Richard Parker looked down at the pitiful hostage at the door, but his mind was elsewhere. Qi had not fared well in recent years—droughts year after year, and the people living in hardship. Yet those imperial relatives, officials, and gentry were still lost in the glory of their great victory over Qin more than a decade ago, when they expanded their territory for thousands of miles, unable to extricate themselves, indulging in extravagance and debauchery every day, living in ostentatious luxury. The national treasury had been sucked dry by these leeches, leaving it virtually empty, forcing heavier taxes and exploitative policies, driving the people to destitution, selling their sons and daughters, with uprisings breaking out from time to time.

He wanted to carry out reforms; he had a whole set of policies to clean up officialdom, protect agriculture, develop military strength, and build an elite, powerful army. He needed to suppress the backlash from vested interests and ensure the implementation of the new policies. All of this required time!

Therefore, Qi could not afford, nor withstand, a war within the next ten years, even with the so-called God of War, Lord of a Hundred Victories, and the undefeated Hundred Victories Army. That was why he advocated for sending the hostage back to his country, disregarding his years of friendship with Henry Clark. If he himself was not willing, who in the world could sway the attention of the Grand Chancellor of Qi? Not even the emperor.

So he decided to send Ryan Carter back to his country, to silence the Qin army. Of course, if Ryan Carter proved to be outstanding enough, he would never let the tiger return to the mountain.

After a long while, he finally pulled himself out of his thoughts, as if only then noticing the two people at the door. He burst out laughing, “So it’s Lord Bennett himself! My lord, you’re late—come, take your seat, and drink three cups as penalty!”

The guests all chimed in, “Three cups as penalty!” “How could you be late?” “Disrespectful, very disrespectful,” and other such nonsense.

Eagle Carter was furious—this was too much! The invitation said noon, and they had arrived half an hour early, yet still missed the start of the banquet. Wasn’t this deliberate mockery? What was even more infuriating was that, “take your seat, take your seat”—where was the seat? There wasn’t a single empty place!

The veins on his forehead throbbed as he was about to lose his temper. At this moment, Ryan Carter hurriedly tried to explain to Richard Parker, “It’s not my fault, not my fault! Blame this black brute for dawdling. If you must punish someone, punish him!” Looking anxious, he glanced around and finally found an empty spot beside the man in plain clothes, hurried over and sat down, accidentally knocking over the man’s wine jug and spilling it all over himself.

Volume One: Grass on the Plain

Chapter Ten: The Down-and-Out White-Clad Minister, A Fur Coat Worth Less Than Dirt

The man in plain clothes squinted drunkenly, silently watching Ryan Carter’s antics. Ryan Carter greeted him, but he only nodded slightly in response, then hugged his wine jug and ignored him.

Eagle Carter, still fuming, took his seat, exchanged a glance with Ryan Carter, then quickly looked away. Both of their expressions were odd. To the others, it was clear that master and servant had fallen out over what had just happened.

Richard Parker, seeing Ryan Carter so timid and fearful, disregarding his status to sit with commoners, couldn’t help but feel a bit of contempt, and said nothing more about the three-cup penalty. The guests, unable to guess the Chancellor’s intentions, also ignored Ryan Carter for the time being.

……

Qi was located in the east of the Divine Land, and had always been one of the most prosperous places on the continent. The nation pursued luxury and enjoyment, so naturally, their food was refined and exquisite. The people of Qi took pride in tasting fine cuisine; if they sampled some rare delicacy, they would often celebrate with raised hands and write poems about it. There were even culinary masters who called themselves “gourmets,” and in Qi, they could be ranked alongside great military strategists like Wu Zhilong, calligraphy masters like Yan Xingxi, and Confucian scholars like Kong Jingwen as the “Four Wonders.”

The Chancellor’s banquet in Qi was among the top in the country. Ryan Carter and Eagle Carter, a pair of country bumpkins, had truly never seen so many dishes that looked like works of art. They stared at the plates, not daring to pick up their chopsticks—this time, it wasn’t an act.

The man who had been drinking suddenly perked up and began to introduce the dishes. He had been drinking the whole time, so the food on the table was still untouched. Pointing to a dish in the center, sculpted into the scene of “Spring River, Flower, and Moonlit Night,” he said, “This is ‘Northern Qi’s Martial King’s Raw Lamb Slices’—made from the finest lamb, top-quality Yellow River carp minced and rolled into pancakes, paired with golden chestnut noodles and grilled to perfection. It’s named after the Martial King’s mansion in Northern Qi. Don’t just stare—see that huge, intimidating moon? That’s it.” The two of them finally steeled themselves and dug in with their chopsticks. As soon as the moon’s surface was broken, a rich, fresh aroma wafted out. Tasting it, it was tender and refreshing, smooth but not greasy, leaving a lingering aftertaste that made them forget themselves. They immediately began eating with lightning speed, showing off the skills honed through years of hardship.

Seeing the two of them eat like starving ghosts, the man’s appetite was also whetted, and he joined in the scramble with his chopsticks, not falling behind at all. In the blink of an eye, the plate was empty. The man picked up a teacup to rinse his mouth, shook his head regretfully, and said, “The Chancellor’s cooks haven’t grasped the true essence of this dish—too many ingredients, wasting so many precious foods. Don’t they know that fish and lamb together make the freshest taste? Like the girl next door—add a bit and she’s too plump, take away a bit and she’s too thin.”

At the next table, a guest who had been watching their commotion sneered, “The Autumn Wind Guest is always making a fuss, eating for free and still so picky.”

The man in plain clothes flushed red and retorted, “How is this a free meal? The Chancellor said he was giving me a farewell banquet!”

“That’s the Chancellor kicking you out…” the rude guest mimicked his tone.

“Clearly, clearly I was the one to take my leave first.” Ryan Carter noticed that the hand holding his chopsticks was trembling.

“That’s because you, Lord Autumn Wind Guest, can’t catch the autumn wind anymore!” The guests at that table were delighted to have someone to argue with, showing off their wit and quick thinking. If they could win the Chancellor’s favor, all the better.