146: Chapter 146 Night Banquet

The Governors Mansion was bustling with excitement at this moment.

Outside the wide gates, guests arriving to offer their congratulations came in an endless stream.

Within the courtyard, the air was filled with a hubbub of voices.

Governor Xu Chaoyang, wearing a crisp military uniform, sat upright in the center of the main hall, maintaining his habitual smile as he listened to the people in the hall discussing matters loudly.

The loudest voices undoubtedly belonged to the military personnel.

The three division commanders of the City Guard, along with the two division commanders of the National Defense Army—the booming voices of these five people were absolutely equivalent to a hundred braying donkeys.

"If you ask me, the people from Sangyu are up to no good! What kind of educational exchange is this? This is just them coming here to throw their weight around!"

"What weight do they have to throw around? Twenty years ago, I followed the Six Marshals all the way to Yu City, and they were kneeling on the ground, not even daring to lift their heads."

"Stop bringing up the past. Back then, Governor Yun died a heroic death, but look at what happened now? His aunt transformed herself into a Bishop of the Songcheng Sect."

"They didn't even reach the Spirit Map level; they're just making up the numbers."

"Being stubborn is useless. I've seen the roster for the exchange tournament; those young people are indeed outstanding. I'm afraid we really can't find anyone in our specialized academies who can match them. Actually, losing once isn't a big deal, the problem is... that old thief Guan Tai's grandson is among them."

"That list is complete nonsense. Can specialized academies really produce seventh-stage experts? Let's just demote two people from our military academy tomorrow; I guarantee we'll beat that grandson until he's completely submissive."

"Wouldn't that make us just as shameless as the people from Sangyu?"

"Song Big-Head, who are you calling shameless?"

"Lei Big-Face, stop baring your teeth at me. Did I say it was you? Whoever cheats is shameless!"

"Shameless or not, that's still better than you National Defense Army people acting like cowards!"

"Make yourself clear, who is acting like a coward!"

"That young master of the Duke of Huaicheng, he's holding a nominal post in the military department, right? Does that count as him being one of your National Defense Army people? He is in charge of the First Specialized Academy White Clothing Society, yet I heard he actually wants to avoid the fight. Hahaha, hahahaha~"

"He is him, and we are us! Stop pinning that blame on us!"

"Then what? When there's a good thing, you bask in the glory, but when there's a mess, you stay far away. Is that the style of the National Defense Army?"

"Lei Jianming, you bastard, are you looking for trouble on purpose?"

"I'm looking for trouble? You all belong to the National Defense sequence; you've always been the favorite children. You lack nothing in equipment, supplies, funding, or territory, and you even get first pick of the military academy graduates. Now that you've embarrassed yourselves, you won't even let us stepchildren watch the fun and talk about it?"

"Alright, alright, we are all comrades-in-arms, everyone just say a little less."

"Brother Wang, don't play the good guy either. When you were calling our City Guard divisions bumpkins back then, you weren't polite either."

"Brother Lei, are you really insisting on being difficult?"

"That's right! Today, I am going to be difficult. Do you dare to make a bet? Let's bet on who will have the bigger harvest when we go out of the city to hunt later!"

"Do you think I'm afraid of you, you turtle grandson? What's the wager!"

"Song Yu, Wang Jintang, what are you shouting about! As division commanders, how can you be so lacking in decorum!"

The one who spoke was Qiguang Sect, as the Commander-in-Chief of the National Defense Army in Song City. Once he spoke, the two division commanders under him naturally fell silent.

Beside him was Liang Zheng, the Chief of Staff of the City Guard, who immediately rolled his eyes upon hearing this.

"President Qi, your ability to be sarcastic is truly getting better and better. With that one sentence, you've scolded our three City Guard division commanders as well."

Qiguang Sect chuckled, "So the City Guard now has three divisions. No wonder you, little Liang, have more confidence day by day."

"Let me correct you on one point. The preparatory work for the Fourth Division is basically complete, and the number of troops exceeds that of a standard division by double."

"They are just refugees gathered from the wilderness; having a large number is useless. With so many mouths to feed, it won't be easy to keep them full. Your burden is very heavy."

