Just one day later, all the major forces in Yangzhou heard about Wu Chengsi's invitation to the King of Yue to meet.
And the King of Yue has already agreed.
However, the King of Yue also put forward two conditions. First, the meeting place was changed to Mingdeguan. Second, both parties could only bring a maximum of fifty followers.
Mingde Temple is located in the north of Yangzhou City, separated from Wu Chengsi's Guanyin Mountain Camp by Yangzhou City.
Everyone could see that the King of Yue and Wu Chengsi were on the same level. The King of Yue was worried about Wu Chengsi's army, so such a request was not too much.
Wu Chengsi also agreed.
For this meeting, Wu Chengsi not only invited the heads of the eight major families, but also the navy commander Yang Sijian, the governor of Yangzhou, Yuan Shu, and the Huainan Road appeasement envoy Zhou Shuting.
In addition, almost all the prominent figures in Yangzhou City received invitations from Wu Chengsi.
Some people who did not receive the invitation were very depressed at home. Those who received the invitation were overjoyed and almost asked everyone when they met: "Brother, have you received the invitation from the Governor? How about we go together?"
People at the bottom care about face issues, while people at the top care about taking sides.
For example, among the eight major families, the head of the Yan family is Yan Mingde.
Ever since Wu Chengsi came to Yangzhou, he had not had a peaceful night's sleep.
Logically speaking, for a big family like theirs, whether it is the King of Yue or the King of Changping, it is too late to win over them, and they will not worry to the point of losing sleep.
But the Yan family is different.
Yan Deming initially surrendered to the Wu family on the surface, but turned against him secretly and framed Xu Yuanju. He was worried that Wu Chengsi would settle the score with him.
I originally thought that after Xu Yuanju fell, Empress Wu would send another official as before, but unexpectedly she sent Wu Chengsi directly.
Everyone in the Tang Dynasty was aware of the prestige of Wu Chengsi, Prince of Changping County, on the battlefield in Liaodong.
Especially when this prince came to Jiangnan, he successively dealt with King Fan Yang and the governor of Hangzhou.
Immediately afterwards, he transferred another 10,000 Zuowu guards and lived in the military camp all day long.
All forces in Yangzhou City were intimidated by Wu Chengsi, and they strictly ordered their children not to go out to cause trouble.
As a result, during this period of time, the public security in Yangzhou City has improved a lot.
When Yan Mingde sighed, the carriage followed the mountain road and stopped halfway up the mountain. Mingde Temple was built on the mountainside.
It was a morning with clear blue sky and bright sunshine.
It rained heavily last night, so the air in the mountains seemed particularly fresh.
Yan Mingde got off the carriage and took just a few steps when the Taoist temple leader hurriedly came over to greet him.
Mingde Temple is quite famous in the Yangzhou City area. The temple owner's surname is Tian and he often visits wealthy families. However, in front of Yan Mingde, Tian Temple owner seems extremely respectful.
The reason is very simple. Mingdeguan was founded by Yan Mingde.
"Dong Weng, Pindao has built a brocade platform in the back mountain in the past few days, and the banquet has been arranged. Many guests have already arrived. Are you going over now?" Master Tian said with a smile on his face.
In the eyes of many people, this meeting, which determines the layout of Yangzhou City, is just a great opportunity to promote his own Taoist temple in the eyes of this temple owner.
Yan Mingde said: "Who is here?"
"Old Mr. Wang County Cheng Min, Mr. Sun Yuanwai, Gang Leader Huang..."
"okay."
Yan Mingde waved his hand and interrupted: "Send someone to notify me when they and those Excellencies arrive."
After saying that, he walked along the corridor to his own private alchemy room.
Tian Guanzhu has been with Yan Mingde for many years, so he naturally knows that the "they" Yan Mingde refers to are the heads of the other seven major families, and "your Excellency" refers to the most powerful people in Yangzhou City.
"Dong Weng, Zhou Shijun is also here."
