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Having worked in an office environment in his past life, Fei Qian knew all too well how troublesome it was when factions multiplied. It was a headache not only for the company's top executives but also for the rank-and-file employees. It was a problem everyone hated to deal with.
Some things that would normally benefit the company's development could be deliberately sabotaged in factional competition, with people prioritizing their own interests over the collective good.
In Liu Biao's current situation, there was bound to be a power struggle between the local Jingxiang faction and the outsiders. While the battlefield was brutal, the cutthroat competition for power wasn't much gentler.
However, after Fei Qian finished greeting everyone, he noticed that Liu Biao seemed to have deliberately concealed something—the fact that Fei Qian had agreed to only offer advice and not participate in governance.
Liu Biao didn't mention this at all when introducing Fei Qian to anyone!
There was a huge difference between a special assistant to the chairman and a special advisor. The former might encroach on others' power, while the latter generally wouldn't. What was Liu Biao's intention in hiding this?
Clearly, Liu Biao didn't plan to bring it up in this setting—or perhaps he never intended to mention it at all. Instead, he clapped his hands excitedly and called for his servants to bring out his Three Elegant Cups!
Liu Biao, Liu Jingsheng, was also a wine enthusiast, most famous for crafting these Three Elegant Cups: the largest was called Bo Ya (Elder Elegance), the middle one Zhong Ya (Middle Elegance), and the smallest Ji Ya (Younger Elegance).
The servants acted quickly, and soon several of them carried the Three Elegant Cups into the hall—yes, they had to carry them—
This was Fei Qian's first time seeing the actual cups, and when he did, he felt a wave of dizziness. Were they kidding? Could these things even be called cups?
They were clearly small, medium, and large wine vats…
As the host, Liu Biao took the lead and ordered the servants to fill the smallest one, the Ji Ya Cup, first—
Fei Qian watched as a servant poured a pot of Golden Nectar Wine into it, but it wasn't enough.
They poured another pot, and it still wasn't full.
By the time they were halfway through the third pot, the cup was finally filled…
At this point, Fei Qian had only one thought: it seemed he was destined to leave this banquet flat on his back. With so much wine in just the Ji Ya Cup, not to mention the larger ones, even if the alcohol content was low, the sheer volume would be overwhelming…
Once the cup was filled, the servants used a ladle to scoop wine from the Ji Ya Cup and pour a cup for each person, placing it on their individual tables.
Liu Biao turned to Yi Ji and said, "Boji, shall you go first again?"
Yi Ji smiled and nodded, stepping into the center of the hall. He placed the wine ladle into the Ji Ya Cup, leaving a long handle sticking out.
Yi Ji glanced at Fei Qian, as if specifically explaining the rules of Liu Biao's Three Elegant Banquet to him—
First, everyone would drink a cup of wine. Then, the first host would spin the ladle. When the ladle stopped spinning, the person it pointed to would have to perform—either sing, dance, recite poetry, or compose a piece on the spot. For the Ji Ya Cup, at least one person had to praise the performance; for the Zhong Ya Cup, two people were needed; and for the Bo Ya Cup, three were required. If the performer succeeded, everyone would drink another cup of wine, and the host would add more wine to the large cup before spinning the ladle again to choose the next person…
If the performer failed to deliver or didn't receive enough praise, they would have to drink as many cups as there were people present. Afterward, they would add wine to the large cup and spin the ladle to choose the next person…
This would continue until the Ji Ya, Zhong Ya, and Bo Ya Cups were all emptied, at which point the banquet would end…
Of course, there was another way to end the banquet: everyone passing out.
To prevent cheating, Liu Biao had a special detection tool—a wooden staff with a long needle. Anyone who couldn't be awakened by a poke was considered truly drunk…
Fei Qian immediately felt a deep sense of malice…
The real challenge wasn't the size of the wine vats but the fact that wine was added randomly after each round. If the vats were refilled every time, they could be drinking until the end of time…
Moreover, having to earn praise from at least one to three people was a surefire way to torment someone…
And if you tried to fake being drunk, you'd get poked with that long needle. Was it even sterilized? Even if you didn't get AIDS, tetanus wasn't exactly fun either…
Yi Ji looked at Fei Qian with a meaningful smile, raised his wine cup, and declared, "Let us drink to victory!"
Everyone in the hall, including Liu Biao, raised their cups and responded in unison.
Fei Qian could only smile wryly and follow suit, downing his cup like everyone else…
Then, all eyes turned to the ladle in Yi Ji's hand as he gave it a gentle spin…
Don't point at me, don't point at me—
Fei Qian silently prayed in his heart…
But as the ladle wobbled and gradually turned toward Fei Qian…
It finally stopped.
Whether Fei Qian's prayers worked or Yi Ji had used a bit too much force, the ladle ended up pointing past Fei Qian and landing on Wang Wei.
Wang Wei didn't hesitate. He stepped forward with his wine cup and said, "I am neither skilled in literature nor martial arts, so I won't embarrass myself. Instead, I offer this wine to congratulate our lord on gaining a great talent and to celebrate Inspector's Aide Fei's new appointment!"
After speaking, Wang Wei first drank a cup to Liu Biao, then toasted everyone in the hall. Afterward, he grabbed a wine pot and asked, "Shall I fill it to the brim or not?"
"Fill it! Fill it!"
"Fill it to the brim!"
Everyone except Fei Qian shouted to fill it…
Wang Wei laughed and said, "As you wish! To the brim!" He then refilled the Ji Ya Cup—
Fei Qian groaned inwardly. These wine enthusiasts really didn't know when to stop…
Wang Wei took the ladle, gave it a slight spin, and then set it in motion.
One spin, two spins…
The ladle finally stopped, pointing at Fei Qian.
Alright, Fei Qian could see what was going on. These people were clearly targeting him. Earlier, Yi Ji, being a civil official, might not have had the best control over the ladle's spin. But now, with a military officer like Wang Wei in charge, it was clear they could point the ladle at whoever they wanted.
Fei Qian had no choice but to brace himself. His mind raced as he stepped forward with his wine cup, facing the probing gazes of the crowd. He declared, "I am not particularly talented, but I offer a poem for your amusement.
"The classics of Confucius passed to the King of Lu, their origins flowing long and deep.
Riding alone into Hanyang, with a laugh, the clan bandits fell!
With mountains and valleys in his heart, his kindness gathers the people's hopes.
With thunder and wind at his command, his proclamations will secure Jingxiang!"
After Fei Qian finished speaking, there was a brief silence, followed by Pang Ji, Pang Ziling, who was the first to exclaim, "Bravo!" Soon, the entire hall erupted in praise—
Who would dare not praise him?
Fei Qian's poem was essentially flattering Liu Biao, but it was done with finesse—Liu Biao was a descendant of King Gong of Lu, who was said to have received Confucius's classics…
The "riding alone" part was an exaggeration, but it was true that Liu Biao hadn't brought an army. "Hanyang" referred to the northern bank of the Han River…
The rest of the poem was filled with lavish praise…
In Fei Qian's past life, when he flattered his bosses, he had never encountered a foolish subordinate who would expose the "emperor's new clothes." The political games of ancient and modern times were the same, so the crowd's reaction was within Fei Qian's expectations.
Liu Biao waved his hands modestly, saying, "Ziyuan, you flatter me too much… Hahaha…"
Fei Qian took the ladle, filled everyone's cups, and then raised his own cup, saying, "Let us drink to victory!"
"To victory!"
Then, Fei Qian also picked up a wine pot and asked the crowd, "Shall I fill it to the brim or not?"
"Fill it! Fill it! Fill it!"