Throughout the Cao Wei dynasty, from the central court to local regions, everyone had become accustomed to having the various Xiahou and Cao clans lead military forces in their respective areas.
Several months ago, after former Jingzhou Military Commander Xiahou Shang fell ill and returned to Luoyang for nearly a year, Cao Rui ordered Chen Qun to serve as the military commander of Jingzhou during the time when Sun Quan attacked Xiaoxia. At that time, there were quite a few discussions in the court.
Chen Qun was not the first non-family member to serve as a military governor. The previous person appointed as a military governor in a region was Wu Zhi.
But Wu Zhi was the military governor of Hebei! Hebei had long become a stable rear base for the Cao Wei dynasty, and it was not contiguous with the Eastern Wu or Shu Han. So Wu Zhi's appointment was just a routine matter. Wu Zhi resided in Ye City, and the foreign troops directly under his command, when counted, were around 10,000 in number.
Can the two be the same? Jingzhou is a strategic area for three countries to fight for. Although Chen Qun is one of the four important ministers, there are still some voices in the court about his military capabilities.
However, Cao Rui had no choice. Someone has to go to Jingzhou, can it be let Mar Shiyi go there? Using Chen Qun was more reliable. Moreover, Chen Qun could be removed from the court, which could be considered as one stone two birds.
......
That night, Luoyang, the North Palace.
The last time Cao Rui visited Zhonglie Camp, where General Cao Hong was stationed, he had been invited by Cao Hong to have dinner at his house. Cao Rui had declined for some reason at the time, but the invitation had stuck in his mind ever since.
Today provided the opportunity to set up a banquet at the North Palace and invite these military commanders of the Cao and Xiahou clans.
This was Cao Rui's second time hosting a banquet in the palace. The last time he had a banquet, it was with his inner circle from the Eastern Palace and important officials. At that time, Cao Rui wanted to reward some official positions, but encountered the likes of Sima Fu.
The palace was brightly lit with numerous lamps, and over a dozen tables were arranged in two rows on either side of the hall. Numerous eunuchs and palace maids were moving around, either setting up the tables or placing utensils.
The emperor was the last to appear. The various ministers of the Cao and Xiahou clans were led by palace officials to the entrance of the hall, but they all found that the person who greeted them at the door was Guan Jian.
Mao Qiujian, who is known to everyone in the Luoyang court as an old literary minister from Your Majesty's time in the Eastern Palace? Just after Your Majesty ascended the throne, he appointed Mao Qiujian as the Commandant of the Yue Horse Troops, a position worth two thousand stones, making him a favored person close to the emperor.
Mao Qiujian stood upright at the door, seeing a plump, fair-skinned man of about forty years old approaching, he quickly took two steps forward and bowed in a greeting: "Are you the Summerhouse Minister?"
Among today's guests, Xiahou Mao was the first to arrive. Not having been in Luoyang for a long time, Xiahou Mao indeed did not recognize Mao Qiujian's face, but that did not hinder him from knowing the importance of this person.
Although puzzled in his heart and felt a little awkward with the title "Summerhouse Minister," he still smiled and bowed back in greeting: "I am Xiahou Mao."
Mao Qiujian said with a smile, "I have heard a lot about the reputation of the Summerhouse Minister. I am Mao Qiujian. Today I was appointed to guide the guests. Please follow me, Summerhouse Minister."
Xiahou Mao nodded in agreement and then entered the hall, taking his seat after stepping into it.
Gradually, other guests began to arrive. Along with Xiahou Mao's generation, there were also the son of Xiahou Yuan, Xiahou Bai; Xiahou Wei and Xiahou Xuan's brother, Xiahou Ru; and Qin Lang, a false son of Cao Cao.
A little bit younger, there was Xiahou Xun's grandson Xiahou Xian, Cao Xu's son Cao Zhao, and Cao Zhen's son Cao Shuang.
The last two to arrive were General Cao Zhen and Commander-in-Chief Cao Hong.
Mao Qiujian stood at the entrance of the hall, seeing that Cao Zhen and Cao Hong were coming together, he quickly stepped down and bowed to them: "Excuse me, your Excellencies."
