Jufu Tower!
The most famous restaurant in Liaocheng Prefecture.
At the beginning of the lanterns, Liaocheng Mansion today is so peaceful and comfortable.
The leisurely people on the street did not feel that today was any different from usual days.
The sound of silk and bamboo is constantly coming from the surrounding pavilions. The time when the lights are turned on every day is naturally the busiest time in Jufu Tower.
This is the main road of Liaocheng Prefecture. On both sides of the road are the famous merchants of Liaocheng Prefecture, creating a prosperous scene that is extremely rare in Dongping County today. As the most famous restaurant in Liaocheng, Jufulou is naturally the envy of many merchants.
Being able to run a restaurant here not only requires strong capital, but also depends on the owner's personal connections. Because less than a few hundred meters ahead of the road is the Liaocheng Governor's Office and the offices of several major Liaocheng government agencies, it can be said that the location of Jufulou also has every advantage.
It is not an exaggeration to say that Jufu Tower is the first building in Liaocheng, because now the locals in Liaocheng Prefecture think that it is a very honorable thing to have dinner and entertain guests in Jufulou Tower. When outsiders come to Liaocheng, it is natural not to mention it.
The entire Jufu Tower building structure is integrated, like a super-large version of a Buddhist tower. When it was first built in the previous dynasty, the original intention of the original owner who built this building was to imitate the Buddhist pagoda. However, when it was actually implemented, it was built according to the traditional pavilion, so now it looks like the style is both.
Now you can see the Jufu Tower. The three-story cornice pavilion is very majestic. It is a tall building built entirely of pear wood with carved patterns. It is said that this sturdy building has an ancient charm that can hardly be shaken in a hundred years.
Purely in terms of scale, Jufu Tower is the most eye-catching building in Liaocheng except for the roof ridge, which is slightly shorter than the highest ridge of Liaocheng Governor's Mansion. Of course, this strict hierarchical custom has existed since history.
Everyone of old and young in Liaocheng Prefecture knows Jufulou Tower, because it has been almost the symbol of Liaocheng Prefecture and the pride of Liaocheng people for decades. How much glory has been lost in the long river of history, but as the landmark of Liaocheng Prefecture, Jufu Tower still exists with everyone.
When outsiders come to Liaocheng Prefecture, whether they are on business, doing business, or passing by, they hear most about Liaocheng Prefecture’s sights and famous places. Naturally, it is the Jufu Tower, which was built in the previous dynasty and now serves as a restaurant.
It is said that Jufulou Tower has a long history and was built for an important figure during the Xizong period of the previous dynasty.
The location where this pavilion was originally belonged to a pavilion in a manor. What people didn't expect is that it is now located in the middle of Liaocheng Mansion. The owner of this pavilion after it was built was exterminated because he offended the imperial court. The pavilion eventually became the property of the imperial court, and naturally came under the jurisdiction of the successive governors of Dongping County.
Later, it was said that there was a generation of county guards who guarded Dongping County. They were particularly fond of silk and bamboo, so they used various means to transform it into the location of the official education workshop of the former dynasty.
The county guard was actually a member of the former royal family, and he also had a certain influence in the court. It can be said that his official career was smooth sailing until his death, and he remained entrenched in Liaocheng Mansion. Because he was fond of poetry, music, and music, and preferred drinking and playing silk and bamboo, he usually ordered people to raise a group of courtesans with good voices and looks. They often competed with others in drinking and reciting poems at Jufulou, which was also a popular story at that time.
Later, due to the change of dynasties, not to mention the survival of the Jiaofang, even the official offices of Liaocheng Prefecture were destroyed several times. Later, the forces in the vassal town were too lazy to care about these things. They once rebuilt the Liaocheng Prefecture after it was destroyed. Because the Jufu Tower remained standing, they actually regarded it as the central location and built the new city of Liaocheng Prefecture.
Because of the architectural style, although Jufulou Tower did not become a government office, it became a sight in Liaocheng Prefecture. There was a time when the vassal town was greedy for money and actually sold the Jufu Tower to a wealthy family, and it became a tool for the wealthy family to make money.
