In the great hall, everyone rose and bowed to Emperor Cao Rui, who wore his ceremonial robes and crown.
"Please, sit down, everyone. This is only a family banquet today. There is no need to be so formal."
With that, Cao Rui sat down on the dragon throne.
Xiahou Xian looked up. Cao Rui was very young and full of vigor, nothing like the pale-faced figure he remembered.
That was hardly surprising. Cao Rui had only recently ascended the throne and was just twenty-three, only three years older than Xiahou Xian.
At the words "family banquet," Xiahou Xian instinctively swept his gaze across the guests.
At the highest seat sat a man with a martial bearing and resolute features. His mother had told him that this was the General-in-Chief, Cao Zhen, courtesy name Zidan.
Among the imperial clansmen of Cao Wei at this time, none could fight better than Cao Zhen.
Of course, Grand Marshal Cao Xiu was also a renowned general of his generation, but he was currently commanding in Huainan and had not attended the banquet.
The emperor had wine and dishes prepared and told everyone to dispense with ceremony.
After three rounds of wine, Cao Rui suddenly asked one of the men at the banquet in a teasing tone, "A Su, I hear that ever since you became General of Valiant Cavalry, the visitors to your residence have made it as busy as a marketplace. Is that true?"
The man addressed as A Su hurriedly cupped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty sees clearly. It is indeed true."
"Oh?" Cao Rui asked. "Then do you have any worthy talents to recommend?"
"Your Majesty, I believe that those of true talent will, in time, surely enter Your Majesty's service and serve Great Wei. I lack the discernment to judge men, so I dare not make rash judgments."
"I see." Cao Rui nodded meaningfully, his gaze drifting, seemingly casually, toward the princesses of Great Wei.
The man called A Su was named Qin Lang. In terms of seniority within the family, should Cao Rui have called him "Uncle"?
The reason was that Qin Lang was originally the son of Qin Yilu, an officer under Lü Bu. After Cao Cao took possession of Qin Yilu's wife, Lady Du, he adopted Qin Yilu's son Qin Lang.
Cao Cao had truly kept his word when he said, "Your wife and children-I shall provide for them."
As for Qin Lang, he kept a very low profile. How low? He would rather do nothing at all than ever make a mistake.
The officials knew he was close to Emperor Cao Rui, so many went to bribe him, yet he remained entirely unmoved.
His approach was: take the money, but do nothing!
As it happened, Cao Rui liked precisely this low-key disposition of his.
In other words, he disliked powerful nobles using all manner of connections to approach him, the emperor, and ask for official posts.
There had not been so much trouble during Cao Pi's reign, but after Cao Rui succeeded him, the court had suddenly acquired a great many "elders." This was where his skill as emperor was truly tested.
Before long, after a performance of song and dance to enliven the banquet, the meal began.
Ever since hearing the exchange between Cao Rui and Qin Lang, Princess Qinghe had been wavering. Yet for the sake of her son's official career, after much hesitation, she still found an opening and prepared to speak to Cao Rui.
Cao Rui seemed to see what Princess Qinghe had in mind. He looked toward Xiahou Xian first and said, "This must be my aunt's son."
Before Qinghe could speak, Xiahou Xian rose and said respectfully, "Your humble servant, Xiahou Xian, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
"Have you come of age?" Cao Rui asked.
Seeing that the subject had been broached, Qinghe hurriedly took over. "Xian has just turned twenty. I should think it is time for him to serve the state."
Qinghe was very direct. She cared nothing for appearances and simply asked for an official post.
Cao Rui smiled. "That can easily be arranged. The state is in need of men at present. However, all my court attendant posts are filled. Would you be willing to gain some experience in a local post first?"
Qinghe was deeply displeased to hear this.
After all, Xiahou Xian belonged to the very highest nobility of Great Wei.