Guanzhu Tian hurriedly reminded that this Zhou Shijun was one of the "Your Excellencies" mentioned by Yan Mingde.
Yan Mingde immediately stopped, glared at him and said, "Why didn't you tell me earlier!"
He turned around and walked towards the back mountain.
Zhou Shuting was the pacifier of Jianghuai Road, and his rank was originally higher than that of the governor Yuan Shutong.
But he was low-key and never took sides, especially when the Li family completely suppressed the Wu family, he did not seek refuge with Li Zhen, the king of Yue.
For this reason, he was squeezed out by the Yue King's party, and his life in Yangzhou was very unsatisfactory.
Yan Mingde had always thought that the pacifier was stupid.
It wasn't until today that he realized that he was the stupid one.
Back Mountain faces cliffs to the north and is surrounded by mountains to the east and west. Everywhere you look, you can see the miraculous craftsmanship of nature.
People who have been in the city for a long time will feel relieved when they suddenly see such natural scenery.
Moreover, Tian Guanzhu arranged it very appropriately. The brocade platform was made of bamboo, and the tables and tables were very simple.
The people who come to the banquet are either rich or noble, and no matter how luxurious the supplies are, these people will not take a second look. On the contrary, this simple and simple style, combined with the beautiful scenery of the mountains, can't help but make people's eyes shine.
Yan Mingde went to Jintai and immediately saw Zhou Shuting.
He was surrounded by a group of people, all of whom had flattering smiles on their faces.
It seems that with the arrival of Wu Chengsi, this low-key pacifier has once again attracted the attention of others.
Among the people surrounding Zhou Shijun, there was one who had a particularly loud voice and an expression on his face that was particularly proud, as if he had passed the exam and married a beautiful wife on the same day.
This person is Huang Ming, the leader of the Salt Gang.
As the leader of the Salt Gang, with the governor Yuan Shutong standing behind him, Huang Ming was originally considered a role in Yangzhou City.
But that's only for ordinary people.
In the eyes of the truly powerful people in Yangzhou, Chairman Chen of the Huangming Salt Merchants and Chambers of Commerce is just a small role and cannot stand on the stage at all.
In the past, if Huang Ming met Yan Mingde or other real big shots, he would have to bow his waist when walking and smile before speaking. Only then did he find a place in Yangzhou.
Now, due to the arrival of Wu Chengsi, Yuan Shutong's net worth has increased, and Huang Ming's status has also increased, which is why he has the proud smile on his face at the moment.
However, facing the Yan family of the eight major families, he still did not dare to be too presumptuous.
As soon as Yan Mingde approached, everyone including Huang Ming stood up and greeted him respectfully.
Yan Mingde did not even look at these people, but looked straight at Zhou Shijun.
Zhou Shijun did not show any airs, but also stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Master Yan is here."
"Mr. Zhou, please be well." Yan Mingde bowed respectfully in return.
Zhou Shuting smiled and said: "I heard that Master Yan's Taoist temple has a unique kind of good tea that you can't drink in other places. I wonder if I can taste it?"
Yan Mingde was moved in his heart and said: "Actually, it's not really good tea. It's just made with spring water from the back mountain. Since Lord Zhou is interested, please come with me."
After arriving at an elegant alchemy room, Yan Mingde immediately ordered someone to get the freshest water to make tea.
"Fortunately it's morning now. By noon, the taste of the spring water will be a little worse." Yan Mingde explained.
"Master Yan has taken the trouble." Zhou Shijun said with a smile.
Yan Mingde originally thought that Zhou Shijun was looking for him alone because he had something to say to him. Unexpectedly, he sat down and looked at the scenery outside the window leisurely without saying a word.
Yan Mingde finally couldn't hold it any longer and said, "Shijun Zhou, you are wise and knowledgeable about the situation in the DPRK. I wonder what you think the situation in Yangzhou City will be like in the future?"
