Chapter 346 Dinner
He choked up as he finished speaking. He looked at Luo Fei sincerely and said, "Our living conditions are indeed a bit shabby. Commander Luo is an associate of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I would like to ask Commander Luo to talk to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and ask them to give us at Yanhui Pass more money." After a pause, he couldn't help but say, "Our Lord Lu is really suffering."
Luo Fei: “…”
Okay, in the end you still have to give Lu Chenyang money?
Wei Guang quickly said, "That's enough. This kind of food is already a rare treat for ordinary people. Commander Luo, please stop being picky." He glanced at the postmaster and said, "There's nothing for you to do here. Please go down first."
The postmaster was quite respectful to Wei Guang. Without saying anything more, he respectfully replied "yes" and left.
As the postmaster turned around, his face darkened and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The Emperor sent such an idiot, who ultimately lost Yanhui Pass, causing countless casualties among the people there. Now, it was Lord Lu who repelled the Tatars and secured the peace talks, and now the court is thinking of sending someone to reap the spoils? How could such a good thing happen?!
He's so picky about food and lodging? Isn't the emperor great?
After the postmaster left, Wei Guang sighed.
Luo Fei said angrily, "Grandmaster, you saw this! A mere postmaster dared to be so rude to us. He simply doesn't respect His Highness and the Emperor. Where did he get the courage to offend like this? Wasn't it Lu Chenyang who instructed him? Lu Chenyang has evil intentions."
Wei Guang frowned and sighed softly: "Alright, we are here to negotiate, everything else doesn't matter."
At this time, Lu Chenyang also knew what happened in the post station.
In the study, Ji Ping told Lu Chenyang what Wei Guang and Luo Fei had said.
Ji Ping said sarcastically, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sent such an idiot? Is there no one left in the Crown Prince's Mansion?"
Lu Chenyang glanced at him, raised his eyebrows and said, "Idiot? One plays the good cop and the other the bad cop, using both kindness and force, the two of them cooperate so well, how can you be incompetent?"
Ji Ping was stunned for a moment: "Your Excellency, are you saying that Luo Fei did it on purpose?"
Lu Chenyang nodded: "Well, this is to test our attitude." He chuckled and said unconcernedly: "What is the reaction of the Tatars?"
Ji Ping said nonchalantly, "They're a bunch of defeated generals, with plenty to worry about. They started making demands the moment they entered. I didn't indulge their bad habits. I told them directly that they don't want to eat or talk, and if they don't want to negotiate, our Lu family army is willing to go to Tatar and reason with them."
A smile flashed across Lu Chenyang's eyes, and he said, "Don't go too far."
Ji Ping said, "That's right. They are the defeated party. Do they want us to worship them? Don't they have any idea?"
Lu Chenyang felt that what he said made sense and didn't say anything more.
In the evening, Lu Chenyang was going to host a banquet for both delegations. No one on either side dared to have any secret thoughts in private, but since Lu Chenyang was inviting them, no one dared to neglect him.
This was the first meeting between the two delegations.
Wei Guang and Luo Fei, believing they were representing the Crown Prince's dignity, both attended in their finest attire. Luo Fei, in his purple official uniform, exuded an air of authority. Meanwhile, Luo Fei, clad in armor, not too heavy, and sporting a large red shawl, exuded a murderous aura and imposing presence.
The Tatar delegation was led by a young official in his thirties named Muta, who had a refined demeanor and was much more refined and elegant than most Tatars. Two other noteworthy members of the delegation were the queen's uncle, Dakun, and a burly, bearded man named Pula.
These three people also represent the three major forces of Tatar at present. Muta is from the Tatar king's faction. Like Zar, he is also born in a commoner family, but he has outstanding abilities. Together with Zar, he is known as the right-hand man of the Tatar king.
Dakun, needless to say, was the queen's man. He was a veteran Tatar noble, with Tatar nobles behind him.
As for Pula, he was once the foremost warrior of the Tartars. He didn't accompany Zar on this expedition because he had been seriously injured in a previous battle and had recuperated for over two years before finally recovering. The Tartar king had sent him as a deterrent.
They arrived together, sitting on either side of the Chu River and Han River, with the atmosphere full of tension, but no one was restrained.
