Chapter 7, A Comprehensive Discussion

As noon approached, the two men arrived at an inn, summoned a waiter, and ordered fine food and wine, drinking together at the table. While they were conversing, they suddenly noticed a hush fall over the surroundings. A group of over ten individuals from the rivers and lakes, both old and young, escorted a young gentleman of about fifteen or sixteen years old up the stairs. The young man was dressed in a brocade robe, his attire exceedingly luxurious. Upon seeing Li Zhichang and the other man, who both exuded an extraordinary demeanor, the young noble could not help but glance at them a few more times, offering a slight smile before taking a seat at a nearby table.

Among the group of attendants, three individuals with distinctive appearances stood out. One was draped in a bright red robe and wore a resplendent golden monk's hat; he was a Tibetan monk, exceptionally tall, towering a head and a half above those around him. The second had a medium build, with hair as white as silver, yet his complexion was smooth and unwrinkled, resembling that of a child, truly a youthful face with white hair, exuding vitality, dressed in a long robe made of coarse cloth, his attire neither entirely secular nor entirely ascetic. The third was of short stature, with eyes full of red veins, yet his gaze was sharp as lightning, and his upper lip sported a short, curled mustache. Once the young men took their seats, the three also followed suit and sat down.

The right hand lifted the wine jug. Suddenly, a stream of wine shot out from the spout of the jug, landing perfectly in the young nobleman's cup, neither too much nor too little, just enough to fill it. Li Zhichang raised his cup in salute and then turned to leave.

Li Zhi and Yin Zhiping walked slowly, and on this day they finally arrived in Beijing, the capital of the Jin Dynasty. At that time, it was the most prosperous and beautiful place in the world, surpassing even the old capital of the Song Dynasty, Bianliang, and the new capital, Lin'an.

Yin Zhiping was born in the war-torn land of Shandong and grew up in the deep mountains, having never witnessed such splendor. He only saw the red towers and painted pavilions, the embroidered doors and vermilion gates, the carved carriages competing for space, and the fine horses racing. Tall cabinets and large shops displayed an array of rare goods; tea houses and wine taverns were filled with people in luxurious clothing and jeweled shoes. It was truly a scene of flowers lining the streets, with the sound of flutes and drums echoing in the air; gold and jade shining in the sunlight, and silks wafting with fragrance. This left the young man, who had never seen the world, dazzled and bewildered. Among the things he saw, nine out of ten were completely unfamiliar to him. It was truly a scene of flowers lining the streets, with the sound of flutes and drums echoing in the air; gold and jade shining in the sunlight, and silks wafting with fragrance. This left the young man, who had never seen the world, dazzled and bewildered. Among the things he saw, nine out of ten were completely unfamiliar to him

Li Zhichang sighed softly and said: "Master Peng, you are beyond the control of even the Heavenly King in Hebei and Shanxi, living such a carefree and unrestrained life. Why bother to wade into the murky waters of the capital and allow yourself to be manipulated by others"

Li Zhichang and Yin Zhiping did not rush to the Zhao Wang Mansion. After washing away the dust of travel at an inn, they inquired about the largest tailor shop in Yanjing City for custom fitting. Half an hour later, the two emerged from the shop. Li Zhichang wore a moon-white robe and held a folding fan, exuding an air of nonchalance, while Yin Zhiping, dressed in a blue outfit and carrying a long sword on his back, appeared spirited and heroic; they attracted considerable attention along the way

To witness the rise and fall over fifty years

Li Zhichang gazed deeply at him and said, "We must have a drink."

Li Zhichang smiled gently and said: "Firstly, the Central Plains region has frequently experienced floods, droughts, and locust plagues, and in the past decade, the Yellow River has breached its banks three times, leading to the inevitable southward shift of the river course and the diversion of the Huai River into the sea; this can be considered a failure to seize the right timing. Secondly, the former Jin Emperor Wanyan Liang intended to move his troops to Yangzhou to force a crossing of the Yangtze River, but his subordinates strongly opposed this plan, ultimately leading to a mutiny that resulted in the death of Emperor Wanyan Liang. This allowed the Song army to take the opportunity to reclaim the former territories of Huainan, thus solidifying the unshakeable pattern of confrontation between the North and the South; therefore, the Jin state lost its advantageous position for unifying the realm, which can be seen as a failure to secure favorable geography. Thirdly, the northern tribes of the Tatars frequently invaded the borders of the Jin dynasty, while the Song dynasty launched the 'Kaixi Northern Expedition.' Although both fronts ended with the Jin state gaining the upper hand, the enormous military expenses left the Jin dynasty's finances in disarray, leading to widespread discontent among the military and civilians; this can be regarded as a loss of popular support. With these three defeats, the Jin state is as good as a flower that has withered away."

