Xu Huaishu did not return to the carriage, because Fu Xiaoguan's attitude was exactly the opposite of what His Majesty meant! This made him feel quite uneasy.
But His Majesty finally said carefully: When we go to Wu Dynasty, everything will be based on the opinions of Fu Xiaoguan.
Well, now... well, Xu Huaishu made up his mind and reminded Fu Xiaoguan: "Our dynasty is in troubled times!"
"No problem!"
Xu Huaishu returned to the carriage. Yu Wenjun spoke seriously, "In the two hundred years of history, the Wu Dynasty and my Yu Dynasty have fought three wars. Twenty years after the Taihe era, relations between the two countries gradually improved, but neither side remained submissive. To be honest, before I left, my mother instructed me to be extremely polite and tactful when meeting the Empress Dowager of the Wu Dynasty."
"There's nothing wrong with being polite and tactful, but we represent the Yu Dynasty. Even though they've sent a Left Vice Minister... I don't think we need to curry favor. Even when facing Emperor Wen, we don't need to lower our status. You have to understand, we're not here for state affairs; we're here to participate in a literary gathering. Unless someone with even greater literary talent than me comes here!"
Yu Wenyun immediately realized that he had fallen into a misunderstanding. This was a literary gathering. Even if the other party sent a prime minister, if his literary talent was not as good as Fu Xiaoguan's, there was no need for him to get out of the car to wait.
Unless it’s Wen Xingzhou!
Although Fu Xiaoguan's Lantern Festival poem surpassed Wen Xingzhou's, Wen Xingzhou's status as a great scholar in the literary world was there, so Fu Xiaoguan had to get off the car and wait.
At the same time, a convoy was also parked in Fanning City.
Guan Tong, the Left Vice Minister of the Guanli Hall, was sitting in a carriage in the middle. Opposite him sat a middle-aged man in his forties. He was Wen Canghai, the Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy, and the eldest son of Wen Xingzhou.
There was a tea table between the two of them, on which a pot of tea was brewing.
"Master Guan, is this the same as what you did to the students from Fan and Yi countries?"
Guan Tong took a sip from the teacup and said with a smile, "It's different."
"Oh, what's the difference?"
"The one who came is Fu Xiaoguan from the Yu Dynasty. He should be allowed to stay for a while."
Wen Canghai frowned, thinking that even his father praised the name of Fu Xiaoguan highly, especially after the poem "Qingyu'an, Lantern Festival" was introduced to the Wu Dynasty, his father was even more impressed and was not angry at all because his poem "Qingyu'an, Lantern Festival" was ranked second.
"Look, look! I've been busy with the literary affairs of the Wu Dynasty for forty years, but I can't achieve the same effect as a poem or an essay by Fu Xiaoguan. The Yu Dynasty is booming with literary affairs, and the literary world for the next few decades will be the stage for Fu Xiaoguan alone!"
This is an unparalleled evaluation!
As a Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy, he was naturally a man of real talent and knowledge. After listening to his father's words, he deeply understood the power of Fu Xiaoguan.
Therefore, Fu Xiaoguan is the only candidate designated by His Majesty!
But now Guan Tong still wants to leave him alone for a while!
"That's a little inappropriate."
"What's wrong?"
"Fu Xiaoguan is the person designated by His Majesty. Has Lord Guan forgotten?"
Guan Tong put down his teacup and smiled calmly, "Our Wu Dynasty is unprecedentedly powerful, its fighting capacity unmatched. And what about the Yu Dynasty? Even the Yi Kingdom was able to invade within 300 miles, and the war in the east of the Yu Dynasty is at a stalemate. Furthermore, the Empress Dowager of the Yu Dynasty has passed away, and the six major clans in Shangjing are all worried. The court is still in a state of panic because of Emperor Xuan's thorough investigation of disaster relief last year..."
He leaned down, moved closer to Wen Canghai, stroked his mustache, and smiled slyly: "The Yu Dynasty today is no longer the same as it was during the Taihe period. As ministers of the upper state, we naturally have to maintain the dignity of the upper state. What is this little official Fu? If I tell him to wait, he has to wait. Even if it's until tomorrow, he still has to wait. Do you believe it or not?"
Wen Canghai's brows furrowed even tighter. "Aren't you worried that he might turn around and go back?"
"Hahahaha..." Guan Tong laughed heartily. "Brother Canghai, you truly are a scholar. Let me put it this way: the envoys from the Yu Dynasty came to our dynasty with a request. As I told you before, the Yu Dynasty is now beset with internal and external troubles. What does Emperor Xuan fear most? My Wu Dynasty troops marching out of Qishan!"
"So, although they came to attend the literary gathering at the invitation of His Majesty, you must believe that they also came here to see our dynasty's attitude under the order of Emperor Xuan. Otherwise, why would the Ninth Princess of the Yu Dynasty come?"
"Since they have received the emperor's order, they naturally dare not disobey it. That's why I am certain that even if I ask them to wait until tomorrow, or even a few more days, they must wait. Do you understand now?"
Wen Canghai thought that this was a literary gathering that his father valued very much, and he must not let this guy ruin it for political reasons.
"Fu Xiaoguan is a scholar. He came to participate in the literary gathering as a Taizhong doctor."
"I know this, but Brother Canghai, don't forget that Fu Xiaoguan also has the identity of a counselor in the Secretariat!"
Guan Tong sat up straight, paused, his face became solemn, and said with a rather contemptuous tone: "A seventeen-year-old fourth-rank official... I think there is no one left in the Yu Dynasty."
As soon as he finished speaking, an official from the Wu Dynasty came to his carriage and whispered, "I haven't seen Fu Xiaoguan and his party get off the carriage and line up."
Guan Tong frowned, his eyelids drooping slightly, "Then let them continue to wait!"
We waited until dark.
Fu Xiaoguan got off the carriage and called Xie Xifeng and Xue Pinggui.
"Thank you, General. I guess your Lord Guan won't be able to come. Seeing that it's getting late, why don't we go into the city and rest?"
Xie Xifeng knew that Guan Tong was in Fanning City, but he didn't know why Guan Tong hadn't come out yet. However, he also understood that he couldn't let Fu Xiaoguan go in like that - who knew what Lord Guan meant. If he didn't follow his instructions and took Fu Xiaoguan and his party into the city without authorization, there would probably be many bad consequences.
So he quickly bowed and said, "I think Master Guan has been delayed by something important. I will send someone in to ask about it."
Just as Xie Xifeng was about to leave, Fu Xiaoguan spoke up: "Wait!"
"Thank you, sir, there's no need to go into the city to ask. I think the scenery here is quite beautiful... General Xue, order the soldiers to set up camp here and cook. Tonight, whether sir Guan comes or not, we will all stay here."
"I obey your orders!" Xue Pinggui turned and left, leaving Xie Xifeng dumbfounded. "This... Sir Fu, this is quite inappropriate. How about I go into the city myself and find out what's going on?"
Fu Xiaoguan laughed and patted Xie Xifeng on the shoulder: "General Xie, it's better not to meet. It will be more difficult to step down if I meet you!"
After saying that, Fu Xiaoguan returned to the carriage. Xie Xifeng was shocked: Could it be that Fu Xiaoguan already knew?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
