capital of han river
It was the 70th birthday of the old king Park Deok-ho of the Han River. The old king attached great importance to this and did not hesitate to spend millions of silver to hold a grand banquet in the palace. The entire venue was filled with birthday banquets, red candles swaying, and joy.
The banquet was surrounded by birthday banners with praises and congratulations to the old king written on them. There were also several stages on which auspicious birthday celebrations were performed with gongs and drums beating. A golden shed was specially set up in one place, filled with birthday gifts carefully prepared by civil and military officials. The old king was dressed in a red dragon robe and sat on the throne with a spring breeze on his face, accepting congratulations from his ministers.
Countries that sent envoys to send invitations: Not to mention the Taiwei Empire, the Sunrise Kingdom in the east, and the more remote Nanqu Kingdom. At the same time, the kings of two small countries located to the south of the Han River: Hening and Wanchang even came to congratulate him in person. The order of the banquet is properly arranged to distinguish the high and low of the country.
What is puzzling is that Liu Zhao, who has always been close to Han Jiangguo, was not invited. Logically speaking, Liu Zhaoxiong lives in Youzhou, and although he is not a state, if he is not invited to such an occasion, it will obviously embarrass him.
The envoy from the Sunrise Kingdom has arrived. They brought two million taels of silver and some specialty food, which seemed a bit stingy. Although the old king was dissatisfied, he still said with relief: "Your country's political situation is unstable, but you still don't forget your heart. It's really admirable."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding. The Han River and Sunrise have always had a brotherhood. Since they are a country of brothers, this is how it should be."
After hearing this, the old king asked with unclear meaning: "In a country of brothers, who is the brother and who is the brother?"
"The king is now honored and should be treated as a brother. If my lord lives such a long life in the future, then my lord will be treated as a brother."
The old king looked startled, then laughed heartily: "Your Majesty, don't think too much, I am just joking around."
There are four side seats at the table, and one deputy seat is reserved for envoys. When the envoy from the Sunrise Kingdom saw that the deputy chief's seat was vacant, he unceremoniously asked to take his seat. The attendant on the side stopped me gently: "Sir, please wait, your seat is downstairs."
The envoy from the Sunrise Kingdom had a sullen look on his face: "A country of brothers, shouldn't we sit here?"
The old king smiled and explained: "Your Majesty, please be patient. This position is reserved for a large country in the Central Plains. You must not tamper with it without permission."
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a commotion outside. A group of envoys appeared on the streets of Hanjiang City. The number of the envoys was about two hundred, and they were very large and bustling. The carriages carrying gold and silver silk and satin stretched for several miles, attracting a crowd of people to come forward and watch.
It can be seen from the flag that this is the mission of the Taiwei Empire, a large country in the Central Plains. But what is more eye-catching is that Prince Zheng’s flag is of equal height to the imperial flag, and even the latter is slightly more imposing. The envoy from Sunrise Kingdom saw this and felt ashamed. Without waiting for others to say anything, he immediately gave up his position as deputy chief.
"Chen Shuai, the envoy of the Taiwei Empire, would like to wish your great king a prosperous spring and a prosperous sun and moon." Chen Shuai bowed his hands in respect.
The old king quickly ran down from his seat and held Chen Sheng's hand: "The heavenly country nourishes all nations, I am so grateful!"
"This is my Lord's sincerity, and he wants to be on good terms with the king. The king has a bright heart, and he knows it."
The envoys stood up to toast, and they all glanced at the flag with the word "Zheng" tacitly in mind.
After the old king settled Chen Shei down, he personally toasted and handed it to the guard Guan Lang behind him. Guan Lang holds the Qinglong Yanyue Sword. He is tall, strong and majestic.
"I admire the outstanding people in this country. I hope that when the general pours this cup, it will also bring light to my face." The old king had a flattering look on his face.
Guan Lang raised his hand and refused: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness. However, as a guard, Guan doesn't dare to mess up his affairs because of greed." This sentence made the old king admire him so much that he praised him repeatedly.
Regardless of the vacant seats, everyone exchanged cups and cups, chatting and laughing. The old king stood up and toasted Chen Shuai, who also stood up and returned the toast.
"At the King's birthday banquet, although there were fine wines and delicacies, it was not a feast for the eyes. What a pity!" The envoy from the Sunrise Kingdom hugged his knees and sighed.
The old king clapped his hands, and there were four dancers, with their backbones tied up in buns, their foreheads wiped with crimson, and gold ornaments as hanging ornaments. Two of them were wearing yellow skirts and red and yellow trousers, and two of them were wearing red turbans with extremely long sleeves. , black leather boots, as the palace music played, they danced side by side, like a firework that kept blooming.
When the dance is good, everyone will clap and cheer. Chen Sheng only took a few symbolic shots and thought to himself: "It's nothing but a shock to my poor eyes."
Seeing that he was not interested, the old king poured another glass of wine himself and handed it to him. Chen Shei quickly stood up and responded.
"How are you, Prime Minister?"
