Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 190 The Li Family (Part 2)

After Lü Shang established the Golden Terrace, artisans from surrounding states and even outside Henan knew that there was a state of Xu in Henan with the surname Jiang, who wanted to build a strong nation and a powerful army. He built the Golden Terrace and recruited master craftsmen with the respect due to a national hero.

Although most of the great craftsmen in the various states already had masters, there were still some frustrated craftsmen who regarded the Golden Terrace as a stepping stone to advancement.

In the palace of Xuchang, Lü Shang sat on a wooden couch, with a bronze lamp standing between black jade pillars beside him, casting dappled light and shadow.

Baili Yu sat opposite him, unfolded the bamboo slips in his hand, and traced the engravings on the slips with his fingers. His voice was filled with undisguised excitement as he said, "Your Majesty, since the completion of the Golden Terrace, more than a hundred craftsmen from various states have come to join us in the past month. Among them, the Jiang family branch accounts for half, and the rest are disillusioned craftsmen from various states such as Ji and Ying."

Upon hearing Baili Yu's report, Lü Shang sat up straight and asked, "Is there a master craftsman among them?"

Baili Yu paused on the bamboo slip with his fingertips, raised his eyes slightly, and replied: "There is a man named Li Tan, who is a descendant of a fallen royal family of the Li Kingdom. He is skilled in weapon forging and has the air of a great man. I have observed his weapon forging and it is indeed remarkable."

"Li Kingdom,"

Lu Shang raised an eyebrow and whispered, "The Jiuli Clan?"

Baili Yu nodded and said, "It is indeed the Jiuli clan of the Jiang surname. In the past, the Jiuli clan forged five weapons and used them to awe the world. Later, the Jiuli clan was defeated by the Yellow Emperor Di Hong, and the eighty-one parts of the Jiuli clan disintegrated, turning from prosperity to decline."

"This Li Kingdom, which originated from Li Tan, was established by the remnants of the eighty-one tribes of the Jiuli clan."

The so-called Jiuli clan was actually composed of nine Li clan tribes, each of which contained nine clans, totaling eighty-one clans.

This is also the origin of the saying that Chi You had eight brothers from the same mother and seventy-two brothers from the same clan, who were the origin of the Jiuli clan.

Baili Yu said, "It is said that the Li Kingdom obtained the essence of the Jiuli clan's weapon-making techniques. The weapons they forged could cut through metal and sounded like a dragon's roar. Although Li Tan is a fallen royal family, his ancestors were once very prominent. The weapon-making techniques they passed down should have seven parts of the Li Kingdom's weapon-making techniques."

"Seven points, seven points is already quite a lot,"

Lu Shang suddenly slapped his knee, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, so intense that even the bamboo slips on the table trembled.

After he stood up, his robe sleeve swept across the bronze lamp, reflecting a dazzling light on his face. He said, "Quickly prepare a four-horse carriage and welcome Li Tan into the palace with the honors due to a member of the royal family. The Li Kingdom is famous throughout the world for its weapon-making techniques. Even if we only have seven-tenths of the true teachings, our Xu Kingdom can still dominate Henan and reign supreme in Yuzhou."

Seeing that Lü Shang's robes were already fluttering as he arrived at the palace gate, Baili Yu hurriedly stood up, holding the bamboo slips, and said, "Does Your Majesty intend to summon Li Tan at this moment? Although Li Tan is from a fallen noble family, he is, after all, new to Xuchang."

Before he could finish speaking, Lü Shang interrupted him. As he turned around, the jade pendants at his waist clashed together, producing a clear and melodious sound. A confident smile appeared on his lips as he said, "I built the Golden Terrace and issued edicts to all directions, which shows my thirst for talent. Now, a great talent like Li Tan has come here because of my reputation. If I were to be negligent, how could I win the hearts of all the craftsmen in the world?"

Looking at the dashing Lü Shang, Baili Yu's eyes gleamed with fervent light, and he solemnly said, "Your Majesty's heart is as vast as the ocean, encompassing all rivers, much like the Three Kings."

The Three Kings were three sage kings who, after the severing of the connection between heaven and earth, were Emperor Jun of the Gaoxin clan, Emperor Yao of the Taotang clan, and Emperor Shun of the Youyu clan. After the Three Kings came Emperor Yu of the Xiahou clan.

In front of the workshop, dusk had already stained the bronze tripod patterns, and Lü Shang's four-horse chariot rolled over the bluestone road.

