The so-called plain clothing, also known as white dragon fish clothing, is not much different from the feeling of a secret visit.
Although the streets were not cleared and the roads were not closed when Cao Rui left the palace this time, he was still guarded by many brave soldiers.
Inside the office of the Grand Minister of Agriculture.
With Xin Pi holding the imperial seal beside him, Cao Rui, who was dressed in plain clothes, did not encounter any obstacles whether entering the door or visiting inside.
A moment later, Cao Rui came to the main hall where Xu Shu was meeting with military farm officials from various places.
At this time, Cao Rui was wearing a moon-white robe, a golden crown and a jade hairpin, and walked in from the door accompanied by Xin Pi.
Xu Shu, who was recording something with his head down, heard footsteps outside the hall. He frowned and looked up, only to find that the emperor and Xin Pi were coming over.
Seeing that Xu Shu needed to stand up and salute, Cao Rui smiled and stretched out his right index finger, making a gesture for silence, and then pressed down with his right hand a few times, signaling Xu Shu to sit down.
Xu Shu also noticed that the emperor's attire today was different from usual. Since the emperor didn't want to reveal his identity, let him be.
The Grand Minister of Agriculture was the highest official in charge of military farming.
In the Wei Dynasty, military farming was not just about growing and producing grain, it also involved the management and conscription of the farmers.
The people who were gathered by the court to farm in various places were managed by the local governors, the commander of the military farms, and the commander of the agricultural department, which could be considered a paramilitary organization.
Therefore, among the nine ministers of the Wei Dynasty, except for Taichang and Tingwei, the actual power of Da Si Nong could be ranked third.
Just now, the military farm officer of Yanzhou has already reported it.
Xu Shu read from the list, "Where is Yin Di, the Liangzhou military officer?"
Cao Rui and Xin Pi were already sitting in the dark on the side of the hall, looking at the room quietly.
A middle-aged scholar with a dark complexion came in, bowed and said, "Greetings to the Minister of Agriculture, I am Yin Di, the Liangzhou Tuntianshi."
Xu Shu nodded and said, "I have read the documents sent by your state. But I still have a few questions that I need you to answer for me."
Yin Di replied, "Grand Minister of Agriculture, please feel free to ask."
Xu Shu asked, "The Chinese books in your province mentioned that in Guzang County and Xidu County of Wuwei Prefecture, a total of 2,000 hectares of military farmland were expanded this year, and most of them were distributed to the Qiang tribe?"
"Reporting to the Minister of Agriculture, it is indeed true." Yin Di cupped his hands and said, "At the beginning of this year, Qu Ying of Xidu County rebelled, and most of the Han people in Linqiang, Xidu, and Anyi counties fled to the neighboring Jincheng County. After the rebellion was suppressed in Xidu County, many people still did not want to return and remained in Jincheng County."
"Xiping County is located in the Hehuang Valley, and there are many Qiang people around it. The Protector of the Qiang, Lu Gong, reported to the state that the Shaodang Qiang in Linqiang and Xidu counties begged to submit."
"The prefecture has decided to accept nearly 5,000 people from the Shaodang Qiang tribe as its allies and settle them near the two counties of Linqiang and Xidu according to the method of civilian settlement. This year, they are ordered to cultivate 1,000 hectares of land."
"At the same time, in Wuwei County, the Tangwu Qiang near Guzang City were begging for help from the state because their tribe was short of food. The governor Xiahou and the lieutenant Sima decided to give the land in the county that had been abandoned for many years to them for cultivation, and to provide the Tangwu Qiang with some food rations."
"The period is three years. During these three years, the food grain will be provided by the state, and all the production will belong to the state. After three years, the grain produced will also be handed over in a 50-50 split between the civilians and the settlements."
Xu Shu nodded and said, "Liangzhou has a large area and a small population. Your settlement in this way is also a way to bring the Qiang people under the rule of the king and store up food."
Cao Rui, who was sitting nearby, whispered to Xin Pi, "Xin Qing, Lu Xun probably told me about this matter, but his statement is somewhat different from what Yin Di said."
Xin Pi asked curiously, "What's the difference?"
Cao Rui said: "It is not that the Shaodang Qiang took the initiative to ask for submission, but the Han people in Linqiang and Xidu have moved inland. If we don't ask the Qiang people to farm, I'm afraid there will be no money in these two counties to supply military supplies."