Cao Zhen was very familiar with the banquet, seeing that Mao Qiujian was not a Cao nor an Xiahou, he already knew it was part of the emperor's arrangement in his heart.
Cao Zhen laughed and said, "So, has the emperor ordered you to welcome the guests?"
Mao Qiujian replied respectfully, "As the Commandant of the Yue Horse Troops said, Your Majesty has ordered the underling to welcome the guests. The underling will now lead Your Excellencies to their seats."
Cao Hong and Cao Cao were of the same generation, making him the oldest person and the longest seniority among the guests at this banquet. At this time, he also knew that Mao Qiujian was highly valued by the emperor, so he patted Mao Qiujian's shoulder and said: "Are all the guests here? Once everyone is seated, there's no need to stand anymore. Let's go in together."
Mao Qiujian bowed and said, "I dare not, please let the General Cao Zhen and Commander-in-Chief Cao Hong go first."
The two did not make a fuss and walked into the hall. Seeing that there were two empty tables near the emperor's seat, they sat down on them without hesitation.
As General Cao Zhen and Commander-in-Chief Cao Hong entered the hall, several musicians on the side began to play music from the Western Regions of China.
As the music began, Emperor Cao Rui walked in through a side door. The ministers, upon seeing the emperor arrive, all rose from their seats and walked to the center of the hall to bow to the emperor.
While walking, Emperor Cao Rui laughed and said, "Today is a family banquet. Please sit down, there's no need to be formal."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." After the bows, everyone took their seats at the table. In their seats, they raised their heads to look in the direction of the emperor.
Cao Rui did not hesitate, and he picked up the wine cup on the table with his hand, laughing as he said, "Today, Your Majesty is gathering with our relatives. We have prepared a feast of wine; we will not return until we are drunk."
"Thank you to all of you today for being able to hear this music. It is still thanks to the General's achievements in Liangzhou. If it weren't for his victory in the Western Regions, opening up the way for all countries to come and pay tribute, how could all of you be here enjoying this music in Luoyang?"
General Cao Zhen laughed heartily and lifted his wine cup, saying: "The general was able to stabilize Liangzhou thanks to the heavenly grace of the late emperor and the great fortune of Wei. How could I dare to take credit for my achievements?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive my audacity. May I be appointed as the wine monitor?"
Emperor Cao Rui smiled at everyone and said, "Is there anyone willing to share this seat with the General?"
General Cao Zhen laughed and said, "If anyone thinks their wine tolerance is better than mine, then they can come and take the seat."
Cao Hong, across from Cao Zhen, stroked his beard and said, "Zidan, who would dare to compete with you?"
Emperor Cao Rui also smiled and nodded, "Then let the General monitor the wine."
Cao Zhen raised his wine cup high with both hands and shouted, "To the Longevity of the Emperor for a Thousand Years!"
The others also shouted in unison with Cao Zhen. Emperor Cao Rui, looking at the crowd, lifted his wine cup in a gesture of agreement, and then drank it together with the others in one go.
As the first cup of wine was finished, the palace girls who were serving filled the wine cups again one by one.
Cao Zhen raised his wine cup again, "For the Longevity of Wei for a Thousand Years!"
After finishing the third cup, they raised their cups for a toast: "To the prosperity of the nation, here's to it!" The crowd followed Cao Zhen's call and drank it all.
With the three cups of wine as the foundation, the banquet has officially started.
Emperor Cao Rui smiled at the crowd and said, "Lately, I have been reading the classics of the late emperor. There is a story in his dictation that is quite interesting."
"The Prefect of Jingzhou under the Western Han Dynasty, Liu Biao, when he was in Xiangyang, both he and his son were fond of wine. They specially made three sizes of wine cups."
"The largest one was called Bo Ya, which could hold seven liters of wine; the second largest was called Zhong Ya, which could hold six liters of wine; and the smallest was called Ji Ya, which could hold five liters of wine."
"The three cups, together, could hold eighteen liters of wine. At Liu Biao's banquets, one had to drink the three cups for a total of eighteen liters to pass. How much can all of you drink today?"
Cao Hong, with a bold chest thrust, said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, a mere Liu Biao can't be considered as a drinking man with just eighteen liters. I can drink one stone of wine!"
