Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 491: No Good Banquet, No Dispute

When Liu Huai received the document jointly written by Lu You and Xin Qiji, he was drinking and chatting with two ministers, several generals and Wanyan Liang.

After Ye Yiwen arrived in Chao County, he immediately conferred titles and made promises to the various armies, praised them lavishly, and then he couldn't wait to see the style of the Jin emperor.

When Lord Ye saw Wanyan Liang hiding in the prison, he was immediately shocked.

Good heavens, you really don’t take the emperor seriously.

The other roughnecks didn't understand, but don't you, Yu Yunwen, understand either? Throwing an emperor, even the emperor of the Jin Dynasty, even an enemy chieftain, into a filthy dungeon is still too outrageous.

Yu Yunwen naturally had his reasons.

That day, Yu Yunwen kindly asked Wanyan Liang if he was cold, but Wanyan Liang said that this place was much warmer than Wuguo City.

These words left Yu Yunwen speechless.

When the time came, this guy was still so arrogant and secretly mocked the two saints. He was really mean.

Didn't you say it was warm here? Then go to the dungeon and warm yourself with straw.

Yu Yunwen could be angry, but Ye Yiwen still knew the big picture and would never let Wanyan Liang continue to stay in jail because of such a small matter.

If he gets sick and dies, who will be responsible?

Of course, in such a banquet, even if Ye Yiwen wanted to liven up the atmosphere, it was absolutely impossible to expect Liu Huai and other generals to raise their glasses and drink with Wanyan Liang, and to put aside their grudges with a smile.

Cheng Min and Li Xianzhong both sat upright, giving the two ministers some face, while Liu Huai simply moved the military documents to the banquet, flipping through them while eating and drinking, obviously not wanting to pay any attention to the Jin captives.

In addition to Wanyan Liang, Wanyan Yuanyi was also invited to sit at the back seat, with two armored soldiers guarding behind him with swords.

Wanyan Yuanyi, however, did not feel like a prisoner at all. He kept responding to Ye Yiwen. The two of them kept raising their glasses and drinking to each other. Soon, one drinking game after another and poems were chanted, and the rest of the shogunate and local officials who were present cheered.

"Liu Feihu, although you are young, you have extraordinary military strategy. I would like to offer you a toast." When the wine was in high spirits, Wanyan Yuanyi raised his glass and touched it to Liu Huai from a distance with a smile, as if he was not looking at the general who fought with the Jin army and slaughtered all his subordinates, but an old friend.

Liu Huai held the document in his left hand and picked up a fried soybean with his chopsticks in his right hand and put it into his mouth to chew. Without taking his eyes off the document, he said coldly: "Can't all this food stop you from eating?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the banquet quickly fell silent and everyone looked at Liu Huai.

Wanyan Yuanyi, however, remained radiantly smiling. "As the saying goes, Yang and Lu are close friends. Fighting for our country and risking our lives on the battlefield is commonplace. However, as long as our ambitions are high, even enemies can become friends. Liu Feihu is worrying too much."

Liu Huai finally finished reading the document in his hand, put it aside, and tapped Wanyan Yuanyi with his chopsticks and said, "If you dare say another word of nonsense, I will tear your mouth off on the spot. Anyway, as long as you are alive, it's fine. My military Chinese medicine doctor is pretty good and should be able to spare your life."

Wanyan Yuanyi wanted to say something, but after meeting Liu Huai's eyes, he shuddered and ultimately dared not speak anymore.

What could a ruthless character who dared to pull Wanyan Liang off his horse and whip him on the spot, and chopped Li Tong into pieces over a disagreement do if he humiliated Wanyan Yuanyi on the spot?

Not to mention his mouth being ripped off, what if his teeth were knocked out? Who would stand up for Wanyan Yuanyi's white teeth and stop such a desperate person when he got angry?

Seeing Wanyan Yuanyi put down his wine glass, Liu Huai stopped making threats, as if nothing had happened just now. He picked up another document and read it carefully.

"Everyone, raise your glasses to celebrate the emperor's birthday!"

Ye Yiwen and Yu Yunwen continued to feast and drink as if they had not heard what Liu Huai said.

Ye Yiwen was in a honeymoon period because Liu Huai had just given him significant political resources. Besides, he had already chopped up the Jin minister, so it wasn't surprising that he ripped open the mouth of the Jin minister of war.