"Hahaha, don't worry, don't worry. Starting next month, the budget for the City Guard will be doubled. Not only will they be well-fed, but their equipment will also learn from the National Defense divisions."

"All four divisions will be doubled?"

"That's right."

"Fortunately, fortunately, the Madam's birthday is this month. Otherwise, Governor Xu would have to sell his house next month, and how would this banquet even be held?"

"You!"

While they were engaging in a war of words, the three Bishops in a small hall in another corner were whispering to each other.

"Old Wei, Lv Yang hasn't arrived yet, it's clear he's not giving you any face."

"Heh, you can't say it like that. Brother Lv Yang is too busy, I can understand."

"Even if he's busy, he doesn't have time to spare to show his face? Even if he doesn't respect you, Brother Wei, he should at least respect Governor Xu, right?"

"It's still early, perhaps he'll come in a while."

"Old Liu, you really... you're just always trying to smooth things over, aren't you?"

Liu Zhiming smiled slightly and asked in a low voice, "Haven't you heard? Early this morning, Governor Jiang Shiqi called and scolded Lv Yang."

"Oh?"

Both Shang and Wei immediately became interested and leaned forward in unison.

"What happened?"

Liu Zhiming waved his hand, "I don't know."

The two were immediately gnashing their teeth in frustration, but Liu Zhiming changed the subject.

"But last night, that old freak Jiang also called me, asking if the Open-Ring Forbidden Method had been unsealed. You tell me, isn't this interesting?"

Both of them were old foxes of many years, so they naturally understood some things instantly. First, Lv Yang had used the Open-Ring Forbidden Method. Second, he couldn't possibly be practicing it himself, so it must be for someone else to practice. Third, this person had succeeded in practicing it and had offended Governor Jiang Shiqi. Fourth, Governor Jiang Shiqi generally didn't even leave his house, so how could someone offend him unless that person had gone to his home.

"Old Liu, your meaning is that that person... went to the Jiang Family."

"Who that person is, I haven't said anything."

"Stop playing dumb, we all know it clearly." Wei Ye held up three fingers, "Why do you think this person went to the Jiang Family?"

The three fingers referred to the 'Three Must-Nots' that the High Priest had once spoken of, which everyone understood at a glance. But why he went to the Jiang Family was hard to say.

There was another secret that everyone tacitly understood, which no one dared to speak of either, and that was that the High Priest also had the surname Jiang.

Not close relatives, but the High Priest didn't seem to have any other family.

Moreover, the Jiang Family controlled the research, development, and production of weapons and military equipment, acting as the pillar for all armed forces in Song City.

Don't look at the City Guard or the National Defense divisions arguing until their faces were red; if the Jiang Family coughed, they would all turn into quails.

For Lv Yang to actually dare to reach his hand over there was truly a new height of stupidity.

With that old freak Jiang's temper, if it really came to a legal battle, even that 'Three Must-Nots' person probably wouldn't get any advantage, right?

"Bishop of the Songcheng Sect of the Red God, Lord Lv Yang has arrived!"

Hearing that Lv Yang had arrived, the three of them immediately wore expressions of schadenfreude.

At this moment, the entire room full of guests stood up to welcome Lv Yang's arrival.

Even the Governor's wife, Wei Mingzhu, turned out from the back hall to welcome him side-by-side with her husband, and the others bowed their heads one after another.

Lv Yang entered the main hall with a smile on his face and opened his arms to the Governor and his wife from afar.

"May the Red God grant you blessings!"

"Madam Wei, this birthday of yours is truly infinitely auspicious!"

"I have the honor to bring blessings on behalf of the High Priest."

Wei Mingzhu smiled like a flower, "Thank you for the High Priest's blessings, and thank you, Bishop Lv, for your presence."

Xu Chaoyang also laughed happily from the side, "Bishop Lv, you've worked hard. You must have a few good drinks tonight; later, I will personally toast you."

"Good! I've long heard that Governor Xu has hidden many fine wines; I must have a good taste tonight."

After Lv Yang finished speaking, he walked towards the other three Bishops.

But everyone suddenly noticed that he had actually brought a guard with him.