Lu Chenyang arrived late. He strode into the room and said with a smile, "Everyone is here, but I, the host, am late. I really had some urgent official business, so please forgive me."
Lu Chenyang said this, but there was not much apology on his face. He strode to the main seat and sat down.
Who would dare to blame Lu Chenyang now? Mu Ta said softly, "I've heard that Lord Lu is always diligent in his work. I'll just wait a moment. How dare I delay his important government affairs?"
Luo Fei sneered, "If you Tatars stop causing trouble, Lord Lu will have a lot more free time. Is it your turn to be so sympathetic?"
Pura slammed the table. "Say that again?"
Luo Fei also stood up immediately: "Just you Tartars, what's wrong? You are defeated!"
Muta said slowly, "The one we Tatars lost was Lord Lu. I know all the generals under Lord Lu, but you look unfamiliar. I wonder who you are?"
A light-hearted remark made Luo Fei blush.
Their meaning was clear. Even if the Tatars lost, they lost to Lu Chenyang. What did it have to do with you? They didn't even know who you were, so how could you mock them? You probably hadn't even been on the battlefield.
"I am the commander of the guards of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! If you had not been defeated in the battle, you would not be qualified to see me." Luo Fei said proudly.
Muta raised the corner of his lips: "What His Royal Highness? I do know the Fourth Prince of Dagan. I heard that he escaped without a fight, allowing us to successfully capture Huai'an City. The Fourth Prince is a person..." He chuckled and shook his head: "I just don't know how capable His Royal Highness is, but seeing you, it seems that he is just so-so."
This actually involved His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Wei Guang couldn't stand it anymore. He looked at Lu Chenyang and said in a bad tone: "Sir Lu, are you going to let these foreigners humiliate our Crown Prince?!"
Before Lu Chenyang could say anything, Mu Ta spoke again, "Grandmaster Wei, please be careful with your words. I have no intention of insulting your Crown Prince. Our King and I have both heard of Lord Lu's great name and know of his exceptional abilities, including sheltering disaster victims and quelling internal and external troubles. Our King also speaks highly of Lord Lu and only wishes he had such a capable minister, even though he always thinks I am useless. But I haven't heard much about the Crown Prince. I'm asking today simply out of curiosity." He smiled warmly, "I imagine that with a minister like Lord Lu, your Emperor and Crown Prince must be exceptional individuals, right?"
He mastered the art of both overt praise and covert criticism, using both veiled and ironic tactics. They'd heard of Lu Chenyang, but not the Crown Prince. Why? Was it because he kept a low profile? If Lu Chenyang was so capable, wouldn't he be even more capable as a monarch?
This blatant mockery and provocation is simply an insult to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
As for Emperor Qianyuan... he had long lost his face, and they represented the crown prince.
When Lu Chenyang heard this, he knew that Mu Ta was indeed difficult to deal with. Qian Yue had used a counter-espionage strategy on Tatar, and now Mu Ta was using it on him.
Who would feel comfortable praising Lu Chenyang and disparaging the prince in front of the prince's teacher? This was to sow discord between Lu Chenyang and the prince.
Their relationship wasn't very close to begin with.
Wei Guang and Luo Fei's faces were gloomy, but they had nothing to refute. No one in the world dared to say that their ability was greater than Lu Chenyang's.
Lu Chenyang's face darkened slightly. He took a sip of wine and then placed the glass on the table neither lightly nor heavily.
The muffled sound was not too loud, but it made everyone focus their attention.
Lu Chenyang said calmly, "It seems that the meal I prepared did not satisfy you, my lords?"
What I mean is, even with so much food, you still can’t fill your mouths!
Mu Ta, knowing when to stop, quickly said, "Lord Lu's banquet is naturally the best." He raised his wine glass and said, "Lord Lu, although we have different views, I have admired you for a long time. I have read several of your articles, and I admire your conduct under the rule even more. Besides our king, you are one of the people I admire most. I offer you a toast today, Lord Lu."
Muta said this and drank the wine in the glass first.
Lu Chenyang nodded slightly, lowered his head and took a sip, but did not drink it all.
Muta noticed it, his eyes flashing, and he understood in his heart. Lu Chenyang was not that easy to deal with, and his words did not shake him in the slightest.
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