister, and elder sister can make Emperor Yuanyou pick out some faults. What he has to do is to try not to let these personal preferencesaffect the handling of state affairs.

After the ceremony, Qi Jin sat on the right hand side of Emperor Yuanyou, with an empty seat in between.

Emperor Yuanyou: "Why do you sit so far away? Get closer so you can talk more easily."

Qi Jin smiled, and moved over in a calm manner. This position allowed him to see Hua Yang opposite him when he raised his eyes.

There was a coffee table in front of Hua Yang, and the white porcelain tea bowl was illuminated red by the fire, which attracted her attention, but she didn't know that her face at this time was more touching than the jumping flames.

Qi Jin's gaze didn't linger too long, and he asked Emperor Yuanyou, "Did the Emperor see a row of wild geese flying across the sky this afternoon?"

Emperor Yuanyou: "Well, it's a pity that the flying is too high, more than a hundred feet, right? Otherwise, you can try the arrow technique."

Qi Jin: "Your majesty has good eyesight. This range is hard to reach with ordinary bows and arrows. Maybe you can try crossbow arrows."

The two began to chat about bow and arrow and hunting skills.

In the distance came the sound of guards saluting to the son-in-law. Hua Yang raised his head and saw Chen Jingzong striding forward, also wearing the crimson robe of a third-rank military officer. He was as handsome as Qi Jin, but he held aLong branches, each with an unidentifiable prey strung on each branch.

Hua Yang looked away.

Emperor Yuanyou looked at the consort who was getting closer and closer in surprise.

"I pay homage to the emperor." Holding the prey in his hand, Chen Jingzong saluted unceremoniously.

Emperor Yuanyou smiled and said: "Wai Li, is this the wild game you caught during the day?"

Chen Jingzong said: "I didn't go hunting on purpose. I caught a glimpse of something moving in the grass while riding a horse. I was lucky and killed two. If the emperor didn't call me, I would almost share it with the soldiers over there. It can be seen that you are the last one."Good luck."

Hua Yang frowned and said: "The emperor has never eaten this kind of roasted food, will his stomach feel uncomfortable?"

Emperor Yuanyou: "Sister, I'm worrying too much, I'm not that delicate."

Hua Yang continued to stare at Chen Jingzong.

Chen Jingzong looked at the two siblings, as if he didn't know who to listen to.

Emperor Yuanyou took the lead in compromising with his sister: "I have already eaten dinner, so I only have two bites to taste."

Hua Yang's expression turned pale.

Chen Jingzong breathed a sigh of relief, and threw a rabbit to Qi Jin across the bonfire. He walked around to the left of Hua Yang, sat upright, and roasted the rabbit meat without saying a word.

The tongue of fire roasted the seasoned rabbit meat, and the rabbit meat sizzled with oil, exuding a tempting aroma.

Hua Yang remained silent, Emperor Yuanyou smiled and asked Chen Jingzong: "Did you often eat these wild game before?"

Chen Jingzong glanced at the dignified and graceful long princess next door, and quietly winked at Emperor Yuanyou, hoping that the emperor's brother-in-law would not mention this.

Emperor Yuanyou wanted to hear the story, so he insisted on telling it. Anyway, it has not been a day or two since my sister despised the son-in-law's vulgarity.

The emperor was the oldest, so Chen Jingzong had no choice but to talk about his deeds of hunting in the mountains and fishing in the river when he was young. He seemed to have forgotten the long princess as he talked, his spirit became more and more high, and his voice became louder and louder.Seeing that his younger brother liked to listen so much, Hua Yang simply exchanged places with Chen Jingzong.

After the rabbit meat was roasted, Chen Jingzong tore off the crispiest and most delicious parts and handed them to Emperor Yuanyou without thinking.

Emperor Yuanyou winked at his sister.

Chen Jingzong came to his senses and quickly handed it to the long princess again.

Hua Yang looked disdainful: "You guys eat, I'm afraid my stomach will hurt."

Chen Jingzong resented, and then handed the barbecue to Emperor Yuanyou.

Emperor Yuanyou tasted it. He didn't know whether it was because the roasted rabbit was delicious or because Chen Jingzong's craftsmanship was too good. Anyway, he was pleasantly surprised and helped persuade his sister.

The two coaxed together, Hua Yang reluctantly agreed to eat some, but she refused to touch the oily barbecue, so Chen Jingzong tore off a piece and fed it to her mouth.

Hua Yang lowered his eyes and took a bite, his flaring cheeks were reddened by the flames, that shameless but extremely beautiful color, even Emperor Yuanyou, his own brother, stared blankly for a moment.

Chen Jingzong looked straight at the long princess, and continued to stretch his hand.

Hua Yang glanced over.

Chen Jingzong lowered his head in embarrassment, but raised the corners of his mouth.

After all, they were husband and wife, and the unintentionally revealed affection made Emperor Yuanyou only look at Qi Jin who was also single at this moment.

