The swansong of the swansong

Chapter 163 Fighting for Emotion

The area from Tongguan to Xi'an is full of towering mountains because it is the remnant of the Qinling Mountains.

In particular, after the artillery was abandoned and brought ashore, a large amount of manpower was required to drag it into the mountains.

As a result, the army's marching speed became as slow as a snail.

Nian Gengyao bent over and said, "Fifteenth Master, why don't we go to Xi'an Prefecture first, take a rest, soak in a pool, listen to Xi'an Luantan, and try the local specialties of Shaanxi?"

As the most powerful prince of this dynasty, Yinyou must have eaten everything that flies in the sky, crawls on the ground, and swims in the sea.

In the past, Yinwei had been to Xi'an many times and tried all kinds of food, such as Qishan臊子面, Qishan rolled noodles, golden thread oil tower, oil-splashed noodles, mutton soup bun, cold skin, roujiamo, and BiángBiáng noodles.

Yongtai rolled his eyes and said nothing, but he was thinking in his heart, how to please the other party?
Now is the best time to build relationships with the lowest-level Eight Banners soldiers.

At this time, if Yinyou left the team and went to Xi'an to enjoy himself, he would be the biggest fool in the world.

This trip to Xi'an is just a temporary pleasure.

If you can win over the lowest-level Eight Banners soldiers, that would be a long-lasting and satisfying plan!
Since entering the provincial border of Shaanxi, under the urging of Nian Gengyao, fat pigs and fat sheep from all over Shaanxi were continuously sent to Yinwei's camp.

The more than 2,000 Eight Banners soldiers brought by Yinyou had meat for every meal, and they all ate with joy.

In the capital city, these ordinary Eight Banners soldiers, let alone eating meat every meal, would be considered well-known wealthy families even if they had rice for every meal.

After eating the meat given by the Fifteenth Master, you should at least say a few nice words, right?
After the army arrived at Xi'an Prefecture, whenever the Fifteenth Master was mentioned, the lower-class soldiers would all give him a thumbs up and say: Great!
However, among the generals above the rank of lieutenant colonel, Yinyu's reputation seemed very ordinary.

Yinyou knew all this clearly, but he deliberately went his own way and had no evil intention of winning over the lieutenants and assistant commanders.

No matter what era it is, the more wealth a person has, the less likely he is to risk his life!

Only a pauper with nothing would dare to fight with you!

Anyway, they have nothing to lose, so why should they be afraid?
Yinyou saw it more clearly than anyone else. As long as he used the guise of loving his soldiers like his own sons, he would unscrupulously win over the lower-class soldiers.

However, if he got too close to the Canlings and Zuolings, Kangxi would become suspicious!

Hehe, thanks to General Quan for pointing out a clear path. Yinyu is now striding forward following General Quan’s footsteps and rushing forward.

The army crossed the remnants of the Qinling Mountains and stationed in a military camp outside the city of Xi'an.

The high-ranking officials of Shaanxi, led by General Xi Zhu of Xi'an, surrounded Yinyou and welcomed him into the city of Xi'an.

Xi Zhu, formerly the commander-in-chief of the Plain White Banner Mongolian Army, is considered the current emperor's confidant.

Yinyou was not unfamiliar with Xi Zhu.

Because Xi Zhu, this guy, even dared to embezzle the crops of his Eight Banner soldiers.

The audacious Xi Zhu has been impeached repeatedly, but he has always stood firm.

There is only one reason, Xi Zhu is very familiar with the situation of the Junggar people, and if they want to use troops in the northwest, he will definitely be useful.

When one reaches Xi Zhu's status, eating, drinking, being greedy and collecting a little is really not a big deal.

The real fatal thing is standing on the wrong side!

Not to mention Xi Zhu, even Yinyou himself had the big stain of having an affair with Prince Ping's wife, didn't he?

When it comes to things like stains, anything goes.

Once the emperor decided to get rid of the donkey, he would have ready excuses.

Nian Gengyao and Yinyu had dealt with each other many times, so he had a relatively good understanding of Yinyu's character.

Therefore, the welcoming banquet was held in the villa of the largest salt merchant in Xi'an.

The banquet was held in the back garden. Yinyou sat in the middle as a matter of course, Xizhu sat on the left, Nian Gengyao sat on the right, and Shaanxi Governor Yongtai could only sit at the last seat.

As for the Shaanxi Provincial Governor, Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, Green Camp Admiral and other subordinates, they were not even qualified to sit at the table.

There is no way. In front of the majestic "Prime Minister Guan", some people are better off not going to the table.

Among the people present, Xi Zhu knew Yinyou's background better than even Nian Gengyao.

He saved the emperor from the jaws of death, commanded the Tongzhou camp, and rushed hundreds of miles to attack the Mongolian rebels. He was the chief steward of Changchun Garden. His biological mother, Concubine Mi, was the most favored concubine of the current emperor, and his biological brother, Old Eighteen, was the most favored prince of the current emperor.

Alas, so many miracles are concentrated on Yinyou alone. How dare Xi Zhuan neglect it?

"Master Fifteen, I am so brave that I would like to offer you a drink!" Xi Zhu bent over and offered to drink.

Among those present, Xi Zhu's actual power is not the greatest, but his inherent rank is the highest.

According to the Qing Dynasty's official system, Nian Gengyao, the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, enjoyed the treatment of the first rank because of his title of Minister of War. Once he was dismissed, the title was automatically cancelled and he was no longer a first rank official.

Xi Zhu, the Xi'an general, did not need any additional titles. He was truly a first-rank official.

Yinyou raised the wine cup and gently touched it with Xizhu.

Xizhu held the cup in both hands, tilted his head back, and drank the wine in the cup in one gulp.

When Yinyou put down the wine cup, it was still full of wine.