"Rather than abandoning the land, it is better to recruit Qiang people to cultivate it. This way the Qiang people can survive, the prefectures and counties can get food, and the surrounding Qiang people can be loyal to them."
Xin Pi sighed softly: "The Qiang people rebel from time to time and settle down from time to time, so we need to be cautious."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "In this regard, I trust Lu Boyan's experience."
"According to him, when he was an official in the Eastern Wu in Yangzhou, he conquered the Shanyue people, moved them out of the mountains, and divided them up to govern them. He had quite a few tricks up his sleeve."
"Your Majesty, why do you think so?" Xin Pi asked.
Cao Rui chuckled and said, "The Shanyue people don't want to pay taxes, so they gather in the mountains. In fact, most of the Qiang people in Liangzhou understand the power of the court and are willing to pay taxes if they are treated equally. It's just that the court and officials of the former Han Dynasty never treated the Qiang people as human beings."
Xin Pi nodded silently.
It wasn’t just the Qiang people who were discriminated against. The Han people in Liangzhou were not much better off.
After a moment, Xin Pi said: "In order to avoid future disasters, we need to make some preparations and prevent them."
Cao Rui responded, "That's right. After the Qiang people have cultivated the land for a year or two and have seen the stored grain, the state will step in to give them Chinese surnames, and then divide and rule them."
"After fighting a few battles, sending out a few troops, receiving some rewards, and raising a few officials, you will gradually return to your heart."
Xin Pi said: "Your Majesty is wise. The primary problem in Liangzhou right now is the small population."
"If there are few people, there will be little food; if there is little food, there will be few troops; if there is a few troops, it will be difficult to defend."
"Enabling the Qiang people to cultivate the land is indeed a way to save the situation."
At this time in the hall, after Yin Di and Xu Shu finished reporting on the military farming matters in Liangzhou, Xu Shu lowered his head and read out the next name.
"Where is Deng Ai, the military officer in charge of farming in Yuzhou?"
A young official of medium height and plain appearance came in and said, "Reporting to the Minister of Agriculture, I am Deng Ai, the military official in charge of the Yuzhou military farm."
Deng Ai?
Although Deng Ai did not seem to be anything special in appearance, his name alone was enough to attract Cao Rui's interest.
Cao Rui listened with great interest to Deng Ai's report to Xu Shu. Most of the content had already been mentioned by Huang Quan, the governor of Yuzhou, when he submitted a report to him.
Just as Deng Ai finished answering Xu Shu's question, Cao Rui, who was sitting beside him, cleared his throat.
"Deng Ai, right? If the imperial court wants to transfer military rations from Yuzhou, how should they be transported?"
Deng Ai heard the voice, turned around and saluted: "Excuse me, who are you?"
Xu Shu quickly said, "Just think of it as me asking you a question. Answer whatever you know."
Deng Ai immediately replied: "If we transfer grain from Yuzhou, we should transport the grain from Rushui, Yingshui, Langdangqu and Woshui, and after they converge at Huaishui, we should transport them downstream to Shouchun."
Cao Rui chuckled: "Is this the way to transfer grain from Yuzhou to Yangzhou? What if we transfer grain from Yuzhou to Chang'an?"
Deng Ai was stunned for a moment, then said: "If Chang'an needs food, why not transport it from Hedong and Ping and Pingyang counties?"
Xin Pi listened quietly at the side, and then leaned over to Cao Rui's ear and added: "Your Majesty, when Emperor Wu attacked Guanzhong, he did supply food from Hedong."
"Back then, Du Ji had the most merit among all the prefects in the country, and half of it was due to his supply of military rations."
Cao Rui ignored Xin Pi and asked Deng Ai, "What if there is not enough food and grass in Hedong and Pingyang?"
Deng Ai opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. After a few moments of silence to sort out his thoughts, he asked, "Does it have to be transported from Yuzhou? Don't you know about the Hezhongdizhu in Shan County, Hongnong County?"
Cao Rui smiled calmly: "I know, just think of it as a war in Chang'an, so we have to transport it."
Deng Ai was puzzled and said, "When the Han Dynasty established its capital in Chang'an, grain and grass were transported from Guandong to Chang'an City. Every year, more than one million shi of grain were transported, but a lot of it was lost when passing through Shanzhou Dizhu. After Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty established his capital in Luoyang, there was no more grain transport for more than a hundred years."
"If we want to transport grain from Guandong to Chang'an, we must pass through the natural barrier of Shanzhou!"
Xu Shu was also a little confused at this time.
