Chapter 366: Three Feasts
Shi Siming personally led An Lushan's horse and said, "After hearing about the battle in Mingzhou, I have been worried about Your Majesty day and night. God has mercy on me and finally let Your Majesty come. Now that Your Majesty is back, we can regroup and plan to conquer the Plains again."

An Lushan asked, "Brother, do you think we can still take over the Central Plains?"

Shi Siming said: "I think it is possible. Your Majesty, don't you have this intention?"

An Lushan said: "It is not likely that we can defeat the Tang Dynasty with only one corner of the country. I think it is better to build a strong city and establish a separatist regime."

Shi Siming said: "From Li Heng's strategic arrangement, he will not tolerate our separatist rule. We can either return to Chang'an to plead guilty and become prisoners or even beheaded, or we can use offense as defense and fight to the death."

An Lushan thought to himself, "He won't send me to Chang'an to plead guilty in order to establish his own regime, will he?"

An Lushan did not respond, and Shi Siming ignored him and continued, "I finally get to reunite with Your Majesty, and I am so happy. I would like to not discuss official business today, but get drunk first. I hope Your Majesty will grant me that."

An Lushan smiled and said, "That's exactly what I meant."

……

Jiangling.

Ying Wang Li Lu summoned his staff to discuss the matter and showed them the imperial edict from Li Heng ordering him to return to the court.

After reading the imperial edict, Li Bai said, "Now that the rebels have been driven to Raoyang, the situation is clear. Your Highness should return to the capital to report on his duties."

Li Yu glared at Li Bai and said, "Mr. Taibai, do you think that I can come out after I go to the capital?"

Li Bai said: "Your Highness, please ask for permission to go to Hebei. I am willing to follow your Highness and implement the plan of attacking Youzhou from the sea to put down the rebellion in one fell swoop."

Li Yu was very upset when he heard this, but after all, Li Bai was summoned by him three times, so he still said patiently: "With Gao Xianzhi, Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi and other generals, how can Your Majesty allow me to go to the front? If I return to Chang'an, I can only live in the Ten Kings' Mansion and can never come out again."

Cai Yong, a counselor standing by, said, "Your Highness has not sent His Majesty a congratulatory letter, and His Majesty has just summoned you back to the capital. In my opinion, Your Highness should immediately send a congratulatory letter and submit a letter of apology, saying that Your Highness was unwell and could not write a congratulatory letter and could not return to the capital."

After hearing what Cai Yong said, Li Bai understood a little.

During this period of time, he was concentrating on thinking about how to deal with the rebels, and even came up with a plan to attack Youzhou by sea. He never expected that Li Lu actually had the intention of competing for hegemony.

Now, he was about to become a rebel.

Li Bai glanced at the generals on the side and felt that the only ones he could use were Yan Wu and Su Zhen. The rest, such as Feng Jikang, Yuan Jingyao and others, were a bunch of third-rate stuff. They were better at bragging than him, but when it came to fighting, they probably couldn't beat him by much.

On the other hand, Li Heng's men were all experienced and brave generals, and any one of them could defeat them and make them surrender.

Li Bai wanted to retreat, but then he thought, he was already on the pirate ship, how could he retreat?

Thinking of this, Li Bai was stunned.

Li Yu agreed with Cai Yong's words and said, "Let's do this. I am now the governor of Shannan East Road, Lingnan, Qianzhong, and Jiangnan West Road. I control the financial and taxation of the court. If my eighteenth brother continues to force me, I will have no choice but to break off relations with him!"

Yan Wu, who was standing by, heard this and thought, "Although you are the governor of the four towns, how well do you control them?"

Yan Wu sighed secretly, but did not say anything, because he knew that Li Lu would not listen now. Not everyone can have a clear understanding of their own abilities.

Li Lu's subordinates, each with their own thoughts, watched Li Lu's performance silently.

Li Yu was very happy and said, "Today we have a banquet. You and I will not leave until you are drunk."

……

Changan.

Gao Xianzhi brought An Shouzhong's head and important rebel generals to report his victory to Li Heng in Xuanzheng Hall.

Li Heng was very happy and went downstairs to greet Gao Xianzhi.

Gao Xianzhi bowed to Li Heng and said with tears in his eyes: "After a year and a half of absence, Your Majesty has become more and more radiant."

