Hangzhou City and everything in Jiangnan are developing and changing in an orderly manner. After the Song army had retaken most of the city land and the people could live a stable life again, the good habits and heritage of the Chinese nation for thousands of years began to push everyone to rebuild their homes and live a better life again.
The reason why the Chinese nation has been able to stand firm for thousands of years, no matter how many hardships it has experienced, even if the world is turned upside down, foreign invaders invade, and all lives are devastated, it can still move forward from one disaster after another and pass on endlessly, it relies on this legacy. Diligence and optimism have penetrated deep into the soul and bone marrow since our ancestors. So in just a month or two, the city of Hangzhou, which was half destroyed by fire, has regained its vitality, and the streets and alleys have become noisy again, and many merchants from other places have even brought various goods here to sell them.
Especially as the New Year approaches, the city becomes even more festive. The common people have completely come out of their fear and anxiety, and have truly recognized and respected Sun Tu and his soldiers. They believe that as long as they are here, everyone can live the stable life they hoped for. So at least on the surface, everything is not much different from before the war. This also surprised Tong Mu and others who had just arrived from Suzhou, and they were even more amazed.
Now that Hangzhou has been taken, and there are no plans to continue westward to completely wipe out the rebels, the pressure on Suzhou and other places in the rear will naturally be greatly reduced. Tong Mu and the others do not have to be busy with important matters such as escorting grain and grass, so they simply Came to Hangzhou to meet Sun Tu. When they finished all the things on hand and could finally take a breath, it was the end of the fourth year of Xuanhe, and it was New Year's Eve.
This day is of great symbolic significance to the people of China, whether it is a thousand years later or a thousand years ago. No matter how busy or tired they are, relatives and friends will always choose this day to reunite, no matter how hard it is, no matter how hard it is, , I also want to spend this new year well.
As for the tens of thousands of Song troops coming to the club from Jiangnan, of course there is no such thing as suffering. Sun Tu also suspended daily drills and other matters early. On New Year's Eve, he even lifted the alcohol ban, so there is no doubt that the Tianjun is in chaos. It was jubilant, with laughter and the smell of wine everywhere. Sun Tu also walked around the temporary military camp, talked to his soldiers for a long time, and drank a lot of toasts.
Speaking of which, after a series of arduous battles, although the Song army suffered a lot of damage, the number of soldiers and horses under Sun Tu was increasing. Because in addition to the Shandong Army, as the time they spent together increased, even the officers and soldiers of the four Xiang armies of Gyeonggi, Jingnan, Huainan, and Huaibei also recognized and respected him as the commander-in-chief of the three armies from the bottom of their hearts.
This was not only because Sun Tu was able to lead everyone to conquer cities one after another and achieve victory after victory, but also because he was fair and upright in his daily life and had never withheld military rations and wages from his soldiers. In this era, if an official can do these two things, it is enough for the soldiers to listen to his orders and work for him. What's more, he could always enter the military camp and share the joys and sorrows with everyone, and he didn't have the slightest airs of a superior. Over time, all the soldiers recognized that he was the commander in everyone's mind, and the backbone worthy of life and death.
Five groups of soldiers and horses are combined together, plus the subsequent recruitment
A part of the Jiangnan soldiers, and now the number of soldiers and horses in Sun Tu's control is once again close to one hundred thousand. Although they cannot compare with the Shandong Army in terms of combat power, but in terms of loyalty to Sun Tu, there is not much difference between them and the Shandong soldiers.
Because of this, when Sun Tu came to the military camp to celebrate the New Year with everyone on New Year's Eve, all his subordinates got very wild, toasting and drinking, almost drinking General Sun to the point of collapse. When he slowly woke up from his drunkenness, it was already dark outside, but it was not too quiet. From time to time, the sound of crackling firecrackers came from not far away.
At this time, firecrackers were still a literal thing, which meant putting bamboo poles on the fire to grill, and then taking the sound after they exploded to increase the lively atmosphere. Of course, there are also more advanced ones, which are to stuff saltpeter and other things into the pole and then burn them. This not only makes the sound louder, but also produces gorgeous firelight, which makes it more festive. Of course, there are no firecrackers in later generations. At this time, gunpowder was still a top secret from the government, or was used by alchemists as a secret recipe for alchemy. The common people could not afford to use these things for entertainment.
Sun Tu was lying on the bed, listening to the sound of firecrackers outside, and unconsciously thought of the remaining "sky-shaking thunder" in his warehouse, and wondered if he could take out two of them. Then he thought of Wan'er and Hu Rong who were far away in Shandong. I don't know what their situation is now. They must be missing themselves.
