Chapter 1024
Tasting the Three Fresh Delicacy in the River
Chapter 1024 Taste the Three Fresh Foods in the River
inside the account,
The palace lanterns were lit all around, making it as bright as day. Outside the curtain, there were guards holding swords. Inside the curtain, there were only Marquis Luo Yun and the King of Jin, plus two girls serving them.
Hearing the noise outside, Zhang Jinyu smacked his lips. The secret medicine he had just drunk did not have the bitter taste. Instead, it had some refreshing fragrance. When it entered his stomach, a warm current slowly rose up, and he felt more energetic. It was really a good thing.
Seeing the curious look of King Jin, Zhang Jinyu explained with a smile;
"Your Highness, today I am hosting a banquet for the four sect leaders of Xihe County. I want to win them over, but also to express my gratitude. They found the water source, and if they can use it well, we will need the help of these local snakes to wipe out the White Lotus Sect."
In fact, the overall situation has been decided until now. Unless those evil women of the White Lotus Sect really have a fairy like the Silent Mother, they can turn the tables and beat the King of Beijing without any chance to fight back. There may still be a glimmer of hope. The rest is nothing more than defeating the main force and leaving soldiers to suppress the bandits. However, those are not under the jurisdiction of the soldiers of the Beijing Camp, but left to the local government army. Maybe the King of Beijing still needs them.
"That's true. The White Lotus Sect has been hiding for ten years, and the imperial court knew nothing about it. If it weren't for the rebellion of the Taiping Sect, who knows how long these evil women would have hidden. However, people in the martial arts world only care about their own interests. My Lord, please don't trust them too much."
King Zhou Ding of Jin absolutely does not trust these people in the martial arts world. They refuse to obey the king's rule and break the law with force. The Imperial City Division has a backlog of so many cases, all of which are murders committed by people in the martial arts world. In particular, many famous knights in the martial arts world actually dared to assassinate the county magistrate and left behind the words "acting on behalf of heaven". Their crimes are unforgivable and they should be executed!
"Your Highness, please be at ease. I know what's going on. If they are criminals, don't remind me. I will never tolerate them. Come, let them in."
"Yes, Lord Marquis,"
The personal soldiers left in response. Zhang Jinyu also agreed with what King Jin had just said. No matter who is in office or who likes these people in the martial arts world, if they get excited, they might draw their swords and kill anyone. It's not like we were playing online games in our previous life. This is just a brother who is trying to kill me.
In just a short while,
Four people outside the door,
Still waiting there respectfully, the personal guard in the tent came to General Ning's side and said softly;
"General, the Marquis invites you,"
"it is good,"
Ning Bian waved his hand, then looked at the four people.
"Masters, the Marquis invites you,"
"Thank you for your help, General Ning,"
The four of them did not dare to neglect and all clasped their fists in return. How could they not know what kind of status General Ning held? They had already inquired about it clearly.
Ning Bian took a quick look at the men, and saw that they were simply dressed and had no weapons. Then he led them into the tent.
The four followed behind, looking around. When they entered the tent, they saw a thick blanket on the floor and all the necessary household items. It was extremely luxurious. It didn't feel like being in the wild at all. They couldn't help but be amazed.
After entering the inner curtain, they saw Luo Yunhou in a black military uniform and a headband on his head, sitting in the main seat. There was another person sitting in the east seat, who must be His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin. The four of them did not dare to neglect him and went straight in, kneeling down and kowtowed.
"I, Qin Hao from the Tiger Roar Sect, Song Wenshan from the Iron Palm Gang, Tang Weifeng from the Sky-High Pavilion, and Fang Bihua from the Mysterious Ice Palace, pay my respects to His Highness and the Marquis."
Following the sound of the mountain shouting, the four of them all kowtowed and bowed.
Still respectful, Zhang Jinyu nodded secretly. Now he could see the faces of the four people clearly. The leaders of the Tiger Roar Sect and the Iron Palm Gang were indeed as their names suggested, big and strong. Especially Qin Hao of the Tiger Roar Sect, he was tall and strong. He didn't know why the former leader was so interested in him as a son-in-law. Could it be that his daughter was also a Hedong Lion?
Look at the attire of the leader of Lingyun Pavilion, he is wearing a white Confucian robe. Although there are some changes, Confucian robe is still Confucian robe. How can it be as elegant as Jianghu Bai Xiaosheng, who bathes and wears a crown.
