The waves beat rhythmically against the rocks, splashing large amounts of water.
Cao Rui looked at his ministers and said calmly, "In the 12th year of Jian'an, when Emperor Wu returned from his expedition against the Wuhuan, he asked the late emperor and the King of Yongqiu to present poems to him respectively."
"Do you know whose poems Emperor Wu liked more at that time?"
The grievances between Cao Pi and Cao Zhi were known to all the important officials of Wei. It was obvious that Cao Cao liked Cao Zhi first and then appointed Cao Pi as the crown prince of Wei. But the current emperor is the son of the previous emperor, so who dares to say that the Prince of Yongqiu is good?
No one answered for a long time.
Cao Rui chuckled: "In the 12th year of Jian'an, Emperor Wu preferred the lofty ambitions and passion of Prince Yongqiu's "White Horse", but disliked the gentle thoughts of the late emperor's "Yan Ge Xing". But when Emperor Wu selected the late emperor as the crown prince of Wei, he personally told the late emperor that "Yan Ge Xing" was better."
"Do you know why?"
This royal secret was spoken in public for the first time.
Cao Rui noticed that no one answered, so he raised his hand and pointed at Sima Yi.
Me? Why do I have to do such a difficult thing?
Sima Yi felt helpless and answered, "I roughly guess that Emperor Wu thought that the late emperor had better literary talent and expressed his emotions more delicately, so he thought that "Yan Ge Xing" was better."
Cao Rui sneered and shook his head: "Are you serious, Sikong? It seems a bit flattering."
Sima Yi smiled awkwardly and said, "I am ashamed."
Cao Rui, with his hands behind his back, looked at the sea and recited in an excited tone: "'I marched straight into the Xiongnu, looking left at the Xianbei. Throwing myself on the edge of a sharp blade, how can I care about my life?' This poem by Prince Yongqiu is wonderful, with extraordinary writing style and extraordinary spirit. In terms of poetry and prose, everything is good. But there is one thing that does not meet the Emperor Wu's wishes."
"Who can answer that?"
Man Chong thought he was the emperor's confidant and right-hand man. Hearing the two different time points of the return from the conquest of Wuhuan and the enthronement of the crown prince, he took a half step forward regardless of the sidelong glances of the crowd, and said with a firm expression, "The poem does not match the person!"
"Correct!" Cao Rui withdrew his gaze from the distance and looked at Man Chong: "General Man, do you know why it doesn't match?"
Man Chong added: "You are exaggerating and boasting!"
Cao Rui nodded slightly: "In the 12th year of Jian'an, Emperor Wu first conquered Wuhuan and climbed up the Jieshi Mountain to sing a song to express his aspirations. At that time, the King of Yongqiu was only 16 years old, but he could say the words 'If I throw myself on the edge of a sharp blade, how can I care about my life?'"
"Emperor Wu was full of ambition and naturally preferred Prince Yongqiu. The previous emperor's poems of boudoir resentment were more subtle. Emperor Wu in the twelfth year of Jian'an might not have understood the two Yan Ge Xing."
Cao Rui continued to recite: "'I am alone in my empty room, I miss you so much that I cannot forget you, I cannot help but shed tears and wet my clothes'."
"I ask you, who is 'humble concubine'? Who is 'missing you'?"
Guanqiu Jian seemed to understand something and said, "Could it be that the late emperor expressed his thoughts through poetry? He wanted to express his longing for Emperor Wu?"
"Zhonggong is very pleasing to my heart." Cao Rui nodded slightly. "Emperor Wen is following the metaphor of the fragrant grass and the beautiful woman in Qu Yuan's "Li Sao", comparing himself to a girl in the boudoir and the wandering boy to the king."
"Which king doesn't want his subjects to be as loyal as a girl in the boudoir?"
"Emperor Wu always left the previous emperor behind to guard Yecheng. Although the previous emperor did not achieve much, he did not make any mistakes. On the other hand, Prince Yongqiu repeatedly disappointed Emperor Wu. During the Battle of Xiangfan, Emperor Wu entrusted him with an important task, but he was unable to go because he was drunk."
"The contrast in poetry, after all, is still a contrast in emotions and a contrast in people."
The emperor used the old site of Jieshi to comment on the poems written by Emperor Wu, the previous emperor, and King Yongqiu in the 12th year of Jian'an.
Sima Yi, Man Chong and other ministers could understand it, the Xiongnu leader Liu Bao pretended to understand it, and the Xianbei people such as Kebi Neng and Budugen were completely confused.
Guanqiu Jian bowed and said, "I understand your majesty's intention."
Cao Rui smiled and looked at Guanqiu Jian: "What did Zhong Gong understand?"
Guanqiu Jian said: "As an official, one should be consistent in what he says and what he does, and should have a beginning and an end. He should not make grand speeches to pretend to be loyal and upright."
Cao Rui chuckled: "Zhong Gong only knows one side of the story."
Guanqiu Jian bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please help me solve my doubts."
Sima Yi, Man Chong and others also bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please help us solve our doubts."
Cao Rui glanced at the ministers standing on Jieshi and said calmly, "I left Luoyang on the first day of the first lunar month and arrived at Jieshi in May. The reason I worked so hard all the way was to pacify Liaodong."
"There are inherent advantages and disadvantages between the late emperor and the King of Yongqiu, but Emperor Wu favored different people at different times, and I agree with that. Emperor Wu preferred bravery when he was conquering the four directions, and preferred stability when he was passing on the foundation. This is human nature."
"In the final analysis, whatever the king needs, you, as subjects, must work hard to implement the strategy I set, whether it is combat or military affairs."
"And I," Cao Rui said in a deep voice, "since I have made up my mind to conquer Liaodong, I must defeat the traitor Gongsun. I will love anyone who has made contributions and will not hesitate to reward them."