By the way, there is also his son, the son he has never seen since he was born. More than a year ago, when he was ordered to go south to quell the chaos, Ya'er was already pregnant. Later, he found out from the letter that, Ya'er gave birth to a fat son for herself... Now that the son is more than one year old, she, as a father, can't even see him or hold him once, and she doesn't know when she can go back and see her again. Relatives…
During the festive season, we miss our loved ones even more. On a reunion night like this New Year's Eve, it is even easier for people to miss their relatives thousands of miles away after getting drunk. Even Sun Tu's thoughts were a little confused at this time, but in the end he could only sigh: Huo Qubing said that the Xiongnu were not exterminated, so why should we take care of our family? Do you want to learn from him
The door suddenly creaked and was pushed open, and a familiar voice sounded: "Are you feeling melancholy that you got drunk and made a fool of yourself in front of other generals?" Who can still joke like this in front of him now? Tong Mu was the only one left.
Sun Tu also laughed, temporarily putting aside the traces of sadness in his heart, he stood up and looked over and said: "Second brother is wrong. I thought that you didn't show brotherly loyalty before, and you actually joined them in teasing me." And I feel chilled.”
"But you can't blame me. You also know my drinking capacity. Even if I stand up to stop you from drinking, it will just be one more person who falls. So it is better to be on the same front with them. At least when you fall, I can still lend a hand, and I can come and see you now." While talking and laughing, Tong Mu had already put the tray he was holding on the table in the room, with several exquisite side dishes on it, and a There is a fire in the clay stove, and a pot of wine is being warmed on it: "Green ants have newly fermented wine, and there is a small red clay stove. It's snowing in the evening, can you have a drink?"
Sun Tu had already stood up, looked at the food and wine, and smiled bitterly: "You think I'm drunk?"
Isn't it thorough enough? As soon as I woke up, you were trying to force me to drink again? "
"Sanlang's words are wrong. I am here to help you sober up. As the saying goes, fighting wine with wine is the best way to sober up, and it is the wine that revives the soul." While speaking, Tong Mu had already set out the dishes and chopsticks: "Today On New Year's Eve, it's rare for you and I to have leisure time to get together and have a drink together, so you should have a few drinks."
"Then I will sacrifice my life to accompany you." Sun Tu smiled, then straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and sat in the upper seat that Tong Mu had given up. Although the two still refer to each other as brothers, their priority has already been determined.
Tong Mu smoothly filled up the wine for both of them, and then said with emotion: "Speaking of which, it has been another year since you and I drank alone this time, right?"
"That time I was new to Jiangnan, and you came to welcome me..." Sun Tu picked up the wine glass and took a small sip. The wine was not strong, but had a bit of sourness, but it did have some flavor.
"To be honest at that time, I was really afraid that you would suffer a big loss in Jiangnan and that you wouldn't even be able to save your life. Although I came to you to borrow your strength to fight Zhu Meng." At this time, he was on the contrary. He was able to explain some things thoroughly: "But I didn't expect that you could actually get things done. Now, you have become a person in the south of the Yangtze River, far superior to Zhu Meng in terms of strength and reputation. exist."
"Yeah, let alone you, even I didn't expect that in one year, the world would be turned upside down. Zhu Meng died, and Hangzhou was captured. Now there is only the last step left, and the chaos in Jiangnan will be caused by me. Even." Sun Tu also said with some emotion.
Indeed, a year ago, although he had the idea of eliminating harm for the country and the people, he had no confidence in his heart. Jiangnan has been Zhu Meng's home base for many years. He still has more than 100,000 soldiers and horses. It is extremely dangerous and difficult to get rid of him and replace him. But judging from the results, he was really able to accomplish it, and besides that, the Fang La Rebellion was almost put to rest.
"Then do you know when I was convinced that you could make it happen?" Tong Mu also took a sip of wine and asked with a smile.
"It's hard to guess. Could it be after I captured Suzhou?"
"No, it was much earlier. When you and I reunited after a long absence and talked over wine like today, I already felt that you could make it happen." Tong Mu said with a serious look: "I am not talking big words, but a fact. Because Your judgment of me that day made me truly understand that you are a person whose mind is more powerful than his body, much stronger than I thought before. If you can only lead troops to fight, of course it is possible to succeed, but you are not sure. Big. But when I know that you are thoughtful, clear-headed, and able to hide things, I am 70% to 80% sure that you can successfully get rid of Zhu Meng."
"Oh? It seems that, second brother, you really have confidence in me..."
"Haha, it's just some ability to judge people. You have it, and so do I." Tong Mu smiled, refilled the wine for the two of them, and then stared at Sun Tu: "I don't know what your plans are next. ?”
"What's next? Didn't I already say that after the spring comes, we will go west to wipe out the rebels in Wuzhou."
But Tong Mu shook his head: "What about next?" He finally asked the most crucial point!