Chapter 1382 Taking the initiative to show kindness
I don’t know the purpose of Lu Yun’s invitation to the banquet, nor do I know whether the Lu family in Wu County had a friendly or hostile attitude toward Li Qinzai.
Li Qinzai only knew that a meal was a good meal. After all, he had just given a heavy gift and treated him to a drink so politely. He couldn't fall out immediately after receiving the gift.
This descendant of the Lu family was very good at entertaining people. Li Qinzai had attended many banquets with dignitaries over the years, but it was rare for his master to come out of the city to greet him in person.
For this reason, Li Qinzai already had some affection for him, but of course, it was limited to personal aspects.
If the Lu family of Wu County is hiding some conspiracy and is determined to go against him, the emperor's imperial envoy, then he will fall out when it's time to fall out.
A carriage was prepared by the suspension bridge outside the city. After Lu Yun invited Li Qinzai to the carriage, the group slowly entered the city and headed towards the Governor's Mansion.
The governor's office is located in the middle of Jiangzhou City, between the east and west cities. The roads in the city are not busy, but they are quite clean. They know the subtleties. No matter what the position of the governor of Jiangzhou, at least he is quite capable in managing his subordinates.
The carriage stopped in front of the governor's mansion, and several middle-aged men wearing silk shirts and regular clothes were waiting outside the door. As soon as Li Qinzai got off the carriage, several men came forward to salute.
"I'm going to be the governor of Jiangzhou, Song Jinshan, to pay my respects to Duke Li, to pay my respects to His Highness King Teng and His Highness King Xun."
Several men behind him also saluted. These people were all officials of the governor's office. From Biejia to Sima, most of the highest-ranking officials in Jiangzhou were here.
Li Qinzai nodded with a smile and stood outside the governor's house to exchange a few words with Song Jinshan, the governor of Jiangzhou. Lu Yun next to him covered his mouth and coughed lightly. Song Jinshan hurriedly turned aside and invited Li Qinzai and the others into the house.
The back hall of the Governor's Mansion was brightly lit, with dozens of candlesticks illuminating the hall. A group of stunningly beautiful women in costumes knelt under the corridor outside the hall. Seeing Li Qinzai's arrival, the women bowed their heads and saluted.
Li Qinzai walked into the hall proudly, followed by Prince Teng and Li Sujie, followed closely by Lu Yun, Song Jinshan and several officials.
After entering the hall, Li Qinzai took the guest seat as a matter of course. Interestingly, the person sitting in the host seat was not Song Jinshan, the governor, but Lu Yun.
Li Qinzai glanced at Song Jinshan quickly, and the smile in his eyes grew stronger.
Has this guy stopped hiding his relationship with the Lu family of Wu County?
As Lu Yun clapped his hands, a group of servants brought wine and food to the hall. The beautiful women who had been kneeling in the corridor just now also entered one after another and danced to the pleasant sound of silk and bamboo music played by the band.
Of course, the banquet involved drinking. Lu Yun stood up first to make a toast, followed by Song Jinshan and other officials from the Governor's Office.
The atmosphere was lively and noisy, and the guests and hosts in the hall were enjoying themselves.
The person who had just received the heavy gift was still very sensible. Li Qin held the glass until the wine was dry without any hesitation, and he was already tipsy after one round.
At this time, the kabukis happened to have finished their dance. Lu Yun smiled and glanced at the kabukis, and the kabukis bowed and stepped back.
Lu Yun stood up and toasted Li Qinzai again, and then got to the main topic.
"Jungong Li and your two highnesses have come all the way. In fact, before you and others left Chang'an City, the Lu family of Wu County already knew the news that Jung Li was going to Jiangnan under the order. I didn't come to meet you until today. I hope that Jungong Li and your two highnesses will forgive me."
Lu Yun smiled and apologized.
Li Qinzai smiled and said: "It's okay. I came out to run some small errands. I didn't intend to disturb the noble families in the south of the Yangtze River. I came quietly and left quietly. I didn't take away any of the noble families' needlework..."
