Chapter 1018 Intrigue
As the saying goes:
The king and his lord saw visitors by the river, and the people of Bingzhou began to gather together.
The governor Feng received visitors from Bingzhou at the riverside, which not only meant that there were initial signs of stability in the rear of the Liangzhou army.
At the same time, it also marked that the Han Dynasty had taken a step to formally win the hearts of Bingzhou people.
Negotiation, doesn’t it mean mutual compromise and discussion?
As for Hedong, the farmers were more organized than ordinary rioters.
Otherwise, how could the chaos in Hedong become so violent?
After the baptism of this war, these farmers have initially become potential military reserves.
Now add the grain and grass support from Bingzhou.
There is no shortage of troops stationed, troops trained, food and supplies, and logistics.
Feng Governor now had the capital to maintain a long-term stalemate with Sima Yi by the river.
As the same saying goes, it is the principle to show leniency to the enemy.
Although I don’t know how long Sima Yi can survive, it is always right to be as prepared as possible.
The longer the Liangzhou army stays in Hedong, the more the balance of the battle in Guanzhong will tilt towards the Han side.
The general can just lead the troops, while the commander needs to coordinate the overall situation.
This is one of the reasons why Feng Jishi was able to surpass many senior military officers and become a leader of the new generation.
In the emergency situation at that time, what was the difference between worrying about the Northern Expedition army and worrying about the safety of the entire country?
Does it matter whether you vote for Wei or not?
The Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty was also the person who proposed the "Seven Laws of Understanding People". It would be extraordinary to choose such a person as the commander-in-chief of the army behind him.
Are qualifications useless?
There is no overall perspective at all.
What is the overall view?
At least he should be like the Great Sima of the Wei State, in order to leave more vitality for the future of the Wei Dynasty and preserve more strength for the Wei State.
As soon as you see that the momentum is wrong and the situation is uncontrollable, immediately lead your troops and retreat as early as possible. (Black Whistle)
Of course, as long as Sima Yi is still the great Sima of Wei, he will still be a minister of Wei.
So before he wanted to lead the army to withdraw from Guanzhong, he had to obtain the consent of Wei Emperor Cao Rui.
But Sima Yi was not worried about this.
Because he knew that at this time, His Majesty the Emperor of Wei State had been on the bed for a long time and did not have much energy to deal with government affairs.
According to the Wei system, originally even if the emperor was unable to govern, government affairs would be shared between the Shangshutai and Zhongshu Sheng.
However, Chen Jiao, the original minister, had just worshiped Situ in June last year and died suddenly at the end of the year.
Xue Ti, who took over the Shangshu Ling, was from a humble background, and usually relied on Sima Fu, the deputy of the Shangshu Ling.
In the state of Wei, where aristocratic families were gaining more and more power, Xue Ti had long followed the trend and made good friends with the Sima family.
Coupled with the fact that Liu Fang, the Supervisor of the Zhongshu Province, and Sun Zi, the Ling of the Zhongshu Province, took advantage of Cao Rui's illness, they became even more authoritarian.
Liu Fang and Sun Zi exchanged secret letters with Sima Yi in order to prevent Cao Zhao and other political enemies from assisting the government after Cao Rui's death.
It can be said that while Sima Yi was in Guanzhong, he had actually penetrated the court extremely deeply.
Now that he wants to withdraw his troops from Guanzhong, people in Luoyang will start to help him organize it.
“Your Majesty, I have urgent news for Shouchun. Sun Quan personally leads an army of 100,000 people and has arrived at the north bank of Chao Lake. They may disembark at any time and head for Hefei New City!”
Earlier, Wei State found out that Wu State wanted to divide its troops into three routes to invade the north:
To the west, Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin led an army of 50,000 men, and attacked Xiangyang from Xiakou; to the east, Sun Shao and Zhang Cheng, with an army of 50,000 men, entered Huaihe and invaded Guangling; Sun Quan personally led 100,000 troops and horses in the center, and attacked Hefei New City from Chaohu;
Anyone can see that this kind of attack is just a partial attack on the east and west routes, pretending to be impressive.
Sun Quan really wanted to attack Hefei.
From the day Sun Quan entered Chaohu, Man Chong began to gather soldiers from all over Yangzhou to prepare for war.
Now that he saw that Sun Quan was indeed coming to Hefei New City, he prepared to lead his army to attack him.
When General Tian Yu learned of Man Chong’s plan, he immediately persuaded him:
"The war in Guanzhong is raging. The previous imperial court mobilized many soldiers, money and food to support Guanzhong, even Yuzhou and Qingzhou are no exception. Now the Wu invaders are coming with a large army, and I am afraid that their intentions are not small."
