Cao Rui looked at Dong Zhao calmly: "Since Lord Dong asked me, I believe Lord Dong already has the answer in his mind."
"But it doesn't matter."
Dong Zhao stood up and said, "Your Majesty dismissed Wu Zhi from his post as governor of Hebei two years ago because there were few incidents in Hebei and the prefectures and counties were stable."
Cao Rui nodded.
This is what Cao Rui thought when he summoned Wu Zhi back to Luoyang.
Dong Zhao continued, "The general is in charge of Guanxi because Qinzhou and Hanzhong are remote and the central army is in Luoyang, so it is too far to rescue them. Therefore, he selected some generals in Chencang and acted according to the situation."
Act according to circumstances, that's where decision making comes into play.
Qinzhou and Hanzhong are so far away that if there is an emergency in the border areas, all orders will be issued from Luoyang. After dozens of days of delay, the situation there will inevitably deteriorate.
Cao Zhen used Guanxi to fight against Shu, which was a vast area, and needed a national general to command and dispatch the troops. This was the fundamental significance of the establishment of the governor.
Dong Zhao continued, "Zhao Yan is in charge of Jingzhou's military affairs. He is stationed in Xiangyang as a court official to coordinate Xiahou Ru and Wen Pin to defend one side. He has no responsibility to lead the army to attack."
Cao Rui listened to Dong Zhao's words and nodded thoughtfully.
Zhao Yan only has the task of defense in Jingzhou. Xiangyang and Jiangxia counties take care of each other, so it is okay to change his position to "supervise all military affairs in Jingzhou".
After Dong Zhao finished talking about Guanxi and Jingzhou, he said, "Whether or not to establish a governor in Yangzhou depends on what Your Majesty wants Yangzhou to do."
Cao Rui asked in return: "If Yangzhou is only defended and not attacked, then is it necessary to have a governor?"
Dong Zhao said calmly: "I still have not made a final conclusion."
"The key to whether Yangzhou should have a governor lies in the speed at which the Yangzhou troops are dispatched by the central government."
"If you are far away from the imperial court, you will naturally need a governor."
"If we are close to the imperial court, we may not need a governor."
Sima Yi, who was listening to Dong Zhao's speech, also felt a wave of emotion in his heart at this moment.
What does Dong Zhao mean by this? If we are close to the imperial court, we don't need a governor. Does that mean the imperial court should go to Huainan?
How could he come up with such an idea?
Cao Rui also thought the same as Sima Yi.
Huainan is right there, Shouchun City is on the bank of the Huai River, and Hefei City is just north of Chaohu Lake. They cannot be moved no matter what.
Then I am the only one who can move?
Cao Rui sighed and said, "Where does Lord Dong want me to go?"
Dong Zhao bowed and said: "Now the Grand Marshal is seriously ill and his condition is unclear. As a temporary measure, we can send important officials of the court to Shouchun to take charge of the situation."
"If no governor can be elected for a long time, then for the sake of peace in the southeast, I think Your Majesty can temporarily stay in Xuchang."
Man Chong also stood up from his seat and stared at Dong Zhao in surprise: "Just for a position of governor, Lord Dong allowed Your Majesty to temporarily stay in Xuchang?"
"How long will this temporary stay be? How is this different from moving the capital?"
Dong Zhao calmly replied: "Why move the capital? Xuchang is one of the five capitals of Wei, and it is the official capital."
At this moment, the expressions and demeanor of the other people in the study were different.
Wei Zhen still remained silent and expressionless.
Wang Chang looked down at the floor tiles, knowing that as a mere Right Supervisor of the Privy Council, he had no say in such matters.
Sima Yi narrowed his eyes, but his gaze at Dong Zhao was sharp.
He just couldn't understand what kind of tacit understanding there was between Dong Zhao and the emperor? Even after saying such a thing, His Majesty didn't blame him at all?
The two are not on the same channel.
Ever since Dong Zhao first met the emperor in the Luoyang armory and explained the difference between name and reality, he had gradually figured out the emperor's thoughts.
In the past, Chen Qun was the governor of Jingzhou, which was tantamount to being exiled.
Appointing Zhang He as the governor of Yongliang was both a move of trust and a helpless move.