Xi Zhu clearly saw it, but he took it for granted. A person's name is like a tree's shadow. The two words "Guan Xiang" really have the magic power to dominate the entire northwest!
To put it bluntly, Yinyou condescended to sit with them and gave them a chance to flatter them, which was already a huge honor.

"Fifteenth Master, I salute you!" Nian Gengyao was afraid that Yinyu would not give him face, so he whispered, "I am your second sister, and it is a great honor for the hundreds of people in my Nian family to be able to serve you all the time!"

Since Nian Gengyao took the initiative to mention Nian Guanyin, it can be regarded as an active way of bowing his head and trying to establish nepotism.

Don’t look at the monk’s face, look at the Buddha’s face, it’s really comfortable to serve Guanyin!
Yinyou then picked up the wine cup and held it to his chest.

Nian Gengyao bent even lower, moved the cup closer and touched it lightly.

When it was Yongtai's turn, because there was a seat pillar between him and Yinyou, he took the initiative to stand up from his seat, holding the wine cup in both hands, and moved to Yinyou's side.

"Fifteenth Master, my mother is actually the cousin of your wife." When Yongtai said this, Yinyou was shocked.

However, it is very common for the families under their command to intermarry with each other, and it is common to see relatives marrying relatives.

Therefore, when a Bannerman committed a crime, only the main culprit would be executed, which became a clear rule of the Qing Dynasty.

Whenever there was a plan to exterminate three or five clans, there was a high probability that Kangxi himself would be involved.

Yongtai’s biological mother is actually Cuiqing’s cousin, which means that Yongtai and the Hesheli family have a close relationship.

Ever since Soetu and his two sons were killed by Kangxi, the entire Hesheli family fell from the clouds to the eighteenth level underground almost in an instant.

Yongtai has been an official for many years and is not lacking in cleverness.

His words seemed a bit confusing, but in fact, he was trying to make Yinyou his cousin.

As long as Yongtai confirms his identity as Prime Minister Guan’s nephew, he will no longer be afraid of Nian Gengyao!
"According to you, we are still relatives?" Yinyou asked Yongtai expressionlessly.

"Yes, yes..." Yongtai took the opportunity to list a large number of relatives, trying to help Yinyou sort out the connections.

After hearing this, Yinyou understood that she was indeed Cuiqing's cousin.

Kangxi's taboos were mainly directed at powerful officials near the capital, such as the kings who were leaders of the banners, the grand secretaries of the cabinet, the ministers and vice-ministers of the six ministries, the generals of each banner, the commanders of each camp, and the governor of Zhili.

The sensitivity of officials posted outside the capital, even if they are garrison generals, is greatly reduced.

The garrison generals have thousands of soldiers at most and a thousand at least. What great things can they accomplish?
Similarly, the troops directly under the command of a provincial governor are just two or three thousand Green Camp soldiers in the Fu Biao Central Army, which is nothing to be afraid of.

Kangxi used Nian Gengyao to contain the generals leading troops in the front. Yinyu could also pull Yongtai to let him secretly contain Nian Gengyao.

Of course, Yinyu was a seasoned official. In front of everyone, he not only did not show any affection, but instead said in an unusually cold tone: "Don't make random relatives in the future!"

Yongtai tried to put in a warm welcome, but got a cold shoulder, and his neck turned red with embarrassment.

However, Yongtai did not dare to get angry. Instead, he said with a thick face, "I am the parent official of Shaanxi Province, and I should fulfill my duties as a host."

Generally speaking, the term "parent official" refers specifically to people-friendly officials such as the prefect or county magistrate, and has nothing to do with the governor of a province.

It must be admitted that Yongtai puts himself in a very low position!
Well, Yongtai was embarrassed in public, and no one could have imagined that Yinwei's plan was to suppress him first and then promote him.

"Come on, let's clink glasses." Yinyou raised his cup and clinked it with Yongtai's, but deliberately did not drink.

Yongtai secretly breathed a sigh of relief, quickly climbed down the stairs, and drank the wine in the glass.

After the banquet, Yinyou did not stay in Xi'an, but went straight back to the military camp outside the city.

The soldiers at the bottom of the society have been stirring the same pot with their direct superior, the cavalry captain, for a long time. As long as there is no personal grudge, the relationship between them will be very good.

The cavalry captain definitely has more subordinates than a squad leader, but fewer than a platoon leader.

To be honest, the cavalry captains are the top priority for Yinyu to learn from all the young generals.

The next day, after breakfast, Yinwei deliberately rode his horse galloping in the training ground, demonstrating his superb riding and archery skills in front of everyone.

In the military camp, soldiers only recognize fists!
Whoever has the strongest fist is the boss. If you don't have a strong fist, you will be bullied.

Although Yinyou's riding and archery skills were not as good as the third brother's, he could still hit the target with every arrow while riding a horse.

Horse riding and archery sounds simple, but it is actually not easy at all.

The fourth brother, who was eager to lead the troops to war, rode on his horse and hit three arrows out of ten, which was already a great honor for the Aisin-Gioro family.

"Good, good, good..." The Eight Banners soldiers who were watching cheered and praised Yinyou's archery skills.

Yinyou took this opportunity to give orders.

"Tonight's dinner will include ten pigs, and you are allowed to have a cup of wine!" Yinyu's generosity immediately won cheers from the Eight Banners soldiers.

"Thank you, Master Fifteen, for your reward!"

"I haven't had a drink in a long time!"

"Follow Master Fifteen, there will be meat to eat and wine to drink!"

PS: I have an important social event tonight and I have to drink. The next update may be in the early morning. Anyway, the performance of this book is very good, there is no need to urge for updates. As long as I have time, I will take the initiative to update three times.

(End of this chapter)