Time passed and dynasties changed. What no one expected was that due to the changes in the separatist forces and vassal towns, the great clans in various parts of the Central Plains could not protect themselves, and this clan withdrew from the stage of Liaocheng Prefecture. The whereabouts of his family disappeared in the end, and the Jufulou Tower became ownerless, and it was inevitable that it would become the property of the later vassal forces.
Although with the changes of the times, Jufulou has also suffered a lot of turmoil, and even the glorious church of the past has long since ceased to exist, the majestic scale of Jufulou is still shocking and has been preserved.
The Zhongyuan vassal town had changed owners several times since the previous dynasty. When it came to the current Zhou Dynasty, the owner of Jufulou Tower was actually changed to a man named Zheng Renfeng. It is said that this boss Zheng is a well-rounded person, and he takes care of everything from top to bottom. It seems that Jufulou Tower has also become more glorious in Liaocheng Mansion.
In fact, many people have never met the boss, but to be able to preserve the Jufu Restaurant, it has now become the largest restaurant in Liaocheng Prefecture, and it has been miraculously preserved. Boss Zheng must have put in a lot of effort, and it must be A remarkable character.
There is no need to worry about business in Jufu Tower every day, and the door is open so that visitors are not turned away. Because there is no curfew in Liaocheng Prefecture, many people who spend money in Jufulou will stay until the early morning. The business is so good and the boss is doing it, which naturally attracts countless customers.
Jufu Tower is packed with guests every day. What’s amazing is that many people want to go in and spend money, but often they can’t get in. Because although Jufu Tower is huge, only the lobby on the first floor is open to the public. However, the private seats on the second floor need to be reserved in advance, and you often have to queue for several days. There is also the private room on the third floor that is said to be rarely open to the public and needs to be reserved for regular regular customers.
It can be said that Reid was in a prosperous mood today. Under the guidance of his old servant Lei Lianfu and accompanied by his own servant Lei Daicai, he walked from the Governor's Mansion to Jufu Tower with square steps. Invited by Wang Junge of the Wang family, Reid naturally would not refuse, because it was the day when Wang established Zhou Ji's family to thank their relatives and friends.
Although Wang Junge is now only the infantry commander of Liaocheng Prefecture, Wang Jianli is still the commander of the Tianping Army. The power of the Wang family in Dongping County back then was even greater than the popularity of the Lei family today. If it weren't for Wang Jianli to review the situation, the Wang family would not have been so prestigious in Dongping County for decades.
If there was anyone whom Leide admired in Dongping County, it must be his brother Sai Mengchang Lei Fang, and the other one was Wang Jianfeng, the original military commander of the Tianping Army.
Others don't know the abilities of Lei Fang, the head of the Lei family, but Reid knows deeply that it can be said that 90% of the credit and reason why he has reached where he is today comes from his brother's strategies and schemes. Even though he has achieved the high position of governor of Liaocheng Prefecture today, Reid still deeply admires his brother.
As for Wang Jianli, Reid still doesn't simply admire him, because Wang Jianli has always been Reid's idol and role model.
A person who relied solely on his own ability to survive in four successive dynasties and hold high positions as military governors. What does this mean?
This is not only strength, but also a manifestation of a person's absolute ability!
He was born in the army, and rose from a small military officer to a general in Yuhou. Although he relied on his bravery and good riding and shooting, his real ability was his ability to judge the situation. Reid always thought that as the governor of a county and several states, if Wang Jianshe was not good at dealing with others, it would be difficult for Wang Jianshe to survive. Of course, if he were a little bolder, he might be able to separate the vassal towns and stand on their own.
There are too many variables in this era, and what Reid appreciates most is Wang Jianli's flexibility. A vassal town located in the hinterland of the Central Plains, instead of being self-reliant, it has established huge resources and connections for the family. Wang Jianli's scheming is not bad. Although the Wang family seems to be declining today because of Wang Jianli's departure, Reid knows that this is Wang Jianli's shrewdness.
