Chapter 22: One Movement and One Stillness Luoyang, Beigong. The phantom man from the Western Regions that Cao Rui had been waiting for for a long time finally arrived in Luoyang. A magician is a magician. The magicians of the Western Regions are well-known throughout the world. Since the Han Dynasty, they have been one of the official "tributes" of the small countries in the Western Regions. Since General Cao Zhen pacified the Qiang and Hu, exchanges between the Western Regions and the Central Plains have increased. In the winter of the second year of Huangchu, that is, five years ago, the various Hu tribes formed an alliance and rebelled in Hexi. Cao Zhen, who was then the General Zhenxi, led his generals to attack the Hu coalition, won a great victory and pacified Hexi. This was the second time that Cao Zhen represented Cao Wei after Xiahou Yuan and brutally beat the Hu people in Liang Province. It was indeed a ‘violent beating.’ In this victory, Cao Zhen beheaded more than 50,000 enemies, captured 100,000 people, and seized million sheep and 80,000 cattle. This was simply a raid on the homes of the Hu people in Liangzhou. Cao Pi was also very happy when he heard about the great victory. He said at the time: "I am making plans behind the curtain, while the generals are fighting bravely thousands of miles away."
Apparently Cao Pi was influenced by this victory and thought his military skills were pretty good, so he attacked the State of Wu the following year. Failed. Having said that, since Cao Zhen pacified Liangzhou, the Silk Road has been open again. Small states in the Western Regions, such as Shanshan, Qiuci, and Yutian, also sent envoys to Luoyang in the second year. Cao Pi, who loved sweets, also ate grapes and rock honey from the Western Regions. The illusionists, or magicians, from the Western Regions also gradually came to Luoyang. There were not many toys during the Three Kingdoms period, such as pitching pots, go, etc. Cao Rui had lost interest in playing them. Hearing that the phantom man from the Western Regions had come to Luoyang with the caravan, he summoned him to the palace to perform. Of course, Cao Rui was not the only audience member. When Cao Rui was in the Eastern Palace, there were many ministers who had served him. Cao Rui took this opportunity to summon them into the palace to have fun with his old ministers. In addition to Cao Rui, there is Cao Rui's only concubine, Concubine Mao, and Concubine Mao's younger brother Mao Zeng. There were ministers when Cao Rui was Marquis of Wude: Marquis of Wude's tutor Zheng Cheng and Marquis of Wude's concubine Ji Mao. Zheng Cheng was the great-nephew of Zheng Xuan, a great Confucian scholar known as the "God of Classics", and Ji Mao was also a man of integrity and talent. There were ministers when Cao Rui was the Prince of Pingyuan: Gao Tanglong, the Prince of Pingyuan's tutor, and Wei Zhen, the Minister of Personnel who had guided Cao Rui in government affairs. Both of them were people Cao Rui trusted. There are also four Pingyuan Wang Wen: He Zeng, Guanqiu Jian, Bi Gui, and Li Feng. The role of these four people is similar to that of Cao Pi's four friends "Sima Yi, Chen Qun, Wu Zhi, and Zhu Shao". There were also several clan members who were on good terms with Cao Rui before he ascended the throne. Cao Zhao and Cao Zan, the sons of Grand Marshal Cao Xiu, Cao Shuang, the son of General Cao Zhen, and Xiahou Xuan, the son of Xiahou Shang. Of course, there were also several close ministers to the emperor, including the imperial attendants Liu Ye, Xin Pi, Huang Quan, the chief minister Liu Fang, the chief minister Sun Zi, and the youngest, Zhong Yu. It can be said that this was the first gathering that Cao Rui brought together old friends since he ascended the throne. According to the emperor, this gathering was very simple. It was just for everyone to watch the acrobatic performances of the Western Regions' magicians, reminisce about the past, and enhance their friendship. If the emperor invites you to the palace to watch acrobatics, even the dumbest person would not think that this is just a simple party. Official titles, fame and salaries, the emperor might bestow them upon you like water just out of joy or out of nostalgia.