Zhou Shijun smiled and said: "I am just an idler. I will retire and return to my hometown in two years. I don't pay much attention to government affairs. I am afraid I will disappoint the head of the Yan family."
Yan Mingde gritted his teeth and suddenly made a big salute and said: "To be honest, Mr. Yan is in a difficult situation now and his life is precarious. Please ask Zhou Envoy to teach me."
"Master Yan is worried that Prince Changping will settle a score with you?"
Yan Mingde smiled bitterly and said: "It's just that Yan was short-sighted and insisted on getting ahead in this kind of thing, which led to the bad consequences today."
Zhou Shijun sighed: "Master Yan's handling of this matter was indeed inappropriate, but..."
"But what?"
Zhou Shijun said with a smile: "I think Master Yan doesn't need to worry too much."
Yan Mingde frowned and said: "Zhou Shijun, King Changping is now very aggressive. In order to establish his prestige in Yangzhou, he will definitely choose someone to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys. And our Yan family may very well be that chicken. Why don't you worry me?"
Zhou Shijun said seriously: "Master Yan, have you ever heard of the words "softness overcomes strength"?
Yan Mingde was stunned and said: "What do you mean?"
"Wu Chengsi seems to be coming in force, but in fact he is just a strong man from outside. After all, the surname in this world is Li, just like Her Royal Highness the Queen in the palace. No matter how powerful she is, her power also comes from His Majesty the Emperor."
Yan Mingde was taken aback. He didn't expect Zhou Shuting to say such words suddenly.
"Do you think Wu Chengsi can't defeat His Royal Highness the King of Yue?"
Zhou Shijun twisted his beard and said with a smile: "Master Yan, your tea is not ready yet?"
Yan Mingde came back to his senses, glanced at the door, and said with a smile: "It should be fine soon."
I thought to myself: "What this old man said is right. After all, the world belongs to the Li family, and the King of Yue is the emperor's brother. Wu Chengsi cannot defeat him."
After drinking tea, the two returned to the back mountain again. At this time, not only people from the other seven major families came, but also Yang Sijian and King Han.
Yan Mingde planned to invite Zhou Shijun to go to pay homage to the King of Han, but Zhou Shijun smiled and said he wanted to "go to the toilet" and turned around and left.
Yan Mingde really didn't understand. During the conversation, Zhou Shijun clearly thought highly of the King of Yue and the King of Han, but he deliberately kept a distance from each other.
Could this be the highest state of being an official?
In a secret place halfway up the mountain, the King of Yue stood on the edge of the cliff.
From here, you can clearly see the foot of the mountain. You can see a young man riding with a group of sergeants. They tied their horses to the foot of the mountain and strode along the mountain road.
Behind King Yue, Zhou Shuting bowed and said, "Your Highness, Yan Mingde's situation has been a bit strange recently. He seems to be very afraid that Wu Chengsi will take action on him."
The King of Yue said calmly: "His character is the worst among the eight masters, otherwise he would not have agreed to help us frame Xu Yuanju."
Zhou Shuting said in a deep voice: "Although I have temporarily persuaded him, I'm afraid I won't be able to control him for long."
The King of Yue waved his hand and said: "I know this. You should go back first. Wu Chengsi is coming up soon. I will have to go over there later."
Zhou Shuting responded and silently returned to the back mountain.
No one would have thought that this old man who seemed to be keeping a distance from the King of Yue was actually some of the most trusted confidants of the King of Yue.
Soon, the King of Yue also arrived at the back mountain, and two quarters of an hour later, Wu Chengsi finally appeared with his men.
His appearance instantly attracted everyone's attention. Many people had heard of his name for a long time, but this was the first time they saw him.
He was wearing a white round robe today. Although the material was very delicate, it seemed a bit too ordinary compared to the garish robes worn by King Han of Yue and even Yang Sijian.
Moreover, he is younger than everyone expected. Although he is quite handsome, he is far from the image of a fierce general in many people's minds.