"Thanks to your Majesty, King Zheng is always well."
The old king hesitated for a while, and then said: "I am confused, it should be His Royal Highness Prince Zheng. In the past, I came to Beijing to see you, and King Zheng held a banquet for seven days to welcome me and wash away my dust, which gave me enough face in the Hanjiang Kingdom. If there is a chance, I will definitely not burden."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Prince Zheng has always been kind to all directions, and his benevolence spreads all over the world. Whether it is within the nine states or outside the four seas, he always sings praises and praises his virtues, which is quite the legacy of the Taizu of your country."
"The king's words are intended to trap my king into injustice!" Chen Sheng laughed.
"As the saying goes, 'Destiny is impermanent, only virtue is right'!" The old king also laughed. The atmosphere was so cheerful.
Suddenly, a burst of horse neighing pierced the sky, scaring all the dancers into panic and the music stopped abruptly. The envoys looked at each other, and the old king also looked doubtful.
"Who dares to disturb my birthday party today?"
Everyone looked outside the hall, but saw no one. They only heard a burst of proud laughter:
"The King of Yan, Liu Zhao, is here for the banquet!!!"
The old king stood up in a panic, his face covered with anxious sweat, and his old hands weakly held the edge of the table: "Liu Zhao? Who invited him?" None of the envoys replied.
As soon as he finished speaking, the man named Liu Zhao strode into the hall with his child. Everyone looked at the man in front of them curiously: they saw him wearing silver armor and a red shirt behind him. The body is majestic and the appearance is dignified. Qingjun stood tall and straight in the center of the hall, his eyes like the edge of a sword, making people feel chilled.
"The old king looks bad, but did he have a conflict with me?"
"King Yan was so abrupt, I was really caught off guard." The old king sat back down in embarrassment.
And Liu Zhao has become the new protagonist at the banquet.
"Dear envoys and monarchs, I, Liu Zhao, am here today. Firstly, I want to wish the old king a birthday and congratulate him on his good health. Secondly, I also want to be friends with you!" Liu Zhao shook his cloak and raised a large amount of dust. , choking everyone coughing again and again.
The old king looked at him with dissatisfaction and said in a lukewarm voice: "King Yan has been governing Liaodong with great care, and I really don't dare to disturb him. I don't want to ignore my busy schedule and take the time to come here and impress me."
Liu Zhao looked around and sneered: "He Ning and Wanchang, the two monarchs, ignored the state affairs and even accepted the invitation to come to celebrate their birthdays. How can I, Liu Zhao, hide at home and prevaricate my ears and let people talk behind my back?"
At this time, the little boy of about six years old at Liu Zhao's feet stepped forward step by step and ascended to the throne. The old king looked at him in disbelief, but said nothing.
"Grandpa, you are so beautifully dressed." The boy grabbed the corner of his clothes.
The old king slowly knelt down and said, "Have you never seen it before? This is a dress that only kings can wear."
The boy turned his attention to the crown again. He looked curiously at the pearls and jade, and reached out to grab them. The old king stood up in a hurry and protected his crown.
"Chen'er, what's wrong?" Liu Zhao asked with a smile.
The boy quickly returned to his father and pointed at the old king's crown. His voice was slightly hoarse: "Dad, Chen'er wants..."
"That cap is too small and doesn't fit on our heads."
His voice was calm without any fluctuation, but there was always an invisible sense of oppression that made people feel nervous.
Liu Zhao looked at everyone coldly, laughed, and then his whole body trembled with laughter: "I'm sorry, everyone, I'm just joking!"
This is clearly a naked provocation! The old king clenched his fists and kept breathing heavily. Chen Sheng sneered: "You must be the Duke of Yan who was specially appointed by the imperial court?"
Liu Zhao always called himself King of Yan, and this title of Duke of Yan made him feel bad. He knew very well that this must be an envoy sent by the imperial court and a subordinate of Zhang Qingmeng.
"Oh, I didn't know that King Zheng's special envoy was here. I'm disrespectful..." Liu Zhao pretended to be humble.
"Mr. Yan is so polite. Chen Sheng originally wanted to visit your fiefdom at the end of the year, but he didn't expect to meet in another country today. It is really the most wonderful thing in ancient and modern times."
"It turns out to be Mr. Chen. His reputation is really astonishing."
"I really don't dare to take this seriously. Mencius said: 'Therefore, a gentleman is ashamed of having heard someone's love.' It really makes me ashamed and unbearable."
"Sir, why should you be too modest and let those who don't have ears listen to you? Wouldn't it be detrimental to your reputation?"
Chen Sheng smiled softly, with a hint of frivolity and coldness in his words: "After all, I am a shallow person. I never dare to claim my reputation in vain, cheat to gain prestige, gain temporary complacency, and attract the attention of others."
Liu Zhao frowned, then smiled happily: "Your Excellency, you are a handsome gentleman, which is admirable. I once heard that with a sharp tongue, I persuaded the prefect of Kunpeng Pass to surrender. With such strength and a good name, what's wrong with that?" ?”
