The martial man likes to drink, and so does the scholar. Under such social custom, what happens at the dining table also becomes socialized, as if the more one drinks, the greater one's ability will be.
Drinking has become a concrete representation of 'heroic grandeur'; those who can drink are heroes and men of courage, while those who cannot drink are seen as cowards or scoundrels.
Just then, Cao Hong said that he could drink one stone of alcohol. This large number caused Cao Rui to secretly convert it into units of measurement.
One stone is one hundred and twenty catties. According to the calculation method of the later period, now one catty is two hundred and fifty grams. If Cao Hong can drink one stone, and the current wine and beer are comparable in alcohol content, isn't it possible to drink sixty bottles of beer?
Drink five cases at once?
Liu table's three cups of Bo Ya Zhong Ya Ji Ya add up to only eighteen liters. Converted to the quantity of the later period, it is only seven bottles plus. Drinking seven bottles is still within Cao Rui's understanding range, but drinking sixty bottles would mean drinking for a day and a night?
Hearing the news that Cao Hong could drink a stone of alcohol, Cao Zhen on the other side burst into laughter: "Your Majesty, this is your first time drinking with General Wei. If you were to ask General Wei to drink ten stones at the banquet, he would also say that he could drink it down."
Cao Rui smiled and shook his head: "How much can the general drink?"
Cao Zhen thought for a while: "Although I have not been able to drink as much as General Wei, I can still drink about fifty or sixty liters."
Fifty or sixty liters, which is roughly the equivalent of two cases of beer, that's still quite understandable.
At this banquet, the emperor was seated at the top, with five seats on each side below. There were a total of ten people from the Cao and Xiahou families. Behind each side of the emperor's right and left, there was a small tablecase.
Mian Qiu Jian was sitting behind the small tablecase to the left rear of the emperor.
"General Wei and General Cao are both fond of drinking!" Cao Rui turned around to look at Mian Qiu Jian: "Zhongkong, General Wei is the oldest in age and highest in rank. On behalf of the emperor, please pour wine for General Wei. Then on behalf of the emperor, please pour wine for General Cao."
Mian Qiu Jian rose and smiled, bowing: "I receive your command. I will immediately pour wine for the two generals on behalf of Your Majesty."
Mian Qiu Jian made a semicircular movement from the side and walked down slowly to Cao Hong's table. He poured a cup of wine for Cao Hong and bent down with both hands to offer it.
Cao Hong didn't hesitate, directly took the wine and drank it in one gulp, looked in the direction of the emperor: "I thank Your Majesty for the gift of wine."
Cao Hong turned his head and looked at Mian Qiu Jian again: "Commander Mian Qiu, are you known as Zhong Gong?"
Mian Qiu Jian nodded in agreement.
Cao Hong patted Mian Qiu Jian's arm: "Such a young talent should establish a merit for the Cao family!"
Mian Qiu Jian blushed a bit at the praise but still bowed and agreed. Turning around, Mian Qiu Jian walked over to the table in front of General Cao Zhen and began to pour wine into Cao Zhen's cup from the wine vessel.
As an assistant minister and the military commander of the Cao family, Cao Zhen naturally knows that Mian Qiu Jian is a literary official of the Eastern Palace who has been appointed by the emperor as a salary of two thousand catties. The emperor first ordered Mian Qiu Jian to receive guests, and then ordered Mian Qiu Jian to pour wine for both Cao generals. Cao Zhen's heart already knows that the emperor is supporting and promoting Mian Qiu Jian.
Cao Zhen also took the opportunity to do a favor: "Zhongkong, you are well in the Five Camps but have many fewer opportunities to lead troops outside. If there is a war, would you be willing to come under my command as a lieutenant and fight on the battlefield with real weapons?"
The positions of the commandant of the overland cavalry and the deputy general are both two thousand catties in salary. Although the commandant of the overland cavalry is stationed in Luoyang, closer to the emperor, and is a military post that many envy, if one wants to increase their credentials in the military, practical combat experience is still necessary.
