Chapter 120: Rewarding Merit

"Nonsense, how could the Ma Family appear in Yan Commandery and be captured by the Northern Di?"

Liu Fu looked at Ma Han sideways, practically calling him a liar to his face.

Ma Han raised his head and pointed at Charha in the prisoner cage, "If you don't believe me, ask him. Although it's a bit embarrassing, I, this young master, ended up in this state because I wanted to save the people of Yan Commandery..."

Thus, he recounted one by one how he had been pursuing a unit of Xiliang Cavalry in Jinzhou, accidentally entered Shanggu Commandery, and, upon discovering the Xiliang Cavalry plundering a village, could not help but intervene.

Charha could not be bothered to pay attention to Ma Han and only stared fiercely at Zhao Xu.

"Regardless of whether it is true or false, since that was the case, why didn't you leave when you were at Wuan County, but instead came to Yancheng?" Chang Wei asked.

After rescuing many commoners, he had given dry rations to those who were willing to return at the time.

For those who did not want to leave, he let them follow him to Yancheng.

Ma Han cupped his hands toward Zhao Xu, "To tell you the truth, firstly, all my guards were killed by the Northern Di, and there are many bandits on the road back, so I feared danger. Secondly, Your Highness defeated the Northern Di soundly, and I admire you greatly in my heart, so I wished to come and behold Your Highness."

He chuckled twice and continued, "Seeing Your Highness today, you are truly elegant and a magnificent gentleman, which fills me with great reverence."

Liu Fu curled his lips and muttered, "No wonder his surname is Ma; he sure knows how to butter people up."

He naturally knew of the Ma Family of Qinzhou.

But it was precisely because he knew them that he did not like Ma Han attaching himself to this identity.

In his view, the Ma Family was no different from the Rich Clans of Yan Commandery.

"You are too kind." Zhao Xu sized up Ma Han.

This person spoke with refinement, and the clothes on his body were exquisite and luxurious; perhaps he was not lying, but he could not be certain either.

"Since that is the case, Young Master Ma may stay in Yancheng for a few days and contact your family to come and pick you up."

Ma Han cupped his hands, overjoyed, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Zhao Xu nodded. He had no dealings with the Ma Family of Qinzhou; if he really was a member of the Ma Family, he would just be fulfilling his duties as a host.

If he was not, he would just consider it a favor done.

Ignoring Ma Han further, Zhao Xu headed toward the North Camp with Chang Wei.

Although the fighting had temporarily ended, there were still many follow-up matters to handle.

Upon arriving at the North Camp, a mixed scent of wine and meat immediately assailed his nostrils.

At this time, the Drill Ground was filled with tables, which the Wangfu had rented from all over Yancheng.

Of course, upon learning that this was to reward the Wangfu Army, the families and restaurants that lent them out provided them for free.

Even the cooks were unwilling to accept money, saying, "The Wangfu Army protected Yancheng; we are already too grateful to them, so there is no reason to accept Silver."

"Oh my, this is the Fine Wine produced by the Wangfu itself; it smells so good." Chang Wei sniffed, his mouth almost watering.

During these days of fighting, he had naturally not touched a drop of Wine; this was a military order.

Now that he smelled this scent, his craving for alcohol was immediately hooked.

The other generals also sniffed the air in the sky with expressions of enjoyment, and the soldiers' eyes were even more fixed on the scene.

"I spent quite a bit of effort on this; this is a true ten-thousand-man banquet." Zhao Xu pointed at the tables and chairs covering the Drill Ground.

On the stadium-sized Drill Ground, there were thirty rows of one hundred tables, with ten people at each table.

Liu Fu looked pained.

He said to Chang Wei, "At a standard of thirty taels per table, His Highness allocated ninety thousand taels of Silver. I advised His Highness to be more frugal, only to be scolded by His Highness."

Chang Wei's expression was moved, "Your Highness, this is indeed a bit extravagant; we do not deserve such a grand banquet."

Zhao Xu rolled his eyes, "Liu Fu is the Wangfu Tutor, so being stingy is one thing, but how can you, a general, be so muddled? The soldiers fought bloody battles and risked their lives; what is wrong with eating something good? Stop talking nonsense and let the soldiers take their seats."

