In a large village outside Binzhou City, Shandong Province, although it was already very late, the lanterns hung high in the village made everyone mistakenly think that the sun had not set yet.
At this time, the courtyard was full of people, and countless big men were sitting around tables, eating and toasting each other.
At the end of the courtyard, there is a lobby. There are also several tables set up in the lobby, and people are drinking around them. However, these people are not like those in the courtyard. They all seem to be from wealthy families. Still drinking wine slowly.
One of them listened to the noisy sounds outside, frowned and said: "Mr. Peng, although it is a holiday, it is probably not a good thing to invite so many people to gather at your home. It will easily be tabooed by the government."
The leader, who was called Mr. Peng, smiled and said: "Mr. Zhang, it's the first month now, and I'm a landlord in this area. What's wrong with entertaining my tenants and long-term workers? It's not like this every day."
"This place in Shandong has never been peaceful. Last year, people from Qingzhou rebelled and sent troops to Pennsylvania. If it weren't for the efforts of the long-term workers and tenants, how could we have prevented the rebels from Prince Qi's palace from entering the village? So this year we treat them to a good meal. It’s nothing.”
After listening to his last words, Mr. Zhang felt that they were reasonable, so he said nothing.
This Master Peng is Peng Ju, the bandit leader of the Shandong White Lotus Sect. Naturally, the people around him are all important figures in the Shandong White Lotus Sect. The person on the table next to him is the incense master, and those in the yard are the small leaders and key members of the cult below.
Although they are all members of the religion, for the sake of safety, they use their usual names in situations where there are many people.
The man named Mr. Zhang, and several people around him, actually do not have a high status in the sect, but because their family has money, they are of great help to the White Lotus Sect, so although they cannot participate in any confidential matters, such banquets are Accompanied by Peng Ju himself.
The people at the table were changing glasses, not talking about anything private, just chatting casually. One of them started talking about a major event that had just been reported here recently.
A man named Mr. Li said: "Have you heard that the imperial court discovered a jade seal that had been lost for more than 400 years in a river disaster?"
"Really? Lao Li, how did you know?" someone asked in surprise.
Mr. Li said: "I read it from the newspaper of Binzhou Prefectural Government. Doesn't my family have a relative who works as a servant in the Prefectural Government? Yesterday they came to pay New Year's greetings and they talked about it casually."
"I didn't believe it at first, but when I saw that he was serious about what he said, I followed him into the city and went to the government office to read the newspaper. Only then did I know it was true."
Although people at this time did not necessarily believe in the local government, the Di Bao published by the imperial court was equivalent to the current People's Daily, and everyone was convinced.
Someone said in a daze: "I also know about the Jade Seal of the Kingdom. In "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Sun Jian fished the treasure from the corpse of the palace maid. Why, there was no Jade Seal of the Kingdom before this dynasty?"
Mr. Zhang said: "Not only this dynasty, but also the Yuan, Zhao, Song, Liao, and Jin Dynasties did not have the national jade seal. The national jade seal disappeared when the late emperor of the Tang Dynasty passed away in the Five Dynasties. Who would have thought that it would suddenly appear now."
"Is this true? Could it be that the imperial court forged one? Didn't Zhao Song also forge it?"
"That's not possible. There are so many great scholars in the court. Although I have always disliked southerners, I still believe in the character of these great scholars. They can't all be fake together, right?"
"Then according to what you say, this is really the national jade seal? What does this mean?"
"This means that the Ming Dynasty is destiny, and your Majesty is now..." This man seemed to be a landowner and gentry. He only realized what occasion he was in mid-sentence and kept silent.
But everyone understood the meaning of his words. For a while, the topic was a little quiet. Fortunately, Li Er was a master of lively scenes, and he had read books and was able to chat with these gentry, and the scene became lively again.
It wasn't until very late that everyone who had had enough excitement dispersed. Peng Ju personally sent him out and sent some altar owners and incense owners away. However, when he returned to the living room, he found that Mr. Zhang who had spoken before had not left.
Peng Ju asked: "Is there anything wrong, Mr. Zhang?"
Mr. Zhang said: "Master Peng, there is something I haven't figured out yet, and I would like to ask for advice."
"Please tell me." Peng Ju made a "please" gesture.
"When there was a rebellion in Prince Qi's palace before, why didn't you lead the brothers in the religion to follow in the rebellion? That's the best opportunity in these years, right?"
"You are right," Peng Ju said: "Especially when we find out later that King Yan will also rebel, that is indeed the best opportunity."
"However, it is not a good opportunity. The rebel is also the prince of the Ming Dynasty. Even if the rebellion succeeds, won't the new emperor be from their Zhu family?"
"Then since we are members of the Zhu family, we may not continue to suppress the White Lotus Sect after we become emperor. Even if we make great contributions when we follow the rebellion, there is no guarantee that we will not be eliminated."
Mr. Zhang was silent for a moment and then asked: "When is the good opportunity?"
"The world is in chaos and the people are in dire straits. Just like the end of the Yuan Dynasty more than thirty years ago, this is a good opportunity." Peng Ju said.
Mr. Zhang was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Then I'm afraid I will never see such a situation in this life."
Peng Ju did not speak. As the leader of the White Lotus Sect, of course he could not agree with such words, but for him to say that he could see it was not only against his will, but also tantamount to insulting Mr. Zhang's IQ, so he could only remain silent.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Mr. Zhang turned around and left without saying anything.
Peng Ju waited for him to leave, and stood there for a while without knowing what to think, before returning to the backyard.
…
…
Although there are some thoughtful people in the White Lotus Sect, most people don't think about these issues. For them, drinking is just fine.
Tang Caichang, the little leader of the White Lotus Sect, was drunk and was helped back to his home by his brothers.
His wife, Mrs. Liu, came out of the house and complained: "Why did you drink so much again?"
"Sister-in-law, today the chief helmsman invites the brothers to drink. How can we drink less? Besides, the wine is good." said a person next to me.
Mrs. Liu rolled her eyes at him: "Then why aren't you drunk?"
The man said with a smile: "Ah, I'm drunk too. Oops, I can't do it anymore, I can't walk anymore." He acted very exaggeratedly.
Madam Liu rolled her eyes at him again and asked them to help her husband and carry him into the house. Madam Liu then filled a basin of hot water and wiped his face.
The person who was joking just now looked sideways and said with a smile: "Sister-in-law, don't you see your little niece?"
"I put her in the back room. Although it is easier to take care of her outside, you always pinch her face when you come over, which makes you cry every time, so I put her in the back room."
They were murmuring a bit, and another person quickly changed the subject and said, "Sister-in-law, your niece hasn't been named yet?"
"Get up." Mrs. Liu carefully wiped her husband's face, turned around and said, "Because we hope that one generation will surpass the other, we named her Sai'er."
