Luoyang, the Northern Palace.
Cao Rui and other Western Dream People finally arrived in Luoyang after waiting for a long time.
The Western Dream People are the magicians. They are famous all over the world and have been one of the official 'gifts' from the Western small states to the Han Dynasty since its establishment.
Since General Cao Zhen pacified the Qiang and Hu peoples, there has been more contact between the Western Regions and the Central Plains.
In the winter of the second year of Huang Chu (five years ago), that is, when the Western Regions were in chaos, Generals Cao Zhen and others formed a coalition army and launched an attack on the coalition army of various tribes in the Qianhe River region. Cao Zhen led his troops to achieve a decisive victory and establish order in the Western Regions.
After Xiahou Yuan, Cao Zhen, on behalf of Cao Wei, engaged in violent battles with the Huns in Liangzhuang.
Indeed, it was a "beating." Cao Zhen's victory resulted in the decapitation of over 50,000 enemy soldiers, the capture of 100,000 people, and the seizure of 1.1 million sheep and 80,000 cows.
This was almost like looting the house of the Huns in Liangzhou.
Cao Pi was also extremely pleased to hear about the decisive victory. At that time, he said, "I plan the strategies from within the tent, while my generals fight valiantly thousands of miles away."
Clearly influenced by the victory, Cao Pi believed his own military prowess was quite good, and so he launched an attack on Wu the following year.
In vain.
To return to the topic, since Cao Zhen pacified Liangzhou, the Silk Road was reopened.
The Western Regions' smaller countries, such as Shanshan, Khotan, and Yutian, also sent envoys to Luoyang the following year. The sweet-toothed Cao Pi even got to taste grapes and rock sugar from the Western Regions.
The Western Dream People, or magicians, were gradually coming to Luoyang.
During the Three Kingdoms period, there were not many toys, such as playing on an arrow's target and weiqi (a board game similar to Go). Cao Rui had already lost interest in these games. Upon hearing that the Western Dream People had arrived in Luoyang along with a merchant caravan, he summoned them into the palace to perform.
Of course, there was not just one audience member; it wasn't only Cao Rui in attendance.
During the year when Cao Rui was in the Eastern Palace, many of the officials who had served him were called to the palace and shared in his joy with their old comrades.
In addition to Cao Rui, there was Cao Rui's only consort, Mao PIN, and Mao PIN's brother Mao Zeng.
There were officials who served Cao Rui during his time as Marquis of Wu De: Marquis of Wu De's Teacher Zheng Cheng and Marquis of Wu De's adopted son Ji Miao. Zheng Cheng was the grandnephew of the renowned Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan, known for his "divine" wisdom, and Ji Miao was also a virtuous and talented individual.
During Cao Rui's time as Prince of Pingyuan, there were officials who served him: Prince of Pingyuan's Teacher Gao Talinglong and the Minister of Personnel, Wei Zhen, who had advised Cao Rui on government affairs. Both were trusted by Cao Rui.
Also present were four plain literature students: He Zeng, Guan Qiu Jian, Bi Gui, and Li Feng. Their roles were similar to those of Cao Pi's four friends "Sima Yi, Chen Qun, Wu Zhi, and Zhu Shuohuo."
There were also several members of the royal family who were close to Cao Rui before his ascension to the throne.
There were also the sons of Cao Xiu, Cao Zhu and Cao Shuang, the son of Cao Zhen, Cao Shuang, and the son of Xiahou Shang, Xiahou Xuan.
Of course, there were also several close advisors to the emperor. Zhongshu Liu Ye, Xing Pi, Huang Quan, Zhongshu Liu Fang, Zhongshu Liu Yi, and Zhong Yin. The youngest among them was Zhong Yu.
It can be said that this was the first gathering of old friends and acquaintances that Cao Rui had called together since his ascension to the throne.
According to the emperor, the gathering was quite simple - just a performance by the Western Dream People, catching up with old friends, and enhancing their bond.
An emperor inviting you to watch acrobatics at the palace would clearly indicate that this was not just a casual gathering.
Official titles and salaries might be bestowed upon you unexpectedly, as the emperor, in his joy or nostalgia, might pour out gifts like water.
This is not an arbitrary guess.
When Cao Pi first ascended the throne, he had lavishly rewarded his former officials.
Cao Pi's four friends - Chen Qun, Sima Yi, Wu Zhi, and Zhu Shuohuo - became the Minister of Ceremonial and Sima Yi the Assistant Minister of Ceremonial. These two led the administration of the state of Wei.
