The chief is the banquet where the emperor sits, Zheng Peng was originally sitting with the brothers of the tiger head team, but he didn't expect Li Longji to invite him, and he was a little flattered for a while.

Zheng Peng exchanged glances with Cao Feng and Lu Jin, and then followed the little eunuch away.

"Tsk, the boss is the boss, it's amazing."

"The emperor looks at the boss differently."

"Of course, otherwise how can I turn the music official into a deputy inspector?"

Everyone is envious of your words, but not only envy, but also some people are jealous.

Ma Jian saw Zheng Peng sitting in the chief who represented the honor, his face suddenly stretched long, and with a "snap", he put the wine glass in his hand on the table.

Displeasure was written all over his face.

Li Longji set up a banquet in the square of the imperial city to entertain the meritorious people of the Western Expedition, more than 1,000 people, it is impossible to sit together, about 10 people at a table, more than 1,000 meritorious soldiers plus the ministers of civil and military affairs, a full 200 tables, the number of people who can share the table with Li Longji is limited, a few important ministers of the court and the central government occupy half of the positions, and only those who have particularly strong military achievements or particularly noble status have a chance.

Zhang Rui became the representative of the elite of the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions, and then the kings and tribal leaders of the three vassal countries who made a lot of meritorious contributions, and Ma Jian made a lot of meritorious contributions, but he still had no chance to drink with the emperor.

It was originally a trivial matter, but when Ma Jian saw that Zheng Peng was called the chief by Li Longji, his heart was unbalanced on the spot.

In a society where the monarch is divinely endowed and the emperor is supreme, Ma Jian did not dare to resent Li Longji, so he naturally pointed the finger at Zheng Peng.

"Boss" Chen Yunyu, who was sitting next to him, said in a low voice: "This Zheng Peng, it turned out to be a drama of a teaching workshop, I don't know what means to use on the battlefield, we fought bloodily in front, he will only point fingers in the back, and the boss is much higher than him in terms of merit, why can he be knighted and sit in the chief, and the boss can only sit here?" ”

Chen Yunyu is Ma Jian's henchman and number one sycophant, as soon as Ma Jian showed his unhappy performance, he knew what was going on, and immediately added fuel and vinegar to the side.

Mainly to say something that resonates with Ma Jian.

Ma Jian waved his hand and said: "Stop, you can't say that, General Zheng is also a person who has shed blood on the battlefield, if you let others hear it, you still think that I, Ma Jian, can't tolerate my colleagues in the people." ”

"Yes, yes, the boss is right."

Chen Yunyu responded in his mouth, but he was a little disappreciative in his heart, because he caught a flash of ruthlessness in Ma Jian's eyes.

As Ma Jian's number one follower, Chen Yunyu knows his habits too well, whenever Ma Jian has this expression, it is a manifestation of the very anger in his heart, if he finds an opportunity, he will definitely not let go of people who make people angry.

That Zheng Peng, ask for more blessings.

Zheng Peng didn't know that he was jealous, so he followed the little eunuch to the chief, and before he sat down, he heard someone laugh and say: "Hey, isn't this General Zheng, just now the old man told Guangping why he didn't see you, but it's here." ”

This voice is a little familiar, Zheng Peng turned his head to look, and immediately said respectfully: "Let Yao Kaifu make fun of it, I am satisfied to be able to come here to drink a cup of celebration wine, I didn't expect Your Majesty to let me come here to learn and listen to teaching, and please give more advice to all the officials and seniors here." ”

In ancient times, there was a clear hierarchy, respect and inferiority, that is, sitting at the same table, they were all dominated by the most noble people, and the identity of the person who spoke was definitely not low, and when he opened his mouth, he was called Guangping, you must know that Guangping was another name for Song Jing, and the person who dared to call the name of the prime minister of the dynasty was definitely not simple, look at the people who were seated, that is, Yao Chong had this qualification.

Zheng Peng and Yao Chong don't have much intersection, but Zheng Peng, under the persuasion of Mrs. Yao, released his son Yao Yi at a critical time, which can be regarded as a good fate.

"Sure enough, it's a young hero, General Zheng, please take a seat." Song Jing also said with a smile.

Everyone also echoed and laughed, and after Zheng Peng saluted everyone, he sat at the bottom of the head.

Sit down and take a look, and my heart is terrified: those who can come from this position are all big shots, the former prime minister Yao Chong, the current prime minister Song Jing, the general manager of the Shuofang march and the imperial historian Wang Hui, the general of Xuanwei Zhang Rui, the king of the Western Night Kingdom Ulma, the king of Shanshan Jinsang and others, are all powerful people.

Wang Hui looked at Zheng Peng and said with some surprise: "General Zheng, I heard that the song "Jing Zhong Serving the Country" played in front of the Demen Gate was written by General Zheng, but is there such a thing?" ”

As a soldier, the heroic and passionate singing voice suddenly resonated with Wang Hui, he was curious to inquire about when this song came out, and heard that it was from Zheng Peng's hand, and now when he sees the real person, he can't help but ask.

