However, because of a letter from the envoy of Yecheng, he had to return south in a hurry.
Although Cao Rui's words could convince the ministers, they still seemed a little far-fetched, and all of them were based on hypothetical things. The emperor was worried about the situation in Henan, and he personally led the people to quickly regulate it. Which minister would have the nerve to refuse?
Lu Yu, who had been silent the whole time, bowed and asked, "I agree with your majesty's intention to return to the south, but I still want to ask your majesty to consider your health. You have been marching for 20 consecutive days without a rest, and now you have to march quickly again. Will your majesty be too tired?"
Cao Rui turned and looked at Lu Yu: "I know that you have good intentions, so you don't have to worry about that. As I said before, I am an emperor who creates businesses, not a king who maintains them."
After saying this, Cao Rui smiled and tapped his chest: "Three hundred and sixty days a year, most of the time I am on horseback with my sword in hand. I can still endure a mere forced march of one hundred and fifty miles a day."
"When Emperor Wu led the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to chase Liu Bei in Jingzhou, he marched 300 miles in one day and one night. I am only marching within the borders of the country. I have all the food and supplies. How can there be any danger?"
"His Majesty……"
Lu Yufang was about to say something, but was stopped by Cao Rui with a wave of his hand.
"Lu, please stop talking. The affairs of state are too serious for me to return at leisure. I am in Tuyin City, Youbeiping, with you gentlemen. This place is still too far from Henan. The further south we go, the faster the news will be transmitted, and the more stable the situation will be. Maybe when I arrive in Yecheng, the situation will not be so urgent."
Lu Yu sighed softly: "As ordered."
Whenever the emperor was unsure or hesitant about matters in the court or the military, he would often listen carefully to the opinions of his ministers and choose the most appropriate plan to be implemented. But once the emperor had made up his mind, almost no one could persuade him.
Man Chong took a half step forward, bowed and asked, "Since Your Majesty has appointed me to guard the rear, I would like to ask for your oral instructions and confirm with Your Majesty on some arrangements."
Cao Rui sat back in his seat: "General Man, please speak."
Man Chong said: "I have three questions to ask."
"First, where should the light cavalry of the Xianbei, Wuhuan, and Xiongnu tribes take to return? These light cavalry came from Shanggu County to Changping. Do they have to take the same route when they return?"
Cao Rui was silent for a few moments. "Which route do you think is better? The Youzhou Xianbei and Youzhou Wuhuan should naturally disband their troops in Youzhou, so we should only discuss Bingzhou."
Man Chong clasped his hands and said, "I think we should divide them into three groups. General Duan Zhao, who protects the Xianbei, should be in charge of the Xianbei and Wuhuan in Youzhou, and General Tian Yu, who protects the Wuhuan, should be in charge of the Xianbei and Wuhuan in Bingzhou and return by the same route."
"As the Xiongnu tribes are coming from Taiyuan County, I will lead my tribe back to Yecheng in the south. When passing through Changshan County, I will send people to escort the Xiongnu through Jingxing and back to the Taiyuan army."
Cao Rui thought for a moment and pointed to Lu Yu: "Lu Qing, please follow General Man in the army here. You will lead the Xiongnu back to Taiyuan and then return to Luoyang from the north."
"I obey your order." Lu Yu replied.
After getting the answer to the first question, Man Chong asked again: "Minister Xin is in charge of the army's food and grass, and most of Jizhou's food and grass are gathered in Quanzhou. Your Majesty, please allow me to supervise the army and transport the food and grass to the south to prepare for emergency needs."
Cao Rui nodded slightly: "Okay, General Man has thought it through. After you go south to Quanzhou, let Xin Shizhong return to Yecheng to find me first, and you will be in charge of the grain and grass in Hebei."
"As for the ships requisitioned from various places, the court has promised to pay them before. General Man, remember to supervise the officials in Quanzhou and make sure they don't fail to pay, so as to avoid losing the court's credibility. Don't leave any mistakes for such small matters."
"I understand." Man Chong then asked, "Third, I ask Your Majesty to order Yecheng to prepare rewards for the soldiers, and to distribute the rewards in Yecheng without waiting until Luoyang."
Cao Rui thought for a few moments, and his expression was filled with emotion: "When encountering problems in the court, we still need old ministers to be prudent and steady, so as not to lose our composure. If General Man hadn't reminded me, I would have almost never thought of this."
"If the south is peaceful, it would be fine. But if a war really breaks out, and the soldiers have been on an expedition for more than half a year without any reward, I'm afraid everyone will be resentful. How can they continue to work hard for the court?"
"General Man, please give yourself credit for this achievement!"
Man Chong did not thank him or decline, but bowed and stood aside again.
"Okay, all of you who are returning south with me, please quickly go to your respective residences to prepare horses and military supplies. Time is running out." Cao Rui glanced at the ministers in the hall and said with a calm mind.
"According to the order."
After paying their respects, the ministers withdrew one after another, leaving Cao Rui alone in the huge hall, sitting on a chair with his eyes closed and resting. There was silence everywhere. Apart from that, there were only the tiger guards in full armor guarding the door and the corners of the room.
Before he had even had time to rest for an incense stick of time, Xiahou Xuan walked in quietly from outside.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?" Xiahou Xuan called softly, but was afraid of disturbing the emperor.
"What's the matter?" Cao Rui did not open his eyes.
"Your Majesty, there are three people outside who are requesting an audience with Your Majesty. They are General Tian, General Duan, and Right Supervisor Liu."
Tian Yu, Duan Zhao and Liu Ye?
