Chapter 105 Five Bottles of Wine
When everyone saw Sun Quan mention Lu Xun, they turned to look at Lu Xun Lu Boyan, who was sitting in the first seat not far from Sun Quan.
Lu Xun also noticed everyone's gaze. At this time, Lu Xun lowered his head slightly, his eyes fixed on the table in front of him, his expression quite humble.
Although the words that King Wu said in front of everyone just now were brief, they seemed to contain a lot of information.
Who among those present here did not come from far away?
Bu Zhi came from Changsha, Zhuge Jin came from Gong'an, and Zhu Huan came from Ruxu. The generals of the central army gathered from all over the place in Wuchang, the capital of Wu.
Who doesn't travel a lot? Why are you the only one who is going to welcome you, Lu Boyan?
Zhu Huan's seat was several rows away from Lu Xun. Zhu Huan returned to Wuchang the earliest among the foreign generals, and a few days ago he and Quan Cong discussed the issue of sending troops with the King of Wu.
With a force of 100,000, and Zhu Huan and Quan Cong each leading an army of 30,000, who would be the commander? Judging from the words of the King of Wu today, 99% of the time it would fall on Lu Xun.
Zhu Huan has always been proud of his military prowess, and since he defeated Cao Ren, the highest-ranking general of Wei at Ruxu, he has always wanted to form his own group and not be controlled by others. Today, it seems that he will be commanded by Lu Boyan again?
Not to mention that Zhu Huan was thinking about something after he sat at the table below, Sun Quan on the stage had just sat down and continued speaking to everyone as he had just said.
Sun Quan said: "You have all arrived in Wuchang one after another, and I have talked with you one by one."
"Lu Boyan suggested a false surrender plan for me, and the governor of Poyang, Zhou Cang, used himself as bait to set a trap. The Wei thief Cao Xiu will soon lead his army from Shouchun to Wancheng, and this is all thanks to Lu Boyan and Zhou Ziyu.
"And I want to use you, the ministers, to defeat Cao Xiu near Wancheng, and then advance to Hefei and Shouchun, so as to enhance the national prestige and military power of our great Wu."
"My fellow ministers, follow me in raising your voice!" Sun Quan took the lead and raised the wine jar in his hand.
"Raise your glass!" everyone shouted in unison, and then drank it all in one gulp.
The Wu Kingdom actually had more banquets than the Cao Wei and Shu Han Kingdoms.
Sun Quan was a heavy drinker, and since each of the generals of the Wu army had his own troops, and Sun Quan wanted to win over the generals with his personal feelings, he would drink almost every time he met with the generals and ministers. And every time he drank, he would make sure everyone was drunk.
Therefore, among the courts of the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu and Wu, only the Eastern Wu had the most popular "drinking table culture". From King Sun Quan of Wu to the generals and ministers, drinking was prevalent.
After King Sun Quan of Wu and everyone else drank up the wine in the jar, according to the custom at King Wu's banquets, the banquet was considered to have begun.
But Sun Quan did not stop. Instead, he asked the eunuchs around him to continue filling the wine jar. Then he raised the wine jar in his hand and looked at everyone.
Sun Quan smiled and said, "This time I am attacking Wei. Without Lu Boyan's strategy, I would not be able to do it. Come, everyone, follow me and toast to Lu Boyan!"
Lu Xun couldn't sit still at the table anymore. How could a minister be praised by his lord in this way? Since Lu Xun entered the gate of the Wu Palace, Sun Quan had mentioned him three times.
The first time was at the gate of the King of Wu's Palace, when Sun Quan said, "Without Bo Yan, how could I become the supreme ruler?"
The second time was when he drank the first bottle of wine at the beginning, and mentioned that he had offered a plan of feigning surrender.
The first bottle of wine had just been finished, and now he wanted everyone to toast him?
Lu Xun really didn't dare to neglect it, and quickly stood up and bowed to the King of Wu Sun Quan on the stage: "I can offer advice to the country, and it is only because of your supreme virtue that I can think of it. How dare I take credit for it privately?"
"If Your Majesty trusts me, please grant my next request and let me serve you three bottles of wine in front of Your Majesty and my colleagues."
Sun Quan looked at Lu Xun with a smile. Seeing that Lu Xun was quite tactful, there was naturally no reason for him to refuse.
"Hahahaha." Sun Quan laughed a few times and glanced at the ministers below: "Since Bo Yan said so, I will grant Bo Yan's request."
Everyone looked at Lu Xun, who was standing behind the desk, his expression still respectful as usual.
Lu Xun bent down and picked up the wine bottle from the table and said, "The first bottle of wine, Lu Xun, would like to celebrate the longevity of the Supreme. Everyone, please raise your hands together!"
It was a standard auspicious opening phrase to wish Sun Quan a happy birthday, and there could be no mistakes. Everyone also shouted and raised their hands, and drank up the wine in the jug.
The eunuchs serving at the table quickly used spoons to pour wine from the wine vessel into everyone's wine jars. As soon as the wine was full, Lu Xun raised the wine jar again.
"The second bottle of wine, your servant Lu Xun wishes the great Wu a prosperous future. Everyone, raise your hands!"
Everyone drank with Lu Xun again, and the smile on Sun Quan's face on the stage became even happier. At this time, Lu Xun also raised the wine jar in his hand for the third time.
Lu Xun said loudly: "The third bottle of wine, relying on the supreme power of heaven, I, Lu Xun, wish you a great victory in this expedition. Raise your hand!" Everyone cheered and drank it all in one gulp.
