Tai Chi Hall, East Hall.
Because of the first two banquets, the Dongtang Banquet became more and more famous.
Cao Mao went one step further than before, not only expanding the number of participants, but also directly turning this banquet for celebrities in the palace into the top banquet for celebrities in Wei.
For an emperor, even if he is a puppet emperor, this is not a difficult task.
After all, the emperor's identity is here, and being summoned to the palace for a banquet by the emperor is already the top celebrity.
With the participation of many celebrities, Sima Yan's fame, and Wang Taichang's official announcement, this banquet has become a place where top celebrities are eager to go.
But Cao Mao knew it very well.
This East Hall banquet probably cannot continue.
Master Sima now has to deal with Guanqiu Jian with all his strength and has no time to be distracted, but there is still Sima Zhao. Although Zhong Hui can escort the banquet, Sima Zhao is not Master Sima and will not indulge Zhong Hui so much. They will still stop them when they are called upon to do so.
This influence probably exceeded Sima Zhao's tolerance.
Moreover, there are ministers coming to attend the meeting this time, and Sima Zhao definitely does not want to have the opportunity to meet with them.
It is precisely because of this that Cao Mao cherishes this banquet very much.
Cao Mao had three main purposes for this banquet.
The first is to learn about the situation outside from Ji Kang.
The second is to meet Chen Qian and ask Chen Qian to help him take action.
The third is to deal with the two people from the Guo family.
Well, the third thing was added temporarily by Cao Mao. The reason for adding this thing was not actually how much Cao Mao valued those two people, but because of the performance of Queen Mother Guo.
In the eyes of Cao Mao, Queen Mother Guo was definitely not a qualified ruler. After careful selection by our great Emperor Wei Ming, there were only a few talented women left in the harem, and the least talented Queen Mother Guo was the best among them all. Won the first prize in the brainless competition and was promoted to queen.
If Cao Rui can live longer, this will not be a big problem. The person who succeeds him can easily take down the Queen Mother, as long as that person is not Sima Zhong.
But Cao Rui died young, and the temple was left to the Queen Mother to take care of.
I wonder if Cao Rui regretted his previous arrangements before he died?
Today, the Queen Mother is what worries Cao Mao the most. Guo Li just talked nonsense, and she was almost persuaded.
This was just an action by Guo Li and the others. If Master Sima personally took action and wanted to find something to do with the Queen Mother, Cao Mao felt that she would collapse at the first touch and would have no power to fight back.
For the sake of safety, the two relatives of the Guo family must be eliminated so that Queen Mother Guo can stop having illusions, follow her with peace of mind, and be firm in her choice.
This banquet was unusual. When Sima Yan came with the celebrities, Zhong Hui still did not show up.
This made Cao Mao a little surprised.
According to Zhong Hui's character, even if the sky fell, he would not miss such an important celebrity banquet.
Could it be that he is not in Luoyang? ?
"His Majesty!"
Sima Yan led everyone to pay homage to the emperor with a smile.
Sima Yan seemed to be very energetic. His fame was getting bigger and bigger. Originally, the ministers wanted to praise him, but now that Cao Mao was helping him, it was too easy for him to think about the situation.
Sima Yan believed that all this was Cao Mao's help and his own contribution.
However, even without Cao Mao, he can still be touted, and even if he has not done anything, he can still have a huge reputation. Cao Mao just provides him with a more "famous" reason.
Today's Sima Yan has not yet participated in any government affairs. Although he holds a position, he has not been trained by the family and has not even done anything.
It was five years later that Sima Yan truly began to be cultivated by the family.
Sima Zhao put him in charge of the important event of welcoming Cao Huan to the throne, and made him serve as the Zhongfu Army, and he really began to intervene in the affairs of the temple.
From then on, Sima Yan became mature and began to actively win over ministers such as Pei Xiu and Yang Xiu to build momentum for himself and to deal with his father's inquiries, and he had some strategies.
At that time, Sima Yan was already twenty-four years old.
Sima Yan is not a typical example of "little talent and fame" like other aristocratic families. He matured very late and his maturity was also very limited.
In the early days of his rule, because his mother was still there and there were many capable ministers in the temple, the national power of the Western Jin Dynasty was increasing. However, when his mother died of illness and the capable ministers died, Sima Yan's true colors would be revealed.
He encouraged officials to fight for wealth, allowed them to kill indiscriminately, established a son who was extremely unworthy to inherit the throne, indulged in the harem, indulged the family, ignored the princes, lived a corrupt life, indulged in pleasure, ignored the state affairs, was extravagant, openly sold his officials, and the palace There are nearly ten thousand concubines!
If his early governance level was considered average and above average, then his later actions were simply outrageous.
To a certain extent, he may not even be as good as his son. After all, his son has a disease and an intellectual disability. However, as a normal person and a founding king, he surprisingly led a new dynasty that was supposed to rise. At a dead end.
