Everyone came to the gate of Zhanghua Palace. Wu Ju went in and made a report. After a while, another guard came out and called:
"I have an order from you, Li Ran, to come to the palace to see you. The rest of you, please wait here."
As soon as these words fell, Zheng Bo and Zichan were stunned.
What is this word?
Our monarch came all the way here in order to have diplomatic relations, and why the hell are you not here?
Is this how you Chu people treat guests?
Uncle Zheng and Zichan looked at each other and couldn't help but feel a little angry.
But after all, they were on someone else's territory now. Since the King of Chu said that only Li Ran would be allowed in, what could they do?
Therefore, Zichan had no choice but to give Li Ran a warning, telling him to act according to the situation and deal with it easily.
Li Ran understood in his heart and immediately followed the waiter into the palace gate.
However, Li Ran obviously underestimated the Chu man's determination to show his strength.
Just talking about the steps of Huatai in this chapter, Li Ran had to take a short break three times on the way before he was able to climb to the third level of the large platform outside the palace gate.
"Damn it... you can't install the elevator! You have some control over pretending to be B, right? Apart from anything else, aren't you tired of climbing up and down?"
Li Ran had never done work like climbing stairs for a long time. If technology allowed, he really hoped that King Chu could build an elevator for Zhang Huatai.
Who can stand it if you treat others with such high arrogance?
But complaints are complaints, and Li Ran gritted his teeth and climbed up after all.
And when he came to the highest platform, he turned around and looked around, only to see the huge Jianghan Plain and the grand scene of acres and acres of land immediately appeared before his eyes.
Not far away, Fangcheng Mountain towers into the clouds and is also spectacular.
Seeing this scene, Li Ran couldn't help but think of a poem written by Yelu Chucai of later generations:
In August, the Yinshan Mountains are covered with snow and sand, and the clear light is dazzling with flowers.
The cliffs in the sky spray out the bright moon, and the mountains above the sea suck in the green clouds.
There are acres of sparse pine trees and junipers, and there are people living deep in the vines.
Thousands of miles across the vast Western Region, the famous mountains on the left side of the Yangtze River cannot be boasted.
Although this poem describes the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, as Li Ran stood here, these words popped out of his mind involuntarily.
"No wonder it is necessary to cultivate to such a high level... This situation and scene really make people involuntarily ambitious. It is no wonder that Lu Xianggong, the ancestor of Lu State, clamored to build it after returning from Chu State. 'Chu Palace', these scenes are indeed very brainwashing."
Zhanghuatai, as the palace of Chu State, has three floors, nine halls, thirty-six side rooms of the palace, and countless treasuries and weapons. It can be said that the pavilions and towers are rising, the city walls are rising, the golden water is solid, and the iron cliff is dangerous.
Arranged around Zhanghua Terrace, there are also various craftsmen's workshops, docks, village villages, etc.
The mountains and fields are filled with autumn mist, and fishing boats go back and forth on rivers and streams. The tide rises and falls, and they sail back and forth, reaching Baiyue in the east, Baipu in the south, Bashu in the west, and Yindu in the north. new
Is this the State of Chu?
The Chu State that was called a barbarian by the Central Plains countries?
Li Ran saw it in his eyes, but there were ripples in his heart.
"Ah! Ziming...Mr. Ziming!"
Just when Li Ran was thinking a lot, a thick and loud calling voice suddenly came from behind him.
He couldn't help but turn his head and saw that the former Wang Ziwei was now dressed as the King of Chu, with a rich robe and a crown, walking like a dragon and a tiger, with that iconic friendly smile still on his face.
"Foreign Minister Li Ran, please pay your respects to the King of Chu!"
When Li Ran saw this, he didn't hesitate. He immediately knelt down and bowed in a bow.
Although all the countries in the Central Plains were very disgusted with the fact that the Chu State was king, in fact everyone had already tacitly understood it and abided by the rules.
"Alas! Why does Mr. Ziming need such a big gift? Come and follow me into the hall to talk!"
When the King of Chu saw Li Ran, a look of unmistakable joy immediately appeared on his face. After King Chu Xiongwei helped him up, he immediately grabbed Li Ran's hand and walked into the Zhanghua Palace together.
For a king of one country to personally receive a minister from another country is a very unusual courtesy in itself.
This unusual courtesy naturally raised Li Ran's status by several levels.
In this form, in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", it is probably the same as when Cao Cao greeted Pang Tong before the Battle of Chibi. Perhaps, Cao Cao's behavior was not as good as the current posture of the King of Chu.
I saw the King of Chu holding Li Ran with one hand, walking with his head held high and his chest high, which not only demonstrated his determination to be a polite and virtuous corporal, but also demonstrated his domineering power as the King of Chu. He was so charming and charming.
And where has Li Ran ever received such "noble" courtesy? So, one-->>
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Time is also a bit confusing.
But in an instant, he reacted.