"There is a saying in the art of war: the importance of soldiers is speed. Sun Quan had long said that he would invade the north, and it has only arrived today. According to the general's opinion, this has the potential to threaten the new city and lead to a large army."
“Now that there are many bandits and we are outnumbered, if the general personally leads the army to Hefei in advance, what will happen if Sun Quan fails to land and instead turns east to Guangling?”
Man Chong thought of Sun Shao, Zhang Cheng and other bandits who invaded Guangling, and couldn't help but nodded, so he asked:
“Then what should I do?”
Tian Yu said:
"Hefei Xincheng is solid and well-armed. Even if the thieves arrive in person with a large army, they will not be able to attack overnight. We will just allow them to attack the city and weaken their vigor."
"If the thieves cannot attack the city, they will be idle; if they are idle and then attack, they will be greatly destroyed!"
"If the general is worried about Hefei, he can ask the last general to lead 3,000 people there first, and the general will lead the army behind, waiting for the opportunity to attack the thieves."
Man Chong nodded: "Good."
The Wei State was on the southeastern front line and originally deployed a large number of soldiers and horses to prevent Soochow.
Just after the battle at Shiting, the Wei army on the southeast front was severely weakened.
The Han army in the west has been pressing harder and harder in recent years, and it is as powerful as Mount Tai.
This is the key defense direction of the old Wei State. It has long been moved to the west, and there has been no way to supplement the Yangzhou front line.
Not to mention that some time ago, Feng thieves broke through Bingzhou from the north and entered Hedong. Luoyang was shocked three times a day.
Jiang Ji led Wei's last strategic mobile force to guard against Feng's thieves at Ziguan Pass in Hanoi.
Luoyang became almost an undefendable capital in a short period of time.
So we had to urgently transfer 30,000 horses from Qingzhou, Yuzhou to Luoyang, just in case.
The troops in these two states are originally the reserve force of the southeastern front.
At this time, 30,000 people were removed at once, and the Yangzhou front line was fully occupied, leaving only 60,000 people.
In addition to the need to send some troops to defend Guangling, the actual total number of troops in Manchong's hands now is about 40,000.
This is why Tian Yu said, "There are many thieves but we have few soldiers."
Facing the menacing 150,000 troops from Sun Quan's middle and east roads, Man Chong felt quite pressured.
While listening to Tian Yu's opinion, he immediately sent a fast horse to Luoyang to ask for help.
Learning that the Wu invaders had finally invaded the north, Cao Rui had no choice but to drag his illness and summon his ministers to discuss countermeasures.
Someone said doubtfully:
“Man Chong led tens of thousands of elite soldiers, but did not dare to go to meet them. This can be said to be cowardly against the enemy?”
Cao Rui has been ill for a long time and is somewhat sensitive.
In addition, he had been in a very bad mood due to all the bad news in Guanzhong.
When I heard this, I frowned.
Sima Yi in the west has been suspected of disobeying orders many times. If Man Chong in the east also has different intentions, could it be that all the generals in the Wei army are deceiving me because I have been ill for a long time and can't do anything?
Fortunately Liu Shao, the regular attendant of Sanqi, stood up and retorted:
"The thieves have recently arrived, they are dedicated and energetic, and the generals have few soldiers. If they attack at this time, they will not be able to defeat the enemy. Therefore, delaying and waiting for change is indeed a feasible strategy, and it is not a cowardice of the enemy."
“In my opinion, the new city of Hefei is far away from Chaohu Lake. If the Wu invaders want to attack the new city, they must go ashore. Land is the most suitable place for the Wei Dynasty’s elite cavalry.”
“Since Tian Yu has led three thousand men to set off, why don’t we let him raise his voice and enter the road to show off the situation, and then let General Manchu send five thousand elite cavalry to follow him and pretend to cut off the thieves’ food road.”
"The thieves will have doubts and will not dare to attack the city with all their strength. This can also delay the thieves."
Hearing this, Cao Rui nodded and thought he could give it a try.
If this plan succeeds, it can temporarily dampen the spirit of the Wu invaders. Even if it fails, it can still test Man Chong's loyalty.
"Your Majesty, although Liu Changshi's plan can temporarily delay the thieves, if you want to retreat the enemy, it is best to send reinforcements. There are Shu captives in the west and Wu invaders in the east. The country is in danger!"
“I have the courage to ask your Majesty to revive the late emperor’s legacy and lead the Eastern Expedition, so as to excite the courage of Xiaoxiao externally and the morale of the military officials internally. In this way, the country will be safe!”
