After the governor gave an order, the maids in green clothes who had been waiting for a long time filed in, and all kinds of delicacies were served in a flowing stream. The wine used during the banquet was the most famous Cangwu ballad in the Western Region. It is said that this wine is similar to Tiancang wine originated in the southern end of Lingzhou.

Jiang Guan took the clear mountain spring halfway up the tall Cangwu Mountain and brewed it with a variety of refined ingredients. The wine was quite strong and very popular among the soldiers and civilians of the Western Region.

After wasting half a day in this building, Pei Yue always maintained a high level of mental concentration. In fact, he was already very hungry at this moment.

Xue Tao was the first to raise his glass and said: "As the governor of Lingzhou, I have been guarding the border here for the imperial court for twenty years. I rely on the help of all my colleagues to protect the peace of the people in this place. The two imperial envoys came from afar and should have personally

I'm here to accompany you, but I have been too busy with official duties these days, so don't be surprised if I don't entertain you well. As tonight is the annual Hibiscus Banquet, I would like to offer this glass of water and wine to the two imperial envoys, my colleagues, and all the local sages in Lingzhou."

He looked at Pei Yue, smiled and said, "Please."

Pei Yue picked up the wine glass, paused for a moment, and then said with a smile: "Uncle Fang, please."

Everyone finished drinking their cups.

The maids who were standing at the back came forward and filled the wine with gentle movements.

Xue Tao raised his glass again and said to Pei Yue and Qin Xu: "I know the mission of the two imperial envoys. This glass of wine is to thank the people of Lingzhou for your majesty's grace and to thank you for your hard work."

Seeing that Pei Yue had no intention of speaking, Qin Xu could only smile and said: "It's my duty, I don't deserve Uncle Fang's thanks."

"Deserve it." Xue Tao said seriously, and then drank it all in one gulp, hanging the glass upside down to signal to the two of them.

Finished drinking.

Xue Tao's third glass of wine was for the officials and talented people in Lingzhou. He held the wine glass in his right hand and said unhurriedly: "You must have heard of briquettes. This is a good recipe that Pei Qin came up with.

Now it is also dedicated to the imperial court. From the winter of the third year of Kaiping, Kyoto

People began to use briquettes. The advantages of high quality and low price need not be repeated. Starting last autumn, people in Yongzhou, Yunzhou, Qinzhou, Yuzhou and Huazhou can buy briquettes. Now it is finally our turn in Lingzhou.

This is His Majesty’s grace, and you must not forget it.”

Bijia Liu Renji nodded and said, "What Uncle Fang said is absolutely true."

Xue Tao continued: "This briquette is made of coarse coal, so the details of this matter are divided into the mining of coal mines and the sale of finished products. Liu Biejia, in the next few days, you have to come up with a detailed and proper charter on behalf of our Lingzhou,

Let the two imperial envoys rest assured that Lingzhou will definitely

I will not disappoint His Majesty's expectations, and I will definitely handle this matter properly. As for all colleagues, you must treat this matter as a top priority and make sure there are no mistakes. Otherwise, I will not be able to deliver the mission to Your Majesty, and I will be even more unworthy of the spirit of your high expectations.

My fellow state fathers and fellow countrymen.”

"I will obey the orders of Uncle Fang."

Everyone responded in unison, the momentum was astonishing.

Qin Xu's face turned slightly pale. He was not stupid, so why couldn't he hear the meaning hidden in these words?

Xue Tao seemed not to notice anything unusual about him. After putting down his wine glass, he smiled with satisfaction and said: "Although there are no delicacies from all over the world on the table, it is also a unique flavor of Lingzhou. Please taste it, two imperial envoys."

Qin Xu didn't want to pick up the chopsticks, but he was just a good gentleman who had taught in the Imperial College for more than ten years. Even if he wandered around the flowers, it wasn't a big problem. After all, he didn't have a strong desire to be promoted, and he just wanted to do as he pleased.

Having stayed in Wenrou Township for too long, he had already lost his most important courage. At this moment, he knew that Xue Tao's idea was outrageous, but facing the people of Lingzhou who had gathered together after just a few words from the governor, he did not have the courage to refute.

Everyone is waiting for Qin Xu and Pei Yue to pick up the food.

This is an invisible and heavy pressure.

"Oh."

Pei Yue broke the solemn atmosphere with a chuckle. Without even looking at the ebony chopsticks placed in front of him, he slightly raised the corners of his mouth and said, "Master Xue, there is something I don't understand. I wonder if you can help me clarify it?

"

Xue Tao had long expected that he would not let go easily, and said calmly: "What's wrong with the imperial envoy?"

Pei Yue already understood why Lingzhou seemed to have so many difficulties on its own. From Xue Tao's cold reception of the two imperial envoys at the beginning, to the Dongqing horse thieves who are still at large, and the public opinion against coal mining in Linqing County, all of these

root

The source lies in Xue Tao's words just now. Even today's Furong Banquet, from the moment they entered Qiujiang Tower, some people wanted to disturb Pei Yue's state of mind, but the intensity was relatively gentle, because they did not really want to force Pei Yue

Enter death.

Therefore, whether he was writing, painting, reciting poems or composing poems, he just wanted to suppress the arrogance in Pei Yue's heart and make Wu Xun, a young man from Kyoto, recognize his identity.

It's a pity that they never know how many trump cards Pei Yue has.

After sorting out the complicated thoughts, Pei Yue chuckled and said: "If I didn't misunderstand, what Mr. Xue means is that the matter of honeycomb briquettes will be handled by the local government in Lingzhou?"

Xue Tao nodded and said, "That's right."

The breathing of many people at the table suddenly became heavier.

Xue Tao knew at just one glance that his decision was absolutely correct. He never worried that his subordinates, whom he had kneaded for so many years, would side with the imperial envoy. What's more, the benefits of briquettes were unimaginably rich. Even if these officials were not greedy, they were just eating.

The scraps they got were enough to feed their only son.

Didn’t you see that even Zhao Xianhong, the prefect of Xingyang, who has never been willing to be a yes man, is silent at this moment?

Of course, he knew that Pei Yue would not give in. After all, this was his achievement, and Lingzhou was a vast territory, and the benefits this matter could produce were greater than Yongzhou and Yunzhou combined. He was a little curious about the current situation.

What means does Pei Yue, who is isolated and helpless, have? In other words, can he still convince everyone else except himself with his eloquence like he did in the court?

However, to his surprise, Pei Yue did not make a long speech at all. He just stared at Xue Tao solemnly and uttered two words.

"no."

Qin Xu suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, and then began to worry again.

This is Lingzhou after all, and the two of them are attending the banquet alone. Even the dozens of soldiers they brought with them do not know where they are at the moment. Although he is an imperial envoy, who can guarantee whether the governor will go crazy?

Xue Tao's expression became dull, and other officials in Lingzhou also looked a little dull.

As if to keep his words quiet, Pei Yue continued: "Master Xue, are you going to lead these people in Lingzhou to rebel?"

It must be said that Pei Yue has practiced very well now. Although the tone of this sentence is not serious, it has an aura as solemn as a mountain.

Liu Renji was startled, feeling a big drum beating in his heart, and quickly interjected: "Master Pei, what do you mean by this?"

Pei Yue sneered: "Since you don't intend to rebel, how dare you interfere with the court's arrangements without authorization? The matter of briquettes is exclusively handled by Shitan Temple. Didn't you receive His Majesty's orders?"

Xue Tao's expression remained unchanged and he said slowly: "This is Lingzhou."
Chapter completed!