As a senior politician, Yu Yunwen thought about even more.

In addition to being Yu Yunwen's political ally, Liu Huai was also a leader of the Shandong rebel army.

Before the Sishui Channel, whose course was taken over by the Yellow River, was opened, most of Shandong was isolated, and it was difficult for the Song State to have any effective rule.

This cannot be accomplished solely by loyalty, but is a natural result of the division of power between mountains and rivers. Even if everyone in Shandong is loyal to the Song Dynasty, it is impossible to effectively communicate with the Song Dynasty across the Yellow River flood area in the southern part of Haizhou.

Under such circumstances, ensuring that Shandong would not surrender to the Jin Kingdom again became Yu Yunwen's primary goal.

Even if someone in Shandong declares independence, he can tie down part of the Jin army's forces. But if all of Shandong surrenders to the Jin, the strategic advantage gained by the Song in the Huai River and Huai River regions will be wiped out in an instant.

Therefore, as long as Liu Huai did not draw his sword to kill Wanyan Liang, everything would be fine.

What’s a few quarrels?
Yu Yunwen wished that the hatred between Liu Huai and the Jin Kingdom would become even deeper!
With the tacit consent of the two husbands, the banquet continued and the atmosphere became lively again.

At this moment, Luo Huaiyan walked in quickly from the side door, whispered a few words to the soldier at the door, then went inside and handed a thick document to Liu Huai.

Liu Huai picked up a cooked pig's trotter from the desk of a scholar beside him and stuffed it into Luo Huaiyan's arms. After wiping his hands and taking the document, he signaled the other party to eat it quickly.

Amid the bewildered looks of Luo Huaiyan and the scholar beside him, Liu Huai quickly flipped through the document jointly signed by Xin Qiji and Lu You.

A moment later, Liu Huai finished reading the documents. Regardless of the occasion, he raised his head and asked loudly to the superiors, "My two lords, do you know the origins of the Chen family of Dingyuan in Haozhou? Could they be the family of Chen Kangbo, the minister in the court?"

The banquet fell into silence again.

This time, Ye Yiwen's expression finally turned ugly.

The first time Liu Huai acted arrogantly, it could be said that he was suppressing Wanyan Yuanyi's arrogance, but the second time he was just slapping him in the face.

Did he really think that Ye Yiwen, the Privy Councilor, was made of clay? But Liu Huai's next words abruptly stopped Ye Yiwen's impending question: "This Chen family from Dingyuan actually dared to rob the military rations used by my Jingnan Army to provide relief to the victims. Isn't it a bit too bold?!
If the Chen family is truly the family of the prime minister, could you two gentlemen persuade Lord Chen to spare my Jingnan army and the famine-stricken people of Lianghuai? I will build a longevity shrine for him later."

Although Liu Huai spoke pitifully, he had a sneering and arrogant look on his face.

He looked like he was going to throw a tantrum if I didn't give him an explanation.

In Liu Huai's opinion, this Chen family is just a local tyrant. Although they may have some in-laws with officials such as central government officials and provincial governors, it is impossible for them to reach the level of prime minister.

The prime minister of the Song Dynasty was Chen Kangbo, who was from Jiangxi. How could he have relatives in Huainan?
However, Liu Huai just wanted to say this, to force the two prime ministers to express their opinions.

We fought and won the war, but do we have to rely on me to provide relief to the victims? What do you, the scholars and officials of the Song Dynasty, do for a living?
Before the two gentlemen in the upper seats could speak, Cheng Min spoke first, "If you're talking about the Chen family of Dingyuan, Haozhou, I know them very well. There's a young official in the family named Chen Mingzhen, who once served as the magistrate of Putian, Fujian.

I know all about this because Chen Mingzhen made a fool of himself in Putian. He insisted on recognizing his ancestry with the Chen family of Putian and wanted to marry the current Minister Chen. I don't know whether he succeeded or not, but after he retired, he became very arrogant and started asking for land and houses. The land of my old soldiers was even forcibly bought.

Although I also sent a message to the court, I have never heard back since then. I think the rumors about the Chen families of Dingyuan and Putian returning to their ancestral home are not groundless."

At the end, even Cheng Min, the veteran, sneered.

