On the way out of the city and back to the camp, Zhang He and Guo Huai rode side by side on horseback.
Zhang He was still pondering the emperor's words. After a long time, he turned to look at Guo Huai beside him.
"Boji, do you think His Majesty wants all four of my sons to study martial arts?"
"Moreover, you just mentioned scholars and warriors on the same level. Does Your Majesty not want us to have anything to do with scholars?"
Guo Huai sighed softly: "Mr. Zhang, your majesty has said so much, but it is actually just one thing."
"What's the matter?" Zhang He asked.
"They want us to follow His Majesty and listen to His Majesty's words." Guo Huai answered softly, and looked around: "They don't want us to listen to the words of the scholars."
Zhang He nodded with a hint of worry: "That's what I heard. But Boji, it seems that His Majesty doesn't consider you as a scholar."
"Don't you blame me?"
"What are you complaining about?" Guo Huai sneered, "Your Majesty is right! I have been in the border counties for too long, so long that I almost forgot what the situation is like in the capital."
"Mr. Zhang," Guo Huai looked at Zhang He with a serious expression, "Although my family has been officials for generations, I also took the path of being selected as a filial and honest official first and then serving as a county official."
"But if you think about it, the reason I was able to get the position of governor of a state is because I served as a thief official of the previous emperor and was recommended by the previous emperor to join the expedition against Zhang Lu."
"What does it have to do with the fact that I come from a noble family?"
Zhang He nodded slightly.
Guo Huai continued, "From the first year of Huangchu to the second year of Taihe, it was only eight short years, and you conquered Wu four times and Shu once. In addition, Your Majesty was an emperor who could lead troops."
"Following His Majesty is the right thing to do! You and I will do whatever His Majesty says, and this is the only way to ensure the prosperity of our family."
Zhang He gritted his teeth and said, "Well, I will ask His Majesty to send all four of my sons to the military academy."
Guo Huai shook his head: "Mr. Zhang is wrong again."
Zhang He frowned.
Guo Huai explained: "Your Majesty has pointed out two paths for Mr. Zhang, so he should take both of them. Besides, Mr. Zhang has many sons, so what's wrong with two of them going to the military academy and two to the Imperial College?"
Zhang He raised his eyes and replied, "My son is probably not as good as me in studying classics. If it is really as Your Majesty said, wouldn't it be shameful if he can't graduate?"
"Shame on you? Who dares to laugh at the son of General Zhengxi?" Guo Huai said with a smile, "If I really can't finish my studies, I'll go to Your Majesty and ask for mercy. In my opinion, Your Majesty is making fun of Mr. Zhang!"
"Then let's do as Bo Ji said!" Zhang He nodded.
……
On May 25th, Cao Rui hosted a banquet in Mianyang City to entertain military generals.
All generals with an official rank of more than 2,000 stones in the army are included, including the captains, colonels, lieutenant generals, and deputy generals.
Many officials such as chief secretaries and military officers, who were not of high rank but were no less important than officials of the two thousand stone rank, also attended the banquet.
Since it was a celebration before the triumph, at the banquet Cao Rui also further discussed the order of merit with the generals.
As was said at the Battle of Shanggui, Zhang He was the first to make the contribution, Qian Zhao was second, and Guo Huai was third.
The top three generals with the most contributions did not change.
If we really compare them, we can say that Lu Xun's attack on Baishui Pass was the most meritorious, or we can say that Xiahou Ru's support was the most meritorious.
Cao Rui knew in his heart that the gain of Chiting and Hanzhong was actually just a sequel to the battle of Lueyang.
Therefore, it has not changed.
Among these three generals, General Cao Zhen seemed to have made greater contributions. However, due to his responsibility of assisting the government and the title of General, which was the highest position among officials, he was not mentioned in the same category as the others.
Under these three generals, Lu Xun ranked fourth for his contribution in leading Qiang soldiers to provide support and launch a surprise attack on Baishui Pass.
The generals of the central army, such as Xu Chu and Cao Hong who led the troops from Luoyang to provide support, as well as Fei Yao, Wen Qin, Huan Fan, Cheng Xi, Dian Man, Xiahou He and other generals, were all counted as part of the overall contribution of the central army as per convention.
These people are not worried either.
With the rewards after the last Huainan, although the tone of the central army's merits will be determined later than that of the foreign army, the standards will definitely be higher, not lower.
Your Majesty's credibility in rewarding your subjects is as good as gold.
On May 27th, Cao Rui led his army back north.
The army stopped at the entrance of Ma Mingge Road, north of Yangping Pass.
Cao Rui was dressed in a moon-white Shu brocade robe, a golden crown, jade hairpin, and a tasseled belt. He was surrounded by generals and rode on a white horse.
Among a group of generals in black armor, such a contrast in clothing makes Cao Rui look more otherworldly and radiant.
On the ground in front of him were the three generals Guo Huai, Hao Zhao and Hu Zun, who were kneeling in farewell.
"Mr. Guo, Mr. Hao, Mr. Hu, please all stand up."
Cao Rui said in a clear voice: "I am leading the army back today, and the responsibility of Hanzhong is entrusted to the three generals."
After Guo Huai and the others thanked him repeatedly, they stood up and said, "I will definitely protect Hanzhong for your majesty! If I fail, I will bring my head to you!"
"What are you talking about?" Cao Rui chuckled. "There are not so many miraculous things in the world. I have sent people to look for Zuo Ci for a long time, but he has not come to see me. How can I talk about talking about his head?"
"Improve the defenses of Yangping, Mianyang, and Nanzheng, guard the cities well, and report the news in time. It's that simple."
Cao Rui glanced at Guo Huai and said, "I trust you, and I trust you all."