Of course, Sima Yan still maintains his simplicity at this moment, and has not even reached the immature political level he had when he was twenty-four years old. It must be said that he has no level at all now.
The celebrities met with Cao Mao one by one, and Ji Kang, whom Cao Mao cared about most, was also standing in front of Cao Mao at this moment.
Ji Kang's temperament has undergone great changes.
In the past, Ji Kang seemed to have unspeakable anger hidden in his heart. He was irritated with everyone and was always on the verge of anger. He was happiest only when he was drunk. He was muddle-headed and just drank.
But now Ji Kang seems to have restrained himself a lot, and his whole person has become calmer.
His eyes were exceptionally bright, and there was no trace of alcohol on his body anymore.
Cao Mao's eyes widened.
Not only Cao Mao was surprised, but Ji Kang's friends also found it incredible to see Ji Kang like this.
They didn't dislike Ji Kang's change. Wang Rong and Liu Ling were very happy.
Only Ruan Ji, with sad eyes and the smell of alcohol all over his body, seemed to be more dissolute than before.
Ji Kang had countless things to say to His Majesty at this moment, but he knew that now was not a good opportunity.
Cao Mao didn't look at Ji Kang for too long. After all, there were still many dogs from the Sima family among these people, such as Wang Chen with a serious look, Pei Xiu with his head lowered, and Pei Xiu with a flushed face.
After many celebrities arrived, generous laughter came from a distance.
Cao Mao quickly stood up and said to everyone, "This is the arrival of my teacher."
The celebrities also got up, and Wang Xiang led many ministers to this place.
Wang Xiang was followed by several ministers. When he saw these people, Cao Mao was a little shocked, because there were actually several important ministers among them!
Taifu Sima Fu and Sikong Zheng Chong, these two people actually appeared here.
There is no need to say more about Sima Fu. This Sikong has always been famous for not participating in anything. How could these two people follow him? ?
In addition to them, there are also acquaintances such as Chen Qian and Zheng Miao.
Wang Xiang led everyone to see Cao Mao, and Cao Mao quickly asked them to get up.
After these people took their seats, the celebrities at the banquet suddenly became quiet.
If only a few Jiuqing came, it wouldn't be like this, but the problem is that two Sangong also came, which was a bit disturbing.
The atmosphere was a bit restrained.
Wang Xiang was also a little helpless. He didn't expect these two people to come together. He only invited Jiu Qing. These two people came to him later and said they wanted to follow him to the banquet. He couldn't refuse them. ? ?
Cao Mao pondered for a moment, and for a moment he was unsure of the purpose of their coming.
Sima Yan was very happy. He was holding Sima Fu's hand and whispering something with an excited expression on his face.
A moment later, Sima Yan came to Cao Mao's side, with a little pride on his face.
"Your Majesty! I have invited Grand Fu Gong over! How about it?!"
Oh it's you! !
Cao Mao glanced at Sima Fu, but even with Sima Yan's invitation, Sima Fu's sudden arrival was a bit unpredictable, unless he had some other purpose.
Cao Mao hid all his guesses in his heart and immediately prepared to start the banquet.
The good news is that Zhong Hui didn't come, the bad news is that Sima Fu came!
"Everyone, this is a banquet in the east hall. There are no kings or ministers here, no uncles or nephews. Everyone can speak freely, debate classics, drink wine and compose poems. There is no need to be restrained!!"
Cao Mao said loudly.
"It should have been so!"
Ruan Xian said first.
The celebrities laughed, and Liu Ling pointed at him and scolded him with a smile: "You kid, you don't want to recognize your father-in-law a long time ago, right?"
The two people's words immediately broke the silence just now, and the scene became lively. This made Cao Mao look at Ruan Xian a few more times.
This man was Ruan Ji's nephew. He was very accomplished in music, but he inherited his uncle's drunken and debauched side. He stayed with his uncle all day long, drinking and having fun. In history, when Shan Tao recommended this man to Sima Yan At that time, this man probably went to see Sima Yan drunk. History books record that Sima Yan had a bad impression of him and felt that this drunkard would never become a great person.
But it was Sima Yan after all, so he still gave him the official position.
However, later this person questioned Xun Xu's music and was resented by Xun Xu. He was demoted to a local place and died without any illness.
Cao Mao looked at Ji Kang and then at Chen Qian. It seemed that he had to change his plan temporarily.
Sima Fu is here, so he has to be more careful if he wants to do things.
While everyone was debating among themselves, Cao Mao took the initiative to sit next to Sima Fu.
"Master Taifu, why are you here?"
"I heard that your majesty hosted a banquet and came uninvited. I hope your majesty will forgive me."
"How dare you, how dare you, it's an honor for Grand Master to come!"
Cao Mao looked at Zheng Chong who was aside. He didn't say a word, his expression was a little dull, and he always gave people the feeling of being absent-minded.
"Mr. Sikong, I heard that you are extremely talented and knowledgeable. I wonder if I can ask for some advice?"
