Inside Taiji Hall, Cao Mao sat in the seat of honor, with the ministers from the Wu Kingdom seated before him.
Sun Hao, the Marquis Who Submitted to Destiny, was among them, seated right beside Cao Mao.
Fine wine had been set before everyone, but apart from Sun Hao, no one dared touch the food or drink.
For the ministers of the Wu Kingdom, banquets often carried rather unpleasant memories.
Cao Mao looked at them and said with a smile, "Here with me, you gentlemen need not be afraid. Those who can drink may drink; those who cannot will incur no blame."
Their faces flushed red.
Wan Yu could not help speaking up. "My lord has already submitted to destiny and surrendered in good faith. Why must Your Majesty still humiliate us like this?"
Those seated beside Cao Mao now were all the surviving leading ministers of the Wu Kingdom. They included senior officials of the Three Offices such as Meng Zong, Ding Gu, and He Shao, as well as General of the Guards Teng Mu, General of Chariots and Cavalry Liu Zuan, Grand Herald Zhang Yan, Chancellor Wan Yu, and General of the Gentlemen of the Five Offices Ding Zhong.
There were also numerous generals, including Liu Jun, Xiu Ze, Gu Rong, and Bu Chan.
As for the younger men, they were not yet qualified to sit before Cao Mao.
At Wan Yu's words, Cao Mao immediately laughed. "I invited you gentlemen to drink. How has that become a humiliation?"
"Could you explain that to me, Master Wan?"
Wan Yu opened his mouth several times, but could find no way to refute him.
Sun Hao simply continued eating and drinking on his own, with no intention whatsoever of getting involved.
Cao Mao said earnestly, "You have all been in