Sun Zi and Liu Fang have always advanced and retreated together, so they also hurriedly came out at this time:
"Your Majesty, at the beginning of the year, an auspicious yellow dragon appeared in Shanchi County, Shandong Province. The high minister said: Wei's virtues are in line with the yellow color. He also advised your majesty to change the reign name."
"Therefore, in my opinion, Wei's fortune is in the east. It is the right time for Your Majesty to drive eastward at this time."
Gao Tanglong, who was already very old, was startled when he heard Sun Zi mentioning him.
He raised his head and looked at Liu Fang and Sun Zi, a somewhat complicated look flashing through his cloudy eyes.
When the Yellow Dragon appeared, the Shu captives had not yet invaded the Wei Dynasty!
Now that these two people suddenly mentioned this matter, they simply put him on the fire.
When Cao Rui heard this, he looked at Gao Tanglong expectantly:
“Mr. Gao Tang, what do you think of this statement?”
Gao Tanglong stood up and stood out of the queue:
"Your Majesty, the two thieves of Shu and Wu are not living in white land, nor are they small captives or bandits who gather in the city. They are arrogant and proclaimed emperors, hoping to compete with China."
“Your Majesty, your priority should be to quell the bandits now. If you can first repel the Wu bandits, then do your best to stop the Shu bandits, and then cultivate good governance, this will be the greatest auspiciousness..."
Cao Rui couldn't help frowning when he heard this. Could it be that Gao Tanglong is old and confused? Why is he talking so confusingly?
What I am asking is whether Huanglong Xiangrui of Shantou County should ask me to go to the east, rather than asking you to persuade me to cultivate political virtue.
Just seeing that Gao Tanglong was very old and even standing a little unsteady, it was hard to say anything at the moment:
“What Gao Tanggong said is true.”
The war in Guanzhong is already extremely unfavorable. No one knows whether Feng Thief, who has been wandering east of the river, will one day suddenly rush to Luoyang City.
Therefore, many people in the Wei Dynasty court had already had the intention of moving eastward.
At this time, we had the excuse of the Kingdom of Wu, and Cao Rui also wanted to go to Xuchang to let the goddess refine elixirs.
So after some discussion, it was finally officially decided that the emperor would lead the Eastern Expedition.
Just when most of the high-ranking officials and dignitaries in the Luoyang court were busy planning how to follow the emperor to "seem to be marching eastward, but actually moving the capital".
The minister and Taishi Ling Gao Tanglong fell ill, and his condition came very quickly. Within a few days after he fell, he could no longer move his hands and feet, and could only speak.
Knowing that he was about to die soon, he asked someone to write for him and dictated a memorial himself:
"Zeng Zi once said: When a person is about to die, his words are also good. My illness has increased but not damaged, and I am afraid that my life will not be long. I hope that your majesty will pay less attention to your words."
"In the early days of the Huang Dynasty, there were strange birds that raised swallow's nests with red mouths, claws and breasts. This was a great difference in the Wei Dynasty. Also during the Qinglong period, your Majesty ordered the construction of the Lingxiao Palace. Before the palace was completed, there was a magpie's nest on it. .”
"Both of these are the major dangers of Wei. They are not external but internal. It is advisable to prevent Yingyang's ministers from rising within Xiaoqiang."
“Therefore, the old ministers have decided to select the kings, so that the king and the country can arrange their troops, often play chess and chess pieces, control the emperor’s territory, and brighten the imperial palace.”
"Husband and emperor have no relatives in heaven, but virtue is a supplement. The Han Dynasty lost its virtue, and the Wei gained it, and then there was a world. From this point of view, the world is the world of the people, not the world of Your Majesty alone."
It would be inappropriate for others to talk about such omens.
As the Taishi Ling, Gao Tanglong was responsible for the weather, celestial calendar, national sacrifices, funerals, weddings, good days, and seasonal taboos. Any auspicious responses or disasters should be recorded.
Taishi Ling gave omens about the country, which was his duty.
Gao Tanglong's memorial made Cao Rui silent for a long time, and then he sighed.
Cao Rui naturally agrees with the so-called minister of Yingyang.
Just letting the princes of the Cao family establish a country and take charge of the army was not what Cao Rui wanted.
Especially the sentence "The world belongs to the people of the world, not to His Majesty alone", which made Cao Rui feel very uncomfortable.
Not to mention that at this time, there are powerful enemies from outside and powerful ministers and troops inside. If we let the princes establish a country and take charge of the army, is it because the Wei Dynasty is not chaotic enough?
It’s just that Gaotang Longnai, a veteran of three dynasties, said, as he said, when a person is about to die, his words are also good.
For the sake of his absolute loyalty, Cao Rui originally wanted to respond by writing an edict in his own hand as a token of comfort.