As for the last one, the Fang Sect Master of Xuanbing Palace, although she was not dressed up in a flashy way, she was still eye-catching. She wore an apricot-yellow silk skirt and a green hairpin. She was tall and well-proportioned like a martial artist. In addition, she had a charming face. Even though Lan Yue was by her side, she was still a little distracted.
"Everyone, please stand up. If it weren't for the Sect Masters, I don't know how many hours it would take to set up camp today."
After all, I am unfamiliar with the place, so even if I can find it, it will definitely take a lot of time.
"Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Lord Marquis,"
The four of them bowed again and stood up. Then, under Ningbian's guidance, they sat down on the four seats on the west side. As soon as they sat down, two eunuchs came with their personal soldiers to serve tea. The four of them were so scared that they hurriedly stood up to thank them.
"My Lord, serving the imperial court is a blessing that I have earned in my lifetime. Now that the bandits are rampant, I wish I could kill them and return a peaceful place to my hometown. I only regret that I am responsible for the safety of many people and dare not act."
Qin Hao, the leader of the Tiger Roar Sect, had red eyes and immediately wanted to cry. Then, Song Wenshan, the leader of the Iron Palm Sect, also wailed and cried;
"My Lord, please understand. Although my men are from the underworld, they also make a living by escorting people. Nowadays, thieves are rampant and bring disaster to the underworld. Where is the business? I wish I could kill them with my sword and serve the court. It's a pity that the women, children and the elderly in the gang have no place to live. Woo woo."
A grown man actually cried. Not only was Jin Wang Zhou Ding stunned, but even Zhang Jinyu was confused. This was the leader of a big sect in Jianghu, and he behaved like this. The other two looked embarrassed and blushed. No wonder they were dressed so casually and knelt so casually. Lingyun Pavilion leader Tang Weifeng didn't dare to sit alone. When he was about to stand up and imitate them, Zhang Jinyu raised his hand to stop him. How could this be allowed?
"Alright, whether you two are loyal or not will have to wait and see. I came here today to thank you. The court will not oppress the martial arts sects at will. If you have not committed any crime, why should you be afraid? Sit down."
His tone was much better, and the two of them knelt down and thanked him quickly, then stood up and returned to their seats.
King Jin was curious and asked,
"Don't worry, the martial arts world has its own rules, and the imperial court has its own laws. There is no need to be afraid. I wonder what is the purpose of your coming here?"
They came in a hurry, and at this moment, it was not their turn to show loyalty. The four of them hesitated and looked towards the Marquis unconsciously. Zhang Jinyu held the tea bowl, paused slightly, and smiled.
"Haha, Your Highness, they came here because they have something to ask for. Something happened today. The White Lotus Sect's leader, Bai, sent out a hero invitation in Yangping and summoned all the big and small forces in Xihe County to hold a martial arts conference. His rebellious intentions are obvious, but there are many bandits in the county, and there are many mountains. The White Lotus Sect is powerful, and the leaders are weak and alone, so they can only compromise. But for the sake of justice, how can they follow the thieves? So they came here to apologize."
He did not hide anything, and explained on behalf of the others. The four of them reacted quickly, their eyes turned red, and tears fell. Lingyun Pavilion Sect Master Tang choked and said;
"Your Highness, Xihe County has always been a poor and barren land with many martial arts sects and even more bandits. This is because there are many mountains and waters in the county, but little arable land, and the county is unable to support the people, so there are so many wandering and dangerous people. Now the imperial army is overwhelming the north and south, and will surely clear the world. I am very happy."
With a wail, she was in great pain. Zhang Jinyu couldn't believe it. It was indeed the Sect Master who could do what others couldn't. She glanced at Sect Master Fang with her peripheral vision and saw that this woman was blushing. Although she was covered with a veil, her eyes were evasive and clearly visible. How did they say that once a man lets go, there is nothing a woman can do. It is true from ancient times to the present. After muttering a few words,
King Zhou Ding of Jin smiled slightly. These words were pleasing to his ears. He knew a little about the situation in Xihe County. It was not something that could be solved in a short time. As long as a few prefectures were there, the county would not be in chaos.
"I have my own solution to what you said. As long as your sect is loyal to the court, the court will not treat you unfairly. No matter what, the White Lotus rebels must be wiped out."
He was speaking official language. Although he didn't know what the Marquis had planned, he couldn't interfere too much. However, it was rare for a leader of a martial arts sect to have a woman.
"Thank you, Your Highness. We will follow your instructions."
