A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 37 Hongmen Banquet

The Book of Rites, Record of Music, states: "Spread out the banquet mats and arrange the wine vessels and sacrificial vessels."

When Liu Ju, Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and the twelve generals of the Northern Army arrived at the meeting place, it was already late afternoon, around sunset.

The officials had already set up an open-air venue for the emperor to meet with his ministers, with hundreds of reed mats and a wooden table for each mat, but the hierarchy was very strict.

The pre-Qin ritual system stipulated that "the emperor's seat had five tiers, the feudal lords' seats had three tiers, and the grand masters' seats had two tiers, with strict distinctions in rank."

In addition, in ancient etiquette, the wine vessels were more important than the seating arrangement. The so-called rank was the level of the combination of wine vessels and seating.

At any grand banquet, the most honored use a jue (爵) containing one he (合) of wine; the next honored use a zhi (觯) containing two he (合); the third honored use a gu (觚) containing three he (合); the fourth honored use a jiao (角) containing four he (合); and the fifth honored use a cup (杯) containing five he (合).

In other words, the higher the status, the smaller the capacity of the wine vessel.

Among the various wine vessels, there are many differences in materials, shapes, fineness, inscriptions, etc. Even in a grand banquet where the emperor rewards his officials with hundreds of people, just like today, the numerous wine vessels will clearly show the status of each person, and there will never be any confusion between the noble and the lowly.

The containers used for serving wine also differ: large zun (wine vessels) are used for grades three and above, while large pots are used for grades below grade three.

By the late Spring and Autumn Period, these elaborate wine rituals had been greatly simplified and faded, and the use of wine vessels had become more casual. Confucius was deeply moved and sighed with regret, "The wine vessel is no longer a wine vessel! What a waste!"

The gu is no longer a gu, oh gu!

However, after the Qin and Han dynasties were established, all the rituals were restored. In the officialdom of the Han dynasty, the hierarchy of wine vessels was completely restored. When officials held banquets, they usually used various kinds of jue (wine vessels). Even when ordinary people held banquets, they used zhi (wine vessels) or gu (wine vessels). Only the containers used for serving wine became more casual.

Furthermore, the Book of Rites, Quli Shang, states, "When a guest removes the double mat, the host firmly declines, but the guest then steps onto the mat and sits down."

The layers of mats depend on the rank of the official. A "public official" would have three layers of mats, while a "high-ranking official" would have two layers. This was called a double mat.

Since it was an imperial banquet, with everyone dressed in red and purple, it was not just a simple two or three-tiered banquet. In particular, there was a large wooden table in front of everyone, under which was a nine-tiered banquet.

In the early days of the Han Dynasty, the Qin system was inherited, with the right side being the most respected. However, under the current emperor, frequent wars have led to a significant change in the status of the military.

Although the right side is traditionally considered superior, in practice, the left side has gradually become more respected.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Liu Ju's seat was placed on the right at the head of the table.

As the crown prince, he should have occupied a single seat like the monarch, but on the left side at the head of the table, three seats were set up for Prince Hong, Prince Dan, and Prince Xu.

When the young princes were seated, their mothers would often accompany them. Behind the three princes, on the two side seats, Lady Wang sat on one side and Consort Li sat on the other.

Liu Ju slowly stepped forward, and the powerful nobles, dukes, marquises, and imperial family members of the Han Dynasty rose and stood up in a tidal wave.

Upon reaching the seat of honor, Liu Ju did not rush to sit down. He glanced at the three princes and then at the emperor's two concubines.

Li Ji could no longer sit still. She hurriedly pulled her two sons to stand up and bow. Lady Wang hesitated, unwilling to get up, but she had no choice but to stand up and bow with her sons. A look of humiliation appeared on her foxy face.

In formal settings, Huo Qubing changed his form of address, leaning closer and whispering, "Your Highness, it is the Fa wine."

On Liu Ju's wooden table, besides a whole steaming, fragrant deer leg, there were four bowls of vegetarian dishes: mallow, mint, fresh leeks, and a pot of unnamed wild vegetables. In the wine cup, there was indeed real wine.