The members of the Wang family don’t seem to be as famous as Wang Jianli! In fact, for the Wang family, the brothers of the Wang family have received more than Wang Jianli did. One is the governor of a state, the other is the infantry commander of a state, and the third is following the most popular commander around the emperor.
If the Wang brothers are promising themselves, they will surely soar to the sky because of their current platform. If they are only second generation ancestors, it is because the emperor unified all the Central Plains and got some residual shadow, at best, he can only live in mediocrity for the rest of his life.
After understanding Wang Jianli's arrangement, Reid naturally admired Wang Jianli even more. Of course, what shocked Red was that these were not the endings that Red had seen through, but what Lei Fang, the head of the Lei family, told him personally. Therefore, Reid not only admires his brother, but also has some fear of the Wang family.
The Governor's Mansion is not far from Jufulou Tower. Although there are crowds of refugees outside and there are constant rumors of robberies by horse bandits, the Liaocheng Mansion is still very peaceful.
That's why Red didn't bring any bodyguards. Firstly, it was because Jufulou Tower was close, and secondly, he had the family's servant Ding Lei with him. He was a good player who could not get close to others. As for the old servant Lei Lianfu, it was naturally because he was responsible for all the external affairs of the Lei family in Liaocheng Mansion.
The people on the roadside saw Red, although many of them had never seen him before and did not know the true appearance of the governor of Liaocheng Prefecture. But looking at his deep red brocade robe, he knew that he was a noble man, so he took the initiative to give way to Red and let him walk freely on the road.
Reid didn't care about this. He had stayed in Liaocheng Mansion for these years, and he and Li Chongjin had broken through the Tianping Army. He felt very good and believed that Liaocheng Prefecture was under his jurisdiction. Although it could not be said that the house would not be closed at night without picking up lost things on the road, at least it was peaceful so far.
This may be the main reason why the Lei family decided to move all their relatives to Liaocheng Mansion! Although Reid didn't understand why his brother still stayed alone in Acheng, as long as his family members arrived safely in Liaocheng Mansion, Reid felt a little proud. At least if his status in the family increased in the future, he would definitely be equal to his brother. .
Now it can be said that everything is ready. As long as the family members arrive at Liaocheng Mansion tomorrow, they will vigorously implement their plans. It's useless to say anything else. What Reid cares about is his current status in Liaocheng Mansion.
Only if you have enough power in your hands can you have the right to speak in a place. Now Reid deeply understands this truth. Although Liaocheng Mansion cannot say that it has all the power, with the goodwill support of the defense commander Shen Ba a few days ago, all forces are obviously compromising with themselves.
I can finally move my family to Liaocheng Mansion, and all aspects are actively cooperating with me. This is the best proof. Reid knew that this was the real prestige he had established in Liaocheng Mansion, and it was also the defense that made Shen Ba compromise on him.
This may be the result of the connections he has gathered in Liaocheng Prefecture and even Dongping County in the past two years, and his wise choices. Others thought that they had been appreciated by the emperor, and these people were optimistic about their future.
Reid did not rule out other people's thoughts. After all, ordinary people would think of this. But Reid knew that he didn't even have a chance to speak in front of the emperor. You can say that it's fine to be a fox and a tiger, but aren't all people like this?
However, Reid deeply understood that the reason why he was able to take advantage of the situation was entirely because he helped Li Chongjin that day and occupied the position of the Tianping Army's Jiedu Envoy. Naturally, you can't talk about such big things with others. Reid enjoys other people's speculation about the Lei family, because this kind of speculation can make others more afraid of the Lei family.
Seeing the two rows of red lanterns at the entrance of Jufu Tower, Reid suddenly became excited for some reason. The hazy light seemed to be like the blurred eyes of the beauty.
Red's obsession with beauties is not strong, which may be one of the main reasons why the Lei family trained him in the first place. But Red likes the feeling of having power, so he is also a person with an adventurous spirit.
When Lei Lianfu saw a steward of the Wang family standing at the door, he hurried over first. This was the consciousness a slave should have. Sure enough, when the steward of the Wang family saw Lei Lianfu coming, he politely handed over his hand to Lei Lianfu, and immediately stepped away and entered the Jufu Building.