Your Majesty asked Deng Ai how to transport grain and grass from Yuzhou to Chang'an? This has not been done for more than a hundred years!
Cao Rui said calmly: "Then tell me how to cross the Dizhu in the Shan County River."
The so-called Shan County Pillar is actually a huge rock that naturally blocks the navigation of the Yellow River. The term "pillar in the middle of the river" refers to this place, which is the Sanmenxia in later generations.
After a few moments, Deng Ai said, "If we want to transport grain from Yuzhou to Chang'an, we should gather grain from all counties and flow it into the river through the Langdang Canal, then go upstream to the east of Dizhu in Shan County."
"From here, we can disembark and transfer to land transport, then re-embark west of Dizhu in Shan County, and reach Chang'an via the Wei River and Caoqu."
"Your Excellency, this is the method I think will minimize the loss of grain transported from Yuzhou to Chang'an."
Cao Rui stood up and stretched, then said to Xu Shu with a smile: "Grand Minister of Agriculture! This man is good. Tell Huang Quan that I want him."
Xu Shu quickly stood up and saluted: "I wonder where your majesty wants Deng Ai to serve?"
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Let him supervise the food and grass supply of the armies in Guanzhong!"
"As ordered." Xu Shu responded with a smile, then walked up to Deng Ai and patted him on the back: "Are you stupid? His Majesty has granted you an official position, so why don't you bow down?"
Deng Ai knelt down quickly.
Cao Rui smiled and glanced at Deng Ai, then turned and left. Seeing this, Xin Pi also casually bowed to Xu Shu and followed.
……
On the morning of June 25th, Tian Yu was outside Wangtao City and sent Cao Shuang to Guangwu for help.
On the afternoon of the 26th, Cao Shuang found Liu Ye and others after many twists and turns.
On the night of the 27th, after a day of forced march, Cao Shuang, Liu Ye, Guanqiu Jian and others led the Yanmen County troops and just arrived at Loufan.
But at this time, Tian Yu was facing an even more dangerous situation.
Ke Bineng is indeed the most powerful person on the grassland at that time.
The Xianbei cavalry led by Kebinen followed behind Tian Yu's 9,000-man army.
But during these two days, Kebi Neng never sent anyone to attack the troops led by Tian Yu, but instead harassed the Xianbei light cavalry of the Suli tribe and the Wuhuan light cavalry from Youzhou day and night.
After two days, more than a hundred of the three thousand Wuhuan volunteers had been killed, and nearly three hundred of the four thousand miscellaneous soldiers of the Suli tribe had been killed.
It was already evening, and Tian Yu led more than 8,000 soldiers and set up camp near the river, northwest of Yinguan, near the Sanggan River.
Tian Yu was patrolling the camp, checking on the wounded soldiers who had been stabbed and shot by arrows in the past two days.
After pacifying a group of young Youzhou soldiers, Tian Yu walked up to his Sima He Xin.
"How is your arrow wound?" Tian Yu looked worried as he looked at He Xin's shoulder which was tied with sackcloth but still bleeding.
He Xin's face turned pale, but he still managed a smile and said, "Don't worry, General. It's just a few flesh wounds. It's nothing! The Xianbei people's arrows are crude. The arrow that hit my shoulder was just made of bone." "Cut out a layer of flesh around the wound. It will grow back soon!"
Tian Yu sighed softly, "It's been two days. Kebi Neng is always nipping at our heels, tearing apart Suli's Xianbei Light Cavalry and Wuhuan Yicong, which makes me even more worried."
He Xin asked, "General, are you saying that Kebi Neng wants to harm the Suli tribe and the Wuhuan people so that they will surrender or flee?"
"If that happens, our two thousand soldiers will be trapped!"
"That's right!" Tian Yu nodded and said, "The current task is to quickly cross the river to Mayi City on the opposite side tomorrow!"
"I have sent people to check just now. The shallowest part of the river is just up to a person's chest and abdomen. As soon as it gets light tomorrow, we must cross the river and head to Mayi City. With the city as a shelter, the Wuhuan and Xianbei people will not escape."
"If we stay here, I'm afraid the Suli tribe and the Wuhuan Yicong will all flee in three days!"
He Xin sat aside with a gloomy look.
Tian Yu was right. For the Xianbei tribe of Suli and the Wuhuan people of Dai County, their legs are on their bodies and they have to run when it is time to run.
If many of his troops were killed or injured, he would be the real criminal of his tribe. If he could escape unscathed, the imperial court would probably put aside past grudges and try to win him over again!