Lu Yun was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
He had just received a large gift of several large carriages, and now he said that he would not take away any needle and thread. The official style of saying one thing and doing another was really understood by this county prince.
Lu Yun cupped his hands and asked with a smile: "I wonder what kind of errands Duke Li is on during his trip to the south of the Yangtze River. The Lu family in Wu County is not talented and is willing to serve Duke Li."
Li Qinzai chuckled, pointed at Lu Yun, and said: "If you want to ask, just say it. There is no need to beat around the bush. To be honest, I don't expect you to serve me well. Thank you for not causing any trouble for me."
Lu Yun's smile was a little awkward: "Jun Gong Li is really funny when he talks..."
Then Lu Yun said cautiously: "I heard that Duke Li went to the south of the Yangtze River, and General Xue Rengui led 20,000 troops to accompany him. They did not leave until Yuezhou... Is General Xue leading the troops south part of the mission?"
Li Qinzai said calmly and calmly: "Oh, General Xue went south to practice troops and horses and perform martial arts on the Yangtze River on orders. By the way, he escorted me. After all, when I was in Chang'an, I had some unpleasant troubles with the eight prominent families of yours."
Lu Yun's smile became increasingly dry.
You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to answer, so why bother fooling me with such nonsense? Even young children can’t be fooled by this reason, right?
An army of 20,000 soldiers marched south for no apparent reason. They said they were practicing martial arts. Do you think I believe it or not?
It is certain that Xue Rengui's 20,000 troops went south for some other purpose, and it is very likely that they came for the eight prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River. As for whether they wanted to use force against the prominent families, or whether it was just a deterrent, it is impossible to judge at the moment.
This is not Lu Yun's personal conclusion. Long before he came to Jiangzhou to meet Li Qinzai, the head of the Lu family in Wu County and the elders of the Su family came to this conclusion after long discussions.
Lu Yun originally planned to take advantage of the banquet to insinuate Li Qinzai's purpose of coming to Jiangnan, but Li Qinzai was not a good person, he was cunning and cunning, and did not say a word of truth. Lu Yun was really helpless.
Sure enough, the heavy gift given today is like beating a dog with meat buns. The recipient is a bit ignorant...
But Li Qinzai smiled extraordinarily warmly. For some reason, sitting with the person who gave the gift, he always felt very friendly, and there was a faint urge to worship him.
"Brother Huai'an came to Jiangzhou, and he must not only invite me to a banquet, right?" Li Qinzai asked with a smile.
Lu Yun hesitated for a moment and then said with a smile: "When I came to Jiangzhou, of course I admired Duke Li's style. The second thing is... I have been ordered by the head of the family to show my attitude to Duke Li."
"I'm all ears."
Lu Yun's expression straightened and he said seriously: "The Lu family of Wu County always admires the power of heaven and dare not disobey. I heard that Duke Li went to the south of the Yangtze River, and the Lu family of Wu County is willing to take the initiative to express her position to Duke Li..."
"Now that spring sowing is approaching, all states and counties in the south of the Yangtze River that the Lu family can influence are willing to use 30% of their fertile land to plant the new grain varieties promoted by His Highness Prince Teng."
"I wonder if Duke Li of Wu County is satisfied with the attitude of the Lu family of Wu County?"
Li Qinzai and Prince Teng were both stunned for a moment, and they quickly looked at each other.
Then Li Qinzai's face blossomed into a smile.
It's interesting. Before I took the initiative to express anything, the Lu family of Wu County had already taken the initiative to express goodwill. It seemed that the prominent families in Jiangnan were not monolithic, and they still respected the imperial court after all.
Li Qinzai glanced at Prince Teng with a smile and said, "When my father-in-law came to Jiangnan to promote new grain varieties, did it go so well?"
King Teng seemed to understand the intention of Li Qinzai's words, and smoothed his beard and said calmly: "Since my king went to the south of the Yangtze River, officials in various states and counties have declined politely and refused to plant new grains. They have given a lot of reasons, but they have never been used before.
Some people have taken the initiative to express their willingness to plant."
Li Qinzai sighed leisurely: "It seems that my son-in-law is more respectable than my father-in-law..."