A lowly soldier becomes king, I slaughter my way through the late Tang Dynasty!

As they were talking.

On stage, a young girl dressed in Hu (non-Han) clothing, revealing her slender waist.

They danced gracefully to the rhythm of drums and piano music.

Li Song explained at the opportune moment.

"This is the Hu Xuan dance, which was Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's favorite dance."

The dancer's name was Man'er, and she was the best Hu Xuan dance dancer in Bianliang City.

Li Rui nodded slowly.

indeed.

The constantly spinning dance moves, combined with the flamboyant costumes of the Hu people.

It was vibrant and exciting, a feast for the eyes.

Li Rui couldn't help but think that it would probably be more suitable to have Liu Fuji perform this dance.

Turning his head, he saw that Li Yin and Zhao Kuangyin were engrossed in their gaze and hadn't noticed them.

Li Rui then raised his wine cup and toasted Li Song.

"Thank you, Minister Li, for your support."

Li Song was surprised and raised his cup to return the toast.

"No need. I've seen plenty of young people like you who become arrogant as soon as they achieve something."

"You offend people too easily; you need to be more restrained in the future."

The person who helped Li Rui spread the news and created momentum for him.

It's Li Song.

Having already made those points clear, Li Rui could certainly guess what was going on.

only.

Li Song's interpretation of his act of defying the imperial order as being overly assertive is biased.

Li Rui only wanted to stay in Dingzhou to build a base, and then take over the Central Plains when the world was in chaos.

Of course, Li Rui would never explain.

It's best to keep things like rebellion a secret.

"Thank you very much, Lord Li. Li Rui will surely repay you handsomely in the future."

Hearing this, Li Song was even more satisfied!

This kid is a fighter on the battlefield, and smart off the battlefield too.

They also know how to repay kindness!

He is the perfect candidate for godson!

Li Song had long wanted to adopt Li Rui as his godson!

He had this idea when the news of the great victory at the front first reached Chanzhou.

Moreover, they both share the surname Li, which makes them a perfect match.

If we weren't in a brothel at this moment, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to adopt a godson.

Li Song wants to confront them now!

At this moment, Man'er finished her Hu Xuan dance.

On the girl's fair and delicate skin, there was a fine layer of sweat.

Her chest heaved with breath, and she bowed to the crowd with a charming smile.

The guests around applauded enthusiastically, and some even whistled.

Before leaving the stage, Man'er's eyes searched around in the crowd.

Ultimately, they were unable to identify which one was Li Rui, the renowned figure in Bianliang.

I had no choice but to go back to my room to shower and change.

Other geisha and actors took to the stage, each performing their own acts.

Another elegant and refined young girl, Yu Xiao, was calmly tidying the strings of her instrument.

Her performance has not yet begun.

Around Yaotai, the atmosphere was already very lively after Man'er's energetic dance.

The high-ranking officials and nobles toasted each other, drinking and making merry.

Some people, having just witnessed Man'er's stunning figure, were itching with desire.

He then pulled the woman in his arms into the inner room to relieve his lust!

more than this.

They also exchanged women with other men for pleasure.

The entire Yaotai Water Pavilion suddenly became extremely luxurious and indulgent.

Li Song looked on with a smile.

But then he suddenly noticed that Li Rui's expression remained calm.

Li Song remembered it again.

When he first came in, Li Rui was silently shaking his head at the scene before him.

The current prime minister couldn't help but ask.

"Such a peaceful and beautiful scene is truly rare in today's world. Why did you shake your head earlier, young man?"

Li Rui waved his hand and said.

"It's nothing, it would probably spoil the mood if I told you."

Li Song, however, pressed for details.

Tell me about it.

Li Rui chuckled.

"Lord Li probably already knows what I'm going to say, so why ask again?"

Li Song remained silent and slowly nodded.

Yes.

He guessed what Li Rui wanted to say.

It was nothing more than the loss of Yan and Yun, and the Khitans amassing tens of thousands of troops.

The land of Hebei was completely shrouded in the shadow of the Khitan.

The nation was burdened with heavy taxes, and the people were living in misery.

Yet, there was no sense of urgency whatsoever in Bianliang City.

The emperor and his ministers were even more addicted to pleasure!

They built all sorts of pleasure quarters at exorbitant prices!

Take the inner courtyard of Yichun as an example.

The artificial mountains and waters in front of us alone cost the military pay of tens of thousands of soldiers for almost half a year!

How could such a trend resist the Khitan?

They even dared to dream of recovering Yan and Yun!

Li Song sighed and said helplessly.

"What the superiors do, the inferiors follow suit; what can be done about this?"