Li Tan stood below the steps, watching the four-horse carriage approaching.

After getting off the carriage, Lü Shang bowed to Li Tan and said, "Lord Li has come from afar; I have failed to greet you properly."

Although he was bowing, his gaze remained fixed on Li Tan, burning with intensity as if he were looking at a stunning beauty. This forced Li Tan to subconsciously lower her eyes, avoiding his intense gaze.

"Lord Li,"

Lu Shang reached out and gently supported Li Tan's arms. Before Li Tan could return the gesture, Lu Shang said loudly, "I have long heard of the earth-shattering art of weapon forging by your ancestors, Lord Li. Now, the State of Xu is fortunate to have you come to serve us, like a parched land longing for rain."

After saying this, he took off the black jade pendant from his waist and tied it to Li Tan's waist with his own hands, saying, "With Lord Li by my side, I am like a fish in water, and my career is within reach."

At this moment, Lü Shang perfectly embodied the meaning of "the Duke of Zhou spitting out his food to welcome guests," and the essence of "thirsty for talent." Before Li Tan could refuse, Lü Shang pulled him along, saying, "Lord Li, please get into the carriage."

After Li Tan's fingertips touched the jade pendant at his waist, he said, "Uncle Xu, you flatter me."

Lü Shang grasped Li Tan's wrist and said, "It's easy to gain a thousand soldiers, but it's extremely difficult to gain a talent like Lord Li."

As he spoke, Lü Shang exerted force with his palm and pushed Jiang Tan onto the carriage.

Jiang Tan, as a master craftsman, also possessed a true human body, but in front of Lü Shang, let alone a true human, what could even a saintly or extraordinary being do?

After pushing Li Tan into the carriage, Lü Shang raised his hand and waved lightly, signaling the driver to step down.

The charioteer bowed and retreated to the foot of the steps. Lü Shang then took the reins and said, "Today, I will drive for Lord Li."

Li Tan said softly, "Your Majesty, this is too much of a courtesy. I dare not accept it."

Lü Shang laughed as he held the reins, saying, "I have declared to the world that if any talented person comes to serve me, I will treat them with the highest honors. Does Lord Li intend for me to break my promise to the world?"

Having said that, Lü Shang drove the carriage, which rumbled past the palace walls and finally stopped in front of the hall. Lü Shang personally helped Li Tan out of the carriage.
"Truly a wise and sage ruler!"

Baili Yu, who was standing to the side, had watched Lü Shang's actions from beginning to end. At this moment, his eyes and brows were filled with an undisguised burning expectation.

"Your Majesty's actions are reminiscent of Emperor Jun's banquet for guests at Yaotai and Emperor Yao's visit to Xu at Jishan. Now Your Majesty personally holds the reins and welcomes the craftsman at the roadside with the rites due to a member of the royal family. This bow and support are not just welcoming Li Tan, but clearly welcoming all people under heaven."

Only then did Baili Yu realize what Lü Shang was thinking.

"Lord Li, please take your seat."

Lü Shang, holding Li Tan's hand, stepped into the main hall, where the chime bells in the corridor struck out with clear and melodious sounds.

A grand banquet had been prepared in the hall, with the aroma of deer antlers rising from the bronze dishes, and eight human-shaped lamps casting flickering light on the cloud patterns on the bronze walls.

"In today's world, the strong prevail, and the weak perish."

Sitting on the couch, Lü Shang picked up his wine cup, his gaze fixed intently on Li Tan, and said, "The five weapons of the Jiuli clan once shook the world. Now, Lord Li, can you help me restore their former glory?"

After a long silence, Li Tan sighed and said, "With such a generous offer from Your Majesty, how could Li Tan dare to disobey?"

Upon hearing Li Tan's agreement, Lü Shang burst into laughter, his voice booming like a great bell, causing the chime bells in the hall to ring incessantly.

"Good! Good!"

He suddenly stood up, his robe sleeves causing the wine cup to tilt, and the amber wine spilled onto the bronze tripod, as if it were tinged with a layer of golden light.

"I will appoint Lord Li as the head of all craftsmen. All the materials needed for casting weapons, whether copper, iron, gold, tin, manpower, or workshops, shall be at Lord Li's disposal. Whatever Lord Li needs, I will provide with the entire nation's resources!"

"Your Majesty,"

Li Tan was deeply moved and finally sighed, saying, "Since Your Majesty treats me as a national hero, Li Tan will repay you with his life."

(End of this chapter)