Chapter 108: The Enlarged Meeting of the Left Prime Minister’s Party!

"Yulang, what are you doing?"

"Play!"

Just like when Li Zhao entered the Duke of Qi's mansion, he never needed to report, Cui Zongzhi came here without any obstacles. He went straight into the study and saw the military chess they were playing, his eyes instantly lit up.

This little Duke of Qi was very interested in strange things, especially those related to play.

Li Zhao was prepared for a long time and took a sandalwood box from the bookshelf. It contained a brand new military chess and a game manual, which clearly wrote several ways of military chess.

Cui Zongzhi was not polite and accepted it happily: "Yulang was indeed very talented and actually came up with such an interesting game that would prevent Emperor Yao from being beautiful in the past!" (The former invented Go, and the latter invented chess.)

"Stop flattering. You are not busy with official duties at the Ministry of Revenue. What are you doing when you come to me?"

Since he was promoted to the head of the Ministry of Revenue, Cui Zongzhi has become a busy man. He has been consuming and paying money and food all day long and accounting for accounts. He has not come to Li Zhao to play for several months.

Now that the money shortage is happening, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue are the first to be hit, and they are so busy that they are almost gone. Cui Zongzhi is here at this time and must have entered the Three Treasures Hall without any trouble!

"Haha, the weather is good today, so I specially invited a few friends to drink together. Of course, I can't forget Yulang for such a good thing. I just happened to introduce you to you!"

"Oh, what kind of friend?"

"All of them are good friends who are extremely elegant and worried about the country and the people!"

Cui Zongzhi didn't say much, but he revealed two meanings: one is that the person who gathered today is not simple, and eight out of ten are officials of the court, and they are those who hold high positions.

Second, today's gathering is not simple, drinking is just an excuse, and discussing military and national affairs is the real purpose, and it is likely to be related to the money shortage in front of you.

Do you want to attend such a party?

To be honest, Li Zhao didn't want to participate. This time the money shortage was extraordinary, which was a natural disaster, and even more a man-made disaster. Behind the man-made disaster was the political struggle between the top leaders of the Tang Dynasty.

Political struggles are extremely cruel. Once they are involved, it will be difficult to escape. Maybe they will cause death!

But I am close friends with Cui Zongzhi, and they come to invite him in person. I can’t help but give him face... Forget it, a man, a real man, can just put a knife on both sides for his friends, so what’s the point of taking a little danger?

"I'm feeling so uncomfortable lately. Since there is such a party, how can I not go? I just take the opportunity to make some new friends, haha!" After letting Bai Rishi continue to play chess with Wu Moyun, Li Zhaoluo prepared, took Bai Mo and Cui Zongzhi out, got on the carriage and horses of the Duke of Qi's mansion, and left...

The group left Yanping Gate in the western part of Chang'an, walked for more than twenty miles, arrived near Fengshui, drove for a short distance, and saw a large bamboo forest in front of them.

In the bamboo forest, there is a small farmyard, four thatched huts, a small pavilion, and a well, a stone mill, a cowshed, and a vegetable garden... full of pastoral atmosphere.

The courtyard gate made of white wooden boards also has a couplet on both sides.

The first couplet: The pot is full of worlds, you must know that you can easily and laugh at the small hidden gums.

The second couplet: There is no such thing as me in the world. I hope I will get drunk together and stop talking about who is the one who is competing for me!

From this couplet, we can see that the owner here is a person who is addicted to alcohol and an elegant person who is intoxicated and has nostalgic feelings about the past and the present!

"Senior Jiao, junior Cui Zongzhi and friends come to visit!"

"Haha, it turns out that the prince consort is here. I am very welcome!"

...

Amid the hearty laughter, two people walked out of the hut. In front of them was an old man with a slightly fat body and gray hair. Although he was wearing a coarse cloth dress, he exuded an elegant spirit, which made people dare not look down on him.

Behind him is a boy in red, about seven or eight years old, handsome and very cute!

When they opened the wooden door, both sides bowed and bowed. The old man's eyes fell on Li Zhao, and he kept looking up and down: "I Jiao Sui, a common man, is this a little disciple's mystery. How dare you ask the little man's name?"

"So it's Senior Jiao, I'm disrespectful, junior Li Zhao!"

"Oh, could it be that the seven steps above the exam room are used to form a poem, and the major case was solved within two days, and the top spot in the Qujiang banquet... the famous Li Yulang?"

"Some little names are not worth mentioning, and it makes Senior Jiao laugh at me!"

"Don't be arrogant or impatient, you are restrained in your mind. OK, okay, I haven't seen such an interesting young man for a long time. Please come in quickly!"

"Thank you senior!"

Li Zhao answered politely, as calm as water on the surface, but his heart was filled with thunder... Be good, my luck was so good that he actually met a legendary character.

Anyone with some common sense of history knows that during the Kaiyuan and Tianbao periods of the Tang Dynasty, eight romantic figures who were addicted to alcohol were found, and they were called the "Eight Immortals in the Drinking Festivals". Cui Zongzhi was one of them, and Jiao Tun was one of them!

Among the Eight Immortals in the Drinking Festival, Jiao Sui has the lowest status and is only a commoner, so he is ranked at the end. However, among the eight people, Jiao Sui has the best alcohol content.

Li Bai's hundred poems about drinking wine, and sleeps in a restaurant in Chang'an.

