Between the emperor and Cao Zhen's conversation, Mother Qiu Jian had already walked over with Zhang He. Zhang He slowly climbed the steps, glanced around upon entering the hall, seeing that everyone present had already had three rounds of wine and were all from the families of Cao and Xiahou. He then walked to a place not far from the emperor's table, knelt down, and made a grand bow.
"Your servant Zhang He bows before the emperor. After settling my affairs in Qianxian County, I hurriedly came here, but due to some reasons, I arrived late. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
Zhang He's horse-dust-covered return to Luoyang would not lead Emperor Cao Rui to blame him. It was just the initial anxiety of a subject meeting the emperor, speaking a few polite words.
Seeing Zhang He bowing to the emperor with a serious expression, everyone also stopped their conversation and looked in the direction of the emperor and Zhang He.
The palace eunuch responsible for managing the musicians and dancers also looked over, as if observing if the emperor had any intention to stop the music and dance.
Emperor Cao Rui rose from behind his table, descended the steps slowly, and approached Zhang He. He patted Zhang He's shoulder: "Are you the Zhang Junyi? Get up quickly."
After thanking the emperor, Zhang He stood up. By the way, this was Zhang He's first return to Luoyang since Emperor Cao Rui ascended the throne, and naturally, it was also his first time seeing the emperor in person.
Zhang He was already considered an old general. Zhang He was born in He State and Huanian District, a typical Yan and Zhao bold warrior. Since the beginning of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Zhang He had enlisted to serve in the military to suppress the Yellow Turbans, which placed him on the same stage as Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Jian, and others of his generation. Now Zhang He is sixty years old.
Zhang He first served as a military advisor under Han Fu, the Governor of He State. After joining Yuan Shao, he became a 2000-stone commandant. Following Yuan Shao's victory over Gongsun Zan and his control over all of North China, Zhang He was awarded a position of Assistant Commander based on his merit. It wasn't until the Battle of Wujiatang, when Zhang He defected to Cao Cao's camp in the middle of the night, that he received the title of Assistant General, finally earning the status of a renowned general.
Emperor Cao Rui stood directly opposite Zhang He, looking at his sharply defined face. Years of leading troops and fighting on the front lines had given Zhang He's face a rather weathered look. Seeing the emperor staring at him, Zhang He did not show any fear and returned the gaze to the emperor's face.
"I have been reading books and at this moment, I recall a saying," Cao Rui smiled and said: "Once Xiguanyou did not sleep early, which led to his own death. Is it not better than the minor officials Qu Wei went to Yin to join Han Xin who returned to Han?"
"Does General Zhang remember this saying?"
Zhang He revealed a trace of astonishment, his lips slightly parted, and his eyes reddened slightly, as if he wanted to say something but could not bring himself to speak.
This saying was exactly what Cao Cao had told Zhang He on the night of the Battle of Wujiatang, when he returned to camp in the early morning hours and saw Zhang He.
After a moment's pause, Zhang He took a deep breath, stepped back half a step, and bowed deeply to the emperor: "I have served the Cao family for twenty-six years. It is rare for Your Majesty to remember this saying, and I... I have lost my composure."
Emperor Cao Rui placed his hand under Zhang He's arm, supporting him and helping him to stand up. He smiled at Zhang He and said: "I have recorded all of Zhang General's merits. Please come and sit down. I have prepared a place for you."
Zhang He looked in the direction pointed by the emperor's finger. It was a place on the stage, just behind and to the right of the emperor. Cao Zhen and Cao Hong were still sitting on the ground below. How dare Zhang He sit on the stage?
Zhang He quickly said, "Your Majesty is hosting a banquet for relatives, and it is already an honor for a lowly subject like me to be allowed to attend. How could I dare to sit beside Your Majesty? I only ask for a place at the end of the table."
Cao Hong was clearly in a happy mood from drinking, seeing Zhang He pushing back and forth for a long time, he spoke up loudly while seated at the table: "Junyi, Your Majesty has granted you a seat at the table. How can you still be shy? Hurry up and take your seat to drink!"