As the number one person in Liaocheng Mansion, Reid's arrival is naturally a big event. As the chief envoy of the Wang family in Liaocheng Mansion, Wang Junge needs to come out to welcome him. What's more, in terms of position, although Wang Junge is under the jurisdiction of Shen Ba, he is still Reid's subordinate.
At this time, Reid usually slows down his body and pace, waiting for Wang Junge to greet him. Looking up and seeing the brightly lit Jufu Tower, Reid knew that the place must be packed with guests, so he took the initiative and slowed down.
Sure enough, Wang Junge was seen striding out of Jufu Tower. When he saw Reid, he bowed his hands and saluted from a distance. Red took the initiative and took two steps forward. Although he couldn't smile in this kind of scene, it was still very easy for a person like Red who was accustomed to scenes to deal with it.
He politely took Wang Junge's strong hand and stood still at the door of Jufulou. He couldn't help but recall Wang Jianli's achievements in the past with a few words, which made Wang Junge feel emotional and even his eyes turned red. Somewhat moist.
Seeing that the fire was almost done, Reid comforted Wang Junge with a leadership attitude. Then he asked a few questions seemingly casually, naturally looking to see who had arrived. When I heard that the people of all sizes in Liaocheng Prefecture had arrived, I took it for granted and understood what these people were thinking.
He is the boss of Liaocheng Mansion, so he cannot wait for others no matter what. These people know how to take the first half step, and naturally they still understand rank and respect. Reid was still very satisfied in his heart, but he didn't show it at all on his face. But he apologized profusely for being late.
Naturally, Wang Junge would not take Reid's words seriously. Not only was he grateful for Reid's arrival, but he also said that it was the right thing to do. The two of them put on a show at the entrance of Jufulou Building. Reid knew that it was almost enough, and then he took Wang Junge's hand and entered the building together.
The Wang family's return banquet was held on the second floor. Because Wang Pige, the second son of the Wang family, was in Yunzhou to observe filial piety, Wang Junge was naturally the host in Liaocheng Mansion. Wang Junge personally went downstairs to greet Reid, and the officials of Liaocheng Prefecture who arrived upstairs naturally knew about it. Seeing the two people coming up, they all stood up to greet them.
Reid glanced at the large five-sided stage set up on the second floor and knew that except for a few minor officials who had to be on duty at the government office, the rest were obviously here. But what surprised Reid even more was that he saw many garrison commanders and captains there. The reason why Liaocheng Prefecture is now stable is because the water, infantry and horse armies cooperate in guarding, making Liaocheng Prefecture impregnable.
Yin Qi, the commander of the cavalry army, and Huang Fujie, the commander of the navy in Liaocheng Prefecture, were also there. Wang Junge himself was the commander of the infantry army and was the host who returned the gift today, so there was no need to mention it. But after seeing Shen Ba sitting on the main stage in the middle, Reid was instantly relieved and didn't think much about it.
Although the safety of Liaocheng Mansion is extremely important, Reid still feels absolutely safe in the big city of Liaocheng Mansion. This is not a small place like Acheng. The city wall is almost half as high, and the garrison and military services are even more complete.
What Red was thinking about was not who was here, but why no one informed him. But when he saw that the Liaocheng Mansion defense envoys were there, all the doubts in Red's heart disappeared. As Wang Junge, the infantry commander of Liaocheng Prefecture, the deceased elders in his family returned the gift, and his colleagues from Liaocheng Prefecture should be present.
What's more, not to mention Wang Junge's own identity, his father's connections and prestige in Dongping County are far beyond what other families can match. Although some people are suspected of cheating, the Wang family has accumulated prestige in Dongping County for decades, and many people have received favors.
I saw a few well-known figures in Liaocheng Prefecture on the table beside me, and they were obviously not colleagues in the government. Reid didn't even think much about it. After all, Wang Jianli had passed away and Wang Junge still served in Dongping County. Reid was greeted by everyone and sat on the main stage.
