After the night banquet, Cao Rui was escorted back to his bedroom in the palace by his guards and went to sleep.
The next morning, the Assistant Minister of State Wang Chang delivered the latest petition sent from Luoyang by Wei Zhen.
"Wei Zhen's petition? Bring it over, let me have a look," said Cao Rui, reaching out to Wang Chang to receive the document.
Wang Chang handed over the document. After reading it for a while, Cao Rui smiled and shook his head, then returned the document to Wang Chang.
Wang Chang showed a hint of surprise on his face, and Cao Rui laughed, "It seems that Wei Pu She is again urging me to return to Luoyang as soon as possible."
Wang Chang whispered softly, "When the emperor was at Chiting and Hanzhong, Wei Pu She reported every three days. But after the emperor fell ill in Chenping, Wei Pu She started to report every day."
Cao Rui laughed, "It's as if Wei Pu She is worried that I might, like last year, go on tours around the regions and temporarily not return to Luoyang!"
"Alright," said Cao Rui, pointing towards Wang Chang, "Pass on the order: The entire army will march towards Luoyang tomorrow morning! The soldiers must all be eager to return to their homes."
Wang Chang bowed and said, "I will immediately convey the imperial edict."
Cao Rui seemed to recall something: "The celestial dew basin I saw yesterday, isn't it made of bronze? After returning to Luoyang, tell He Qia that once he takes office in Chang'an, he should melt it and send it to Luoyang."
Melted?
Wang Chang was surprised and said, "Your Majesty, this object is twenty zhang high and completely intact. If melted, won't it be destroyed?"
Cao Rui nodded, "Yes, that's right. We're going to destroy it. It's useless standing in Chang'an City. It would be better to bring it back to Luoyang to make some military equipment. Such a large bronze pillar must weigh at least tens of thousands of jin."
"If there are any leftovers, let the Lord Treasurer make some more beautiful bronze vessels. Give a piece to each of the above-ranked nobles in the Western Regions of the Greater Wei Dynasty."
"I want to set an example with this matter. I don't seek immortality or seek the Dao. The emperors of the future dynasty cannot seek immortality or perform useless things that waste manpower and resources!"
This...
Wang Chang was stunned for a moment, but realized that this arrangement was in line with the emperor's usual behavior, so he agreed to it.
Early the next morning, at the first quarter past dawn, the main army departed from Chang'an City and headed east.
Two days later, when the emperor arrived at Tongguan Pass, Wei Zhen in Luoyang received the news that the emperor had led the central army back and would soon be arriving in Luoyang.
The welcoming ceremony for the emperor's return from the battlefield and his victory will certainly be grandiose to the extreme.
On one hand, there are various ceremonial guards, weapons, drums and banners, and accompanying officials. On the other hand, there are the people and scale of the reception.
Last year, before the emperor returned from Huaiyin, he had already sent messengers back to the capital to explicitly state that he did not want anyone to go beyond thirty miles from the city, in order to avoid excessive waste.
But the emperor didn't say that this year!
Wei Zhen worked in the Shangshu Hall, so there was no need to keep such an important event a secret from anyone. Within just a few incense sticks of time, almost everyone in the Shangshu Hall knew about it.
After hearing about this, the Minister of Rites Xu Xuan sat behind his desk and pondered for a moment before making a decision immediately.
He slammed his hand on the table, startling the messenger beside him, and then stood up and walked quickly towards the Assistive Governance Hall.
Of course, he was going to find Wei Zhen to take on this matter.
After Xu Xuan spoke passionately for a while, Wei Zhen gently put down his ink brush and pointed to the chair beside him, saying, "Why are you in such a hurry, Minister Xu? Sit down first, sit down and talk slowly."
Xu Xuan, who was interrupted by Wei Zhen, was a bit stunned, but sat down and continued to speak.
He talked about how the Ministry of Rites was newly established and had no merits, how the duties of the Shangshu Hall should be handled and should not be handed over to the College of Sainthood, and how he, Xu Xuan, would definitely handle this matter perfectly without any mistakes...
Wei Zhen nodded somewhat reluctantly in response, "So it seems, Minister Xu truly wants to take on this matter?"
"Exactly! Wei Pu She, I am confident that I will handle this matter perfectly!" Xu Xuan replied decisively.
"That's settled then. Let Minister Xu put in the effort," said Wei Zhen. "There are three things you need to take care of first."
"The first thing is, Master Zhong Yao's legs are getting worse, and his spirits are also not up. One of the Three Public Offices has already lost a member, and there is only one Minister of Works in the army. If Master Zhong doesn't go, it might look a bit too bad on the scene."
Xu Xuan gently swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
Can I go to invite Master Zhong? He's nearly eighty years old, how can I let him go thirty li outside the city to greet the emperor?"
Don't end up dying on the way!"
Wei Zhen wasn't done yet and continued,
"Secondly, there will be people from the court to welcome him. Shouldn't there also be someone from the palace to go and welcome him?"
"Should Mao Pini go? Should Sun and Guo the two Consorts go? Should the prince who is just one year old go? These are all matters for Minister Xu to communicate with."
Xu Xuan's expression on his face has already changed to a difficult one.
Wei Zhen continued, "The third matter is that the emperor has always disliked excessive waste, but the required ceremonies and guards are still necessary. It will depend on how Minister Xu coordinates this."
Xu Xuan bit his lip, then bowed and said, "I understand. May I ask, if I were to submit a memorial to inquire about the palace, should it be addressed to the Empress Dowager or the Queen Mother Guo?"
Wei Zhen knew that Xu Xuan was trying to curry favor with the emperor, so he answered quite candidly, "Should I ask you, who should I ask?"
Xu Xuan realized it was not appropriate.
He knew that he couldn't handle this matter, but he still wanted to claim the merit. Without caring about his dignity, he bowed to the official in front of him, who was younger than him:
"As a low-ranking official, I can't interfere with matters in the palace. Please ask Wei Pu She on behalf of me, and I will take care of the other two matters myself."
Wei Zhen looked up at Xu Xuan, who had dared to face the challenge. This was not in line with Xu Xuan's usual style. However, since he had already spoken up, Wei Zhen as the superior could not turn him down.
"All right," Wei Zhen nodded. "I'll take care of the palace matters myself, and you'll handle the question about Master Zhong. If Master Zhong really can't do it, then don't force it; better not to cause any trouble."
Xu Xuan was overjoyed and quickly bowed in agreement.
Wei Pu She is indeed generous!