Chen Sheng pretended to sigh: "I have no choice but to be as thin-skinned as a cicada's wings, and I never dare to bear the name for nothing."
Liu Zhao's eyes flashed with a stern look: "With your great talent, you can definitely help the country and secure the country. It's a pity that your Majesty is young and can't tell the difference between a loyal minister and a good general."
Chen Sheng smiled faintly: "I think Wei Hua had hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers, but he caused disaster because of his greed for fame. We dare not ignore the lessons learned from the past."
Liu Zhao heard the implication and felt uncomfortable: "You are indeed King Zheng's staff. His sharp mouth is like a sword, which can hurt people's hearts."
"Yan Gong is so complimentary."
The two toasted each other, and the atmosphere seemed to relax. Chen Sheng returned to his seat, while Liu Zhao looked around and only found an empty seat in the corner.
"I didn't expect Duke Yan to come here. I didn't reserve a seat for this banquet. Please forgive me, Lord Yan." The old king straightened his back slightly, with a smirk on his face.
Liu Zhao found that his name for him also changed with Chen Shei, which showed that the Hanjiang king had ulterior motives. But he didn't panic at all, and laughed loudly: "Don't worry, old king, I have already prepared my own seat!"
As he said that, two soldiers carried the seats in from outside the banquet and placed them in front of the old king, facing the envoys. It was as if he was the protagonist of the banquet and the old king became a pitiful decoration.
"The envoy from Nanqu Kingdom is here for the banquet——"
I saw a man in tattered clothes barging in with an envoy in hand. He fell to the stage with a thud, then stood up in embarrassment, causing everyone to laugh.
"Envoy from Nanqu Kingdom, I wish you a long life!" The envoy mistakenly recognized Liu Zhao, who was sitting in the middle, as the King of Hanjiang, and knelt down and bowed his head.
The scene was very funny and the banquet was full of laughter. Liu Zhao even lost his composure, laughed wildly with a red face, and repeatedly pounded the table with his fist. The old king turned red with anger and rebuked loudly: "It is a small country, but its ruler is ignorant and its ministers are mediocre!"
The envoy realized that he had made a big mistake and quickly kowtowed to the old king to admit his mistake. When the envoys of the Sunrise Kingdom saw his ragged clothes, they couldn't help but be curious: "People often say that Nanqu Country is a small country and its people are weak.
The room was like a hanging chime. I thought it was an exaggeration from the market, but unexpectedly it turned out to be so cold. "
"Although our Nanqu country is weak, it can still produce grain and silk, so it won't make the house hang like a rock." The envoy replied quietly.
The old king said in a strange tone: "Nanqu Country is really rich. The people in the country are frugal and save money to save this silk and satin to go to other countries. Your king is really working hard to govern!"
Everyone was stunned for a second, then bit their lips to suppress laughter, and finally couldn't help it and laughed out of control. Those who laughed were out of breath, and there were many who slapped the table, held their stomachs, and hid in laughter. The old king laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face, and his chest kept shaking.
The envoy knelt on the ground and covered his face, with a few tears rolling in his eyes. No one knew that he was attacked by pirates on the way to visit and narrowly escaped death just to attend the birthday party. Unexpectedly, he was so humiliated. He felt that it was not worth it.
But he couldn't refute it, because if he said the wrong thing, he might bring disaster to his country.
The old king's tone seemed to be ordering: "I'm sorry you can't bring any decent tribute. Come back to the banquet quickly and don't disturb the interest of the noble envoys!" The envoy had no choice but to put away his tears and sit quietly in the corner. , looking pitifully at the people drinking and having fun.
After drinking for a long time, Liu Zhao's cheeks were slightly tipsy and he smiled: "The wine in Hanjiang Country is so delicious. I really don't want to leave here."
The old king said: "If Mr. Yan likes it, I will give you a few altars."
Unexpectedly, Liu Zhao suddenly stood up and laughed without looking back: "No need, I will personally lead the troops to get it someday!"
These words were like thunder that shook the earth, making the old king feel terrified all over. In order to protect the safety of the old king, dozens of guards rushed in wearing armor and armed with guns, and surrounded the father and son. The envoys stood up in panic and retreated one after another. Only Chen Sheng was drinking contentedly, while Guan Lang held the Qinglong Yanyue Sword tighter.
Liu Zhao glanced at the guard contemptuously, then smiled with unknown meaning: "I once heard that when King Zheng attended Zhou Cheng's birthday banquet when he was young, he regarded all the kings as playthings in his hands. Even when they were surrounded by them, he did not panic at all. , which astonished the world. Only today did Liu Zhao understand what happened to King Zheng at that time, and he admired him even more..."
He looked back again: "Master Chen, is my situation today comparable to that of King Zheng in the past?"
Chen Sheng smiled and said nothing.
The old king was afraid that the situation would escalate and hurriedly scolded the guards. Liu Zhao walked away with his head held high and an arrogant laugh. Swinging the shirt behind him, a burst of dust was raised...
