The scene inside Xiangping City's Governor's Mansion was bustling.
In any dynasty, handing over work is always the most exhausting and busy task. Du Yu, the Governor of Liaodong, was introducing the situation in the state to the new Camp Prefect Wang Xiong, while General Man Chong was explaining the military overview to the new Camp Military Governor Wang Chang.
Such trivial matters do not require the emperor to personally handle. Cao Rui also gladly took a break and, with three Imperial Advisors and three riders, walked out together, arriving at the city tower of Xiangping City.
Xiangping City, located on mountains and controlled by water, possesses geographical advantages and the benefits of water transportation, making it possible to control the entire Liaodong area. This place, later known as Liaoyang, is actually the heart of Yingzhou in its current state.
"Rising high to look far can express one's feelings and ambitions!" Cao Rui gazed at the floating clouds high above from the city wall, feeling nostalgic: "Engaged in military affairs, one loses track of time. It's almost August now."
By his side, Xu Zhu spoke up: "In the twelfth month of Taihe Year One, Your Majesty set out from Luoyang to assist the western territories of Longxi, and returned to Luoyang in July of the second year. That's about eight months. However, Xiangping is farther from Luoyang than Longxi, so this campaign has indeed taken longer."
Cao Rui turned his head to Xu Zhu: "It's been four years since the beginning of Taihe. During these years, I have either been leading an expedition or preparing for one. I don't really want to be so tired, do you believe me?"
"I believe you," Xu Zhu nodded gently: "If Your Majesty could be a peaceful ruler like the emperors Wen and Jing of the Western Han Dynasty, then there would be no need for such toil. The country is not at peace, and Wu and Shu have not been pacified. Although it's challenging, the tasks must still be done."
Cao Rui sighed: "It's said that starting a business is difficult, but maintaining it is even harder. From Emperor Wu to the late emperor, and now to me, the Cao dynasty has endured for three generations. In the end, I'm still in the process of starting a business, and I haven't yet reached the stage of maintaining it."
"This time, the expedition to Liaodong consumed the most in terms of grain and supplies, and there was no loss of national strength or military power. Starting from Xuchang, I traveled through Yecheng to the provinces of Bing and Youzhou, conquered the Xianbei, took Liaodong, and established Yingzhou. Over these more than half a year, the time has not been wasted."
Fei Qian was standing behind, thinking for a moment and then asked: "Liaodong was in rebellion for fifty years before returning to the control of the state. It should be recorded and praised as such as Fu Xian who engraved the famous victory in Yanling. A stone inscription should be made to commemorate this achievement for posterity!"
Your Majesty's fondness for literature is a well-known fact among the court and the populace. During the campaign to conquer Shu, while at Qishan Fortress, Your Majesty even taught Zhang He how to write a poem by hand. This is not a time of war, so I suppose Your Majesty should not refuse.
"Engraving a stone to commemorate the achievements?" Cao Rui thought for a moment and smiled. "Such achievements warrant a stone monument. Your question, Fei Qian, is good. What should be written on the inscription? It would be better if I don't think about it."
Today, the emperor was in such a good mood, and the servants beside him, including the Imperial Advisors and riders, also laughed along with him.
Fei Qian slightly bent and bowed, a smile playing on his lips: "My position is low and my words are light, so I dare not speak too much. However, as for the monument inscribing the achievements, according to common sense, it should clarify the time, the situation of the war, the results of the battle, and so on. The seven commanderies and states of Yingzhou should also be listed one by one."
Before the words had even finished, Fei Qian also bowed towards the emperor with a smile on his face.
"Cai Rui chuckled and pointed at Fei Qian: "Ha ha ha! Fei Qian, today you want me to write this inscription?"
"Very well, today I will personally write one! With Fei Qian's talents, I am sure there will be no need for writing instruments. I say, Fei Qian, can you memorize it?"
Fei Qian bowed and smiled: "I obey the order, I will certainly not miss any details."
While the people were talking on the city wall, the originally gentle breeze seemed to have gradually picked up, slightly fluttering the hem of Emperor Cao Rui's robe.
"Only in the Taihe Year Four of the Great Wei..."
