Chapter 273 Zaizhi
Guanghe six years, September 16, dusk.
The moonlight was hazy, the night breeze was refreshing, and the Yuegang camp was full of joy.
With a sound:
"The commander-in-chief has given orders, and the whole army is in high spirits, rejoicing with you and having fun with your brothers."
Then there were thirty-six cheers from the military drum, which filled the wilderness with the sound of birds.
This big feast began.
In the center of the camp is the military banquet place for Zhang Chong and other military officials. This was originally Zhang Chong's shogunate. In order to unite the officials and soldiers, he specially removed the car camps around the shogunate and simply arranged lights so that the nearby soldiers could see Zhang Chong.
This night is destined to be a night of fun. No matter what era and what kind of people, everyone likes banquets. The key to human beings' love for cooking has never been nutrition, but a kind of enjoyment, which is the joy that food brings. Therefore, the banquet has become an important ceremony, which is carefully prepared.
For example, when the Han Dynasty held a banquet, all the ministers dressed up to attend, feasting on the beauty of lambs and the lips of orangutans. During the banquet, the dignity of the Han Dynasty and the relationship between the monarch and his ministers were consolidated. Therefore, even if a banquet costs thousands of gold, there have been many banquets in the past dynasties.
And this kind of enjoyment does not only stop at the court banquets, but also among private parties. The aristocratic family stays up all night, indulges in sex, and the rich candlelight illuminates the night, which is why Kyoto never sleeps.
But you are wrong if you think that this kind of banquet is just held by a group of people. For example, our Yuzhou governor Wang Yun, as the official of Taiyuan, had to prepare food according to banquet standards even if he ate alone. There was once a cook who just prepared food for one person for Wang Yun, but Wang Yun roared. The cook said:
"Why don't you say there is no banquet? Today is the banquet for me, Wang Yun, and the prince's master."
This time, Zhang Chong's banquet was no different in essence from those held by the Han Dynasty. They were both a display of victory and a bond between officials and officials. But in terms of specific food, the victory banquet of the Taishan Army is definitely not as good as that of the Han Dynasty. Not to mention that Zhang Chong does not like luxury in the first place, but if he really has to prepare it well, what can he prepare in time of war?
However, when the golden-roasted horses, cows, sheep, and pigs were served, everyone couldn't help but swallow their saliva, which showed how hungry everyone was for meat.
The entire banquet did not use a table and a table as in the past between ministers, but a table filled with tables in the center. All the food was placed on it. There were no straw mats. Everyone stood so that everyone could share it. Food and conversation.
At this time, the table was filled with all kinds of food. On both sides were fragrant millet rice, rice rice, and wheat rice for everyone's own use.
The food was in front, but no one from Taishan Army or Ru Ying Huangjin came forward. They quietly looked at Zhang Chong who was sitting on top, waiting for him.
Sitting on the horse, Zhang Chong was dressed in single clothes, with his hair simply tied up with a wooden stick. He looked like an old farmer in the countryside rather than a handsome general on the battlefield.
Zhang Chong looked at the banquet with satisfaction. It was a good idea to reward the whole army with a victory with the capture of the Han army. Looking around, everyone is smiling and their morale is good.
When the food was ready, the two gangsters moved a large table with two cards on it, one for Supreme Yellow Taiyi and one for Taishan Fujun.
Obviously, Zhang Chong decided to sacrifice these two people before the banquet.
Zhang Chong didn't know whether these two people existed, but he knew that when the whole army felt that they were there, then they really existed.
During this battle, countless people saw Yunxia who looked like a god general, and also saw the giant crow formation. This was because Huang Tian and Lord Taishan were protecting them together.
Zhang Chong came down first, followed by two columns of civil and military personnel. Everyone was solemn and solemn, holding three incense sticks in their hands and two divine tablets in front of them and bowed three times.
At this time, Ma Yuanyi, the divine envoy of Taiping Dao, with a golden crown and yellow clothes, threw a bamboo slip with yellow words that he had written long ago into the fire. What is written on it is the Taishan Army's gratitude to Huang Tian and Taishan Prefecture Lord as well as the number of sacrifices.
For example: a hundred horses, six oxen, a thousand sheep, three hundred pigs, thirty wolves, two tigers, one bear, three stags, stags, and female deers.
These are all things that come at no cost. The horses are dead horses from the battle, the oxen are the mutilated cattle that were injured in the Han camp, the pigs and sheep are the supplies for the Han army, and the wolves, tigers, bears and deer are the game they killed.
When the aroma of food mixes with the smell of incense and reaches the sacred tablet, it also means that the sacrifice has been completed. The remaining meat is the food of Taishan Army and Ruying Yellow Turbans.