But even so, no one dares to underestimate him.
Not only because he is the supreme commander of the Jianghuai Province and has a powerful Zuo Wuwei in his hands, but also because he is followed by dozens of sergeants.
In addition to Han Cheng, Zhuge Nan and Zhuge Sanyuan, Wu Chengsi was accompanied by forty-six sergeants.
These people were wearing exactly the same clothes, carrying exactly the same heavy bows, and even the expressions on their faces looked almost the same.
There was no expression on their faces, only a pair of eyes flashed with a sharp cold light.
No matter who he is, having such a group of people behind him is enough to make others dare not underestimate him, not to mention that this person is Wu Chengsi.
Except for King Han, everyone stood up, including King Yue and Yang Sijian.
"I haven't seen you for more than half a year. King Changping's demeanor is even better than before. This is really a blessing to our Tang Dynasty." The King of Yue said with a smile.
The layout of the brocade platform is that two horizontal tables are placed at the top, and other vertical tables are arranged on the left and right.
The King of Yue occupied one of the horizontal tables. Wu Chengsi led the people to the front of the other table. He cupped his hands expressionlessly and said, "His Royal Highness, the King of Yue, is well."
After a pause, he got straight to the point and said, "I don't like to go around the bush when doing things. I invite you here today because I want you to be a witness."
The King of Yue smiled secretly: "After all, he is a young man and cannot hold his breath." He had already prepared a countermeasure. Even if Qian Deguang spoke in public, he would have a way to deal with it one by one.
"Okay, I wonder what testimony King Changping wants me to make?"
All the officials who sat down immediately tensed up their nerves. They did not expect Wu Chengsi's style to be so direct, and he would directly confront the King of Yue as soon as he arrived.
The next confrontation between the two will directly affect these people's choice of team in the future. Everyone pricked up their ears and listened attentively.
"Yan Mingde!" Wu Chengsi suddenly shouted loudly.
The head of the Yan family trembled all over and shouted in his heart: "It's over, he really wants to operate on me! What should I do?"
Everyone around him immediately looked at Yan Mingde. Some were gloating about his misfortune, some were encouraging and comforting, and many were worried and sympathetic.
The King of Yue frowned and thought, "Is he planning to attack Yan Mingde first?" He suddenly felt uneasy as the situation was beyond his control.
At this moment, a thunderous roar suddenly sounded.
"Isn't Yan Mingde here? Didn't you hear His Highness calling you?"
The one yelling was Han Cheng. He tried to imitate Hei Te Changzhi's roar, but the volume was still a bit lacking.
Yan Mingde gritted his teeth and thought: "The King of Yue and the King of Han are here, they may not be able to do anything to me!"
He stood up and raised his voice: "I am Yan Mingde!"
"Come here." Wu Chengsi waved to him.
Yan Mingde looked at King Yue and saw that he nodded slightly, gritted his teeth, strode to Wu Chengsi's side, held his head high and said, "I wonder if His Highness King Changping has any advice?"
Wu Chengsi stared at him quietly for a while, then suddenly said: "Half a year ago, did you send a post from Wang Xizhi to Her Highness the Queen through Xu Yuanju?"
Hearing Wu Chengsi mention Xu Yuanju, Yan Mingde became even more sure that the other party was going to take action against him, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead instantly.
"Really?" Wu Chengsi shouted.
"Yes, it is."
In the eyes of others, Yan Mingde was so overwhelmed by Wu Chengsi's momentum that he could no longer hold his head up.
The King of Yue said righteously: "King Changping, Yan Yuanwai presented calligraphy to Her Royal Highness the Queen. This is a good intention. Do you have to punish him for this kind of thing?"
"Did I say I was going to deal with him?" Wu Chengsi said calmly.
The King of Yue was stunned and said: "Then what are you doing?"
Wu Chengsi smiled slightly and said: "Exceptor Yan, Her Royal Highness the Queen likes the post you posted very much. Before I came to Yangzhou this time, she even said she would like to express her gratitude to you personally."
