When Sun Quan mentioned Lu Xun, the crowd turned to look at Lu Xun, the first seated closest to Sun Quan.
Lu Xun also noticed the gaze of the crowd. At this moment, Lu Xun slightly lowered his head, his eyes fixed on the table in front of him, and his expression was quite modest.
Although the words spoken by King Wu before the crowd were short, they seemed to contain a lot of information.
Everyone present here wasn't far from coming.
Bu Zhi came from Changsha, Zhuge Jin from Gong'an, Zhu Huan from Ruyu, and the various officers of the central army had gathered from all over to the capital of Wu, Wusong.
Who hasn't been traveling and exhausted? Why should it be just for you, Lu Bonyan, to receive the hospitality?
Zhu Huan's seat was several rows away from Lu Xun. Zhu Huan's return to Wuchang was the earliest among the generals from outside areas. A few days ago, he had discussed the matter of deploying troops with Quan Cong together with Wu King.
With a total of one hundred thousand troops, with Zhu Huan and Quan Cong each leading an army of thirty thousand, who will serve as the overall commander? Based on today's words from King Wu, there's a ninety-nine percent chance it will fall to Lu Xun.
Zhu Huan has always been proud of his martial prowess and, coupled with the fact that he had once defeated the highest-ranking general of the Wei Kingdom, Cao Ren, during a battle at Runu, he often desired to become an independent leader without being subject to others' control. Today, it seems that he will be commanded by Lu Bonyan again.
Leaving aside the fact that Zhu Huan, seated at the table below, was lost in thought, Sun Quan, just after taking his seat on the stage, continued from where he left off earlier and addressed the crowd again.
Sun Quan said, "You all have arrived in Wuchang one after another, and I have talked with each of you."
"Lu Bonyan, who has offered the trick of pretending to surrender to the King, along with Zhou Fang, the prefect of Poyang, who sacrificed himself as bait and set up a trap. The enemy general Cao Xin is expected to lead his troops from Shoushun directly to Wuancheng in a few days. These are both the merits of Lu Bonyan and Zhou Zifu."
"And I intend to use all of you to defeat Cao Xin near Wuancheng, and then advance to Huaihe and Shoushun, in order to enhance the military might and prestige of my great state of Wu."
"Gentlemen, let us all raise our cups in solidarity with the King!" Sun Quan led by lifting his cup.
"Ejubai!" The crowd roared in unison and then took a sip in unison.
The banquets in the state of Wu were actually more frequent than those in Cao Wei and Shu Han.
Sun Quan had a taste for wine to begin with. Additionally, the various generals and ministers of Wu each had their own troops under command, and Sun Quan also harbored the intention of using personal affection to influence the military leaders. Therefore, whenever Sun Quan gathered with the generals and ministers, there was no occasion when they did not drink. And each time they drank, it was necessary for everyone to get drunk before leaving.
Therefore, among the courts of the Three Kingdoms—Wei, Shu, and Wu—it is only in the Eastern Wu that "table culture," centered around drinking, is most prevalent. From King Sun Quan to the various generals and ministers, the custom of drinking is widespread.
After Sun Quan and the others finished drinking from their cups, in accordance with the custom of the Wu court banquets, it was now considered to be the start of the banquet.
But Sun Quan did not stop as a result of this, on the contrary, he ordered his inner attendants to immediately refill the wine cups and then raised his cup again towards the crowd.
Sun Quan smiled and said, "Without Lu Bonyan's tactics, my campaign against Wei would never have succeeded. Come, let the gentlemen and I raise a cup of wine together in honor of Lu Bonyan!"
Lu Xun at this moment was thoroughly uncomfortable in the midst of the banquet. It was improper for a subject to be so praised by the king. Since Lu Xun had entered the palace of Wu, Sun Quan had already pointed to himself three times in his words and actions.
The first time was at the gate of the Palace of Wu, Sun Quan mentioned the words "How could I become the supreme sovereign without Bonyan?"
The second time was at the first round of wine, when he mentioned that he had contributed the strategy of feigning surrender.
The first cup of wine had just been finished, and now he was asking everyone to raise a toast to himself?
Lu Xun really dare not slacken, quickly got up to the stage of King Wu Sun Quan to give a salute: "I can contribute strategies to the state, or it is the virtue of supreme sovereign that makes me think of it, how can I dare to privately assume merit?"
"If the Supreme Ruler believes in me, please grant my next request, allowing me to pour three cups of wine for all in the presence of Your Majesty and my fellow officials."
Sun Quan smiled and looked at Lu Xun, seeing that this person was very discreet, naturally there was no reason to refuse.
"Ha ha ha." Sun Quan laughed heartily, scanning the various officials below with his gaze: "Since Bonyan has spoken, I will grant his request."
The eyes of the crowd turned towards Lu Xun, who stood behind the table, his expression still as respectful and usual as ever.
Lu Xun bent down from the table to pick up the wine cup and said, "The first cup of wine, I Lu Xun ask for the prosperity of the Supreme Ruler for ten thousand years. Gentlemen, let us all raise our cups!"
This is the standard opening toast for a birthday tribute to the Sun King. It's a safe, uncontroversial way to start the event. The crowd also joined in the chorus of "Ejubai," raising their cups and drinking to completion.
The various attendants serving beside the table hurriedly used spoons to pour wine into the cups of the crowd. Just as the cups were filled, Lu Xun once again lifted his cup.
"The second cup of wine, I Lu Xun wish for the prosperity and prosperity of the great Wu state, gentlemen, let us all raise our cups!"
The crowd followed Lu Xun to finish their cups again, and Sun Quan's smile on the stage also showed more joy. At this moment, Lu Xun raised his wine cup for the third time.
