That night, in Qi Mountain Fortress, Cao Rui ordered a banquet for the many civilian officials and military commanders who had accompanied his army to this place.
Recapturing Qi Mountain Fortress was a significant event for the Great Wei in this battle.
Since Cao Cao left Wu both region and headed north, Qi Mountain Fortress has always been the southernmost of the Great Wei's actual territory in Lungyou. From today on, if the Great Wei troops continue to move south, they are actually executing an attack rather than recapturing lost ground.
The roles of offense and defense have been reversed!
Cao Rui does not particularly enjoy drinking. The banquets he held since ascending to the throne were merely an opportunity for him to communicate with his officials and foster a sense of camaraderie.
Cao Zhen, Cao Hong, Cao Zhi, and Wang Su, the four individuals who had not composed poems, each drank ten cups first.
Among the nobility of poetry, Zhang He, the Western Regions Commanding General, was most prominent. At the banquet, he demonstrated his appreciation for the Five Classics in front of everyone.
With enthusiasm, he also recommended his fellow townsman, the Confucian scholar Bi Tan from He State's Heman, to the Emperor.
Cao Rui showed no disappointment and, right there at the banquet, he appointed Bi Tan as an Ershi (a scholar-official), and immediately ordered Cao Zhi to return to Luoyang after the banquet. He then brought Bi Tan into the Chongwen Guan (Hall of Distinguished Literature) for his post.
Nearly an hour after the banquet began, with the performance of drumbeats and lions' guard dancing in the hall, the laughter of the Great Wei officials and officials became even more enthusiastic.
Perhaps it was due to his old age, or the relaxed atmosphere of today's banquet, but at the age of over sixty, General Wei Cao Hong inevitably became drunk, and his speech began to sound like a tangled knot.
"Your Majesty, I wish to offer you another cup," said Cao Hong, holding up the wine cup as he stood up. "Your Majesty has both civil governance and military prowess. In a few days, once we conquer the Wudu Commandery, we can advance to Hanzhong and even Chengdu!"
"By that time, I will personally capture Liu Shanchan and bring him to the banquet, where he will dance for Your Majesty!"
Cao Rui was slightly tipsy at this moment.
However, there is a great distance between being slightly inebriated and being drunk.
Looking at Cao Hong's swollen belly and somewhat drunken appearance, Cao Rui laughed and said, "General Wei has great ambition! If you are still in the army when we conquer Chengdu in the future, I will definitely appoint you as the vanguard to attack the city!"
"Let us drink this cup to the bottom!"
Cao Rui spoke with perfect fluency, but Cao Hong seemed to have missed the implication, laughing even louder.
Cao Hong was drunk, but among the officials present, only a few were really drunk, most were still sober. Hearing Cao Hong's exaggerated laughter, everyone turned their gaze over.
Cao Hong pounded his belly and laughed, "There's no need to go to Chengdu. When we attack Wudu and Downbian cities, Your Majesty can appoint me as the vanguard then!"
"Oh? General Wei wants to be the vanguard?"
Cao Rui naturally saw the looks from everyone, taking advantage of the slight drunkenness, he half asked and half joked, "How does General Wei plan to attack Wudu and Downbian?"
Eagerly, Cao Hong said, "When it comes to attacking Wudu and Downbian, I am probably more familiar with them than anyone here!"
"How can you prove it?" Cao Rui smiled and asked back.
"Because I defeated Zhang Fei and Ma Chao, those two villains, at Downbian before!" Cao Hong paused for a moment, still unable to remember the exact year, so he looked to Cao Zhen for help with a pleading expression.
"Jian'an twenty-third year," Cao Zhen helplessly reminded him.
"Yes, it was in the twenty-third year of Jian'an!" Cao Hong grinned widely and said, "I wish to be the vanguard, leading my troops south first! We will break Wu'du in five days and pacify Xianbian in ten!"
Cao Rui knew Cao Hong was drunk, but he didn't take his drunken words seriously: "General Wei has great ambition! But you are drunk today, and I can't just give you the task of leading the vanguard."
Cao Hong wanted to speak further, but was stopped by Cao Zhen as he walked over and stood beside him: "General Wei, take a seat first. Don't cause any more jokes."
Among the Cao family generals present, only Cao Zhen and Cao Hong were present. Cao Hong's drunken words and actions embarrassed Cao Zhen, who was a senior general.
Perhaps Cao Zhen pressed down on Cao Hong too hard, causing him to lose his balance and even retort to Cao Zhen: "How can you, the General of the Army, treat me this way?"
"Don't forget that during the Downbian battle, I was the commander-in-chief of an army! I am the General in Charge!" Even though Cao Hong was drunk, he did not forget these highlights of his life and his position.
Discussions during post-dinner drinks are often the most explosive.
The mild-mannered Cao Zhen, hearing Cao Hong's words, also became extremely angry and said: "General in Charge did great deeds! In the past, all generals built achievements together, and now it seems like it was just one man's accomplishment? If not for me and Cao Wendi's assistance, you couldn't even defend Downbian!"
Seeing the tempers of the two men rising, Zhang He stood up and went to them, pleading: "General Cao, General Wei, don't let old grievances come between you."
"General Wei, the King is watching from over there. It's best if you take a break and rest in the back for a bit if you're drunk."
From the perspective of an outsider, Zhang He's words were quite reasonable. If one is drunk, why not leave first? Why create unhappiness at the banquet?
Bang!
Cao Hong directly waved his hand and knocked over the wine cup, spilling its contents over the table in an instant, causing the tiger guards serving drinks to retreat two steps back in surprise.
Cao Hong glared at Zhang He and asked indignantly, "You Zhang Junyi are also joining with Cao Zidan to suppress me?"
