As soon as Cao Rui finished speaking, Man Chong immediately cupped his hands and said, "Sun Quan is a villain, he deserves to be executed!"
"I ask to attack Wu!"
Fuck, fuck, you're the one who provides the money and food?
Sima Yi could no longer hold back and directly refuted: "General, your words are absurd!"
"The last time we attacked Wu, we fought in Huainan, and that was the only way we succeeded. Now Sun Quan is guarding the Yangtze River, and our Wei navy has just been formed at Wankou. How can we have the spare energy to cross the river again?"
"Besides, the 10,000 vacancies in the Central Army for the expedition to Shu last year were only filled this year. Can't we rest for two more years?"
Man Chong prided himself on being a military commander and always used radical words whenever he faced an enemy country's military force, but he was actually very wise.
Of course, Man Chong knew about His Majesty's national policy of recuperation, but he was just making a gesture. After being refuted by Sima Yi, he immediately fell silent.
Man Chong didn't care.
According to Man Chong's own logic, if even the generals in command only talk about defense in front of His Majesty, how can His Majesty believe that the soldiers will fight for their lives?
Cao Rui said softly, "I think what Man Qing said is not wrong."
Everyone in the study was shocked. Could it be that the emperor suddenly changed his temperament, changed his mind, and intended to attack Wu?
Cao Rui looked at everyone and said, "Liu Ziyang wrote to me earlier that the Great Wei had not mobilized troops in Jingzhou and Yangzhou for more than two years, which was not a good thing."
"Rest and recuperation can accumulate combat power, but fighting small battles, not making a big move, and engaging in low-intensity confrontations with the enemy can also help sharpen the army."
"Yangzhou and Jingzhou have not been moved for two years. It's time to move around and stretch our muscles."
After saying that, Cao Rui stood up from the recliner and looked at everyone with a serious expression: "I want to punish Sun Quan."
"Do you have any good ideas, sir?"
Seeing the emperor stand up with such a solemn expression, everyone did not dare to be negligent and stood up one after another.
At this moment, who in the study is afraid of fighting against Wu?
Having fought with Sun Quan for more than 20 years, he knows him inside out!
Now the emperor wants to punish Sun Quan, but he used the word "punish", so it will definitely not reach the level of a national war. If it doesn't damage the foundation of the country, then just fight if you want!
Dong Zhao said, "Your Majesty, the only two states that are confronting Sun Quan are Yangzhou and Jingzhou."
"The Grand Marshal is in charge of the military affairs of Yangzhou. The only places he can move are Hefei and Wankou."
"If we leave Hefei, we must attack Ruxu. Ruxu is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and it is definitely not a place that can be taken by light troops."
"If we leave Wankou, we will have to compete with Sun Quan for supremacy on the Yangtze River. Jia Kui's navy has only been trained for a short time, and I am afraid that Jia Kui will not be able to defeat them."
"Grand Master of Imperial Household Zhao Yan is in charge of military affairs in Jingzhou, and he can also send troops to two places."
"Some may go out from Jiangxia to attack Wuchang, others may go out from Xiangyang to attack Nanjun."
Dong Zhao counted on his fingers and said, "Your Majesty, the only four places we can choose are Ruxu, Dajiang, Wuchang, and Jiangling."
"The defense along the river in Dongwu and the logistics of the troops can all be conveniently located along the river. If we want to move one place, we have to prepare for the enemy everywhere."
"Otherwise, Sun Quan could gather his troops and resist calmly."
Cao Rui asked, "Ruxu, Dajiang, Wuchang, and Jiangling?"
"West Pavilion and East Pavilion, you must inform the Secretariat and the Privy Council to make some plans for the deployment of troops in these four places. After you show them to me, I will choose one from them."
"We need to take into account all aspects, including troop dispatch and logistical support."
"I don't have to fight, but you have to make plans as if you were really going to fight. Do you understand?"
Dong Zhao, Man Chong, Sima Yi and Wei Zhen all responded at the same time.
"Alright." Cao Rui waved his hand and said, "You guys go to the West Pavilion to discuss. I'm going to practice swordsmanship."
"Give me an answer within fifteen days."
After saying that, Cao Rui shook his sleeves and walked out.
When he was about to reach the martial arts arena, Cao Rui thought of Sun Quan again and changed his mind and walked towards the harem.
Of course, I went to look for Sun Zhaoyi.
Two years ago, in the first year of Taihe, Cao Rui streamlined the ranks of the harem and simplified the complicated ranks of concubines into five ranks: Empress, Noble Concubine, Zhaoyi, Jieyushi, and Beauty.
Cao Rui did not want to appoint a queen, and as a noble concubine of the second rank, Concubine Mao had no room for promotion and was thus made the head of the harem.
As a concubine of the fourth rank, Sun Luban was rewarded after giving birth to a prince and was promoted to the third rank, Zhaoyi.
Mao Guipin and Sun Zhaoyi were the only two concubines in the harem who gave birth to children.
Below the two daughters Mao and Sun, there was only Guo Yao, the imperial concubine, and the rest of the women were beauties of the fifth level, which is the last level.
Cao Rui was always generous in the court. As long as someone was useful or meritorious to the Wei Dynasty, he would assign an official position or reward him with a title.
But Cao Rui was not so generous in the harem.
The reason is simple.
Officials in the imperial court could be dismissed or transferred to other posts. There were at least hundreds of posts in the imperial court, the army, the prefectures, and other idle posts.
