Chapter 530: Confrontation at the banquet, asking for directions
Southwest Shandong, Mekong Delta.
Hongdu Academy.
A mountain gate that is more than ten feet high stands in front of the steps at the foot of the mountain, and there is an endless stream of guests coming and going.
Streams of rainbow light flew from the sky.
In order to show respect, Metropolis Landing entered through the gate, and was greeted by two Jindan masters on the left and right at the door.
Lin Shan and Yang Zhenren came here together with the five gentlemen from Yunchuan Academy.
Everyone took out their own invitations and showed them to Master Jin Dan at the door. He would immediately be given a special instructor to lead the way.
Along the way, we will introduce them to the scenic spots along the way.
"Senior, please see, this is Confucius Cliff in the southwestern part of Shandong Province. It is said that a certain literary sage, an old master, once fell down in front of the abyss here and became enlightened in three days."
This cliff is flat and protruding and looks nothing special.
"Senior, please look, this is the Bald Dragon Stone. It is said that a blue dragon once descended here, galloped and danced here, and rode the electricity."
This stone has a slightly narrow oval and is nothing special.
"Senior, please see, this is the Temple of Seeking Taoism. It is said that a generation of great Confucians once asked questions about heaven and earth here, and finally made up their mind and destiny to find the true self."
This temple is old and has no special features.
A few of them followed the crowd and treated it as a sightseeing tour.
Anyway, what the teachers at Hongdu Academy say is what they say, and they don’t know whether it’s true or not.
Arriving at the mountainside, there is a large platform and square, full of people coming and going, and countless tables and seats have been set up.
It covers an area of nearly a hundred acres!
There are seven or eight teams of dancers from the royal palace, singing and dancing on various stages in advance to activate the atmosphere and adjust the artistic conception.
Below, there are young people in black and red academic robes standing guard all around, stretching for a mile.
These are obviously students from Hongdu Academy. They have resolute eyes and sharp faces. They are young people who have experienced the flames of war and grown up in fighting. They will definitely be pillars in the future.
The banquet was currently filled with most of the guests, and from time to time teams of maids came up to pour wine and add dishes.
Just by smelling the aroma of the wine and looking at the dishes, you can tell that both are precious things.
"Hongdu University has been fighting for so long. It was founded in ashes, and everything is waiting to be renovated. Yet it can still host such a big banquet. Either the family is rich, or it is willing to spend a lot of money."
Several gentlemen from Yunchuan Academy whispered to each other, sighing at the size of the banquet. The teacher from Hongdu Academy next to them did not explain, but bowed his head and respectfully invited them to take a seat.
Even though Lin Shan had seen many big scenes, he couldn't help but be amazed at the scale of this one. He and Yang Zhenren identified the different major forces from all over the Lu Kingdom one by one.
Among them, I passed by some familiar people one after another, such as the aristocratic families and sects in Luxi where the ancestors of the late Jindan period were in charge. However, because they were not dealing with the Lujiang Alliance, they sat together and talked and laughed, and neither of them did anything. You must go and ask for trouble.
There was also the Zhenyue Sect in Northern Lu, but the newly appointed Great Elder had no friendship with Lin Shan or Yang Zhenren, so he just nodded casually.
"Seniors, your seats are here."
The seat ranking is not random. You can sit according to your friendship, as long as your power is not too different and not too outrageous.
However, the size of Lujiang League and Yunchuan Academy is obviously of a certain quality.
As one of the top ten academies, he was naturally the heavyweight guest at this opening banquet and was arranged at the front.
Next, slight adjustments were made to both sides. The left side was all local forces in southwestern Shandong, and the right side was divided into foreign forces.
As the second echelon, Lujiang League ranked behind the top ten academies.
Yang Zhenren represented the Yang family and Zhan Guang sat next to Lin Shan.
What a coincidence, at the top of Linshan Mountain, he happened to run into his old enemy!
"How do you rank Hongdu University? Why do our businesses have to be ranked below Lujiang League?"
When Lin Shan heard the sound and took a look, he was immediately happy.
Yo!
Isn't this the merchant's real person Shang Ding?
This person was protesting at this time, feeling that he had been unfairly treated, and asked to rearrange his seat.
Seeing Lin Shan sitting in front of him, he felt unhappy, because the forces behind the two were secretly confronting each other in the far northwest region of Shandong, and no one was convinced by the other.
How can you be willing to be inferior to others?
The teacher from Hongdu Academy who led the way was a little embarrassed and pointed to the two signs on the desks, which read "Lujiang League" and "Merchant" respectively.
"Reporting to senior, this seat has been arranged long ago. Junior is just following orders and has no knowledge."
"Then ask those people who can take care of things to come over!"
