Chương 739: The investiture ceremony concludes; banquet held in the Taiji Hall.

All the civil and military officials in the hall knelt down again, bowing their heads in unison, their voices resounding through the roof tiles:

"Your Majesty, we thank you for your great favor! Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Han Dynasty!"

This time, the shouts were louder and more genuine than before.

Everyone got what they deserved, and everyone was sincerely convinced.

For over twenty years, Liu Ce was known for his clear system of rewards and punishments, and he never let those who had rendered meritorious service feel disheartened.

The main business of the court assembly came to an end, and a few minor matters, such as the appointment and removal of officials of the Protectorate and the laying of railways, were discussed before the court session ended.

No one was in a hurry to leave. Everyone remembered that His Majesty was hosting a banquet in the Taiji Hall tonight to celebrate the great victory in the western expedition and to reward the meritorious officials.

After a long and arduous wait, the court session finally ended, and the officials walked out in twos and threes, each with a smile on their face.

The military officers, arms around each other's shoulders, vowed to drink until they dropped; the civil officials strolled leisurely, discussing the upcoming new policies...

After everyone returned to their residences, the servants who came to deliver the good news ran all over the streets and alleys of Luoyang.

The plaques for the Duke's and County Duke's mansions were made overnight, and every household was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, making it even more lively than the New Year.

In the blink of an eye, it was evening.

The Taiji Hall was already properly arranged, with tables and desks lined up along both sides of the hall, extending all the way to the outer steps.

The table was piled high with delicacies: crystal pork knuckle, braised deer tail, stewed bear paw, sweet and sour Yellow River carp, grapes, pomegranates, and cantaloupe, stacked like a small mountain.

Fine wines and spirits are piled up in jars under the eaves, and there's plenty to go around.

As dusk fell, all the officials had arrived. Without the strict rules of the court, everyone relaxed.

The military officers were boisterous, urging each other to drink; the civil officials were refined, sipping their wine slowly, discussing poetry and state affairs.

Liu Ce sat on his throne, looking at the lively scene below, feeling delighted.

He raised his hand to signal everyone not to stand on ceremony and to eat and drink freely.

With His Majesty's words, the scene instantly became even more lively.

Zhang Fei and Cheng Yaojin were the first to start fighting. The two of them hugged wine jars and blew on each other's wine, taking turns to sip, neither willing to give in.

"Old Cheng, your alcohol tolerance is far from enough!" Zhang Fei wiped his mouth, wine dripping down his beard.

Cheng Yaojin slammed the jar on the table: "Stop bragging! Back in Zhuoxian, I could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk! Today, I'm going to drink you under the table!"

The two men drank until their faces were red and their necks were thick, and a crowd gathered around them to watch the spectacle, cheering and shouting.

Qin Qiong sat beside him, holding her forehead, looking helpless: This old Cheng, he really is a handful wherever he goes.

Guan Yu was initially maintaining a composed demeanor, sipping his wine in small sips, appearing as a refined and elegant gentleman with a beautiful beard.

Zhang Liao walked over with a wine cup in his hand and said with a smile, "Yun Chang, cheers!"

Guan Yu nodded, picked up his wine cup, and drank it all in one gulp.

After a few drinks, he became more talkative, stroking his long beard as he reminisced with Zhang Liao about the past, speaking vividly and realistically.

A group of young generals surrounded him, their eyes wide with astonishment.

Zhao Yun's table was the most lively, with young generals lining up to offer toasts.

Zhao Yun accepted every drink offered, one cup after another, and drank for a long time without changing his expression, which amazed everyone who saw it.

Dian Wei squatted in his seat, holding the wine jar and drinking silently. No matter who came to offer him a toast, he would pick it up and drink it down without saying a word.

He doesn't talk much, but his alcohol tolerance is unfathomable.

Lu Bu was sitting alone, drinking in silence, when Yuwen Chengdu and Yuchi Gong approached with wine cups: "Fengxian, cheers!"

Lu Bu raised his head, looked at the two men, a smile appearing on his lips, and picked up his wine cup to drink it all in one gulp.

The situation was quite different for the civil officials.

Xun Yu, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui gathered together, discussing the Fourth Five-Year Plan...

