That night, in Qishan Fort, Cao Rui ordered a banquet for all the civil and military officials who had accompanied the army here.
Recapturing Qishan Fort was a landmark event for the Wei Dynasty in this battle.
Since Cao Cao abandoned Wudu County and headed north, Qishan Fort has always been the southernmost part of Wei's actual territory in Longyou. From today on, if the Wei army goes south again, it will actually be attacking rather than recovering lost territory.
Attack and defense are easy to change!
Cao Rui did not like drinking. The banquets he held since he ascended the throne were just a way to communicate with his ministers and get to know each other.
The four people who did not compose any poem, Cao Zhen, Cao Hong, Cao Zhi and Wang Su, each drank ten bottles of wine first.
Today, General Zhang He, who was the most famous for his "poetic talent", was in high spirits at the banquet and showed off his love for the Five Classics in front of everyone.
In his excitement, he even recommended his fellow townsman, Bei Zhan, a Confucian scholar from Hejian, Jizhou, to the emperor.
Cao Rui was not at all disappointed. He appointed Bei Zhan as a doctor at the banquet and instructed Cao Zhi on the spot to bring Bei Zhan to Chongwen Temple to take up the post after he returned to Luoyang.
Nearly an hour after the banquet began, accompanied by the drum music and the tiger guards' sword dance performances in the hall, the laughter of the Wei emperor and his ministers at the banquet became more enthusiastic.
Perhaps it was because of his age, or perhaps it was because he was too relaxed at the banquet today, but the sixty-year-old General Cao Hong inevitably got drunk, and his voice began to sound knotty.
"Your Majesty, I want to offer you another drink." Cao Hong stood up with the wine jar in his hand. "Your Majesty has achieved both civil and military success. In a few days, if you can capture Wudu County, you can then fight to Hanzhong and Chengdu!"
"Then I will capture Liu Chan for Your Majesty and make him dance for you at the banquet!"
Cao Rui was also a little tipsy at this moment.
However, there is still a long way between being tipsy and being drunk.
Looking at Cao Hong's drunken figure with a bulging belly, Cao Rui smiled and said, "General Wei is very courageous! If you are in the army when we attack Chengdu tomorrow, I will order you to be the vanguard!"
"Drink this cup to the full!"
Cao Rui's words were flawless, but Cao Hong seemed not to have heard it and laughed even louder.
Cao Hong was drunk, but the officials present were not very drunk, and most of them were still sober. Hearing Cao Hong's exaggerated laughter, everyone looked over.
Cao Hong patted his belly and laughed, "No need to go to Chengdu. When we attack Wudu and Xiabian, Your Majesty can order me to be the vanguard!"
"Oh? General Wei wants to be the vanguard?"
Cao Rui naturally noticed everyone's gazes, and under the influence of alcohol, he asked half inquiringly and half jokingly: "How does General Wei plan to attack Wudu and Xiabian?"
Cao Hong said proudly: "Speaking of attacking Wudu and Xiabian, I'm afraid no one here is more familiar with it than me!"
"Why do you think so?" Cao Rui asked with a smile.
"I defeated the two thieves Zhang Fei and Ma Chao in Xiabian before! That was Jian'an..." Cao Hong thought for a few moments, but still couldn't figure it out, so he looked at Cao Zhen for help.
"The 23rd year of Jian'an." Cao Zhen had no choice but to remind him.
"Yes, twenty-three years!" Cao Hong grinned and said, "I am willing to be the vanguard and lead our troops south first! We will capture Wudu in five days and pacify Xiabian in ten days!"
Cao Rui knew Cao Hong was drunk, but he didn't take it seriously when he said something wrong after drinking: "General Wei, your courage is commendable! But you are drunk today, I can't give you the responsibility of the vanguard like this."
Cao Hong was about to speak, but Cao Zhen stood up and walked to his side to persuade him: "General Wei, please take a seat first, and stop making a fool of yourself."
The only Cao generals present were Cao Zhen and Cao Hong. Cao Hong was drunk and spoke wildly, which was a bit embarrassing for Cao Zhen, a great general.
Perhaps Cao Zhen pressed Cao Hong with too much force, and Cao Hong felt uncomfortable for a moment, and he actually said to Cao Zhen: "Why, just because you are a general you can suppress me like this?"
"Don't forget that during the battle, I was the commander-in-chief of the army! Protector-General!" Although Cao Hong was drunk, he did not forget this highlight moment and position in his life.
Conversations after drinking are most likely to get heated.
The good-tempered Cao Zhen was also furious when he heard what Cao Hong said: "General Duhu has done a great job! In the past, all the generals worked together to achieve success, but now it has become your job alone? Without the help of me and Cao Wenlie, you can't even defend Xiabian!"
Seeing the two men getting more and more angry, Zhang He stood up and walked in front of them and advised: "General, General Wei, you two should not be angry about the past."
"General Wei, His Majesty is watching us. If you are drunk, you should go back and rest for a while."
From an outsider's perspective, there was nothing wrong with Zhang He's words. If you are drunk, just leave! Why make everyone unhappy at the banquet?
Bang!
Cao Hong simply waved his hand and knocked over the wine jar, and the wine instantly spilled all over the table, shocking the tiger guards who were serving wine and making them take two steps back.
Cao Hong stared at Zhang He and asked, "Are you, Zhang Junyi, also helping Cao Zidan to suppress me?"
"Don't forget who knelt at the camp gate and crawled to me on his knees to ask for surrender at Guandu! Now you are the General of the Western Expedition, so powerful, have you forgotten the old things?"
