Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Li Qinzai finally understood why Wu Jun's Lu family took the initiative to find him.

To put it bluntly, it is a show of goodwill and loyalty to the court.

The Lu family, one of the eight prominent families, was willing to compromise with the imperial court and obey its decrees.

Planting new grains is just a superficial statement. In fact, Lu's subtext is that Lu will be willing to comply with all future government orders.

Li Qinzai stared at Lu Yun's face and smiled with interest.

Since going to Jiangnan, the deadlock between him and Jiangnan's prominent families seems to have broken down from now on.

After all, Li Qinzai couldn't be so naive and believe it. He needed to verify Lu's attitude.

"Brother Huai'an, why did you suddenly express this attitude? I don't think I said that this trip to Jiangnan was to plant new grains, right?"

Lu Yun glanced at Prince Teng and said with a wry smile: "His Royal Highness Prince Teng has been promoting new grain varieties in the south of the Yangtze River in the past two years. More than ten prefectures and counties in the south of the Yangtze River resisted. Not long after, His Majesty appointed Duke Li as an imperial envoy to go to the south of the Yangtze River with Prince Teng. Isn't that right? What else could it be about growing new food?”

Li Qinzai smiled again and said: "King Teng asked you to plant it, but you didn't agree. I didn't say anything when I came to Jiangnan, so you took the initiative to express your position. Why?"

Lu Yun sighed: "His Royal Highness, Prince Teng, is asking you not to blame me for saying something unpleasant to your face. Your Highness initially promoted the trial planting of new grains and gave good advice to officials and noble families, but none of the officials and noble families in Jiangnan were willing to comply."

"But Duke Li is here, and behind him is General Xue's [-]-strong army waiting for the enemy. Not only that, Duke Li has patrolled the sky several times, but every time he is surrounded by mountains of corpses and seas of blood, which are quite murderous."

"This time Duke Li came to Jiangnan, it is obvious that he came with bad intentions. We don't know how other prominent families feel, but I, the Lu family of Wu County, do not dare to take this risk and stroke Duke Li's beard..."

"So it's better to take a stand early and seek peace for the whole Lu family. Whether or not to plant new grains is actually not a big deal. For this matter, the Jiangnan noble family deliberately confronts the emperor and shows off the local power. It is really inappropriate and brings disaster. Said, I, Mrs. Lu, disagree."

Li Qinzai nodded clearly.

To put it bluntly, Mrs. Lu of Wu County was scared.

King Teng's promotion of new grains was rejected and he returned to Chang'an in despair. The emperor immediately sent Li Qin down to the south of the Yangtze River with an army of [-].

The imperial court claimed that Xue Rengui's [-] troops came to the south of the Yangtze River to practice martial arts. This statement could only fool fools.

Among the eight prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River, the Lu family in Wu County is considered to be very aware of current affairs.

When they had a conflict with Li Qinzai in Chang'an City, Li Qinzai gave them a hard lesson. That time, the emperor stepped in and forced the heads of the eight prominent families to come to Chang'an in person to apologize to Li Qinzai.

The noble family's face was lost in Chang'an. Is the matter over?

On the surface it is over, but the aftermath is still lingering.

Everyone in Jiangnan is a local emperor, and they want to get back the face Chang'an City has lost in Jiangnan.

King Teng promoted the cultivation of new grains in Jiangnan, but returned in annoyance with no results. This was the result of the prominent families in Jiangnan joining forces to scorn Li Zhi.

They wanted Li Zhi to know that in the land of Jiangnan, the emperor's imperial decree did not work, only the power of the famous families did. Without the support of the famous families in Jiangnan, the imperial decree would be a piece of waste paper at the end of the day.

This was just an undeclared secret fight between the two sides, but the prominent families in Jiangnan did not expect that after King Teng returned to Chang'an, the emperor was silent and actually sent Li Qinzai to Jiangnan.

Not only Li Qinzai was sent, but also [-] troops were sent.

