Chapter 1920: Hundred-Day Banquet

But now it was his son's hundred-day banquet; given his status, any family matter that leaked out would become a public affair.

Liu Zheng thought for a moment and decided to gather information secretly first, to avoid alerting the enemy.

Only after clarifying the secret connection between these two matters would he decide how to proceed with the next steps.

Liu Zheng summoned the most elite special forces of his Longyan Army and ordered them to investigate the recent movements of the French navy.

The hundred-day banquet arrived quickly.

From Britain to North America, and then to the neighboring countries of Longyan, whether they were the great powers of Europe or former rivals.

They gathered in Liangzhou, Longyan, to celebrate the hundred-day banquet for Liu Zheng's son, little Liu Qian.

Although it was not intentionally arranged, the scene had already reached the scale of Liu Zheng's wedding.

Liangzhou was now at the height of its prosperity.

Last time, when Liu Zheng got married, their arrival had resulted in a wasted trip.

But this time, both Liu Zheng and Xie Chan were present.

The current Minister of Revenue of Longyan was quite moved to see such a grand display.

By rights, an event like the hundred-day banquet for Liu Zheng's son should have been handled by them, but this time, Liu Zheng had said it was their family affair.

He would handle everything himself.

The result of this was that Liu Dahao personally organized the hundred-day banquet.

He turned Liangzhou into a place of extreme prosperity and splendor.

Among the guests who arrived this time, two people surprised Liu Zheng quite a bit.

Before the banquet began.

Liu Zheng was in his study, receiving the Messenger from Tsarist Russia.

"Your Tsarist Russia is truly sincere this time, to have actually sent you."

"This old man pays his respects to the Chief Minister of Longyan, Lord Liu!"

Osilev bowed low, his body bent at a ninety-degree angle, appearing extremely humble.

Liu Zheng looked at him and laughed, gesturing: "Rise."

Osilev stood up, keeping his head lowered and eyes cast down, not daring to look directly at the casually seated Liu Zheng; this time, to show sincerity, Tsarist Russia had sent their current Chairman of the Parliament, Osilev.

This man was the pillar of Tsarist Russia today, the one who had personally helped Elizabeth I ascend to the throne.

He was now the leading figure of the Upper House in Tsarist Russia; if converted to the Longyan bureaucratic system, his position was not much different from Liu Zheng's position as Chief Minister.

However, Longyan was a Constitutional Monarchy and had undergone institutional reform; Liu Zheng's power was effectively the greatest in Longyan, with the Emperor being merely a figurehead.

But Tsarist Russia was different; they were still a Monarchy and an imperialist state.

During the early period of Elizabeth I's reign, although much power had slipped from her grasp, under the assistance of Osilev, her power had gradually stabilized.

The Emperor remained the person with the greatest power in the country.

Osilev's visit to Longyan was enough to show the importance Tsarist Russia placed on this trip.

This was also the first time since the two countries had been at war and on bad terms that Tsarist Russia had taken the initiative to send such a high-level Messenger to offer a gesture of goodwill.

A breakthrough journey indeed.

Osilev said: "Lord Liu, I am following the Empress's orders to specifically present a gift for your child."

Liu Zheng nodded: "I have received the gift; Tsarist Russia is very thoughtful, and I am also very grateful for your Empress's painstaking efforts. If there is anything, you may tell me now."

"Osilev, Elizabeth I sent you here, surely there is something else. Speak."

Osilev smiled slightly: "Lord Liu is direct enough. Then I will speak plainly: our Tsarist Russia wishes to restore friendly relations with Longyan. I think Longyan would not want all its neighbors to be hostile, would it?"

Liu Zheng gave a huff of laughter and said nothing, instead watching Osilev.

He continued: "Our Tsarist Russia no longer has a reason to continue fighting with you; this would only increase our country's meaningless consumption. Our two countries should not have had conflicts in the first place."

【Line 40 merged into 39 in source】

"Although our Tsarist Russia is a European country, we possess vast amounts of land in Asia. Our two countries share vast borders; if our two countries cooperate, it will be more meaningful for your Longyan."

"If we only engage in meaningless wars, then sooner or later, both of our countries will continue to suffer meaningless consumption in this matter."

Liu Zheng agreed with Osilev's view; who would want to fight if they could live in peace? This brought them no benefit at all.

"But we are allies of Prussia, and according to the intelligence we have, you are currently attacking Prussia."

Osilev replied: "There is some enmity between Prussia and us, but our previous operations will not affect the close friendship between Longyan and us."

"Tell me, am I right?"

Liu Zheng spread his hands: "Osilev, I must admit you are right, but my friend, I do not know what I did to offend you."

Liu Zheng stood up; it was a pity he did not have a cat in his arms, otherwise he would have been exactly like the Godfather from the movies he had seen in his past life.

Osilev did not understand Liu Zheng's words; he watched as Liu Zheng walked up to him: "My dear friend, ever since you came in, you have been talking to me about matters between our two countries."

"But today is my child's hundred-day banquet. Please, put aside the conflicts between Longyan and Tsarist Russia. After today is over, shall we talk again?"

Osilev was slightly stunned, not expecting Liu Zheng to say this.

He bowed slightly and said: "My apologies, it was my oversight..."

Liu Zheng patted his shoulder and said: "Very well, Mr. Osilev, go and taste our Longyan cuisine. This was prepared by my father, who specifically gathered top chefs from Longyan for today."

"The taste is beyond your imagination; perhaps there is a dish you will like."

Osilev nodded slightly and retreated.

Liu Zheng leaned against the table and asked: "Who am I to see next?"

"Prince of Qin, Xie Zhao. He says he has something very important to discuss with you."

Liu Zheng nodded; he could roughly guess the meaning of Xie Zhao coming to find him today. He was one of the leaders representing the interests of the current Royalist Faction.

Ever since Xie Ming died, the position of Emperor had remained vacant; he must have come for this matter.

"Let him in."

Xie Zhao walked in wearing the traditional prince attire of Longyan; Liu Zheng did not move, he merely nodded slightly, treating it as a formal greeting.

According to the previous etiquette regulations of Longyan, regardless of whether you were a Chief Minister or some other powerful noble, as long as you saw a prince of their Longyan, you were required to pay respects.

But times are different now; Liu Zheng is currently the actual person in control of Longyan, so it is impossible for him to pay respects to Xie Zhao, and this set of cumbersome etiquette had long since been abolished by Liu Zheng.

Liu Zheng nodded slightly, which counted as returning the greeting.

Xie Zhao got straight to the point and said: "Lord Liu, a country cannot go a single day without a monarch!"

Liu Zheng let out a laugh; as expected, his guess was correct, and he said: "Currently, the affairs of Longyan, both large and small, are handled by the Councilors, the Cabinet, and the Six Ministries."

"A monarch is merely a succession of the royal family; Xie Ming left no heir, so in my view, the matter of enthroning a new monarch should not be rushed."

Xie Zhao's expression turned cold, and he said righteously: "Then we shall select one from the collateral branches; Lord Liu, you have not enthroned a new monarch for so long, could it be that you intend to replace him?"

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