Hearing Wang Hui ask this question, everyone present looked at Zheng Peng.

This song is impeccable in terms of music, lyrics, and artistic conception, especially the artistic conception, which makes every Tang Dynasty person proud, Wang Hui has always believed that singing and dancing is something that consumes people's will, but when he heard that Jingzhong served the country, he not only changed his opinion, but was conquered on the spot.

Zheng Peng said a little embarrassedly: "Clumsy, let Manager Wang laugh." ”

Song Jing was a little surprised and said: "General Zheng, you have already seen your poetry, I didn't expect you to be able to write such an exciting song, which is really admirable." ”

"That's right" Yao Chong also said on the side: "General Zheng, do you know what people are talking about you now?" ”

"Please also ask Yao Kaifu for advice." Zheng Peng said respectfully.

Yao Chong drank all the wine in the cup, and then said slowly: "Demon." ”

Zheng Peng smiled bitterly when he heard this, and quickly responded: "Yao Kaifu has won the award, and the demons can't talk about it, it's just that they can't do their business well, and they are a little clever about some side paths, in the final analysis, I should thank Your Majesty the most for writing this song." ”

Song Jing was a little surprised and said, "Your Majesty also participated in the composing?" ”

Li Longji likes music, beauty and music, this matter is known to the government and the opposition, you must know that Li Longji not only likes it, but also is very proficient, if Li Longji writes such a good lyrics, no one will be surprised.

"Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, there are few songs for the army, and the most used ones are marching music and the lack of clothes of the pre-Qin, Your Majesty feels that you need to compose a new hymn for the heroic soldiers of the Tang Dynasty, so you will give me this task, to be honest, when creating this song, Your Majesty gave a lot of advice, because hiding in the house, I can't see the heroic posture of the soldiers killing the enemy, and I can't feel their feelings of killing the enemy for the country, and I beg Your Majesty to experience the battlefield, so I have the position of supervising the deputy envoy, and I also have a trip to the Western Regions."

Speaking of this, Zheng Peng stood up and saluted Zhang Rui, Ulma, Jin Sang and others: "I have helped a lot in the Western Regions, and I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you again for your tolerance and help." ”

Yao Chong and Song Jing glanced at each other, and there was a sudden realization in each other's eyes: No wonder His Majesty did not listen to the advice and insisted on sending Zheng Peng to the Western Regions as the deputy envoy of supervision.

Zhang Rui and the others hurriedly humbled him, and Jin Sang said with a straight face: "Speaking honestly, I really looked down on General Zheng at that time, thinking that he ran to the Western Regions to toss blindly, but I didn't expect General Zheng to perform miraculous feats repeatedly, and in the battle of Liancheng, General Zheng's clever plan does not know how many lives of soldiers have been saved, and we are grateful to General Zheng." ”

"Reasonable" Ulma also felt the same way: "When the city was not broken, it was just a charge, and our warriors lost more than one-third, if it weren't for General Zheng, it would be a victory, but also a tragic victory, I always wanted to personally thank General Zheng, but I didn't expect General Zheng to be unfortunately injured, and it has been delayed until now that we have the fate to meet." ”

Zheng Peng immediately said modestly: "That is, the blind cat meets the dead mouse, and it is right, this matter is not worth mentioning." ”

Zhang Rui also spoke: "General Zheng, those of us who are soldiers, what do we say, we won't boast, and it is not an exaggeration to say that without you, we will definitely not achieve such a big victory, and I will give you a good toast in a while." ”

"It's me who respects General Zhang."

Yao Chong smiled and said, "Seeing that you are excited, sit down and drink a few more glasses later." ”

Hearing Yao Chong's words, everyone sat down one after another, Yao Chong looked at Zheng Peng, and suddenly asked: "General Zheng is young and terrifying, by the way, can there be a marriage match?" ”

"There is no marriage match yet" Zheng Peng responded, and immediately explained: "But there is a person I like, and I have asked someone to propose marriage, I believe there will be news soon." ”

With the rise of status, many people beat around the bush to propose marriage to Zheng Peng, at most seven or eight matchmakers lined up to enter the door a day, Zheng Peng had a little headache, for fear that Yao Chong would be a matchmaker for him and block his mouth in advance.

Yao Chong really wanted to introduce one of his nieces to Zheng Peng, and it was a pity to hear that Zheng Peng had asked someone to propose marriage, but he smiled and said: "The matchmaker can't drink the old man, so wait to drink General Zheng's happy bar." ”

"To be able to invite Yao Kaifu is the honor of the younger generation." Zheng Peng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, glad that he had blocked his mouth first.

Otherwise, it's really hard to refuse.

Ulma chimed in and said, "General Zheng, you can't favor one over the other, this king also wants to ask for a cup of wine to be happy." ”

"Definitely, definitely" Zheng Peng said with a smile: "I sincerely invite all of you here to come, and one more noble person will come to the door, and there will be more luxury and blessing." ”

The people here are either rich or expensive, and the gifts will definitely not be light, which is a good deal.

"What came to the door, said so happily, quickly talk to me." At this moment, a strong, energetic voice came.

