Chapter 36: The Surprise at the Celebration Banquet

The embers of war finally died out outside Puyang City. After a count, Dian Wei and the others found that in this battle, more than seven thousand Black Mountain Bandits had been killed and over four thousand captured. Except for Bai Rao who escaped, the other leaders of the Black Mountain Bandits had all been caught. And their own casualties were less than a thousand. Such a huge disparity in the casualty ratio was truly a great victory!

That night, the main hall was brightly lit. To celebrate this great victory, Xun Yu specially ordered people to set up a banquet and gather everyone together.

"This time we were able to defeat the Black Mountain Bandits so thoroughly. It was all thanks to General Dian's masterful planning. Let's all raise our glasses and toast to General Dian." Xun Yu said with a smile.

Whether or not someone was giving Dian Wei advice, he was definitely the hero of this great victory! Dian Wei also quickly raised his glass and drank with everyone. After a few glasses of wine, the atmosphere at the banquet became much livelier.

Xun Yu, holding a glass of wine, walked up to Dian Wei and said with a smile, "General Dian, you've worked hard these past few days."

But Dian Wei seemed to have something on his mind. He looked towards the backyard absentmindedly as he said, "County Magistrate Xun, you're being too kind."

Xun Yu noticed this and asked in confusion, "Does General Dian have something on your mind?"

"Well... I suddenly have a stomachache and want to go to the toilet." Dian Wei stammered.

"It's okay. General Dian, please do as you like." Xun Yu waved his hand.

Dian Wei apologized and then walked towards the backyard. Once he left the main hall, he started running like crazy, heading straight for Lin Yu's residence. Before he could even push the door open, he smelled the delicious aroma coming from the yard!

"Big Brother!" Dian Wei quickly pushed the door open and walked in. He saw a table placed in the yard with several dishes on it that Dian Wei had never seen before. The aroma he had smelled just now was coming from these delicious foods!

"Second Brother, you're finally here!" Zhao Yun couldn't help but laugh. "The dishes Big Brother made today smell so good. If it weren't for waiting for you, I would have started eating long ago!"

"Thank you so much, Big Brother!" Dian Wei thanked him and couldn't wait to sit down. After yesterday's great victory, Lin Yu had promised Dian Wei that he would prepare a whole table of delicious dishes by himself. This was why Dian Wei had left Xun Yu and the others in the county behind. After all, enjoying a big meal was the most important thing!

Lin Yu walked out of the house carrying the last dish, Mao Xue Wang (a spicy dish made with blood and offal). Seeing Dian Wei who had already sat down, he couldn't help but laugh. "You're just in time. If you had been a little later, there might not have been any for you."

"Big Brother, please sit down quickly." Dian Wei said impatiently.

"Okay, okay, okay!" Lin Yu smiled and placed the dish on the table. After the three of them were all seated, Lin Yu took out a bottle of Feitian Moutai from his arms.

Looking at the beautiful packaging and the jade-like bottle body, Dian Wei's eyes widened and he couldn't help but swallow. "Big Brother, is this the good wine you mentioned?"

"Yes." Lin Yu smiled and slowly opened the bottle cap and started pouring the wine. "In our hometown, this kind of wine isn't something ordinary people can drink."

This wasn't just empty talk. In later generations, the price of Feitian Moutai had been driven up. Ordinary people wouldn't drink this wine without a reason.

When the clear and transparent white wine was poured into the glasses by Lin Yu, a strange and mellow aroma of the wine instantly spread out! Even Zhao Yun, who didn't usually like drinking much, had a flash of surprise in his eyes. "Big Brother, this wine smells so good!"

"It tastes even better!" Lin Yu smiled and handed two glasses of wine to Dian Wei and Zhao Yun respectively. "Come on, let's drink this glass together to celebrate the great victory!"

The three of them raised their glasses and drank it all in one go. Lin Yu, who had come from later generations and was used to drinking white wine, could naturally handle it. But Dian Wei and Zhao Yun were different. They usually drank low-alcohol wine made from sorghum and millet. They had never drunk such high-alcohol white wine before. Just one glass down, the two of them felt a burning sensation from their throats to their stomachs!

"What a spicy wine!" Dian Wei couldn't help but say.

"Ha ha, compared to Erguotou, this Moutai isn't that spicy." Lin Yu said with a smile. "You have to learn to taste it slowly and let your tongue fully experience it."

Under his guidance, Dian Wei and Zhao Yun raised another glass of wine and started to taste it slowly. This time, the two of them felt that the white wine wasn't as spicy. Instead, it was elegant, delicate, mellow and fragrant, with a feeling of endless aftertaste!

"Good wine!" Zhao Yun couldn't help but praise.

"Big Brother, another glass!" After two glasses, Dian Wei was already a bit tipsy, but he still raised his glass and asked Lin Yu to fill it up.

The three brothers drank wine while tasting the delicious dishes. Before long, even Lin Yu was a bit tipsy. He suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, "Second Brother, did you send someone to report to Duke Cao?"

"Don't worry, Big Brother. I've already sent a letter to Duke Cao according to your request." Dian Wei said with a drunken smile.

"That's good. Come on, keep drinking!" Lin Yu smiled and raised his glass.

However, while the three brothers were drinking merrily here, Xun Yu, who was waiting, was having a hard time. Until late at night, Xun Yu still hadn't been able to wait for Dian Wei to come back!

...

Black Mountain.

Cao Cao walked into the mountain stronghold and saw the empty stockade. His face instantly darkened. Guo Jia, who was following him, said softly, "Lord, we've just sent people to capture a few Black Mountain Bandits. From what they said, the Black Mountain Bandits this time sent out their entire force, intending to capture Dongjun."

Cao Cao's face became even more ugly. If Dongjun was lost, everything would be over!

"Is it still possible to turn back now?" Cao Cao asked in a deep voice.

"I don't know." Guo Jia smiled bitterly. Although Puyang was the seat of a county and the city was strong, after all, there were only three thousand newly recruited soldiers in the city. With just that few people, could they withstand a hundred thousand Black Mountain Bandits? No one was sure.

But Dongjun was the foundation. No matter what, they had to turn back to rescue it!

Cao Cao took a deep breath and turned to look at Xiahou Dun and other major generals following him. "Pass my military order. From now on, pack up your bags and immediately turn back to Dongjun!"

"Yes!" The officers and soldiers all received the order.

But before anyone could start to act, suddenly a rapid sound of horse hooves was heard. Then a warhorse rushed out from a distance. Before it got close, the rider on the horseback shouted loudly, "Lord, General Dian has sent a military report from Puyang!"

Everyone's heart sank. Could it be that Puyang was lost?

Cao Cao was also panicked in his heart, but he forced himself to remain calm and walked forward to take a letter from the messenger. After reading the content of the letter, the gloom on his face instantly disappeared and he couldn't help but laugh. "General Dian... General Dian really didn't let me down!"

Guo Jia, Xiahou Dun and others nearby were all confused, not knowing what had happened to make Cao Cao so excited!

Cao Cao held up the letter and looked at his subordinates, excitedly saying, "General Dian has repelled the Black Mountain Army in Puyang, killed seven thousand enemies and captured four thousand! Most of the leaders of the Black Mountain Bandits have also been killed by him!"