"Great Wei Emperor decrees to the six military commanders!"
Cao Ruixi knew that the soldiers would not be able to hear this edict, but their generals, their leaders, the officials of Wei, the heavens, and history could all hear it.
Xu Shu read aloud: "I have heard that the way of heaven is clear, and the principles of right and wrong are fixed. Gong Sun Yuan is a scourge in Liaodong. His ancestor Dun seized the opportunity when the Han dynasty was declining, taking control of the border areas. His father Kang accepted fake imperial seals and titles, harboring wolfish intentions. By the time Yuan's son, a punk, imprisoned his uncle to take power, massacred his subjects and people, he dared to commit acts that even beasts would not do upon civilized people!"
"I have observed the map of Liaodong, and it is the land of the four commanderies of Han. Han Wu established Xuanwu to pacify the Eastern Barbarians and set up Yelang to govern the border people, making it long a part of our civilization. Now, the Sun family has occupied it for three generations, allowing the land of clothing and hats to become a land of odor and savagery, and turning scholars into slaves. Whenever I think of this, my heart boils like a bubbling cauldron."
"In the past, Emperor Wu waved his banner to the north, and captured Lin City. Emperor Wen pointed his yellow axe to the east, and the anxiety of Xiangping was shaken. Now I follow generations of our ancestors' power, follow heaven's will, and lead my six thousand tiger guards to fight the tyrant and suppress rebellion."
"I have agreed with the six armies: those who cut off the enemy general's head and capture their flag will be rewarded within a moment; those who hesitate and fear battle will be executed before the morning star. Let the whole world know: where the Wei troops go, ice rivers open or close; where the grand standard points, steep mountains shift their positions."
"Unite your weapons and jointly fight against the rebel!"
As Xu Shu read, several large eagles suddenly appeared in the sky for unknown reasons. They circled around the black and red Great Wei flag on the platform several times.
Cao Rui was fully clad in golden armor, facing the rising sun as he drew the long sword from his waist, pointing it diagonally towards the direction of Liaodong to the east. The sunlight seemed like a thin curtain enveloping Cao Rui, its brilliance dazzling to the point where one dared not look directly at him.
After Xu Shu finished reading, he turned northward and knelt before the emperor. All the other officials, including Sima Yi and Man Chong, as well as the tens of thousands of soldiers on the plain, all stood in place and shouted "Long live the emperor!" together.
The voice echoed across the wilderness, scattering all the eagles circling above the platform.
After the rally, the army immediately divided into two groups. Liu Ye led 8,000 light cavalry of the northern route out of the Long Mountain Pass to the north, while Cao Rui personally led the remaining 48,000 troops eastward.
By the end of April and May, there was not much rainfall in western Liaoning. The preparations for the army's journey eastward were also complete, with a daily speed of fifty miles and a uniform pace. The army reached the Jieshi Mountain after eleven days.
It was the late afternoon of May 3rd.
The Jieshi Mountain has been famous for a long time, but it is not a fixed location that can be pointed to with certainty.
The "Shangshu Yu Gong" records "Islanders wear skins and enter the Yellow River by flanking Jieshi Mountain," indicating that the mountain has a long history. In 214 BCE, Emperor Qin Shi Huang toured the Jieshi Mountain and inscribed a stone tablet. In his book "Shuo Wan Jie Zi," Han scholar Xu Shen explains that "Jieshi Mountain is a solitary stone," and adds, "There is a Jieshi Stone in the East Sea."
The Jieshi Mountain that Cao Cao had climbed in the past was far to the east of the Guzhu City, about two hundred miles away. The Great Wei army had records of it, so Emperor Cao Rui easily found this "ancestral land."
As an emperor who always loved literature, he naturally wanted to explore ancient sites and discuss poems and writings here.
Sima Yi, Man Chong, three viscounts, three scranners, several key generals in the military, as well as Ke Bi Neng, Bu Duo Gen from the Xianbei people and Liu Bao, the leader of the Huns' left division, were all summoned to this place to explore history together.
Ke Bi Neng and the others were of course aware of the habits of the Han literati. Though they were not very knowledgeable about poetry and literature themselves, having traveled such a long distance and not having seen the sea with their own eyes, they were also happy to agree.
Of course, it was not up to them to refuse.
Jieshi Mountain was a large stone at the top of a low hill by the sea, and with nearly twenty people standing on it, it did not feel crowded.
The sea and sky merged into a patch of leaden gray at the horizon. Silver scales shimmered on the crests of the waves, and the setting sun leaked through the clouds, casting light spots diagonally on the faces of the crowd.
The waves repeatedly crashed against the rock cliffs and reefs by the sea, splashing up mist a few meters high, making continuous sounds of pounding and shattering. The sheer cliff of Jieshi Mountain facing the sea was like an axe stroke, with the rock body dotted with protrusions and holes. The salty seawind swept through them, producing a low and mournful whimper.
Emperor Cao Rui sighed, "Prose carries the way, and poetry expresses one's ambition. Today, having come here to witness this magnificent scene, I have just realized the heroic sentiments in Emperor Wu's heart back then."
