The next morning, before noon, Cao Rui had just finished washing up and came into the study when the eunuch reported that Wang Chang, the Right Supervisor of the Privy Council, had arrived.
Cao Rui nodded and looked at the eunuch Bi Jin: "Ask Wang Wenshu if he has eaten. If he has, wait outside. If he hasn't, come in and give him a portion."
Soon, Bi Jin led Wang Chang in.
Cao Rui looked up at Wang Chang and said calmly, "Please take a seat. Bi Jin, bring one to Wang Youjian."
Wang Chang bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the meal. I have already eaten."
"What? You can't sit still?" Cao Rui picked up a piece of meat with ivory chopsticks and asked, "What do you and Wang Weitai think about the military situation in Guanxi that the general sent last night?"
Wang Chang bowed and said, "I discussed this with Wang Zuojian last night, and was about to find General Man to report it, when I received your Majesty's oral order, so I stopped the matter."
"I think that since there is an alarm in the west, should we reconsider the allocation of troops today?"
Cao Rui put down his ivory chopsticks and looked at Wang Chang with a questioning look: "The imperial edict has been issued. What do you want to do? Should we return to Luoyang or should we send troops to the west?"
Wang Chang said: "Should we send the Yulin Right Army to Chang'an to wait for orders? The cavalry is closer to the battle zone and will be easier to deploy."
Cao Rui sighed softly: "Today you are talking to me face to face, so I will remind you of one of your shortcomings."
Wang Chang was a little puzzled: "Please give me your instructions, Your Majesty."
Cao Rui said: "Your Excellency Wang has been in the Privy Council for more than a year. You have done your job well and behaved decently. I am generally satisfied with you. However, sometimes you pursue perfection too much, control the details too strictly, and do not trust your colleagues."
"How much influence does Wang Weitai, the Left Supervisor, have in the Privy Council? I have long heard that Wang Weitai, the Right Supervisor, has the same power in the Privy Council as the 'Recordant of Privy Affairs'."
"I dare not!"
Facing the emperor's words, Wang Chang had no choice but to kneel down and apologize, saying: "I am only loyal to my duties and have not dared to slack off in the slightest. I have no intention of seizing power."
"Get up and go back to your seat." Cao Rui knocked on the table a few times with his hand: "I have no intention of asking for punishment, just listen to me."
"As you wish." Wang Chang took a deep breath, then sat down, his chest rising and falling slightly.
Cao Rui said: "It is of course a good thing to be meticulous in doing things, but we also need to pay attention to the big picture. Take Zhuge Liang's attack on Yangping Pass as an example."
"Last April, when Zhuge Liang came to attack Dazhong, didn't the general, Zhang Junyi, and Lu Boyan work well together?"
"The strategic location of Yangping Pass has not changed, the national strength of Shu has not increased, the generals have not changed, and the military strength of Wei in Guanxi has even increased. Guanxi is already sufficient for Shu, and there is no need for further support from Henan."
"I trust the generals in Guanxi, so please trust them more. When encountering major military situations, it is better to consider the overall situation first. If the overall situation is safe, then you should trust them. Don't do something just because you can do it, in order to feel at ease."
"Just like I trust Man Chong and you to manage the central army. Aren't you doing a good job?"
Wang Chang stood up and bowed, then sighed, "Your Majesty has really described me thoroughly. Now that I think about my own character, it is exactly the same as what Your Majesty said. It is indeed a little inappropriate."
Cao Rui looked at Wang Chang and said, "The Privy Council is a new government office, and it is also a change I made. I appointed you to be in charge because I had great expectations for you and wanted you to gain experience and polish yourself."
"Does Wang Qing know who his personality is similar to?"
Wang Chang asked in confusion: "Who does he look like?"
Cao Rui smiled and pointed to the southwest: "He looks a bit like Zhuge Kongming of Shu."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Wang Chang looked at the emperor in surprise. He wanted to say something but couldn't.
Cao Rui chuckled a few times: "I mean you have the talent to be a prime minister. Now that Wei has no prime minister, who knows if you can become a cabinet minister in the future."
"Well, I won't say any more to you. I will call the generals to march out soon. I also want to meet the generals. Go back and write back to the general, and then tell me about the expedition to Liaodong."
Wang Chang bowed and agreed, and added: "Should we also tell you the location of the Privy Council and the Shangshutai?"
Cao Rui waved his hand and said, "No need. Let him send a letter to Luoyang."
"The Privy Council and the Secretariat will follow me to Yecheng first, and then we can discuss other matters."
"As you command, I'll take my leave." Wang Chang bowed and left slowly.
……
Since the destinations of the various units of the central army were not the same, their marching routes were also different.
Qian Zhao led the Wuwei Army stationed in Xuchang, so he only came to see him off in person and was not involved in the march and relocation of camp.
When Cheng Xi's Yulin Right Army returned to Luoyang, they first went west from Xuchang, then returned north via Mobei and Guangcheng Pass, and they also came to see him off as if they were being summoned.
The remaining 20,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry followed the emperor northward, passing through Xuchang, Yanling, Kaifeng, Junyi, crossing the Yellow River at Baima, and then passing through Liyang and Neihuang to Yecheng.
Before leaving, Cao Rui rode on his imperial horse in the parade ground in the eastern suburbs of Xuchang City and looked at Qian Zhao and Cheng Xi: "You two are stationed in Xuchang and Luoyang. Do not move lightly unless it is a major event."
"Now I am going to Hebei with the Secretariat and the Privy Council. The two of you will be temporarily under the command of the Minister of the Left Wei Zhen and the Imperial Guard Dong Zhao. It is also a credit for stabilizing the rear."
