"Thank you for your help, Brother Zhonggong." Xiahou Xian held out his hand, and Guanqiu Jian pulled him to his feet.
Guanqiu Jian smiled. "Fengming, this is your first time accompanying His Majesty on a hunt, isn't it?"
Xiahou Xian nodded.
Guanqiu Jian said no more. He turned to look at the enormous creature on the ground and clicked his tongue. "The two of us can't carry such a large beast. Wait here, Fengming. I'll find a few soldiers to carry it."
Xiahou Xian was just about to say something, but the other man had already disappeared.
Still, he soon understood. With such a great achievement at hand, anyone would want a share of the spoils.
The day's hunt drew to a close, and Cao Rui had men begin inspecting everyone's catches.
Cao Zhao, Cao Shuang, and the others had mostly hunted docile animals such as wild rabbits and young deer.
Before long, four or five soldiers returned carrying an enormous wild boar.
Everyone marveled at it.
Xiahou Xian and Guanqiu Jian walked behind them.
Meeting everyone's approving gazes, Xiahou Xian was about to explain, but Guanqiu Jian beside him spoke first.
Guanqiu Jian declared that Xiahou Xian had remained calm in the face of danger and that not a single arrow had missed its mark. He had witnessed everything from the side.
As he spoke, Guanqiu Jian winked at Xiahou Xian. Xiahou Xian took his meaning and kept his mouth shut.
Cao Rui was delighted and declared that he would reward him generously.
Then Cao Rui had the game dragged away and ordered the cooks to prepare it.
Only after giving all these instructions did Cao Rui turn his gaze to Xiahou Xian. "What reward would you like?"
Uneasy at heart, Xiahou Xian said awkwardly, "Your subject was merely fortunate. I am unworthy of such a reward."
Cao Rui immediately said, "There is no need for modesty. Since I have given my word, I must honor it."
"Since you do not know, I shall decide for myself."
With that, Cao Rui had someone fetch his Precious Carved Bow.
The so-called Precious Carved Bow was a carved bow adorned with all manner of precious treasures, mostly used to display extravagance.
"Come and take it yourself." Cao Rui had someone place the Precious Carved Bow in an open stretch of the aisle between the seats.
Xiahou Xian left his seat, accepted the precious bow, and bowed. "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for bestowing this bow."
After the rewards had been handed out, the imperial cooks finally finished preparing the day's game.
Cao Rui had a small brazier placed at each person's seat. It seemed they were going to roast meat.
During the feast, Cao Rui brought out something special.
Attendants carried over a blue-gray earthenware jar. When it was opened, a dark brown powder lay inside.
The widely knowledgeable Wang Su recognized it at a glance.
"This is... black chuan!"
It was actually black pepper.
At this time, it was mostly produced in India. The batch Cao Rui possessed was said to be a rare curiosity acquired from some merchants in the Western Regions.
Although black pepper would not enter China on a large scale until the Tang dynasty, Cao Zhen's years of campaigns in Longxi had helped restore the Silk Road, which had once been severed during the turmoil at the end of the Han.
Xiahou Xian was already accustomed to such sights, but the others present were different.
After all, this stuff was exceedingly rare. Even the households of the highest-ranking scholar-officials might not have much of it, and some people had never even seen it.
As the saying went, rarity made things precious. The scholars did not value black pepper for its culinary uses. What mattered to them was that possessing it was a symbol of status, something with which to outdo one another.
Cao Rui distributed the black pepper, and satisfied smiles spread across everyone's faces.
With Cao Rui's permission, everyone began feasting heartily. It was doubtful how much better a little pepper could make this completely unmarinated game taste, but they still ate with great enjoyment.
After all, what they were savoring was prestige.
Cao Shuang seemed to have gotten carried away with eating. His mouth glistening with grease, he said to Cao Rui, "Your Majesty, it's a good thing Yong and Liang belong to our Great Wei! Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to enjoy such delicious seasoning."
Hmm... it seemed Cao Shuang really did think it tasted good.
Yet Cao Rui's expression immediately darkened, and he said nothing.
