Northern Dynasties

While Yu Wenhu was still persisting in applying eye drops to Li Tai in front of Yu Wentai, Li Tai took advantage of this rare leisure to entertain old friends in Beijing at home, mainly Li Mu, Tian Hong and other former friends. Colleagues in the Houjun Dudu Mansion.

In the spacious hall, Li Mu watched with a complicated expression as his son Li Ya skillfully sliced ​​the mutton with a knife. It seemed that he had practiced this action a lot. The thin slices of meat were spread out on the table, with alternating fat and thin textures. Delicate, like a delicate petal, it is pleasing to the eye.

But the question is, which father would be happy that his son has this skill, especially Li Mu, a family of generals.He entrusted his son to Li Tai for the purpose of improving his talents and hoping to become a successful person, but not for his son to learn to be a cook!
Of course, he didn't know that the standard of being a cook here in Li Tai was higher than that of being a third man, and even Li Mu couldn't do it if he wanted to.

"South of Wuguan, most people eat rice and fish, right?"

He made a vague mention. Li Ya, who was cutting the meat carefully, became interested when she heard this: "Aye, you want to eat fish? I'm even better at this. The general praised the fish dumplings he made." It’s the best in the north and south! But there aren’t many river fish suitable for making fish dumplings. I wonder if there are any preparations in the house?”

Li Mu's face suddenly darkened when he heard this. I fought tooth and nail for the boss, but you cut fish for the boss. Why did I give birth to a scum like you!

Li Tai didn't know what Li Mu was thinking about Xiao Jiujiu. He picked up his wine glass and greeted the people present and said with a smile: "In the past, when we worked together in the house, we would never notice him day and night, but now he is divided into different parties, and it is difficult to see him every now and then. Now we finally have to get together, so you don’t have to save food and drinks for my family!”

After everyone heard this, they all laughed and raised their glasses in response.

Li Mu took another look at his son, who was still slicing meat, and felt even more unhappy. Then he said to Li Tai: "Guests rarely come to visit and make trouble. Of course, they should eat and drink to their heart's content, but the host should not be too stingy. , only for boiling!"

After hearing this, Li Tai realized that this guy really cared about his son, so he smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Wu'an, you will definitely come back with a lot of fun today!"

The dining table area in front of everyone is limited, so the dishes can only be served in one portion. After everyone has a plate of shabu-shabu to appetize, those who like it can keep the shabu-shabu, and those who don't like it will have new dishes.

Because Li Mu had expressed his dissatisfaction before, he received special attention, and three new dishes were served to him at one time, including shredded yam cubes, frosted perilla leaves, and bamboo tube rice dumplings dipped in sugar.

Although these three dishes were common home-cooked dishes in later generations, at present, they give people a sense of freshness and surprise that transcends the times, so much so that Li Mu looked at it from left to right, not daring to directly Put down chopsticks.

"Aye, let's eat! These are uncommon foods in Guanzhong. If you don't come to the general's house as a guest, where can you find them? It's so sweet!"

Li Ya couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed when she saw her old man making such a fuss, so she urged him in a low voice.

Li Mu rolled his eyes at his son first, and then carefully picked up a familiar piece of steamed rice in a bamboo tube. When his son handed over a snack box filled with sugar, he shook his head and said, "Don't use salt!"

Li Ya was even more happy after hearing this. She couldn't help but sprinkle the sugar in the food box on the rice dumplings and then stuffed it into his mouth.

Li Mu was a little resistant, but he thought that this kid would not poison himself and explode the gold coins in public, so he opened his mouth and took a bite. After chewing for a while, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he suddenly became big. He ate a lot of rice dumplings sprinkled with sugar, and ate three bamboo rice dumplings in a row. He even shouted with some unfinished thoughts: "Come again!"

After seeing this, everyone else also tried it one after another, and soon there was a series of praise and exclamations in the back hall amid the sound of chewing.Unlike the powerful people in Nanliang, the poor people in the Western Wei Dynasty who had never seen Shi Mi were naturally shocked when they saw white sugar.

In fact, when they reach their status, there is certainly no shortage of sugar in their diet, but the sugar content of white sugar is higher, and the taste is clearer and more obvious. Besides, if you follow this anchor, you will not delay giving likes to that anchor!

