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

Despite enjoying the delicacies on the table and the finest aged wine, Li Bi found the food tasteless.

After several rounds of wine and dishes, Li Bi was quite tipsy and was escorted by several beautiful maids to a room that had been prepared for him.

After the maids left, a glimmer of clarity flashed in Li Bi's hazy, drunken eyes.

Taking advantage of the dimness of the room, Li Bi rubbed his temples. Although he hadn't passed out completely, he had indeed drunk a lot of alcohol, and his head was fuzzy and he couldn't think straight.

What exactly is Wei Jingyuan planning?

On the other side, Wei Jingyuan and his companions, who were also tipsy, drank a cup of sobering tea, and there was no trace of drunkenness in their eyes!

"Sir, why should we be so humble?"

A man dressed as a general in armor spoke with a hint of resentment, saying that Li Bi had only risen to his current high position because of his relationship with the emperor.

Having no reputation whatsoever before, he must have been a favored official. Wei Jingyuan, a dignified military governor, was being so humble, which made him feel somewhat humiliated.

As the saying goes, "A subject dies when his lord is disgraced," and he now wished he could take a sword and chop Li Bi to pieces.

"Ah, it's just a little bit of hardship."

"Although Xiangzhou is a good place, it is a strategically important location. If we really go to war with the imperial court, it will be the first to bear the brunt."

"Although the other seven towns will come to help, they are far away and cannot provide immediate relief."

"Even if we can withstand the imperial army, the entire Xiangzhou will be ravaged. How will our town do business then? How will we make money?"

"It's not worth using our town's territory and resources to resist the imperial army. As long as we can shift the blame and get the imperial court to target the other regional warlords, what's a little face-saving?"

"Not to mention now, the outcome is still uncertain. If the court wins, given the relationship between Li Bi and the young emperor, he will surely be positioned as a high-ranking official in the future. Today's hospitality may bring even greater profits in the future."

"If the imperial court has lost, why bother arguing with a dead man?"

Wei Jingyuan smiled slightly, not taking it to heart. He had walked on thin ice his whole life to get to where he was today, and he no longer cared about saving face.

Now that he has risen to this point, holding both military and political power, who would dare to regard him as the insignificant ant he once was?

Wei Jingyuan knew very well that in this world, only soldiers were real; face and everything else were just empty words.

He didn't want to be the first to face the imperial court. As long as he could protect his troops, he could regain his lost face in the future.

"My lord is wise."

The general was clearly still somewhat unwilling, but he held back.

Wei Jingyuan walked to the general's side, patted the general's back, and said, "General Wu, rest assured, you will definitely have the opportunity to make great achievements in the future."

After calming his men down, Wei Jingyuan personally saw them all off. Before entering the room, his gaze fell on the direction where Li Bi was resting.

"Li Bi, His Majesty's former advisor during his time as a prince, should understand what I mean, right?"

Wei Jingyuan's lips curled up slightly. He believed that the person who was sent to undertake such an important task was definitely not a fool.

Moreover, his intelligence indicated that this Li Bi was no ordinary person.

Li Bi's mind wasn't quite working properly due to the effects of alcohol, but after a while, he immediately understood what Wei Jingyuan meant.

To go out to greet someone, and to ensure the security of the residence met the standards of the imperial court, was both a sign of weakness to the court and a demonstration of loyalty.

The delicacies at the banquet represent something else entirely: although we are loyal to the court, we are not pushovers. If the court wants to take on this tough nut, they should be prepared to break their teeth.

"laugh!"

"He really is a fence-sitter."

Li Bi chuckled. As long as Wei Jingyuan didn't intend to confront the court head-on, that would be good news for him.

But that wasn't enough. He also planned to meet with Wei Jingyuan again to ensure that Wei Jingyuan wouldn't suddenly turn against him in the future.

Old fox!

The next day, as the sun rose, Li Bi woke up in bed and was once again warmly received by Wei Jingyuan.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they put down their bowls and chopsticks at the same time. All the civil and military officials of Xiangzhou left in tacit agreement, leaving the space to Wei Jingyuan and Li Bi.

Wei Jingyuan stepped forward and poured Li Bi a cup of tea, then poured one for himself as well. Wisps of steam rose from the teacups, reflecting off Wei Jingyuan's face, making it appear blurry.

"Lord Li has resided in the capital for a long time; I wonder if this food suits your taste?"

Wei Jingyuan suddenly asked.

"Excellent! Li Bi has never had such a sumptuous feast before. I must thank Lord Wei for his hospitality."

Li Bi picked up his teacup, his face contorted in the steam, making it difficult for Wei Jingyuan to see clearly.

"Lord Li has been in Xiangzhou for a day now, not to mention the many things he has experienced on the way. I wonder what Lord Li's impressions of Xiangzhou are?"

Wei Jingyuan's tone was somewhat meaningful, as if he were referring to something.

"Lord Wei is a capable minister who governs his territory in an orderly manner, making the people prosperous and the army and civilians united. Li Bi admires him."

Li Bi's tone was equally enigmatic, and his words seemed to carry a deeper meaning.

Wei Jingyuan put down his teacup, and the smile on his lips became much more genuine.

"Lord Li, what brings you south on imperial orders?"

Wei Jingyuan then got to the point, his gaze fixed on Li Bi, not daring to miss the slightest change in Li Bi's expression.

Li Bi's gaze almost simultaneously fell on Wei Jingyuan, and the surrounding air seemed to thicken, with a sense of pressure filling the entire hall.

"His Majesty wants me to see whether Lord Wei is loyal to the court."

As if oblivious to the oppressive atmosphere, Li Bi's words intensified the oppressive feeling in the hall.

Wei Jingyuan gave a forced smile and asked, "So, has Lord Li made any progress?"

"Not yet."

Li Bi shook his head and said with some disappointment.

"Oh?"

"Not yet?"

Wei Jingyuan pondered these two words, "What does this mean?"

"I have a few questions for Lord Wei, but I'm unsure if I should speak them?"

Li Bi did not answer, but carefully considered his words before speaking.

Wei Jingyuan narrowed his eyes. "Please speak, Lord Li."

"Are you aware that the ten military governors of the Western Frontier have joined forces to rebel against the imperial court, cutting off its westward advance?"

I know a little bit about it.

"The nine military governors of the northern frontier have jointly sworn an oath, assembling an army of 50 to march south, intending to overthrow the imperial court. Are you aware of this, sir?"

I know a little bit about it.

"Before the ten military governors of the Western Frontier rebelled against the imperial court, they met and announced their joint advance and retreat. Before the nine military governors of the Northern Frontier swore an oath, they also met and indicated that the nine garrisons would advance and retreat together. Are you aware of this, sir?"

I know a little bit about it.

"My first question is, the court has heard that the eight military governors of the southern frontier have also met. Is this true or false?"

As soon as Li Bi said this, the atmosphere in the hall became tense and confrontational, with a huge killing intent added compared to the previous oppressive feeling.

This murderous intent belonged to both Wei Jingyuan and Li Bi!