Cao Rui nodded: "Let Tian Yu and Duan Zhao come first, and Liu Ye will come later."
"Yes, sir." As Xiahou Xuan walked out, Tian Yu and Duan Zhao walked in.
"What do you two have to say to me?" Cao Rui still closed his eyes and replied softly, "I am a little tired, and I will rest here for a while. I will not discuss etiquette with you two."
"Please pick the most important ones."
Although the emperor said that there was no need to be polite, Tian Yu still did not dare to neglect it at all, and asked respectfully as usual: "Your servant Tian Yu has a question. According to the previous arrangement of the court, Ke Bineng will lead 2,000 light cavalry with the court army back to Yecheng. Who will lead the 2,000 light cavalry under Budugen?"
Cao Rui asked softly, "Is Budugen obedient?"
"I have always been respectful." Tian Yu said, "I have never been disrespectful to the Wei Dynasty in the past few years."
Cao Rui slightly opened his eyes and looked at Tian Yu, then replied: "This time, Budugen and other tribes have few soldiers, so let Budugen, Suli, and Xieguini return to Yanmen first, and then send someone to select 2,000 cavalry from Budugen's tribe and give them to Minister Lu to go south to Luoyang. Just select the men, it doesn't matter who leads them."
"Oh, Lord Tian, inform Minister Lu later. Also tell Kebineng and Budugen that the light cavalry that followed the court south will be supported by the court according to the standards of prefecture and county soldiers."
"Yes, I know." Tian Yu asked again: "Since Kebi Neng is not among the tribe, I am afraid that there is trouble among the Xianbei tribe in the west."
Cao Rui then replied: "You should take charge of the matter. Just keep things stable for now and avoid any chaos."
"As you wish. I have finished my questions." Tian Yu bowed and took a half step back.
Duan Zhao had served in the Five Colonels Camp for many years and had always acted appropriately. He spoke after Tian Yu and asked, "I would like to ask Your Majesty, how should I act in Youbeiping? Does Your Majesty have any instructions?"
Cao Rui shook his head slightly: "I use you in Youbeiping to protect Lulong Pass and Panghai Road. For other trivial matters, you can follow the command of the Privy Council. I will not say more."
"As you command, thank you, Your Majesty!" Duan Zhao bowed, and together with Tian Yu, they stepped out of the hall.
Liu Ye followed in.
Cao Rui glanced at Liu Ye and said, "We are about to go on a long journey, why don't you go back and pack your things?"
Liu Ye cupped his hands and said, "My subordinates will take care of these trivial matters. I came to see Your Majesty because I have a doubt in my heart. Please help me solve it."
"Sit down." Cao Rui sighed and pointed to the place closest to him: "What do you want to ask me, Liu Qing?"
Liu Ye asked directly: "I just don't know what your majesty thinks of the current Wu and Shu countries in your heart? I have been in Youzhou for a long time, and I have not communicated with your majesty much about these things."
Cao Rui has always relied on Liu Ye, and what he valued was his keen sense of strategy and decision-making.
If someone else came to ask, Cao Rui would just kick them out to avoid interrupting his rest. But since Liu Ye came to ask, Cao Rui still wanted to communicate with him and review his judgment from another perspective.
I have so many worries in my heart, and I really need such a wise person to communicate with.
Cao Rui said, "Let me ask you first. After the flood in the fourth year of Huangchu, how did the military farms in various places recover?"
Asking about military farming first? Liu Ye was a little surprised, but he still answered: "During the flood in the fourth year of Huangchu, the court had no way to deal with it. They had to wait for the flood to recede before reorganizing and transfer grain from neighboring counties for disaster relief."
"Fortunately, the farmers are organized and disciplined, so they won't become refugees when they encounter a natural disaster like they did during the pre-Han period."
"Then there is no other way?" Cao Rui asked.
Liu Ye shook his head: "There is no other way to deal with the flood like the fourth year of Huangchu. Ordinary floods can still be controlled."
"I know." Cao Rui said immediately: "Didn't Liu Qing ask me what I think of the two countries of Wu and Shu? I tell you the truth, I think Wu and Shu should have formed an alliance again and are planning to invade Wei."
Liu Ye cupped his hands and said, "Why do you think so?"
Cao Rui patiently explained, "Sun Quan of Wu and Zhuge Liang of Shu, these two people only seek utilitarianism, and do not care about a little fame and hatred. In the first year of Taihe, Sun Quan was defeated, in the second year of Taihe, Zhuge Liang was defeated, and in the third year of Taihe, Zhuge Liang invaded twice. If this is the case, Zhuge Liang should still attack Wei this year."
"It's already August, and there's not much time left for Zhuge Liang this year. And Sun Quan hasn't written to me for several months. Why can't I just assume that he has turned against me again?"
Liu Ye nodded slightly: "Let's not talk about Zhuge Liang, as for Sun Quan, this person has always surrendered and apologized when he was weak, and continued to attack when he recovered a little. If Wei really suffered a disaster, I think Sun Quan would take advantage of the situation to rob."
Cao Rui sighed softly, "Yes, I know, and so does Liu Qing. Wei and Wu and Shu have been fighting for so many years, and we can guess about 60% to 70% of what each side will do and when."
"If Wu and Shu attack alone, I am not afraid of them, and I can even not mobilize the central army. But now Guanxi is short of food, and the Central Plains may cause floods. If Wu and Shu attack from both directions, I will have to take it seriously."
"If Wu and Shu were to attack, where would they attack, Liu Qing?" (End of this chapter)
