Jinting Han people

In a blink of an eye, the day for the agreed gathering arrived. Zu Ti called his friends and went to find Liu Xian to go out for a banquet.

The banquet took place at a place Liu Xian had never heard of, called Baoyue Terrace. Zu Ti told him that this was a new tavern that had opened four years ago. In recent years, people from Wu had migrated north, and the owner was a famous chef who had moved from Jianye. He excelled in Jianghuai cuisine and was renowned in Luoyang.

The rest of his friends had already gone, and Zu Ti had come specifically to guide Liu Xian. He was accompanied by three others: his two younger brothers, Zu Na and Zu Yue, and his wife's brother-in-law, Xu Liu. Liu Xian then took Zhuge Yan with him, who rode alongside him on horseback.

He quickly made his way through the streets and discovered he wasn't heading into the city itself, but rather, after two detours, southward. After passing the Imperial College, he walked down several shallow slopes until he reached a small river, likely a tributary of the Luo River. Liu Xian saw that the water, though not entirely clear, shimmered in the sunlight, creating a luminous, tranquil glow. A small bridge spanned the river, and on the opposite bank, a willow grove stood, smoke rising from it, revealing a hidden courtyard.

At the gate, I saw several tall, curly-haired, green-eyed Hu men standing guard, swords at their waists. The stables beside the courtyard were full of horses, and within the courtyard, I could hear the voices of scholars chatting and discussing. Entering the courtyard, I discovered rows of wooden scaffolding, vines climbing through them, blocking out the sunlight, leaving a patchwork of shade beneath.

In addition to the kitchen, the courtyard boasted six guesthouses. The open-air dining table was divided into four sections by wooden frames, accommodating approximately ten groups of guests simultaneously. Despite the remoteness of the countryside, there were quite a few guests, with the rooms nearly half full. The venue was also exceptionally high-quality. Besides the Hu people guarding the gate, Liu Xian even spotted some slender, strikingly beautiful singing girls. Their voices and intonations resembled Lu Ji's, suggesting they were also from Wu.

Zu Ti's seat was in the innermost room. When Liu Xian entered, he saw it already cluttered with tables, couches, and cots, with fruits and wine jugs scattered about. About twenty people sat nearby. Old acquaintances like Liu Cong, Jiang Tong, Liu Qiao, Wang Dun, Liu Kun, Wang Cui, and Lu Yao were among them. Unexpectedly, there were also friends he'd met at the Western Expedition Army Headquarters, including Huangfu Shang, Fu Chang, and Jia Yin (Jia Kan's brother). In addition, there were some people Liu Xian didn't recognize, likely trusted relatives.

Liu Cong saw Liu Xian coming in, raised his glass and chuckled, "Ah, isn't this Liu Huaichong, the famous general from the Western Expedition? I wonder if you still remember me?"

Liu Xian pointed at him and said, "Of course I remember you. If I could capture you in Guanzhong, I would be promoted to the first rank immediately."

Everyone present laughed. Zu Ti said, "Let's drink first. Let's drink. The Lvling wine I brought from Jingnan is so fragrant!" He turned around and called to the shopkeeper, "Hurry up and bring out the pickles and cold dishes, and the puffer fish sashimi. Make sure they are prepared properly!"

The shopkeeper immediately brought out pickles like vinegar celery, sweet pickled cucumbers, sugared garlic, pickled cucumbers, and pickled radish. Everyone sat cross-legged, savoring the food while pouring wine. The green wine had a sweet and fragrant aroma on the first sip, leaving a feeling of intoxication after drinking.

Liu Xian began to greet his friends, first introducing those unfamiliar guests to each other.

Wang Dun brought his cousin Wang Dao with him and said to Liu Xian with a smile, "This is my talented young horse. He is destined to become a general or a prime minister."

Wang Dao was twenty-two years old this year and currently served as a servant in the palace of Sima Yue, King of Donghai. At first glance, he looked truly elegant and graceful. Liu Xian chatted with him for a few words, and he said modestly, "My brother, you are too kind. In front of you, I am just a nobody."

But Liu Xian was still quite impressed by him, because of his extraordinary temperament and elegant and clear conversation, which immediately reminded Liu Xian of his good friend Zhou Boren.

Jiang Tong brought his good friend Xi Jian with him. He said with a smile, "Huai Chong, this is my new friend. He comes from a poor family, so he's here to share a meal. You don't mind, do you?"

Unlike Jiang Tong's joking, Xi Jian bowed solemnly to Liu Xian and said, "I have long heard of General Dangkou's great name. I heard that at Niyang, you faced an army ten times your size, yet held your ground alone and remained undeterred. You are truly a role model for our generation. I admire you deeply, and it is well worth the hassle of coming here to witness your presence."

Xi Jian was very formal in his speech and manners, and it was obvious that he was a scholar who valued Confucianism and studied the scriptures. Compared with the current dissolute and frivolous style of writing, Liu Xian preferred this kind of person who was cautious and polite. After a few words, he remembered him.

In addition, there were several other people, such as Liu Kun brought his brother Liu Yu, and Wang Cui brought his good friend Sima Ya. Liu Xian met them one by one and remembered them all in his heart.

