Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 35 Night Banquet
Everyone in the courtyard looked at him intently. He chuckled dryly and said, "I apologize for disturbing you all."

As soon as he finished speaking, he retracted his head and ran away without seeing anyone.

"Where does this person come from?" This guy seemed to have a habit of eavesdropping. Liu Daogui was secretly alert in his heart. Things are accomplished through secrecy, but they will fail if words are leaked.

"This man's surname is Du. He has lived in the mansion for many years, but no one remembers his real name. Everyone calls him Shu Nu." Gao Xun knew everyone in the mansion well.

The City Fox and the Community Rat may get their full names wrong, but they will definitely not get their nicknames wrong. The Rat Slave will know that they are not good people at first glance.

The General Zhenglu's Mansion is a mixed bag of people, and no one can tell who is human and who is a ghost.

Recalling what I just said, there doesn't seem to be anything taboo.

However, when we discuss things in the future, we still need to send someone to watch outside.

Gao Xun continued, "Envoy Huan has returned in a hurry, but we still haven't found any food. I'm afraid we won't have a good banquet tonight."

"I'm new here and haven't started my job yet. Lord Huan can't make things difficult for me, right? At most he'll blame me, which isn't a big deal." Liu Daogui has been busy making a living all year round, and he has a bit of a worldly air about him.

The sky hasn't fallen yet, so there's no need to worry.

And now we have some clues, so we just need to follow Sun Yizhi and investigate further.

Liu Zun said, "With the Huan family's financial resources, they should be able to provide a mere 3,000 dan of grain. Why go to so much trouble?"

For a poor family like Liu Daogui, three thousand dan of grain was an astronomical figure, but for aristocratic families like the Huan family, it was just a drop in the bucket.

Liu Daogui fell into deep thought.

Gao Xun said, "The court doesn't care about these 3,000 dan of grain. They're using this as an excuse to attack the Huan family. Even if the Huan family gives up these 3,000 dan of grain, Sima Daozi and Wang Guobao won't let them go."

As long as you are involved in the court's internal strife, charges and excuses are not a problem.

When Huan Wen seized power in his later years, he also dealt with others in the same way. He used the excuse that King Wuling Sima Xi was plotting a rebellion to exterminate the families of Yin Juan, Yu Qian, and Yu Rou.

From then on, the Yu family was kicked out of the Jiangdong court, their status declined, and they retreated to southern Yuzhou.

The Yingchuan Yu family was also a top-tier family with great strength. Huan Wen was a vanguard commander under Yu Yi and was good friends with Yu Yi. They had once agreed to work together to help the world. However, Huan Wen turned against Yu Yi in the blink of an eye and turned against him.

If the Huan family did not provide this batch of grain and grass, at most they would lose Huan Hong and the General Zhenglu's Mansion. The Huan family's foundation was in Jingzhou, so the loss would not be great.

However, if 3,000 shi of grain were transported from Jingzhou to fill the deficit, it would be neither reasonable nor rational. Sima Daozi and Wang Guobao would take advantage of the situation and spread the fire to Jingzhou.

Wang Chen, the governor of Jingzhou, was Wang Guobao's brother. He was eyeing the situation covetously and could hardly find an excuse. The reason why Huan family defected to the faction of Wang Gong and Yin Zhongkan was because they were pressed too hard by this person, making the whole family restless.

A bystander sees more clearly. There are many things going on here. Anyone who is interested can get a rough idea of ​​it with just a little thought.

The fate of the times is closely linked to the fate of the individual.

Nowadays it’s okay to have less ability and it’s okay to do wrong things, but you must not stand on the wrong side.

Since the Huan family stood on the side of Wang Gong and Yin Zhongkan, they were naturally suppressed by Sima Daozi.

"A Zhong, you take your men to investigate Sun Yizhi, and I will go to deal with Envoy Huan." Liu Daogui said to Liu Zhong.

Liu Zun curled his lips, seeming a little unconvinced.

There was no way to be dissatisfied. Among the few people, Liu Zhong was the most thoughtful. "I know."

Gao Xun said, "Since this is Lord Huan's banquet, you should change into some decent clothes. You and I are of similar build, so you can wear my clothes."

A man depends on his clothes, and a horse depends on his saddle.

Huan Hong would definitely be looked down upon if he dressed like a beggar at the night banquet.

On the contrary, if you are good-looking and well-dressed, you will be taken seriously.

During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, appearance was very important. Not only women liked to wear makeup, but men also liked to put on powder. Wearing women's clothing was a fashion, and having outstanding looks was also an advantage.

He is ugly and misshapen, so he can't even be a corrupt official.