"Don't forget that during the Guandu Campaign, it was me who knelt at the camp gate and crawled to your feet to surrender! Now that you've become the Commanding General of the Western Regions, what a great show of power you have! Can you forget about old matters like that?"
Cao Rui waved his hand while seated on the dais, and the music stopped instantly, making Cao Hong, Cao Zhen, and Zhang He stand out.
"Enough!"
Cao Rui's face also gradually turned ugly and he spoke to stop them.
"Guards!" Cao Rui ordered coldly, "Take General Wei down to sober up!"
It was only when Cao Hong was led away by the tiger guards, with his arms held, that he seemed to realize that he had spoken out of turn. But as the alcohol took hold, he eventually couldn't say anything more.
The banquet ended without joy.
……
The next morning, as soon as the wine had worn off, Cao Hong knelt outside the emperor's grand tent to apologize.
Cao Rui did not see him, but merely ordered him to go apologize to Cao Zhen and Zhang He. Then he called up Sima Yi and Yang Fu to be by his side.
Cao Rui sighed, "What we said was about recovering Qi Mountain and the Lungyou region, but the true victory is really just the battle of Lueyang."
"Cao Hong was just trailing behind without engaging in battle, and he was already so arrogant. How can the other generals in the army not worry me?"
Yang Fu bowed and said, "The army has just regained control of the Lungyou region, some arrogance is understandable. A strong army naturally has its pride. Just focus on winning."
"I admit that Cao Hong's words were indeed out of line, but as a heavyweight of the royal family and an important general, he should not be dealt with at this time when the army is about to launch an attack. We should wait until after the battle to discuss it."
Cao Rui looked up at Yang Fu: "I remember that after the battle of Downbian, Cao Hong was too loose at a banquet, and it was Yang Minister who advised him?"
"This is one time, and that is another," Yang Fu said without hesitation. "In the past, Cao Hong was the main commander of the army, and his excessive joy could affect the safety of the entire army. Therefore, I advised him."
"Now that Your Majesty is personally in the army, Cao Hong's words and actions will not shake the war intent of the troops. If we deal with him, it may have a greater impact."
Cao Rui sighed softly, "Cao Hong is the younger brother of Emperor Wu, and his experience is rare in the Great Wei army. After the war, when we return to Luoyang, I will have him retire from his post in the central command and enjoy his retirement with his title and rank in Luoyang."
Yang Fu nodded without speaking.
On the sidelines, Sima Yi watched the exchange between Cao Rui and Yang Fu, feeling a strange sensation stirring within him. Cao Hong's incompetence and removal from office were normal occurrences, but it marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.
Who would take over the command of the Middle Camp from Cao Hong, one wonders?
Sima Yi continued: "According to the previous arrangements made by Your Majesty, General Zhu Gai has no duties after the war. He could return to the central command and replace Cao Hong."
Cao Rui glanced at Sima Yi: "The central army has a total of 50,000 personnel, with the Wuwei Camp accounting for 25,000. Xu Chu, as the General of the Wuwei Camp, is only responsible for the daily operations of the camp. The officers under him, who are each in charge of either 2,000 or 3,000 soldiers, independently follow the orders of the General-in-Chief during wartime."
"During the Battle of Lueyang, I noticed Xiahou He did lead the troops quite well. He's only 25 years old, the same age as me, and he led 3,000 troops without any mistakes," Cao Rui said.
"Just split the Middle Camp accordingly," Cao Rui said calmly. "The 7,000-man quota can be divided into three positions, each led by a 2,000-stone officer."
Sima Yi said, "Xiahou He is also a promising young man, and there are many young talents among the royal family's generals. The son of Cao Chun, Cao Yan, and the son of the Grand Marshal, Cao Zhao, are all excellent choices."
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Cao Yan serves as an assistant to Sima Yi in the Wuwei Camp, and Cao Zhao serves as an army adjutant in Xuchun. When we return to Luoyang, please remind me to promote them to the rank of 2,000-stone officers and assign them to command troops in the central army."
Sima Yi said, "I will remember it."
At this moment, Sima Yi couldn't help but mutter to himself.
If there were any generals in the central army who had the most discord with Sima Yi, it would be General Cao Hong.
Last year, when the case of Cao Hong's nurse performing sacrificial rites was handled, Your Majesty only took a symbolic punitive action against Cao Hong and did not take any further actions.
Fortunately, Cao Hong is now finally at odds with the King's will and will be sent home to retire. Without punishment for Cao Hong, how can we explain to Zhang He and the other surrendered generals? What would they think?
However, right after making the decision to demote Cao Hong, Your Majesty is planning to promote two Cao family members to lead troops. Xiahou Xian, who is the most trusted person by Your Majesty, has never been in charge of combat tasks and has only been responsible for protecting Your Majesty.
The central army is indeed as strict as that of Emperor Wu. In this way, the power to command troops in the central army will surely be further divided.
Your Majesty may show favoritism, but he would never use the central army as a means to show favor.
Cao Rui asked calmly, "According to the original plan, we will arrive in Luchi City in eight days, take a two-day break on the ninth and tenth days, and then continue the march tomorrow."
"Have the logistics plans been prepared?"
Sima Yi bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, the strategy for the transportation of grain and supplies has been established. This campaign's logistical routes have no precedent to follow, so all the plans are newly drawn up."
Cao Rui interrupted Sima Yi's words, "I remember that the imperial army marched to Wu County nine years ago, but it was through the Chen Chang Pass, wasn't it?"
"This is the first time we are advancing from Lungyou."
Sima Yi replied, "Indeed. This strategy was jointly completed by Chen Ji Bi and Deng Shi Zai."
Cao Rui became interested and said, "I wonder if Chen Jiao handles so many matters as much as Deng Wei. I met him once when I was in Lueyang, but I haven't seen him since then." (End of this chapter)
