Chapter 2740: Laying the Groundwork

The minor official did not stop the head chef from recommending his family members, as no one knew how long this envoy would be staying here. The kitchen would definitely need more people.

It doesn’t matter who is added, right?

A family is easier to manage.

Thus, he sent someone to bring the head chef back to fetch his wife and children. Meanwhile, he hurried off to report the situation to the Second Prince Gao.

However, at this time, the Second Prince Gao had not finished the meeting yet. He stood outside for a while before seeing the supervisor come out from the room with a weary and sorrowful expression. Upon seeing this expression, he dared not go forward, fearing bad luck, so he lowered his head and hid on one side.

The supervisor walked away disappointed and heartbroken, and only then did the minor official raise his head to glance at his hunched back, noticing other ministers also coming out. He quickly went forward to seek an audience.

The Second Prince Gao was about to speak to his confidant. When he heard the minor official seek an audience, he summoned him in and asked, “Have the arrangements for the Jin Kingdom’s envoy been made?”

“Yes.” The minor official carefully described Bai Shan’s various behaviors after moving in, including the lengthy speech by Daji.

Then he took out a gold bar and offered it, bowing, “Prince, this is what he gave to your humble servant.”

The Second Prince Gao just glanced at it before waving his hand, “Since he gave it to you, you just keep it.”

He sneered, “Post guards around his courtyard and don’t allow them to go out freely.”

He decided to let him stew for a couple of days to see the situation and also to ascertain the attitude over on the Great Jin’s side.

The minor official accepted the order, and seeing that the Second Prince Gao did not express any other views on finding a cook for the guest courtyard, he bowed and retreated.

As soon as the minor official left, the confidant bowed and said, “Prince, listening to the sounds, this envoy is likely from a wealthy background.”

The Second Prince Gao sneered, “Able to reach the position of a Secretariat Attendant at such a young age, and serve as an envoy for the Emperor, how could his background be low?”

A high background also means the other party’s knowledge and abilities are not weak. From his calm demeanor facing him, the Second Prince Gao already knew this opponent, though young in age, was not to be underestimated.

And just from a conversation, Yuan Yi and the others had already calculated to surrender.

Thinking about this, the Second Prince Gao pursed his lips uncomfortably and ordered again, “Have people guard their courtyard well, no exits for them.”

“Yes.”

Bai Shan stood with hands behind his back on the steps, watching soldiers patrolling outside the courtyard wall, smiled slightly, and turned to enter through the door.

Xue Gui toured the entire courtyard, even flipping through the latrine at the back. He said to Bai Shan, “Lord Bai, we are surrounded all around, with guards every ten steps. We can’t get out even at night.”

“If we can’t go out, then we won’t.”

“But being trapped here, can’t we do nothing?”

What’s the use of bringing so much gold, silver, and jewelry?

Bai Shan smiled slightly, “I cannot go to the mountain, naturally, I will have the mountain come to me.”

He turned his head to ask Daji, “Has the cook’s family arrived?”

“They have arrived.”

“How many people are in their family?”

Daji replied, “His wife, two sons, and a daughter. When I mentioned needing a maid to boil water, he brought them all.”

He said, “He told me that his wife and eldest son can buy ingredients and are familiar with the city’s vegetable farmers. The youngest son can stay in the courtyard to assist.”

Bai Shan nodded slightly, “Got it, are all his family members here?”

“Yes, they have all been brought over.”

Bai Shan was satisfied and said to Daji, “Give them some gold, and tell them tomorrow’s lunch and dinner need to have fresh vegetables, and also grilled lamb, the most tender piece, no excess.”

Daji understood and turned to fetch the gold.

Xue Gui, seeing Daji take another gold piece, remained silent for a long while.

Even the emperor on the opposite side wasn’t this lavish. Last time, they shared a tent and food with His Majesty, it was just two dishes and a soup.

One dish was tofu, another had just some minced meat added.

The army was out, and since this was not their territory, supplies couldn’t keep up. Grain was fine, but vegetables and meat were really scarce.

He vaguely felt that Bai Shan’s actions were not simply for eating, but couldn’t figure out why, opting to stay silent and observe the situation.

The head chef, receiving a piece of gold, was both excited and shocked. Although prepared for this noble’s extravagance, he was still taken aback by the two days’ meal expenses.

Daji said, “Money isn’t an issue, as long as my young master eats happily, there will be more rewards if you do well.”

The head chef, along with his family, bowed deeply, “Yes, yes, we will definitely do our best.”

After Daji left, the chef’s wife looked at the gold piece in his hand dumbfounded, swallowed and said, “Husband, where can we find so many fresh vegetables now?”

She said, “I originally planned to buy some stored cabbage.”

The head chef said, “The vegetable farmers don’t have it, but we can find buyers from those wealthy families. They have estates and villas where fresh vegetables are cultivated. With money, can these things not be bought?”

He stroked the gold piece in his hand, “See, this is real gold. Such a piece can buy a small courtyard, even if only saving a small part, after saving several times, it equals my twenty years as a chef at the restaurant.”

The chef’s wife, upon hearing, also swallowed and extended her hand to take the gold piece, “Alright, I’ll go out and ask the steward’s wife of those families I met while delivering food to the restaurant.”

The head chef nodded with satisfaction.

The soldiers at the door did not stop the kitchen staff from entering and buying goods, they only restricted the people from Jin Kingdom from coming in and out.

Bai Shan didn’t test their limits either, obediently staying indoors, though he occasionally picked on the place, at one moment saying the bedding wasn’t soft enough, sending someone to tell the soldiers at the door, resulting in a change of bedding;

At another saying he was really bored and asked them to send some books over, requesting pen, ink, paper, and inkstone as well…

His petty requests were many, to the extent that the soldiers at the door would straighten up immediately upon seeing someone from Jin approaching.

Yet, they maintained an air of superiority, and with Goguryeo’s defeats, they wanted to be firm but could not, only enduring it.

Each time the Council Hall would meet their requests, further deflating the soldiers at the door, making it clear that although they were guarding the Jin envoy, even their superiors were courteous to these Jin guests, hence unable to let them out but treating them with courtesy.

Xue Gui also turned his head, realizing the trick as he gazed at Bai Shan reading, it was merely an ordinary book “The Analects”, which he didn’t believe Bai Shan, a scholar, hadn’t read, but Bai Shan was engrossed in it now.

Unable to help it, he could only suppress his temper, sitting aside in contemplation.

The next day, the kitchen indeed prepared the fresh vegetables Bai Shan requested, along with tender grilled lamb.

Bai Shan subtly lifted the corner of his mouth and continued to request exquisite food the next day.

When the head chef prepared it the next day as well, Bai Shan invited him over to talk, directly asking, “I see you speak Mandarin well, did you learn at the restaurant?”

The head chef was momentarily stunned before bowing, “It is not just elegant language; it is also our official language. I occasionally need to see some distinguished guests when working at the restaurant, thus learned it.”

Bai Shan was pleased and nodded, “I see your culinary skills are good, especially your pastries. Have you considered going to the Central Plains?”

He smiled slightly, “If you are willing, I can take you with me when I return to Chang’an as my cook. How does that sound?”