Qi Jin smiled, and also tore a piece of barbecue from her own side, offering it to Emperor Yuanyou.

The four of them ate and chatted until Pavilion Elder Chen with a flowing beard walked over like a walk. Emperor Yuanyou, who immediately understood the meaning of Pavilion Elder Chen, coughed and reluctantly announced that he was going to rest.

Qi Jin walked alone in the direction of Jin Wu Qianwei.

Chen Jingzong escorted Hua Yang back to his tent.

It's not that far away, it'll be there soon.

Walking to the tent, Hua Yang turned around and looked at Chen Jingzong who was two steps away.

Before she served in the army for half a year, Chen Jingzong didn't sneak into her camp until it was cold to be her soup lady. Now even if Hua Yang invites him in, it is impossible for Chen Jingzong to go.

He just asked, "Tonight's roast rabbit meat, isn't it delicious?"

Hua Yang lowered his eyes: "It's okay."

Chen Jingzong smiled: "Next time we travel alone, I will bake it for you."

Hua Yang seemed to respond, and went in.

Chen Jingzong watched her slender figure enter the inner tent, watched her sit down, and then left.

Four days later in the morning, Shengjia arrived in Jizhou City.

Liu Jie, governor of Jiliao, and Qin Yuantang, commander in chief, led local civil and military officials ten miles out of the city to welcome them.

Hua Yang got out of the car ahead of time and rode on horseback to accompany his younger brother. The two siblings accepted the kneeling of the officials together.

And the gazes of the siblings all fell on Qin Yuantang, the number one general today.

Qin Yuantang is fifty-two years old this year. Another civil servant would have shown his age, but Qin Yuantang looks only in his forties. He is more than eight feet tall, his body is as majestic as a mountain, and his face is tanned due to years of fighting in the south and north.Bronze color, but there is also a bit of literati's elegance and modesty in his brows and eyes.He looked at the Hua Yang siblings with a respectful and restrained gaze, and his voice was also neutral and mellow.

The people all praised him as a tiger general, but he didn't feel intimidating, on the contrary, he was very approachable.

Of course, this has something to do with his appearance, and because he is kneeling in front of the emperor at this time, if he appears on the battlefield among the soldiers of the three armies, he will definitely have a different demeanor.

The siblings got off their horses, and Emperor Yuanyou stepped forward to help Qin Yuantang himself: "The general is free, this time Duoyan was defeated in three days, it is all thanks to the general!"

Qin Yuantang said humbly: "The emperor praises you. It is all because of your allocation of funds to ministers and others to strengthen the city walls and develop firearms. The strength of the city defense has been improved, making it difficult for Duoyan to attack and retreat."

The monarchs and ministers complimented each other, while Liu Jie, the governor of Jiliao, lowered his eyes respectfully, and turned his eyes vaguely at the Chief-of-Staff Chen Tingjian who was a few steps away.

In this dynasty, civil servants controlled military officials, and Qin Yuantang should listen to him, the governor of Jiliao, control him. Qin Yuantang won the battle, and he should share the credit with Qin Yuantang equally.

But who made Qin Yuantang climb the high branch of Chen Tingjian, the Inner Pavilion Chief-of-Staff?

Ever since Qin Yuantang was transferred to Ji Zhou as the chief soldier, several governors couldn't stand his arbitrary scheduling and disobedience to restraint, and they all handed over papers to the imperial court. The final result was that Qin Yuantang's power was getting bigger and bigger.Those governors who complained were instead demoted or transferred to other places by Chen Tingjian.

Liu Jie could see it clearly, so after he took office, he didn't bother to restrain Qin Yuantang. Qin Yuantang could do whatever he liked, and he would turn a blind eye.

After greetings, everyone entered the city.

The post house has been packed, the front is for Emperor Yuanyou, and the back is for the long princess.

Next, Emperor Yuanyou will listen to Liu Jie and Qin Yuantang's report on military affairs with the five elders of the cabinet, and then eat, drink and so on.

Chen Jingzong, Qi Jin and other commanders were always by Emperor Yuanyou's side.

When Chen Jingzong was still a free-spirited young man in Ling Zhou, he often heard people talk about the heroic deeds of General Qin's undefeated war against the Japanese. It can be said that Chen Jingzong admired Qin Yuantang far more than he admired his own family.The old man in the pavilion.

Today, was finally able to witness Qin Yuantang's demeanor with own eyes, and even sat in a lobby with Qin Yuantang to drink. Chen Jingzong was so excited, his eyes were glued to Qin Yuantang's face, and he couldn't help it when he was eating.Looking over, couldn't help sneaking a glance while drinking.

After watching a lot, Chen Jingzong soon discovered one thing, Qin Yuantang must be respectful enough to Emperor Yuanyou, but Qin Yuantang looked at his old man with more humility than the old man looked at Emperor Yuanyou!

The food and wine in his mouth suddenly lost taste, Chen Jingzong looked away, and never looked at Qin Yuantang again.