Following Du Qi's order, Du Qi's party entered the city. After the group of people entered the city, the high-ranking officers led the soldiers to settle down in the army camp, while Du Qi led Ma Yuan, Huang Shi, Zhu Youtian, Ye Daosheng, and the other people from the county government back to the Ping Xi Wang Mansion.
A banquet had been prepared in the mansion.
As soon as Du Qi returned, the banquet began. All kinds of wine, meat, and dishes were served and placed in front of each person. However, the dishes at this time were mainly braised meat and soup pots, because they wouldn't get cold easily.
Cooking was like cooking on a hot day, but it would get cold easily.
Du Qi raised his wine goblet and toasted Ma Yuan, saying, "Everyone, this first cup of wine is for Ma Yuan. Because of Ma Yuan's planning and strategy, because of Ma Yuan's bold actions, this battle was completed smoothly. Because of this, the tens of thousands of people in Fulu County were no longer threatened by bandits. Come, let's toast to Ma Yuan. "
Everyone stood up and toasted Ma Yuan.
Facing this scene, Ma Yuan didn't say anything. He stood up and raised his wine goblet to return the toast.
Then, Ma Yuan turned to Du Qi and said, "Your Highness, this humble one was able to achieve victory and achieve some results because of Your Highness's fame. It was because of Your Highness's fame that this matter was resolved. "
Ma Yuan understood that although he had a certain contribution, it was mainly because of Du Qi's influence that he was able to persuade Zhu Youtian to surrender. If Ma Yuan didn't have Du Qi's support, it would have been very difficult for him to persuade Zhu Youtian. Moreover, Ma Yuan couldn't have solved the problem of Fulu County in such a short time.
Du Qi was very satisfied with Ma Yuan's humility. He had made a great contribution, yet he was neither servile nor overbearing, neither arrogant nor rash.
This was a good thing.
If Ma Yuan became arrogant after achieving his goal, even if he had the ability, it would be difficult for him to establish a foothold under Du Qi's command. After Du Qi toasted, everyone toasted Ma Yuan, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up.
After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Du Qi's gaze fell on Zhu Youtian. He said, "Zhu Youtian, you are now under Ma Yuan's command. Listen to his orders."
"This subordinate obeys!"
Zhu Youtian immediately agreed.
He had no objections to this. After all, Ma Yuan was his son-in-law. Moreover, Zhu Youtian knew that Ma Yuan was outstanding in both martial arts and military strategy.
Zhu Youtian was under the command of his son-in-law and did not feel that there was anything wrong with it.
Du Qi's gaze landed on Huang Shi as he said, "Huang Shi, I know that you contributed greatly to Fulu County's scheme this time. If you hadn't assassinated the bandit leader of Fulu County, causing the bandits of Fulu County to kill each other, even if you could defeat many of them, you wouldn't have been able to achieve victory so easily. If we win this battle, I'll give you a share of the credit. "
Huang Shi said modestly, "Your Highness, this subordinate was only carrying out a mission. I dare not claim credit."
He was only skilled in martial arts and acted according to Ma Yuan's plan. Therefore, he was extremely humble. Moreover, he would not steal Ma Yuan's credit. This was not in line with Huang Shi's character.
Du Qi said, "If it's your credit, it's yours. This prince will reward those who have done well and punish those who have done wrong. Your contributions will be recorded in the book of contributions. "
"Your Highness is wise!"
Ma Yuan, Zhu Youtian, and the others all said in unison.
After praising everyone, Du Qi changed the topic and talked about the expansion of the army. This expansion increased the troops under Xue Rengui, Ma Yuan, and Xiao Yuanqi to a thousand men each.
Although it was only an increase of two hundred compared to the original eight hundred, there was a huge change in strength.
Xue Rengui and Xiao Yuanqi were naturally delighted.
They were originally in charge of eight hundred elites. Now, after a short period of training, especially after going through a battle, the combat strength of the soldiers had increased.
It was great that they could recruit more soldiers. Ma Yuan sat below. When he heard Du Qi's words, he was also relieved. He had more than nine hundred and eighty men under his command. This number was definitely not enough for the original eight hundred.
Now that there were two hundred more people, it was just enough.
The banquet continued, and the atmosphere at the banquet was very lively. This banquet lasted until late at night. Although the guests and the host drank to their heart's content, no one drank until they were dead drunk. Everyone left satisfied.
After this incident, everyone under Du Qi's command had a deeper interaction with each other.
They were closer to each other.
The next day, early morning.
Early in the morning, Du Qi got up and began to busy himself. At this time, Liu Zhengxi and Huang Shi came in together. Du Qi had talked about the Best Tower. Now that Huang Shi was back, he had to deal with it.
Liu Zhengxi said, "Your Highness, Huang Shi is here."
Du Qi nodded. He looked at Huang Shi and said, "Huang Shi, it's about the Best Tower. My plan is to meet the Pavilion Master of the Number One Under Heaven Tower. I asked Liu Zhengxi to make an appointment, but the Tower Master refused to see me. There was no news. So now, go to the Best Tower in Jiuquan County on behalf of me. Tell the Tower Master that I want to meet him. "
Huang Shi's mind moved quickly.
Du Qi had already made an appointment with the Tower Master of the Best Tower, but the Tower Master refused to see him.
Especially since the Best Tower had offered a bounty to assassinate Du Qi.
It was obvious that they were ignoring Du Qi.
Huang Shi said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, I'm going to meet the Tower Master of the Best Tower. If the appointment fails, does it mean that Your Highness will deal with the Best Tower? "
Du Qi's eyes were sharp. He said in a deep voice, "If the Best Tower in Jiuquan County and even Suzhou can't be used by me and listen to my orders, then I'll destroy the Best Tower in Jiuquan County. If that's the case, then I'll uproot the Best Tower. Especially the Tower Master of the Best Tower. He's avoiding me because of his status. I won't allow this to happen. "
Huang Shi nodded and said, "Your Highness, I understand."
Du Qi said, "Go. I'll wait for your good news. I hope the Best Tower knows what's good for them. If they don't listen to my orders, then there will be a massacre in Jiuquan County. "
"Yes!"
Huang Shi immediately agreed.
Huang Shi didn't stay. He turned and left.
After Huang Shi left, Du Qi looked at Liu Zhengxi and said, "Mr. Liu, what do you think are the chances of Huang Shi convincing the Tower Master of the Best Tower?"
Liu Zhengxi said, "I don't think there's more than a forty percent chance of success. If the Tower Master of the First Under Heaven Tower is a sensible person, he wouldn't have refused Your Highness' request to meet him."
Du Qi nodded and said, "That's what I mean."
At this point, Du Qi's eyes flashed with coldness. He said, "Since things have come to this, then we have to prepare for the worst. You've already figured out the Best Tower's strongholds, right? "
Liu Zhengxi said, "I've already figured out the strongholds in Jiuquan County."
Du Qi said, "Get ready. If the Best Tower doesn't cooperate, then the next step will be to take down the Best Tower. If they can't be used by me, then we'll eliminate them completely. "
"I understand!"
Liu Zhengxi replied solemnly.
On this point, they had already made arrangements beforehand.
It was extremely easy to give the order now.
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