And this is the highlight, because Zhang Chong wants to determine who will share the meat for everyone. This is very important, because dividing the meat here is not just dividing the meat, it represents who will become Zhang Chong's slaughter.
The prime minister here divides the meat and is also the prime minister who assists the monarch.
This important meaning originated from the Chengtang period. At that time, before the Tangwu Revolution, he had a strange dream. He said that he dreamed of a strange man carrying a bronze tripod and a chopping board, smiling at him. At that time, after Tang Wu woke up, he said a pun:
"The tripod is a utensil used for cooking, and the chopping board is a utensil used for chopping fish. Who in the world is willing to be my slaughterer?"
From then on Zaiya was given this strong meaning. Later, a daughter of the Xin family married Tang and Wu. As a concubine of the Youxin family, Yi Yin met Cheng Tang while carrying a bronze tripod and a chopping board, and later assisted Tang Wu to successfully revolutionize.
This is a strong symbol of the virtuous ministers helping the holy king in the revolution in the dream!
And now the counselors of the Taishan Army were all watching eagerly to see who Zhang Chong was going to hand over the meat-splitting knife in his hand.
Doesn't Zhang Chong know this? Of course Zhang Chong knew it, but he didn't give it to anyone, because the candidate in his mind was Duman, the companion who guarded Mount Tai for him.
The importance of Duman is even less important than that of He Kui.
Therefore, Zhang Chong did not give anyone the knife in his hand, but planned to divide the meat himself.
Zhang Chong's actions were naturally surprising to those resourceful counselors. Many of them couldn't help but look at He Kui. He Kui's face was calm, but there was a trace of bitterness in his heart.
Since Zhang Chong comes to divide the meat in person, he needs to bear the consequences of dividing the meat. Why let the chief minister divide the meat? Just let Zai bear the consequences of sharing the meat. The meat is divided and everyone is happy, that's no problem. But if the meat is not divided well and everyone gets into trouble, then it is also a matter of slaughter. As long as the boss is replaced, the resentment will be gone.
But is it really so easy to divide the meat? Everyone likes the fattest and tenderest piece of meat, but there is only one piece of fattest meat, and there is only one piece of tenderest meat. If you give it to this person, others will not have it. How to satisfy everyone?
So dividing meat is never about dividing meat, but politics!
How did Zhang Chong divide it?
What he got was a pig. Pig meat can be divided into four grades. The best is the tenderloin; the second is the spine meat, the hind leg meat; the third is the front leg meat, the pork belly; the last is the blood neck meat, milk breast meat, front elbow and back elbow.
Zhang Chong first chopped off the pig's head and set it aside, then cut out the tenderloin from under the backbone.
Zhang Chong held the tenderest tenderloin and said:
"Yun Chang, please come forward."
Guan Yu, who had a heavy-faced face, was half-squinting the whole time. Did he understand the twists and turns before? He felt disgusted as he looked at those who were either looking forward to it or being proud of it.
The scribes of that generation were all working like flies and dogs, scrambling for positions.
But he didn't expect that he would be the first person Zhang Chong called. He was stunned for a moment, then strode forward, knelt on one knee, and obeyed the order.
Zhang Chong said loudly to all the officials:
"Guan Yu, the captain of the Zuo Army, made the first contribution to this battle. He penetrated into the crowd of ten thousand people with two thousand soldiers and remained calm in the face of danger, laying the foundation for a great victory in this battle. Guan Yu was a man of silence and never allowed fierce words, but The color of loyalty is seen in actions. Yun Chang, please accept this piece of tenderloin."
As Zhang Chong finished speaking, dozens of soldiers behind him loudly repeated Zhang Chong's words:
"Guan Yu, the most outstanding one."
The sound was like thunder, spreading throughout the whole place, and then there was a warm shout of joy. It was the officials of the Zuo Xiaowei Department. They shouted:
"In this battle, merit comes first!"
Amid the cheers of his brothers, Guan Yu's face turned red. He took the tenderloin and said word by word:
"I am willing to die for Qu Shuai, and I am willing to die for the great cause!"
He didn't say much, but Zhang Chong understood what it meant? Some people's promises are so important that they will use their lives to fulfill them. Zhang Chong was a little moved, patted Guan Yu, and then helped him up.
Zhang Chong took a bowl of wine from the guard, handed it to Guan Yu, and then took a bowl himself.
As soon as Guan Yu took it, he saw that Qu Shuai had already drank it all in one gulp, and he also hurriedly picked it up and drank it all.
"Okay!"