There were only five ranks in the harem. If someone was demoted for no reason, that would be too cruel.
As a result, she became much more "stingy" in the harem.
When Cao Rui arrived at Sun Luban's place, he teased Cao Yan for a while, then Sun Luban tactfully handed her son over to the wet nurse and talked to Cao Rui alone.
Sun Luban came closer and said coquettishly, "Your Majesty has not come to my place since Yan'er turned one. It has been half a month." "How come you are free this afternoon?"
Cao Rui smiled and said, "I have some information about your father, do you want to hear it?"
Sun Luban's eyes lit up, but then she sneered: "Why wouldn't I want to listen? But every time I hear news about my father from Your Majesty, it's always about state affairs, never family affairs."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Family affairs can be dealt with in letters. I don't forbid you from communicating with your parents, so why do you need me to tell you in person?"
"Today is also a national event."
Sun Luban stood up and walked behind Cao Rui's chair, put her slender hand on his shoulder and patted him gently.
Cao Rui understood and leaned deeper into the chair, resting his head on Sun Luban's soft chest and closing his eyes lightly.
Two bare hands touched Cao Rui's forehead, and the fingertips gently rubbed the acupoints on both sides of his forehead.
After letting out a long breath, Cao Rui nodded slightly in satisfaction.
Sun Luban laughed sweetly: "If your majesty has anything to say, you can tell me now."
When state affairs are in turmoil, being comforted by Sun Luban will make people feel much better.
Among all the ladies in the harem, most of them would ask for favors and act like a spoiled child the moment they met. Only Sun Luban was so considerate and thoughtful.
Maybe this is also related to family education.
Apart from Sun Luban, no one else could learn at home how to appease a king.
Cao Rui paused for a moment before slowly telling what he had heard in the study.
Sun Luban sighed softly, but her hands did not stop moving: "My father is always like this. He blindly trusts others because he wants so much. He always thinks that if he gives his heart, others will also treat him with their heart."
"It is inevitable that I have been deceived by this Liaodong man now."
Cao Rui slightly opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Sun Luban. However, because the back of his head moved a few times, Sun Luban misunderstood him and thought he was up to something bad.
"Your Majesty, please don't move. If you move again, I won't press you anymore." Sun Luban said teasingly.
"Okay, I won't move." Cao Rui also smiled and continued to close his eyes and asked, "Do you have any examples for what you said just now?"
Sun Luban asked: "Why not?"
"Lu Su, Lu Meng, Lu Xun... these people were all trusted by my father, but they often failed to perform as expected."
"Your Majesty, don't you know Lu Xun? It was because of his mistake in strategy that I came to your Majesty's side."
Cao Rui responded: "So, I have to thank my brother-in-law for the comfort I am sitting here now?"
"Do you blame him?"
Sun Luban rolled her eyes and said, "Why? If you put it this way, he is still the matchmaker between me and my husband."
Cao Rui laughed a few times, then whispered, "To be honest, I'm going to use troops in the south."
"Sun Quan has been two-faced towards me, speaking servilely to me while trying to dig my way out. If I don't punish him, it won't be enough to show the power of me and the Wei Dynasty."
Sun Luban sighed softly and said in a half-voiced voice: "My husband wants to beat my father, what can I do?"
"If your majesty goes to the battlefield, I will hold the quiver for you."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Don't blame me?"
Sun Luban laughed, and her voice returned to normal: "What's there to be surprised about? Wei and Wu have been fighting for twenty years. If they want to fight, then fight!"
"I have already told Your Majesty that if my husband had won and I were in Luoyang, the Sun family would not have lost their lives."
"Even if I lose, I still won't lose my royal family. Where in the world can there be such a good thing?"
Cao Rui asked: "Do you really think so?"
Sun Luban nodded: "I really think so! I think that my father's humble words in every letter and the large number of gifts he sent every time are probably also in response to these things."
Cao Rui raised his hand and held Sun Luban's right hand, and said softly: "Since you are so open-minded, I will also make a promise to you."
"If it really comes to that, if there is a reason to spare his life, even if there is only one, I will spare Sun Quan's life for your sake."
Sun Luban lowered her head and kissed Cao Rui on the forehead: "Okay, I know what my husband means, don't say this anymore."
"What kind of meal would you like tonight? Please stay in my palace and I will send someone to prepare it."
Cao Rui said, "It's still the same as before, the same eight dishes, no need to change."
Sun Luban replied: "I understand. I will send someone to prepare it later."
At this moment, the sound of conversation was heard outside the inner room where the two were.
Sun Luban heard her maid trying to stop Bi Jin, but Bi Jin spoke in a hurry, saying that there was something extremely urgent, and kept rushing in.
Bi Jin walked to the door and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I have something urgent to say!"
Sun Luban walked a few steps, opened the door, and stared at Bi Jin's ugly face with a bad expression: "What do you want to say! Don't you know that His Majesty and I are inside? Why are you disturbing us?"
Bi Jin ignored Sun Luban and looked straight at Cao Rui: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Urgent news from Shouchun, the Grand Marshal is seriously ill!"
Cao Rui stood up suddenly, took two steps at a time, and rushed forward to grab Bi Jin's clothes: "What's going on? Why is the Grand Marshal so ill?"
Bi Jin said hurriedly: "The Privy Council said that the Grand Marshal fell off his horse and hit the back of his head. He is still unconscious!" (End of this chapter)
