After listening to what Sun Huan and Pan Jun said, Sun Quan sat in the hall in silence without saying a word.
Military affairs are a matter of great importance to a country. The tragic consequences of the expedition to Wancheng three and a half years ago left Sun Quan seriously injured. It was almost instinctive to think about defeat before thinking about victory.
Of course, as the king of Wu who had been in office for nearly thirty years, Sun Quan had seen many storms and waves. Faced with this level of psychological fluctuations, Sun Quan's subconscious mind would only think that he was being cautious.
Seeing that Sun Quan was still hesitating, Sun Huan could not help but urge him, "Your Majesty, this is a golden opportunity that cannot be missed. I beg Your Majesty not to hesitate any longer."
Sun Quan looked at Sun Huan and said, "I understand Ji Ming's intentions. You and Cheng Ming should stay in Wuchang today and don't go back to Xiakou."
"Also, where is Zhang Liang now?"
Sun Quan recognized Zhang Liang.
Before Sun Quan set out to attack Wancheng more than three years ago, Zhang Liang proposed the strategy of "sending troops upstream to compete with the enemy for profit" in public at the parade ground in Xiakouwu, and was publicly praised by Sun Quan. During the battle of Wancheng, the navy of Xiangyang, Wei State, was defeated when it moved south along the Han River by Zhang Liang as the vanguard.
Everyone needs experience. The former young general Zhang Liang is now a good naval commander.
Sun Huan replied, "Your Majesty, Zhang Liang should be stationed near Yu County at this time."
Sun Quan nodded and said, "Send an order to summon Zhang Liang back to Wuchang immediately. I want to hear Zhang Liang's words about the water situation ahead!"
"I understand. I will send someone to summon Zhang Liang to Wuchang immediately." After paying his respects, Sun Huan wanted to leave with Pan Jun.
But Pan Jun bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have another request that you would like to make. I hope you will grant it."
Sun Quan was a little surprised, but he still expressed a hint of kindness with a smile: "Chengming, what do you want to say?"
Pan Jun said, "Your Majesty knows that the Han envoy Jiang Gongyan is my cousin. If you think about it carefully, I haven't seen him for more than ten years. When I arrived in Wuchang, I heard that Jiang Gongyan was in the inn as an envoy. I hope Your Majesty will show mercy and allow me to visit and have a chat."
As he was speaking, Pan Jun turned his head and glanced at Hu Zong: "Please ask your Majesty to send General Hu to accompany me."
Hu Zong was a close official of the King of Wu, so it was obvious that Pan Jun did this to avoid suspicion. After all, Pan Jun had served Liu Bei before, and although he was visiting relatives under the pretext of visiting relatives, he still had to be extra careful.
But Sun Quan didn't seem to care at all. He smiled and said directly, "If Chengming hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten it. I heard you talk about this matter when Chengming was recruited by me at home more than ten years ago."
"Now Wu and Han are allies. General Zuo and Prime Minister Zhuge have already set an example. Chengming and Jiang Gongyan should also have a good story to tell. Chengming, please go. Wei Ze has something important to do here."
"I thank Your Majesty for his grace." Pan Jun bowed and then left with Sun Huan.
As soon as the two left, Sun Quan stood up and paced in the hall with his eyes narrowed. The rhythm of his footsteps was slow and crisp, which made the atmosphere in the hall seem even more anxious.
"Wei Ze," Sun Quan stopped two meters away from Hu Zong, and looked at this trusted minister with burning eyes: "What do you think of what Generals Sun and Pan said just now?"
Hu Zong knelt on the table, his upper body straight, and looked at Sun Quan with a serious look. He shook his head and said, "I do not agree with what General Sun and General Pan said."
"Why?" Sun Quan asked.
Hu Zong said: "As foreign generals, they naturally want to build border achievements to repay the king. Otherwise, their role cannot be shown. The country's military relies on generals. For such talk of using military force, we can only praise it and not suppress it."
"War is easy to start, but very difficult to end. The Supreme has also ordered Zhang Liang to return, and the water situation ahead is unclear. Even if Xiangyang can be easily captured, what will happen after Xiangyang is captured? If Wei wants to retaliate, how should the Great Wu respond?"
"Moreover, it would probably take at least a month from Wuchang to send a message to Zhuge Kongming in Baishui, Yizhou, until he dispatched troops. The Han envoy Jiang Gongyan said that he wanted to advance east and west with the Great Wu, but the opportunity for war is fleeting, how can we advance together so quickly?"
Sun Quan sighed and said, "That's a safe suggestion, I'll think about it carefully. When will the Left General, the Right General, and the Suinan General lead their troops to Wuchang?"