Mian Qiu Jian also smiled and said: "Of course, my subordinates are willing to serve the country. However, as for my deployment, it will depend on Your Majesty's arrangements. If Your Majesty asks me to charge into battle, I will have no second thoughts."
Mian Qiu Jian's words were clever. On one hand, he expressed his desire to lead troops into battle, and on the other hand, he showed that he was completely obedient to the emperor. He did not offend either side and made a very polite response.
"Hahahaha, Not bad, not bad." Cao Zhen took the wine and drank it in one gulp. Mian Qiu Jian also walked slowly back to his position.
One cup after another, the atmosphere of the banquet gradually became lively. Nine Hui women dancers walked to the center of the hall and danced with rapid and enthusiastic music.
Cao Hong stroked his beard and said: "Your Majesty, these Hui women dancers have special skills. Have you ever seen a Hui girl beat drums with her feet?"
Cao Hong, though greedy for wealth and sensual, is quite adept at conversation among such people who enjoy both wine and women.
Cao Rui indeed had not seen it before, so he shook his head candidly: "I have been in Luoyang for a long time and have indeed never seen it."
Cao Hong said with a smile: "I remember that in the 23rd year of Jian'an, I, the Marshal, General Cao Zhen and Zhongshi Xin Pi broke Wu Lan and drove back Zhang Fei and Ma Chao in Wudu. At the victory banquet, I had seen a dance girl from Liangzhuo wearing thin clothes and beating drums with her feet."
"Why don't you ask these dancers if they can do that as well, Your Majesty."
Cao Rui found it quite interesting. However, before Cao Rui had a chance to send someone to ask, a palace eunuch entered to report.
Zhang He has arrived at the palace gate.
When Sun Zhi reported the matter of Xiahou Mao before, Emperor Cao Rui had already thought of recalling Xiahou Mao back to Luoyang and having Zhang He take charge of the military affairs in Yong and Liang, so he specially ordered Zhang He, who was stationed in Mian County, to return to Luoyang.
Mian County is located west of Chang'an and is a strategic location for traveling from Chang'an to Chencang and controlling the western border. In the past, Dong Zhuo, who was once influential in the court and served as the head of state and was promoted to the title of Marquis of Mian, built a fortress in Mian County to seek a lasting legacy.
After receiving the imperial edict, Zhang He spent another three days settling military affairs before riding fast horses to Luoyang. As soon as Zhang He arrived in Luoyang, he went directly to the palace to see the emperor without any rest.
Seeing the eunuch leaning in close to the emperor and saying something, the gaze of Cao Zhen, Cao Hong, Xiahou Mao, Xiahou Ru, and other relatives all turned towards them.
Cao Rui smiled and raised his wine cup: "I recently summoned Zhang He back to Luoyang, and now he is outside the palace gate. Zhongkong, go and greet him on behalf of the emperor."
"All of you, raise your white flags!"
The emperor lifted the wine cup, and the others followed suit, drinking it all at once. After putting down their wine cups, Cao Zhen looked at the emperor and asked, "Your Majesty, although we are gathered here as our royal relatives for a feast, why not also set up an extra table for Zhang Junyi? Zhang Junyi has long served the kingdom and is quite familiar with us; it wouldn't be proper to let him leave directly."
Cao Rui smiled and pointed to the empty space behind him to the right: "General Zhang He has come all the way from afar, let him sit next to Your Majesty, how does it sound?"
It seems that the emperor has been well prepared, and Cao Zhen does not speak any more.
As the General Commander, Cao Zhen was very familiar with the military officers. Xiahou Mao returned to Luoyang yesterday, though it was due to the reason of Princess Qinghe, he was ultimately relieved of his position as Supervisor of Guanzhong and stripped of his title as General of Anxi, and placed in court as a Minister of Works.
Cao Zhen knew that there was nothing major wrong with the emperor's appointment. Cao Zhen originally thought about asking the emperor about his thoughts on the position of Supervisor of Zhongdu during today's banquet, but he never expected the emperor to issue a secret edict summoning Zhang He back to Luoyang!
Does that mean Zhang He is going to be the governor?