The meals at today's banquet all use white sugar as the main condiment, because Li Tai will sell the sugar back to Guanzhong, and these powerful people are undoubtedly the main target customers. Of course, they must be instilled in them in terms of diet. .As for whether this eating habit is healthy or not, why should it be so healthy?They already have money and status, and when it’s time to eat and drink, they quickly settle their accounts and reopen their accounts to promote the redistribution of resources and allow latecomers to take over early. Rich people still play to maintain their health, which is so anti-social.

Although these people couldn't bear the sweet meal, and in the end they stopped drinking and drank bitter tea to relieve their tiredness, they still couldn't praise the sweet and delicious meal just now. Absolutely.

Of course, Li Tai's banquet with them today was not just to control their food and drink. Since the brothers had already eaten and drank enough, of course they had to do business.

So he cleared his throat with two dry coughs, and then said: "I should be happy and happy to return to the country to attend the ceremony and to be rewarded again, but there is still something in my heart that I am not happy about!"

After everyone heard this, they immediately pricked up their ears, wanting to hear what made General Li so unhappy.

"This time the Ming Dynasty comes to the court, the country is restored to purity, and the people are able to get promotions and titles. It can be said that they are happy both inside and outside. But the Lord is the one who has put the most effort into this, but the result is nothing. Do you feel at ease thinking about this?"

Li Tai looked at everyone again and sighed and said, you guys have no conscience. You are so proud of the benefits you get, but you don't want to think about how our boss has nothing to gain.

After hearing the words, everyone suddenly came to their senses and nodded repeatedly, but then became a little confused: "Now that the Lord has become a high-ranking Grand Master, he is the most respected person. If you want to advance..."

But when the words came to this point, no one dared to continue talking. Although they were just a group of warriors, they also understood that some words should not be said casually.

Seeing their uncertain looks, Li Tai said with a smile: "In the early years of the Great Unification, the Lord Xiang assisted the late Emperor Wen to govern Guanxi. Emperor Wen originally intended to reward him with the title of a famous king, but the Lord instead used the imperial title to reward him. Xin'an and the surrounding areas are not in peace, and they dare not directly occupy the honorary position. Although the matter has to be abandoned.

But today is different from that time. Who can match the Lord’s contribution to supporting the country?If they are not rewarded with a worthy reputation, who can feel at ease among the meritorious officials in the country?I have been stationed at the border for a long time, and I don’t know much about the affairs of the country. However, I have this awareness. You have been in power for a long time, but you don’t speak directly. When will you wait? "

Li Tai also inquired from King Guangling and learned that just when Emperor Xiaowu was deposed and Emperor Wen was replaced by Yuan Baoju, the late emperor once wanted to canonize Yuwentai as King Anding.

However, the Kansai regime was not yet stable at that time, and Yuwentai's own power was not strong enough, and there was also the need for a united front against all parties, and Gao Huan, a powerful official with a different surname, the King of Bohai, had the ugliness of chasing the emperor. Yuwentai Tai didn't dare to seek fame too much, so he still declined.

After this refusal, there was no better opportunity, so Yuwentai has maintained the title of Duke Anding until now.

Li Tai originally thought that Yu Wentai had never tried to win over Wang Jue. It was because his so-called Tuogu restructuring had such restrictions, or he did not have similar needs, so the matter had been put on hold.

However, after some understanding, this so-called restructuring is just a skin-changing game led by Bafu, and there will be no restrictions on Yuwentai's reputation.

As for Yuwentai not having such needs, that is even more impossible.A powerful minister especially needs to distinguish himself from other ministers and put himself in a unique category. Whether he praises and worships without a name, does not follow the court, adds nine tins, etc., everything about him must show that we are different!
Historically, shortly after the death of Yu Wentai, Zhao Gui, Dugu Xin and other powerful Yi ministers attempted to rebel. Although it is not ruled out that Yu Wenhu acted first, it also shows that these people were opposed to each other because of their long-term equal status. There is a great threat to the Yuwen family's inheritance of power.

Therefore, Li Tai concluded that Yuwentai needed a status symbol that was different from other Zhuguo countries, and there were many reasons why he did not take the initiative to fight for it.

Li Tai wants to maintain a harmonious relationship with Yu Wentai before the Battle of Jiangling. It is much more effective to give this really cheap father-in-law a prince than to say 18 beautiful words.I worked so hard to help you build momentum. If you still mess with me, no one will be willing to persuade you to join me if you wait for [-] years to come back!