Moreover, it's French wine.

A type of wine that relieves summer heat and has extremely cooling properties. It can only be brewed on the third day of the third lunar month in spring. It can only use three catties and three ounces of spring yeast, three dou and three sheng of deep well water, and three dou and three sheng of millet. The lees of the yeast must not be eaten by pigs, dogs, sheep, chickens, or rats. The water must be extremely clear and clean, and the millet must be washed until it is white and shiny. Each person is only allowed to brew three jars. Then, at the third watch of the night, the wine is placed in a cellar and stored until the third day of the third lunar month of the following year before it can be opened. When the wine jar is half full, three sheng and three he of millet are added, without adding water or yeast. After three days, the wine jar is full again. It can be drunk in summer and autumn and cannot be exhausted. It is said to be miraculous.

Governing alcohol according to law naturally involves more than just simple methods; it is for the purpose of establishing ceremonial drinking rules.

In its early days, drinking games were used to assist drinking rituals. During the Western Zhou Dynasty, when "wine was used to complete rituals," there were very specific and strict regulations on drinking etiquette. In order to maintain the etiquette of drinking at banquets, there were also special "wine supervisors" and "wine officials" to supervise drinking etiquette and preside over the "wine administration."

After the Spring and Autumn Period, with the collapse of ritual and music and the prevalence of drinking among emperors and nobles, drinking games gradually became games to enhance the entertainment of banquets, but the rules of drinking games were always upheld.

The most recent story is about Liu Zhang, the second son of King Daohui of Qi, who was serving at a banquet in the palace. Empress Lü ordered him to be a wine official. He said to Empress Lü, "I am from a military family. Please allow me to serve wine according to military law."

Empress Lü agreed without hesitation. Later, when they were drunk and in high spirits, one of Empress Lü's relatives escaped the wine and quietly slipped out of the main hall. Liu Zhang immediately chased after him, drew his long sword, and killed the man.

Liu Zhang carried the man's head back to the main hall and said that someone had escaped drinking and had been dealt with according to military law.

Empress Lü was greatly alarmed, but because of the pre-arranged agreement regarding the wine, she couldn't even punish Liu Zhang; she simply ended the event.

Liu Zhang's actions were a manifestation of the court struggles in the early years of the founding of the dynasty.

The cups for the five-year-old Prince Hong, the four-year-old Prince Dan, and the three-year-old Prince Xu clearly contained strong, sweet tea, but the cup for the seven-year-old Crown Prince contained strictly regulated wine. It would be hard to believe that this was not intentional.

"Your Highness, I will sit to the side and drink on your behalf." Huo Qubing was willing to set aside his rank and sit behind Liu Ju to drink on his behalf.

Liu Ju shook his head and said, "How could the Crown Prince of the Great Han not know how to drink?"

The sound was neither too loud nor too soft, but just loud enough for the nearby dukes, nobles, and ministers with amused smiles to hear.

Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and the twelve generals of the Northern Army each took their places, sitting in the second seat at the bottom.

At the first quarter of the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), the person in charge of the meeting rang the ancient bell three times. After that, Liu Che slowly walked out.

"Your Majesty is here!"

Long live Your Majesty!

Everyone stood up at the same time and shouted in unison, "May happiness last forever!"

Liu Che walked to the reed mat, but instead of sitting down at the large table, he picked up the wine cup on the table and said, "The Han Dynasty is at its peak, all thanks to the merits of you gentlemen. Some have worked for the people, while others have served as generals to stabilize the country. Gentlemen, let us drink this cup together!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The cool, slightly icy, and mellow French wine, once it enters the throat, instantly brings a surge of intoxication. Good wine is the most intoxicating.

Many eyes fell on the head of the right-hand side, where the Crown Prince looked up and saw that the two cups of wine in his cup were empty.

Liu Che smiled with satisfaction. People can only do foolish things when they are drunk. He continued, "For today's hunt, I have prepared a special reward. Whichever prince performs the best will receive this reward."

The yellow silk was lifted.

A golden seal with a dragon design immediately appeared, and someone exclaimed, "The Crown Prince's seal?"

(End of this chapter)