Egbert really didn't expect that this matter would be discussed so quickly.
At the end of the court meeting, when he walked out of the hall to attend the banquet hosted by Li Shimin for him, everyone was still a little awake.
Tang Ping thought that he had not fully accepted the fact that he had been deprived of power, so he went up to comfort him and said: "Egbert, there must be a lot of business people there, right?"
Egbert originally wanted to say yes, but when he thought about it, it didn't seem to be much compared to the Tang Dynasty, so he didn't know how to answer.
Fortunately, Tang Ping didn't intend to ask him to answer, and just continued: "Actually, think about it, there is a small businessman there, he is very capable, he can earn seven or eight gold coins a month, among all the small businessmen nearby, He is the most powerful one."
"But at this time, a big businessman took a fancy to his ability and asked him to come and help him. He will give him two hundred gold coins a month. Do you think this small businessman will be willing?"
"Of course!" Egbert said: "No matter how powerful he is, his status is probably to earn more than ten or twenty gold coins, which is the limit. It is completely impossible to earn two hundred gold coins..."
At this point, he suddenly understood and said to Tang Ping with a wry smile: "You mean, I am that little businessman, right?"
"Hahaha, almost!" Tang Ping smiled and patted his shoulder: "We need friendly allies on the European continent, and Uncle Alaric is very suitable."
"And we also need partners to go to southern Africa to help us mine mineral resources! Besides, you are leading people to mine in southern Africa. There is a lot of iron ore there. Don't you know how to build weapons? You still have the huge amount of money we gave you. Ship, if you feel that your territory is too small in the future, you can continue to expand it!!"
This sentence can be regarded as an itch for Egbert. If he just wanted to be a miner leader to open up wasteland, he would naturally be unwilling to do so.
But now I have brought people there. As long as there is food, money can be made, iron mines and giant ships, it won't take long for me to rebuild a more glorious kingdom.
At this time, Egbert finally opened up all the knots in his heart and began to wholeheartedly accept Tang Ping's proposal or arrangement.
The two of them arrived at the small hall where they were preparing for the royal banquet. In addition to Egbert, Li Shimin also invited the former Turkic Khans and Arab emperors.
Egbert sweated on his forehead after hearing the identities of several people introduced by Tang Ping.
These people used to be considered the masters of a country, and they had much more territory and troops than themselves.
Now they are all retiring in Chang'an.
The difference may be that these two countries have fought wars against the Tang Dynasty in the past, but they have not.
Li Shimin did not come to this banquet, but Li Yuanji did.
In terms of status, he, King Zhao of the Tang Dynasty, was not lower than these past kings.
Li Yuanji didn't follow any rules and directly placed his desk next to Tang Ping, so that Tang Ping had Egbert and Li Yuanji sitting on the left and right.
"Everyone eats, you're welcome!" After casually explaining, Li Yuanji asked Tang Ping curiously: "You kid, why have you been running for so long without any news? You don't know, we gave you a break early, I didn't I even took a boat to Arabia to look for you!"
Tang Ping was a little embarrassed, Li Yuanji and others were really kind to him.
After briefly explaining how he was tricked by Li Siwen, Li Yuanji didn't really care, but asked about his experience in Europe with great interest.
At this time, the waiter began to arrange the dishes, and Egbert was stunned by the first dish.
what? The body is covered with thorns and looks like a ferocious gray-brown ball. How do you say this?
He secretly looked at Tang Ping next to him and found that the top of the ball could be opened, so he opened it like this.
He followed Tang Ping's example and tasted the inside with a spoon, and Egbert's eyes narrowed.
Delicious, so delicious. Smooth, tender, and delicious.
"What is this??" Egbert really couldn't hold it back.
"This? Sea urchin steamed egg."
"Sea urchin steamed egg? Is this an egg?" Egbert didn't believe it. How could he not have eaten eggs before, but how could it have such a smooth and tender texture?
"Yes, eggs, haven't you ever eaten them?" Tang Ping also didn't believe it. After all, you are a king, but you haven't eaten eggs?
"I've eaten eggs before, but never like this!" Egbert said honestly.
At this time, he no longer felt embarrassed. Anyway, only Tang Ping could understand what he said.
In Tang Ping's eyes, he probably lived no different from a beggar, so he just broke the jar and smashed it.
As soon as the second dish came, Egbert asked directly: "What is this?"
Because another ball came up, but this one was much bigger, golden and steaming.
"Pork slices of crispy rice!" Tang Ping picked up a spoon and demonstrated: "You hit the top with a spoon. It will be crispy and break into pieces when you hit it. Then the crispy rice will fall into the meat slices soup inside, and you can eat it."
Egbert imitated Tang Ping and tapped it with a spoon. Sure enough, there was a click and the ball burst open.
And a hot steam rose from the middle of the ball, bringing out a very rich fragrance.
He couldn't wait to take a bite.
Wow, it’s so hot, but it’s delicious!
Egbert almost cried, not because he was crying because of the delicious food, but because what kind of life had he been living in the past few decades?
"What is this made of?" He thought, such delicacies must be made of top-notch ingredients.
Unexpectedly, Tang Ping's words almost shocked his jaw.
"This is rice, with pork in it."
Knowing that Tang Ping had no need to lie to him about this matter, Egbert almost threw the bowl.
I have eaten rice and pork myself, but how did they make it so delicious?
I used to hire a high-priced cook in the castle, but every day he would make different kinds of bread and cheese for me.
Fortunately, when I first planned to go to Africa, I had to take him with me.
What a waste of time. Just chase him away when you get back. What will you accomplish in one day?
After finishing this meal, Egbert had a feeling.
My life has been in vain. I have lived in vain for the past few decades.
If I were to say that what I ate today were rare top-quality ingredients, I wouldn’t say much.
Unfortunately, what we ate today were basically made from ordinary ingredients. There was a wild vegetable pancake made from wild vegetables that even ordinary people could dig up.
"Don, I have to add a condition!" Egbert said: "I ask you to provide me with some cooks!"
Tang Ping thought Egbert was going to ask for something, but it turned out that he wanted a few cooks, and he couldn't laugh or cry for a while.
