The farewell banquet for Minister of Works Che Guan was set at Xuanwu Field, on a tremendous scale. Almost everyone attending the winter encampment who ranked as a Banner Chief or above, every civilian staff member drawing a stipend of three hundred dan or more-in other words, those who actually wielded military authority-and all the literary men and celebrated scholars of any standing had been invited.
Only Mao Muzhi was absent. Mao Zhen and Mao Qiu had both come. Even Wang Guannu, Zhu A Ming, and Huan Bucai had been led by Xie Xuan to two tables at the rear, while Fu Jian, still a duly appointed Chief Secretary who had not relinquished his post, sat openly at a table of his own.
When everyone met, they began by offering congratulations.
Huan Wen had already formally announced many of the rewards in Che Guan's name, particularly those for officers from Banner Chiefs up to generals.
The rewards and punishments were essentially fair.
The complete victory overall, together with that freshly transcribed list, meant that even those who had contributed only hard work received some promotion or advancement in noble rank. Some deemed to have rendered meritorious service had their basic general's rank raised, while those whose achievements were more conspicuous either received substantial promotions or crossed thresholds regarded as considerable barriers.
Even Mao Muzhi had to hold his nose and accept it. He himself had crossed one such threshold, after all.
As for Liu Cheng's men, Banner Chief Sun Xiao received Liu Huzi's former title of General Who Sweeps Across the Wilderness. It was the lowest of the miscellaneous generalships, but he was now a general nonetheless. Correspondingly, Liu Jian became General of Tiger Might, a standard fifth-rank miscellaneous generalship, and received the title of Pavilion Marquis. Gao Heng received