“Will the dilemma be resolved by moving instead of governing?”
Cao Rui repeated Cao Zhen's words, and it seemed that he had a sense of familiarity. But these words were not something Cao Zhen would say anyway.
Cao Rui chuckled: "Great suggestion, General!"
"If we only keep Yangpingguan, Mianyang, and Nanzheng, with Yangpingguan facing Jinniu Road, Nanzheng facing Micang Road, and Mianyang together with Xiabian and Juzhong supporting, it will be a convenient thing for the army, the people, and the court."
"How did the general come up with this idea?"
"Hahahaha." Cao Zhen laughed and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I also asked someone about this. Two days ago, I was expressing my feelings about the defense of Hanzhong in the army, and the Imperial Grain Supervisor Deng Ai and Deng Shizai heard it."
"It was Deng Ai who gave me this idea, and I think it's a good one."
Sima Yi interrupted Cao Zhen and said, "If we attack Shu again in the future, will Hanzhong still be able to serve as a support?"
"Why not?" Cao Zhen retorted, "Hanzhong is so small, how much grain can we get from Hanzhong alone? We still have to transport it from Qin and Yongzhou."
“It doesn’t make a big difference.”
Sima Yi remained silent. At this moment, he sincerely believed that moving all the people away and leaving only the army was a good idea in order to save resources.
We will attack Shu tomorrow and then transfer more grain.
Cao Rui nodded: "If that's the case, then let's do it this way. After the army returns to relocate the people, we will leave these three cities to defend and cultivate the land."
"Who should be assigned to guard the city? And how many soldiers should be deployed?"
"At least 20,000." Cao Zhen answered decisively: "Yangping Pass, Mianyang, and Nanzheng, 5,000 each for Yangping Pass and Nanzheng, and 10,000 garrisons in Mianyang to provide support. This number should be relatively safe."
Cao Rui sighed softly: "We still need to gather 20,000 men. How many soldiers are there west of Tongguan in the Wei Dynasty?"
Sima Yi said, "I roughly calculated when I was in Qinzhou. There are about 51,000 foreign troops and county soldiers in Longyou and Guanzhong."
"Not counting the Central Army. As for the external troops alone, after the Battle of Chiting, they lost about 4,000 more. Counting the wounded soldiers and those who retired after the battle, the total number is probably only 40,000."
"Forty thousand people." Cao Rui sighed, "Isn't this still the same as before this battle?"
Sima Yi was silent for a few moments, and then said: "After all, Wei won! This battle was worth it."
Cao Rui nodded slightly: "Although we have won, there are still many things to worry about!"
After saying that, Cao Rui turned to look at Cao Zhen and said, "The military situation in Guanxi is complicated, and I don't want to let Zhang He take charge of it all."
"General, I wish to entrust the military affairs of Yong, Liang, Qin, and Yi to you. Are you willing to do it?"
"You want me to be the governor of four states?" Cao Zhen exclaimed, and hurriedly stood up from the table, bowed his hands and declined, "Your Majesty, absolutely not!"
"I once supervised Yongliang. Although it was just Hanzhong, there has never been a precedent in this dynasty for a minister to supervise the military affairs of four states!"
Cao Rui stared into Cao Zhen's eyes. There was no pressure in his eyes at all, only peace.
This kind of thing cannot be forced, it ultimately depends on Cao Zhen's own wishes.
Cao Rui said: "If we are talking about precedents, someone must be the first to set the precedent. Apart from the general in Guanxi, I don't trust anyone else."
"What's more," Cao Rui said calmly, "whether it was the attack on Shu in the past or the support for Hanzhong and Qinzhou in the future, I don't want the central army to go through this again."
"General, can you help me?"
Cao Zhen quickly explained: "It's not that I don't want to, but I'm really worried about the criticism from the government and the public, and I'm afraid I'll be accused of usurping power and ruling the country in an unscrupulous manner."
"Although Hanzhong is a county in Yizhou, it is still four states. How many states are there in the world?"
"Don't worry about it." Cao Rui interrupted Cao Zhen and said, "I will guarantee the general! If I say I can trust you, I can trust you."
"I will block all the words for the general."
Cao Zhen asked, "What should we say to the Grand Marshal?"
Cao Rui replied: "You two are my loyal servants in the east and west of Wei, so why do you need me to explain to him? The Grand Marshal will not be jealous of the general's power."
Cao Zhen gritted his teeth, walked to the hall and bowed: "Your Majesty has entrusted Guanxi to me. I will do my best to be loyal and serve Your Majesty! In my hands, I will not let Guanxi lose an inch of land!"
Cao Rui stepped forward quickly and helped Cao Zhen up: "General, please stand up quickly! If I didn't trust you, how could I let you take on such an important task?"
"Where would the general like to choose as his base?"
"Chen Cang!" Cao Zhen answered decisively.
Cao Rui nodded: "I think the same as you do."
"I roughly calculated that Chencang is 550 miles away from Mianyang. If there is an alarm at Yangping Pass, the Chencang army can march for eleven days and arrive there calmly."
"Chencang is a place where we can control Guanzhong if we retreat, and Qinzhou and Hanzhong if we advance. It is also convenient for shipping by Gudao River and Wei River, and has the advantage of defending Sanguan Pass. It is truly the best choice."
Cao Zhen agreed, and after a few moments he seemed to think of something, and said again: "Although Zhang Junyi lost the post of governor of Qin and Yong, since I am the governor of the four states, he is a man of general knowledge, so he will not be resentful."