Yan Mingde was astonished. He cupped his hands and said, "Common people...don't...dare not."
The King of Yue was even more surprised than him.
However, he was very good at controlling his emotions and did not show any trace on his face. He turned his eyes and glanced at Yuan Shutong covertly, only to see the same shock on his face.
"Come, please, Your Highness the Queen!" Wu Chengsi suddenly shouted.
Everyone present was shocked again when they saw a sergeant behind Wu Chengsi suddenly holding a tray and walking next to Wu Chengsi.
The tray was covered with a piece of yellow silk. Wu Chengsi opened the yellow silk and saw a golden gold medal underneath.
Wu Chengsi said loudly: "This gold medal was given by Her Highness the Queen. Seeing the gold medal is like seeing Her Highness."
Only then did everyone understand that he was inviting the queen to the gold medal, and they all knelt down on the ground and kowtowed.
Only the King of Yue and the King of Han did not kneel down, but only bowed.
The King of Yue felt depressed at this moment. He had been thinking about how to deal with it all night, but he made a mistake for a long time.
It turns out that Wu Chengsi brought the gold medal to win over the eight major families, not to deal with himself.
Not only that, he probably wanted to show his broad mind by wooing Yan Mingde.
Let me ask, if he can let go of people like Yan Mingde who have offended the Wu family, he will not hold others accountable.
When the King of Yue was thinking about it, Wu Chengsi had already praised Yan Mingde on behalf of Empress Wu.
Yan Mingde's expression was very wonderful, a little unbelievable, a little relieved, and a little more grateful and admired.
Naturally, the King of Yue could not just sit back and watch Wu Chengsi win over people's hearts. He immediately cheered up and said with a smile: "Her Royal Highness the Queen has so many things to do, but she still has the time to care about such small things. I really admire her."
Wu Chengsi smiled and said: "Because my aunt has so many things to do, she is very tired on weekdays, and her only hobby is calligraphy. Therefore, the calligraphy presented by the Yan family is very helpful for my aunt to relieve her fatigue."
Yan Mingde beamed with joy and said: "I don't dare. As long as I can give my best to His Highness, I will be satisfied."
Yang Sijian suddenly changed the subject and said: "Your Highness, as the governor of Yangzhou, you have been living outside the city. Isn't this a bit against the rules?"
Yuan Shutong said loudly: "What Governor Yang said is wrong. The Governor's Mansion has not been built yet, and His Highness is from a military background. There is nothing wrong with living in a military camp."
King Han said coldly: "As the governor of Yangzhou, you failed to prepare a palace for King Changping in advance, causing him to sleep in the wilderness. This is a serious crime of dereliction of duty!"
Wu Chengsi smiled and said nothing.
Most of the people here are from the King of Yue. Even Yuan Shutong, who is apparently one of his own, is also a traitor planted by the other party. There is no benefit in arguing with them.
When the King of Yue saw that Wu Chengsi was silent, he smiled and said, "King Changping, if you don't mind, I can help you find a good mansion for you to stay in temporarily."
King Han said angrily: "Or is it that King Changping does not dare to live in Hangyangzhou City?"
Wu Chengsi smiled and said: "Well, Your Highness the King of Yue, why don't I take people to live in your palace, what do you think?"
The face of the King of Yue suddenly changed.
Zhuge Nan smiled and said, "Is it possible that there is something shady going on in His Royal Highness the King of Yue's house that makes him afraid to let us live in it?"
King Han said sternly: "Bastard, who are you? Where is your turn to speak here?"
Wu Chengsi stood up and said calmly: "We were just joking. Since King Han cannot afford to joke, I will leave first."
No one expected that Wu Chengsi would actually leave like this.
The King of Yue touched the gold medal in his sleeve. For some reason, he always felt that something was wrong.
King Han stood up, snorted angrily: "What the hell?" and followed the others away.