Chapter 429. "Qi Guo Interpretation"

"Boss, someone from Prince Yuancheng's palace came to say hello and told us that Prince Yuancheng will host a banquet for important officials on the fourth floor, and asked us to reserve a private room on the fourth floor in advance."

As the day approached closing time, the waiter came into the store and reported to the shopkeeper who was doing the bill behind the counter.

However, two days after Cao Rui was driven back to Pingyuan and placed under house arrest, Cao Li finally managed to deal with the endless stream of visitors during these two days. He decided to select a few of them with higher status and greater influence and host a banquet for them at Qianzuifang as a return gift and to strengthen the relationship.

After all, people are divided into different classes, and meat is divided into different layers. Even if everyone is here to flatter someone, there are still different levels of nobility and inferiority, right? Can a Shangshu be the same as a petty clerk?

"Is that so? Then clean up the Plum Hall and wait for the visit of King Yuancheng tomorrow."

The shopkeeper nodded. These business affairs were very simple for them. However, they were not worried about this matter, but about another matter.

"Go call Lao Wang and Zheng Shusheng over."

The shopkeeper gave his men an order. Old Wang and Zheng Shusheng were the two who had been telling stories in the shop before.

"Boss, what's wrong?"

The two storytellers came to the counter with a happy look on their faces. It was already sunset, and Cao Pi, feeling the recent chaos and rumors, re-implemented the curfew. Even Qianzuifang was about to close, so the two naturally packed up and prepared to go home.

"Tomorrow I will tell you the story I showed you before, all day long."

The shopkeeper said this without even raising his head, which surprised the two men a little. However, it was already agreed long ago that the shopkeeper would decide on this matter, so the two men were not too surprised. They nodded, paid the shopkeeper the fees for today, and went back home with their bags.

On the second day, Cao Li's servants had arrived at Qianzuifang early, ready to protect Cao Li. Some well-informed clerks also came to Qianzuifang, hoping to make themselves familiar to Cao Li.

But who is Cao Li? As the "winner" of the current battle for the throne, he naturally would not show up so easily. If he said he would come at noon, he would definitely not sit in Qianzuifang several hours in advance waiting for those who were supposed to curry favor with him to come.

Therefore, these people could only sit on the second floor or even the first floor of Qianzuifang, waiting for Cao Li's arrival. Fortunately, the wines on the first and second floors of Qianzuifang were not ordinary, so they could have a few drinks to amuse themselves.

"Today I want to tell you something different. As you all know, Qin was born in Zhou. The Zhou emperor conquered Shang and divided the states. The Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Seven Heroes of the Warring States Period are still talked about by later generations..."

It just so happened that Qianzuifang had invited a storyteller at some point, so they could listen to some stories to relieve their boredom.

Of course, there are also some idle people who are interested in curiosity and come here just to listen to stories. They order a bowl of wine that costs a few dollars and sit on the first floor for an entire afternoon, just to listen to the storyteller telling about the heroic figures and magnificent stories of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and the late Qin Dynasty and early Han Dynasty.

"Today we are going to tell a story that is not usually mentioned. It is said that Qi was one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period. Duke Huan of Qi used Guan Zhong, and the country prospered. It annexed the surrounding small countries and had the potential to be a hegemon..."

On the first floor, Scholar Zheng cleared his throat, his voice was loud and clear, and as he slowly spoke, the chaotic crowd on the first floor quieted down, listening to Scholar Zheng telling stories. "Hey, Old Zheng, aren't you still talking about the story of the Spring and Autumn Period? You've already said once that Duke Huan of Qi was very powerful."

However, those who were looking for good things directly sabotaged the show and tried to embarrass Zheng Shusheng in public.

"Don't worry, don't worry. It's true that Duke Huan of Qi dominated the world. But time flies. Three hundred years later, even the powerful Qi State inevitably fell into decline. This is the story I want to tell today, "The Interpretation of Qi State."

Zheng Shusheng's clap of the wooden stick actually aroused everyone's interest. Everyone knew that Duke Huan of Qi, Guan Zhong, and Bao Shuya were great figures, but they had never heard of the so-called "Qi Guo Xianju" in the late Qi period. Even those petty officials who thought they were well-read couldn't help but prick up their ears to listen carefully.

"Since Duke Jing of Qi ascended the throne, although he enjoyed himself, he was able to listen to the opinions of loyal ministers and balance villains with capable ministers, allowing him to enjoy himself while maintaining stability in Qi..."

Zheng Shusheng began to explain slowly. Since it was "The Interpretation of Qi State", there would naturally be deleted and modified parts.

"Tian Qi has always been a disloyal person, but no matter whether they are loyal or villainous, no one in his country can tolerate Tian Qi, an 'outsider', at all. So Tian Qi came up with a plan..."

As Zheng Shusheng unfolds the story, with his unhurried narration and carefully arranged story rhythm, he soon presents the following story:
Tian Qi wanted to pursue greater power, but he lacked the strength, so he lay dormant during the reign of Duke Jing of Qi. When he was even suspected by the duke, he simply retreated. On the surface, he was content with the position of an ordinary scholar-official, but in fact he secretly recruited troops, won over court officials, and quietly formed a faction that was in line with his own will.

Ordinary people just listened to it for fun and didn't think too much about it. But those who were officials in the court or those who were born with a keen political sense felt that something was wrong. This story seemed familiar, and I always felt that I had heard it somewhere, but I couldn't remember it in a hurry.

"It is said that Duke Jing of Qi suddenly had a nightmare at night. In the dream, there was an endless field with green stalks in the field. Duke Jing of Qi stood in the field and saw that these green stalks seemed to be unattended and slowly withered, and were all absorbed by the fertile soil under his feet.

Duke Jing of Qi was breathing heavily after waking up. Although it was just an ordinary farming scene, it made his heart palpitate, as if something serious had happened.

Duke Jing of Qi immediately asked for advice from his attendants and even the ministers in the court, but no one knew what he meant. Unexpectedly, Tian Qi laughed at home after learning about it.

Zheng Shusheng paused here, picked up the teacup beside him to moisten his throat, but this made the audience below very anxious.

"Scholar Zheng, please stop keeping us in suspense. How do you explain this dream?"

"Hey, dear listeners, don't be impatient, and let me explain it slowly."

Seeing that the people below were intrigued by his story, Zheng Shusheng smiled slightly and continued speaking.

"It turns out that Tian Qi has figured out the meaning of the dream. The green stems are ginger. The kings of Qi are all from the Jiang clan and the Lu clan. And Tian is naturally from the Gui clan and the Tian clan. The dream of Qi Jinggong clearly means that the Jiang clan is going to perish, and it will perish at the hands of the Tian clan."

Zheng Shusheng suddenly raised his voice, explained the dream, and banged the gavel, which made several people in the court below tremble suddenly, their legs trembling, and they looked at him in disbelief.

(End of this chapter)