As soon as Emperor Cao Rui began to speak, he noticed that the wind had picked up and his voice had risen a few octaves:
"In the summer of the sixth month of Taihe Year Four, Emperor Rui of the Great Wei personally commanded six armies, receiving the divine mandate, upholding virtue and might, pacifying the rebellious. He stationed troops in Youpingbei, with the central army's imperial guards, leading five schools of soldiers, Jizhou's long spears, and Youbei's strong and agile forces. There were forty thousand tiger-crested guards. The Wuhuan warriors led the way, the Xianbei followed in sight, and the Xiongnu accompanied them; there were sixty thousand light cavalry."
Fei Qian stood motionless and focused, listening attentively to the emperor's words, determined to memorize every word.
The other ministers also stood at attention with their hands bound, listening quietly to the emperor's words. The inscription not only needed to emphasize literary merit but also include realistic accounts of the overall battle.
This is an epitaph to be engraved on a stone, a summary of the campaign to conquer Liaodong, and also the strongest voice of this era.
Cao Rui took a deep breath, paused for a moment, and gently caressed the yellowish bricks on the city wall with his right hand: "The rebel leader Gong Sun Yuan seized Liaodong, considering it isolated, defying imperial grace, arousing the anger of heaven and earth. Therefore, he crossed Youbei and Jizhou, overcame difficult terrain, traversed Liaozhi Lake, and drove forward almost four thousand miles. The treacherous enemies relied on their fortifications and attempted to hold fast. So five armies crossed the Liao River. They defeated the bandits comprehensively. Then they rushed forth for four days to advance to Eshenggubing City; in one charge they unleashed their might. They caught the evil dogs fleeing and surrendered."
Fei Qian remained as still as he was.
Only after the emperor had finished speaking about the campaign did he realize that he still had to summarize. Although Fei Qian had a good memory, he couldn't afford to be distracted at all at this moment.
Cao Rui continued reciting: "Therefore, we established Yingzhou from the four districts of Liaodong, XuanTu, LeLang, and Dai Fang. We also included Gouli, Fuyu, and Bai Ji's tributary states as districts and states. We returned Liaodong to the realm of China above, displaying the mighty valor of our Wuge force; we secured the firewalls of Yōu and Yīng below it, clearing a path for Liaodong through thorns."
"On this day, the six armies have set out on their return journey, coming to the suburbs of Xiangping City to engrave the achievements on stone."
After saying this, Cao Rui looked at the group of ministers around him: "From ancient times, the most prestigious achievements in the borderlands are nothing more than 'establishing the border guard post' and 'carving stones to commemorate victory'. During the Han Dynasty, Fu Xian led troops to fight against the Xiongnu on the Buyang Mountain and carved inscriptions on stone to record his victories. The inscription was written by Ban Zhi, who wrote 'The Han History', and some final sentences were added to it."
"Today, the emperor and the ministers are here, which is fitting. Let us each say one sentence to make a memorial! How about that?"
Xu Zhu said, "Your Majesty, today here are the ministers Fei Qian and Lu Yu, as well as He and the two Xiahou brothers, all three of them Imperial Riders. One sentence from each of us will make exactly six sentences."
"Perhaps the emperor should do the opening and closing, while we fill in the middle?"
"No need," Cao Rui waved his hand and said: "Just six sentences, one from each person. Following the order of Xu Zhu, Fei Qian, Lu Yu, Zhuge Zhong, Zhuge Ke and Taishu Qin."
Xu Zhu quietly nodded, pondered for a moment, then spoke with composure, "The heroic emperor's journey, leading the resolute eagle."
Fei Qian kept on without a moment's pause, speaking next, "Subduing the enemy and pacifying the frontier."
Lu Yu appeared to be weighing the words carefully, falling slightly behind the pace: "Establishing states and counties, enforcing Wei's laws."
Xiahou Hui, known for his literary talent, spoke more quickly: "In accordance with the divine will, spreading civilization."
The last two sentences should serve as an epilogue, and he took some time thinking about it before saying, with a slightly higher tone, "Remembering great events, inscribed on the stone."