What Li Qinzai and others didn't know was how much of a shocking effect this move had on the prominent families in Jiangnan.Numerous small meetings were held, and everyone was speculating on the purpose of Li Qinzai's trip, especially the fact that Xue Rengui's [-] troops stationed in Yuezhou were eyeing the land south of the Yangtze River, which made the noble families even more frightened.

Li Qinzai was not a kind person either. When he was sent to Tuyuhun as an envoy or to fight against Goguryeo, it is not an exaggeration to say that he killed many people. Now this god of murder has come to Jiangnan with an army of [-] people. It is not to kill people, but to pay birthdays to the eight prominent families. Of?

There are eight prominent families, each with a different style of life.

Some people are stubborn. Even with the arrival of an army of [-] people, I’m sure you won’t dare touch me. Aren’t you afraid of civil unrest in the granary of Jiangnan?If there are changes in Jiangnan, will the emperor's position still be secure?
Some of them are scared. There is so much hatred and resentment. The swords and halberds of the army are almost touching their noses. Is it necessary to go to the imperial court?With hundreds of years of ancestral heritage and more than a thousand members in the family, who among the family heads and elders has the courage to bet that the imperial court will not dare to touch them?

The Lu family of Wu County was one of those who were timid, so Lu Yun took the initiative to show his kindness on behalf of the Lu family.

They were sending heavy gifts and entertaining them with banquets and banquets, so they couldn't possibly be here to make friends.

Of course, Lu Yun could not admit that Mrs. Lu of Wu County was cowardly, but Li Qinzai knew it well and did not point it out after smiling slightly. At this time, it would be too incompetent to show off one's attitude and arrogance.

"Brother Huai'an, you'll win with a drink." Li Qinzai raised a glass and made a toast.

Lu Yun hurriedly held the cup with both hands, his posture as low as dust.

The two drank a glass of wine. Li Qinzai put down the wine cup and asked with a smile: "Which of the eight prominent families in Jiangnan has the same thoughts as the Lu family in Wu County?"

Lu Yun shook his head cautiously: "If I say that I don't know, Duke Li may not believe it, but in fact it is not common for the eight prominent families to exchange news."

"This time Duke Li went to the south of the Yangtze River, the eight prominent families had several contacts with each other. But in the end, what conclusion each family came to and how to deal with Duke Li, the Lu family really doesn't know. No one will tell his true thoughts to his surname."

"Just as I am paying homage to Duke Li on behalf of the Lu family of Wu County today, other prominent families also don't know about it."

Li Qinzai smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, I just believe what I see. From now on, the Lu family of Wu County and I will be close friends. During this trip to the south of the Yangtze River, no matter how rough the wind is, the Lu family will be safe and sound."

Lu Yun was overjoyed when he heard this and hurriedly stood up and bowed to express his thanks.

After giving gifts and banquets and expressing his opinions, what Lu Yun was waiting for was Li Qinzai's promise.

And Li Qinzai was also very sensible. After accepting the gift, he took the initiative to approach the court, and he finally had to handle some personnel matters.

After breaking the current deadlock with the Lu family of Wu County, Li Qinzai should keep this famous family.

It doesn't matter whether we are friends or enemies. If everyone has the same interests, they are allies in the trenches.

After finishing the business, Lu Yun clapped his hands, and the kabuki dancers who had just exited re-entered the hall.

The melodious sound of silk and bamboo was played again, and the young and beautiful dancers swung their long sleeves, smiled and danced in the hall.

Li Qinzai's face was slightly red. He had drunk a lot of wine just now. He was already a little tipsy. He opened his eyes wide at this moment and stared at the graceful and enchanting dance of the dancers without blinking. He swallowed secretly.

The sky is high and the emperor is far away. My mother-in-law is not around. How about tonight...

However, Li Qinzai forgot that his mother-in-law was not around, but his father-in-law was.

Prince Teng sat on the table and watched Li Qinzai swallowing his saliva coldly, and couldn't help but let out an angry groan.