Everyone followed the banquet list and quickly found their seats under the guidance of dozens of graceful and capable female stewards. The five three-story restaurants were packed with seats.
The officials soon realized that there was something strange about this banquet. There were no dishes or wine on the table, and there was nothing on the huge table except a cup of tea in front of each person.
But soon, everyone found a piece of paper under the tea cup in front of them that was densely written with the names of dishes and various drinks. The officials were a little confused and whispered in low voices.
"What? Does Prime Minister Lin's banquet just ask us to look at the plum blossoms to quench our thirst? Does looking at the names of these dishes and drinks count as a banquet?"
"I'm afraid you're overthinking it. Why would Prime Minister Lin tease us like this? I'm afraid he has a deeper meaning. Could this be tonight's menu?"
"I'm afraid you are overthinking it. Sir, have you seen the dishes and drinks here? There are 228 hot and cold dishes and 37 kinds of drinks. We can eat more than ten people at a table.
So many? Obviously not possible."
"That's right. What kind of medicine is sold in the gourd? It's really strange."
Everyone was talking about it. The sun was setting outside and the sky was gradually getting dark. But there was obviously no sign of the banquet starting. The aroma of cooking could be smelled in the nose, but no dishes were served one by one. The officials
I was confused, but I wasn't in a hurry. Master Lin hadn't arrived yet, so the banquet obviously couldn't be held.
At this moment, there was the sound of horse hooves in the street. The officials near the window looked out of the window and saw dozens of fast horses galloping down the street in the twilight. Immediately behind them was Lin, the current Prime Minister and Privy Councilor.
Jue, as well as the Third Chief of Staff Yang Xiu, the Chief of the Forbidden Army and other major civil and military officials of the imperial court arrived. Everyone left their seats and stood up without waiting for reminder.
"Master Lin is here!" A loud shout sounded, and everyone stood up and looked in the direction of the stairs. Although Master Lin may not have come up from the stairs on his side, he did not dare to neglect.
Lin Jue came with a smile on his face and strode forward, followed by a group of important ministers in the court and senior generals of the Luoyan Army. Everyone walked with a breeze, full of energy, and their faces were rosy.
Lin Jue and his party went up the stairs of the east building and went straight to a circular pavilion suspended in the middle of the long corridor bridge connecting the five buildings. There is the intersection center of the circular bridge connecting the five buildings, similar to
At the intersection center of the sky overpass. At this location, almost everyone in the surrounding restaurants can see it. This is also the most expensive and unique box in Fan Tower. During the heyday of the Great Zhou Dynasty, when Fan Tower's business was most prosperous, Guang
This is a private room called "Castle in the Sky", and it costs one thousand taels of silver to sit in. Don't be too expensive, people who spend a lot of money and queue up to eat here are flocking to it.
"My lords, Lin is late, and I apologize to you all." Lin Jue stood in the suspended pavilion, bowed his hands to the people in the surrounding buildings, and spoke loudly.
"How dare you, how dare you, Mr. Lin, hello! Mr. Lin, hello!" Thousands of officials returned the courtesy with their hands in hand, shouting in all directions.
The reaction of the officials was enthusiastic, but it was not entirely polite. In fact, the officials had very complicated feelings towards Lin Jue. You must know that Lin Jue's name has been well known from the beginning. In the past few years, Lin Jue has served as one of the three officials in the imperial court.
The process by which the envoy became a traitor to the imperial court and degenerated into a bandit in Funiu Mountain is depressing. Although Lin Jue’s purpose of rebelling in Luoyan Valley was because of Guo Xu’s atrocities in seizing the throne, he also provided a lot of information.
The evidence was clarified and publicized throughout the Zhou Dynasty. However, for most officials, Lin Jue's behavior was undoubtedly rebellion. No matter how Guo Xu won the throne, for officials at all levels
That's not the most important thing. It doesn't matter who sits on that throne. What matters is whether he has the qualifications, strength, and whether it has an impact on his own interests. The disputes within the Guo royal family are actually not his turn.
These ministers should think too much. Lin Jue's actions were obviously unnecessary, or he was just uniting with the Liang Palace to resist and seize the throne.
Therefore, many people have experienced an indescribable shock and indescribable feeling regarding the change of Lin Jue's identity in the past half year. From bandits and rebels of the imperial court to the savior who turned the tide of the Zhou Dynasty, Lin Jue's
His identity has undergone a miraculous change, which has caused people all over the world to go from contempt and regret at the beginning to shock and admiration later. His mentality has also experienced a wonderful change.
When the Zhou Dynasty faced internal and external troubles and fell into the danger of national subjugation, many people felt deeply desperate and powerless. They could only watch the situation worsen, but there was no way to save it. Many people pessimistically believed that no one could save it this time.
Dazhou, Dazhou could not escape the disaster of destruction. But at this moment, the Luoyan Army led by Lin Jue appeared, quickly calmed the situation, and completed the impossible, which made all desperate people feel
Extremely shocked and surprised.
Because of this, many people feel deeply uneasy and guilty about their previous contempt and slander towards Luo Yanjun and Lin Jue, and admire them for standing up to help the building at a critical moment. For most people, Lin Jue
His previous betrayal of the imperial court could not be a stain, but instead became the most legendary aspect of his experience. This is often the case. When a person succeeds, some of his previously criticized behaviors become his experience.