Seeing this, Guanqiu Jian hurriedly said, "Zhaobo, today is a hunting excursion. Let us not discuss affairs of state."
Cao Shuang gave an "Oh." Though he still did not know what he had done wrong, he obediently shut his mouth.
In truth, what Cao Shuang had said did accord with Cao Rui's wishes.
For lately, Yong and Liang had been far from peaceful.
The Qiang and Hu were in revolt, many of the people refused to submit, and Shu Han harassed the borders from time to time.
Yong and Liang had not been unified even in Ma Teng's time. The region had consisted of several alliances, with the various powers refusing to acknowledge one another. Even after it fell into Wei State's hands, commandery administrators were only stationed in its principal cities, along with some permanent troops.
In county towns and the like beyond the commandery seats, however, the degree of control was quite low.
That was why the three commanderies of Longxi had surrendered as soon as Shu Han sent out its army.
And that was where the problem arose.
Quite a few people at court had advised abandoning Yong and Liang.
Cao Rui had, in fact, seriously considered the question, but in the end, he could not bear to cut away what he cherished.
He was unwilling to relinquish even an inch of the foundation his forebears had left him.
The matter had remained unresolved ever since. Whenever there was the slightest stir in Yong and Liang, the court officials would leap out and raise it again.
Cao Rui chose to give it the cold shoulder.
Hearing Cao Shuang suddenly mention it again today inevitably reminded him of the matter that had once tangled his heart like a skein of hemp.
In the blink of an eye, another month passed.
When Xiahou Xian reported for duty that day, he made a point of taking a look at the solemn, imposing Taiji Hall.
It looked just as it always had, seemingly untouched by the passage of time. Xiahou Xian recalled how, at this very time last year, his mother had brought him to the palace to seek an official post.
Yes, he had served Great Wei for a year now.
Yet there was no joy at all in this otherwise memorable day.
Cao Rui's face was clouded with sorrow.
For Grand Marshal Cao Xiu had died.
Cao Xiu had been dispirited ever since his defeat at Shiting several months earlier. Not only had the emperor refrained from punishing him, but he had also bestowed exceptional rewards upon him.
This had only made his shame harder to bear. With the added flare-up of the sores on his back, the renowned general had finally departed this world.
Cao Rui bestowed upon Cao Xiu the posthumous title "Marquis Zhuang" and had his son Cao Zhao inherit his noble rank.
Once everything had been settled, Cao Rui wasted no time summoning numerous senior ministers to the Eastern Hall to deliberate.
Those present included Director of the Palace Secretariat Sun Zi, Supervisor of the Palace Secretariat Liu Fang, General-in-Chief Cao Zhen, Minister of Works Chen Qun, and General of Chariots and Cavalry Sima Yi.
Cao Rui wanted to learn the views of these senior ministers before the formal court deliberations.
Once everyone had arrived, Cao Rui went straight to the point. "Who do you gentlemen believe can take over as commander of Yang Province?"
There had actually been a good candidate: Jia Kui, the Inspector of Yu Province, who had rescued Cao Xiu at the Battle of Shiting and saved Wei State's army from complete annihilation.
Unfortunately, Jia Kui had suddenly died of illness not long ago.
Everyone began recommending their respective candidates.
The names mentioned most often included Wang Ji, Man Chong, and Wang Chang.
Not a single member of the imperial clan was among them.
It was not that they deliberately avoided mentioning them, but that there truly was no suitable candidate within the clan. Xiahou Ru, the only one who could barely have served, had just been sent to Jing Province.
Cao Rui ultimately decided to appoint Man Chong as commander. At present, he was the best choice.
He came from neither the imperial clan nor the great scholar clans. To be precise, Man Chong was a lone minister.
A man like him was almost impossible for either side to win over.
After everyone dispersed, Cao Rui looked utterly exhausted.
It seemed there were still quite a few knots in his heart that he had yet to untangle.
Just as Xiahou Xian thought there was nothing more to do here and he could leave duty and return home, Cao Rui suddenly stopped him.
Cao Rui seemed to have pondered the matter for a long time. He looked at Xiahou Xian and let out a breath before slowly saying:
"Would you be willing to take up a post in Huainan?"