Chapter 150: Praising Openly, Criticizing Secretly

At this moment.

It was already the time for the late-night banquet.

In the palace of Baiya Prefecture, wine flowed, cups were clinking, and the atmosphere was boisterous.

Because the War Horse Fair was about to be held, the streets were also exceptionally lively, with people coming and going.

And at this time.

Several people with very ordinary appearances began to disperse throughout Baiya City.

In the casual seating area of Fengming Tower, there was one.

In the teahouse near the Taishoufu, there was one.

In the tailor shop not far from the palace, there was also one.

The one selling sugar figurines on the street was also one.

In the tavern where there was a storyteller and a singing girl, there was likewise one.

The person in Fengming Tower, while flirting with a courtesan, observed Wei Rong who had just walked in; he threw down a thousand pieces of gold, the whole room cheered, with the sounds of women and wanton chatter...

The one in the teahouse quietly sipped the cup of Green Snail Spring tea in his hand, calmly watching the people entering and leaving the Prefectural Office; this view, this angle, was actually able to take in both the front and back gates of the Prefectural Office.

The one in the tailor shop was haggling with the owner over a batch of red cloth, and then, while the owner was changing the cloth, secretly swapped the tailor shop's Account Book...

The one selling sugar figurines, while hawking his wares, listened to the accents of people coming from the north and south; his ears twitched up and down all night long...

The drunkard listening to the storyteller in the tavern watched those martial artists carrying swords and blades, drinking too much, shouting and cursing.

And at this time, Zheng Yue Ru was in the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce branch in Baiya Prefecture.

She was receiving slips of paper from all directions at any moment.

Zheng Yue Ru could not understand the dense information gathered together.

But it would immediately be sent to Jiang Xuan's hands.

This was the intelligence system under Liu Zheng!

The Dark Night Squad!

Currently, this Dark Night Squad already had a full one hundred people; this time, following Jiang Xuan into Baiya City, they launched non-stop intelligence gathering work.

Anyone!

Anyone who had even the slightest connection to this War Horse Fair was under their surveillance.

Under Liu Zheng's training, the Dark Night Squad had their own secret language, signals, as well as the ability to transmit information via lights and whistles, allowing information transmission to reach maximum timeliness!

These one hundred people of the Dark Night Squad were not only proficient in spying for intelligence, but their skills were also remarkable; they were also equipped with the most cutting-edge Weaponry and Equipment from the Yinzhou Weaponry Workshop, climbing gear, camouflage gear, assassination gear, everything one could expect to find...

This time.

These various heroes and the armies of the Feudatory Kings were all gathered outside the city, actually having formed a situation of mutual restraint. Under such circumstances, large-scale clashes would not happen.

Thus, the secret struggles in the city would become the real main battlefield.

Although this was Baiya, the territory of the Baiya Army, so what?

In these few days, countless mysterious people had arrived in Baiya with the main forces, all carrying out work similar to this.

Undercurrents had already begun to clash, collide, and play games within Baiya City.

Who was superior and who was inferior?

This would determine who could maximize their interests in Baiya Prefecture this time.

"Eh?"

Just at this moment.

A soft sound of surprise rang out in the tavern.

The crowd roared with laughter, and not one of them intended to let Liu Zheng off.

The Third Prince Xie Ling also laughed: "Prefect Liu, if I remember correctly, this Baiyujing is a fine wine from your Liangzhou; today, all these heroes want to drink a cup of the wine you brewed yourself, is that not possible?"

Liu Zheng smiled bitterly again and again.

This cup probably held about three liang of wine! This refers to the liang of later generations, not the sixteen liang to a jin of this ancient era, so with so many people, if he had to drink a round, that would be three or four jin!

It would be a miracle if he didn't drink himself to death!

Just at this moment.

Suddenly, a cold voice rang out faintly: "I hear that Young Master Liu is overflowing with talent, has five cartloads of learning, and is deeply versed in the way of poetry and song... How about this, today there are guests filling the seats; if Young Master Liu wants to toast, then toast, but if you don't want to, how about composing a poem for the corresponding guest?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room cheered.