Master Shang Ding yelled and expressed his dissatisfaction on the spot.
Because there are many forces from western Shandong and northwestern Shandong around, everyone is looking here and waiting to see the joke. How could he give up on behalf of the merchant?
The frontline confrontation is evenly matched,
When I get here, I feel inferior to others,
How can you still have the face to face the elders of the clan after you return?
"Master Shang Ding, the Lujiang League represented by Mr. Lin is already bigger than your business, so it is natural for him to sit in front of you. Why are you making such a fuss?"
Lin Shan didn't tolerate him at all and directly confronted him face to face!
In fact, there is nothing wrong with it, because the merchants are just fighting against their own Xungu Cult, and the Lujiang League has not yet come to an end. Why do you think the merchants can compete with the Lujiang League?
But how could Master Shang Ding lose face? Lin Shan not only represented the Lujiang League, but also the Xun Gu Sect, so he was placed above him. He always felt that he was exhausted from the banquet, as if he had eaten a fly.
"Master Lin, what you say is a bit arrogant. The energy of my business is beyond your imagination. Do you really think that a mere Xungu sect can defeat us?"
Lin Shan was immediately unhappy after hearing this.
What is a mere ancient-seeking religion?
Make it look like you are awesome.
"Why are you still stunned? Why don't you go find the person in charge and wait for me to change my position!"
Behind Master Shang Ding was a group of juniors, probably brought here to see the world. They did not dare to be rude to Lin Shan, and they all urged the organizer to change seats.
The teachers at Hongdu Academy had no choice but to find someone on the other side.
Lin Shan and Yang Zhenren didn't care, they just took their seats first.
Master Shang Ding stood there, waiting for a reply.
The time for burning incense has passed.
The previous leader came back again and again, and finally found a person in charge who could speak to him, who was a golden elixir stage monk.
"I am Dr. Danzhuan of Xinfu in Hongdu, Danyangzi, and I have met fellow Taoist."
Master Shang Ding quickly returned the gift, followed by a group of stylish young people behind him.
"Fellow Taoist Danyangzi, whose Taoist name is Shangding, will lead a team to the appointment on behalf of merchants in northwest Shandong."
"I already know."
Danyangzi twisted his beard and smiled, already understanding the cause of the incident.
"Fellow Taoist raised an objection because he was dissatisfied with the seating arrangement. I am sorry that I cannot agree to this." "The size of Lujiang League is indeed larger than that of the merchants, at least on the surface. We are also sorting based on the usual comparison of basic information. , it is impossible to investigate in detail the secret background of the nobles.”
"Besides, among the top ten academies, both the Lujiang League and the merchants are already at the top and cannot be adjusted."
Lin Shan was on the side, nodding while eating vegetables with Master Yang, and briefly said hello to Danyangzi.
"What my fellow Taoist said makes sense. This businessman is a mess and an ugly person, so you don't need to pay attention to it."
Master Shang Ding's anger surged. He could feel the gazes coming from all around him. Many people were watching his joke, and their faces were burning.
He himself lives under the forest. To be honest, it doesn't matter. The key is that he represents a merchant now. The two are hostile, and he is afraid that someone in the clan will make a fuss about this when he returns.
As a last resort, he had to communicate secretly, with a hint of discussion in his tone.
"Fellow Taoist Danyangzi, can you please be accommodating? If it doesn't work, you can move me to an equal seat opposite."
In order to save his face, Danyangzi also secretly sent a message to reply.
"No, there are local forces in southwestern Shandong on the other side. What's the point of sending merchants there alone? Besides, they are all supporters of my Hongdu New Mansion, and we can't let them move."
"Then there is no discussion at all?"
"It's not impossible. You can negotiate with Alliance Leader Lin. If he is willing to trade with you, then of course we will not interfere."
Having said this is like saying nothing. Who is so stupid that he would take the initiative to lower his status?
Master Shang Ding had no choice but to see that Danyangzi was not getting enough food and salt. Lin Shan and Master Yang on one side were not worried at all. Everyone else was smiling at the excitement and did not think it was a big deal. He could only grit his teeth and call the superior Shangyang Academy. .
After a while, an old man with gray hair on his temples came down from above. It was Master Shang Geng, the late Jindan professor of Shang Yang Academy.
"What's going on? Why are you calling me?"
When Master Shang Ding saw his ancestor coming, he quickly sent a message to tell him the dilemma he encountered.
Master Shang Geng glanced at Danyangzi, who smiled and nodded to him to show respect.
Look around again.
All the people who were swept by Master Shang Geng turned their eyes away and did not dare to look at him.
You can take a look at the merchant's jokes, but if it were this person, you wouldn't dare to make a mistake.
