Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

As soon as Zhang Shikang started eating, Sun Weifan and Sun Dasheng also picked up their chopsticks.

The father and son had long been accustomed to Zhang Shikang's temper. He prepared a large table of food, and since it was a meal, there should be no waste.

The three of them were eating seriously, praising which dish was delicious from time to time. Zu Dashou, who was standing next to them, introduced the dishes politely like a guest.

"Well, this dish is called Braised Monkey Head and Bear Paw, and that one is Snow Plum Flying Dragon."

"What is Feilong?" Zhang Shikang asked while eating.

"Replying to the commander, it is a flying bird."

"Oh, what kind of dish is this? It's really soft and chewy."

"Reporting to the commander, the green dumplings with deer lips are made with wild deer lips from the deep mountains as the main ingredient." Zu Dashou continued to introduce that this dish was also his favorite.

"What about this way?"

"This dish is called Braised Camel's Paw in Wine."

"What about this one?"

“Sika deer tendons.”

"The dish you are eating now is made mainly of tiger penis, and the secondary ingredient is tiger paws."

……

In an instant, Zhang Shikang understood why Northeastern cuisine was not included in the eight major cuisines by later generations.

This is too cruel!

A quarter of an hour later, Zhang Shikang finally finished eating.

It must be said that the food outside the Great Wall is wild and tastes great.

During this period, Zu Dashou only picked up some dishes a few times. Since Zhang Shikang did not hold up the wine cup, he did not dare to persuade him to drink.

"Come on, since it's a banquet, it would be inappropriate not to drink. Let's drink together." Zhang Shikang put down his chopsticks and picked up the wine glass.

Zu Dashou finally took his first sip of wine.

"Now that we've had enough food and drink, let's chat." Zhang Shikang put down his wine glass and said to Zu Dashou.

Zu Dashou's expression was stern.

"What do you want to talk about, my Lord?"

"Alright, General Zu, you are giving enough face to the court by coming out of the city to welcome me. I am also giving enough face to you by sitting here and enjoying your banquet.

Let's be frank, what do you want to do?" Zhang Shikang asked bluntly.

The fact that they could sit here and chat meant that Zu Dashou didn't want to really break up with the court, and Zhang Shikang naturally didn't want that either.

He is not here to enjoy the scenery. It is such a cold day and he is busy.

"General, I have no intention of doing anything. I have always been loyal to my duties here and have never had any second thoughts."

Zu Dashou was shocked by Zhang Shikang's directness, but it also saved him a lot of trouble, so he went along with it.

"If you have no second thoughts, then why don't you obey the imperial edict?" Zhang Shikang asked again, staring into Zu Dashou's eyes.

Zu Dashou did not dare to look Zhang Shikang in the eye, but just replied:

"General, I have something to hide. Your Majesty treated Governor Yuan in the way he did before. I was Governor Yuan's most trusted subordinate at the time. I am worried..."

"Are you worried that His Majesty will skin you alive too?" Zhang Shikang answered for him.

Zu Dashou said nothing, but his point was self-explanatory.

“But do you know that not obeying the edict is disloyalty? You think your life is in your hands, but if the emperor orders the minister to die, the minister has to die.

If you do not obey the imperial edict, you will put His Majesty in an unjust situation.

How could you be sure that His Majesty would kill you at that time?

Yuan Chonghuan committed such a serious mistake at that time and killed Mao Wenlong without authorization, but Your Majesty never reprimanded him. In your mind, is Your Majesty such a petty-minded emperor?

Your Majesty has never treated you harshly over the years. Even if he had to tighten his belt, he would do his best to prepare for you the food, fodder and weapons you deserve.

But if you don't obey the imperial edict, do you know how the civil officials at that time viewed the current emperor?

It is said that Your Majesty is feeding an ungrateful wolf!

Just because you were afraid that His Majesty would do something bad to you, you betrayed your loyalty as a subject and disobeyed the imperial edict.

Even if I kill you now, no one will complain for you!"

Zhang Shikang launched a series of questions and did not give Zu Dashou a chance to speak. In fact, he roughly knew what Zu Dashou was thinking. It was precisely because of this that every word he said made Zu Dashou feel uncomfortable.

Zu Dashou knelt down again, and Zu Kuan quickly knelt down as well.

"I am guilty! Marshal, I am truly ashamed of my loyalty to the Emperor and the court. I have been suffering in my heart for these years!"

Zu Dashou said with a painful look on his face.

"Marshal, Master Zu also has his own unspeakable secrets! Without Master Zu, Guan Ningjin would not be able to gather his fighting strength and would be taken down by Huang Taiji sooner or later!"

Zu Kuan suddenly had an idea and spoke on behalf of Zu Dashou.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zu Dashou frowned. As expected, Zhang Shikang became even more indignant.

"What the Earl of Zhennan means is that Guan Ningjin can't do anything without his grandfather's birthday?

Is that what you mean? Answer me! "

Zhang Shikang shifted the focus and stared at Zu Kuan.

This is really like someone giving you a pillow when you are sleepy. If this guy dares to admit it, it would be tantamount to admitting that Zu Dashou is a warlord who is too powerful to be eliminated.

Even if he were skinned alive, no one would speak for him.

Zu Kuan realized at this time that he had said the wrong thing, and he dared not say anything with cold sweat on his forehead.

"I did make a mistake, but the Grand Marshal taught me that I shouldn't have disobeyed the emperor's orders just because I was afraid of the emperor's reprimand.

But Marshal, things have come to this, I hope you will give me a chance to make amends!" Zu Dashou said with his head lowered.

"Oh? What opportunity?" Zhang Shikang asked.

"General, although I have made mistakes, I have never surrendered to the Jiannu. The Jiannu are ambitious and I have a deep blood feud with them.

I just hope that the Marshal can tell the Emperor my intentions, and I will follow your lead in the future!"

Zu Dashou was really a little anxious. He originally wanted to try it again to see if there was any room for maneuver.

But he didn't expect Zhang Shikang to go all out right at the start and hit him directly in the face.

Therefore, he did not dare to hesitate any longer and directly stated his previous decision.

"You think I am a warlord!" Zhang Shikang stared at Zu Dashou coldly.

Zu Dashou's meaning was very clear. As long as he could help mediate the crisis of trust between the many generals on the Guanningjin Defense Line and the imperial court, Zu Dashou would surrender to him.

However, Zhang Shikang never intended to be a warlord.

In the eyes of a saint, everything is saint, and in the eyes of a piece of shit, everything is shit.

"I don't mean that. Since His Majesty has given the Marshal full authority over the military affairs of the Ming Dynasty, I, as the commander-in-chief, should naturally obey the Marshal's military orders."

Zu Dashou quickly explained.

After Zu Dashou finished his explanation, Zhang Shikang didn't say anything and the living room suddenly became quiet.

Cold sweat had already appeared on Zu Dashou's forehead, but he didn't dare to wipe it off. Zu Kuan, who was standing beside him, didn't even dare to say a word.

After a long time, Zhang Shikang finally stood up and helped Zu Dashou up personally.

"Since I have entered your mansion, I don't want this matter to get to that point.

That is neither what the court wants to see, nor what you want to see.

I am very pleased that you can correct your mistakes as soon as you realize them.

That's all for today. I want to take a walk around the city before it gets dark." Zhang Shikang suddenly ended the banquet.

"Marshal, please let me accompany you." Zu Dashou took the initiative to request.

"No need for that. You should think about it carefully." Zhang Shikang rejected Zu Dashou and took Sun Weifan and others out of the general's mansion.

……