Send more troops to Chang'an?
Cao Zhen sat aside, frowning and thinking.
There is definitely a need to increase troops in Guanxi. There are only two things to worry about: one is military supplies and money, and the other is the deployment of troops.
Staying in Chang'an would definitely save money and food than staying in Longyou.
Guanzhong is also a land surrounded by mountains, but it is much larger than Hanzhong.
Zhang He is in Chencang and Meixian, the westernmost part. If we send more troops to Chang'an, the central part, we can both reinforce Zhang He in time and also guard against him?
But Cao Zhen didn't think too much this time. The reason why Cao Rui wanted to send more troops to Chang'an was probably for the sake of economy.
Cao Zhen cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, why not send an additional 20,000 troops to Chang'an? If Yongliang has any problems, it will be quicker to dispatch them."
"Why 20,000?" Cao Rui raised his eyes and looked at Cao Zhen: "After all, the number of additional troops depends on how we fight, right?"
Cao Zhen nodded: "As your majesty has always planned, Yongliang is exhausted and should focus on recovery. I think we should still defend it."
"How to defend?" Cao Rui asked.
Cao Zhen said decisively: "Block the Chencang Road, Baoxia Road, Tangluo Road, and Ziwu Road, confront the invading enemy troops in Guanzhong, and force them to turn back."
"Defend Qishan Fort, and wait for an opportunity to defeat the enemy in Nan'an, Tianshui, and Longxi counties."
"So the focus is still on Longyou?" Cao Rui took over the conversation: "But Longyou is poor and can't afford to support so many soldiers, so we have to hold them off in Longyou first, and then provide support from Mei County and Chencang."
"Is this what the General meant?"
Cao Zhen cupped his hands and said, "That's right."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Great minds think alike! Zhang He has already sent Guo Huai to Tianshui County in Longyou. How is Guo Huai's military skills? Are you familiar with him, General?"
Seeing this, Cao Zhen also smiled and said, "It's similar to Man Boning."
Cao Rui understood immediately.
Man Chong is a typical civil official leading the army, acting cautiously and without making mistakes. He may not be able to overcome difficulties, but he has no problem defending the city.
Of course, facing an opponent like Zhuge Liang, one cannot just count on Guo Huai. The 15,000 Guanxi foreign troops led by Zhang He in Mei County are the real reliance.
Cao Zhen then asked: "Your Majesty, in this case, should we transfer the central army to Luoyang?"
"Did I say I would transfer the central army?" Cao Rui asked in return, "The central army still needs to rest in Luoyang and cannot be transferred easily."
"I think it would be better to draw some troops from Yangzhou and Jingzhou and transfer them to Chang'an."
Sima Yi, who had been sitting for a long time, cupped his hands and said, "I second your proposal. Sun Quan suffered heavy losses at the beginning of the year, and the pressure on Jingzhou and Yangzhou should be much less. It would not be a problem to transfer troops from these two places."
Cao Zhen glanced at Sima Yi but said nothing.
Military deployments such as which soldiers to use, where to deploy them, who will be the vanguard and who will stay behind often involve more sensitive rights.
Apart from anything else, according to His Majesty's current style of doing things, I don't know how many marquises will be conferred after a war.
The central army was Cao Zhen’s private territory.
Xiahou Shang and Xu Huang are both dead, and the foreign troops in Jingzhou now listen to Chen Qun.
Cao Xiu was in Yangzhou, but Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen were never good friends after all!
Cao Rui nodded with a hint of appreciation: "I still prefer Sikong's opinion. General, the central army is the weapon to protect the country, and it should not be moved lightly."
"Let the general lead the team in Luoyang."
Cao Zhen also understood this truth, and then forced a smile: "Your Majesty is right. But..."
Before Cao Zhen finished speaking, Cao Rui interrupted him and asked, "General, if we go from Chang'an to Xiangyang, which road should we take?"
Cao Zhen blurted out without hesitation: "From Chang'an, Shangluo, Wuguan, and Nanxiang County, you can reach Xiangyang."
"How many days later than leaving Luoyang?" Cao Rui asked again.
"No more than three days." Cao Zhen then asked, "Since it is Luoyang, Your Majesty needs to select a capable general to lead the troops."
"Who does Your Majesty favor?"
Cao Rui smiled and said, "General, you can't ask me about everything, right? After the meeting, you West Pavilion and East Pavilion can discuss it together, and then let me choose."
"Oh, by the way, write to the Grand Marshal and Chen the Cavalry and ask them both."
"It's only June now. The matter of moving troops to Chang'an should be decided before July. In my opinion, this matter is not that urgent."
Cao Zhen nodded.
Chang'an, Chencang, Longyou, Jincheng, and Wuwei.
From the former Han capital all the way westward, these important cities were like pearls strung on the same silk thread; they were dazzling but also mutually detrimental.
No matter where the connection is broken, it will probably be difficult to reconnect in a short period of time.
After the Yangzhou incident, the Liangzhou incident came. From the transfer of Zhang He as the governor of Yongliang, to the appointment of Xiahou Ba and Lu Xun to the western frontier, to Yang Fu's appointment as the minister of state, to today's discussion of sending troops to Chang'an, the importance of Yongliang does not need to be repeated in the court.
The ministers took their leave one after another, each with their own thoughts.
For example, Yang Fu, who was born in Tianshui County, was worried that his hometown was about to face war again.
The other high officials in the court, however, were more concerned with personnel and politics. Liangzhou was not Qiao County, Henei, or Yingchuan!