"Yes, Your Highness." Chang Wei's eyes were slightly red; never in the Imperial Guards had a general valued the lower-ranking soldiers so much.

But the Yan Wang's concern for every general and every soldier was genuine.

He said to the generals behind him, "Don't just stand there; lead your respective soldiers to the tables to eat and drink."

"Yes, General." The generals shouted in unison and led the soldiers away.

Zhao Xu also picked a table and sat down, having Chang Wei, Lv Chang, Chen Hu, and other officers above the rank of Colonel sit near him.

However, despite the celebration, vigilance could not be let down.

Therefore, the five thousand soldiers who remained in the city and did not go to Wuan County were still guarding the city; he would hold a separate banquet for them in two days.

The soldiers all sat down, and dish after dish of hot food was brought up, along with jars of Fine Wine.

Every soldier had wine poured into their bowl.

Zhao Xu stood up at this moment and shouted with all his might, "This Autumn Hunt was a great victory, all relying on the soldiers' disregard for their own safety and heroic sacrifices. These three bowls, I, this Prince, toast you all."

Having said that, he drank the wine in his bowl in one gulp.

Chang Wei and the generals stood up at the same time, and the soldiers followed, raising their wine.

"A toast to Your Highness." Chang Wei shouted loudly.

"A toast to Your Highness." The generals and soldiers shouted in unison, like a mountain collapsing or a sea roaring.

Then, they also drank the wine in their bowls in one gulp.

After one bowl of wine, Chang Wei's spirits were lifted, and he personally filled Zhao Xu's cup.

Zhao Xu picked it up and drank it in one gulp again, followed by a third bowl.

The generals and soldiers also drank three bowls in a row.

As this Alcohol entered their stomachs and the intoxication went to their heads, the restraint of the generals and soldiers immediately dissipated a great deal.

Many soldiers at the tables laughed out loud, while others wept loudly.

Chang Wei scanned the area and laughed heartily, his martial spirit fully displayed. He said, "Your Highness, this subordinate has never fought such a satisfying battle before. These are the Northern Di who make the imperial court turn pale at the mention of their name, yet they fell right here in Yan Commandery."

Lv Chang was somewhat resentful, "At the time, this subordinate shouldn't have gone to Wuan County and missed this beautiful battle in Yancheng."

Chen Hu was even more aggrieved, "You being in Wuan County is one thing, but I was in Yancheng and didn't have the chance to kill a few Northern Di either."

Because Chen Hu's Cavalry were treasures, Chen Hu's Cavalry did not move out during the Battle of Yancheng that night.

They only went into battle later when pursuing and suppressing deserters.

The two looked at each other and both smiled helplessly.

Zhao Xu laughed, "You two are not bad either; working together to capture Kutu and his three men is also a great achievement."

Chen Hu and Lv Chang shook their heads, "Your Highness, it wasn't like that..."

They recounted how Sun Qiang cleverly captured Kutu.

"Not bad, not bad." Zhao Xu nodded; he had to admit that these six Cavalry were all men of courage, "Have the six of them come over."

Chang Wei immediately had someone bring Sun Qiang and the other five over.

"Greetings, Your Highness." The six soldiers arrived and bowed to Zhao Xu.

Chang Wei introduced them, "This is Sun Qiang, this is Li Dou, this is Yu Fang, this is Zheng Mian, this is Leng Qiu, and this is Dian Shang."

"All rise," Zhao Xu said to the six men.

Today's banquet was meant for rewarding and conferring honors based on merit.

Punish those who transgress, reward those who achieve; only in this way can the military spirit be rectified.

"By capturing Kutu, you six have performed a great service. Today, this Prince promotes you all to General Flag, and each of you is rewarded with one thousand taels of silver and ten mu of fertile land."

In the army, ten men form a squad led by a squad leader, fifty men form a Small Banner led by a Small Banner leader, and one hundred men are led by one General Flag.

Now, this was equivalent to promoting them three ranks at once.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Upon hearing this, the six men trembled with joy.

The other soldiers felt their blood racing with envy.