The Yun family was hosting a grand banquet for guests today. As for who the guests were, it didn’t matter. From Prince Wei above to pork vendors on the street below, as long as they came with smiling faces, they could enter.

Old Qian’s mouth hadn’t closed since yesterday. He personally stood at the府gate welcoming guests, smiling like a Maitreya Buddha.

Today’s banquet was the Yun family’s largest scale in over a year. They didn’t dare trouble the Madam with worry. Old Qian and Old Zhao believed they could handle such an occasion perfectly.

There weren’t enough servants at home, so all the shop assistants from Chang’an City shops were recalled. What business was there to conduct at this time? No matter how big the business, it couldn’t compare to the Marquis slaying one hundred thousand strong enemies in battle at Kucha.

Military families sought exactly this. The family’s honor and status were all dyed red with enemy blood. The more enemies killed, the more glorious the family gate. Moreover, His Majesty had even sent someone today to deliver a pair of jade ruyi scepters as commendation.

This was a rare honor. Jade ruyi were generally only bestowed upon civil officials, representing trust and auspiciousness. The Marquis was a military general—to receive two jade ruyi at once meant this was a commendation that came from deeply winning the Emperor’s heart.

Noble guests all entered the garden. Li Tai, Li Xiaogong, Fang Xuanling, Li Gang, Yuanzhang, Yushan, Lishi, and Yuchi Gong were all accompanied by the white-haired old grandmother in conversation. Liu Hongji had lost his noble title, so at the Yun family he was actually the most comfortable one. Calling himself “old man” with every sentence made Yuchi Gong want to throw him out.

“Ha ha ha, the military report actually mentioned this old man’s unfilial son. Although he lost an arm, I heard he actually improved a great deal. Ha ha ha, if I’d known it would be like this, there was no need for the Turks to remove his arm—this old man would have done it himself long ago.”

Li Tai had finally irrepressibly become a fat man. He smiled and said to Liu Hongji: “Uncle Liu has really brought honor among the elders this time. Before Marquis Yun arrived at Beiting, Brother Zhengwu had the merit of forcefully defending Zhuo City without loss. This time, he even slew the second prince of Xueyantuo in battle. After the army returns, conferring official posts and offering noble titles will naturally be no problem. Qing Que congratulates Uncle Liu in advance.”

Liu Hongji laughed even more happily, slapping his bottom and saying: “This old man was somewhat greedy for wealth, and as a result lost his noble title. When I went to the Yuchi family to ask for a cup of wine, I was thrown out by them. Fortunately, the young pup争气. Yuchi, from now on I’m the father of a noble. Going to your house to drink with such status, I won’t be thrown out again, will I?”

Yuchi Gong laughed and cursed: “This old dog’s mouth never utters human words. You got drunk at my house and acted crazy, shouting and calling to wrestle with this old man, even saying that if we didn’t get real, you’d be dog-birthed. You were thrown down eating shit and lost two teeth. How did it become that I threw you out the gate?”

Everyone laughed heartily. Old Grandmother smiled and said: “My foolish grandson achieved great victory this time. Although he rendered merit to the country, the killing was perhaps a bit excessive. This old body must recite the ‘往生经’ several more times to help them transcend.”

Li Xiaogong responded: “Old Madam doesn’t know—those who die in battle on the battlefield, we call them battle souls. After death, they also become divine soldiers and ghost generals, not walking the path of ordinary people. I’m afraid they cannot receive Old Madam’s kind intentions.”

“Moreover, these people surrounded and killed twenty thousand of our Great Tang warriors at Kucha. How can such vengeance and hatred not be avenged? This old man has read Marquis Yun’s memorial. Guo Xiaoke was fierce and brave, dying with eyes wide open. Zhang Tingyue, his whole body aflame, still fought vigorously without rest. The arrowheads extracted from the Wuli司马’s body filled half a peck measure. Did the Turks ever show them half a bit of mercy? In this old man’s view, we killed too few.”

Du Ruhui waved his hand and said: “Prince of Hejiang, these words are mistaken. We indeed have deep hatred like the sea with the Turks, but as the empire’s decision-makers, we still need to have a long-term plan. Now Marquis Yun is preparing to use the camel city as a barrier to pressure the Turks step by step into western征, driving all these calamities to the extreme western lands. In this way, our Great Tang can naturally maintain stability for a hundred-plus years. Hatred cannot be argued about. We and the Turks have long had blood feuds everywhere, impossible to resolve. As long as people don’t die in the future, that’s already great fortune.”

“善哉, 善哉, this old woman doesn’t understand court politics. I always feel that fewer deaths is always better.”

“Old Madam’s kind heart is everywhere and will certainly bless our Great Tang children to return safely. Since today is a victory banquet, let’s not discuss what’s right or wrong. Celebrating for our Great Tang warriors is the important matter. Come, gentlemen, drink to victory!”

When Li Gang spoke, everyone stopped discussing and raised their wine cups together to drink. Li Tai occasionally told jokes from the past about himself, Yun Ye, and others. The banquet atmosphere immediately became warm and harmonious.

Yun Shou was so excited his whole body trembled. Helan held his arm, always worried he would rush out. Today was a big day for the family—they absolutely couldn’t cause trouble. Even if Prince Hejiang’s grandson was a bit detestable, he couldn’t go out and beat him up.

“I wasn’t thinking of beating him up. Li Cheng just has a foul mouth, but there’s nothing really wrong with that.”

“Then why are you wearing the master’s armor and carrying a blade?”

“What do you know? I’m a tiger cub from a military family. Today is my father’s victory banquet for slaying one hundred thousand bandits in battle. Naturally, I won’t go cause trouble. Putting on the armor is just for show, to let my mother see.”