After leaving the door, the four ministers all went to the West Pavilion to discuss matters, and the attendants immediately turned left and returned to the duty room.
The Shizhong's duty room is close, but to go to the West Pavilion and the East Pavilion you have to cross most of the courtyard.
Just as they were about to part, Sima Yi was stopped by the attendant Wang Su.
"Sikong, please stay." Wang Su said softly while standing aside.
Not only Sima Yi stopped, but Cao Zhen, Dong Zhao and Wei Zhen also slowed down their pace and turned around to look.
Sima Yi nodded to the three of them and said, "Please go ahead. I will be there shortly."
The three of them did not hesitate and continued to walk towards the West Pavilion. After a few moments, Wang Su said, "Sikong, my father invites you to come to his house tonight for a chat."
Go to Wang Lang’s house?
Sima Yi suddenly woke up. He finally realized why His Majesty had given him some hints on the way to Dashishan Mountain that day.
On May 26, Sima Yi's eldest son Sima Shi married Xiahou Hui, the daughter of the former General Xiahou Shang.
After all, Sima Yi was such a young minister. Except for Zhong Yao who was unable to move, almost all the important figures in Luoyang City came.
Si Tu Wang Lang and the newly appointed Shi Zhong Wang Su were naturally the top guests among the guests.
Even His Majesty sent the Central Guard General Huan Fan to present him with a piece of calligraphy with the words "loyalty and diligence passed down from generation to generation".
Calligraphy practice is not a one-day job. In order to write well in Han Li, Cao Rui also learned from Zhong Yu. The structure of these four characters is neat, but the charm seems to be a little lacking.
However, who would really find fault with the calligraphy of "Loyalty and Diligence Passed Down from Generation to Generation" written by the emperor himself?
After the banquet that day, Sima Yi personally went to the door to see Wang Lang and Wang Su off. Under the influence of alcohol, he asked Wang Su tentatively: "Ziyong, today is my eldest son's wedding. What do you think of my Ziyuan?"
Sikong, who was standing opposite him, asked questions under the influence of alcohol. His father, Situ, was standing beside him. Although Wang Su had a cold personality, he could only say with a smile: "The one who can accomplish the affairs of the world is Sima Ziyuan. Ziyuan's talent and bearing are indeed extraordinary."
Sima Yi smiled and shook his head: "Ziyong, you don't know, my eldest son is so outstanding, and the second son is also like the eldest son."
Wang Lang was old and did not drink. He stood aside and asked directly, "I wonder what Zhongda means?"
Sima Yi smiled and said, "My second son, Sima Zhao, was born in the 16th year of Jian'an. I heard that Ziyong has a daughter, although she is still young. I wonder if the prince is willing to arrange a marriage with my Sima family?"
His eldest son Sima Shi married the niece of General Cao Zhen. So for his second son Sima Zhao, he should marry the granddaughter of the Three Dukes. It would not be unfair to him!
Wang Lang frowned.
Although Wang Lang was already in his seventies, he had one son and one daughter who died young in the early years of Jian'an. Now he had only two sons, one was Wang Su standing beside him, and the other was only two years old.
From this aspect, Situ Wang's bravery is no less than that of Master Zhong.
Wang Lang only has one adult son, Wang Su, and Wang Su now has only one daughter. Wang Yuanji was very smart since she was young, and Wang Lang once said, "The one who will prosper my family must be this girl!"
How could I easily give away such a precious jewel in my palm?
Wang Lang had a blank expression on his face and did not speak. Sima Yi, standing opposite him, was not at all embarrassed due to his drunkenness. Wang Su had no choice but to make excuses and say that he would reply to Sima Yi later.
Wang Su, the imperial attendant, also accompanied the emperor on his hunting trip. After returning to Luoyang, he learned from the messenger that his father, Wang Lang, wanted to invite Sima Yi to his house for a detailed discussion.
Wang Su knew that based on his father's personality, he would probably agree to this matter.
But Wang Su was a little surprised by Sima Yi's dazed look as he stared at the floor tiles in the yard.
"Sikong, Sikong?" Wang Su called softly.
"Oh, I seem to be a little tired these days, and I am distracted." Sima Yi smiled apologetically and looked at Wang Su: "What did Ziyong say just now?"
Wang Su was slightly unhappy. Wang Su was full of vigor and vitality. He became a minister at the age of 30 and could even criticize Zheng Xuan in his writings. How could he succumb to Sima Yi's power?
Besides, his father is Situ.
If an ordinary person missed the words, Wang Su would still believe it. But how could someone like Sima Yi, who had spent half his life in the imperial court, not have heard clearly?
Is this your attitude towards marrying into the Wang family of Donghai?
Wang Su's expression remained unchanged, and he continued to smile and said, "My father asked Sikong to come to his house tonight for a chat."
'Loyalty is passed down from generation to generation', 'Duke Zhou feared the day of rumors', 'Dong Zhuo sold these decades of merit for a good price'...
If he no longer had this sensitivity, Sima Yi would no longer be Sima Yi.
Sima Yi seemed to recall in his mind the day when Gao Rou was kneeling on the ground in the study room behind him, and the emperor was sitting behind the desk looking down at him.
Sima Yi could even imagine the emperor asking, "Wang Su has just become a minister, and you want to marry him? The minister of state is really blessed with many children!"
When Wang Mang was humble and had not yet usurped the throne...
A shiver.
Sima Yi bowed to Wang Su, who was more than ten years younger than him, with a sincere look on his face and said, "Ziyong, I am really not feeling well today. How about I go to your house another day to apologize to Situ?" (End of this chapter)