This is clearly because the King of Chu wants to put him on the shelf, making it impossible for him to get off the stage!
However, even if you realize this, what is the use?
I saw King Chu Xiong Wei swaggering into Zhanghua Palace, but he still refused to let go of his hand. Not only that, but he actually pulled Li Ran directly, pressed him down on the seat next to him, and then waved his hand, ordering people to prepare a banquet immediately to wash away the dust for Li Ran.
This scene made all the officials of the Chu Kingdom present bewildered for a moment.
Although the King of Chu, Xiong Wei, often did not refuse "talents" from other countries. For example, his newly resigned You Yin is Ran Dan, the grandson of Duke Mu of Zheng State and the "culprit" in the Gongzi Jia Rebellion.
Recruiting surrender and accepting rebels was a major feature of Chu King Xiong Wei's employment, and this seems to have some coincidence with Cao Cao.
But even so, when had they ever seen the King of Chu treat a talent from another country so favorably?
Of course, those who didn't know Li Ran were all whispering together, each trying to figure out who this person was. The few people who knew Li Ran all had downcast faces, and they all looked unhappy.
After all, seeing your king treat a foreigner with such courtesy, and even enjoy treatment that you have never enjoyed before, it is really a mixed bag of emotions.
"Mr. Ziming has come a long way, but I am not welcome from afar. I hope Mr. Ziming won't be surprised."
The king of Chu had not finished showing off his eagerness for talents. As soon as he took his seat, he bowed his hands to Li Ran and apologized. The appearance of the virtuous king could be seen clearly on him.
"Why do you say this, Your Majesty? He is just a passerby from the state of Zheng. How can I bother Your Majesty to welcome him in person?"
In fact, Li Ran just responded, but he deliberately emphasized his identity.
Of course he knew that King Chu wanted to recruit him, but if he, Li Ran, could really be coaxed by this little face-saving effort, then he might not be alive today.
"Oh, Mr. Ziming, please don't be humble!"
"I have already said that your great talent makes you a hero in the world! And now, who in the world doesn't know that you, Mr. Ziming, have both ability and political integrity, and can manage the world?"
"Now that I have a husband, I am the general of Chu!"
The King of Chu unabashedly showed his intention to recruit, and this kind of flattery was something Wu Ju had never experienced before.
"Come on, play music! Let Mr. Ziming receive the wind and wash away the dust!"
After saying this, the King of Chu was very excited and asked the palace people to play music and dance to start the banquet. But he was completely unaware that there was Uncle Zheng, Zichan and others waiting there outside Zhanghua Palace.
Li Ran heard the sound, stood up hurriedly, bowed and said:
"Your Majesty! The prince and his entourage are still waiting outside the palace. I'm afraid it's not time to hold the banquet yet. Why don't you wait until you meet the prince and Dr. Zichan before we start the banquet."
After all, he is still a minister of Zheng Guo.
As a minister of the State of Zheng, the king and ministers of the State of Zheng are still waiting outside, but he is already having a banquet in the main hall? Once word of this gets out, how should people in the world treat him, Li Ziming?
Of course Li Ran knew the seriousness of this, so he advised the King of Chu to meet with Uncle Zheng first and settle all the official matters that needed to be done.
When King Chu heard this, he only smiled slightly and responded without thinking:
"Okay! Since Mr. Ziming has spoken, how can I not disobey him? Send the order and let Uncle Zheng and his entourage come in. For the sake of Mr. Ziming's face, I have the right to let them come in and have fun together!" "
After hearing these words, Li Ran was not stupid, and he suddenly cursed:
Isn't this a clear attempt to sow discord? If this word reaches Uncle Zheng's ears, what should he think? After all, he is a majestic king of a country, but he still cares about me, a pedestrian?
No matter how good-tempered Li Ran was, he couldn't help but feel ashamed of the King of Chu's deliberate solicitation tactics.
But now we are on someone else’s territory after all. If the King of Chu can agree to let Zheng Bo and Zichan come in, it can be regarded as giving him enough face. Of course, he can’t say anything else.
Not long after, both Zheng Bo and Zi Chan entered the palace, but looking at the beads of sweat on their foreheads, it was not difficult to guess that they must have also suffered from the steps of the Huatai.
Immediately afterwards, there were the polite words of greeting that should be used when the two kings met. Both the King of Chu and Uncle Zheng used their complimentary words. In short, it was the "courtesy" that should be polite and the "respect" that should be saluted. ".
Uncle Zheng congratulated King Chu on his accession to the throne, and King Chu praised Uncle Zheng for his good management of Zheng State.
But after all, one person has eight hundred thoughts, so the hidden game in these words can be said to be performed to the extreme by the two of them.
Finally, after a friendly "conversation" between the two parties, the King of Chu ordered a new banquet to be held in the main hall, which was regarded as a way to entertain Uncle Zheng and his entourage.