This is no random guess. When Cao Pi first became emperor, he lavishly rewarded his old ministers. Cao Pi's four friends were "Chen Qun, Sima Yi, Wu Zhi, and Zhu Shao". Chen Qun became the Minister of the Chancellery and Sima Yi became the Minister of the Chancellery. These two people were in charge of the political affairs of the Wei State. Wu Zhi was appointed as a general and commander of the military affairs of Hebei. Zhu Shao died early and did not catch up with this reward. The emperor's rewards were based on precedents, and everyone present had some expectations in their hearts. As everyone took their seats, several phantom figures from the Western Regions also came into the hall. The leader, a Hu man wearing a pointed hat and curly beard, bowed to Cao Rui and the ministers. Several Hu dancers behind him began to dance to the sound of the pipa played by the musicians. After paying respect, the Hu people also started dancing, moving around the hall in rhythm, first kneeling to Cao Rui with dancing, then paying respect in order to the tables of the ministers. Concubine Mao sat beside Cao Rui and said, "Your Majesty, this Hu person is quite interesting. Look at the way he dances. It's so funny." Cao Rui said with a smile: "Don't think he's funny. I heard that he has some skills. He will perform swallowing a sword in his mouth in a while." Maopin asked in doubt: "How can a sword be swallowed into the stomach? People are not made of iron." Cao Rui nodded: "I don't know the method, let's just watch him perform." After the Hu man saluted all the ministers, he slowly walked into the center of the hall. The originally slow rhythm of the pipa began to speed up, and the nine Hu women's dance steps also became faster and faster with the music. However, the jumping Hu people became quiet at this time. The contrast between movement and stillness, accompanied by Western-style music, really made everyone present feel a different style. The Hu man bowed again, then picked up a scimitar from the table beside him. It was indeed a machete, about the length of a person's forearm. The Hu man didn't say much. He just slowly raised his head to the sky, opened his mouth wide, raised the knife handle above his head with both hands, and slowly put the tip of the knife into his mouth. Some people have already started exclaiming. Concubine Mao beside Cao Rui had already covered her mouth with her hands, and her brother Mao Zeng, who was standing behind her, had half of his body sticking out. The rest of the ministers, young or old, also stared at the Hu people's knives intently. The scimitar reflected the silver light, and the Hu man's hand slowly sank into his mouth, accompanied by the music. The dancer's movement and the illusionist's stillness were in sharp contrast at this moment, yet they complemented each other. The entire blade was sunk into the mouth of the Hu. The ministers began to talk among themselves, discussing this incredible scene. The Hu man slowly raised his hand again and slowly pulled out the entire knife. "Good!" Cao Rui became excited and cheered and clapped. Everyone looked at Cao Rui and clapped their hands. After a pause, they realized that Cao Rui was applauding, and then they imitated Cao Rui's movements and clapped their hands. The applause gradually increased, and the musicians' rhythm became faster and faster. The music stopped abruptly, and the Hu people knelt on the ground, holding the scimitar up with both hands. This illusionist from the Western Regions is already middle-aged, and must have traveled to many places. He knows that after watching the performance, dignitaries will always be curious about this knife. The eunuch took the knife, wiped it briefly, and handed it to Cao Rui.
Cao Rui and Concubine Mao checked again and again. The knife was made of pure iron and had no telescopic function. They had no idea how the Hu man had swallowed it. Cao Rui said, "Pass it on and show it to the ministers." This scimitar was passed around the hall one by one, causing bursts of low exclamations. At this moment, a eunuch came in and said something to the Zhongshu Jian Liu Fang. Liu Fang immediately looked gloomy and went to the palace gate to retrieve a scroll of documents. Liu Fang didn't want to be a bad guy and didn't want to spoil the fun of Emperor Cao Rui and everyone present. But this document had to be presented to the emperor immediately at this time and place. Liu Fang walked up to Cao Rui and presented the document, saying softly, "Your Majesty, I sent an edict to the Secretariat this morning, and now the Secretariat has sent a letter of persuasion." Cao Rui narrowed his eyes and said nothing, obviously a little angry. Yesterday, Cao Rui ordered the Zhongshujian Liu Fang to draft an imperial edict to promote his old officials. The imperial edict was delivered to the Shangshutai in the morning, but what was waiting was a document of persuasion. Cao Rui held a party in the palace today just to confer official titles on everyone. Just for this little bit of vinegar, I made this plate of dumplings. As a result, the Secretariat advised me not to be given an official position. Sima Yi, Chen Qun, what do you want to do in the Secretariat? Please read and collect ~ Thank you (End of this chapter)