Liu Zheng was slightly stunned.

Only then did he hear that this voice came from a veiled woman behind Zhang Chengjiang.

Zhang Xiao?

Liu Zheng smiled: "That would be excellent!"

The crowd incited him again, saying that the poem couldn't be poor, it had to fit each guest, and if he exceeded the allotted time, he would lose and have to drink!

The atmosphere rose instantly.

The Prince of Wei also looked over with interest.

Prefect Liu was famous throughout the world, and even in Qingzhou, rumors about this young man circulated; he also wanted to see if this kid was really as formidable as the rumors said. If it were just ordinary poetry exchange, it would still be slightly dull in this era. But this program was not ordinary. It could be seen whether this Liu Zheng had real talent and learning, not to mention seeing if his eye for the heroes of the world today was unique, and it could even better reveal Liu Zheng's emotional intelligence and vision.

"I'll go, I'm first!"

When the Emperor saw he could embarrass Liu Zheng, he didn't care at all about the few princes at his side; he stood up, eager to try, raised a cup of wine, drank it in one gulp, and said with a chuckle: "Prefect Liu, please!"

Everyone fell silent and looked over one after another.

This Crown Prince was the person about to inherit the throne; of course, evaluations of the Crown Prince varied. But because his status was there, even if everyone didn't think highly of him, they still had to flatter him. This first one was the Crown Prince, so it depended on how Liu Zheng would handle it! In this day and age, scholars with integrity were considered true scholars and would have greater fame!

If Liu Zheng flattered the Crown Prince, then he would weaken the integrity of a scholar.

But if he defied the Crown Prince, it would easily invite disaster upon himself.

"If it really comes to it, why not drink this cup?"

Someone whispered.

Du Biao and Yang Ke also looked anxious, signaling to Liu Zheng with their eyes to drink the cup, and that it wouldn't be too late for others to compose poems later.

Who would have thought that Liu Zheng would smile faintly, not even touching the wine cup, and after glancing at the Crown Prince, he began to recite: "In Jincheng, the silk strings play in endless succession, half drifting into the river breeze, half into the clouds. Such music should only exist in Heaven; how often can it be heard among men!"

The entire hall fell silent.

This was undoubtedly a good poem! And it was absolutely praising someone else!

A look of disappointment flashed in many people's eyes; could it be that the famous Prefect Liu had actually stooped to the level of flattering others?

Who knew, but Prince Wei's eyes flickered upon hearing it, and he laughed heartily: "A good poem, a good poem! Prefect Liu truly has great talent!"

With this outburst, everyone suddenly realized the truth.

This Prefect Liu was actually using praise to hide a critique!

He praised the Crown Prince to the heavens... but, should he be in the heavens? Not to mention that the old Emperor was not yet dead, and on this very occasion, Prince Wei was still sitting here; Liu Zheng did not pay respects to Prince Wei, but had to pay respects to you first? How thick-skinned could one be?

As the Crown Prince, he was certainly more noble than Prince Wei.

But in the Longyan Dynasty, Prince Wei had outstanding military achievements and held the rites of the Nine Bestowals; even the Emperor had to give him some face. You couldn't help but be the first to jump out—if this isn't usurpation, what is?

They did not know that this poem was originally used by Du Fu to mock General Hua; back then, after General Hua quelled the rebellion, he used the Emperor's ceremonial guard, which was infinitely glorious, but it was also usurpation.

Using it to deal with the Crown Prince at this moment was not the least bit incongruous!

"Good, good, good!"

Crown Prince Xie Fang, how could he understand these things? He only listened with a beaming smile, and when he looked at Liu Zheng again, his expression was much kinder: "Good, good, Prefect Liu has great talent; if you have free time, I shall seek your counsel again!"

Others held back their laughter, not daring to say much.

Chen Ping even covered his forehead, not knowing what to say.

Yet, watching Liu Zheng, he slowly turned around and looked toward Prince Wei.

The scene fell silent once more.