The Wuhuan Yicong and Suli's Xianbei light cavalry could fight a favorable battle or a stalemate, but they would never fight to the death.
He Xin tried to struggle to get up, but was held down by Tian Yu.
"Mr. Tian," He Xin said, "the most important thing right now is to decide the order for crossing the river tomorrow."
Tian Yu said slowly: "The Wuhuan Yicong are a guest army, so we need to stabilize the Wuhuan people first."
"Our army is divided into two parts. I will lead one thousand men and you will lead one thousand men."
"Tomorrow the Wuhuan will cross first, you will lead a thousand soldiers to cross, and then the Xianbei will cross, and I will cover them from behind!"
He Xin said anxiously, "Mr. Tian, you must not do that! The state affairs and the safety of the northern border can be handled without me, He Xin, but how can it be handled without Mr. Tian?"
"Please ask Mr. Tian to cross the river first tomorrow, and go to Mayi with the Wuhuan light cavalry first. I will cover the rear, and will cross the river last after the Xianbei people have crossed the river!"
"If you want to lead the Wuhuan people into Mayi, you really can't do without me." Tian Yu sighed: "Bocheng, can your shoulders still support you? It would be better to let Liu Qi, your attendant, cover them."
"Liu Qi?" He Xin grinned and said, "He is just a bookworm, talking about Confucius all day long. How can he predict the future?"
"Don't say any more, Mr. Tian! The water has reached my chest and abdomen, so I will be fine!"
Tian Yu nodded heavily.
……
In the early morning of the second day, when it was just dawn, three thousand Wuhuan cavalrymen floated across the river.
Then came the thousand soldiers led by Tian Yu himself.
When Tian Yu's troops just started to cross the river, Suli led more than a dozen strong guards to question He Xin.
"He Changshi," Suli asked with a bow, "Mr. Tian told me last night that we were going to cross the river to Mayi?"
He Xin was injured in his left shoulder, and his right hand was already on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
"Yes, it is Mayi." He Xin said, staring into Suli's eyes.
"He Changshi, our army thought about it again last night." Suli said hesitantly, "Can we not go to Mayi?"
"Although Mayi City is built high, if it is surrounded by Kebineng, it will be a death sentence sooner or later. Can we cross the river and go south to Loufan?"
"After we pass the Great Wall, Kebi Neng won't dare to come over. Wouldn't that save us all?"
There was some strangeness in He Xin's eyes, and he glanced at the warrior beside him. In just a few moments, nearly fifty soldiers surrounded Suli and others.
Su Li was shocked and quickly explained: "He Changshi, I really don't want to escape! Tian Gong is beside me. If I escape, how can I live in the future?"
"He Changshi, please think about what I said. I really think it's better to go to Loufan!"
He Xin drew his sword from his waist, but pointed it not at Su Li, but at the ground: "Mr. Tian's military orders are not something you and I can interfere with."
"Not to mention that Lord Tian came here to face danger for you, just because this is Lord Tian's military order, how can you not obey it!"
"If you don't want to be the leader, I think your brother Suti has the appearance to be a high-ranking official!"
Suti followed behind Suli, originally to join in the fun and support the occasion, but who knew that He Xin would accuse her of such a crime. She didn't know what to do for a moment, and she hugged her brother's legs and knelt down on the spot.
"Brother, I am innocent. I have no ulterior motives..."
Suli looked at the disgraced brother at his feet, and was furious: "Get out of here! He Changshi is talking to me, what does it have to do with you!"
Suti stood up and stepped back.
He Xin said, "Suli, let me be frank with you."
"After arriving at Wangtao, Lord Tian immediately sent people to Guangwu to seek help from Yanmen Governor Qian Gong. It is estimated that Qian Gong's troops will be near Mayi today."
"You don't know Qian Gong's name, do you?"
Suli's expression finally became better, and she even laughed: "He Changshi should have said it earlier! Now that Qian Gong is here, why should I be afraid of Ke Bineng!"
"Then I'll have to trouble He Changshi to cover our retreat. I'll go back and prepare to cross the river."
"Well, go quickly." He Xin looked at Suli turning back, his eyes full of worry.
Just now he said that reinforcements would be coming, but in fact he had no confidence.
Even if reinforcements can arrive as quickly as possible, it will be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.
Let’s cross the river first!
After three thousand Wuhuan, one thousand Wei troops, and four thousand Xianbei crossed the river, half an hour had passed and the weather was gradually getting colder.
