Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 727 Hundred-Day Banquet

In the frigid weather, the entire Liang Kingdom began to hibernate.

With last year's experience, Liang Kingdom is better prepared this year.

Everything slowed down: government affairs were relayed, soldiers were drilled, merchants and common people traveled less, and there was no more war on the border.

With less political and military affairs to bother him, Zhao Zhen was able to relax in the Liang Kingdom's palace.

His main activity was discussing national policies with his ministers. Other than that, he practiced martial arts and Taoism in the palace. Of course, he also took turns summoning men to his bedchamber at night, indulging in nightly revelry.

The newly appointed Lady Xu was especially favored by Emperor Zhao Zhen.

In terms of beauty, she was in no way inferior to Lady Fan. Truly, she was like a maiden extinguishing the candle, loosening her silk skirt, smiling behind the curtain, her entire body exuding the fragrance of orchids and magnolias.

Another major event in the first year of Jingze was that Chen Liqing gave birth to a son.

Therefore, Emperor Zhao Zhen also ordered the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice to select people from the mining supervisors who were sentenced to three to five years in prison, and who sincerely repented, to be pardoned and released back to their hometowns.

With Zhao Zhen having a worthy successor, public support increased, and the reputation of the Liang Kingdom also rose by 5 points.

Zhao Zhen also placed high hopes on this eldest son, whose childhood name was Huzi (Tiger). After New Year's Day, his formal name was also decided: Zhao Han, meaning that he has a broad mind, is magnanimous and generous, and can tolerate others.

Chen Liqing was very pleased to hear this and agreed.

For the full moon celebration, Zhao Zhen did not hold a grand event, but simply had a lively celebration in the palace.

The following year, on the ninth day of the second lunar month, was Zhao Han's 100-day celebration.

This time, not only court officials and allied states like Gao, but also the enemy state of Dali sent envoys to offer their congratulations.

Both the 100-day celebration and the New Year's Day banquet were held in the Linde Hall.

The Linde Hall is located in the southwest of the Imperial Palace, adjacent to the Imperial Garden. It has a separate gate to facilitate the entry and exit of ministers and envoys who come to offer congratulations.

Zhao Zhen attached great importance to Zhao Han's 100-day celebration and had preparations made well in advance.

The ceremony was overseen by Lady Qingwan, who also served as the Vice Director of the Palace Secretariat. The ceremony followed the New Year's Day celebrations, with a throne set up in the palace, a yellow banner displayed, and twenty-four guards each of the golden melon, silver spear, mace, and golden axe drawn from the ceremonial guards to stand in attendance.

The Imperial Kitchen, the Imperial Music Bureau, and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices also participated in the drills.

On the day of the grand banquet, Zhao Zhen held Zhao Han in his arms and sat on the throne with Chen Liqing, receiving the grand ceremony of praise and obeisance from all the officials.

After the ceremony, the officials from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices filed in, and grand music was played. When they reached the Emperor, the music stopped.

When the Guanglu Temple opened the wine cups and poured wine, they first offered a toast to the emperor.

The Imperial Music Bureau played the "Song of the Flaming Essence." As the music began, everyone knelt. Zhao Zhen raised his cup and drank, then the music stopped. The officials prostrated themselves and performed another round of homage.

When the music of "The Song of the Imperial Wind" was played, and then stopped, Zhao Zhen picked up his chopsticks, and the courtiers also picked up their chopsticks.

After the feast, they danced the "Dance of Pacifying the World".

The next round of the ceremony was the same, only the music and dance changed.

"The Song of Affection for the Emperor" is accompanied by "The Dance of Pacifying the Four Barbarians", "The Song of the Transmission of Heaven's Way" is accompanied by "The Dance of the Meeting of the Carriage and the Book", "The Song of Upholding the Imperial Order" is accompanied by "The Dance of Hundred Plays", "The Song of Jinling" is accompanied by "The Dance of the Eight Barbarians Offering Treasures", "The Song of Changyang" is accompanied by "The Dance of the Lotus Picking Team", "The Song of Fragrant Wine" is accompanied by "The Dance of Fish Leaping in the Abyss", and finally, "The Song of Driving the Six Dragons" is played.

After nine rounds, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices collected the imperial wine cups, and the officials in charge collected the cups of the courtiers, and then served soup.

