The army retreated at the earliest opportunity, very quickly.

Gou Xi was among the first to evacuate, but he still returned to Yanzhou and sent his brother Gou Chun with more than ten thousand troops to march eastward to Qingzhou in an attempt to suppress Wang Mi.

Liu Yu withdrew on the fifth day of the ninth lunar month, and soldiers from all counties returned to their respective counties. Ding Zhuang from Sizhou returned to his hometown one after another.

Shao Xun was the last to leave.

Big cars and small cars, big and small bags, it's like moving.

Someone saw it and ridiculed him for being greedy for money, because he wanted everything - earthenware pots for eating and drinking, and porcelain were all shipped away.

When passing by Jijun, I had a chat with the prefect Yu Chen.

Yu Chen's attitude improved a lot. He looked at Shao Xun's appearance many times during the conversation, but he didn't know why.

At the end of September, Luoyang is already in sight.

The Silver Spear Army and the Yamen Army were stationed outside Daxia Gate in the north of the city. Shao Xun personally led more than a hundred soldiers inside.

After a long time, I was filled with emotion when I saw Jinyong City and Daxiamen again.

On September 30th, the emperor summoned him and Shao Xun hurriedly entered the palace.

This time the occasion of the audience was more casual. The emperor hosted a banquet on the Hualin Garden boat to entertain the ministers.

When he heard the sound of silk and bamboo, Shao Xun suddenly remembered that the emperor had rewarded his female singer again.

Apart from Lan Ji, there are seven others.

He had seen the first few, and one of them was prettier than Lan Ji, but he couldn't arouse much interest. He thought about marrying them to meritorious soldiers in a few days. It would be good for them, and it would be good for the soldiers.

"General Shao, this way." Wang Yan, the Emperor's uncle and regular attendant of the Disciplined Cavalry, waved from a distance and disembarked from the boat to greet him personally.

"Wang Sanqi is polite."

"General, there is no need to be polite."

After greeting each other, the two got on the cruise ship one after another.

The sound of silk and bamboo in the cabin is even more melodious, and there is also the graceful figure of the dancer, occasionally mixed with the laughter of men.

"Your Majesty, Shao Xun." This time, without armor and no reason, Shao Xun could only prostrate himself to the ground.

Well, the scene seemed familiar. From the corner of his eye, Shao Xun caught another glimpse of the gorgeous skirt in front of him.

These gorgeous, noble, majestic and beautiful long dresses had a fatal attraction for him.

"Queen, get up quickly and tell me about the battle of Feixiang." Emperor Sima Chi had already drank a lot. When he saw Shao Xun, he laughed heartily.

Someone from the palace led Shao Xun to a certain case.

After Shao Xun sat down, he said: "Your Majesty, the victory of Feixiang was due to the emperor's great kindness. The soldiers served their lives well, and I really dare not take the credit."

Sima Chi held the white jade wine glass and smiled at each other.

"Why should a prince be humble in front of the emperor? Are he worried about not being rewarded?" Wang Yan pretended to laugh boldly.

To be honest, Shao Xun didn't find anything funny.

However, the emperor obviously wanted to know the inside story, and Empress Liang also looked at him curiously. Shao Xun's old habit of high-quality men showed up, and he couldn't help but show off, so he told the inside story in detail.

After a long time, everyone's attention was attracted. Even the female musician who was playing glanced at him from time to time, and the dancer was also a little distracted.

"Ride alone, charge into the formation, seize the medal and return, then command with determination, and defeat the bandit army. Although a famous general in ancient times, he is nothing more than this." The emperor sighed, picked up the wine glass, and said: "To defeat the bandits in Feixiang, drink to the full."

This cup."

"Drink this cup to the full." Everyone raised their glasses and drank together.

Only then did Shao Xun have time to look at everyone in the cabin.

I have seen most of them, and I can even call out their names and official positions one by one. After all, being a general in the palace is not for nothing.

Some people toasted to him, such as Shangshu Zuopu shot Liu Tun.

There are also people who turn a blind eye to him, such as Shangshu's right servant who shot Xun Fan.

Generally speaking, these royalists were quite friendly towards him, and their intention to win over him was very obvious.

"Shao Qing is so talented, it is really a blessing for the country." The emperor put down his wine glass and said with a smile: "Tell me, what reward do you want?"

"I've already been rewarded for my previous achievements, but I haven't accomplished any new ones, so I really don't dare to ask for rewards," Shao Xun said.

It's not that you can't take the emperor's reward, you can give it secretly, but this is a public occasion, and if you take it, you will obviously stand in line, and he won't do that.

