With a chest full of fury, he said to Cheng Yaojin beside him.
Go! See who is so reckless and offensive!
Cheng Yaojin did not go out.
He walked to the door, took only a glance through the crack, and saw Hou Junji.
Hou Junji was utterly bewildered!
After these people had gone inside, they had actually bolted the door from the inside!
There was a stench of chicken droppings outside.
The discomfort he had just suppressed from motion sickness was aggravated by this smell.
Instantly, he was once again overcome with nausea.
He started to bend over and vomit profusely.
Cheng Yaojin shook his head and walked back.
Reporting to Your Majesty, it is Hou Junji. For some reason, he is still vomiting.
Li Shimin looked at Fang Er.
His meaning was clear: didn't you just say he would stop vomiting after a while?
How many "whiles" have passed?
He's still vomiting?
Fang Er smiled and said.
It's probably that the Duke of Lu cannot stand the smell of chicken droppings outside.
Li Shimin was very displeased.
His anticipation of a prosperous era of myriad nations coming to court and peace across the land had been interrupted by this vomiting sound.
He was quite vexed!
Send him a message: unable to tolerate mere chicken droppings, I decree that he shall not eat chicken for the rest of his life!
Well, that is harsh!
What were the main meats consumed in this era?
Pork, lamb, chicken, duck, goose; besides these, there were only wild game.
For pork, these people of high status would naturally not eat it.
Lamb was also not cheap.
Raising ducks and geese required access to water sources, so due to geographical reasons, there were few such farms in Guanzhong.
Thus, what could be eaten frequently was chicken.
This time, Hou Junji would be miserable!
Hehehe, Fang Er chuckled incessantly in his heart.
Chickens had been seen, and sweet potatoes had been planted.
The carriages had also been ridden.
Li Shimin directly requested to return to the palace for a celebration!
When the group, riding in carriages again, returned to the Taiji Palace.
The congratulatory feast was already prepared.
After Li Shimin sat at the head seat, he gestured to the small tables below and said to everyone.
Please be seated.
The Dukes bowed their heads in unison.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Then, they took their seats according to their rank and civil and military status.
Fang Er's seat was next to Cheng Yaojin.
He was curious about this individually served meal system, having never encountered it in the Great Tang.
As soon as they sat down, eunuchs began serving dishes.
Steamed lamb
Steamed bear paw
Steamed deer tail
Roast duck
Four meat dishes in a row, followed by four vegetable dishes.
Fang Er was greatly surprised!
Wasn't it said that Li Shimin was very frugal? Where could one see frugality here?
Cheng Yaojin nudged him from the side.
His Majesty has really spared no expense this time. I, this old Cheng, haven't seen him this generous in many years.
Alright.
This also resolved Fang Er's confusion.
As soon as the dishes were served.
Li Shimin raised his wine cup.
Everyone, the northern campaign has essentially concluded.
Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje have all been incorporated into the territory of our Great Tang by the Earl of Liaodong.
This war! has showcased the might of our Great Tang army, sufficient to deter those surrounding small nations.
Therefore, this first cup of wine is to the Earl of Liaodong and Zhijie! Everyone, drink this cup together!
As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking.
Li Jing, taking the lead, raised his wine cup towards Fang Er and Cheng Yaojin.
To the Earl of Liaodong, to Zhijie!
Everyone else also toasted the two of them.
Cheng Yaojin quickly stood up, and Fang Er followed suit.
Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, esteemed Dukes.
Then the two of them drank it all down.
After everyone had finished their wine.
The eunuchs behind each person quickly refilled their cups.
Li Shimin cleared his throat and continued.
The combat effectiveness of the new firearm corps has been fully demonstrated this time.
To forget war is to invite peril, therefore, I have decided to establish another army.
The original new firearm corps shall be bestowed the name "Lie Lu Army" (灭虏军)! Another army shall be established as the "Yang Wei Army" (扬威军)!
I wish that henceforth, these two armies shall be the means by which our Great Tang annihilates barbarians and proclaims its might!
Zhijie, heed the decree.
Cheng Yaojin stood up again.
Li Shimin continued.
For your outstanding achievements in this battle, you are promoted to Duke of Lu, and you shall command the Yang Wei Army!
Cheng Yaojin was overjoyed.
All these old brothers had become Dukes, and now he was finally one of them.
Now that he was also a Duke, hehe, his back would finally be straight.
He quickly expressed his gratitude.
Your subject thanks Your Majesty.
Since the original new firearm corps was merely an experiment, it did not have a true commander.
It was merely supervised and trained by Li Jing.
Therefore, Li Shimin spoke again.
Chai Shao, heed the decree.
Chai Shao was surprised, hmm, I, old Chai, am also involved?
He quickly stood up and looked at Li Shimin.
Chai Shao also has extraordinary achievements. You are ordered to command the Lie Lu Army, and your official title is elevated by three ranks!
Chai Shao quickly expressed his gratitude.
As for why Chai Wei was promoted instead of Chai Shao.
There was a reason for this.
Chai Shao was already a Duke, and to promote him further would make him a Prince.
Although princes in the Tang dynasty were not highly valued, they were not conferred without reason.
With his Duke's title, having accompanied Fang Er on this expedition, a prince's title would certainly not suffice.
But he could not be left unrewarded. The Lie Lu Army was an appointment of duty, not a reward.
Therefore, this reward fell upon Chai Wei.
Everyone present understood, so no one said anything.
As for Chai Shao himself.
He had even fewer objections.
With such a monstrous son-in-law, why worry about not earning military merits?
As if!
I'll instigate him to go conquer the Turks later!
Hehehehe!
As Chai Shao took his seat.
Li Shimin's gaze fell upon Fang Er.
Fang Anzhi, heed the decree.
Fang Er also stood up, cocking his ears, listening to Li Shimin's words, wanting to see what reward this fellow would bestow upon him.
It's not that I care, but it's for the face of my future wife, isn't it?
Li Shimin took a sip of wine and continued.
For the conquest of three kingdoms! For the opening of new territories!
For the presentation of four crops! For the virtue of saving lives!
Therefore, you are promoted to the noble title of Marquis of Liaodong, conferred the honorary title of Right Protector of the Army, appointed as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and enfeoffed as Grand General of Huaihua! Awarded ten thousand strings of cash!
Fang Er did not quite understand these titles.
However, seeing Cheng Yaojin's surprised gaze.
Clearly, these titles were quite significant.
So, he spoke very plainly: Thank you, Your Majesty.
Li Er nodded, signaling him to sit down and talk.
Then, he raised his cup again.
Therefore, this third cup of wine is to our Duke of Lu, Marquis of Liaodong, and Duke of Qiao!
Everyone raised their cups again, looking at the three with salutations.
With this, the official business was concluded.
What remained was a time for boisterous talk among a group of rough men.
They would compete in bragging, drinking capacity, and martial arts.
Even Cheng Yaojin, after half a jar of wine, set his sights on Niu Jinda.
Hey! Old Niu! Come on, let's spar a bit, to liven things up for His Majesty and all our brothers, do you dare?
Li Shimin was clearly accustomed to such things.
He merely stroked his beard, watching them with a smile.
These rough fellows!
If they are not beaten for three days, they will tear down the roof tiles.
It was good for them to expend their energy!
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