The four of them stood up and bowed together, as if to show their loyalty. Zhang Jinyu didn't say anything else. He waved his hand, nodded his head at the guard behind the curtain, and walked out. After a while, Song Da led a team of guards and walked in slowly.
"My Lord, today is also a happy day. We have caught a lot of big fish and river shrimp from the river. I happen to have a chef from Jiangnan here who is very good at cooking. I took the initiative to let Your Highness and My Lord taste some of the fresh fish."
"Haha, Dalang is really smart. After walking for a few days, we found that there are few fresh vegetables in the river. He is thoughtful."
This was not only thoughtful, but not long after setting up camp, the meals were ready, including the three fresh river delicacies. It was obvious that when they first arrived, they sent people to go fishing in the river. They buried the pot and lit a fire on the stove on the shore, and put the fish into the pot as soon as they came ashore.
"Oh, there are river fish to eat, it's rare, Dalang is really prudent, I wonder who that chef is from Jiangnan."
Even the King of Jin had to praise him out loud. The smell of the fish and the fried crispy river shrimps made his appetite soar. When Song Da heard the praises from the Marquis and the Prince, he smiled all the time. He personally walked over, took out the dishes from the food box, and carefully placed them on the table.
"I don't deserve your praise, Your Highness and Lord Marquis. These are what I should do. That cook is from Suzhou. He used to be the chef at the Nan'nanchun Restaurant in Jinling. Later, he came to the capital with his father. When I was recruiting cooks in the Beijing camp, he was one of them. It has been almost ten years since I said these words."
As soon as he finished speaking, he placed the last bowl of stewed venison on the table, collected the food box, and returned.
Zhang Jinyu picked up the chopsticks and took a piece of snow-white fish meat into his mouth. The fragrance lingered on his lips and teeth, and a delicious smell entered his nose. It was really the taste of Jiangnan. Thinking back to when he went to Jiangnan after the New Year, these were the most eaten. It has been so long without him noticing. He didn't know how the fat man Su Jinkai was doing.
"Good, delicious, every bit is right,"
After seeing the four sect masters being reserved, he said;
"Don't be shy. Since you are invited here, you don't have to be so nervous. Just try it."
"Thank you, sir,"
The four sect leaders felt much more relieved and took up their chopsticks to take a bite. The taste was very good and the cooking skills were amazing. It was really not simple. As for the King of Jin in the east, he had already peeled the shrimp shell with his hands and started to eat it.
"Thank you for your hard work, Dalang. If there are more dishes, send some to the generals in the camp. Go ahead."
Zhang Jinyu also peeled the shrimp and put it into his mouth, and casually said,
"Yes, my Lord, I'll remember it and arrange it right away."
Song Da also understood what the Marquis meant, knowing that he had something else to discuss, so he respectfully led his men back out. After they left, only the sound of chewing remained in the tent.
After three rounds of wine and five dishes, when they were almost done eating, the King of Jin suddenly asked,
"My Lord, if the White Lotus wants to escape, is it possible to stop them?"
It should be impossible to stop them, Zhang Jinyu took the brocade and wiped his hands. Now the Beijing army is heading north from the south. After taking down Runan City, they will block the retreat route to the south. It is not a complete blockade, but it is not so easy for the White Lotus Sect to leave.
Once we reach Shizhou City, we will be able to cut off our retreat.
"Your Highness, there should be no way out. Although Xihe County is large, as several sect masters have said, there are many mountains and rivers, and the roads are difficult to travel. It is also close to the canal, so we cannot go to the south of the Yangtze River. There is only a main road connecting the north and the south. In the north, there is the Beijing King leading his troops to block the way. Maybe the Beijing King's men are brave and can defeat the bandit army in one battle. I think we should not be able to escape. Sect masters, what do you think?"
In the end, Zhang Jinyu did not say he was dead. After all, he was unfamiliar with the place. If he hid in the mountains, it would be difficult to find him with the current manpower and resources.
The half-full sect leaders in the west immediately put down their bowls and chopsticks when they heard the Marquis' question. This time, it was Sect Leader Fang of Xuanbing Palace who answered.
"Your Highness, Lord Marquis, Xihe County is not big, but it is not small either. If there are so many soldiers and horses like the White Lotus rebels, they naturally cannot hide. If they break up into small groups, it is not difficult for them to escape from the law-protecting helmsmen. After all, the White Lotus's ability to hide is unmatched in the world."
There is nothing that can be done about it. Who would have thought that the last time the imperial court wiped out the White Lotus Sect, people in the martial arts world thought that the White Lotus Sect had disappeared, but it appeared again. How can we explain this?
