Everyone should go to the table and sit down. It is logical that the owner of the banquet, Zhu Youcheng or Xin Wang, should first give a speech, and then everyone should turn on their chopsticks.

However, this routine has been broken today.

As soon as Zhu Youcheng raised his cup and stood up, Kong Di said loudly: "King Xin, I just got a good poem, so why don't I read it to you. "Mulan Flowers Illustrated Ancient Jue Ci": If life is just like the first time I met, why would the autumn wind be sad about the fan? I will change my hearts in old friends, but I will say that the hearts of old friends are changing easily. After the words of Mount Li, the night is half gone, and the tears rain and bells will never complain. How about being lucky to be a man in brocade clothes, and wishing to join the branches on the same day."

Zhu Xieyuan's hand shook and his chopsticks fell to the ground. He was a serious Jinshi, and he could hear this was the first wonderful word.

---m  However, his generals were not very interested in poetry. They prefer the good dishes on the table. Poetry? What is that? Is it as oily but not greasy as braised pork?

To be honest, the dishes on the table are indeed good, including wild boar, venison, muntjac, and mushrooms. Although it is ordinary wild game, it is cooked in place and the fragrance is sensational, which makes everyone's index fingers flutter.

A general saw a sour scholar standing up and whispering endlessly. He felt hungry and furious. He didn't care about being polite at the moment, so he picked up a piece of venison. When the other generals saw someone eating, they didn't even say anything about gentleness and respect, and they all followed suit.

Zhu Youcheng sighed and said to himself: No need to give a speech. Everyone has eaten, so what else can they say? I can't say that you shouldn't eat and drink first. Listen to my longing, and then continue to eat and drink. What is what I said? I'm treating everyone to eat and drink.

King Xin was shocked by Kong Di and asked, "Did you write this poem? It's so wonderful. The whole poem describes the beauty of the first meeting, and the ending is beyond imagination. It has a little regret and sadness, which makes people feel endless aftertaste."

Deputy General Du Wenhuan was also invited. He chewed a piece of venison in his mouth and replied vaguely: "It's really a savory. The venison is stewed softly, and there are three flavors of sugar, sweet, salty and umami, which makes people feel very happy."

Du Wenhuan's words won the contempt of all the generals: He is such a foodie. Just eat it. When he shuts up, no one tells you, but he wants to stumble into the crowd of literati. Look at your black bandits, you look like a literati? It's so good now, isn't it embarrassing? But... this venison is really delicious, I'll give you another piece.

Kong Di shook his hand and said, "I dare not rob people of beauty. This is not written by me, but by a man named He Xinyu. I accidentally got a book, which is full of his wonderful words. I often bring it with me and take it out from time to time. I think that His Highness, King Xin, will definitely like this book, so I want to offer it to you."

As he said that, Kong Di took out a wrinkled book from his arms, pointed to the cover and said, "This book merchant is quite interesting, it is called Paradise Bookstore. A good name. This book is really a paradise for scholars who are here."

King Xin did not reach out to receive the book, and said to Zhu Youcheng with a smile: "Give us the books from Paradise Bookstore. This Kongdi is really interesting."

Zhu Youcheng also laughed.

Kong Di was a scholar after all, and he had a bit of the backbone of a scholar. He said angrily: "There are thousands of bells of millet in the book, the golden house in the book, and the beauty of the book lies in its content, not in its price. This book, Kong, loves like a treasure. It is sincere to dedicate it to His Royal Highness King Xin. You ordinary people, just start from the price and regard Kong's sincerity as a dou. Kong... Kong...... is ashamed to be the same as you."

King Xin smiled and said, "The King of Gu is not the price of your book, but... do you know what the largest industry in Xinwang Mansion is? Children's Paradise. Children's Paradise is not only the largest children's playground in the Ming Dynasty, but also some affiliated institutions. For example, Paradise Perfume Workshop, Paradise Towel Weaving Bureau, Paradise Soap Manufacturing Hall, Paradise Brewing Shop... There is another one that is Paradise Bookstore. The word "park" has no other meaning, it refers to children's playground, that's all. Let's talk about this book, He Xinyu is a good friend of Lord Zhu Youcheng, and this book was advised by Lord Zhu. However, Lord Gu is very busy. Although Zhu Youcheng gave a sample to Gu, Gu never had time to read it."

Kong Di suddenly realized and said dejectedly: "Guizhou has poor mountains and rivers, and it is difficult to produce treasures. Kong thought that it was worthy of the noble status of King Xin. Alas, I didn't expect that this book was published by King Xin, and this gift..."

King Xin smiled and said, "Scholar Kong should not be sad. I have already felt your sincerity. Just tell the official of the school. I have already forgiven you, so I don't need to copy those words."

Kong Di was very happy and bowed deeply to King Xin.