Li Zhichang said: "As the saying goes, 'A person relies on their clothing, and a Buddha relies on gold adornments.' If we were to go to the Zhao Wang Mansion in our shabby attire, it would be too disrespectful, and we would be looked down upon, tarnishing the reputation of our Quanzhen Sect. Therefore, we should first find an inn to tidy ourselves up."

He moved his body slightly, blocking the path of Li Zhichang and Yin Zhiping. This skill of shifting positions was truly exquisite, and the other two at the table could not help but silently applaud.

As he hosts the guests at the banquet

This moss and green tiles are piled up

Although Li Zhichang has spent this life in Zhongnan Mountain, the splendor he experienced in his previous life was a thousand times more prosperous than here. Naturally, he remains neither surprised nor delighted, facing it all with equanimity

Yin Zhiping slightly nodded to the noble young man and followed behind Li Zhichang. Peng Lianhu wanted to catch Li Zhichang, but unexpectedly, the latter seemed as slippery as an eel, effortlessly slipping away from his grasp.

Having said that, without looking at Peng Lianhu and the others, he stood up to leave. Peng Lianhu said: "Since you are here, you might as well stay calm. Why is the young brother in such a hurry to leave? Since you recognize me, why not tell me who your master is? Perhaps we can still find some common ground."

Wang Chongyang, the founder of the Quanzhen Sect, was indeed a person of both literary and martial prowess. Qiu Chuji, with the principle of 'saving the world and aiding the needy,' profoundly influenced Yin Zhiping, who at times would also critique the current issues in his heart. The noble young man beside them, upon hearing their conversation, was evidently curious and could not help but eavesdrop.

Unbeknownst to him, at some point, Li Zhi often found himself holding a wine flask and a wine cup. He raised the flask with his right hand and said: "We are indeed fated to meet. Allow me to offer you a cup in the spirit of borrowing flowers to present to the Buddha."

Peng Lianhu is indeed known for his cleverness. He first inquired about Li Zhichang's background to assess the other party's status before deciding whether they were friends or foes. The several of them had traveled a long distance to seek refuge at the Zhao Wangfu, with their only desire being wealth and honor. Li Zhichang's disparagement of the Jin Kingdom undoubtedly implied that they were blind to the truth. Furthermore, standing beside him was none other than the young prince of the Zhao Wangfu. By reprimanding Li Zhichang, he could not only vent his own frustrations but also curry favor with the young prince, achieving two objectives with one action, demonstrating a remarkably shrewd calculation.

I have once slept through the wind and the flowing sensations

Li Zhichang seemed to have some insights, raised his cup and drank it all in one go, saying: "Junior brother, this Central Capital indeed flourishes under the governance of the Jin Dynasty. Since we have some leisure time, why not discuss the great trends of the world and the rise and fall of humanity to enhance our drinking pleasure"

As he gazes at the crimson tower rising high

Li Zhichang chuckled lightly and ignored it. However, that noble young man had a favorable impression of the two and, seeing Peng Lianhu about to take action, stood up and said: "Since the two friends have met, it is fate; why not sit down and have a drink"

He wanted to keep Yin Zhiping, but as their bodies made contact, they both trembled and could not hold on. The young nobleman only heard a sound coming from the staircase:

Yin Zhiping paused for a moment and then spoke: "Emperor Jin Wanyan Jing is skilled in calligraphy, knowledgeable in music theory, and appreciates the culture of the Central Plains. His governance emphasizes propriety, music, and the rectification of laws, revising the penal code and establishing the official system, resulting in a splendid array of regulations and cultural artifacts that define an era of governance. Over the years, he has repeatedly inquired with ministers about the practices of the Han and the rectification of officials during the Xuan period, as well as the methods of official inspection in the Tang dynasty. It seems that his aspirations are to surpass Liao and Song, and to stand shoulder to shoulder with Han and Tang."

At this moment, the young nobleman at the adjacent table, a short fellow with a green head, slammed the table and exclaimed: "I am Peng Lianhu. Which family do you belong to, little brat? State your name, how dare you act so audaciously beneath the feet of the emperor"

In comparison to the Han and Tang dynasties, it is evident that there is an ambition to conquer the world. Li Zhichang often refrained from making a definitive statement: "The Jin state appears to be strong, but in reality, it is hollow; in my view, it has three fatal weaknesses that could lead to its demise." At this moment, a light snort came from the table of the young noble beside him. Li Zhichang was facing them directly and could see that it was the short, stocky figure who had made the sound. He wanted to rise but was held back by the young noble. Li Zhichang observed him with piercing eyes, sitting steadily at the table, clearly demonstrating that his internal skills had reached a certain level.

Peng Lianhu sneered, "Oh, it seems you have some background after all"

He watched as the building collapsed

Li Zhichang said: "Junior brother, today my elder brother's interest in drinking has come to an end, let us return."

Yin Zhiping continued to ask: "Senior brother, do tell which three defeats there are?"