Everyone had already finished speaking, and their gazes were all focused on Xiahou Xian, the last one to speak.
Xiahou Xuan raised the corner of his mouth, bowed gracefully and respectfully to the emperor: "Enlarging the virtue of the sage, blessing ten thousand directions!"
Cao Rui nodded and said: "Remembering great events and inscribed on the stone, enlarging the virtue of the sage and blessing ten thousand directions. This is the achievement of the Great Wei, not only mine but also yours, ministers."
"We will depart for Yecheng on the first day of August!"
"According to your decree!" The six men bowed together on the city wall.
...
The capital of Wu's current state is called Wuchang, but it is not the same place as what people are familiar with in modern times as 'Wuhan' or 'Changsha', but rather further to the east in Echeng. The 'Changsha' of later times, during Sun Quan's era, was called Xikou at that time.
In summary, with the territory of Wu covering the south of the great river, and taking into account both Jingzhou and Yangzhou, Sun Quan could only choose a more central location, such as Wuchang, as the capital.
The configuration of Wuchang has been increasing.
Last year and the year before, Sun Quan had upgraded his Wu mansion in Wuchang into a Wu palace. This summer, the gates of Wuchang were widened and elevated, and the thickening and elevation of the city walls were also underway. Anyone who knows a bit about architecture can tell that this is an attempt to follow the rules of Luoyang. However, Wuchang is not Luoyang, no matter how much it tries to embellish, it can only capture one or two aspects of Luoyang's form. The spiritual essence is another matter entirely.
On the first of August, the heat inside and outside the city of Wuchang was especially intense, as if there would be no chance to feel such heat for the rest of the year.
After the early morning meeting every month, Sun Quan walked out of the palace first, followed by his Chancellors Gong Yong and Zhuge Yan, and Assistant General Zhang Shao. The other ministers and officials followed in line.
The royal procession of the King of Wu led the way, with the musical fanfare close behind. Ahead were cavalry attendants in armor, making the scene exceptionally formal and solemn. The entire procession was about half a mile long, with officials occasionally on either side to maintain order.
Quan Cong followed Zhang Shao, looked up at the sun slightly, and whispered to Zhuo Guan beside him:
"General, do you know whose idea this is? The sun is so hot, and it's required that all officials wear their official robes and walk from the palace to the top of Xishan Mountain to attend the completion ceremony of that Daoist temple? This must be about five miles!"
Zhuo Guan glanced straight ahead without looking to the sides and whispered, "Dongxuan Temple."
"Yes, Dongxuan Temple," Quan Cong said: "I've been leading troops outside for a long time and don't know much about the guests of the Supreme One. I heard that Ge Tianzhi is a disciple of Zuǒ Cí Zhū Yuánpáng? Zuǒ Cí has been missing for years ago, hasn't he?"
Zhuo Guan glanced at Quan Cong sideways: "Zihuang, you're not aware of it because you've been leading troops outside. But have I been staying in Wuchang all the time? Since the Supreme One believes in Ge Tianzhi and has built a Daoist temple for him, we should follow and take a look."
Quan Cong whispered with a derisive snort: "General, do you believe in all these miraculous things?"
"The Supreme One believes, and that's enough." Zhuo Guan shook his head slightly.
As the two were whispering, a man who had been standing aside quickly ran up.
"Quiet!" The Major Commandant of Ceremonial Affairs, Lu Yi, with a stern expression, looked at the two and loudly reminded, "Please do not make a noise!"
Zhuo Guan continued to look straight ahead, watching the back of Chancellors Gong Yong for a hundred steps. Quan Cong, on the other hand, looked puzzled at Lu Yi and nodded before closing his mouth.
Not far ahead, at about four or five li away, Sun Quan was walking calmly under the sunshade of the canopy of the royal procession, as if he had not heard Lu Yi's correction of Zhuo Guan and Quan Cong.
After Quan Cong had a glance at Lu Yi walking behind him, he muttered under his breath, "This dog-footed Major Commandant, as soon as he gets the chance, he becomes so arrogant. How dare he act like that in front of officials!" (The chapter ends)