Zhu Youcheng added: "Kong Xiucai, Guizhou and Sichuan, the places where the chieftains were originally managed by the chieftains have been nationalized, and there is a very shortage of officials. I am going to ask the emperor that the officials in these places can be served by scholars. If the governance is well, these scholars can be directly converted into official officials. You can give it a try, anyway, the governor of the four provinces, Zhu Xieyuan, is here."

Kong Di felt aroused in his heart. It was the dream of every scholar to manage his family, govern the country and pacify the world. Unfortunately, Guizhou's literary style was not strong. After he passed the exam, he had no inch of progress. He thought that he would only die in the fields for the rest of his life, but he didn't expect that he would have an opportunity in front of him now.

He bowed deeply to Zhu Youcheng again and said, "Thank you, Lord Zhu, for pointing out a clear way to Kong."

Du Wenhuan was happily eating. He heard the word "Minglu" and said, "Your sour diced diced rice has not been read well, and your eyes are broken. There are roasted deer, stewed deer, and fried venison slices, but I didn't see Mingde."

The person at the banquet was stunned and burst into laughter. Even Zhu Xieyuan, who had always been serious, quietly covered his face with his sleeve.

When the wine was half over, Zhu Youcheng picked up the wine glass and left the seat. By the way, his wine glass was still not filled with wine, but honey water.

Seeing Zhu Youcheng get up, Zhu Xieyuan also stood up.

Zhu Youcheng walked to the left, and Zhu Xieyuan went to the left to welcome him; Zhu Youcheng walked to the right, and Zhu Xieyuan went to the right to welcome him. He blocked Zhu Youcheng firmly near the main position and prevented him from going to the general.

Zhu Youcheng sighed and said, "Does Lord Zhu like to drink the wine I toast so much? Well, I'll give you a drink first."

As he said that, he held the wine glass in one go, drank the wine in one go, and said, "I'll do it first."

Zhu Xieyuan also drank the wine and said, "Mr. Zhu, the rice is the same as many people. The barbarians include rebellious people like Yang Yinglong, She Chongming, and An Bangyan, as well as loyal ministers with universal reputation. Why should you be aggressive and force loyal ministers to the rebels?"

Zhu Youcheng said: "If you are a loyal minister, no matter how hard you force yourself, you will not be a rebel. If you are a hypocrite, no matter how you put on makeup, you will still be exposed. I just went to see him and talk a few words, so you don't have to be too nervous."

Zhu Xieyuan said: "The rebels were first pacified, Guizhou, and Sichuan were first settled. It was the time to rest and recuperate. If there was another trouble, the people would suffer so much."

Zhu Youcheng was unwilling to get into trouble with Zhu Xieyuan for more, so he sacrificed his ultimate magic weapon: "Your Highness, Zhu Xieyuan, you seem to have something to discuss with you. Come and accompany Lord Zhu."

King Xin and Zhu Youcheng had a close relationship, so they got up and walked to Zhu Xieyuan and said, "It just so happened that, Lord Zhu, I have a question about the meaning of the sutra and I want to discuss it with you."

Zhu Xieyuan pulled Zhu Youcheng's arm and said, "If three people walk, there will be my teacher. With this Lord Zhu, there are three people in total, just paying tribute to Confucius."

King Xin moved Zhu Xieyuan's hand away from Zhu Youcheng's arm and said, "Don't Zhu Youcheng, he is too slick, not a scholar. The seat is full of talents, so it's very easy to get three people together."

Speaking of this, he said loudly: "Kong Xiucai, Zhu Xieyuan and Lord Zhu invited you to study the meaning of the scriptures together."

Kong Di had no eyesight and didn't see clearly what was going on. He only heard that Zhu Xieyuan invited him and immediately left the table and came to them.

Kong Di asked, "Mr. Zhu, which scripture means?"

After being interrupted by King Xin, Zhu Xieyuan did not block Zhu Youcheng and said angrily: "It was King Xin who proposed it, please ask him."

Zhu Xieyuan said intimately: "What kind of sutra is just a distraction. You are not prepared at all. I see how you answer. Just so happen, if you don't let me govern the country, I will let you make a little ugly."

Unexpectedly, King Xin was confident and said, "When Zhu Youcheng and I studied the meaning of the classics some time ago, we had a dispute over the pronunciation of a sentence in the Analects of Confucius."

Kong Di asked, "Which sentence?"

"The people can be used to do it, but not know it. In this sentence, I made this way. Zhu Youcheng said that it should be decided like this - the people can be used to do it, but not know it. It means that if the people are willing to do it, let them do it; if the people are unwilling to do it, tell them the meaning of doing it, so as to guide them to do it. Zhu Youcheng said that Confucius had no distinction and had three thousand disciples under his jurisdiction, and he would never say such stupid words that fool the people."

This sentence caused great controversy in later academics. King Xin brought this point out in advance, which attracted Zhu Xieyuan's attention at once. He no longer had the energy to pay attention to Zhu Youcheng. (To be continued...)
Chapter completed!