The weather is clear in the middle of winter, and the sun is shining brightly.
The bright sunlight shines directly on the snow all over the ground, and the sky and the earth are completely white, with no other colors.
Tong Guan's small courtyard is not very luxurious, after all, he has not yet fully prospered.
As long as the eunuchs of the Song Dynasty had a high rank, they did not need to live in the palace. They had their own families, not only wives and concubines, but they often also adopted several children.
In the living room, there is a small red clay stove with a copper stove with three legs on it.
The hot soup rolls like snow-white waves on a clear river. In just a few seconds, the bright red meat turns into a light pink like the sunset.
Yang Lin sandwiched the slices of meat and was filled with emotion. It turned out that the Song Dynasty knew how to eat hot-boiled meat, and he ate it so delicately.
In fact, hot pot has been around for a long time, but the real refinement of hotpot started in the Song Dynasty.
The ham, Dongpo pork, shabu-shabu, fried dough sticks, sashimi, etc. that we can taste now were all invented or popular in the Song Dynasty.
Complex cooking techniques such as honey and scallion plucking also matured in the Song Dynasty.
The reason is also because the Song Dynasty was wealthy, and people would pursue exquisite eating only after they were full.
On the side is almond mutton. The mutton and almonds are cooked together. The seasoning is light, the meat is soft and juicy, and the soup base is very fresh. In the Song Dynasty, being an official meant eating mutton, because mutton was included in the salary as an employee benefit.
, Pork is just a low-grade civilian food.
Tong Guan raised his wine glass and said with a smile: "Wenyuan, when we gathered in Yangzhou, you predicted what the court would be like today. As expected, as Wen Yuan expected, the predictions came true one by one that day, and people couldn't help but be convinced. Cai Yuanchang has already paid homage to the prime minister.
, a certain family also has the opportunity to go on an expedition, and a certain family would like to hear what Wen Yuan thinks about the future?"
Yang Lin put down his chopsticks, drank, and said: "Tong Shuai is going to conquer Hehuang. With Prime Minister Cai taking care of him, there will be no shortage of money and food. Elite soldiers and generals can be mobilized at will. However, there is one thing that Tong Shuai must bear in mind."
It was very useful for Tong Guan to be a handsome boy. Unlike other eunuchs, he liked others to pay attention to his burly figure and bold personality, and he especially loved military exploits.
"What's going on?" Seeing Yang Lin's solemn words, Tong Guan came up and asked.
"Since you go on an expedition, you must aim to win the battle. No matter what happens in the court, Commander Tong should put the war situation first. After all, you are on the front line, and none of the officials in the court understand the situation on the battlefield as well as you. Commander Tong just needs to remember one thing
, Winning a battle is the greatest achievement, and the officials will reward him and use him seriously. Even if he goes against the official's wishes slightly and makes him unhappy now, when a war needs to be fought in the future, the officials will still choose from among the generals who won the battle.
.”
Tong Guan secretly thought about what Yang Lin meant. Winning a war is a good thing. Who doesn't know this, so why should he say it? Yang Lin looked at him indifferently, and sure enough, within a moment, Tong Guan's whole body was filled with excitement, and he raised his eyes and said
: "Wen Yuan is saying that there will be people in the court who will hinder a certain family and prevent them from returning with a complete victory?"
"The depth of the water behind this matter is as great as the obstacles to Commander Tong's expedition. Those turbaned civil servants in the DPRK are not the gentlemen they claim to be. I don't think I need to tell Commander Tong what kind of people they are.
.”
Tong Guan pinched the few remaining beards that he loved as much as his life, and fell into deep thought.
In fact, when Tong Guan first went out to fight, he fought consecutively and won a lot of victories. Later, on the eve of the decisive battle, he actually received an imperial edict from the emperor, telling him not to fight.
The reason was ridiculous. It turned out that the Taoist temple in the palace was on fire. The ministers all wrote a letter saying that this incident was unlucky and might be a warning from God.
Since Zhao Ji believed it, he sent an imperial edict to Tong Guan on the eve of the decisive battle, telling him not to fight.
The situation on the battlefield was changing rapidly, and the fighting opportunities were fleeting. Tong Guan was trembling with anger while holding the edict. Finally, he lied that the emperor was encouraging everyone to fight bravely, and ignored the emperor's order to go to war. Only then did he fight Hehuang and Tubo, abandoning their armor and armor.
He destroyed his regime and conquered more than 3,000 miles of territory.
Of course, Tong Guan didn't know this at this time. He was just thinking about the constraints that the civil servants and the emperor might put on him. He finally made up his mind and secretly thought that Yang Wenyuan was right. As long as he won the battle, he would have a chance to succeed in the future even if he disobeyed. In short, this
In this battle, a certain family must win. This is the first battle. If we lose, it will be difficult for us to have the opportunity to display our ambitions in the future.
After finishing the wine, it was already getting late, so Tong Guan got up in person to see him off.
After returning from Tong Mansion, the snow in front of the door has been swept away, revealing the appearance of Yang Mansion.
From the outside, this house does not look outstanding. In fact, it occupies a very large area. The interior is gorgeously decorated with pavilions and pavilions, and the meandering water is elegant and elegant. Unfortunately, it is completely frozen now, and it has a different charm.
"After all, he is just a businessman. The deep layout of the mansion is probably beyond the limit according to the construction method of the Song Dynasty. It is a crime to be caught by someone who is interested."
Yang Lin sighed, fortunately he was about to become an official, and in the hundred years since the founding of the Song Dynasty, more than one construction method had been abolished.
Yang Lin enthusiastically directed Yang San to renovate this big house. Ning'er had already moved out, and it seemed a little empty with only the few of them left.
"Recruit a few more servants and maids, tidy up this courtyard, and bring in my five adopted sons."
Yang San wrote them down one by one, and asked with a scowl on his face: "Master, there is no butler here yet, who can I turn to for the money?"
Yang Lin laughed and scolded: "It's up to you to take care of it. As for the money spent, I will ask Yun Niang to collect it. From now on, my money will be managed by her."
At this time, Li Yunniang happened to come over and bent down to report, "Da Lang, there is a father-in-law visiting in the palace."
"Haha, I heard that Yang Jieyuan came to Bianliang, and our family came here to congratulate him. Please don't blame him if he didn't let us know about the unexpected visitor."
Yang Jian was dressed like a foreigner and smiled before he spoke. He was completely opposite to Tong Guan, and his whole body was full of eunuch style.
"I didn't know that Yang Neiguan arrived, and the students were not welcomed from afar. I hope you will forgive me." After Yang Lin finished speaking, he bent down to salute, but Yang Jian caught him and said with a smile: "Yang Jieyuan is too polite. Brother, I'm here."
Yangzhou is indebted to you for your hospitality, and I blame my brother for asking me to wait for you to come to my door. Who would have thought that neither the left nor the right would come, so the elder brother had no choice but to come by himself with salivation."
"My father-in-law is a dignitary in the palace and a popular person among officials. How can a student be a brother to you?"
His smile suddenly faded, and he said coldly: "What's the matter? Yang Jieyuan thinks that our family is too incomplete to be friends with you?"
"Haha, my father-in-law is really funny. In this case, the student is bold enough to be worthy of his father-in-law and his brothers."
"That's just right." Yang Jian's face resembled that of an old woman with a smile blooming like a chrysanthemum: "Today you and I will have a few drinks and reminisce about old friendships."
"Heat some jugs of good wine for me, and then go to Fan Mansion to order a table of good wine and banquet. I want my father-in-law and I to stay drunk until we return."