"Obedience is worse than respect." Liu Daogui did not refuse. Some things just need to be kept in mind. Although the two of them had been together for a short time, they felt like they were old friends at first sight.

The Gao family was of higher status than the Liu family. Gao Xun's father, also named Gao Rou, was a well-known scholar in Jiangzuo. He was once appointed as a military officer by He Chong, the Minister of State during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Jin. His family had been among the aristocracy for decades.

The Gao family has inherited his legacy to this day. Gao Su and Gao Ya, both of whom were from the same clan, entered officialdom and became local governors, with the fifth rank.

Liu Daogui could not envy these things that were given to him by birth.

The official residence of the left wing of the Central Army is also inside the General of Conquering the Enemy's Mansion, just a few steps away.

A small courtyard, not too prosperous or luxurious, but clean and tidy.

There are also orchids and bamboos planted in the courtyard, lush and green, quite elegant. I don’t know what kind they are, but they are still blooming even though it’s already winter...

Gao Xun wore a brown jacket inside and a plain white shirt outside, with a green jade belt around his waist. He transformed himself into a nobleman from aristocratic family.

Liu Daogui was used to being poor, so he picked out a black hakama.

The name of this item originated in the late Han Dynasty. It was originally a riding uniform and became popular in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. It consists of a pleated top and tied pants. It is a common military uniform. It fits Liu Daogui's identity as a soldier without being ostentatious.

He just stood with Gao Xun, like his follower.

However, this trip was supposed to be low-key, and it would be best if we didn't attract Huan Hong's attention, so as long as we were neat and clean and looked presentable, there was no need to pretend to be anything more than that.

Gao Xun also applied a layer of powder on his face, and his originally heroic face became a little more feminine. "Does Taoism require this thing?"

Liu Daogui waved his hands repeatedly, "I'm really not used to it."

After washing up, they saw that it was almost time, so they went straight to the General Zhenglu's mansion together.

From afar, the sound of stringed instruments could be heard.

Elegant and gentle, with intermittent soft singing.

A lot of people came, including officers from the general's mansion and officials from the Qingzhou governor's mansion. They all wore tall crowns and jade belts, brightly dressed, and were surrounded by people, looking very rich and powerful.

The noble families and the common people lived in completely two different worlds.

After entering the hall and taking off their shoes, Liu Daogui and Gao Xun found an inconspicuous seat in the corner and sat on the Hu bed.

The seats at the top were all soft couches, but they were obviously not for entertaining corrupt officials like Liu Daogui and Gao Xun.

Although it was a banquet, there was a clear distinction between the two. The people at the top were all upright officials from high-ranking families, while the people at the bottom and on the periphery were all corrupt officials from humble families.

Stringed instruments, orchestras, singing girls and dancing girls were all gathered in the upper seats. Occasionally, one could hear people reciting poems or talking loudly, and spit flying as they pulled each other's sleeves while arguing. But what they were arguing about was the four principles of talent and nature, namely the similarities, differences, union and separation between talent and nature.

It all started with Zhong Hui's Four Treatises. Back then, Yin Hao was obsessed with this philosophy and argued endlessly with Huan Wen in Jiankang, gaining a great reputation in Jiangzuo...

Liu Daogui felt much more at ease. It seemed that Huan Hong did not take the three thousand shi of grain seriously, otherwise the atmosphere would not be so harmonious.

Even if he was in trouble, at most he would find a few corrupt officials as scapegoats. It was not his turn as a third-rank official to worry.

"This is Sima Tan Shao, the commander of the right wing of the Central Army." Gao Xun was busy introducing the people around him to Liu Daogui.

"Hello, Brother Tan!" Liu Daogui was very polite.

The Tan family was also very famous in Jingkou. There were many orphans in the family, and it was all thanks to Tan Ping that he raised several nephews alone, and he was praised by his neighbors.

Later, Tan Pingzhi served as a military officer under Sima Daozi, the King of Kuaiji. Tan Shao, Tan Zhi, Tan Daoji, and Tan Hezhi were all brave and strong.

"Are you Ji Nu's third brother? Haha, we are family, no need to be so formal." Tan Shao was about twenty-five years old, with a broad face, a high nose, and a sturdy build. He looked like a warrior at first glance.

Before I came here, my uncle told me that although the General Zhenglu's Mansion originated from the Western Palace, the middle and lower-level officers and officials all came from Jingkou, and there was not much difference between them and the Northern Palace Army.

Gao Xun also introduced several other colleagues from the Central Army, all of whom, without exception, were overseas Chinese from Jinling County.

They were all corrupt officials, all from humble backgrounds, and from the same hometown. Basically, they were all in the same boat, and they became brothers after just a few words.

The hall was noisy and lively.

(End of this chapter)