Upon hearing that there was nothing unusual about Xin Pi's dispatch of grain transport in Quanzhou, Cao Rui felt relieved, but he also asked a question that surprised Pei Hui.
"Mr. Pei, according to Minister Xin's instructions, how many days can you stay here?"
Pei Hui was being scrutinized by the ministers. He thought for a few moments and then calmly replied, "Your Majesty, I can probably stay in Liaokou for another five days."
"Does Minister Xin have any extra boats?"
Pei Hui didn't know what the emperor wanted to do for the time being. He thought carefully and replied, "Your Majesty, the twenty ships under my command were also gathered from various counties in Hebei and Qingzhou."
"Minister Xin only has seven fleets with the same capacity as mine. The two extra fleets are also to prepare for emergency needs."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Don't keep this redundant ship. I have requisitioned Pei Qing's ship."
"Liaokou is vast and difficult to cross, and the river is full of swamps, which is not suitable for a large army to cross the river." Cao Rui reached out and patted Pei Hui on the shoulder: "I will give you a task!"
Pei Hui bowed and said, "I respectfully listen to your Majesty's will."
Cao Rui said: "Pei Qing, tomorrow morning you will lead 2,000 troops on your ship and march eastward along the coastline. If you find a suitable place to land, immediately order the soldiers to disembark and explore the way."
"I intend to bypass the swamps and mudflats at Liaokou and land further east to the north. Can you do this for me?"
Pei Hui used to be an official in the Imperial Censorate in Luozhong, and now he is also in charge of the work of the Grain Supervisor, which mainly involves supervising the quantity of grain and fodder and urging the deadline. Although he has been on a sea ship, he still feels a little nervous inside.
Pei Hui instinctively glanced at his brother Pei Qian. Pei Qian did not want to look at his brother in front of the emperor, so he just tapped his right index finger three times in his sleeve.
That's it!
Pei Hui bowed and said: "At this critical moment in the country's war, I am willing to die for your majesty!"
Cao Rui waved behind him and said, "Zhao Bo, come here."
Cao Shuang, fully armored, strode forward and bowed, saying, "I am here."
As early as the first year of Taihe, Cao Shuang was sent to Tian Yu in Bingzhou by his father Cao Zhen and Cao Rui.
Cao Shuang, who had worked hard for nearly three years and became a Sima of Qianshi, was appointed as the Cavalry Captain of Shesheng after the emperor arrived in Ji County. He was considered to have officially entered the ranks of the Sima of Two Thousand Stones and officially returned to the Central Army from the external army to take charge of the troops.
Compared with three years ago, Cao Shuang had almost no fat on his body, his body was slightly stronger, and his face had become darker and rougher.
Until now, Cao Shuang, the eldest son of General Cao Zhen, looked like a real general, rather than a second-generation rich man who grew up in a wealthy mansion in Luoyang with the help of his father's favor.
"Zhao Bo, please go back and prepare. Tomorrow morning, lead your 1,000 light cavalry to set out. I will also give you an additional 1,000 state and county soldiers."
"Find a place to stay, then keep exploring northward until you find a passable road and then return. Do you understand?"
"I will obey His Majesty's will!"
Cao Shuang bowed his hands, then stepped back two steps and stood behind the ministers according to the official rank order, without saying a word. The wind and frost in the north not only shaped his face, but also made him more taciturn.
Cao Shuang three years ago and Cao Shuang three years later have many opposite characteristics. But the less he speaks, the more trustworthy he is.
……
Since the army arrived west of the Liao River on May 25, the central camp began to confront Gongsun's army on the east bank.
It has been ten days now.
This morning, when Tian Yu and Xian Yu Jing were in charge of the third river crossing attack, Gongsun Yan ignored Tian Yu who was downstream and sent out 3,000 cavalrymen to attack quickly out of the camp, rushing Xian Yu Jing who had just landed on the east bank on the river beach upstream.
In a hurry, Xian Yujing had to form a battle formation with his back to the Liao River to deal with the attack of the Liaodong cavalry. Even though Xian Yujing had done everything a general could do, he still lost more than 500 of his men.
The Liao River was vast, and the Wei army headquarters on the west bank was unable to rescue by bows and arrows. They could only send troops to the west side of the pontoon bridge to support and wait for Xianyu Jing's troops who had been attacked to gradually retreat.
Before the battle, only two thousand of Xianyu Jing's three thousand infantrymen were left.
After Xian Yujing and Tian Yu arrived at the camp together, he thought that Man Chong would take the opportunity of his loss of troops and generals to criticize him again, and he even believed that he would be dismissed from his post.
Unexpectedly, Man Chong did not say anything extra, but only asked in detail about the timing, strength and deployment of the enemy's troops, and said nothing more. Xian Yujing wanted to stay alone to confess his crime to Man Chong, but Man Chong waved him away with a gift.
Sima Yi, who was working in the central army tent with Man Chong, said with a smile: "General Man was a little too harsh in his training in Wuliu that day. I think Xian Yujing is very scared today."