Liu Xian then went to talk to Fu Chang, Huangfu Shang and the others, and asked, "When did you get to know Shi Zhi?"

Fu Chang smiled and said, "Envoy, I moved to Luoyang two years ago and studied at the Imperial Academy. I got to know Zujun back then. When I heard you were back, I called everyone I knew. Is that okay?"

"It's okay, it's okay. How can anyone complain about having too many friends? I'm just worried about having too few friends!"

This was the truth. Although the room was already quite full, Liu Xian still noticed that some old friends had not arrived. He chatted with everyone for a while, then turned to Zu Ti and asked, "Is everyone here?"

"Everyone is here." Zu Ti guessed what he wanted to ask and said directly, "Those who didn't come have their reasons."

"Zhou Boren (Zhou Xi) lost his mother and returned to his hometown to observe mourning. Liu Xuanming (Liu Yao) was caught smuggling and fled the scene. Lu Shiheng (Lu Ji) does have some free time, but his current status is sensitive, and Jia Changyuan is keeping an eye on you. You don't want him to be embarrassed, do you?"

"Then how could Yueshi and Hongyuan come? Aren't they also people Jia Mi values?"

"Yue Shi and His Royal Highness Prince Zhao are relatives, and Hong Yuan is the imperial son-in-law. How can that be the same? Even if they go against Jia Changyuan, Jia Changyuan can't do anything to them."

Hearing this, Liu Xian couldn't help but sigh, "Alas, when friends gather together, if there are fewer people, it always feels like something is missing."

Zu Ti laughed and scolded, "If you continue to spoil my mood with such talk, I'll leave right here! I've booked a banquet here for nothing. Come, listen to some music! Listen to some music!"

With that, he summoned three more women from Wu: one played the qin, one the zither, and one the flute. Together, they performed Wu music. This was Liu Xian's first time hearing Wu music. He felt the string sounds were lingering and clear, like falling jade beads. Gradually, the sounds accelerated, like a waterfall splashing. The women had bright eyes and white teeth, their voices sweet but not cloying. The Wu dialect shifted between tension and relaxation with measured rhythm. The crowd was mesmerized and cheered applause.

The melody had just ended when the strings began to play again. The Wu girl who played the zither began to sing again, this time using the standard Luoyang accent. She sang:

"I sift through the water alone, the water is deep and muddy. Muddy is fine, but the deep water kills me.

A pair of geese play gracefully beside the fields. I want to shoot them, but I miss my lonely son.

The duckweed floats gracefully, swaying lightly in the wind. How can my heart be at peace with it?

Empty bed with drawn curtains, who knows there is no one there. Beautiful nightgown, who knows whether it is real or fake.

The knife whistles as I lean against the bed, helpless. If I don't avenge my father's injustice, what's the point of living?

The fierce tiger, spotted with leopards, roams the mountains. The tiger, eager to bite, does not shy away from the noble and virtuous.

This folk Yuefu poem, titled "Du Lu Pian," is a classic satirical piece. The word "Lu" (Lu) is homophonic with "Lu," suggesting that the poem uses the turbidity of deep water to metaphorically depict the dangers of officialdom. The final scene, focusing on the tiger's desire to devour a person, regardless of whether one is a hero or a virtuous person, serves as a metaphor for the fate of loyal officials in officialdom. After this song concluded, the crowd applauded again, albeit not as boisterously as the previous one. Instead, their expressions became cautious and sympathetic. Then, the Wu woman continued her song, featuring classic love poems like "Wu Chu Ge" (Song of the Wu Chu) and occasional political satires. Accompanied by the singing, everyone drank and ate.

Liu Xian was somewhat surprised, however. He had assumed that given Luoyang's current situation, political statements would be sensitive, but he hadn't expected that satirical poetry could be sung openly in this place. Looking at everyone else's expressions, they seemed quite calm, as if this was commonplace. This was truly strange.

Before I had time to think about it, the chef started serving the dishes one after another.

The cuisine here is truly sumptuous. Besides the pickled vegetables at the start, there are also Huainan specialties like snake soup, roasted quail, and asparagus soup noodles. The chef's skills are superb, especially his mastery of the cooking temperature and the mixing of the base ingredients. But the highlight is the puffer fish sashimi.

Although called pufferfish, they are actually marine fish, caught in the spring when they migrate from the sea to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The pufferfish found in Luoyang are all imported from the Yangtze and Huaihe River regions. They are extremely rare and poisonous, requiring only highly experienced chefs to prepare them.

Now the puffer fish slices were served. There were two puffer fish, and two plates of slices as thin as cicada wings were cut into them. Each person only had one or two bites.

Liu Xian dipped the fish in ginger vinegar and took a sip. He felt that the fish meat was as tender as ice and snow. When it was heated, it turned into a sweet nectar that lifted his spirits. It was indeed a well-deserved delicacy.

Zu Ti boasted to Liu Xian, "This Baoyuetai restaurant can only ship 20 pufferfish every ten days. You have to make a reservation before you can try them. I've spent a fortune to welcome you!"