Lu Xun said loudly, "The third cup of wine, relying on the Supreme Ruler's divine might, I Lu Xun wish for a great victory and triumphant return with this expedition, gentlemen, let us all raise our cups!"
The crowd cheered and drank their cups in unison.
Regardless of whether high officials drink or commoners drink, the auspicious words on the banquet table are never lacking. After all, the high-ranking officials in the court talk about national affairs, while ordinary people talk about health, prosperity and wealth.
With Lu Xun's three cups of wine and the additional one that Sun Quan, the King of Wu, had initially drunk, a total of four cups had been consumed to set the foundation. The atmosphere at the banquet began to heat up.
Sun Quan looked towards the entrance direction and smiled, and the dance girls in the Wu Palace began to appear on stage, while the musicians in the side room started to play soothing melodies.
The waitresses lined up and entered from the hall, placing various exquisite dishes on the tables in front of the crowd.
At this moment, King Sun Quan of Wu stood up from his table with a smile, "Gentlemen, I am about to start toasting each of you. I am just one person, while there are more than ten of you here."
"Ten people against one person, I definitely cannot outdrink you all. When I come to toast each of you, I will not let you drink more than ten cups when I drink one. Each of you can only drink five cups!"
"Gentlemen, what do you think?"
Sun Quan began to smile as he introduced the rules for the wine table. During this era, the alcohol content of wine was not high, and according to what King Sun had said, if he drank one cup, those being toasted would have to drink five cups. This could be considered fair.
Moreover, with the majority of the people present being generals who led troops in battles, a few cups of wine are not worth mentioning. Some people here can drink from the evening until dawn!
Seeing that most people were smiling in agreement, Sun Quan also began to walk down the stage, with two attendants following him from behind, each carrying a vessel of wine and a container to hold the wine.
Sun Quan first walked over to the elderly minister Zhang Zhao. After Zhang Zhao rose to bow, Sun Quan smiled as he raised his cup towards Zhang Zhao and then drank the wine in the cup.
Although Sun Quan was only in his forties, it was not an issue for him to drink more. However, the elderly minister Zhang Zhao, who was already seventy years old, could not drink as unrestrainedly as the young people present today.
Since the King of Wu toasted, Zhang Zhao had no choice but to drink. Zhang Zhao scowled, looked perplexed, and slowly drank all five cups of wine.
Seeing Zhang Zhao's hint of distress, Sun Quan still gestured to the attendants to refill his wine cup. Sun Quan stood in front of Zhang Zhao's table and held up his cup as an indication, drinking the contents of the cup again.
Zhang Zhao, who had already drunk five cups just then, could only keep pleading, "Supreme Ruler, I have already drunk five cups. Please do not force me to drink any more. This is not the way to treat an old man!"
Sun Quan's expression slightly darkened, but the corners of his mouth still maintained the same smile as before: "How can Zong Gong say this? In the past, Jiang Shang fought for the country at ninety years old. Zong Gong is only seventy years old. How can he speak of being old?"
Sun Quan still stood in front of him. Seeing that there was no way to avoid it, Zhang Zhao sighed lightly, drinking each cup slowly and continuously until he had finished a total of five cups.
Seeing Zhang Zhao finish the required number of cups, Sun Quan nodded in satisfaction and then walked over to the prime minister Gu Yuansheng's table.
Sun Quan raised a toast with one cup, and Gu Yuansheng, much younger than Zhang Zhao, drank all five cups in quick succession without hesitation.
Seeing Gu Yuansheng drink so freely, Sun Quan exclaimed, "Good!" and then patted Gu Yuansheng on the arm before turning and walking towards Lu Xun's table. Compared to the elderly minister Zhang Zhao, Gu Yuansheng, as the prime minister, was more favored by Sun Quan in many aspects.
Sun Quan held his wine cup in front of Lu Xun's table and Lu Xun quickly got up to bow in respect.
However, Sun Quan did not rush to drink the wine in his cup. Instead, he stood in front of Lu Xun's table and turned to look at the various officials present at the banquet in the hall.
Sun Quan said with a smile, "Gentlemen! As the King of Wu, it is a joy for me to have this banquet with all of you in Wuchang today. Lu Bonyan has made an outstanding contribution to our great Wu."
"Gentlemen, what do you all think?"
At this point, Sun Quan's face had turned slightly red, and the crowd listened to Sun Quan's words and also began to agree with him in accordance with his remarks.
At this moment, Lu Xun gently shook his head and bowed to Sun Quan, saying, "Your Majesty must be drunk. I was promoted from obscurity by the great favor of Your Majesty. How could I dare to speak of achievements in the presence of Your Majesty?"
Sun Quan turned to look at Lu Xun, and his expression began to become serious. Sun Quan said, "Bonyan, your real name was Lu Yi, wasn't it? Why did you change your name to Lu Xun?"
"The word 'Xun' does not please me."
This is when Sun Quan is talking in jest, but Lu Xun is already over forty years old and serves as a regional governor. How can one be made fun of with one's name?
Lu Xun did not speak, as he did not want to offend Sun Quan at this moment during the banquet. Therefore, he did not respond to a single word.
Sun Quan spoke loudly: "I have always been kind to the generals, overlooking their mistakes and rewarding their achievements! Lu Bonyan has made a contribution to our great Wu. How can I not mention it?"
Sun Quan then signaled for the attendants to take the wine cup, placed his hands behind his back, and began to slowly pace around the hall, speaking as he walked: "I have inherited the land of Jiangdong for twenty-six years now, and what I depend on is nothing more than the blessings of our ancestors and the dedication of our soldiers."
"In my opinion, among those who have made the greatest contributions in the past twenty-six years, there are only four people: Zhou Yujin, Luo Zijin, Lv Ziming, and you, Lu Bonyan!"
(Chapter End)
