Three Kingdoms

  Chapter 160 Uncle Ji's Hesitation

  Yuan Shu planned to arrange the banquet level for receiving Fei Qian and Yi Ji according to the general envoys.

  In the Han Dynasty, not to mention private banquets, depending on the hosts, they may follow the rules, or they may be more casual because they are too familiar. But if it is similar to entertaining envoys, or an official banquet, there are many levels and rules.

   The simplest example, the number of dishes used in a banquet often represents the level of the banquet.

  For example, it is clearly recorded in the "Book of Rites" that there are twenty-six beans of the son of heaven, six out of ten princes, two out of ten princes, eight senior officials, and six inferior officials.

  The word "dou" here does not refer to beans, but refers to a kind of container, which is a tall plate with a rim. That is to say, the emperor's meal can have 26 dishes, while the duke has only 16 dishes, and the princes have only 12 dishes, eight dishes for senior officials and six dishes for lower officials.

   If you exceed the number of your own level, it is called arrogance, and it is also a crime.

For example, the reception for Fei Qian and Yi Ji this time was based on the general standard for entertaining envoys, and each guest was allocated a bowl of rice, a bowl of soup, a plate of leek eggs, a plate of leeks, a bean, and a fruit. bean.

  These dishes couldn't be more normal, but after Yuan Shu hinted at Yang Hong, he actually added a big dish to the banquet hall—Yang Ding Cooking.

   Uh, in fact, a bronze tripod is used to boil mutton in white water.

  Although only a tripod is used, the meaning is quite different. In ancient times, copper could be used to make money, so a large copper tripod, placed there to cook and eat, is like later generations eating rice with a white jade bowl worth tens of millions, although the taste of the rice may not be the same. It's too different, but what you want is that special feeling of local tyrants...

   After such a high-level banquet, the guests and hosts naturally had a good time, but after the banquet, Yiji, who still had a secret mission, was a little uneasy.

  Yi Ji knew in his heart that Yuan Shu raised the hospitality standard definitely not because of Yi Ji himself, but mostly because of Fei Qian.

  Although at the banquet, they were just chatting about romance, local customs and customs, but from Yuan Shu's attitude, Yi Ji had a vague feeling that Yuan Shu had a different view of Fei Qian.

   This inevitably made Yi Ji a little worried.

As a person who has followed Liu Biao for many years, Yi Ji is very aware of Liu Biao's character. At the beginning, Yi Ji didn't have much feeling when he heard that Fei Qian had resigned from his position. Now that he is here with Yuan Shu, Yi Ji suddenly feels Liu Biao. The move seemed rash.

Perhaps looking at this matter from Liu Biao's point of view, Yi Ji can also understand. After all, Liu Biao originally worshiped Feiqian as a signboard to recruit talents, but he did not expect that the weight of this signboard would become more and more important. As a result, Liu Biao finally felt that he couldn't afford it anymore, so when Fei Qian proposed to resign, he naturally agreed quickly.

   But is this really a good choice?

  Not necessarily.

  Looking at Yuan Shu's posture at the banquet today, although he didn't say it clearly, Yiji could feel that Yuan Shu seemed to value Fei Qian a little bit.

  In terms of the overall layout of Jingxiang, Yiji also agrees with Liu Biao’s strategic deployment for Jingxiang in the next stage—to attack the southern part of Jingzhou first, and then seek other development after having a stable rear—but is the current situation in Nanjun sure to be safe? With the support of the Kuai family, is it certain that they can contend against the Cai family and even the Pang and Huang families?

  Yiji touched the letter hidden next to his body, hesitantly, although he didn't see the contents of the letter, but he could guess something—

To convince Yuan Shu that Liu Biao is not hostile, the first is to withdraw the troops from the garrison in Wancheng, and even cede Wancheng if necessary, so that Yuan Shu feels that the threat from the south is not that great. The second is to admit Nanyang. The actual ownership belongs to Yuan Shu.

  In addition, even if it is giving treasures or money and food, there are no above two, which can better reflect the sincerity of Liu Biao and Yuan Shu's peaceful coexistence.

   Among them, the recognition of Yuan Shu's actual control over Nanyang County is nothing more than two aspects. The first is the official above table, please designate Yuan Shu as the prefect of Nanyang, and the second is the recognition of Yuan Shu's allocation of money and grain to Nanyang County.

   But in this way, Yuan Shu's territory will directly cover the area of ​​Wancheng, and may even extend to the vicinity of Xinye. If this is the case, the Huang family in Miannan will be very embarrassing.

The Huangjia Yinyuan is just south of Mianshui, just south of Wancheng and north of Xiangyang, so if Yuan Shu really controls Wancheng, then the Huang family in the south of Mianshui will virtually become the home of the two major forces, Yuan Shu and Liu Biao. buffer zone.

However, the Huang family, which was still in a safe environment, was suddenly pushed to the fringes of the war. This must be something the Huang family did not want to see or accept. Therefore, Liu Biao deliberately hid it from Fei Qian. , but it makes sense to let Yiji handle this matter.

   As for what Liu Biao wrote in the letter to Yuan Shao, Yiji is still not sure, but there must be another arrangement by Liu Biao. Moreover, these two letters may contain ideas from the Kuai family brothers to Liu Biao.

   After all, the Kuai family suffered a small loss last time and lost face. Taking this opportunity to attack the Huang family, they must be happy to see the success.

  Alas, the Kuai family...

  Yi Ji does not deny that the Kuai family did make a big contribution when Liu Biao entered Xiangyang City, but there is no need to do so. Even if the Pang family and the Huang family do have potential threats, they can sit down and talk about it, why not?

Yiji was very worried. Once he handed over this letter to Yuan Shu, although it would be of great help to Liu Biao's attack on the southern part of Jingzhou, on the other hand, it would also plant the hidden danger of Jingxiang gentry's dissatisfaction with Liu Biao. .

  Ah, Mr. Liu...

Yiji can also guess what Liu Biao thinks. After all, Liu Biao was born after King Lu Gong, and he is a descendant of the Liu family royal family whose roots are upright and Miaohong. The chess pieces on the chessboard can use the Kuai family to check and balance other gentry today, and naturally throw the Kuai family out tomorrow to appease the anger of others...

   But things will really go as smoothly as Liu Biao thought?

  Alas, not necessarily...

  The world today is not what it used to be...

  Yi Ji was very hesitant, should he show this letter or not?

  But as a follower of Liu Biao all the time, Yiji also hopes in his heart that Liu Biao can achieve a career, so that as a follower, his contribution will be valuable. Yi Ji was really thinking about Liu Biao, otherwise, as an ordinary person, they would follow orders from above anyway, so they would not think about these things.

Yiji walked up and down in his guest room, and after going back and forth for a long time, he finally decided to follow Liu Biao's plan. As for the hidden dangers of Fei Qian and Huang's family, etc., after the mission is over, I need to have a good discussion with Liu Biao...

   When Liu Bei went to Jingzhou, Yiji helped a lot... The most typical one is Luma at that time...Boss Luo’s description is really not much more than one point, and not much less. I really admire it after reading it carefully...

  (end of this chapter)