Chapter 584: Palace Banquet The Annan envoy seemed a little embarrassed. The high spirits of yesterday had long gone, leaving only anxiety about the unknown Zhu Yuanzhang heard these words, a barely perceptible smile flashed across his face. Zhu Yuanzhang winked at the eunuch beside him, and then said enthusiastically: "Your Excellency has worked hard. Our Ming Dynasty is rich in various precious delicacies. How can you come here in vain?" Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was gentle but firm: "Tonight, I will prepare a feast for you to show my respect to your country." The Annan envoy was shocked. He did not expect Zhu Yuanzhang to do this, and this sudden courtesy made him even more uneasy. He knew that behind the Ming Dynasty's enthusiasm there might be deeper considerations, and at this moment, he could not easily distinguish them. He pondered carefully, then showed enough courtesy and respect to respond: "Your Majesty is magnanimous. In this case, I, a humble official, am willing to follow your Majesty's wishes." Zhu Yuanzhang looked up and smiled, watching the messenger turn around and tell his entourage that the chess game in his mind had moved forward another step. As evening approached, the imperial kitchen in the palace was already brightly lit, and the chefs were busy making final preparations for tonight's feast. The dishes on the plates were more colorful, fragrant and delicious than each other. From delicacies from land and sea to farm cooking, they all demonstrated the wealth and refinement of the Ming royal family. At the banquet, the lights were warm and there was constant laughter in the hall. The Annan envoy sat at the table with a forced smile on his face. He examined the exquisite food and listened to the sweet singing of the palace maids. The uneasiness in his heart was gradually soothed by this rare harmony.

"Your Majesty is wise, and the Ming Dynasty is strong. I am very happy about today's banquet." The Annan envoy raised his glass and said sincerely that although his doubts had not yet been dispelled, he also understood that the current strategy was to take revenge and be vigilant while temporarily going along with the atmosphere in the classroom. Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly and said calmly: "I am also pleased to share the feast with all my friends." "Tonight is the beginning of friendship. I hope the relationship between our two countries will be as long-lasting and mellow as today's fine wine." In this way, in a relaxed and formally warm atmosphere, the banquet came to an end after a long time. But behind the bright red wine and light laughter, Zhu Yuanzhang and the Annan envoys knew in their hearts that the real chess game was far from over. The envoy's heart was shocked and shrouded in deep undercurrents. He knew that after returning to Annan, he would face a more complicated situation. Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking about how to use this power to maintain the dignity and prosperity of the Ming Dynasty. It was late at night, the banquet was over, and the Annan envoy Duzi returned to his guest room. Under the lamp, he looked at the cup in his hand, thinking over and over what he had seen and heard tonight. He slowly realized that this banquet was not just an ordinary reception, but a way for the Ming Dynasty to showcase its culture and inclusiveness through cooking. Behind every dish, every action, and every line of dialogue are Zhu Yuanzhang’s far-reaching considerations and symbols of the Ming Dynasty’s national strength. He took a deep breath and made up his mind that no matter how far-reaching the influence of the Ming Empire was, he would report truthfully what he saw and heard after returning to Annan. The wind outside the window blew quietly, and the figure of the Annan envoy disappeared outside the beautiful gate. Zhu Yuanzhang had no intention of standing up. He leaned on the throne, looking at his loyal ministers, and an inexplicable sense of pride surged in his heart. "Everyone, let's not talk about those boring government affairs today." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, signaling the eunuch to listen attentively, "Give me more wine, let's drink 300 cups." Liu Sanwu, the always calm and cautious official, showed a rare smile tonight and said loudly: "Your Majesty is wise. This cup should be dedicated to the Imperial Master. Without him, how could our Ming Dynasty show its power so quickly?" When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he laughed loudly, no longer looking as cold as usual: "That's right, that's right, today I really saw how powerful Lin Che is." The atmosphere in the banquet hall became increasingly heated. The eunuchs were busy pouring wine for the ministers. The amber wine flowed in the jade-colored glasses, as if even they could feel the laughter and joy in the banquet hall. Lin Che just sat there, his expression calm, but he felt a little warm in his heart. He looked at these ministers, and modern memories came flooding back. He himself had been like this before, drinking and chatting among the grassroots people.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao sat opposite his father with an uneasy look on his face. He knew that the significance of this banquet was far more than just solving a difficult problem. The withdrawal of the Annan envoy meant that the Ming Dynasty had taken another step forward in diplomacy. He interjected tentatively: "Father, on this happy occasion today, I, your son, would like to pay my respects on behalf of all the ministers." Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to stop the prince's salute, and his warm eyes were full of encouragement: "Boss, instead of paying tribute, why don't you say a few words to see how your insights are." The prince suddenly perked up. After all, he was the future emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and he had to seize every opportunity of exercise. "Father, the Annan envoy's expression today is very changeable. I'm afraid the North has deeper intentions. We need to be cautious." Then, Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Speaking of which, the land of Annan is fertile. If we can truly become a vassal, it will be a good thing for our Ming Dynasty." Liu Sanwu was also drunk after three rounds of drinking. "I would like to hear what the Imperial Master thinks of Annan's visit. After all, you are the greatest hero today." All eyes in the room were focused on Lin Che again. In the palace, whether it was a banquet or government affairs, the master was able to remain indifferent, as if no matter how the world changed, it would be difficult to touch his heart. However, tonight he chose to lower his posture a little and communicate with everyone in a more casual manner. "To answer your words, Annan has been plotting evil since ancient times. This time, they came here to test us, but they may have other intentions." “But a centipede is still alive even after it dies. The Ming Dynasty should act like a country of etiquette and rites. In addition to appeasing them, we must also pacify them.” Although Lin Che didn’t say much, he was calm and profound. "Your Highness is right. Our Ming Dynasty diplomacy needs to be steady and long-term. We need to show goodwill while also making an example of others." Zhu Yuanzhang sighed after hearing this. It was obvious that he had already made a mature plan in his mind. This banquet became a rare venue for exchanging ideas. "Everyone, you all said good things tonight. I have taken note of them." The next sentence pushed the banquet to its climax. During the serving time, everyone relaxed and talked and laughed. The cold government affairs turned into harmonious table chats. They discussed the boy's mystery loudly, and talking about family affairs made it even warmer. (End of this chapter)