Only Cao Zhen, the governor of Guanxi, and Cao Xiu, the governor of Yangzhou, these two important generals of the royal family with the surname Cao could truly make the emperor feel at ease.
If Cao Xiu was not here at the moment, where would the generals with the surname Cao or Xiahou be entrusted with important tasks?
At present, Yangzhou has the largest military force among all the states in Wei. Grand Marshal Cao Xiu commands 58,000 foreign troops, nearly 20,000 state and county troops, and also 50,000 young and strong Wu soldiers captured in the past, who are now used as garrison troops.
This amount of troops already exceeded a quarter of the total strength of the Wei Dynasty. How could the emperor be assured of entrusting the troops to a general of a different surname?
How could the descendants of Cao not be suspicious?
This was the confidence behind Dong Zhao's gamble to get the emperor to move to Xuchang.
Cao Rui turned to look at Sima Yi: "I remember that during the Huangchu period, Sikong often came to Xuchang when he was the General of the Fujun Army, right?"
"How long did the late emperor stay in Xuchang?"
Sima Yi sighed slightly in his heart. It seemed that His Majesty was moved by Dong Zhao's words.
How long did the late emperor stay in Xuchang? How could the emperor not know this? Why would he ask me?
But I can't help but answer.
Sima Yi clasped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, the late emperor was on the throne for seven years and visited Xuchang eight times."
"In the third year of Huangchu, the late emperor stayed in Xuchang for eight months."
"From September 1915 to March 1916, he stayed in Xuchang for six months."
"From October 1915 to March 1916, he stayed in Xuchang for five months."
Sima Yi concluded: "The late emperor often came to Xuchang, and often stayed for a long time." Cao Rui looked at Dong Zhao: "Dong Gong, are you talking about this? When I arrive in Xuchang, can I take care of the affairs of Huainan?"
Dong Zhao replied: "If we are talking about the war against the Eastern Wu, Xuchang is naturally much better than Luoyang."
"Before the late emperor conquered Wu, he would stay in Xuchang, gather troops and then march to Huainan."
"First, Xuchang is closer to Dongwu and has better water conservancy."
"Luoyang is a place surrounded by mountains on all sides. If troops were to march out from Luoyang, they would pass through the Yellow River, turn into the Xingyang Water Gate, and then go downstream through the Xingyang Water Gate into the Yingshui River, and then follow the Yingshui River to the Huai River to reach Shouchun."
"Xuchang has better water transport facilities. It is adjacent to the Wei River in the northeast and the Qi River in the southwest. It can directly flow into the Ying River and then downstream to the Huai River."
"Second, Xuchang is a logistics hub, better than Qiao County."
"Since the first year of Jian'an, when Xuchang was established to cultivate military farms, grain was stored in Xudu to control the four directions. This was a national custom."
"There is also an arsenal in Xuchang, which corresponds to the arsenal in Luoyang and is called the other arsenal."
As he was speaking, Dong Zhao pointed to Sima Yi and said: "When the late emperor conquered Wu, he often ordered Sikong to stay in Xuchang to manage the rear affairs."
Cao Rui nodded and said softly: "In the east, the Fujun will be in charge of the western affairs; in the west, the Fujun will be in charge of the eastern affairs."
Sima Yi nodded, but he was still puzzled. This was the imperial edict that the late emperor had given to him. How long had it been since Your Majesty ascended the throne? How could he still remember it so clearly?
Dong Zhao continued, "Third, your Majesty conquered Shu last year and captured Hanzhong. Now that you have a general in charge of Guanxi, you don't have to worry at all!"
"If the central army doesn't need Shu, it can all attack Wu! If the central army is in Xuchang, it can control Jing and Yangzhou!"
Of course Cao Rui knew what Dong Zhao meant.
It was in line with his own wishes not to establish a new governor, and he could also agree to move the capital to Xuchang.
It is also reasonable in terms of geography, logistics and military strategy.
But the most crucial question is, what kind of reasons should be used to convince the ministers?
Just to avoid the appointment of a governor?
Luoyang is far away, and Xuchang is not much closer!