Whatever else happened, he should at least become a mounted attendant at the emperor's side upon entering office. After building up a few years of seniority, he could take up a post as a commandery administrator. As long as he made no major mistakes, a few years in the provinces would allow him to return to the capital and become at least one of the Nine Ministers. Alternatively, he could seek a future in the central army, like Cao Zhen's son.
This was the path Qinghe had long since arranged in her mind.
Though displeased, Qinghe dared not show too much of it. Xiahou Xian, on the other hand, had more to consider.
His starting identity was certainly beyond reproach, but ever since Cao Pi had compromised with the great clans to become emperor, Cao Wei's imperial clansmen could no longer rise effortlessly through the ranks as they once had.
The reigning emperor, Cao Rui, was young, but he was quite calculating. On the one hand, he did not want the imperial clans to grow so powerful that they threatened his rule.
On the other hand, he hoped that truly outstanding talents would emerge from those clans and safeguard Great Wei's realm.
Members of the imperial clans could be employed, but not incompetent ones.
Xiahou Mao was a living example.
Since Emperor Wen's reign, Xiahou Mao had been military governor of Guanzhong for seven years.
Fortunately, those seven years had seen few dangerous battles. Otherwise, Cao Rui could never have felt at ease leaving a mediocrity to guard Great Wei's frontier.
Xiahou Xian naturally had his own considerations.
To establish a firm foothold in Great Wei now, he had to acquire power. Relying on his status alone was far from enough. He needed military merit and greater prestige, and this was the best opportunity.
Just as Qinghe was hemming and hawing, unsure how to answer, Xiahou Xian cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to serve the state."
"Excellent!" Cao Rui's expression brightened. "The imperial clans need men like you, and Great Wei needs them even more. As for precisely where you should serve, I must give it further thought."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Xiahou Xian hurriedly said. Whatever the case, he had achieved his aim.
After the meal, the emperor gave permission for everyone to leave.
As they departed, Cao Rui seemed to have asked General-in-Chief Cao Zhen alone to remain behind.
Xiahou Xian had intended to leave. He was just about to follow his mother out through the hall doors when he suddenly made up his mind.
"Your Majesty, there is something I have long wished to say."
Cao Rui looked at him in surprise. "What is it? Speak at once."
Xiahou Xian thought that, whatever else happened, as a transmigrator without a cheat, his foreknowledge was his only support.
"I surmise that the State of Shu will invade with a great army at the beginning of spring next year. Guanzhong and the commanderies of Longxi should prepare early."
Cao Rui paused in surprise. Several advisers around him had said similar things.
For example, Palace Attendant Liu Ye had once told him that Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of Shu Han, had established his headquarters and military farms in Hanzhong; his intentions went without saying.
Cao Zhen had also reminded him that, after pacifying Nanzhong, Shu Han would inevitably set its sights on Yong and Liang next.
Yet Cao Rui had merely listened. He believed the State of Shu was no cause for concern.
Zhuge Liang alone could not possibly stir up any wind or waves.
Most of Wei State's main forces were now on the eastern front. Eastern Wu was the enemy they most needed to guard against.
Then another thought struck Cao Rui. Was the military governor of Guanzhong not Xiahou Xian's father, Xiahou Mao?
Could this young man be claiming an enemy invasion was coming so that he would send reinforcements to Guanzhong?
This could not help making Cao Rui somewhat more wary.
"What sound strategy do you have?" Cao Rui asked with apparent earnestness, while inwardly thinking that if Xiahou Xian proposed sending reinforcements to Yong and Liang, then this young man surely harbored a wolf's ambitions and must never be entrusted with important responsibilities.
Unexpectedly, Xiahou Xian said unhurriedly, "I believe my father has guarded Great Wei's frontier for many years, toiling hard and rendering great service. Your Majesty could summon him back to the capital to take up a post, thereby displaying Your Majesty's grace."
Looking into Cao Rui's eyes, he added, "Afterward, you could send the General-in-Chief (Cao Zhen) to oversee military affairs in Guanzhong."