As the night grew darker, everyone in the hall became more and more drunk. Even Chang Yu was already drunk, but he was still eloquent and told Zu Dashou and others some major events that had happened in the past few months, so that he could understand the current situation.
The Manchu Qing Dynasty was severely damaged and could not recover for a short time. It had no intention and no ability to invade the Ming Dynasty. However, the Ming Dynasty was still in dire straits. Drought, locust plagues, earthquakes, and plagues had made the people of the five northern provinces miserable. Although the weather in the south was more favorable, the war was still fierce.
One after another, the Baiwang and Yuanzong tribes entrenched themselves in the Yangtze River Basin and caused serious trouble. Zhang Xianzhong in Sichuan had already raised the banner to proclaim himself emperor, not to mention the countless small groups of bandits from various places who responded.
All in all, the border situation is much better and there is time to recover, but things inside the border are not optimistic at all!
Chang Yu kept talking, and the eleven members of the Zu family listened attentively, and almost no one spoke. Most of them were Zu Dashou asking questions, and Zu Er, the madman, occasionally interrupted.
After a long time, Zu Dashou let out a long sigh, drank the wine in his glass, looked at Chang Yu and said: "I have been in the army for decades, and to be honest, there are only two types of people I hate the most, civil servants and eunuchs! But now I really hate the governor.
Get up, because the kind of people I admire the most are those who say what they say directly without hiding anything, and what’s even more rare is someone who can say something that speaks from the bottom of their hearts!”
Chang Yu laughed loudly, stared at Zu Dashou and said: "Actually, our family is usually the kind you hate the most, and we rarely say anything that touches our heart, but in front of General Zu, our family really can't be hypocritical. How can I say this?"
, maybe it’s because the two of us hit it off.”
The words between the two men immediately brought them closer. Zu Dashou laughed loudly and stood up to pour wine for Chang Yu. He drank three glasses of wine in a row. Chang Yu's eyes were moist, although the old man in front of him was already slightly rickety.
But he seemed to have seen that sword flying across Jinzhou City. Gods came to kill gods and ghosts to kill ghosts. When killing crazy demons, they even killed their own people!
This old man who once fought for the Ming Dynasty and shed blood but finally retired from the stage of history sadly was finally dragged back by himself.
Other descendants of the ancestral family also came to toast one after another, but Chang Yu's drinking capacity was really too strong. Fortunately, all the important words were said at this time, and he could invite his guests to come on stage.
So the wine jar Wuzhong, the wandering Taoist priest Li Muxian, Wu Sangui's confidant Shen Jianghu and others came to take over. They only drank and talked about old times without getting involved in military affairs. The scene was much more lively than before.
Chang Yu walked up to Zu Zehong with hurried steps, patted his shoulder gently and whispered: "Can you get some air in the yard?"
Zu Zehong quickly helped Chang Yu out of the lobby. Zu Dashou glanced at the door with a vague look in his eyes, and then began to argue with Li Muxian. Li Muxian may not be as good as Wuzhong in other aspects, but his eloquence is far behind him.
He can chat with anyone and anything, and he becomes addicted once he talks.
Because this guy is so good at deceiving.
In the pavilion in the courtyard, Chang Yu was holding his head on the pillar and was about to vomit. Zu Zehong was a little confused behind him, not knowing what to do.
"Did you get married in Shenyang?" Chang Yu suddenly turned around and asked. Zu Zehong was frightened and hurriedly said: "Go back to Lord Governor, we are married."
"You have a son?" Chang Yu then asked.
"Not yet" (his son Zu Liangdong has not yet been born)
Chang Yu hummed: "I know that you became an official there, got married, and had a wife, so you have a bond. I am an upright man. I just told your father to open the window and speak out. Say whatever you want."
, This is still the case at this time. I only want to ask you one thing, do you want to go or stay? If you want to stay, just serve the Ming Dynasty and don't go to Qin Muchu. If you want to go, I will send you back immediately. I will never break your promise or add any crime.
implicating others”.
"I will humble myself and obey my father and swear allegiance to the Ming Dynasty!" Zu Zehong bowed and said without hesitation, because he was a smart man, no matter what the little eunuch said was true or false, and no matter whether he really wanted to stay or not.
Go, but don't hesitate even a little now, because as long as you hesitate, it means that your heart is not so pure and sincere. If you hesitate, it means you are entangled.
This is not allowed. What does this person in front of me do? The leader of Dongchang! The emperor’s confidant, the emperor’s sword!
Although Zu Zehong is young, he is not stupid at all.
Regardless of whether the young eunuch is sincere or not, he must express his loyalty to the Ming Dynasty without hesitation.
But Chang Yu was not stupid. He looked at Hehe and sneered: "I have given you a chance. Since you said you would stay and be loyal to the Ming Dynasty, I hope you will do what you say. Otherwise... you know that I am not intimidating you."
.
"What I say in this humble position is the truth from my heart. If the governor doesn't believe it, kill me now," Zu Zehong said with a bite. Chang Yu laughed and patted her shoulder: "Although I am bloodthirsty, I am not
Indiscriminate killing will reveal people's hearts over time. We will know if it is true or false in the future." After saying that, he waved his hand to return to the lobby. Zu Zehong bowed and exited the pavilion. Suddenly he turned around and asked: "Why did the governor only ask a lowly person, me?