Man Chong sighed softly: "All the armies at home and abroad are afraid of my name, Man Chong, and they all compare me to cruel officials like Zhang Tang and Zhi Du. But how can I be the kind of person who gets angry easily? It's all for the sake of doing things!" "I scolded him in Wuliu to warn the generals not to be arrogant. Today, Xianyu Fu lost another soldier. Isn't this what you and I predicted?"
Sima Yi stroked his beard and said, "If the enemy troops go out to fight, either Tian Yu, Xian Yu Jing, or both of them will be attacked. This is inevitable."
"If Tian Yu and Xian Yu Jing don't fight this time, I will start to doubt the other side's true intentions."
Man Chong snorted coldly: "If the enemy doesn't fight again, I think we can just send our army over. Why should we be so cautious?"
Cao Rui happened to be walking out of the tent door at this time and heard Man Chong's last words: "It is always better to be cautious."
"The army's stay here for ten days will only cost us more rice and food. It's not that I don't want to lose troops, but I don't want to give them away for nothing."
"Zhang Junyi fought so fiercely in Chiting before, why would I be reluctant to send him more troops? It's just a matter of whether it's worth it. This is not a siege or a field battle, and losing troops on the riverbank outside the siege is meaningless."
Man Chong stood up and bowed slightly: "I have spoken out of turn, please punish me, Your Majesty."
Cao Rui ignored Man Chong's words and walked directly to his throne and sat down, saying, "Minister Pei just sent a letter from Liaokou. Pei Wenji and Cao Zhaobo found a suitable place fifty miles east of Liaokou. They have already explored nearly a hundred miles to the north and found no danger. They just reported back."
"How is Lu Yu doing in the north?"
Man Chong replied, "Your Majesty, Minister Lu started from three miles west of the main camp and opened up a thirty-mile route to the northeast in the Liaoze. If he went another two or three miles east, he would reach the bank of the Liaoshui River."
Cao Rui tapped the table with his fingers. "When a large army is on the march, it is common sense to build roads through mountains and bridges across rivers. Counting the ferry crossings, floating bridges and other matters, how many days will it take for the army to advance to Lu Yu's place?"
"The fourth, June 7th." Man Chong gave a very accurate answer.
"Okay then." Cao Rui nodded and looked at the two of them: "Now that we have found a way to Liaokou, it's time to put the light cavalry to use. Which troops should we send there now?"
Sima Yi was silent for a few moments, then he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, there are still 8,000 Xianbei light cavalry and 3,000 Xiongnu light cavalry in the main army."
"Since we are only harassing the bandits on the east coast, so that the main army can land at ease, why not send out all the Xianbei and Xiongnu troops and agree on a time!"
Cao Rui looked up at Man Chong and asked, "What do you think, General Man?"
Man Chong said, "I second your opinion. The Sikong's words are very reasonable. The Hu people's light cavalry cannot attack or fight hard battles. They should do some auxiliary military work such as harassment."
"Minister Lu is in Liaoze all the way to the north. I think we should send five tribes of the Xiongnu and three tribes of the Xianbei Budugen, totaling 6,000 light cavalry."
"Liaokou is in the south. We have already sent 2,000 infantry and cavalry there first. We will then send 5,000 light cavalry from Kebinen’s headquarters."
Cao Rui chuckled and said, "Well, let's do it according to this plan. Come, call Kebineng, Budugen, and Liu Bao over!"
The tiger guard took the order and left.
When Man Chong made the division, he mentioned the North and the South, which included considerations other than military.
The Xiongnu people have always been pro-Wei, and the Xianbei Budugen, Xieguini and Suli also obeyed the Wei. On the contrary, Kebi Neng's tribe felt somewhat unstable.
If we go further north from Liaosui, after passing Xuantu County, we will reach the former territory of the Eastern Xianbei. To prevent the risk of Kebi Neng escaping, it is a better choice to place him on the south side.
Three Hu people were escorted into the tent by several tiger guards and they all bowed to them.
Cao Rui glanced at everyone casually and said, "You three have followed me all the way to Liaodong. How do you feel about that?"
The three Hu people looked at each other, and Liu Bao was the first to speak:
"Your Majesty, I have always been respectful to the Great Wei and have been the emperor's subjects for hundreds of years. Gongsun Yuan of Liaodong is just a clown. He wants to oppose Your Majesty with just four counties. It's just a foolish dream!"
"It's tolerable, but it's unbearable!"
After listening to Liu Bao's flowery speech, Cao Rui chuckled and looked at Kebinen and Budugen again.
Liu Bao's statement was demonstrated earlier, and these two Xianbei people were obviously much more practical.
Ke Bineng cupped his hands and said, "I have followed your majesty's army here, and I only want to make some contributions on the battlefield to repay your majesty's great favor to the Chanyu. If your majesty needs me to go out to fight, I will lead all my troops, without hesitation!"
Budugen also said: "If your majesty has the will, I will strive to be the first and not fall behind!"
Cao Rui smiled and said, "You three have shown me your kindness, and you have done me a good deed. The army has been stationed here until now, and Gongsun the traitor has already shown signs of defeat. It is now your turn to fight!" (End of this chapter)