Everyone sat down again, and Liaocheng Governor Shi Leid naturally took the Hakka seat. On his left is the defense commander Shen Ba, and on his right is the master's Wang Junge. Although everyone was sitting in the presence of Reid, it was a banquet for the Wang family after all. They greeted each other politely and immediately got into the topic.
First, Wang Junge stood up and thanked everyone for taking care of the Wang family. Although everyone knows that Wang Junge is humble, after all, half of the people here are Red's cronies, and some are Shen Ba's cronies. But there are also many officials promoted from the Wang family.
Officialdom has always been about flattering others, and it is inevitable to put on a show, so on this occasion everyone understood it tacitly. Then Wang Junge cautiously chased his father away with tears in his eyes. Everyone couldn't help but sigh again, and then let Lord Governor Reid speak.
Jufu Tower seems to be no different from usual, and under the cover of night, it looks particularly eye-catching. The lights in the third-floor restaurant were bright, and the sound of toasts and glasses could be heard from time to time.
For ordinary people, they would not dare to take a second look at a place like Jufu Tower in Liaocheng Prefecture. And for those who think they have some ability, they can only sigh in vain if they don't book a location in Jufu Tower. After all, in many places it is not just about having money, and many people understand this.
Maybe everyone lives a leisurely life without any disturbances, and no one seems to feel anything unusual. But I don’t know why, but now there is no one present in the usually bustling Jufu Tower hall.
There were also various voices urging people to drink from the second floor, but they seemed particularly abrupt. Someone nearby knew that the Wang family in Liaocheng Mansion was doing something today, and no one felt strange. But he forgot that the first floor, which seemed to be full just now, was now gone.
But only a few people dressed as guests suddenly came out of the back door on the first floor, quickly passed through the lobby, and stood at the door of Jufu Building. The few waiters and managers who greeted guests at the door of Jufulou didn't seem to feel any strangeness at all. Instead, they took the initiative to block the people outside before entering the restaurant.
Ordinary people wouldn't notice anything unusual. If a customer has made a reservation early, he or she should have entered the building early. Diners without a reservation will naturally not be asking for trouble.
A man in brocade clothes slowly walked down the hall from the second floor, seemingly not seeing anything wrong. When he came straight to the door, the people standing at the door looked at him. He looked calm but nodded slightly towards these people, but looked outside, especially towards the governor's mansion in the distance.
There are two large red lanterns, which are particularly eye-catching in the night.
This man turned out to be Liaocheng Prefecture Secretary Dong Jie. He should be considered a relatively high-status person in Liaocheng Prefecture. The return banquet on the second floor had just started, so I don't know why he came down early.
He looked back at the figure on the second floor, where officials from the Liaocheng Prefecture were busy socializing with each other. A relaxed smile suddenly appeared on his face, and his eyes slowly became determined. Looking at the night sky without many stars, it seems that I am expecting something.
Suddenly, a firework roared in the calm sky in the distance, and then bloomed in the night sky. Dong Jie's eyes lit up instantly, and then two more colorful fireworks bloomed in the sky, seeming to light up the sky.
Dong Jie's body trembled involuntarily, his eyes became hot, he slowly raised his right hand, and said lightly to the people at the door: "Let's get started!"
Someone on the side closed the door of Jufu Building. Except for Dong Jie and a guest who were standing outside, the rest, including the waiters and stewards, all hurried into the building.
People outside couldn't see what was going on inside, and people on the side didn't react. That's why Jufulou suddenly closed the door. However, dozens of people suddenly poured out from the small door at the back of the first floor. Each of them held a single sword in his hand and rushed directly to the second floor.
boom! boom! boom!
Looking at the handsome man next to the customer, Dong Jie nodded slightly. The man took out three fireworks from his arms, lit them immediately, and watched the fireworks roar into the sky. Just like the sky over there just now, this kind of bright fireworks lit up the night sky in an instant.
The smile on Dong Jie's face became even bigger. Looking at the streets where people were still coming and going, he murmured: "Liaocheng Mansion has changed!"