As they spoke, their eyes were filled with anticipation for the future.

Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, and Jia Xu sat at a table. Guo Jia's witty remarks made Xi Zhicai laugh frequently, while Jia Xu occasionally chimed in with a comment that always hit the nail on the head. The three of them drank to their hearts' content.

Shen Wansan, holding a wine cup, went around offering toasts, displaying his shrewd and diplomatic skills.

He and Song Yingxing got along the best; one was an inventor, and the other invested in production.

Zhang Zhongjing sat with Hua Tuo, eating and discussing medicine. Occasionally, he would glance up at the generals who were drunk and staggering around, and shake his head helplessly.

"These guys drank so much, there are bound to be a lot of them with headaches and fevers tomorrow, I'll be busy again."

Lu Bing sat in the corner, eating his food silently, his gaze sweeping over the entire room without making a sound.

Having grown accustomed to working in the shadows, he found himself uncomfortable in lively settings.

But seeing the hall filled with laughter and joy, the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward.

Xu Da, Li Jing, Yue Fei, and Xue Rengui, the main commanders, sat around a table, pointing at a map of the West and discussing tactics for the westward expedition and the terrain of Rome.

As they chatted, the group raised their glasses to toast the soldiers who had died thousands of miles away, and the atmosphere suddenly became more somber.

Yes, this glorious era was won with the lives of countless nameless soldiers.

Liu Ce stepped down from the throne with a wine cup in his hand and went from table to table offering toasts.

Walking over to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's table, he smiled and patted Zhang Fei on the shoulder: "Yide, drink less, or you won't be able to get up tomorrow."

Zhang Fei chuckled, his tongue slurred, "Don't worry, brother, I, Old Zhang, can hold my liquor!"

When he reached Xu Da and Li Jing's table, he raised his cup and said, "This western expedition owes much to your strategic planning. I toast you both."

Xu Da and the others quickly stood up: "We dare not accept such praise. It is all thanks to Your Majesty's divine might and the soldiers' bravery."

When he reached Song Yingxing and Jia Sixie's table, he said gently, "Agriculture and industry are the foundation of the country. I will have to rely on you two in the future."

Song Yingxing exclaimed excitedly, "Your Majesty, I will certainly devote myself wholeheartedly to this task and live up to your trust!"

After a round of toasts, Liu Ce had drunk quite a bit, and his face was flushed.

Standing in the center of the hall, looking at the assembled meritorious officials and generals, and at this peaceful and prosperous era, a surge of pride welled up within him.

More than 20 years of hard work and perseverance have finally brought about peace and prosperity throughout the world today.

This vast land was conquered by him and his old brothers; they will protect it together for generations to come.

The banquet lasted until late into the night.

As expected, Zhang Fei and Cheng Yaojin were both completely drunk. They even crawled under the table and kept bragging to each other. In the end, they were carried back to the mansion by their servants.

Guan Yu was also slightly tipsy, stroking his beard and humming a little tune as he walked, his steps unsteady.

Zhao Yun remained steady; despite drinking so much, his steps were not faltered at all, and he returned to his residence safely.

The officials dispersed in twos and threes, still chatting about the investiture ceremony, the banquet, and this unprecedented golden age.

The moonlight shone on the rooftops of Luoyang, on the magnificent Taiji Hall, and on the windowsills of every household.

The first day of the sixth month of the twenty-first year of Shenwu's reign is destined to be written into history in great detail.

On this day, the Han Dynasty's martial arts reached their peak; On this day, countless meritorious officials had their wishes fulfilled; On this day, everyone knew that an unprecedented golden age had steadily arrived.

And this is only the beginning of the great Han Dynasty's magnificent achievements.

......

The 21st year of Shenwu, the fifth day of the sixth month.

As dawn broke, breakfast stalls in Luojing City were just setting up, and the aroma of hot soy milk mixed with the fragrance of fried dough sticks filled the streets.

At this time of day, civil and military officials would either leisurely have breakfast in their residences or ride in carriages to the palace, maintaining a steady pace.

But today is different... Before dawn, an imperial edict was issued from the palace, summoning His Majesty to the Liangyi Hall. All the important civil and military officials were present. The matter was confidential and could not be delayed.