"I will be back in about a year from now. Please don't let me down!"
Qian Zhao and Cheng Xi both bowed before the emperor and said, "We will obey your Majesty's will."
After that, Cao Rui turned to look at Huang Quan: "Huang Qing has done a good job in Yuzhou. I will make other plans for your position when I come back." Huang Quan bowed and said: "Your Majesty can rest assured that I am in Yuzhou."
After giving a few simple instructions, Cao Rui no longer hesitated and ordered the entire army to march north.
Since the seventh year of Huangchu, Cao Rui went on three expeditions, and his mentality was completely different each time.
In December of the seventh year of Huangchu, Cao Rui followed the cavalry of the Central Army from Luoyang to Shouchun. At that time, Cao Rui did not know much about marching and fighting, and he learned military orders, flags, moving camps, reconnaissance, formations, dispatch, etc. while marching south from Luoyang.
It is a state of anxiety and expectation.
In December of the first year of Taihe, Cao Rui led the cavalry from Luoyang to the west to support Longyou. At that time, Cao Rui was more calm and confident than the first time he went out, but he was also very cautious because of Zhuge Liang's reputation.
The more I fought, the calmer I became, and the more confident I became. After being in the army for half a year, I had learned almost everything I should and shouldn't know.
The plots of gods and ghosts described by literati are just absurdities that exist on paper. The real war is nothing more than trying to allocate the resources at hand while doing everything possible to obtain information.
To unite by the right means, to win by the unusual means, that's exactly how it is.
The understanding has deepened.
But at this moment, during the third expedition in the first month of the fourth year of Taihe, his mentality was much more relaxed.
It's attacking, not defending, taking control of the initiative, the cavalry is stronger, and the enemy is weaker than Wu and Shu...
As a result of various reasons intertwined, the entire central army heading north did not feel too nervous or anxious. Instead, they were extremely eager to achieve success and win.
When an army wins victory after victory, the backbone and character of the army are established.
But this is an extremely long process.
The current Wei Central Army is just a new army that was re-established during the Huangchu period and rose during the Taihe period.
If we ask about the whereabouts of the central army before, we have to mention the former leaders of the Wei generals from other families, Yu Jin and Yu Wen Ze.
In the first month of the 24th year of Jian'an, the former General Xiahou Yuan died in Hanzhong, and Emperor Wu of Han, Cao Cao, personally led the central army to rescue him.
In May, the Wei army was running out of food and supplies, so Emperor Wu Cao Cao led his army to withdraw from Hanzhong to Chang'an. At that time, Cao Cao himself was suffering from old age and illness, and it was difficult for him to lead the army normally.
In July, Cao Cao wanted to order Cao Zhi to lead the central army to Xiangyang to rescue Cao Ren, but Cao Zhi was drunk and unable to go, so he sent Yu Jin, who was then the left general and the fake imperial seal, to go.
In August of the 24th year of Jian'an, there was heavy rain and flood.
Yu Jin surrendered, and all 30,000 of the central troops were wiped out.
In a sense, Yu Jin, as the former leader of the generals of other surnames, played a role similar to Liu Bei in the Battle of Yiling. It can only be said that the foundation of the north is still there, and it can be rebuilt after many losses.
The many military operations carried out by the late Emperor Cao Pi during the Huangchu period actually played a role in re-establishing the central army.
Ten years have passed, and the spirit of the central army is so strong again. It is not easy.
The army marched northward. Cao Rui rode on a white horse, staring in a daze at the white clouds, mountains, forests and plains in the distance.
Sima Yi rode forward and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, this march is different from the past. There are many cities around. Zhong was originally a densely populated place. The distance between counties is fifty or sixty miles, and the distance between counties is no more than a hundred miles. The cavalry can stay in a county every day when marching north."
"Today the army can set up camp between Yanling and Weishi."
Cao Rui came back to his senses and looked at Sima Yi sideways: "Sikong has also followed me on three expeditions. What are the similarities and differences between these three times?"
Sima Yi stroked his beard gently: "The more we fight, the more open the situation will be, and the stronger our country will be. Being able to fight and daring to fight, but not refusing to fight, is the foundation of a strong country."
Cao Rui shook his head: "I didn't say the Great Wei, I was asking what the Sikong himself thought and felt."
Sima Yi thought for a few moments and said slowly: "I just feel that it is difficult to start a business and it is also difficult to maintain a business."
Cao Rui laughed and asked, "What do you mean, Sikong?"
Sima Yi said: "In the past, Emperor Wu started his army in Chenliu. Whenever there was a war, he would personally lead the army to the battle. In the end, he was able to pacify the north and lay the foundation for his empire."
"Emperor Wen conquered Wu three times, and Your Majesty personally conquered Wu three more times."
"The world is no longer the same as it was after Wang Mang's rebellion. Shu and Wu are no longer the kind of countries that Gongsun Shu could conquer with just one general. Your Majesty will have to brave the wind and rain and lead the six divisions in person."
"I hope that Your Majesty can clear up the empire and unify the four seas as soon as possible."
Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi and said, "I have heard what Sikong said. This is my ambition, and it has also been the ambition of Emperor Wu and Emperor Wen for decades."
"However, today I would also like to ask Sikong. What is Sikong's ambition?"
Sima Yi bowed and replied in a deep voice: "Leave a name in life and a good reputation after death."
"Your Majesty, this is my ambition."
Cao Rui nodded: "I also look forward to Sikong's achievements. I am twenty-six this year, and Sikong has just turned fifty. The road ahead is long and arduous!" (End of this chapter)