Cao Zhen also laughed and said, "We are all in Luoyang now, and it's only you who came from afar. Quickly take your seat at the table."
Zhang He bowed his hands in respect and then returned to his own seat.
Zhang He had joined Cao's camp long before the Battle of Guandu, and he knew all the generals from the Cao and Xiahou families in the palace. As soon as Zhang He sat down and looked up, he saw General Cao Zhen's gaze turn towards him, smiling and nodding his head.
This put Zhang He's mind at ease.
As a subordinate who has been summoned back to the capital by the emperor, one fears that there may be things in the palace that they are not clear about but involve themselves. Zhang He, as an outer general, naturally also had such concerns. General Cao Zhen has long worked with Zhang He and the glance he just gave Zhang He seemed to be telling Zhang He that there was nothing to worry about here.
The two of them had built up a good understanding over many years.
Since the second year of Huangyi, when Cao Zhen led the army to suppress the Qiang uprising in Liangzhuo, Zhang He had been fighting under his command. In the third year of Huangyi, during the attack on Wu, Cao Zhen led the Western Route troops to surround and attack a general. Zhang He was still under his command. Cao Zhen and Zhang He had become very familiar with each other long ago.
Zhang He was different from other generals as he had led his own army for many years. As early as the summer of the 19th year of the Jian'an era, when Xiahou Yuan pacified Ma Su, Zhang He was ordered to lead an army independently as the vanguard in the west. He defeated Fahan, pacified Song Jian, entered Huangzhong, suppressed the Di people, and attacked Badong and Baxi. Zhang He always led his own independent army on a separate route, ranking second only to Xiahou Yuan in Yong and Liang regions.
When Xiahou Yuan died on Dingjun Mountain, Guo Huai and Dushi Daozi recommended Zhang He temporarily take over as the commander. This proved that Zhang He was a renowned general.
But in Cao Wei, even if you have fought for decades and become a national general, what use is it? At sixty years old, you still have to lead your own troops on the front lines, the ceiling is right there in sight but always out of reach. Have you seen how at forty years old, Cao Zhen could command Xu Yang's troops to attack Yangping Pass?
For a general not of the Cao or Xiahou clans, being as impressive as Zhang He already counts as extraordinary.
After drinking a few warm wines and taking a few bites of roasted mutton, Zhang He's body had already warmed up.
Cao Rui asked: "Gentlemen, I plan to use military force in the southeast, but I have a question about the military affairs in Yong and Liang."
The group fell silent, all looking at the emperor seated at the highest position.
Cao Rui asked: "If sudden reports came from the Longyou region at this very moment, stating that the Qinhuai Region's Zhuge Liang had arrived at Qiyanshan Pass, what should we do?"
There was a moment of silence from the stand, but it was General Cao Zhen, the highest-ranking general in his position, who broke the silence and responded to the emperor's habitual speculation and brainstorming.
Cao Zhen said, "How could Zhuge Liang reach Qiyanshan? The road to Shu is treacherous. He must first send troops from Chengdu to Hanzhong before he can take the Qiyanshan Road. With tens of thousands of troops being moved to Hanzhong by Shu, such a movement of men and supplies cannot be concealed. Our spies in Hanzhong must have discovered it."
Cao Rui added: "What if the spies have not yet discovered it? Can we know that Zhuge Liang has arrived at Qiyanshan if they do not report it?"
Cao Zhen's expression began to change. Zhang He's voice came from behind, beginning to help Cao Zhen get out of trouble: "Your Majesty, since the 24th year of Jian'an, when the Wu Shi retreated from Hanzhong, Emperor Wu also relocated the Wudu people in the south of Qiyanshan to Hanyang."
After Zhang He mentioned the past events of the Cao Cao period, he fell silent for a moment and continued: "The Qinling Mountains and all areas in Longnan are now deserted. If, as Your Majesty said, Zhuge Liang is departing from Hanzhong and heading towards Qiyanshan via Wudu, our Great Wei would indeed have no way to detect this."
The crowd fell silent. Cao Rui pointed to the palace eunuch responsible for music and dance, who immediately stopped the music.
The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly tense.
