A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

After receiving his orders, Li Bi headed south, pondering on the way who to target first.

He had five objectives for his southward journey, including bribing Xiao Chongyue, the military governor of Jiannan Xichuan, and Shen Wenhan, the military governor of Huainan.

They intimidated, wooed, and deceived Wei Chengqian, the military governor of Jiannan Dongchuan, Wei Jingyuan, the military governor of Shannan Dongdao, and Gu Yuanshuo, the military governor of Jiangxi, to prevent them from raising the banner of rebellion.

After a moment's thought, he quickly decided on the order of his persuasion.

The first target was Wen Jingyuan of Shannan East Circuit, the second target was Wei Chengqian of Jiannan East Sichuan, the third target was Gu Yuanshuo of Jiangxi, the fourth target was Shen Wenhan of Huainan, and the fifth target was Xiao Chongyue of Jiannan West Sichuan.

Xiangzhou, the seat of Shannan East Circuit, guards the main stream of the Han River. It connects to Bashu in the north, Jiangling and Jingnan in the south, and Huainan in the east. It is an intelligence hub and a vital water and land transit route for the Southern Eight Garrisons Alliance.

All correspondence, grain transport, and troop exchanges between the southern towns had to pass through Xiangzhou.

As long as Wen Jingyuan is kept in check, the efficiency of communication between the southern warlords will be halved, and Chu Zhaolie, who advocates war in Jingnan, will not be able to easily connect Bashu and Jianghuai, which will greatly shake the will of those other fence-sitters.

It can be said that as long as he can persuade Wen Jingyuan, he will have completed half of his mission to go south.

Wen Jingyuan was a smooth-talking man and a well-known fence-sitter. He had previously attached himself to Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong, and even had an ambiguous relationship with Gao Lishi. He also presented Emperor Xuanzong of Tang with a large amount of gold and silver treasures to curry favor with Li Longji.

Wen Jingyuan had no intention of fighting to the death; he only sought to gain benefits in peace. With a little promise of benefits, a clear explanation of the advantages and disadvantages, and some guarantees, he could be kept in check and kept from taking sides.

Li Bi swaggered into Xiangzhou, and Wen Jingyuan actually personally led a group of people to greet him at the city gate.

Li Bi couldn't help but sigh, "He really is a fence-sitter. Although the eight southern garrisons have not openly rebelled against the court, they have formed an alliance to resist it."

However, when faced with this envoy from the imperial court, Wen Jingyuan still personally led people out of the city to welcome him, giving the imperial court enough face and not giving the imperial court any chance to cause trouble.

Moreover, it must be said that as a regional military governor, the fact that the current ruler of a town would lower himself to greet Li Bi in this way made Li Bi feel a sense of great importance.

Even if he knew it was intentional, some emotions cannot be suppressed by reason.

"Your subject, Wen Jingyuan, the military governor of Shannan East Circuit, along with seventeen officials of Xiangzhou, pay homage to the imperial envoy."

Upon seeing Li Bi from afar, Wen Jingyuan hurriedly led a large group of officials forward.

Li Bi glanced around and realized that there were definitely more than 17 officials around Wen Jingyuan, but those standing next to him whose official robes were different from the others were indeed 17.

If he remembered correctly, the imperial court stipulated that the Xiangzhou military governor's office should have one prefect, namely the military governor Wen Jingyuan.

He had one subordinate official, one chief clerk, and one military advisor.

One person each for the positions of Director of Works, Director of Granaries, Director of Households, Director of Military Affairs, Director of Justice, and Director of Military Advisors.

Two clerks; three military officers; one PhD in Classics and one PhD in Medicine.

These are all the officially registered officials in the imperial court of a military governor's office. The other officials behind them should be local officials who are nominally subordinate to the imperial court.

So even though these officials came, Wen Jingyuan still referred to 17 people in his speech; this old fox was extremely shrewd.

"Governor Wen is too kind; there's no need for such a grand gesture."

This old fox is too polite. Now Li Bi can't use the excuse he thought of to make trouble. It's like punching cotton.

Fortunately, as long as he comes and leaves alive, he will leave a thorn in the side of the other seven major warlords.

"Alas, angel, you are mistaken~"

"Your Excellency represents the Imperial Court and His Majesty's high regard for Shannan East Circuit. I am deeply grateful, and no amount of formality would be enough."

"I have already arranged a banquet at the governor's residence. I would be honored if you would grace me with your presence."

Faced with Wei Jingyuan's beaming smile and extremely courteous attitude, Li Bi simply couldn't bring himself to refuse.

Upon arriving at the governor's residence, Li Bi could hardly believe his eyes.

The mansion in front of them, though considered luxurious by ordinary people, had five courtyards and gardens.

However, compared to a military governor, a powerful regional official who holds both military and political power, this is rather meager.

"My humble abode is rather simple. The local officials originally wanted to prepare a better residence for me, but considering that it would add a lot of burden to the people, I resolutely refused and found a former residence of a disgraced official to live in. I hope that Your Majesty will not be offended if there is any neglect."

Wei Jingyuan had an upright and righteous look on his face, and his whole body seemed to radiate a golden glow in the sunlight.

Ultraman Tiga

Oops, wrong channel.

Looking at Wei Jingyuan's righteous face, Li Bi's face twitched. I believed your nonsense!

Li Bi gained a completely new understanding of the shamelessness of these old foxes who acted as fence-sitters and remained steadfast in their positions.

King Chungmu is right. Actions speak louder than words. If you don't come out and see for yourself, you'll never know just how shameless these people really are.

"No shabby treatment, no neglect, let's take our seats quickly."

Following Wei Jingyuan's directions, Li Bi entered the banquet hall and, at Wei Jingyuan's insistence, sat in the main seat.

The dignified local military governor, a regional lord, was sitting in the deputy seat, beneath the young Li Bi.

Li Bi knew he had underestimated this military governor. He truly was a ruthless man who had survived the downfall of Li Linfu, Yang Guozhong, and Gao Lishi, and no wonder he controlled the vital transportation routes of the entire south. Wei Jingyuan was no ordinary man!

After everyone was seated, someone immediately brought out the prepared food. Li Bi took one look and exclaimed, "Wow!"

Good heavens, this is such a feast!

Golden minced meat and jade slices, five kinds of raw meat platter, venison, roe deer, red dragon meat, whole sheep dead, mutton in the hall, red sheep branch, sheep arm, chicken tongue soup, roasted deer tail, deer sauce, roasted goose and duck, snow baby, bear paw, orangutan lips, sweet dew soup, white dragon radish, immortal meat, roasted bright shrimp, steamed river crab, fresh oysters, clams.

Everything that flies in the sky, runs on the ground, and swims in the water is there.

The staple foods alone include flatbread, single-steamed golden milk pastry, Guifei red pastry, giant sesame seed cake, Brahman light high noodles, Imperial Yellow Queen Mother rice, jade tip noodles, and locust leaf cold noodles.

On top are grapes, pomegranates, walnuts, figs, lychees, cherries, tangerines, oranges, mandarins, pears, lotus seeds, and candied fruit served on silver platters...

Although the mansion was shabby, the food was better than even the imperial banquets that Li Bi had once attended.

Only when Yang Guifei was still alive, and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (Li Longji) held a birthday banquet for her, ordering people to send lychees from afar, could it compare to this.

Wei Jingyuan is very fat!

However, after feigning weakness and poverty before, he is now indulging in extravagant food and drink. What exactly is Wei Jingyuan planning?