"I am leaving now, you all should return to your duties."
"We respectfully send your Majesty back to the army!" Guo Huai, Hao Zhao and Hu Zun bowed together.
As discussed earlier, Cao Rui left 15,000 foreign troops for Guo Huai in Hanzhong.
The mission was indeed simple. Fifteen thousand people could not defend a place as large as Hanzhong.
But if we only defend three cities, it will be more than enough with mutual support.
Of course Cao Rui was relieved.
Starting from Hanzhong, heading north along Chencang Road, passing Ju County and arriving at Wuxing, the 5,000 foreign troops led by Lu Pan exchanged guard with Xiahou Ru.
After arriving at Chiting, Zhang He led his army to bid farewell to Cao Rui and headed towards Qishan City.
As the number of troops around him gradually decreased, Cao Rui felt more relaxed.
Finally going back to Luoyang.
Who doesn’t miss home?
Even if Cao Rui had no feelings for the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager, he had been on the expedition for more than half a year. What happened to the concubines in the Luoyang Palace?
Although we often communicate through letters, words on paper are never as good as meeting in person.
Not to mention that the eldest son Cao Qi is about to turn one year old.
When we set out for the war in December, the baby who was still crying in his cradle should be able to speak now, right?
Not to mention there are so many concubines waiting...
I am eager to go home, but I still have to take one step at a time.
On the tenth day of June, Cao Rui led his army to Chencang.
As the latest base of the General's Mansion, Chencang is about to undergo new changes in status and become the military center of Guanxi.
Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Guanxi, this is Cao Zhen’s new title.
Since the Later Han Dynasty, the so-called Guandong and Guanxi have often been separated by Hangu Pass.
The four states of Yong, Liang, Qin and Yi, and the six geographical units of Guanzhong, Longyou, Hehuang, Hexi, Longnan and Hanzhong can all be summarized by the two words "Guanxi".
The power is not too great, and the responsibility is not too heavy.
Even if Cao Zhen left Luoyang and took office in Chencang, there is nothing wrong with it from a logical point of view.
In the city of Chencang, in the government office that originally belonged to Zhang He, the sign of the General's Mansion had not yet been hung up, but Cao Zhen began to discuss matters with his subordinates.
There are five people in the hall.
General Cao Zhen sat in the middle.
On the right are the general's chief secretary Du Xi and Du Zixu, and the attendants Yang Dan and Yang Shuping.
On the left are General Sima Fei Yao, Fei Gongwei, and Attendants Deng Ai and Deng Shizai.
Du Xi and Fei Yao are self-evident. Du Xi was a veteran of the Wei Dynasty and had served in Guanxi for a long time. Fei Yao was a general in the central army and was often regarded as a confidant by Cao Zhen.
Although Yang Tan is also a talented person, the title of a person with connections is more important to him.
Yang Dan was born into the Yang family of Taishan. His father Yang Xu was a well-known party member during the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling.
Yang Tan's elder brother Yang Mi, as Sima Yi's old subordinate in the Censorate, had a close relationship with Sima Yi.
Yang Dan himself married Xin Pi's daughter Xin Xianying, and was the son-in-law of Shizhong Xin Pi.
With such a network of relationships, Yang Dan can basically walk around the Wei Dynasty with his free will.
Deng Ai, who was also a Zhonglang official, was the opposite of Yang Tan and had no background at all.
This does not seem to be accurate. The emperor's optimism towards Deng Ai seems to be more effective than any other background.
What really made Cao Zhen decide to recruit Deng Ai was the advice Deng Ai gave Cao Zhen on the defense of Hanzhong when they were in Hanzhong.
With Deng Ai's proposal, the emperor and his important ministers discussed and decided to only defend the three cities of Hanzhong.
Deng Ai became famous in the army because of this.
Cao Zhen sat in the hall and said solemnly: "Your Majesty has entrusted me with the important task of Guanxi, and I also need your assistance."
"Your Majesty said that the Central Army will stay in Chencang for three days, and asked this general to formulate a general strategy for the defense of Guanxi before Your Majesty returns."
"After the strategy is finalized, Your Majesty will return to Luoyang." Cao Zhen said solemnly: "Tens of thousands of troops are here, this matter cannot be delayed."
"Your Majesty, give me three days. I will only give you one and a half days! Come up with a detailed strategy within one and a half days!"
The four people in the hall all responded seriously.
The General's Office is one of the most important official positions in the world.
In the late Han Dynasty, when He Jin was the general, Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, Cao Cao and others were all considered to be He Jin's subordinates.
Although Du Xi and Fei Yao had ranks of only 1,000 dan, Yang Dan and Deng Ai only had ranks of 600 dan.
But before your majesty changed the system, the governors of all provinces in the country were all six hundred stones. Who dared to look down on them?
Du Xi coughed lightly and looked at the other three people: "Since the general said a day and a half, I will shorten the time and complete the strategy within a day."
"If the army is delayed for one day, a lot of military expenses and food will be lost. We should save money where possible."
Du Xi had said this, what else could the other three say? They all agreed.
Cao Zhen also smiled. Anyway, he didn't have to write it himself, so it was a good thing to be faster.
Du Xi continued, "If you want to be the governor of Guanxi, the general strategy is to first dispatch the military forces, second to replenish the troops, and third to prepare emergency plans."
“It’s better to set a framework first, and then slowly fill it in.”
Cao Zhen agreed: "Exactly these three points."
"In terms of military deployment, in addition to the central army that Your Majesty is going to take away, there are still more than 50,000 troops in Guanxi."
"How to decide on the allocation of these 50,000 soldiers is the first priority." (End of this chapter)