The distance from Luoyang to Xuchang is 300 li, and from Xuchang to Shouchun is 900 li. Saving a quarter of the distance is not enough to convince people.
At this moment, Xu Shu and Pei Qian, the two attendants, had already arrived. Hua Xin and Chen Qun should still be on their way.
Cao Rui saw confusion in the eyes of his ministers.
Grand Marshal Cao Xiu is seriously ill, and a successor should be chosen. How come you two are talking about moving to Xuchang? And are you planning to stay in Xuchang permanently?
To clear up everyone's confusion, Cao Rui asked Dong Zhao: "Mr. Dong, I have a question. Xuchang is not much closer than Luoyang."
"If I go to Xuchang, won't I still have to select someone to guard Yangzhou? What difference does it make whether he is a governor or not?"
Dong Zhao said seriously: "Of course there is a difference!"
"Since Your Majesty does not want to attack Yangzhou but only wants to defend it, which of Hefei and Wankou can Dongwu capture in the short term?"
"It's enough for each of us to be cautious! Stay in Xuchang and send a minister there to coordinate. That's enough to deal with Dongwu. After the war two years ago, Dongwu lost many soldiers and generals. How could it have the energy to invade?"
"Besides, doesn't your majesty want to punish Dong Wu?"
"I think Your Majesty can go to Xuchang and prepare for half a year, then attack Ruxu and take all the land north of the Yangtze River!"
Cao Rui sighed deeply and said with emotion: "How lucky I am to have the help of Lord Dong."
While the two were talking, Hua Xin and Chen Qun had also come to the study. Sima Yi, as the lowest of the three ministers, whispered something to the two.
Cao Rui looked at the shocked expressions of Hua and Chen and said, "I have discussed a lot with you just now. The Grand Marshal is seriously ill, and I will send an envoy to express my condolences immediately."
"Minister Lu." Cao Rui looked at Lu Yu who was sitting quietly. "Mr. Lu, be my envoy. Bring two imperial doctors with you and immediately return to Shouchun with Cao Qi to inquire about the condition of the Grand Marshal on my behalf."
"I will also send people to Luoyang to offer sacrifices to the gods and pray for the Grand Marshal."
Lu Yu stood up and said, "I will obey your majesty's order."
Even though everyone present knew that Cao Xiu would not live long, and might even have passed away at this time.
But after all, Cao Qi brought news of illness, not death. If the court wanted to respond, it could only send envoys to express condolences, not condolences.
Lu Yu was a sensible and worldly-wise man. If the situation changed, Cao Rui believed that he would handle the situation satisfactorily.
Cao Rui stood up from behind the desk and glanced at everyone in the hall: "You all heard what I discussed with Mr. Dong just now."
"The Grand Marshal is seriously ill, and there is no one to control the troops in Yangzhou. I want to select an important official to go to Shouchun with the imperial seal, temporarily supervise the military affairs of Yangzhou, and defend Yangzhou for me."
Cao Rui was right in saying "hold on to" Yangzhou.
Although Cao Rui believed that Sun Quan would not be able to launch a large-scale invasion for at least two or three years, Yangzhou was still facing the enemy, and who could be sure of such a thing?
Even though he wanted to go to Xuchang to punish Sun Quan, he still had to send someone from the court to Shouchun.
Otherwise, it would not be enough to show the court's control over the troops in Yangzhou.
Upon hearing the emperor's words, everyone in the hall, except for the four attendants who had no chance of getting the job and the Right Supervisor Wang Chang, became a little nervous.
Former general Man Chong sat on the chair and moved his butt slightly forward. Man Chong thought, when it comes to Huainan military affairs, who can be more familiar with it than himself?
In addition, I have served in the Western Pavilion for more than a year, so His Majesty naturally trusts me very much.
Cao Rui walked around the table without even glancing at Man Chong. Under everyone's gaze, he walked straight towards Si Tu Chen Qun.
"The late emperor appointed Lord Chen as my assistant minister, and he later served in Jingzhou for two years and as Minister of Education for one year. He is truly my most trusted and trusted person."
"Mr. Chen, are you willing to lend me a helping hand? Go to Shouchun and supervise the troops for me? In a year at most, I will personally lead the army to Shouchun!" (End of this chapter)