A good story that I have never forgotten has become something that is talked about. For example, things like tasting shit to ask questions, and being humiliated under the crotch. The winner is a prince, the loser is a thief, and the success of the success seems to have become the reason for his success.
necessary conditions.
Of course, some officials' views on Lin Jue have not changed, but this does not prevent them from showing respect for Lin Jue. The Great Zhou Dynasty at this moment was saved by Lin Jue and his Luoyan Army. Lin Jue is qualified to win the title of everyone.
This is the basic consensus. Whether you hate him or like him.
"Thank you all, sir. Please take a seat, please take a seat." Lin Jue said with a loud smile.
After hearing the words, everyone returned to their seats. Lin Jue laughed loudly and said: "You have come all the way to the capital with orders. During this period, I am not able to meet you one by one due to busy official duties. I feel deeply sorry. In addition, it coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival.
I am in the capital and cannot spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with my family, which makes me feel guilty even more. Therefore, I am hosting a banquet in Fanlou today, and we can spend the Mid-Autumn Festival together to express our feelings and make up for our guilt."
All the officials shouted one after another: "Prime Minister Lin is very thoughtful, and we will remember it deeply in our hearts. Thank you very much, Prime Minister Lin."
Lin Jue nodded and said with a smile: "I want to explain one thing to you. The money spent on tonight's banquet is my own money and does not involve any public funds. Lin was born in a merchant's family, and his family still has some savings."
The officials smiled and said: "That's natural. Prime Minister Lin is honest and upright, how could he use public funds? We all know this."
"My lords, let's not say much. It's getting late. The moon will rise soon. Let's start the banquet now." Lin Jue smiled and cupped his hands, turned around and sat down.
Only then did everyone calm down,
They straightened their postures and waited for the dishes to be served. However, after a long time, no dishes or drinks were served. While the officials were wondering, they heard someone standing up from the castle in the air opposite and laughing loudly.
"Oops, I almost forgot one thing. The dishes for your banquet have not been finalized yet. Prime Minister Lin asked me to convey to you that the dishes for today's banquet will be decided by you. In the past, the guests followed the host. What dishes were arranged by the guests, and what the guests ate.
Food. But today is different. Lin Xiang said that you have to feel at home. The food is decided by yourselves. Each table has twenty plates of food and three jars of wine. It is up to you to decide what food to eat and what wine to drink. Fan Lou will prepare the food today.
There are more than two hundred kinds and dozens of drinks, all listed on the list in front of you. You can just ask for them, and don't worry about Fan Lou not being prepared."
The speaker was Yang Xiu, the Third Secretary of State. After his words fell, everyone suddenly realized. It turns out that you have to order the food and drinks by yourself. The menus prepared on the table are all optional dishes. Prime Minister Lin wanted everyone to eat comfortably, so he ordered a table
People decide on their own.
"Everyone, it's getting late. The dishes in Fan Lou's kitchen have been prepared for a long time. Sir, please hurry up and agree that after a banquet later, we have to admire the moon. The time for burning incense is limited, and Fan Lou's waiter will
Go and collect the dishes you have agreed upon, the kitchen is about to start cooking. Please hurry up, my lords." Yang Xiu finished speaking with a smile and turned around to sit down.
The officials were stunned for a long time. They were a little reserved at first, but soon, discussions began at some tables. Some people started to discuss, and others quickly started to discuss, and hundreds of seats were buzzing and noisy at once.
Got up.
At first, the officials at the banquet wanted to make a decision based on their official rank. There is nothing wrong with listening to the arrangements of senior officials. But they soon discovered that the banquet arrangement was particular. The officials at each table were of similar rank and age.
Quite, there is a mix of civil and military affairs, and geographical separation. It can be said that there is basically no distinction between high and low official positions, and because of different regions, the taste of food is very different. Because the official positions are similar and the age is similar, there are not so many scruples.
, so they no longer compromise too much. Some people wanted to compromise at first, but when they heard other people’s orders, they didn’t know what they liked, so they stopped doing it, so they joined in to express their opinions.
At that moment, the entire Fan Building was in a state of uproar, and everyone at the table began to argue over the menu.
There were more than 200 dishes, and only 20 plates were chosen. The officials had different tastes and were not controlled by their official positions. It can be imagined that it was difficult to reach an agreement. Amid the quarrels, time flew by so fast that a stick of incense was very important.
It was almost half over. Prime Minister Lin ordered someone to pass the message again. If the dishes have not been agreed upon after burning incense, the food and wine will not be served for a while. Because of the different opinions, the kitchen cannot serve the dishes. So please be sure to be there.
Complete ordering and beverage selection within the time limit.
After hearing this, the officials quickly responded. Time was tight, and everyone learned to compromise. Soon they found a way to compromise, and they knew that making sacrifices and humility were the prerequisites for serving food.
After the incense sticks were burned out, each table drew up a list of dishes and drinks, which were collected by Fan Lou's waiters. After some debate and compromise, everyone got the one or two dishes they wanted.
In fact, it’s not bad. More importantly, many people seem to have learned something from it.
Fan Lou's speed is incredible. The menus are sorted, more than a dozen stoves are started at the same time, and dozens of cooks are busy. The carts carrying vegetables shuttle back and forth, and the female waiters delivering vegetables shuttle up and down like butterflies in flowers. Soon, one day
Platefuls of exquisite dishes and jars of clear wine were served to the banquet. Within half an hour, the wine and food were all served, and the banquet could finally begin.