Zhang Chong said heroically:
"It's my general!"
Then, Zhang Chong asked Guan Yu to step back and he began to cut the second piece of meat. This piece is the whole spine, and this meat is in the upper part of the tenderloin, which is the outer ridge part.
The way the three armies cheered for Guan Yu just now has already made all the generals excited. Who doesn't want to take over their honor from Commander Qu in the presence of everyone witnessing and cheering?
Therefore, when Zhang Chong held Tongji, all the generals watched eagerly.
Zhang Chong shouted:
"Adan, come forward!"
As soon as these words came out, Zhang Dan, who was not smiling in the crowd, immediately stepped forward, got down on one knee and knelt down heavily:
"Young Military Colonel Zhang Dan, listen to the order."
Zhang Chong looked at his companion with satisfaction. Adan always lived up to his training and was now an outstanding general, walking like the wind, resolute and decisive. Zhang Chong said to the audience again:
"Zhang Dan, the captain of the right army, commanded two thousand troops in this battle, took the lead in defeating the enemy's right wing, and together with the captain's company of the left army, resisted the Han army's counterattack. This battle was a great achievement! This ridge is the beautiful meat between the ridge and the platoon. , just like your role in this battle, now I give it to you, are you satisfied?”
Zhang Dan kowtowed first, then gathered his clothes and took it, solemnly saying:
"I am willing to relieve my troubles for my commander, and I am willing to shoulder the great cause."
Similarly, during this process, dozens of soldiers behind them loudly repeated Zhang Chong’s words:
"Zhang Dan, the backbone of our army."
The same cheers came from the officers of the Right Colonel. They rolled up their sleeves, raised their arms and shouted:
"Zhang Dan, the backbone of our army."
After that, Zhang Chong took out a bowl of wine to Zhang Dan as usual, but this time Zhang Dan drank it all before Zhang Chong could drink it first.
Seeing Zhang Dan like this, Zhang Chong smiled and nodded with satisfaction.
After dividing the tenderloin and cutting through the spine, Zhang Chong divided the hind legs this time.
This time, Zhang Chong was shouting at Yu Jin.
The officials were obviously taken aback, obviously by surprise.
No wonder everyone was stunned, yes, he did block the attack of Youzhou Tuqi. But what team is he leading? They are on the left side of the Central Guard Army and are the most elite armored soldiers in the entire army. But what about such elite armored soldiers? Six hundred and thirty-two people died in Yu Jin's hands. It can be said that except for the thousand archers and crossbowmen on the left side, the rest of the group is no longer able to fight.
This was not over yet. After the war, many of Ru Ying's Yellow Turban commanders complained that the Forbidden Ministry refused to save them and killed hundreds of their own brothers in front of the battle. Yes, you have a point. Those people did attack your forbidden front, but do you have to kill them? In short, you are not right in banning.
Because of these complaints and such huge battle losses, the military generals had guessed that Yu Jin would not have much merit in this battle. After all, we have to consider Ru Ying Huangjin’s emotions.
But who knew that Qu Shuai would still demonstrate Yu Jin’s third skill. Although Qu Shuai only reported the first contribution to Guan Yu, everyone already knows the true ranking of merit from the order and the parts of the meat given.
Obviously, even if Ru Ying Huangjin complained, Qu Shuai still chose Yu Jin, and he was indeed our Qu Shuai.
Yu Jin in the crowd was stunned when he heard Qu Shuai's report, and his eyes turned red. In the end, Zhang Da from behind pushed him, and then he pushed through the crowd and walked to Zhang Chong.
Zhang Chong looked at the tearful tiger general, smiled, wiped away his tears with his thumb, and said with a smile:
"Why, I, General Tiebi, didn't even cry when facing the charge of Youzhou Cavalry, but I cried when I felt a little wronged?"
Yu Jin tried hard to control himself, and imitated Guan Yu and Zhang Dan, knelt down on one knee and cried:
"The end will be banned, please join!"
Zhang Chong raised his hind legs and said to everyone present:
"He is Yu Jin, the iron wall of our army. In this battle, it was Yu Jin who fought hard on the left side of the guard in the belt to block the Youzhou sudden cavalry attack. It can be said that it was Yu Jin who made me sit on my butt. Steady. Now, I will give him the piece of hind leg meat. Who of you objects?”
Naturally no one objected, everyone was shouting:
"Yu Jin, General Iron Wall!"
At this moment, amid the cheers, all Yu Jin's grievances turned into running water. He has too much on his shoulders. He slept in the doctor's camp for the past two days. Whenever a soldier from the left side of the Central Guard died, his waist became a little lower. He never felt that he was at fault in this battle, but he watched his brothers die in front of him. , what kind of self-blame is that.