Wu Zhi was promoted to a general and served as the military supervisor of Hebei. Zhu Shuohuo passed away earlier and did not participate in the reward distribution this time.
The emperor's rewards are based on precedents, and the expectations of those present in the hall were varying levels of anticipation.
As everyone took their seats, a few Western Dream People also entered the hall.
The leader of the group, a foreigner with a pointed hat and mutton chops, bowed to Cao Rui and the other officials. Several other foreign dance girls, accompanied by the sound of a pipa, began to dance behind him.
The foreigner also started to dance after his bow, moving up and down with the beat in the hall. Initially, he danced and knelt before Cao Rui. Then, he followed the order to visit and pay respects to the various officials at each table.
Mao PIN sat beside Cao Rui: "Your Majesty, these foreigners are quite amusing. Look at how he dances; it's so comical."
Cao Rui laughed and said, "You may find their antics amusing, but I've heard they possess some skills. In a while, they will perform the art of swallowing swords and knives."
Mao PIN asked curiously: "How can one swallow swords and knives into their stomach? Humans are not made of iron."
Cao Rui nodded: "I don't know the secret behind it either. Let's just watch their performance."
After performing greetings to the officials, the Western Dream People slowly walked into the center of the hall.
The originally slow pipa music began to accelerate, and the dance steps of the nine foreign women correspondingly sped up. However, the leaping foreigner suddenly fell silent.
The contrast between movement and stillness, accompanied by the music of the Western Regions, indeed gave the people present a feeling of a different kind of charm.
The foreigner bowed again, then picked up a curved knife from a side table.
Indeed, it was a curved knife, roughly the length of a person's forearm.
The foreigner did not say much. He slowly looked up to the sky, his mouth wide open, and with both hands raised above his head, he slowly inserted the tip of the knife into his mouth.
Some people in the audience started to scream.
Mao PIN, sitting beside Cao Rui, had already covered her mouth with her hand. Her brother Mao Zeng, sitting behind her on the side, had half his body sticking out to get a better look.
The other officials, regardless of age, were all staring intently at the foreigner's knife.
The curved knife reflected a silvery light. The foreigner's hand, accompanied by the music, slowly descended towards his mouth. The dance of the women and the stillness of the Dream People created a strong contrast that enhanced each other.
The entire blade had been swallowed. The officials had started whispering to each other, discussing the incredible scene.
The foreigner's hand slowly raised again, and he carefully pulled the entire knife out of his mouth.
"Very good!" Cao Rui became excited and called out in praise, even clapping.
The crowd, seeing Cao Rui applaud, paused for a moment and then understood that this was Cao Rui's sign of approval. They followed suit, clapping their hands in the same manner.
The applause gradually grew, and the rhythm of the music grew faster. The music stopped abruptly, and the foreigner knelt on the ground, his hands up supporting the curved knife.
The Western Dream Person was middle-aged, and he had likely traveled to many places. He knew that after watching the performance, dignitaries would always be curious about the knife.
The imperial eunuch received the knife, wiped it slightly, and presented it to Cao Rui.
Cao Rui and Mao PIN examined the knife several times. It was made of pure iron, with no ability to stretch or compress, and it was truly a mystery how the foreigner had swallowed it.
Cao Rui said, "Pass it on. Let the officials also take a look."
The curved knife was passed around the hall one by one, causing low murmurs of surprise.
At this moment, a eunuch came in with small steps and whispered something to the Minister of Books, Liu Fang. Liu Fang's face immediately turned somber, and he went to the door of the hall to retrieve a scroll of documents.
Liu Fang did not want to be the bearer of bad news, and did not want to ruin the joy of the emperor Cao Rui and those present. However, as this scroll of documents was needed at this time and place, it had to be presented to the emperor immediately.
Liu Fang walked over to Cao Rui and presented the document, whispering softly, "I report to Your Majesty. This morning, I issued an imperial decree to the Secretariat. Now the Secretariat has sent a memorial urging restraint."
Cao Rui narrowed his eyes without speaking, clearly already angry.
Yesterday, Cao Rui ordered the Minister of Books Liu Fang to draft an edict, intending to grant promotions to his old officials. The edict arrived at the Secretariat this morning, but now a memorial for restraint has been sent instead.
Cao Rui was holding this gathering today in the palace precisely because he wanted to grant official titles to those present.
It's all because of this bit of resentment that he wrapped up this dumpling.
The result was that the Secretariat advised against granting promotions.
Sima Yi, Chen Qun, what are you guys trying to pull with your Secretariat?