Du Bo, who was standing by, asked: "Chief, let's cross the river now!"
He Xin shook his head and said, "Let's light some of the flammable things in the camp first, so that the Kebineng tribe will think we are cooking. After we light the fire and put it out, we can cross the river."
"As you command." Du Bo replied.
More than an hour after He Xin crossed the river, Kebineng's scouts discovered that Tian Yu's troops had already crossed the river and were heading towards Mayi.
An angry Kebi Neng ordered Yuzhugan's troops, who were still on the north bank of the Sanggan River, to rush westward towards Mayi in an attempt to seize the city first.
In the afternoon, when Kebineng's son-in-law just arrived at the city of Mayi, he found that Tian Yu's flag was already hanging on the city, so he had to go back to look for Kebineng.
"Your Majesty, Lord Tian's army has already entered Mayi City. I saw an army of about a thousand men outside the city, heading towards Mayi."
"But without the king's order, we did not launch a surprise attack."
Ke Bineng can indeed be considered a "king".
When Cao Pi had just succeeded to the throne as King of Wei but had not yet become emperor, Kebi Neng sent envoys to present horses to the court, and as a result, Kebi Neng was given the title of "King of Fuyi".
Ke Bineng sighed, "I asked you to kill Xia She a few days ago in order to encourage Lord Tian to go to war, so that I could have a chance to kill Suli and those Wuhuan dogs in Dai County and unify the grassland. How could I really want to be labeled a rebel?"
"Since they have all entered the city, let's surround Mayi City!"
"Send someone to tell Lord Tian that this is an internal matter among us Xianbei people. Hand over Suli and promise to let us graze north of the Sanggan River, and we will withdraw our troops!"
"Yes, sir!" Yu Zhuqian took the order and left.
Ke Bineng rode on a white horse, looked up at the rolling white clouds in the sky, and sighed deeply.
Why do the Han people in the south always have so many outstanding people? After Yan Rou left, there was still Qian Zhao. After Qian Zhao left, there was still Tian Yu.
When will we be able to expand our territory to thousands of miles like Khan Tan Shihuai did?
……
At this time, Liu Ye, Guanqiu Jian and others, leading 3,000 soldiers from Yanmen County, had arrived fifteen miles away from Mayi City.
As the sky gradually darkened, Liu Ye ordered to set up camp on the spot. After Feng Po received the order, he quickly assigned the tasks.
Cao Shuang looked worried and said, "Mr. Liu, this place is only fifteen miles away from Mayi City. Why don't you walk for an hour or two longer and rest in Mayi City?"
Liu Ye glanced at Cao Shuang and said, "Zhao Bo, I know you are eager to rescue him, but it is getting dark now, so we should not move forward rashly."
"Are you sure that Tian Yu has arrived in Mayi City?"
Cao Shuang shook his head, but then nodded: "Mr. Tian told me that they must be heading to Mayi."
Liu Ye explained: "Whatever he says, you are the son of a great general, I am the envoy holding the imperial seal, the Grand Master of Imperial Households, and here is a 26-year-old official with a rank of 2,000 stone."
"Tian Yu is in danger. Are we going to be in danger with him?"
"What does Mr. Liu mean?" Cao Shuang asked puzzled.
After all, he was Cao Zhen's son, so Liu Ye explained patiently: "Zhao Bo, Mayi City is flat all around. If Ke Bi could come, he could only surround Mayi City and wait for Tian Yu to break out."
"Could it be that Kebineng will attack the city again?"
Cao Shuang thought for a moment and said, "That won't happen."
Liu Ye nodded: "If Tian Yu can enter the city, he will be safe for at least a few days. Even if he is surrounded, we can help him from both inside and outside, so it won't be a big deal."
"If Tian Yu hasn't entered the city yet, it will be useless for us to enter Mayi City now!"
Seeing Cao Shuang lost in thought, Liu Ye said: "The most important thing right now is to find Tian Yu's troops and tell him that we have 3,000 troops outside."
"Zhao Bo, you were sent by Tian Yu. Do you dare to go and look for him now?"
Cao Shuang clasped his fists and saluted: "Mr. Liu is right, I will go right away!"
Liu Ye nodded and said, "I don't think the nine knights you brought with you are of much use. Go find Zhong Gong and ask him to find twenty knights from our Luoyang escort team to go with you!"
"As ordered!" Cao Shuang replied. (End of this chapter)
