"Very good, you can ask someone to take them there later." Lao Liu said.
"This is a matter that belongs to the minister." Jin Tao responded hurriedly: "I will just take them there."
"You have more important things to do." Lao Liu said to Jin Tao: "Last time, I was honored by the hospitality of Li and Cui. According to the etiquette of the Ming Dynasty, we have to return the invitation once."
"Yes." Jin Tao wondered: "But Cui Yuanjun has returned to the Anbian Protector's Mansion early this morning. As for Li Yuanjun, he is extremely cautious by nature. Since he has become suspicious of the envoy, I am afraid he will not set foot in the guest house again."
"It doesn't matter, as long as the etiquette is fulfilled, it's his fault if he doesn't come." Zhu Zhen said lightly: "But we have prepared a banquet, and someone must come to eat it, right? Otherwise, wouldn't it be too disrespectful?"
"Yes, you can invite some more pro-Ming faction ministers, they will definitely come." Jin Tao nodded hurriedly, and then gave some advice: "Even if the Goryeo pro-Ming faction is declining, it should not be underestimated. If we can get their help
, maybe we don’t have to go to the point where everything is broken.”
"It makes sense." Zhu Zhen asked obediently: "Where is the Zheng Mengzhou that Li Renren mentioned at the reception banquet now?"
"It's in Beijing." Jin Tao replied: "After returning from the Celestial Dynasty, he became famous and now serves as the Grand Sicheng of Chengdu... similar to the Imperial Academy of the Celestial Empire. Because the Confucian scholars in Chengjun Hall believe in the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, most of them
He is a pro-Ming faction, and Zheng Mengzhou is also regarded as the leader of the pro-Ming faction."
"Why aren't you the leader?" Lao Liu always asks embarrassing questions.
"Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen..." Jin Tao blushed and said, "Not good... not good at sociability."
"I thought you weren't good at running." Zhu Zhen laughed and said, "It's just because of your poor popularity?"
"Yes." Jin Tao smiled bitterly and nodded. "I am a bit arrogant because of my talent."
"Invite him to have a meal too." Zhu Zhen then ordered: "Just say that the emperor misses him very much and specially asked us to meet him."
"Okay." Jin Tao responded and said secretly in his heart, didn't he say that the emperor only cares about me?
"There is one more person I want to invite." Zhu Zhen asked again: "Is Li Chenggui in Kaicheng?"
"The envoy here still knows about him?" Jin Tao asked in surprise.
In fact, Li Chenggui had already achieved great success and was awarded the title of Prince of Wanshan Prefecture. He was appointed as the ninth-ranking official in the capital.
But people in the Celestial Dynasty didn’t even know Li Renren, so how could they know who Li Chenggui was?
"Just say that the emperor heard that he is the most powerful anti-Japanese hero in Goryeo. Let us meet him, give him a banquet, and give him a reward." Zhu Zhen said to Hu Chai.
"Oh, that's right." Jin Tao nodded and said, okay, the emperor had one more thing in mind. "Where's the date?"
"It's better to choose a day than to hit it, so let's do it today." Zhu Zhen said.
"So anxious?" Jin Tao said subconsciously, and then quickly explained: "Oh, what I mean is, what should I do if you two have an appointment today?"
"What date is more important than the emperor's banquet?" Zhu Zhen once again put on the pretense of being a king.
"Oh, okay, I'll go right away." Jin Tao agreed quickly, and then left as if he had been granted amnesty.
~~
Jin Tao ordered his subordinates, including the third and fourth sons and Cai Qianhu, to go to Taipu Temple to inspect. He hurried to the capital hall to report.
Watching his sedan go away, Lin Mi said worriedly: "Aren't you afraid that he will betray us?"
"He won't." Zhu Zhen said firmly: "He doesn't know that we are actually just here to buy horses. He thinks we are here to investigate the assassination of the King of Korea."
"So he will think that if our entire army is annihilated in Goryeo, it will be useless for Li Renren to blame the Mongols or Japanese pirates. Then the entire Goryeo will be buried with us." Lin Mi said somewhat clearly:
"And he knows too much, and Li Renren will not let him go either."
"That's right." Zhu Zhen nodded and said: "So he has to try his best to avoid this situation and let us leave Goryeo safely. In this way, not only can Goryeo be saved, but he has also done a great job. As for whether Li Renren or Cui Ying will be the scapegoat in the end, anyway
It has nothing to do with him anymore.”
"This is what the young master said, we should look at Li Renren and Goryeo separately, right?" Lin Mi sincerely praised: "It really hit the point."
"If I dare to let him go, he will be convinced of our statement." Zhu Zhen said and turned around: "Let's go, let's help fifth brother cook."
"Hey, okay." Lin Mi quickly followed.
~~
Over there, Jin Tao returned to the capital hall and paid homage to Li Renren.
"Why did you come back when you weren't watching them at the Guest House?" Li Renren asked with a frown.
"They want to invite the two emperors back." Jin Tao replied hurriedly: "According to the etiquette of the Celestial Empire, the invitation must be returned the day after attending the banquet."
"Today?" Li Renren was really scared. He hesitated for a long time and finally shook his head and said, "Forget it, help me find a reason to turn it down."
He also explained in a self-explanatory manner: "It's not that I'm afraid, it's just that I keep telling lies to them, which is really humiliating."
"I understand." Jin Tao then said: "What if they also invited a few people to accompany them? It's impossible for everyone to have something wrong, right?"
"Who was invited?"
"Zheng Mengzhou and Li Chenggui." Jin Tao replied.
"Li Chenggui?" Li Renren had the same reaction as Jin Tao. He felt that it was normal for the Ming Dynasty to invite Zheng Mengzhou, but it was strange to invite Li Chenggui.
"The Ming Dynasty envoy said that the emperor heard that Li Chenggui was an anti-Japanese hero and ordered them to meet him and give him a banquet. It is said that there is also an imperial reward." Jin Tao said.
"Lucky guy." Li Renren muttered, thinking it was nothing. "Just meet him if you meet him. You won't die if you meet him once."
"The humble minister will go and deliver the imperial order." Jin Tao leaned forward and said, "Oh, by the way, the envoy wants to visit Taipu Temple today."
"They went to Taipu Temple?" Li Renren's attention was indeed attracted.
"Yes." Jin Tao nodded and said: "The Lord of the Academy also knows how domineering the Ming Envoy is. They will go when they say they are going, and there is no way to stop them. I will only let my subordinates take them there first, and then I will ask the Lord of the Court for instructions."
As he spoke, he smiled slyly and said, "Of course, they can't enter Taipu Temple without me taking them."
"It doesn't matter, they can go if they want." Li Renren regained his composure and said.
"What if we see those Yuan people's war horses and the Yuan people who take care of the horses?" Jin Tao asked in surprise.
"You saw it when you saw it." Li Renren said lightly: "Can I still eat them?"
"But the envoy will definitely question us." Jin Tao said.
"Then ask questions. It's best to come to the capital hall and scold me. The more rude actions the better." Li Renren said like a masochist: "This way the Chinese people can see clearly the ugly faces of the people of the Ming Dynasty."
After a pause, he said quietly: "Only then will there be enough reason to eradicate them."
"Mr. Yuan, have you made up your mind?" Jin Tao looked shocked.
"Otherwise." Li Renren asked in a deep voice, "Do you think Cui Yuanjun's sudden departure from Beijing was really because of Japanese pirates?"
"Did they move troops?" Jin Tao asked with difficulty.