The only way to eradicate this trend is to start with the emperor.

But...

This trend of hedonism originated from Shi Zhonggui!

If the emperor is indulging in pleasure, then who are the ministers supposed to be serving?

Li Song shook his head and recited a poem.

"Smoke shrouds the cold waters, moonlight veils the sand; I moor my boat on the Qinhuai River near a wine shop. The courtesans, oblivious to the sorrow of a fallen nation, still sing 'The Flowers of the Rear Courtyard' across the river."

This poem was written by Du Mu a hundred years ago.

They directly criticized the emperor and his ministers for indulging in pleasure, regardless of the impending doom of the nation.

Hearing Li Song recite such a pessimistic poem.

Li Yin's beard twitched, and he chuckled dryly.

"This poem is taking things too seriously. It's just about enjoying yourself; it won't lead to the downfall of a nation."

Zhao Kuangyin was also surprised.

How pessimistic must Li Song be to recite poems about the fall of a nation?

"Yes, my lord, you flatter us. We just achieved a great victory against the Khitan last month. Our country is far from being destroyed!"

As he spoke, Zhao Kuangyin looked at Li Rui.

Li Rui has plenty of authority to speak about that resounding victory.

Zhao Kuangyin was hoping that Li Rui would comfort Li Song and say some good things about the peace and prosperity of the country.

Who would have thought?

Li Rui sneered.

Just as he was about to speak directly, shattering Li Yin and Zhao Kuangyin's wishful thinking...

Li Rui suddenly thought of a very fitting poem.

With slight modifications, I read it aloud.

"Beyond the mountains, green hills rise; beyond the towers, more towers stand. When will the songs and dances on the Jade Terrace cease?"

The warm breeze intoxicates the tourists, making them mistake Bianzhou for Youzhou.

This was originally written by Lin Sheng during the Southern Song Dynasty.

This was meant to satirize the Southern Song emperor and his officials for only indulging in pleasure in Hangzhou and not for seeking to recover the Central Plains.

Li Rui changed "Treating Hangzhou as Bianzhou" to "Treating Bianzhou as Youzhou," which is just right.

Youzhou belonged to the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and had been controlled by the Khitan for several years.

Both rulers and ministers were only concerned with enjoying themselves, and neither sought to recover lost territory.

This is strikingly similar to the situation in the Later Jin Dynasty at that time.

When Li Yin and Zhao Kuangyin heard this poem, their eyes glazed over slightly.

The thought that the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were still in the hands of the Khitans meant that the land of Hebei could be ravaged by the Khitans at any time.

The wine in his hand suddenly lost its flavor.

Zhao Kuangyin, young and passionate, lowered his head and clenched his fists.

A wave of shame washed over me.

The country was lost, but what about him?

Just now, I was actually longing for the pleasure right in front of me!

Zhao Kuangyin cursed himself inwardly, his eyes gradually hardening.

If we don't recover our lost territories, how can we face enjoying ourselves?

Just as the two warriors were reflecting on their own experiences...

The only scholar, Li Song, was completely stunned!

His sparse beard trembled slightly, and his eyes revealed deep shock!

"Beyond the mountains, green hills rise; beyond the towers, more towers stand. When will the songs and dances on the Jade Terrace cease? The warm breeze intoxicates the tourists, making them mistake Bianzhou for Youzhou."

Li Song muttered to himself, repeating the poem over and over.

Then he kept repeating the last sentence.

"They treated Bianzhou as Youzhou, and Bianzhou as Youzhou..."

next second.

He suddenly grabbed Li Rui's hand, his eyes widened, and asked urgently.

"Did you write this poem?"

Li Rui was very decisive.

"no."

He simply felt that the poem was very fitting for the occasion and that it effectively expressed his thoughts.

That's why it was adapted and read aloud.

As for gaining fame by copying poems?

Li Rui disdained this!

His ambition was to recover Yan and Yun and unify the world.

You can't copy the whole world by copying poems.

Therefore, Li Rui denied it outright.

Li Song was bewildered and racked his brains for a solution.

"That's not right. I've read extensively and have heard of all kinds of poetry, but I've never heard of that masterpiece before."

As he spoke, Li Song grabbed Li Rui's arm.

"Furthermore, there are the lines, 'When will the songs and dances on the Jade Terrace cease?' and 'Treating Bianzhou as Youzhou.'"

Doesn't that perfectly suit the current situation and circumstances?

Speaking of it.

Li Song swallowed hard, as if he had solved a case, and exclaimed in surprise.

"This poem was composed right here on the spot! Li Rui, you actually have such poetic talent!?"