Chapter 1056 - 536: Banquet

"Great! Tiger, you’re still the most straightforward! Come on! Another ten jars!"

"Hiccup, I can’t, I can’t anymore, Master, Master spare me..."

"Hey! It’s a grand day, don’t be such a killjoy! I’ll down one first to show respect! Fill up the General’s cup! Gulp gulp gulp!"

"Good heavens!" "Master can really drink!"

Drinking is the easiest way to prove one’s capacity for it. Watching Chen Xuantian juggle three wine jars in the air, taking a swig each time he caught one, even Li Hu was dumbfounded. He quickly poured out half the wine in his bowl and pretended to be passed out on the table.

However, the soldiers of the Nangong family were quite delighted. Who cares if this chubby one was using a blinding technique, roles that liven up the atmosphere were the most welcomed at a drinking banquet. Chen Xuantian was flapping his kasaya, dragging a wine jar around, flitting about like a fat butterfly, flying left and right persuading everyone to drink, naturally boosting the mood among the soldiers of the Nangong Family to new heights, cheering and jubilant, as if celebrating a grand victory.

You can’t really blame these country folks for their short-sightedness. After all, calling the private soldiers anything eloquent was just lip service. At best, they were fishermen dragging nets in rivers or hunters chasing beasts in the mountains, or thugs bullying the marketplace. At last, they were officially part of the General Zhen Nan’s personal soldiers. Naturally, it gave them a sense of honor, to be considered as an official member of the Immortal Army Guard, something they could boast about in the future.

And Nangong Che had been cooped up at home for so long. Today he finally got to spread his wings, so of course, he would display generosity. Waving his hand grandly, he bestowed the court’s rewards of fine wines, delicacies, and luxurious silk to all the three armies, inciting waves of cheers and shouts, thanking the Young General profusely. Today was surely an all-night celebration, where nobody was to return sober.

After Chen Xuantian had made a round of toasts, he reached Wang Xunzhi’s table, exchanged a glance with him, and seeing him sneak out with an excuse to leave the table, he knew it was about time to act. He went back carrying the wine jar to Li Hu’s side.

"Come on, Tiger, let’s drink some more!"

Li Hu quickly shook his head, remaining slouched without getting up,

"I’m drunk, I’m drunk, I can’t drink any more..."

Chen Xuantian dragged him over, stuffing the wine jar into his arms,

"Stop pretending, you dignified Martial God, do you think I can’t guess your capacity? You’ve been busy these past few days. There are plenty of Eight Tigers protecting the General, why are you still worrying about anything? Come on, drink! It’s a rare happy day, don’t kill the brothers’ mood!"

Li Hu smiled bitterly,

"You can’t hide anything from the Master, it’s just that I’m truly unsettled, feeling that the court is being unusually inconsistent this time, as if something is off. It’s better to be cautious."

Chen Xuantian shook his head and said,

"What’s so hard to understand? Now that the Duke Wuchang’s entire clan is executed, the court has lost its backbone. Several Immortal Gates are vying for the influential position. Within the Ziwei Constellation, they are fighting like roosters; the Taiwei Constellation has no choice but to stand in line, while the Heavenly Market Constellation is focusing on land annexation. With internal and external troubles, they naturally seek to win over local military leaders to play a good hand."

Talking about this sparked Li Hu’s interest. He drank a bowl with Chen Xuantian and asked,

"May I ask, Master, which faction is currently showing goodwill towards our General?"

Chen Xuantian arranged the bowls on the table and said,

"It’s not hard to calculate. Currently, the Immortal Emperor’s two queen consorts from the Eastern and Western Palaces are named as such, but their influences actually extend to both the North and South.

The West Palace’s consort, Yuan Chu, hails from the Yingchuan Yu Family, backed by the Northern Gate Valve Clan. The East Palace’s consort, Yu Zhu, comes from the Chen County Xie Family, receiving support from Southern landlords and vassals.

Although the Nangong Family is a local hegemon, they are still not accepted by the Southern Gate Valve. Hence, the Yu Family has extended an olive branch, hoping to draw them in as an external ally."

Hearing that the court struggle was involved, Li Hu became tense and worried,

"Will the Eastern Palace faction make things difficult for our family?"

Chen Xuantian shook his head,

"No, the Xie Family already holds the position of Suzerain of Xun, composed of excessive power. They’ve recently secured a Grand Tutor position by marrying off a daughter and offering a dowry, eradicating the Duke Wuchang’s influence, which has aroused the court’s fears. It pushed the Northern aristocratic families to unite, electing the Yu Family as their leader. If no compromises are made, they risk becoming a common target and might end up like the Duke Wuchang.

So this time, the task of reorganizing Li Jiang and dealing with the remnants of the Southern Expedition General’s old forces naturally falls on the Yu Family’s Grand Commandant to handle. It’s a matter of dividing the cake, you take a bite, I take a bite, all part of an understanding reached by the Three Constellations, the Grand Tutor won’t intervene rashly."

Li Hu finally relaxed after hearing this analysis, drank some wine to soothe his throat, and said,

"That’s good then. What concerns me the most is that the Nangong family is isolated in court, and the Young Master is still too young, unfamiliar with the sinister nature of the Immortal Gate’s leaders, and may be deceived or misled. I fear that all this manpower will be lost in the North, leaving us with nothing to negotiate.

If there’s a chance to gain the Grand Commandant’s favor and be considered one of their own, even if it’s to act as an ally, at least there will be someone to support us, which would prevent too much loss."

Chen Xuantian shook his head, downed a cup of wine, and said,

"The true bargaining chip for the Nangong family isn’t your manpower."

Li Hu was puzzled.

Chen Xuantian gave him a look,

"Let’s go, for a piss."

Li Hu, knowing there was something to say, left the table with him, shoulder to shoulder, like elementary school boys going to the bathroom together.

Away from the noisy banquet, in the night breeze, Li Hu felt momentarily relaxed while they urinated among the reeds.

Chen Xuantian, still reeking of wine, pointed at the night sky, contemplating with grandeur,

"What the court wants isn’t just any monster."

Li Hu was startled,

"Monster?"

"To be more precise, it’s a Demon Core."

Chen Xuantian didn’t bother washing his hands, reaching into his robe and tossing a core to Li Hu,