"After pacifying Liaodong this time, the fiefdom reward will be doubled!"
The few words that came out of Cao Rui's mouth made the ministers present nervous. His Majesty was generous to begin with, and now he promised to double the reward. How could people not be excited?
Titles and fiefs can be passed down from generation to generation, so who would complain about having too much?
Zi Man Chong, Sima Yi and other ministers bowed in unison. A few Hu people were at a loss as to what to do and followed suit.
Cao Rui looked at the happy and excited faces of the crowd and said softly:
"Before, when I conquered the Eastern Wu and the Shu Kingdom, our troops and military strength were far superior to the enemy. Now, when I conquer Liaodong, I only have 20,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry in the central army, and the rest are Hu people's light cavalry." "I told you in advance that this battle may not be easy. As a minister, you should be consistent in your words and deeds, and have a beginning and an end. You should not make grand speeches to pretend to be loyal and upright. This is what Zhong Gong just said, and it is also my expectation for you."
"Everyone, work hard!"
Man Chong immediately cupped his hands and shouted, "We will definitely live up to your Majesty's earnest expectations and are willing to do our utmost to be loyal to your Majesty!"
The rest of the people also shouted and saluted.
……
The incident at Jieshi was just a small episode.
The coastal route was difficult to navigate, but it was not impossible. At this time, there were no floods or natural disasters, so the only thing that could stop an army was another army, not any terrain issues.
Passing through Jieshi and heading towards Liaodong, the daily marching speed dropped from 50 miles to 40 miles. The troops stayed for a few days to repair the boat bridge and wait for logistics.
After more than ten days of marching, on May 16, 4,000 light cavalry from Sun Li's Yulin Left Army arrived outside Wuliu City first.
Wuliu City is located five miles east of Yiwulü Mountain. It is the starting point for the inland route to Liaodong, bypassing Liaoze from the south.
Gongsun Yuan usurped the throne of Liaodong, but the geographical dividing line between Liaodong and Liaoxi was not the Liao River in the popular sense, but the Yiwulü Mountain.
Wuliu City and Yiwulü Mountain are one, and the Liao River to the east is separated from the Liaoze Lake, which spans more than 200 miles. This land has always belonged to Liaodong County and is under the jurisdiction of the Gongsun clan.
Since the Jian'an period, when Liang Mao, who was sent by Cao Cao to serve as the prefect of Liaodong, was detained by Gongsun Du, the imperial court never sent officials to Liaodong County again. It only collected tributes, selected filial and honest officials, etc.
In other words, Wuliu City is a real "enemy territory".
In this era, there was no means of communication faster than cavalry.
Sun Li's 4,000 cavalrymen arrived at the city unexpectedly. Before the garrison in the city could react, Wuliu City was surrounded by Sun Li's troops.
Not to mention the panic in the city, the people living outside the city fled to the mountains and wilderness. Only the hundred cavalrymen in the city broke out to the east while the encirclement was not yet complete, and galloped towards the direction east of Liaoze.
Twenty miles west of Wuliu City, where the army was marching, three feathered knights came quickly, shouting military reports from the front.
Cao Rui rode slowly eastward on his horse. After hearing the voice, he thought for a few moments and looked sideways at Man Chong: "What do you think, General Man?"
Man Chong stroked his beard and said, "Your Majesty, twenty miles ahead is where Wulv City is located. According to the army's distribution, the vanguard is Sun Li's 4,000 light cavalry."
"If my prediction is correct, Wulv City has been surrounded by Sun Li at this time."
Cao Rui did not answer, but waved slightly behind him. The attendant Xu Shu rode his horse forward quickly, took the military report from the knight, and then handed it to Cao Rui.
After taking a quick look, Cao Rui smiled and said, "General Man is absolutely right. Sun Li has already surrounded Wuliu City and asked me whether to attack the city."
Man Chong did not laugh: "Sun Li asked for instructions on attacking the city, so he certainly did not ask for the city gates to be opened, or he failed to persuade them to surrender for the time being."
"I think it would be better to send the army first and then discuss other matters?"
After hearing what Man Chong said, Cao Rui also realized that something was wrong.
It's not the Worry-Free City.
Wuliu City is not a big city, and it is isolated to the west of Liaoshui and Liaoze, so it should not have much defense. I have 48,000 troops around me. If they insist on attacking, they will be unstoppable no matter what.
What’s really wrong is that Wuliu City refuses to surrender!
In the afternoon, Cao Rui and the central army finally arrived outside Wuliu City. Accompanied by Wen Qin, Sun Li went to the emperor's tent to report the military situation in person.
Sun Li had sent people to call out to the city nearly ten times, but the people in the city clearly told Sun Li that the army refused to surrender.
After listening to Sun Li's report, Cao Rui frowned and looked at Sima Yi: "Sikong, who is the county magistrate of Wuliu County? Is there any record in the documents of the Ministry of Personnel?"
Sima Yi bowed his hands in embarrassment and replied, "Your Majesty, since the Jian'an period, the court has not sent officials to Liaodong. It has always been a formality for the court to carve a seal and send it to Liaodong whenever Gongsun recommended someone. The list of officials sent by Gongsun has not changed for nearly ten years."
"This is the first time I've heard of this." Cao Rui's face looked a little ugly, and he pointed at Man Chong: "There is still one hour before the sun sets. No matter how late it is tonight, I will stay in this Wuyou City!"
Man Chong's expression froze, he bowed in response, turned around and walked out, taking Wen Qin and Sun Li with him.
Sima Yi bowed and advised: "The emperor's army is here in person, so there is no need to worry. A small county town refuses to surrender. This is really abominable."
"I think your majesty should not worry too much."
Cao Rui raised his eyebrows: "What do you mean?" (End of this chapter)
