Two days later, Cao Shuang and his three generals Wen Qin, Zhang Te, and Le Fang arrived in Xiangyang with 50,000 troops and horses...
Hu Lie, who was in Dangyang in May to provide logistical support for Cao Shuang's army, had already led his troops back to Xiangyang to handle county affairs on the second day after the battle on the fifth day of May.
When the July wind blows on everyone's cheeks, it carries a hint of summer heat, as if loudly announcing to the people living under the sky that the hottest time of summer has arrived...
After lunch, Hu Lie, the governor of Xiangyang, led the civil and military officials in Xiangyang City to the gate of Xiangyang City to wait for the arrival of Cao Shuang's army. After a cup of tea,
There was no trace of Cao Shuang's army on the horizon in the distance. All the officials couldn't bear the heat anymore and began to wipe the beads of sweat from their foreheads with their sleeves.
Hu Lie thought to himself: Why hasn't the general arrived yet? He should have arrived in Xiangyang at this time. Some of the weak civil servants in Xiangyang were already suffering from heatstroke due to the heat.
After all, wearing formal official uniforms outdoors on such a cloudless hot day is no longer a show off enjoyment for everyone, but an unbearable torture.
All the civil and military officials were also muttering in their hearts as to why the general had not arrived yet. If he did not arrive, the hot sun would heat them up...
After another stick of incense, Cao Shuang's large army slowly appeared in the distant sky, and finally arrived when everyone was waiting eagerly.
Hu Lie hurriedly took the lead in tidying up his clothes, helping each other tidy up their official hats and wrinkled official uniforms. He no longer paid attention to the sweat dripping down his forehead. After a while, he divided into two rows, civil and military, and stood at the city gate, ready to welcome Cao Shuang.
He and his generals went into the city to have lunch and rest.
Cao Shuang and his generals got off their horses at the city gate and walked towards Xiangyang Civil and Military Affairs. Cao Shuang wiped the sweat from his head.
He smiled and said: "Xuanwu, didn't I send someone to pass on my command a few days ago? When I arrive in Xiangyang, you don't need to go out of the city to greet me. You just need to handle government affairs at various government offices as usual. Why don't you follow the order?"
Is that okay?"
Hu Lie cupped his hands and replied with a smile: "General, originally the subordinates wanted to follow the general's orders, but when the subordinates passed the general's orders to the civil and military officials in Xiangyang, they...
They said they were unwilling to obey the general's orders. They all said that the general had a hard time coming to Xiangyang. How could he not go out of the city to welcome us? So they all openly defied the general's orders and came here to welcome him." p>
All the civil and military officials thought to themselves, "Didn't you ask us to wait here, the prefect? Why did it become our voluntary choice again?" However, they could only acknowledge it silently.
After all, when the general comes to Xiangyang, how can local officials like them not go out of the city to greet him? Whether the general needs to greet him or not is one thing, but whether they go out to welcome him is another matter...
Cao Shuang said: "The weather is so hot, we should go to the city to find a place to rest and have a meal. We will continue on our way later."
Cao Shuang then ordered Zhang Te beside him: "Zi Chan, tell us to go down and have the army find a place with dense trees outside the city to rest for half a day!"
Zhang Te cupped his hands and said: "General, let's do it now!" After speaking, Zhang Te ordered the soldiers to find a forest near Xiangyang City, where the 50,000 troops could temporarily camp, eat some dry food, and replenish their physical strength and fluids.
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Hu Lie said with a smile: "General, I have already prepared a banquet at my residence. I am waiting for you. I will ask you to lead the way to your residence today. I will do a good job today."
Go back to the east road!"
Cao Shuang said: "Then let me ask you to lead the way. We have been traveling all morning, but we are a little hungry. I wonder if you can introduce Xiangyang City to me and the generals?"
Hu Lie said: "If you dare to disobey the order, when you get to the lower official's house, the lower official will make a good introduction to the general and other generals!"
Under Hu Lie's personal guidance, everyone quickly arrived at the meeting hall of the Xiangyang County Governor's Mansion and sat down according to their official positions.
The central bronze ice mirror in the meeting hall continued to blow out air-conditioning, bringing waves of coolness to everyone. The maids of the mansion jumped in and elegantly placed wine and food on everyone's tables.
At this time, Sun Luban had already entered the mansion, got off the carriage, entered the hall, knelt down next to Cao Shuang, and prepared to have lunch.
Hu Lie sat down in the hall and began to talk about what happened in Xiangyang: "General, Xiangyang is named because it is located in the Yangtze River, and Xiangyang City is located on the south bank of the upper reaches of the Han River.
Surrounded by water on three sides and backed by a mountain on one side, the city wall is strong, the city is high and the pool is deep, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. It can be said to be impregnable.
With the general taking over the land of Nanjun, Xiangyang City is no longer the front line against Sun Wu in the direction of Jingzhou, and the people of Xiangyang are less suffering from the war. I thank the general for the people of Xiangyang!"
Wen Qin said: "Looking at the fifty or sixty-foot moat outside the city, few cities can match it. It would be a pity that such a strong city will be buried as the battle line moves forward to Jingzhou!"
Cao Shuang smiled and said: "Zhong Ruo, what you said is wrong. We are currently fighting in all directions. Isn't it just to fight all the wars that need to be fought now, to restore peace and unification to the world, and to let our descendants fight as little or as little as possible?" Hu Lie said: "What the general said is absolutely true. I believe that the world will be unified in the hands of the general!"
At this time, the maid had almost served the food and wine on everyone's table, and Zhang Te had arranged for the soldiers to return. Cao Shuang waved to him to find a seat in the hall and start today's luncheon.<
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Cao Shuang said: "Since everyone is here, let's start the banquet!"
Everyone began to drink and enjoy Xiangyang's special dishes. Hu Lie stood up, raised the wine cup with both hands, and said: "The general was not able to make it to the wedding banquet in Jingzhou a few days ago, so he will make up for it today to take advantage of the banquet."
Congratulations to the general and the eldest princess for a hundred years of happy marriage, and the great success of Wei and Soochow to the Qin and Jin Dynasties!"
Sun Luban smiled and said: "Prefect Hu is in charge of a county, so naturally he cannot leave his post without permission. The general knows this and can understand it. I am a female and I know that state affairs are more important than family affairs.
Governor Hu does not need to worry about this matter. As long as he continues to be the general in the future and the Wei Dynasty manages Xiangyang well, it will be the best gift for my concubine and the general to get married."
Hu Lie said: "The gift must be given. I have prepared a cart of fine Xiangyang rice wine to give to the general and the eldest princess as a wedding gift.
Although the gift is thin and not worth much, it is a small tribute to the official and the people of Xiangyang. Please don’t dislike it, the general and the eldest princess.”
Sun Luban said: "My husband and I are not people who care about money. As long as they feel like it, I and my husband will accept this car of fine wine. Don't feel bad for Prefect Hu who loves wine so much!"
The guests and hosts at the luncheon parted happily. When the weather turned slightly cooler in the evening, Cao Shuang and his party transferred to a high-rise boat at the pier outside Xiaobeimen and went up the tributary of the Han River...