With Zheng Chong's timid, trouble-shunning disposition, he probably would not have come here willingly.
Then who else at court could have persuaded him to come?
Even Sima Zhao could not have managed it. It had to be Sima Shi.
What abilities did Zheng Chong possess, then? Or rather, what strengths did he have that could serve Sima Shi?
Classical studies.
His attainments in ritual and law were exceptionally high, unsurpassed by anyone. He had worked with He Yan on the Collected Commentaries on the Analects and was himself one of the compilers of the Jin Code.
So, finally, what did Sima Shi intend by sending this erudite master of the classics to the banquet?
First, he could rule out an attempt to suppress Cao Mao through debate.
Leaving aside the fact that Zheng Chong desired nothing and had no liking for debate, even if they did cross verbal swords, losing would hardly disgrace Cao Mao.
It could even spread his fame. To debate Zheng Chong at his age, even in defeat, would make him a genius among geniuses.
In fact, Cao Mao felt that Sima Shi would not bother laying a trap for him at all. In Sima Shi's eyes, he certainly did not qualify as an opponent.
Cao Mao thought the most likely explanation was that Sima Shi himself lacked the energy to scrutinize the debates between Cao Mao and the others. He had sent Zheng Chong to see what everyone said and whether there were any dangerous remarks. As a master of classical studies, Zheng Chong would surely see through any problems concealed within their arguments at a glance.
Sure enough, when Cao Mao tentatively asked to debate Zheng Chong, the peace-loving old man actually agreed without a moment's thought.
The assembled luminaries stirred in surprise. They probably