Cao Rui was sitting in the hall and waved his hand. The sound of drums and music stopped abruptly, making Cao Hong, Cao Zhen and Zhang He stand out particularly.
"Enough!" Cao Rui's face gradually became ugly, and he shouted.
"Someone come!" Cao Rui ordered with a cold face: "Take General Wei away to sober him up!"
It was not until Cao Hong was led away by the tiger guards with his arms held up that he suddenly realized that he seemed to have spoken out of turn. However, as he was getting drunker, he ultimately could not say anything.
The banquet ended in bad mood.
……
The next morning, Cao Hong, who had sobered up, knelt outside the emperor's tent and pleaded guilty.
Cao Rui did not meet him, but ordered him to find Cao Zhen and Zhang He to apologize, and then called Sima Yi and Yang Fu to his side.
Cao Rui sighed: "It is said that we have recovered Qishan and Longyou, but the real victory was only the battle of Lueyang."
"Cao Hong is just following behind and has not engaged in battle, yet he is still so arrogant. What about the other generals in the army? How can I not worry?"
Yang Fu cupped his hands and said, "The army has just recovered Longyou, so it's normal for them to be a little arrogant. How can a general of a strong army not be arrogant? Just work hard to win."
"Although Cao Hong's words were indeed a bit out of line, he is a senior general of the royal family. It is not appropriate to punish him now that the army is about to attack. Let's talk about it after the war."
Cao Rui raised his eyes and looked at Yang Fu: "I remember that after the battle, Cao Hong indulged himself too much at the banquet. Was it Yang Qing who advised him against it?"
"This is a different time." Yang Fu said without hesitation: "At that time, Cao Hong was the commander-in-chief. If he forgets the situation, it will affect the safety of the entire army. Therefore, I advise him to do something."
"Your Majesty is in the army now. Cao Hong's words and actions will not shake the army's will to fight. If we punish him, it will have a greater impact."
Cao Rui sighed softly, "Cao Hong is the cousin of Emperor Wu, and his qualifications are rare in the Wei army. When he returns to Luoyang after the battle, I will let him resign from the central army and retire in Luoyang with his title and nobility."
Yang Fu nodded without saying anything.
Sima Yi, who was watching the two talking, had some strange feelings in his heart. It was normal for Cao Hong to be incompetent and leave his post, but after all, it was a new generation replacing the old one.
I wonder who will take over the Zhonglei Camp led by Cao Hong?
Sima Yi continued, "According to your majesty's previous assignment, the right general Zhu Gai has no duties after the war, so he can return to the central army and replace Cao Hong."
Cao Rui glanced at Sima Yi and said, "The Central Army has 50,000 soldiers, of which the Wuwei Battalion accounts for 25,000. Xu Chu, the Wuwei General, is only responsible for the daily operation of the Wuwei Battalion. The two thousand stone generals in the battalion, some command two thousand soldiers, and some command three thousand soldiers. In wartime, they all obey the orders of the general alone."
"Didn't I see Xiahou He leading the troops well in Lueyang? He is 25 years old this year, about the same age as me, so isn't it okay for him to lead 3,000 soldiers?"
"Just split up the Zhonglei Camp." Cao Rui said calmly: "The quota of 7,000 soldiers can be divided into three 2,000-stone commanders."
Sima Yi said: "Xiahou He is also young and promising, and there are many young talents among the clan generals. Cao Chun's son Cao Yan and Grand Sima's son Cao Zhao are both good choices at the time."
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Cao Yan is the military commander in the Wuwei Camp, and Cao Zhao is the military officer in Shouchun. Remember to remind me when you return to Luoyang to promote these two to the rank of lieutenant with a salary of two thousand stones and send them to lead the central army."
"I've made note of that." Sima Yi said.
At this time, Sima Yi also began to murmur in his heart.
If we were to say which general in the central army was most at odds with Sima Yi, it would probably be General Cao Hong.
When the case of Cao Hong's wet nurse's adulterous worship was exposed last year, Your Majesty only gave Cao Hong a symbolic punishment and did not take any further action.
Fortunately, Cao Hong has finally offended His Majesty and is about to return home to retire. If Cao Hong is not punished, how can Zhang He be given an explanation? What will the other surrendered generals think?
But just as His Majesty made the decision to dismiss Cao Hong, he was about to promote two Cao clan members to lead the army. Xiahou Xian, the most capable man by His Majesty's side, had never been responsible for combat missions, but only for His Majesty's garrison duty.
The Central Army is so tightly controlled, it really has the style of Emperor Wu. And it seems that the power to lead the Central Army will be further divided.
Your Majesty can talk about favors, but you will never use the central army as a favor...
Cao Rui asked calmly, "According to the original plan, we will reach Lucheng on the 8th, rest on the 9th and 10th, and continue the march tomorrow."
"Have you prepared the logistics plan?"
Sima Yi responded with a folded hand: "Your Majesty, the strategy for transporting grain and fodder has also been decided. There is no precedent for the logistics route of this march, so the dispatch strategy is newly drafted."
Cao Rui interrupted Sima Yi and said, "I remember that the imperial army marched through Wudu nine years ago, but at that time they marched from Chencang Road, right?"
"This is the first time we are marching from Longyou."
Sima Yi replied: "That's right. This strategy was completed by Chen Jibi and Deng Shizai."
Cao Rui became interested: "Chen Jiao has so many affairs to deal with, maybe Deng Ai does more? I met him once in Lueyang, and I haven't seen him since then." (End of this chapter)