Jiao Sui was outstanding in the five dou sides, and he talked loudly about the four banquets.

After drinking five dou of fine wine, you can still talk loudly and talk endlessly, which shows how powerful Jiao Tun's alcohol is, and it is even better than the poet's fairy-Li Bai!

Of course, Jiao Sui was able to rank among the Eight Immortals in the Drinking Festival. Not only did he have a good alcohol tolerance and good talk, but more importantly, he was a genius who knew astronomy and geography, and was a worldly wise man!

It is said that when Li Longji, today, he often invited Jiao Sui to the palace for a long talk, asked for advice on the skills of governing the country and ensuring national security, and wanted to appoint him a considerable official position.

Strangely, Jiao Sui has always refused to become an official and is willing to be a commoner in public. He lives in seclusion on the banks of Fengshui, and enjoys farming, fishing and studying!

By the way, it is still the 29th year of Kaiyuan. The Eight Immortals in the Drinking City have not yet gathered in Chang'an City, and the Eight Immortals Song has not yet been born. The author, the Poetry Saint, is still in Luoyang for the provincial examination, and has been defeated repeatedly and repeatedly!

Next, a few people came to the pavilion to sit down. The boy in red was responsible for making tea. Before the tea was cooked, another group of people came to the courtyard...

The leader was the left prime minister Li Shizhi, whose eyes were black, his spirit was listless, and he looked worried.

Although the people behind were all wearing ordinary clothes, they could be seen from their behavior and expressions that they were not ordinary people!

Li Zhao didn't know them, Cui Zongzhi stepped forward and introduced them in turn:

Minister of the Ministry of Revenue - Yang Bo, a famous financial management expert in the court, was also the father of Yang Yan, one of the four masters of Chang'an.

Minister of Rites - He Zhizhang. (One of the Eight Immortals in Drinking)

The Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel - Su Jin. (One of the Eight Immortals in the Drinking Festival)

Wei Jiansu, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works.

Guanglu Shaoqing - Yao Yi, Kaiyuan Prime Minister - the second son of Yao Chong.

The counselor - Song Hun, the fourth son of the famous prime minister of Kaiyuan - Song Jing. His father was a mortal enemy of Li Linfu during his lifetime.

...

In the current court, civil and military officials are divided into two major parties, namely the Right Prime Minister Party headed by Li Linfu and the Left Prime Party headed by Li Shizhi. The two parties regard each other as enemies and fight happily all day long... And all the people coming today are core members of the Left Prime Party.

Among the people who gathered today, Li Zhao's official position was the youngest, so he immediately bowed to Li Shizhi and others: "I am not good at the position and meet the left prime minister and participate in the supreme officials!"

"Haha, today is a private party. We only talk about friendship, regardless of official positions. Yulang and I are both from the royal family. If you don't dislike me, just respect me and call me senior!"

"Yu Lang meets with seniors, wish you good health!"

"Okay, okay, haha."

After a few greetings, everyone sat down in the pavilion one by one, which was a very particular thing.

Except for the idle people, there were a total of ten people present. Among them, Li Shizhi was the left prime minister of the current dynasty and the close branch of the royal family. He had a very noble status and sat in the first place without permission.

Although Jiao Hon did not have an official title, he was a famous wise man. He acted as a think tank in the Left Prime Minister's Party, so he sat in the second place. The rest arranged their seats in order according to their official title and age.

Li Zhao has the lowest official position and the youngest, so he is naturally at the last place. Li Zhao has no objection to this.

Knowing that he was about to take a seat, Cui Zongzhi took the lead and sat in the last place. There was no way, so Li Zhao had to sit in the second to last... Seeing this scene, the rest of the people couldn't help but be shocked!

You should know that Cui Zongzhi not only has the title of Duke of Qi, but also the official position of the head of the Ministry of Personnel, but also the son-in-law whom he favors most today. With his noble status and outstanding talents, he will sit in the third place and the fourth place.

Now, he took the initiative to fall under Li Zhao, what does this mean?

It means that in Cui Zongzhi's heart, Li Zhao's talent is far above him. Otherwise, how could the young Duke of Qi, who has always been arrogant, be willing to be inferior to others?

Thinking of this, the eyes of others changed a little, and no one dared to underestimate this young man, but if you want to get everyone's recognition, it depends on Li Zhao's specific performance.

Next, the servants killed fish and sheep and prepared delicious food. The boy in red brought out several jars of green bamboo wine brewed by Zijiao Tun from the cellar and filled them with them in turn...

"Everyone, it's rare to get together today. Everyone raises their glasses and drinks. Don't let down the great time, haha!"

"The left-handed person's words are reasonable, drink hard!"

...

Among the ten people present, five were at the level of the wine fairy, and the rest had a good alcohol tolerance. Logically speaking, they should drink it well.

The fact is just the opposite. Everyone just tried it casually, and no one really drank happily... There is no way, today's party is too important. The things that are prepared to discuss are related to the safety of the country. You must keep a clear mind. How dare you drink happily!

Only Li Zhao is an exception. He has a special physical condition and will never get drunk. Therefore, when you taste it one bowl after another, this green bamboo wine is not as strong as Erguotou, but it has a unique fragrance and tastes very refreshing!

As expected, everyone first talked about a few poems, songs, and romance, and then quickly changed the topic and talked about the most important thing in front of them - money shortage!
Chapter completed!