By this time, Wu had already left, and there was no one else around. Liu Xian smiled at Zu Ti and said, "Don't try to fool me! You opened this shop, didn't you? Where did you get the money?"

"Huai Chong guessed this? Haha, I knew I couldn't hide it from you!" Zu Ti immediately patted Liu Xian's shoulder and laughed.

It turned out that this was the very place where Zu Ti was recruiting talent for the King of Qi. To maintain seclusion and tranquility, Zu Ti deliberately located the wine shop in the suburbs and employed Hu people as guards to prevent outsiders from spying or leaking secrets. Only those carefully selected by Zu Ti were allowed to enter and dine. It was, in fact, the perfect location for secret recruitment. It was precisely because of this that the singing girls dared to sing political satires without restraint.

Liu Xian asked, "You are inviting me here, aren't you trying to recruit me into the Qi Wang Party?"

Zu Ti shook his head repeatedly and said with a smile: "Of course not, I am not the kind of person who forces others to do things. It is just because it is quiet here and everyone can talk freely."

"Oh?" Liu Xianqi asked, "It sounds like what you're about to say might be a bit outrageous."

Zu Ti replied, "Oh? Then how could anyone be more treasonous than Her Majesty the Queen?"

Everyone present burst into laughter upon hearing this. The Empress's policies over the past few years have truly lost the support of the people. Not only has she appointed people based on personal connections, monopolized power, and unfairly rewarded and punished people, but she has also caused so much chaos that no one in the country can rest in peace. By now, not only were her enemies dissatisfied, but even many of her own party members secretly criticizing her and harboring resentment towards her.

Zu Ti sneered and said, "Don't be fooled by the fact that things seem calm now. In fact, fighting has already broken out in the court. Three days ago, the Ministry of Shangshu issued an order for the Prince of Hejian to be transferred to Guanzhong. According to convention, only a close relative of the royal family can be sent to Guanzhong. But she chose to use the distant prince of Hejian. Her intentions are despicable!"

"Now that the position of garrison commander in Hebei has been vacated, the Queen has even asked all officials in the court to recommend new candidates for the position of prince. Haha, when has she ever been so kind?"

Liu Qiao laughed upon hearing this, "She really thinks we're all fools. Back then, when she framed the King of Chu for killing the King of Runan, she used this tactic to sow discord and fish in troubled waters. It was fine, after all, no one could have guessed her greed. But now, her true colors have been exposed, and she's trying to use the same trick a second time. Does she really think we'll fall for it?"

Jiang Tong shook his head and said, "Everyone can see this tactic clearly, but it's difficult to achieve unity. After all, leaving Hebei is indeed an attractive bait, and there's no guarantee that someone will be tempted and reach a compromise with the Hou Party first."

Although many of those present nominally belonged to the Empress's faction, they remained unfazed when hearing the three openly slandering the party and the Empress, and even showed expressions of approval. It was clear that after these years of chaotic politics, many within the Empress's faction were considering their own options.

Liu Xian thought for a moment and joined the discussion, saying, "If we want to confront the Empress's faction, the most important thing is to stop feigning peace. Someone must step forward and proactively provoke conflict with them. Only when the conflict intensifies will everyone realize the Empress's weakness and stop obeying her wishes."

Everyone said it made sense.

The reason the Empress had been so fearless over the years was that she was leaderless. The royal family lacked a leader willing to forcefully express their disapproval of the Empress. Normally, the Crown Prince should have been responsible, but it was against etiquette for a son to oppose his mother, so he could only offer covert support. The Luoyang princes lacked the necessary power, which kept the situation awkward.

Wang Cui asked directly, "Have you heard? In April, His Royal Highness the Prince of Huainan will be coming to the capital. Will this be a turning point?"

King Huainan Sima Yun was a famous member of the Chu Party. When he came to the capital at this time, everyone was speculating about his purpose.

As the Crown Prince's attendant, Wang Dun sneered and nodded, saying, "This is indeed what the Crown Prince and the King of Huainan have discussed. As a powerful vassal, the King of Huainan will enter the capital and openly support the Crown Prince's regent and force the Queen to abdicate."

"Oh? Any specific plans?"

"I don't know. Even if I knew, I can't tell you here."

Everyone chatted for a while, discussing the past and present, and evaluating people. Although it was not as lively as before, it was still quite enjoyable. However, most of them had grown up and did not seem to have the same passionate enthusiasm as before. As the banquet came to an end, everyone greeted each other and returned to their families and their own lives.

When the music ended and the crowd dispersed, Wang Dun turned his gaze to Liu Xian and asked in a low voice, "Huai Chong, when do you plan to come to the Eastern Palace? The Crown Prince said he wants to meet you."

See me? Liu Xian's heart trembled, and then he said seriously: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is my benefactor. Of course I should visit him. I just don't know when the Crown Prince will be free."

"Don't you know? His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is free every day." Wang Dun immediately decided for him, "It's better to come today than tomorrow."

Liu Xian was a little surprised. In his mind, Sima Yi was a very patient person, but now, he was so eager to summon him. What was the reason?

The answer is not difficult to come up with. In all likelihood, it is related to the coup. (End of this chapter)