It was just that he had been sick for a long time and was weak. Before he was halfway through writing the edict, his forehead began to throb, his eyes bulged and he became dizzy, which made him feel uncomfortable and lay on the desk.
Lian Zhao knew that His Majesty had worked too hard and was exhausted, so he quickly asked someone to come over and help Cao Rui enter the bedroom to rest.
Just when Cao Rui was preparing to take the royal boat to the east, Sun Quan was sitting on the horse, holding a whip in his hand, looking left and right, high-spirited.
This attack on bandits was agreed upon by Wu and Shu two years in advance.
The year before last, Sun Quan made five hundred coins just to prepare money and grain.
Logically speaking, if the Shu Kingdom sends troops for one month this year and no later than three months at the latest, the Wu Kingdom will send troops to the north.
After all, Shu is a long way away and is some time ahead of Wu, so it is reasonable.
Unexpectedly, Sun Quan had to wait for half a year before gathering his troops in Chaohu.
Then he waited in Chaohu for a long time, until he learned that Feng Yong of Shu had already marched to the east of the river, causing panic among the people of Wei.
Sun Quan was shocked and quickly led his army across the Chaoshui River to prepare to land.
After landing, Sun Quan still smiled and said to his left and right:
“Now most of Wei’s troops are gathered in Guanzhong to fight against the Shu people. Wei’s troops in Hefei are the fewest in recent years. It’s the right time to attack.”
Over the years, the Wu army has marched north every year, usually in winter and spring, in order to minimize the advantage of the Wei army's elite cavalry.
This time it was delayed until late autumn, and Sun Quan was not afraid that the Shu people would send people to question him afterwards.
I just thought about the news from Shu and Wei that Feng Yong was actually able to lead tens of thousands of fine cavalry to bypass Bingzhou and go straight to Hedong. It really shocked countless people:
Shu people's elite cavalry, are they so terrifying?
Wu State got a batch of war horses from Shu State last year, and Sun Quan also knew something about the war horses in the army.
Why is the cavalry the most expensive unit?
It does not talk about the various equipment of the cavalry, nor does it talk about the fine beans that the horses eat.
Taking the loss of war horses as an example, the number of war horses that cannot be ridden due to worn hoofs every year basically accounts for 20% or even 30% of the war horses in the army.
If a war horse is ridden too much in a big battle, the hoofs will wear out faster.
Every time there was a big war in the Han Dynasty, hundreds of thousands of war horses would go out to fight, and when they finally returned, there would often be only tens of thousands or even 20,000 or 30,000 left. This is not without reason.
And what about Feng Yong?
From Liangzhou to Hedong, he fought thousands of miles, and his horses were able to run across it!
If the facts hadn't been right in front of our eyes, I'm afraid no one would have dared to believe that there were such elite knights in this world.
It is precisely because no one thought that Feng Yong's horse could run so far.
That's why no one would have thought that he could bypass Bingzhou and go south to Hedong.
Thinking that the Shu Kingdom was very likely to swallow up Guanzhong and the state of Hedong in one fell swoop, Sun Quan felt a little empty.
According to the plan he had discussed with Lu Xun, even if the Shu Kingdom was capable of fighting, if they wanted to attack Guanzhong, it would still be regarded as an expedition with a lot of troops.
And the Wei State has been running Guanzhong for many years. With the favorable location and people, it is very likely that the two sides of Shu and Wei will be at a stalemate.
The longer the stalemate between Wei and Shu lasts, the more beneficial it will be to Wu.
This plan should have been feasible.
I heard that the main force of the Shu army led by Zhuge Liang and the main force of the Wei army led by Sima Yi had been in a stalemate at Wuzhangyuan for half a year.
The only thing that people did not expect was that the Shu bandit Feng Yong would emerge from the east of the river.
After Wu Guoxizuo of Luoyang confirmed the authenticity of this matter, Sun Quan immediately ordered Lu Xun, who was originally going to attack Xiangyang, to turn east to meet him.
As for Xiangyang...it depends on whether Wei can seize the opportunity.
Because Wancheng in the north of Jingzhou is connected to Wuguan and Guanzhong.
No matter what happens to Wei and Shu in Guanzhong now, Sun Quan must capture Hefei anyway!
Otherwise, if Shu captured two and a half states, but Wu gained nothing, it would be a big loss.
Thinking of the terrifying Jingqi in Feng Yong’s hands, Sun Quan couldn’t help but murmur in his heart:
It seems that exchanging the skills of boats and ships for the skills of Shu's cavalry is worth it.
After this battle, I have to think carefully before sending some people to Shu. They must learn all the methods of Shu's cavalry.
It would be best if Feng Mingwen comes to teach in person...
(End of this chapter)