This is a professor from one of the top ten colleges!
Finally, Master Shang Geng turned his attention to the table in front of him, Lin Shan and Master Yang.
The two of them had no intention of getting up at all, and were still chatting happily among themselves, as if they pretended he didn't exist.
"Young man, in our country of Lu, a country of etiquette, you should know how to respect the old and love the young. How about giving up this position for now?"
Lin Shan did not answer immediately, but after eating for a while he felt the air was a little quiet, and raised his head in confusion.
"Are you talking to me?"
Master Shang Ding was furious: "I'm not telling you, who are you talking to?"
Lin Shan shook his head: "He didn't call me by name, how do I know who he was asking about?"
Yang Zhenren acted as a compliment and nodded repeatedly:
"That's what my leader said."
Master Shang Ding was dissatisfied with his ancestor being ignored. Although he knew that it was not appropriate to be impulsive at this time, he had to step forward to question him, otherwise where would his face be?
"Master Lin, when a professor from Shangyang Academy comes to you, even if he doesn't bow, he should get up anyway! You sit still and don't move, which makes people think that everyone in the Lujiang League is acting like this. I'm afraid if you tell anyone, The reputation is not good.”
"Say it?"
Lin Shan turned around and smiled confidently at Yang Zhenren.
"Who dares to tell?"
"We, Lujiang League, do things freely and as we please, and our main focus is on willfulness!"
"If you want to gain my respect, I'm afraid your business is not qualified."
"Let me see who dares to spread rumors about our leader!"
Yang Zhenren nodded repeatedly: "Yes, absolutely."
Master Shang Geng's face became visibly gloomy. The merchant's disciples all shrank their heads and did not dare to speak. After all, they were not Master Jin Dan. No matter how angry they were, they could not speak at all.
Master Shang Ding knew that his ancestor wanted to save face, so he could only act as a mouthpiece and continued to argue with Lin Shan.
"Master Lin, you need to know one thing, everything that is beautiful in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Many times, youth and vigour cannot be used as a reason for arrogance. If you make too many enemies, you will eventually be counterattacked at some point in the future."
"Backlash?"
Lin Shan seemed to have heard a big joke and put down his chopsticks and threw them on the floor.
"When the day of backlash comes, I'm afraid I'll be in the Nascent Soul stage! Why should I be afraid?!"
"And."
"Today I am here on behalf of the Lujiang League. You see, the Danyang masters of Hongdu Xinfu call me League Leader Lin. Why do you call me Leader Lin? Are you deliberately going against the lead singer of the host?"
Yang Zhenren sighed:
"Fellow Taoist, remember to change your words. My leader is very concerned about the title."
It was the first time that Danyangzi heard that a powerful foreign figure called his home the 'Hongdu New Mansion', and he couldn't help but feel elated!
It turns out that except for the recognition of the local head snakes in southwestern Shandong, other forces from other places who came to watch the ceremony basically held a neutral attitude and still called it Hongdu Academy.
Their unauthorized name changes will not be approved.
Because when it comes to education reform, it must be recognized by the Confucius and Mencius family of Lu State, Bailu Academy, and Jingyang Academy.
Just like the Lujiang League established by Lin Shan, it is also a regional self-organized alliance that has not been recognized by the central government, so most people still call him Leader Lin.
This is called ‘political avoidance of suspicion’.
Lin Shan realized that he was placed at the top of the top ten academies, and that Hongdu's new government called him Lin Alliance Leader, and he felt the subtle kindness from the other party.
The two are actually somewhat similar now, no matter their circumstances or encounters!
Therefore, when the other party extends an olive branch, we wait to see whether he will accept it.
Even the merchants lined up closely behind him, knowing that the two would not deal with each other but still creating friction, maybe this was a deliberate arrangement.
This is a test of Linshan from Hongdu Xinfu!
If it were anyone else, as long as they were timid, they would pretend not to hear it, explain it vaguely for the time being, or wait until later to discuss the matter with Hongdu Academy.
But Lin Shan had no idea of going around in circles!
Since we are all brothers and sisters who have risen in recent times, why not support each other and support each other?
As for the pressure from the top sects, just because they don't unite, they won't think they will be a threat in the future, so they will be lenient.
Whether you can gain recognition from others depends on your own strength and influence!
Of course, the more friends you have, the better.
Master Shang Ding was speechless. He wanted to say something but found that it was useless because the other party was indifferent. He would be completely humiliating himself by talking more.
Master Shang Geng had a keen sense of smell and noticed something was wrong.
"Fellow Taoist Danyangzi, you have to think carefully. Our business and the Xun Gu Sect are currently at odds in some areas. Are your words and deeds openly representing Hongdu University?"
(End of chapter)