Regardless of whether it was high officials or common people drinking, there was no such thing as too many auspicious words at the banquet. The officials in the court simply mentioned some national affairs, and the common people mentioned some good health and good fortune.
With Lu Xun's three bottles of wine, plus the one that King Wu Sun Quan drank at the beginning, the atmosphere at the banquet began to become lively.
Sun Quan looked towards the door and clapped his hands with a smile. The dancers in the Prince of Wu's Palace began to appear on stage, and the musicians at the side and back began to play soothing music.
The maids lined up outside the hall and placed exquisite dishes on the table in front of everyone.
At this time, Sun Quan, the King of Wu, stood up from his desk with a smile and said, "Gentlemen, I am going to toast you now. I am only one person, and there are more than ten of you here."
"There are more than ten of you against me alone. I definitely can't drink more than you. When I come to you to toast, I will drink one bottle of wine each time. I won't let you drink more than ten bottles. Each of you should drink five bottles!"
"Gentlemen, how is it?"
Sun Quan smiled and began to introduce the rules of this wine table. The alcohol content of the wine in this era was not high. If he drank one cup and the person being toasted had to drink five cups as the King of Wu said, it could be considered fair.
In addition, most of the people present were generals who led troops to fight in battles, so what was the point of just a few bottles of wine? There were people here who could drink from evening till dawn!
Seeing that most people agreed with a smile, Sun Quan also began to walk down the stage, followed on his left and right by two eunuchs holding wine vessels and wine containers.
Sun Quan first walked up to his old minister Zhang Zhao. After Zhang Zhao stood up and saluted, Sun Quan raised his glass to Zhang Zhao with a smile on his face and then drank the wine in the glass.
Sun Quan was only in his forties, so it was no harm for him to drink more. But Zhang Zhao, the old minister, was already seventy years old. How could he drink without restraint like the young people present today?
Since the King of Wu offered a toast, Zhang Zhao naturally had to drink. Zhang Zhao frowned and drank the five bottles of wine slowly with an embarrassed look on his face.
Sun Quan saw that Zhang Zhao was a little embarrassed, but still signaled the eunuch to fill his wine jar. Sun Quan continued to stand in front of Zhang Zhao's desk, raised his cup to signal Zhang Zhao, and continued to drink up the wine in the jar.
Zhang Zhao had already forced himself to drink the five cups, so he could only beg for mercy: "Your Majesty, I have already drunk five cups, please don't force me to drink any more. This is not the way to treat an old man!"
Sun Quan's expression turned slightly cold, but the corners of his mouth still maintained the arc of a smile: "What are you talking about, Mr. Zhang! In the past, Jiang Shang was still able to fight for the country at the age of 90. Mr. Zhang is only 70 years old, how can you say he is old?"
Sun Quan was still standing in front of him. Zhang Zhao saw that there was no way to escape, so he sighed softly and drank the bottles one after another slowly and continuously, drinking a total of five bottles.
Seeing that Zhang Zhao had finished drinking the required amount of wine, Sun Quan nodded with satisfaction and then walked in front of Prime Minister Gu Yong.
Sun Quan toasted with a bottle of wine, and Gu Yong, who was much younger than Zhang Zhao, drank five bottles in a row without saying a word.
Seeing that Gu Yong was drinking happily, Sun Quan said "good", then patted Gu Yong's arm and turned to walk towards Lu Xun's desk. Compared with the old minister Zhang Zhao, the prime minister Gu Yong was more pleasing to Sun Quan in all aspects.
Sun Quan held the wine jar and walked to Lu Xun's desk. Lu Xun also knew what to do and quickly stood up to salute.
However, Sun Quan held the wine jar but did not rush to drink. Instead, he stood in front of Lu Xun's desk and turned to look at the ministers who were feasting in the hall.
Sun Quan smiled and said, "My lords! I am the King of Wu and I am honored to have a feast with you in Wuchang today. Lu Boyan has made great contributions to our great Wu."
"Gentlemen, don't you agree?"
At this time, Sun Quan's face had turned slightly red. When everyone heard what Sun Quan said, they all agreed to it.
Lu Xun shook his head slightly, bowed to Sun Quan and said, "Your Majesty is drunk. I was selected from humble beginnings by Your Majesty's great grace. How dare I boast of my achievements in front of Your Majesty?"
Sun Quan turned to look at Lu Xun, and his expression began to pretend to be serious. Sun Quan said: "Bo Yan, your original name Lu Yi is good, why did you change your name to Lu Xun?"
"I don't like the word 'xun'."
Sun Quan was just talking nonsense while drunk. Lu Xun was already over 40 years old and a governor of a state. How could he allow others to make fun of his name?
Lu Xun said nothing. He did not want to offend Sun Quan at the banquet, so he did not respond a word.
Sun Quan said loudly: "I have always treated my generals well. I will not ask about their mistakes, but will reward their merits! You, Lu Boyan, have made great contributions to the Wu Kingdom, so why can't I mention it?"
Sun Quan then signaled the eunuch to take the wine jar, and then he put his hands behind his back and slowly paced in the hall, saying as he walked: "I have inherited Jiangdong for 26 years. All I can rely on is the protection of my ancestors and the loyalty of my generals."
"In my opinion, in the past twenty-six years, only four people can be credited with the greatest achievements: Zhou Gongjin, Lu Zijing, Lu Ziming, and you, Lu Boyan!"
(End of this chapter)
