This welco banquet, if not for Qin Bohan’s inability to hold on, pretending to be overwheld by the alcohol, would not have allowed him to escape, with Song Chongjin half-supporting him to go back and rest.
The others, the military officers, rarely had such an opportunity to drink heartily and all declared they wouldn’t leave until they were drunk.
Moreover, they had been drinking for half a day and were already sowhat tipsy, grabbing a few who they usually didn’t get along with, trying to drink them under the table.
As for the mbers of the negotiating team, so couldn’t hold on and begged to retire early.
There were also those who had already been drunk, collapsed on the table, oblivious to their surroundings, or holding a wine jar, swaying and reciting poetry, shouting about going out to enjoy the snow.
The personal soldiers attending nearby almost rolled their eyes to the sky; in this weather, going out to enjoy the snow? Has their brain gone astray? Won’t they lose half their life to frostbite?
After so coaxing and dragging, these officials were taken away and thrown back to their rooms.
Whoever remained standing here, were basically the heroes who could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk.
Song Chongjin knew that although most of the military officers were present today, a few familiar ones, those on duty today, hadn’t shown up.
Just from that, it was clear General Chen had not lost himself; the external defenses of the camp were still properly arranged.
At this critical mont, if anything went wrong, all prior efforts might go to waste.
He gave a few instructions, having his subordinates take so of the untouched stew from the pot to those on duty, also sending word that he knew they had worked hard today, but now was a crucial ti and no room for laxity. Once their shift ended, he would treat them to a good drink.
Song Chongjin had a separate supply given by Wang Yongzhu, plenty of fine wines of various kinds, which the military officers in the army all coveted.
However, as Song Chongjin had uses for this wine, they felt embarrassed to ask for it.
Now that his subordinates spoke this way, those on duty, even if they had a little grudge for not attending the welco banquet, felt it dissipate.
They patted their chests and promised fully, assuring Lord Song that with their brothers around, not even a fly could fly into the camp, and any movents from the grasslands’ side wouldn’t escape their eyes.
Only then did Song Chongjin feel slightly at ease, but he still instructed his n to be more alert at night.
Even though the wine Qin Bohan drank was replaced, after being toasted by so many people in succession, he still felt a little tipsy.
Whether because he felt safe in the military camp or because he sensed his ntor’s grievances would soon be washed away, he rarely relaxed, falling asleep on the heated platform.
He even had a dream, seeing his ntor, always gentle, elegantly and kindly looking at him, nodding approvingly, and then gracefully drifting away.
Waking up from the dream, Qin Bohan felt refreshed, the burden weighing on his heart for decades finally loosened a bit.
Opening his eyes, he found the room quiet and peaceful, with no sign of Song Chongjin.
Outside, the sky was already bright, and he could hear the shouts of military exercises from the camp’s soldiers.
Qin Bohan got up, and the guard at the door, hearing movent inside, opened the door shortly after, bringing in hot water and hot food.
After Qin Bohan finished washing up, Song Chongjin returned.
With a slightly grave expression, he saluted Qin Bohan before sitting down and informing him about the news received from scouts that morning.
He ntioned that there had been movents from the grasslands last night too, that soone of importance seed to have co from the Grasslands Royal Capital, causing disturbances there till late at night.
Early that morning, soone from the grasslands side ca to deliver a ssage, saying that negotiations would start as soon as the snow stopped.
Both Song Chongjin and Qin Bohan knew that the grasslands side couldn’t wait any longer; they exchanged glances, their expressions growing solemn.
Qin Bohan spoke in a still calm tone: "We will face the soldiers as they co, the flood as it appears, so be it; the sooner we et them, the sooner I can gauge the situation. If soone capable of making decisions from the grasslands is here, their intentions will likely be revealed, saving us from wild guesses."
Song Chongjin nodded: "Since that’s the case, I will organize the docunts again, and you can get familiar with them today, Lord."
With that, he moved the organized docunts and papers in front of Qin Bohan.
The docunts were detailed, recording the negotiation day by day, the content of the talks, and any agreents reached, all noted clearly.
Upon skimming through them, he imdiately grasped the negotiation process clearly.
Qin Bohan’s eyes lit up; without other words, the negotiation records were refreshing.
If this thod could be used in regular office work, it would indeed save a lot of effort.
Otherwise, following the forr thods, trying to retrieve a file or sothing would be exhausting.
But now was not the ti to discuss this, so Qin Bohan kept this in mind, pointing to a few detailed parts to inquire further, realizing that Song Chongjin’s clear and coherent responses showed he had personally experienced these negotiations without any negligence.
This naturally gratified him, the more he looked at Song Chongjin, the more he liked him.
Since Qin Bohan was about to participate in the negotiations for the first ti, several arrangents, including the specifications of his outing, needed adjustnts.
Such tasks naturally fell to Song Chongjin for arrangent and communication.
Once Song Chongjin was busy, Qin Bohan’s personal attendant ca in to serve him.
Seeing Qin Bohan’s rare relaxed deanor, he was taken aback; having followed Qin Bohan for years, from his early rise to his trusted position now, he knew his master’s usual stern, unapproachable nature both on court and in daily life.
Yet sohow, this Heir of Duke Weiguo had caught his master’s favor.
Just a few years ago, when this heir had only just been acknowledged, he had already received Qin Bohan’s personal attention and guidance.
Now Qin Bohan even appeared happier seeing Lord Song than his real sons.
If not for knowing that his master was always upright, this attendant might have suspected that Lord Song was his master’s long-lost son.
This long-ti confidant, seeing Qin Bohan so unusually light-hearted, hesitated for a mont before saying, "Young Lord Song handles affairs decisively, cautiously more like our master than the young masters in our house."
Qin Bohan chuckled at first then glanced at his attendant, saying lightly, "You’ve been with for many years, mature in handling affairs. Don’t, as you age, say the wrong things, do the wrong things, choose the wrong side, and lose a lifeti of dignity."
The attendant tensed up, imdiately quieted down, and bowed his head: "Yes, I understand, master!"
Qin Bohan secretly sighed, for so reason, feeling envious of Song Hong far away in the Capital City.
Indeed, people lead different lives; soone like Song Hong, who abandoned wife and son, despite having several unaccomplished sons, still was favored by fate to have soone like Song Chongjin inherit the family business.
Qin Bohan’s first half of life was solitary; finally gaining success and reaching prominence in the latter half, he didn’t forget past kindness, marrying a girl from a common family who helped him back then, yet his children were not exceptionally gifted. No matter how diligently he taught them or how many resources he poured into them, it was only the year before that his eldest barely passed the imperial exam.
How many people mocked this behind his back?
What could he do as a father? He could only strive in the court to build good relationships, ensuring that even when he retired, he could leave so connections for his sons to have a smoother path.
His favorable treatnt towards Song Chongjin was partly due to gratitude towards the Grand Scholar Qi and partly because he could see that Song Chongjin was not a common man.
Making positive moves now, the day Song Chongjin achieves great success, especially in light of today’s kindness, may ensure that his children, as long as they make no big mistakes, could safely and peacefully get through life.
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