"Gatherings," said Emperor Cao Rui, turning to look at the assembly of ministers accompanying him on either side: "In the twelfth year of Jian'an, Emperor Wu, in his expedition against Wuhuan and passing by this place, composed the poem 'Beholding the Great Sea' to be forever commemorated."
Emperor Cao Rui's face was filled with a smile: "Who can recite this poem for me? I will reward you with ten rolls of silk."
The ten rolls of silk were not a lot for the heavyweights of the Great Wei, and none of their homes would be short of such items. However, the emperor was in a good mood today, and it was rare to have these kinds of diversions during the expedition. Therefore, many people raised their hands in response.
By the end of the Taihe Year, before the publication of the "Collection of Emperor Wu," the "Selected Poems of Emperor Wu" had already been compiled by the Cultural Observation Pavilion.
Cao Cao, Emperor Wu's poetry, was the greatest political correctness in Great Wei, with every official in Luoyang having a copy. Who would dare not memorize it? "Beholding the Great Sea" as an exemplary work of Emperor Wu's imposing vigor and grandeur was widely known.
Emperor Cao Rui saw an unexpected figure. "Is your name Liu Bao?" Emperor Cao's mouth curled up as he pointed to this man of about forty, the leader of the left division of the Huns: "You can recite this poem?"
Liu Bao originally stood among the crowd, but seeing the emperor point to him, the people in front of him stepped aside, and Man Chong even pulled Liu Bao's sleeve, bringing him to the front of the crowd.
"Your Majesty," Liu Bao, bowing respectfully, said: "My family is in the Yanping District, and I obtained the 'Selected Poems of Emperor Wu' from Gong Shu from Bing State. I read and recite it every day, so I can memorize it."
Emperor Cao Rui nodded gently. Since Liu Bao had boasted about it, he could of course recite it; he wouldn't dare commit such a serious offense as deceiving the emperor.
"Ke Bi Neng and Bu Duo Gen, will you two be able to recite it?"
Ke Bi Neng was embarrassed and bowed his hands in apology, while Bu Duo Gen shook his head repeatedly.
Emperor Cao Rui spoke with feigned melancholy, "Look at Liu Bao. He has the surname Liu and yet possesses such literary talent, which truly sets him apart from you two."
"You two should learn more. After returning to the army, I will send more Confucian scholars to teach your tribes."
Both bowed respectfully and thanked the emperor. For a moment, they were truly puzzled. Did the emperor really consider them as ordinary subjects?
"......The sun and the moon in their courses, as if emerging from within; The Milky Way so resplendent, as if coming forth from it......"
Liu Bao loudly recited this poem "Beholding the Great Sea," and Emperor Cao Rui kept his promise, ordering Man Chong to give him silk later. There was a joyful scene on the Jieshi Mountain.
Emperor Cao Rui looked towards the horizon where the sea and sky met, sighing lightly: "This time out, Yongchou Wang did not follow. It is a great regret for me! If he comes here again in twenty years, he might be able to write another few masterpieces."
The emperor's words were cryptic. In this scholarly gathering, Sima Yi was more than happy to play the role of an 'eunuch' flatterer: "Is there a particular article of Yongchou Wang's that Your Majesty is thinking of?"
"Your Majesty, I remember two pieces," Emperor Cao Rui smiled and nodded: "One is Yongchou Wang's 'White Horse Poem', and the other is the late Emperor's 'Yan Ge Song.'"
Sima Yi's mind was in motion, but he still didn't know whether the emperor was simply discussing literature or had some hidden political implications, so he could only bow and say, "The two pieces Your Majesty mentioned are both excellent works."
"Indeed, they are excellent pieces," Emperor Cao Rui said. "Gentlemen, do you know when these two poems were written?"
Sima Yi spun a few thoughts in his mind: "The Emperor's 'Yan Ge Song' was written in the twelfth year of Jian'an, when the Emperor was staying in Yè City to defend."
Emperor Cao Rui asked again, "And what about Emperor Wu's 'Beholding the Great Sea'?"
Sima Yi was taken aback for a moment and said, "It was also in the twelfth year of Jian'an, written during the return journey of Emperor Wu's Northern Expedition against the Urhulan."
Emperor Cao Rui asked casually, "And when was Yongchou Wang's 'White Horse Poem' written?"
Sima Yi had an in-depth understanding of Cao Cao and Cao Pi, but he was not particularly familiar with Cao Zhi's poetry.
But there were still people here who knew about it.
Standing by, Lu Yu softly said: "In the twelfth year of Jian'an, Yongchou Wang accompanied Emperor Wu in his expedition against Wuhuan. It was also written in the same year."
Sima Yi took a barely perceptible gasp.
The founding of the Great Wei only happened ten years ago, and Cao Cao and Cao Pi were almost everyone present who had served under them, not historical figures far away.
Any remarks about these three individuals, as long as they come from the emperor's mouth, are to be taken seriously.
The emperor mentioned the two and Yongchou Wang, and all three poems were written in the twelfth year of Jian'an. It was in that year that Emperor Wu Cao Cao returned victorious from his campaign against the Wuhuan.
"Presently, Your Majesty is also on the way to conquer the Eastern Borderlands..."
All three poems were written in the twelfth year of Jian'an, and even the most foolish person would not think that the emperor was simply discussing literature. (Chapter ends)