"Why not let Guo Huai lead the troops in Hanzhong? I think Guo Huai is doing a good job defending Shanggui, so it would be a good use of his talents to have him here." Cao Rui turned to look at Sima Yi and Xin Pi: "What do Sikong and Xin Shizhong think?"
"Very good!" Sima Yi replied with a bow.
"Since we are defending the city and waiting for help, Guo Huai is capable of doing the job," Xin Pi said.
"Okay then." Cao Rui nodded: "Leave it to Guo Huai!"
"General," Cao Rui continued to look at Cao Zhen, "This time, I have asked the general to supervise the affairs of the four states and the dispatch of the troops. This is a big matter. For the specific details, I still need to confirm a few details with the general, the prime minister, and Xin Shizhong."
"Before I return to the army, I will announce this matter to all the ministers and generals."
Cao Zhen cupped his hands and said, "I understand."
Just as Cao Zhen was about to leave, Cao Rui ordered again: "Call Deng Shizai here. I want to ask him in detail how he came up with this solution to the dilemma."
"As you wish." Cao Zhen replied.
……
A conversation with Deng Ai once again made Cao Rui confirm this man's excellence.
Deng Ai originally supervised grain from Yongzhou to Longyou, and later he followed the army to supervise grain and fodder matters, and he attached more and more importance to the importance of logistics.
At the same time, there is also a trace of simple sympathy for the people.
In Deng Ai's view, since Hanzhong is the frontier against Shu, fortification and militarization are the best options for Hanzhong.
If the Shu army attacks in the future, we will have nowhere to rely on on the plain.
There were no more civilians in Hanzhong, and the Shu army had no way to relocate them or plunder their stored grain.
Moreover, for the common people, living in a stable rear area where they are certain they will not encounter war, gives them a great sense of security.
Whether it is farming or corvee labor, people will be more relaxed and more motivated.
In this era, Deng Ai's sympathy for the grassroots people is very commendable. Resettlement is not necessarily a bad thing.
With the arrival of early May, the battle in Hanzhong, which had been dormant for a long time, also saw some new developments.
On the first day of May, Zhang He led 8,000 soldiers to capture Chenggu.
After the city was broken, Feng Qi, the defending general of Chenggu, and more than 20 officers under his command, including Sima, Qu Chang, and Du Bo, were all beheaded. The remaining less than 800 Shu troops were all disarmed and put under custody.
The capture of Chenggu was a landmark event. From then on, all the cities in Hanzhong belonged to Wei.
The northern entrance of Micang Road, which had been guarded by Cao Zhen's troops, did not encounter any movement from the Shu army.
Li Yan did not dare to come to Hanzhong at all.
……
On May 13, Cao Rui was planning his return to Luoyang with his ministers in Mianyang, but the discussion was interrupted by a sudden piece of news.
"Zhuge Liang sent me a letter?" Cao Rui looked at Wang Chang with a hint of surprise: "Present it."
Wang Chang handed Zhuge Liang's document to Cao Rui with both hands. Cao Rui read it carefully, folded it and put it on the table. He did not show it to others as he did in the past.
Xin Pi asked curiously, "Your Majesty, I wonder what Zhuge Liang said?"
Cao Rui replied calmly: "Zhuge Liang said that the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, Liu Shan, was kind and benevolent, and granted the land of Hanzhong to me."
"Zhuge Liang also said that Yang'an Pass has beautiful mountains and rivers, and the scenery is superb. It is a rare treasure land, and he invited me to come there to see it."
Xin Pi smiled and shook his head: "Zhuge Liang has run out of tricks. Ever since Xiahou Xian came back from Baishui Pass, Zhuge Liang has been hiding in Yang'an Pass and has not made any other moves."
Cao Rui nodded in agreement, then slowly shook his head: "In my opinion, Zhuge Liang should still want to fight me. However, the Shu people are small and have a small territory. I am afraid there is not enough manpower and military force for him to fight me."
"Minister Xin," Cao Rui looked at Xin Pi, "Please write a reply letter to Zhuge Liang and Liu Chan for me."
"Yes, sir." Xin Pi was sitting at the desk at this moment. He slightly pulled up the sleeve of his right hand to reveal his wrist, and lightly dipped the tip of the pen into ink.
Cao Rui said calmly: "Tell Zhuge Liang that I am waiting for him to attack me again. If he comes again, I will definitely come to see him again. Given the weakness of Shu, if he does not take the initiative to attack Wei, what other options does he have?"
"Tell Liu Chan that the conditions I told Zhuge Liang before are still valid. If he surrenders, I will still give him the Guanzhong area."
"I will also use the ministers and generals of Shu together, without any estrangement."
After that, Cao Rui looked at Xin Pi and said, "That's roughly what I meant. Xin Qing, help me polish it. Don't worry about whether it's useful to persuade people to surrender, just write it out."
Xin Pi smiled and bowed: "I have heard that the previous letter of persuasion to surrender was stopped at Zhuge Liang. Now that it has reached Liu Chan, I wonder what the people of Shu will think."
"Who knows?" Cao Rui exhaled lightly: "Let's wait and see."
At this time, Guanqiu Jian walked in from outside the hall, clasped his hands and bowed: "Your Majesty, General Anxi Meng Da and Meng Zi Du are waiting outside the hall." (End of this chapter)