"Who is Minister Chen?" Liu Huai didn't expect there was such a big fish. He quickly poked the scholar beside him with his arm and asked, "Is it a high-ranking official?"

The scholar hurriedly whispered to explain: "The current Minister of War, Chen Junqing, was once the Supervisory Censor and the Palace Censor."

Liu Huai suddenly understood.

No wonder Cheng Min is so sarcastic.

In his opinion, Chen Junqing, who controlled the Taijian system, protected his relatives, which made it difficult for his memorial to be resolved.

It turns out he really has a backer!

I like to deal with those who have backers the most.

Liu Huai was about to say something threatening when the previously silent Li Bao stood up and said, "Captain Cheng, Minister Chen is not such a treacherous villain. Before the war, Minister Chen was ordered to reorganize the Zhejiang West Navy. The soldiers and ships under my command were meticulously prepared by him. I have served with him before, and I can guarantee it with my own life."

Cheng Min folded his arms and laughed, "Li San, I wouldn't dare take your head, but haven't we seen enough people who are diligent in governing the country but neglectful in managing their families? How can Minister Chen be an exception?"

Li Bao fell silent.

Not to mention distant relatives, even if their own children become dissolute, some fathers are powerless to do anything.

Liu Huai simply waved his hand to interrupt the others: "My two lords, no matter who it is, anyone who dares to stir up trouble is seeking death. What do you two say?"

Yu Yunwen had a headache.

How can these things be brought to the table and discussed?
The imperial court has its own laws and regulations. Even if someone commits a capital crime, there are officials to deal with it. How can we allow soldiers to kill people wantonly? Where will this end?

Do we really have to express on the spot that we will allow the Jingnan Army to deal with us?

Ye Yiwen didn't think too much about it, but just shook his head and said: "This matter still needs to be considered in the long run."

Liu Huai ignored Ye Yiwen and just stared at Yu Yunwen.

Ye Yiwen is already old and has no political ideals. At most, he can share the firepower and provide shelter from the wind and rain. Yu Yunwen is the real powerful prime minister who can truly make a difference in the future.

Seeing that Yu Yunwen remained silent, Liu Huai shook his head and laughed, "Then use my method."

Ye Yiwen waved his hand: "Liu Dalang, you must not be so reckless!"

Liu Huai ignored the other party, took out the document, wrote on it the eight big words: "Just do it, I'll take care of everything", and handed it to Luo Huaiyan who was gnawing on the pig's trotter, asking him to send it out quickly.

Ye Yiwen was extremely anxious. No matter how dumb he was, he knew that after this document was sent out, the Jingnan Army, which had not yet been incorporated into the Song State, would immediately obey orders, take action, and demonstrate its destructive power on the battlefield.

If the generals can still control the army, it may just be a massacre of specific individuals. If they cannot control it, it is very likely to evolve into a disaster more horrific than the Jin army's invasion of the south.

Ye Yiwen quickly shouted to Luo Huaiyan, "Stop!"

Luo Huaiyan would never listen to Ye Yi's question. He left without even looking back.

"Liu Dalang! Liu Feihu!" Ye Yiwen finally couldn't hold it in any longer and said angrily, "You are really too presumptuous!"

"Prince Ye, Prince Yu, this is exactly why I did it." Liu Huai's words became sincere: "This is why I launched the Northern Expedition to resist the Jin army, and this is also why I went to Huainan to fight the Jin bandits to the death.

If it weren't for the need to redress these injustices, why would I abandon my life as a yamen servant to drink muddy water and eat tree bark in Shandong? Why would I abandon the increasingly brighter days of Shandong to return to Lianghuai to chop down the armor of the Jin thieves?

The Shandong Jingnan Army has marched forward with great difficulty to this day, carrying this aspiration with them. If we are not allowed to do this, there will be no Jingnan Army in the world."

After saying these powerful words, Liu Huai didn't care about the different expressions of the two gentlemen in the first seat. After bowing, he turned around and left.

This banquet, which was supposed to be joyous, ended in such an awkward manner.

Wanyan Liang and Wanyan Yuanyi looked at each other, then drank the wine in their glasses.

Although we knew that the Song Dynasty was not united, it was still a bit unexpected that it split so quickly.

(End of this chapter)