In any case, this first hurdle has passed. As a Han envoy, of course there is no reason to be fooled so easily.
Chao Cuo did have another mission this time. Although this generation of kings was different from other princes, he and Emperor Wen were still related by blood after all.
However, in recent years, several princes and princes have become increasingly unstable, especially Wu King Liu Bi. Before Chao Cuo left the palace, Emperor Wen privately asked him to take a good look at the relationship between Dai and Wu.
Unlike Wu State, Dai State is located in the north and can be said to be the northernmost vassal state of the Han Dynasty.
Some time ago, there was a rumor that the acting king Liu Deng secretly met the king of Wu. This news spread, although it was said to be unsubstantiated in the end, it did make Emperor Wen's already tense nerves tense.
The state of Dai is adjacent to the Xiongnu. If the state of Dai is close to the state of Wu, and if they jointly rebel, the Han Dynasty will be really in danger if the Huns get involved again!
The Tian family has never had any relatives, especially at this time, when Emperor Wen's health is getting worse and worse, all the princes are starting to have their thoughts.
Emperor Wen once received a secret report that a guy named Yang Sheng quietly said to the King of Wu that the king is also a descendant of Gaozu, why can't he go further!
What is the difference between this and instigating King Wu to rebel?
Although Chao Cuo was also hungry, the food and wine tonight were really hard to swallow.
Fortunately, Liu Deng still had some conscience. When the banquet was about to end, a maid served a bowl of noodles to each of the adults present.
Looking at the big bowl of white noodles, these officials who had worked hard all day felt the urge to cry.
A full twenty miles of mountain road, and it was still under the scorching sun. For these pampered big shots, this was simply torture.
Many people now have no feeling in their legs. How can people be satisfied with wild vegetables?
The meal tonight was probably the worst meal they had ever had in their lives.
In any case, Chao Cuo must be the emperor's messenger, and this demeanor is absolutely indispensable.
Just when he was thinking about his words for a long time and was about to say a few polite words, he suddenly heard a faint snoring sound.
Looking up, I saw that all the officials of Dai Kingdom, including Tian Chong and Zhang Tu, had already begun to feast.
It's been a damn long day, and I can finally have a decent meal.
These adults could no longer care about nonsense, and all of them wanted to bury their heads in a bowl.
This made Chao Cuo a little embarrassed, but he felt a little more confident. It seemed that Dai Guo was indeed in a very difficult situation!
Otherwise, how could these most elegant scholar-bureaucrats be so ugly when eating and drinking?
Only Liu Deng was still holding wild vegetables in his hands.
That graceful demeanor made Chao Cuo admire him for a while!
As expected of the Tian family, at this time, he can still maintain the royal demeanor!
This is the magnanimity that my great Han Dynasty prince should have!
Chao Cuo had already made up his mind. There was no collusion between the acting king and the King of Wu. After returning to Chang'an, he would definitely put in a good word for the acting king.
The most important thing in Confucianism is self-denial and etiquette. As a Confucian scholar, Chao Cuo naturally values etiquette.
At this time, Liu Deng can still maintain such etiquette. This is really a model for a minister!
Suddenly, Chao Cuo's favorable impression of Liu Deng skyrocketed.
How did he know that Liu Deng really couldn't eat it?
How could he, with his cunning mouth raised by later generations, be able to eat just such a bowl of noodles with little salt and no vinegar?
Liu Deng was already cursing his mother in his heart, what kind of thing did his mother cook cook?
Is this something for people to eat?
Just this kind of thing, if this is a restaurant in later generations, if it dares to serve it out to entertain people, it will be damned if someone doesn't smash the shop.
They actually eat this stuff so well? A bunch of rubes!
In any case, this bowl of noodles saved many people's lives. Long after this incident passed, the adults still felt that the noodles were extra sweet when they thought of them that night.
"Master Chao, it's getting late today, and the medical conditions in the city are really poor. How about you rest in the palace tonight?"
Seeing that Chao Cuo had almost finished eating, Liu Deng stood up and rolled his eyes.
The palace was well prepared, but the posthouse in the city was not prepared at all.
It would be really embarrassing if Chao Cuo saw some flaws and then exposed this peep show!
No matter what, he and all his entourage must be kept in this palace.
"This seems to be a little out of order!"
Chao Cuo said with some embarrassment.
"Please forgive me, the State of Dai is really too poor. Even the post house has no money to maintain. Although the market looks quite prosperous, most of these merchants are from the Wu State. It's really... It’s very hateful!”
Liu Deng is just talking nonsense.
As Liu Deng spoke, he covered his face with his wide sleeves again. When he let go of his hand, tears were flowing down his face again.
"Little Liu Deng, how dare you bully my prince like this!"
At this moment, there was a sudden noise outside the door.
This made Liu Deng stunned. What happened?
What do these guards do for food?
Why would someone come to your door to cause trouble at this time?
Just when he was wondering, two men suddenly walked in from outside the main hall. The man in front was tall and handsome, but the man behind was not so impressive.
"Who are you? Don't you know this is the Daiwang Palace?"
Liu Deng said with an ugly expression.
Even though you are a fake prince, you can't deny me face like this!
"Hahahaha, of course I know this is the Daiwang Palace, otherwise, I wouldn't have come!"
"Who is this?"
Liu Deng asked, touching his nose.
"Your Majesty, this is King Wu's confidant, who handles all the salt affairs for him. His name is Gongsun Gui!"
Zhang Tu said to Liu Deng in a low voice.
Gongsun Gui?
When he heard the name, Chao Cuo's expression brightened.
Isn't the purpose of his coming here just to find out if there is any connection between Dai Guo and Wu Guo?
Well now, this is King Wu's cronies knocking on the door.
"It turns out to be Mr. Gongsun. I wonder what you have learned from coming here?"
Now I understand, no wonder none of the guards dared to stop him!
This guy holds Dai Guo's salt bag in his hand, how dare those guards offend him...
"Stop talking nonsense, my prince's things were returned to me. How could I arrest the person and send him back? Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude!"
Gongsun Gui said proudly.
"Oh~ I wonder why Mr. Gongsun is going to be so unreasonable?"
Liu Deng asked with interest.
"How about, starting from tomorrow, no more salt will flow into the country of Dai?"
There was a smile on Gongsun Gui's lips, and he could threaten a prince face to face, even though this kid was just a doughy prince who could be kneaded by anyone.
However, this feeling of pressing a prince to the ground and rubbing him really made him feel ecstatic.
Hearing Gongsun Gui's words, all the civil and military officials of Dai State suddenly panicked. Without the salt of Wu State, Dai State would be in big trouble!
"That's it?"