The eldest brother and the second brother..."
"Because I don't like them both." Chang Yu chuckled: "Except for your father and your second uncle, among all the people in the hall, you are the only one who can enter the eyes of this governor."
Zu Zehong's breathing became rapid in an instant, and he kowtowed quickly: "Lord Governor..."
Chang Yu interrupted him with a wave of his hand, and said with a trace of disdain: "The Tatars' official positions are not as legitimate and majestic as our Ming Dynasty officials. Don't forget that we are Han people, so of course we should be Han people's officials. Besides, the Tatars are so sesame seeds."
What's the point of becoming an official? Your father will be knighted within two years. At that time...hehehe."
"Thank you very much, Lord Governor, for your support. I'm humble..." Zu Zehong was so excited that he didn't know what to say.
See, sometimes winning people's hearts is just that simple.
It was late at night, and the noise had subsided. The candlelight was flickering in the inner hall of the General Military Mansion. Zu Dashou drank strong tea to relieve the hangover. He raised his eyebrows and glanced at Zu Dalue. Zu Dacheng and the others said, "After drinking the ecstasy wine for a while, they all fainted."
Is it done?”
"I think this little eunuch is sincere. He exchanged us and reinstated us. As long as he takes Jinzhou, the surrender to the Qing Dynasty will be canceled. This is reliable. After all, we had no choice but to surrender. After all, we
He is still a Han, and it is legitimate to serve the Ming Dynasty. Even if he dies, he will have the honor to meet his ancestors." Zu Dacheng said lightly, while Zu Dalue nodded slightly beside him.
But Zu Dashou smiled: "I have been idle for two years with the Tatars. Is my brain rusty? Can I write it off? What are you thinking? Have you heard the story just now in vain? Wu Sangui resisted the imperial edict at the beginning of the year. It has only been a few months since the imperial court
I want to settle accounts with him after the fall, divide his military power and transfer him to the customs to serve his life. He is just resisting the decree, we are surrendering to the Qing Dynasty!"
"Brother, what do you mean, the little eunuch just wants to use us to regain Jinzhou, and he will kill the donkey afterwards?" Zu Dalue frowned and was about to curse. Zu Dashou shook his head and said: "If you want to regain Jinzhou,
"Wu Sangui is a ready candidate. He has the ability and strength. There is no need to spend so much effort to bring us back to Jinzhou in one fell swoop."
"Then...brother, what do you want to say?" Zu Dacheng was anxious. Zu Zehong beside him couldn't help but interrupt: "Dad, the little eunuch told me that you will be knighted within two years!"
Oh! Zu Dashou and others were shocked, and then they all couldn't help but stand up and pace back and forth in the hall. It was obvious that they were very excited. In fact, he was the only four people in the hall, and the others were already drunk.
"Is he deliberately throwing bait?" Zu Dale asked.
Zu Dashou sat down slowly, took a sip from the teacup and said, "No matter if it is bait or not, as long as he throws it, we will eat it." He smiled slightly, raised his head and glanced at everyone: "What do you think this little eunuch is like?"
people".
"It seems that humans and animals are harmless, but in fact the city is very deep," Zu Dacheng said.
"He is a ruthless man. As he said himself, he is warlike and bloodthirsty, and maybe he is really good at fighting," Zu Dal said.
Zu Dashou looked at Zu Zehong again.
"My son feels that he really admires his father. It's not like he's making it up, but he admires him from the bottom of his heart."
Zu Dashou smiled: "That's the point. This is one of the reasons why he is willing to use his head to guarantee Azig in exchange for us, because he and I are the same people, warlike and bloodthirsty! And the other one
The reason is for us to divide Wu Sangui’s military power to prevent him from growing too big and uncontrollable.”
"Then he's not afraid that we will become bigger?" Zu Zehong asked.
"He is afraid, but he has already planned it." Zu Dashou chuckled: "Believe it or not, once we take Jinzhou City, Wu Sangui will come back immediately and continue to take over Ningyuan. Wu Sangui is what he uses to contain us."
"But Sangui is your nephew, he is not afraid of our family..." Zu Dacheng raised his eyebrows.
Zu Dashou smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I once wrote a letter to persuade Wu Sangui to surrender. There was a estrangement, and now I have occupied the magpie's nest and divided his military power. The relationship is over." He said with a long sigh: "Dacheng is right, this little
The eunuch's city is very deep. He used us to divide Wu Sangui, and later used him to contain us."
"This little eunuch is so treacherous," Zu Dale couldn't help but cursed, while Zu Dashou smiled faintly: "This kind of thing is normal. Isn't it the same for everyone in the court? The little eunuch's method is not new.
, no matter how you say it, he is quite honest, and he has shown his heart to me, so I can trust him!"
"That father will really be able to be knighted within two years." Zu Zehong was overjoyed.
Zu Dashou laughed and said, "Let's just let it happen. Anyway, now that I'm back, my back can be straightened. I no longer have to bow down and be a slave to others. Even if I die in battle, I will be innocent and worthy of my ancestors."