Music was played, and the officials rose to express their gratitude before sitting down again. Dishes were then served in order of seniority.

Every delicacy was meticulously prepared by the imperial kitchen. The ingredients used were of the highest quality, with many being rare and precious animals.

The banquet ended, the music ceased, the meal was cleared away, and finally, the "Hundred Flowers Dance" was performed. The Imperial Household Department removed the Emperor's desk, and the officials in charge of the procession removed the desks of the courtiers.

Finally, offer a grand prayer of thanksgiving.

This grand 100-day celebration consumed countless human, material, and financial resources, with its elaborate and extravagant setting.

None of the ministers tried to dissuade him.

Firstly, the funds were drawn from the imperial treasury, so it wouldn't disturb the people. Secondly, this 100-day celebration also served as a way to demonstrate national strength to the allies.

Throughout the banquet, Zhao Han, the main character, only made an appearance at the very beginning, and was then carried back to his palace by his wet nurse.

The day after the grand banquet, Zhao Zhen also received envoys from the states of Gao, Cao, and Lu: Gao Rui, Cao Ze, and Lu Lin. The matter he had mentioned earlier was nothing more than strengthening trade.

The states of Cao and Lu even proposed a marriage alliance.

Zhao Zhen did not refuse the marriage alliance with the states of Cao and Lu. He only said that he would send people to the two states to discuss the matter after the spring.

Seeing that Zhao Zhen was interested in a marriage alliance, Cao Ze asked, "Your Majesty, the Liang Kingdom sent troops in October, but what difficulties did they encounter?"

Zhao Zhen shook his head. "It's better not to mention this matter. The Southern Song Dynasty has always been unstable. There have been many rebellions in the country, but the government is powerless to govern them."

"Last August, we launched an invasion and, with the help of the Liang Kingdom's army, quelled the domestic rebellion. This world is riddled with problems. After being invaded by foreign races, it is now divided into two countries, North and South. If you are interested, you can launch an invasion next spring, and we can divide this world among ourselves."

Gao Rui said, "So that's how it is. However, if the Liang Kingdom can conquer this world, we will not get involved."

As he spoke, Gao Rui sighed.

"It's not that we look down on it, but launching a war isn't necessarily all beneficial. Gao State is currently stable, and the invasion of some small forces is not a big deal. In fact, these small forces are just whetstones for Gao State to maintain the fighting strength of its soldiers."

“But launching an invasion would be different. After all, we only have one month. Putting aside everything else, the amount of luck we spend might not even be recouped. All things considered, it’s better to maintain the status quo.”

After the envoys from the three kingdoms left, Zhao Zhen summoned the envoy from the Dali Kingdom.

The person who came was still Zhu Danchen. After exchanging greetings, Zhao Zhen offered him a seat.

"Why is the envoy from Dali Kingdom here in Liang Kingdom again?"

Zhu Danchen did not answer, but instead asked, "Your Majesty, I have heard rumors in the marketplace that the Liang Kingdom is going to form a marriage alliance with the Cao and Lu Kingdoms?"

"That is indeed the case. Why is the envoy from Dali Kingdom concerned about this?"

"Your Majesty, my king also wishes to marry my sister to you. From then on, our two countries will no longer be enemies and will become allies. Wouldn't it be better if our two countries turned hostility into friendship?"

Zhao Zhen laughed heartily and said, "The Dali Kingdom and the Song Kingdom are allies, but my Liang Kingdom and the Song Kingdom are enemies. Even in this frigid October weather, the Song Kingdom is already launching an invasion. If our Liang Kingdom forms an alliance, not to mention anything else, the alliance between the Dali Kingdom and the Song Kingdom will fall apart. Has your king thought this through?"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, my king has already considered this carefully. If Liang is willing to form an alliance, then the alliance treaty with Song will naturally be null and void."

"My king is willing to provide a dowry of a million strings of gold and silver, but there is one thing I ask of him."

"What is it?" Zhao Zhen asked.

"Allied nations cannot invade each other, yet the king's marriage of his sister must be postponed. Furthermore, my king will launch an invasion, so please ask the Liang Kingdom to help us wipe out the barbarian tribes and the Gao clan within our kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhen glanced at Wu Yong and Zhu Wu, who had returned to Liangshan.

Wu Yong stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable."

"Oh?" Zhao Zhen asked, "Why do you say that, strategist?"

(End of this chapter)