Only then did Helan release Yun Shou’s arm and helped him tighten the armor silk cord. This set of armor was what Yun Ye had worn when in Longxi. It weighed over thirty jin. After Yun Shou put it on, he jumped around a few times, quite satisfied. He just felt the helmet was a bit light—not as imposing as wearing Old Cheng family’s Guangming Armor.

“Oh heavens, this old servant almost thought the Marquis had returned. You and the Marquis wearing this armor are equally valiant. Young Master, this armor is beautiful, but it can’t compare to our family’s black armor. You should know that’s the good stuff—on the market, it’s difficult to obtain even with ten thousand gold.”

Old Zhao was responsible for looking after the inner residence today. Suddenly seeing Yun Shou wearing the Marquis’s armor, he immediately bloomed with smiles. Looking left and right, he felt something was missing. After slapping his head twice, he finally remembered what was missing.

Red headband, plus red cape. Once the Marquis entered the army, he was a general. How could this work without these colorful things as contrast? He took Yun Shou back to the room where armor was stored and helped him tie on the red headband and put on the bright red cloak. A valiant young general appeared before his eyes. Except for being a bit fat, the eldest young master was the spitting image of the Marquis from years past.

Xinyue was in the inner residence accompanying various noble ladies in drinking and merry-making. Yesterday, Old Qian’s shout had completely restored her soul. Great Victory at Kucha, slaying one hundred thousand in battle—with these words, it was more effective than any miraculous elixir or medicine.

Previously, whether it was Wei Zheng’s words, Xiao Wu’s words, Old Qin’s words, Old Cheng’s words, or even Old Niu’s words, none could put her at ease. Now hearing the news of her husband’s great victory, she could finally live her days with peace of mind.

No matter how reasonable those people’s words were, they couldn’t compare to that one vulgar sentence in her husband’s letter: “Worried about what? Live your days well. Once I drive the Western Regions people away, I’ll come home. Na Rimu is about to give birth. With no place to vent fire, when I get back, I’ll deal with you until you’re half-dead.”

Whenever she thought of these hooligan words, Xinyue felt her whole body heat up. These were exactly the words her husband should say. Great generals conquering万里 abroad are like tigers; when they return home, they should also have wolfish nature. She had heard the old ladies say that great generals kill too many people outside and accumulate excessive hostile energy. Only by returning home and slowly venting through women could they release it, which is why there were so many women in the family.

The thought of finding more women had just arisen when Xinyue viciously snuffed it out. What’s so great about that? She and Lingdang could handle it together…

Having just turned this thought around, while talking with Madam Cheng about various quirks in the family—how Xiao Ya was preparing her dowry and wouldn’t allow her to see some things, how Tianmo Ji was recently training those Persian dancing girls and they could see fragrant and alluring songs and dances in a while, how those four beauties bestowed by the Empress, seeing the Marquis didn’t like them, begged her to matchmake so they could marry into good families—just as she was speaking happily, she suddenly looked up and saw Yun Ye wearing armor walking in from the main gate. Tears flowed out with a whoosh. She had just pitifully called out “husband” when she discovered under the helmet was Yun Shou’s chubby face, with the hat squeezing his flesh until it bulged out.

Madam Cheng, Madam Niu, Madam Qin, the two madams from the Yuchi family, as well as Zhangsun Chong’s princess wife, Cheng Chumo’s princess wife, Xu Jingzong’s wife, and so on—a group of noble ladies immediately laughed so hard they swayed back and forth. Madam Cheng hugged Yun Shou and intimately kissed him on his chubby face, laughing heartily and saying: “This is truly rare—missing your husband to the point of mistaking the person. You must be careful from now on.”

The women’s laughter had just subsided for a moment when, hearing Madam Cheng’s teasing words, they immediately started laughing loudly again. Madam Niu slapped the table saying Madam Cheng was disrespectful in her old age. As for Xinyue, she had long since wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

The old soldiers had been guarding outside the inner residence. Hearing the burst of joyful laughter from the inner residence, they couldn’t help but show smiles on their faces. The Marquis’s battle situation in the front—they had already heard about it from returning household warriors. Their own side’s casualties were very few. Among the war dead, cavalry were the most numerous. In the future, if any sons from the family wanted to become soldiers, it would be best to serve as soldiers on the camel city. First, it was safe; second, promotion was fast; and most importantly, becoming a soldier now required literacy.

As long as the family prospered, the young ones would always have opportunities. At worst, farming at home could still provide a peaceful meal. The Marquis made it clear in his letter that the Yun family had rendered great merit this time. Some people would be jealous. At this time, they must take good care of the family and absolutely must not allow any mishaps.

Old Jiang chuckled and said: “The family head achieved great victory at Kucha, not only sweeping away the Great Tang military’s decline from many days, but also completely reversing the Western Regions situation. The whole world attacking Tang—only the Turks and Tubo were most troublesome. Now two of the strong enemies are gone. It’s time for our Great Tang warriors to greatly display their talents.”

“The family head has established such world-covering meritorious achievements and should naturally receive unprecedented rewards. We attach ourselves to the tail of the thoroughbred and can naturally gallop a thousand li as well. Before the Marquis returns to the capital, the safety of the entire family rests in our hands. Be careful—we cannot allow any mistakes.”

Old Liu shook his big head and said: “No problem. Old Madam’s room, Madam’s room, both young masters’ rooms all have secret passages connected. Within ten steps, old people stand guard. There definitely won’t be any problems. Our hard work these years hasn’t been wasted in vain.”