Li Heng said, "General Gao has been through a lot of hard fighting and has lost some weight."

Gao Xianzhi said, "As long as I can put down the rebellion, I will sacrifice my life for it." "Well, General Gao is worthy of being the Great Tang Divine Sword!" Li Ying held Gao Xianzhi's hand and said, "Now that Luoyang has been taken, An Shouzhong has been killed, and the rebels have fled north, are you ready to accept the title of Prince?"

Gao Xianzhi bowed quickly and said, "The world is not settled yet, I dare not accept this honor."

Li Heng hesitated for a moment and said, "Then I will grant you the title of Shangzhuguo. Is that okay?"

Gao Xianzhi hesitated for a moment, then knelt on one knee and said, "I thank your Majesty for your grace!"

Li Heng helped Gao Xianzhi to stand up, patted Gao Xianzhi on the shoulder, and said, "You went straight to the palace after returning to the capital, and didn't even have time to go home. Go back and pack up. I will host a banquet to welcome you in the evening."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll take my leave." Gao Xianzhi bowed to Li Ying and withdrew.

Gao Xianzhi returned to his mansion and after talking to Zhou about his innermost feelings, he saw the gifts piled up in the mansion and asked, "Who sent all these things?"

Zhou said: "Civil and military officials, aristocratic families, and even distant relatives all came to give gifts."

Gao Xianzhi said: "When I was in Anxi, there were few visitors, but now I have become very popular. It's really interesting."

Zhou said: "Many people need your help right now."

"Oh, what's the matter?" Gao Xianzhi asked puzzledly.

Zhou said, "Your Majesty is implementing a new policy and is dividing households into different levels. Everyone knows that Your Majesty favors you and wants to use your merits to classify himself as a lower-level household so that he can pay less tax."

Gao Xianzhi smiled and said, "This is a big deal. If I agree to it, can I become the richest man in Chang'an?"

Zhou said: "Not only the richest, but also many big families are vying to marry their daughters to your sons. Some even want to give their daughters to you as concubines."

Gao Xianzhi asked, "Did you pick a good-looking one?"

"What?" Zhou glared at Gao Xianzhi and said angrily, "Pick whatever you like."

"Just kidding." Gao Xianzhi chuckled and said, "I said I was picking it for my son."

"That won't do!" Zhou flatly refused, staring at Gao Xianzhi and saying, "At this moment, you really dare to make friends with those noble families? His Majesty has rewarded you with gold, silver, silk, and a house, and has given your son an official position. He has rewarded you with everything he can. What else do you want?"

Gao Xianzhi listened to Zhou's righteous rebuke, but instead of getting angry, he smiled and said, "You are right. I feel relieved after hearing your words."

Zhou sensed something and said angrily, "Well, I was worried about you day and night at home, and you made fun of me as soon as you came back. You have no conscience."

Gao Xianzhi smiled and said, "I can't just hug you and cry when I come back, right?"

Zhou couldn't help laughing when she heard this.

Gao Xianzhi paused and said seriously, "You and I are both from Goguryeo. We are where we are today thanks to your majesty's kindness. I will never change my original intention in this life. I will repay the kindness of my wise master and bless my wife and children. This life is enough. Don't worry, I will not cut off my own path."

"I also hope that Alang can become a good story between Your Majesty and his subjects, and that it will be passed down through the ages." Zhou's tone became very soft. After a pause, she said, "You should have people return these things. If they cannot be returned, give them items of the same value."

Gao Xianzhi said, "I thought you kept these things because you wanted to learn from Gao Lishi."

"What do you mean?" Zhou asked puzzledly.

Gao Xianzhi said: "Gao Lishi only accepts gifts but does not do anything, but you have to give him gifts because if you don't he will ruin your business."

Zhou smiled and said, "Why should I learn from him? I am just a woman, it is not convenient for me to interfere in your government affairs. When you come back, you can let His Majesty understand your thoughts."

Gao Xianzhi said: "Madam is thoughtful."

Zhou said, "Okay, go take a bath quickly, don't keep His Majesty waiting for you."

"Yes." Gao Xianzhi smiled slightly and went to take a bath.

Today, Raoyang, Jiangling and Chang'an are holding a banquet together.

(End of this chapter)