After hearing this, Sima Chi's expression did not change. He smiled at Wang Yan and others and said, "How can it be that Shao Qing has achieved this without a reason? He has been firm in his ways and has behaved correctly. I can see it now."

Wang Yan, Gao Guang, Liu Tun and others said yes one after another, talking and laughing at Yan Yan.

The normal banquet lasted until dusk, before Shao Xun had the opportunity to retire.

The person who opened the door for him was Miao Yuan, the general in the palace.

"The prince is now the most popular person." Miao Yuan felt a little sour, but also a little happy. After all, they were in trouble together.

Shao Xun chatted with him for a while outside the palace city.

"In a few days, gather together the old brothers who killed Zhang Fang and went to Guanzhong to have a drink." Shao Xun took Miao Yuan's hand and said.

Miao Yuan's eyes lit up and he immediately smiled and said: "This is easy to hear. Everyone has already said that we would get together."

Shao Xun nodded and asked: "What do the various branches of the Forbidden Army look like now?"

"The Tutor has recruited many people, but they are fighting for power and greed for money and food, so no one cares about the performance." Miao Yuan sighed and said.

It's almost the same as what I know.

Shao Xun frowned, as expected, any troops would be in trouble if they were left in Sima Yue's hands.

When the Forbidden Army only had 20,000 people, he was in charge of a quarter of it, strictly trained and drilled regularly.

When it expanded to more than 30,000 people, the training was considered normal. After absorbing a large number of veterans from the defeated Chinese army, it was even able to pull out a few high-quality troops to fight tough battles.

There are currently more than 50,000 Imperial Guards, close to 60,000, but they have been beaten beyond recognition.

Logically speaking, as the Forbidden Army has been established for a longer period of time, with strict management and normal training, its combat effectiveness will gradually increase. However, the reality is that it is internally divided and the military's morale is disorganized.

Shao Xun had heard complaints from Yang Bao and others before, and Mi Huang, who served as the Sili Colonel in Beijing, had also mentioned it. After seeing Miao Yuan today and having a conversation, it was basically confirmed.

If we continue like this, what will we do to defend Luoyang in the future?

Luoyang is not safe, and his family business in Liang County and Guangchengze area is also in danger - to put it harshly, Luoyang is Shao's shield, and he does not want this shield to be broken soon.

****

After staying in Shao Mansion for one night, he was about to go out to buy gifts and visit Cao Fu, Mi Huang and others respectively when Tang Jian came to report that King Yan of Sikong had invited a banquet.

Shao Xun hesitated and agreed.

There are so many popular people, so he sighed in a pretentious manner while rushing to the venue.

Before, he would never have anything to do with these people. His life was just monotonous training and fighting.

Every day when I open my eyes, I see the smelly feet of the soldiers.

As soon as I closed my eyes, I heard the sound of the sergeants grinding their teeth.

It's as if his world is missing a big chunk compared to others.

It's different now.

The banquet was held at a farmyard outside the city, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with pleasant scenery.

When he arrived, the palace servants led him into the courtyard, where he saw a group of old and young chatting.

Wang Yan waved his hand to signal everyone not to talk mysteriously, and then introduced them one by one.

Wang Han and Wang Chuhong were the sons of Wang Ji, the censor and censor.

Needless to say, there is no need to say more about Wang Dun and Wang Chuzhong. I have met Shao Xun several times. He is easy-going on the outside but not on the inside.

Wang Han and Wang Dun were both sons of Wang Ji, and their mother was from the Taiyang clan.

There are also Wang Shu, Wang Chuming, Wang Sui and Wang Chuzhong, the sons of Wang Hui, the imperial censor.

Shao Xun greeted these young masters one by one and observed them silently.

He didn't know Wang Han well, but based on his appearance and temperament, and after listening to a few words, he initially felt that he was similar in temperament to his younger brother Wang Dun. He was broad-minded on the outside and taboo on the inside, cold-hearted, and even a bit cruel.

Well, Wang Dun was already looking at him, with a bad look in his eyes.

Shao Xun was stunned and subconsciously fiddled with the dried dates in his hand. Wang Dun's eyes became even more unkind.

What's wrong with the dried dates? What's wrong with you?

Shao Xun picked up one, stuffed it into his mouth and chewed it.

Wang Yan patted Wang Dun's hand gently, and then said: "You are twenty years old, do you have a name for me?"

"No." Shao Xun said.

The cousin's name is usually given by an elder or a master, but Shao Xun has not had the opportunity yet.

He thought about it yesterday and planned to ask Cao Fu to choose a name for him to further deepen the relationship between the two parties.
To be continued...