But now, Qu Shuai recognized him and understood him, and Yu Jin felt that everything was worth it.
So, he knelt down and kowtowed heavily:
"A certain person will be banned and is willing to go through fire and water for the Zhang family for generations to come."
Zhang Chong was startled by these words, always feeling that Yu Jin's words might become true.
Complete the tenderloin, cut through the spine, and move back. It can be said that the best meat has been divided, so Zhang Chong said to everyone:
"This pig has four hooves, which it relies on for crossing ravines and wading streams. And our army also has four pillars. These four pillars are the generals with strong arms of our army. Therefore, these four hooves must be divided among these four people."
Then Zhang Chong asked Li Damu, Dian Wei, Meng Ju, and Cai Que to come up and get the pig's trotters. These four people are the four pillars of the army selected by Zhang Chong.
The remaining front legs, belly, neck, and breasts, which contained the most meat, were distributed one by one by Zhang Chong to the mid-level officials of each army. Zhang Chong said something special and gave a piece of milk to Ding Sheng without saying anything, but Ding Sheng made up for everything.
Cutting meat again and again, cheering again and again, directly filled the atmosphere of the banquet.
Finally, all the pork was eaten, and Zhang Chong formally said to everyone:
"There are three things left: eat, eat, and eat. Brothers, open up!"
Then there was another burst of cheers, and everyone finally gathered around the table full of food to eat happily.
At this time, the differences between local people in Taishan Army were revealed.
For example, Taishan people like to eat meat on millet rice, which is called pork rice. The Lu people like to eat mutton. They say they have never eaten mutton in their lives. They say it is only eaten by nobles. They must try it today. People in Runan love to eat game, and they have tasted venison and tiger meat all over the place.
But no matter where people are, they all love to eat beef. Unfortunately, there was too little beef, so it just tasted bad.
For a banquet of ten thousand people, the speed of food consumption can be imagined, and the cooks can only keep cooking. They used huge pots and chimneys, and the tongs and shovels they used were so huge that several people had to work together to do it. Often one sheep is put into the whole pot, and is served until it is half cooked.
The aroma of meat in the air can spread for ten miles, and just smelling it gives you a sense of satisfaction. I believe that even decades later, these Taishan Army officials will not forget this night of meat.
The generals in the middle tent were also laughing constantly, eating meat and drinking wine. The staff were in high spirits, composing verses and singing about the joy of the banquet. The warriors don't understand this. In short, whoever comes is just one word:
"Drink!"
For them, it’s all in the wine.
Tian Jun was small in stature, but he had a lot of energy. He went everywhere to persuade people to drink, and drank many people. Even Guan Yu was so drunk that he lay on the table and pretended to sleep.
And someone like Ding Sheng, whose intestines are too straight, would drink after complimenting him, but the one who knew how to drink already lay down on the table for a few times, and kept muttering:
"Let me tell you, I, Ding Daqi, am number one in my skills. Hehehehe!"
Li Damu wanted to help him up, but he held his hand and kept talking.
There are no generals from Feijun carrying flags here. They are all following Meng Ju around outside. This is their responsibility. The whole army was lax, but they could not be lax, even if the Han army was completely defeated.
At this moment, Zhang Chong was also a little drunk.
When Zhang Chong was just dividing the meat, he drank dozens of bowls of wine in a row. Even if it was low-alcohol wine, he couldn't bear to drink like this. After draining the water for the sixth time, seeing Zhang Dan coming up to pay respects again, Zhang Chong hurriedly pushed:
"Adan, there are too many, too many, they are going to explode."
Drunk Zhang Dan grabbed Zhang Chong's hand:
"Ah Chong, time flies so fast! In the blink of an eye, we came here from Da Sang. Who would have thought that we naughty people in Da Sang could be like this."
Zhang Chong squinted his eyes and said meaningfully:
"Adan, good times are yet to come. Now, we have just started, and there are more difficulties waiting for us later. When we succeed, I will drink with my old brothers again."
Zhang Dan wanted to say something else, but at this moment, someone suddenly started singing:
"Raise weapons and exchange for peace, just to teach the world to restore the Qingming Dynasty."
"There are fields to cultivate, houses to live in, and only health and well-being will be left to all the people."
Everyone hugged each other and sang this song repeatedly for a long time.
Zhang Chong looked at the stars shining in the night sky and murmured:
"Such a world can definitely be realized."
I recommend the new book "The Hammer" by a friend in the book club. Like me, he also followed the Yellow Turban route and directly became the son of Guan Hai.
(End of chapter)