"Meet the Emperor."

"Meet the Emperor."

The people present stood up one after another and saluted Li Longji, who suddenly appeared.

"All Aiqing and all the soldiers are flat, sit down, sit down, this is a banquet, not a court, just feel free." Li Longji said with a smile.

After Li Longji sat down, the civil and military officials and soldiers sat down one after another.

Yao Chong said with a smile: "Your Majesty, we are talking about General Zheng's marriage, and we are all going to drink General Zheng's cup of wedding wine." ”

"It's time to start a family" Li Longji said with a smile: "When you start a family, most people start a family first and then start a business, Zheng Aiqing is the opposite, he starts a business first and then starts a family." ”

"The last general will be convicted of his sins, and he will follow His Majesty's teachings." Zheng Peng hurriedly said respectfully.

Everyone laughed.

After laughing, Zhang Rui stood up and saluted Li Longji: "The soldiers have always wanted to listen to Your Majesty's instructions, Your Majesty, say a few words." ”

Li Longji appeared, indicating that the celebration banquet was about to begin, and Zhang Rui asked Li Longji to give a lecture very interestingly.

You can't go all the way to Chang'an, just to have a celebration banquet in the imperial city, Li Longji spent so much thought on the reception, and he had to let him talk more.

Eat or second, the soldiers are waiting for the reward.

Li Longji nodded: "The soldiers performed very well in this battle, and the instructions were exempted, so let's give a few words of encouragement." ”

When Gao Lishi on the side heard this, he immediately made a gesture to ask the musicians to stop playing, and shouted in an octave of raised his voice: "Everyone, be quiet, Your Majesty has something to say to the soldiers." ”

Amid the applause and cheers of the crowd, Li Longji stepped onto the stage for the performance and began his exhortatory speech.

There is not much new in the speech, it is to summarize the achievements and significance of the soldiers, and when it comes to the back, it is announced that the meritorious soldiers will be rewarded.

Most of the soldiers are martial artists, they don't understand much of the truth, no matter how much they say, it is better to give them real benefits, Li Longji knows this very well, before the banquet begins, first cash out the military merits, and send the rewards first.

It is unrealistic to reward after the banquet, and then one by one they will be drunk like mud, and no one will answer the decree at that time, how embarrassing it is.

During the war, many times it is promoted while fighting, the soldiers have to be replaced, and the damaged officers have to be replaced, and it is impossible to wait for the approval of the imperial court.

Of course, the promotion of officials who exceed a certain rank requires the consent of the Ministry of War, which submits it to the emperor for approval, and finally transfers it to the Ministry of Officials for processing.

In addition to being promoted, Li Longji was not stingy with the state treasury, and he was rewarded with large sums of money, land, gold and silver goods, and for a time there were incessant voices of thanks, applause, and cheers, and the audience was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Zhang Xiaosong relied on the Anxi soldiers very much, the Anxi soldiers were the elite of the Western Regions Army, and the Tiger Battalion was the elite of the Anxi Soldiers, which were reused in the battle, and the battle of Liancheng was also the tiger head team of the Tiger Battalion carrying the banner, and this time the Tiger Battalion became the biggest winner, and Lu Jin, Cao Feng, Zhou Quan, Xu Shan and others were all richly rewarded.

In the first battle of the Western Expedition, the Tiger Battalion came out of thirteen generals and more than 50 captains, and the scenery was unparalleled for a while.

The soldiers of the Tang Dynasty were rewarded with promotions and goods, and the tribes and small countries that belonged to them got most of the titles and goods, and some were also given a larger ranch, scope of activities or business licenses.

When rewarding, sometimes a holy decree is to reward a person, sometimes a holy decree is to reward more than a dozen people, sometimes a holy decree to reward nearly a hundred people, and there are several eunuchs who read the holy decree, taking turns to play, tossing for nearly two hours, from the noon reading to the nightfall, the palace lamps are hung up before the matter is finished.

After the last batch of generals were rewarded, when everyone thought that they could finally enjoy the celebration banquet, Li Longji appeared on the stage again accompanied by Gao Lishi.

After another round of gifts from the monarch and ministers, Li Longji said loudly: "All the Qing family, all the soldiers, I know, many people have doubts in their hearts, this time the reward is missing two people, missing the supervision of the imperial history Zhang Xiaosong and deputy envoy Zheng Peng, did I forget, yes." ”

Zhang Xiaosong and Zheng Peng are two indispensable people in the battle of the Western Expedition, one is the chief general with dictatorial power, and the other is the deputy envoy who made miraculous achievements but retired injured halfway, many people are concerned about the fate of Zhang Xiaosong who was put in prison, and I don't know if this matter will involve themselves; As for Zheng Peng, not only was he promoted to the rank of knight, but he could also sit in the chief, and he didn't know what status he would be promoted.

One is one and two inspectors, the fate is completely different, which naturally arouses heated discussions, but this topic is very sensitive, even if there are doubts in my heart, I don't dare to ask it, and when I heard Li Longji take the initiative, everyone listened with bated breath.