Today's banquet at the camp outside Gusu City may be recorded in history.
It is not an exaggeration to say that it is related to the land issue in Jiangnan and even the entire Tang Dynasty, the distribution of interests among the rulers and the powerful class, and the development of the New World in the future of the Tang Dynasty's exploration of the world.
Therefore, the significance of this banquet is no less than a war that determines the destiny of the country.
Before the seven family heads arrived, Li Qinzai was already sitting at the head seat of the banquet outside the commander's tent, looking up at the clear and cloudless sky, thinking about something.
My father-in-law, Prince Teng, also participated in the banquet today, and his seat was right next to Li Qinzai.
Seeing Li Qinzai deep in thought and silent, Prince Teng glanced at him and snorted angrily.
The snort made Li Qinzai come back to his senses instantly, turned to look at him, then looked at him carefully in surprise, blinked and said: "My father-in-law's complexion today..."
Prince Teng stroked his beard proudly: "How?"
Li Qinzai shook his head: "My father-in-law doesn't look good today. He has heavy dark circles under his eyes. What have you been doing recently?"
Prince Teng said angrily: "I haven't done anything recently! I just didn't sleep well last night."
Li Qinzai smiled maliciously and said: "No...it's not just that he didn't sleep well. My father-in-law has been sleeping in flowers and willows recently and has done a lot of improper things, right?"
King Teng was furious: "Nonsense! I have always been strict with myself and never did anything improper!"
Li Qinzai curled his lips: "Ah, yes, yes, my father-in-law is very serious. Last time at the banquet at Jiangzhou Governor's Mansion, you ate alone and brought a dozen kabuki operas into your house..."
"Tsk, there are more than a dozen... My son-in-law almost held a banquet for you the next day and invited you to the dojo. What I am most curious about now is how my father-in-law survived that night. Could it be that he imitated Zhao Zilong from Changbanpo
, everyone can go in seven times and go out seven times, and that’s it?”
Prince Teng became furious in shame: "Fart! How can my bravery be imagined by a child with a yellow mouth like you? That night, I fought bloody battles to the end, all night long, with just a dozen girls, how could they be my three-in-one enemy?"
Li Qinzai was shocked: "There are not even seven in and seven out, only three in one? My father-in-law, you said you can't do this... you can't do it. Why are you so greedy? If you have three longs and two shorts in Jiangnan, and such a disgraceful three longs and two shorts
, how should my son-in-law explain to your daughter..."
Prince Teng was about to explode with anger: "'Sanhe' means...forget it, you thief, I will just kill my relatives today!"
The explanation was unclear and Prince Teng was so angry that he picked up a silver wine pot on the table.
Li Qinzai said hurriedly: "Okay, okay, my son-in-law is just joking. I believe my father-in-law is very brave. It's just a dozen kabuki performers. He can defeat him in a moment."
Prince Teng's expression softened slightly, and then he put down the wine bottle.
Then he smacked his lips and felt something was wrong.
The word "a moment" is used very expressively...
Too lazy to argue with this guy, Prince Teng turned sideways and leaned closer, lowering his voice and said: "I didn't sleep well last night. I heard that Jiangning civil uprising gathered nearly ten thousand people and they are heading towards Gusu City?"
Li Qinzai smiled: "It doesn't matter, it's just a little accident. My son-in-law has asked Su Jie to deal with it. They can't make a difference."
Prince Teng frowned: "The civil uprising is no small matter. Regardless of whether it is settled or not, we have to give an explanation to the emperor and the court... Is there anyone behind the civil uprising?"
"The report from Baiqisi seems to have been initiated by a few small landowners, but..." Li Qinzai's eyes flashed, and his smile became colder: "But my son-in-law thinks it's not that simple, and there are probably some traces of the Wang clan in it."
Prince Teng's expression also turned cold: "What a brave dog, there really are some people who are not afraid of death! Do you know which famous family it belongs to?"
"Baiqisi is still inquiring, there should be news soon," Li Qinzai said with murderous intent in his eyes, and said in an indifferent tone: "These family heads had better pray to gods and worship Buddha and have nothing to do with the civil uprising, otherwise... the Zhu family of Wu County will commit the crime
I can overturn any trivial matter, but inciting civil unrest is a serious crime against the Nine Tribes, and no one can bear it."
King Teng sighed: "It seems that the eight prominent families in Jiangnan are about to become the six prominent families. The next time a good son-in-law comes to Jiangnan, he will indeed walk on mountains of corpses and seas of blood."
Li Qinzai also sighed: "The mission my son-in-law is carrying this time is too heavy. It is related to the Tang Dynasty. How can it be peaceful and gentle? Since ancient times, there has never been a change in law that was not bloody, and a large number of people died before it could be accomplished."
"With a butcher's knife in one hand, money in the other, killing when it's time to kill, and giving when it's time to give, finally let these family members understand what 'thunder, rain, and dew are all God's grace.'"
As soon as he finished speaking, Feng Su hurriedly came to report that the heads of the seven prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River had entered the gate of the camp.
Li Qinzai smiled and remained seated.
After a while, the seven heads of the family arrived together and stood in the open space outside the commander's tent. When they saw Li Qinzai wearing a purple official robe, the seven of them paused for a moment. After quickly looking at each other, they all bowed to Li Qinzai.
Li Qinzai, who was now wearing official robes, was an imperial envoy of the emperor. Regardless of age or seniority, everyone must bow before him as a minister. This is the rule.
After everyone saw the ceremony, Li Qinzai waved his sleeves and ordered the banquet to begin.
After the heads of the household took their seats, hot delicacies and amber wine were served one after another.
No one said nonsense this time. After the guests and hosts exchanged three toasts, Lu Songxi, the head of the Lu family in Wu County, stood up first and said: "I heard about the civil uprising in Jiangning last night. We stayed at the Guanyi in Gusu City last night. I really didn't know about it. If Duke Li..."
Before he finished speaking, Li Qinzai waved his hand to stop Lu Songxi's next words and said with a smile: "A group of poor people gathered together ignorantly and ignorantly. It cannot be called a civil uprising. I have sent people to deal with it. We will talk about this later."
When Lu Songxi saw Li Qinzai avoiding this topic, he immediately knew that there must be more to this matter, so he sat down and said nothing.
Li Qinzai looked around at everyone, his expression gradually becoming serious.
The seven family heads also knew that the topic was about to come, and the topic was related to the rise and fall of the family for hundreds of years, so they all sat up straight unconsciously and looked at Li Qinzai quietly.
"You have come all the way, so I won't talk nonsense with you. I represent the emperor and the court, and you represent your respective families. Let's talk openly and clearly."
Li Qinzai paused and said slowly: "You must have heard the outline of the matter from the head of the Lu family. Now let me express my position. Yes, what the head of the Lu family said is true. The imperial court is about to organize a naval fleet to march eastward to the sea.
The New World will inevitably be discovered within three or two years."
"As soon as the New World is discovered, it is a big piece of fat and oily meat. Everyone wants to take a bite, but who takes the bite is decided by the emperor and the court."
Li Qinzai smiled, but there was no smile in his eyes. He looked around the crowd and said slowly: "So, what can you give, what do you want, what does the court need from you? Today we will make it clear. All the heads of the family agree.
no?"
The seven family heads raised their wine cups at the same time and saluted Li Qinzai with smiles.
Li Qinzai drank with the seven others, and the smiles on everyone's faces became deeper and deeper.