"That is to say, if the leader of the White Lotus wants to escape, no one can catch him."
King Jin Zhou Ding was somewhat gloomy and unhappy. The opportunity was right in front of him, but he couldn't grasp it in the end. How could he be willing to accept it? Seeing King Jin's expression, Sect Master Fang was somewhat frightened.
"It's not that there is no chance, but the White Lotus leader is cunning, and Xihe County is densely covered with water networks.
Hesitating and finally not knowing how to reply.
Zhang Jinyu shook his head. His Highness was still too anxious.
"Your Highness, don't worry. There will be a way out when the time comes. We should be able to reach Runan City before noon tomorrow and capture the city within three days."
"The Marquis is mighty!"
The next morning,
The golden rooster crowed at dawn. In early summer, the sky gradually brightened and the heat began to rise. Many people who got up early went to work in just coarse cloth. At the construction site in the front yard of Rongguo Mansion, a stove had been set up long ago, and fires were lit to cook, waiting for the workers to arrive. After they finished their meals, they went back to work together.
It's a bit confusing. Yesterday, after Second Grandma came to the front yard to check the account books, she returned to Rongqing Hall to pay her respects to the old lady. She didn't go back until the evening. After going back and forth, until midnight, there was only the sound of Grandma throwing things. This noise was heard by many people, and it was vaguely spread out at some point.
Now in the Pear Garden, Ping'er brought her maid to get the food boxes from Mrs. Liu in the back kitchen yard, and hurried back to serve. She cleaned the table, put the food on it, and waited aside, not daring to say a word. Looking at the table full of food, Wang Xifeng raised her eyes and asked:
"Is your second master back?"
"To answer grandma, the second master went out yesterday, saying that he had something important to discuss. I didn't see him this morning."
Ping Er couldn't hide it, and she was also wondering in her heart, why didn't the Second Master come back at night, but the grandmother still waited all night.
"Hmph, it's better that he didn't come back. I don't know which vixen he slept with. This shameless man is beyond cure."
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He almost overturned the table, but he was a little hungry so he didn't have the heart to do it. He picked up the chopsticks, picked up a few buns and put them in his mouth.
"Did your second master see anyone coming back this morning? What did the doorman say?"
Ping Er had just picked up the bowl and served Grandma a bowl of porridge. When she saw Grandma asking about it, her heart skipped a beat.
"To answer grandma, there is no movement from the gate, so the second master should not have come back, but Manager Qian took people out to buy vegetables early in the morning. He said that there were a lot of meat and vegetables delivered from the morning market outside the East City Gate, which are cheaper than those in the East Market."
She spoke quickly, fearing that her grandmother would get angry again. Wang Xifeng shook her head, took the bowl of porridge, and drank a few sips. Qian Hua, the old servant, was getting more and more comfortable with his use. It was obvious that he had earned a lot of money in the past. Fortunately, this money could be regarded as a gift to her.
As for Jia Lian, he was a dog that would never change its nature, and it was useless to be angry. But he suddenly remembered the three thousand taels of silver that the old lady had promised him, and wondered if he had taken it.
"By the way, did your second master get the money from the old lady?"
"I'm not sure about this. The money from the old lady is all in the care of Sister Yuanyang. If the Second Master goes to get the money, it's also through Sister Yuanyang, so I don't know. But I think the Second Master was in a hurry to leave last night, so I don't know if he went to the backyard first."
Ping'er really hadn't thought about this. Grandma was too tired to get out of bed yesterday. Even if the Second Master went to the backyard to get the silver, no one else would know.
"Humph, they are all a bunch of cheap bones. Serving as soldiers and eating food are all matters that the court should take care of. So he wants to take care of it, but can he? He has 50 personal soldiers, and there are so many soldiers in his battalion. Even if he sells Rongguo Mansion, he can't raise that much money."
After all, three thousand taels is not a small amount. Why give so much? The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He also remembered that Jia Lian did not return home last night and went to fool around. There was a prostitute in Chunlou, what was her name? But she was his favorite.
"Grandma, calm down. Second Master said that he would only give money to his personal soldiers and nothing else. He shouldn't ask about it. Besides, so many people died. Without them, how could Second Master survive?"
Ping Er tried to persuade her, but she didn't realize that she had angered Wang Xifeng, who stretched out her hand and twisted Ping Er's body.
"Okay, we haven't even gone to bed yet and you're already thinking about him everywhere. You're really anxious!"
"Grandma, me."
(End of this chapter)