Hu Zong thought for a few moments and said, "It is already August 24th. General Zhuge is going downstream from Gong'an and it is estimated that it will take another three days. General Bu and General Quan's troops are expected to reach Wuchang by the end of August."
Sun Quan nodded and said, "Go ahead, Wei Ze. Call the Prime Minister and Zhang Zibu into the palace. I have something to ask them."
Hu Zong stood up and bowed in response, then added: "Then can the originally planned September 1st start of the persuasion process be postponed?"
Sun Quan glanced at Hu Zong and said, "Do whatever you have to do. I haven't made a decision yet."
"Yes, I understand."
Hu Zong slowly left the palace, and after speaking a few words to the attendants outside the palace, he just walked to the palace gate and saw Yin Fan who had been waiting there for a long time. "How long has Shu Ping been here?" Hu Zong greeted Yin Fan.
"General Hu, I just got here too." Yin Fan pulled out a thick stack of manuscripts from his sleeve. "These are some sample letters I wrote for officials from all over the Wu Kingdom based on my memory. They can be used as references when persuading the emperor to ascend the throne. Although the Supreme Lord asked me to make the decision, the matter is of great importance, so I'll give it to General Hu to read first."
Hu Zong nodded, took the manuscript and handed it to the attendant behind him: "Thank you for taking care of so many manuscripts, Shuping."
After saying this, Hu Zong raised his leg to leave, but saw Yin Fan still standing there motionless, as if he wanted to say something.
"Shuping, what else do you want?" Hu Zong raised his right leg, but then put it down again.
Yin Fan bowed and said, "I have nothing else to do, but I see that General Hu has a lot of things to do. If you need my help, I hope you can tell me at any time."
Hu Zong was stunned at first, then shook his head: "Shu Ping, just do your job, don't worry about me. I will return the manuscript to you tomorrow, and you will supervise the submission and signature of each place."
"If this can be done properly, it will be a great achievement."
Yin Fan bowed and saluted: "Thank you for your guidance, General. I will take my leave."
Just now when Sun Huan and Pan Jun walked out of the King of Wu's palace, Yin Fan met them and greeted them and recognized their faces.
After leaving this place, Yin Fan went straight to Sun Huan's house in Wuchang. He came to Wu to investigate the situation, and now he had to cover up the matter of persuading Sun Quan to ascend the throne, so where could he not go?
Generals from all over the country urged the emperor to ascend the throne, and generals such as Sun Huan and Pan Jun also had to sign their names!
Prime Minister Gu Yong and General Zhang Zhao, who assisted Wu, went to the palace of King Wu. To Sun Quan's surprise, Gu Yong, who he thought would support the dispatch of troops, bluntly expressed his opposition. However, Zhang Zhao, who he thought was more conservative, supported the dispatch of troops!
"What does Mr. Zhang think?" Sun Quan was not reluctant to ask for advice and asked Zhang Zhao with a sincere face.
Zhang Zhao was actually quite helpless. If I advocated defense instead of fighting, I'm afraid you, Your Highness, the King of Wu, would ridicule me. Now that I support fighting, why are you still asking me what I think?
"Your Majesty, you are wise," Zhang Zhao stroked his beard and looked at Sun Quan, "I think what Sun Jiming said is correct. I didn't agree to send troops many years ago, but I was worried about a big defeat. But now that the water level has risen sharply, it is good for the navy, and the weather, the terrain and the people are all on the side of the Great Wu, Your Majesty should make the decision!"
After Zhang Zhao said this, Sun Quan became even more conflicted.
When it comes to state affairs, family affairs, and world affairs, is there a clear answer that can be presented to everyone?
……
Before this, Cao Rui went all the way north from Xuchang, passing Chenliu County, Wei County, and then to Changshan County, passing Jingxing, and then passing Xinxing County, Yanmen County and Dai County, all along the official road.
This time heading south, the official road closest to Yecheng is almost parallel to the canals and rivers in Hebei.
The closest route was to go southwest from Tuyin City in Youbeiping County to Quanzhou first, then along the Pinglu Canal to Dongpingshu, then along the Hutuo River through the entire Hejian County, and along the Zhangshui River all the way southwest to Yecheng.
This waterway was also the main artery for the supply of food and fodder when Cao Rui conquered Liaodong. Quanzhou City, where Xin Pi was located, controlled the heart of these arteries.
It is more than 300 miles from Youbeiping to Tuyin, which is actually the distance from Tangshan, Hebei to Tianjin in later generations.
When Xin Pi learned in Quanzhou City that the emperor had led his troops to arrive first, he was as surprised as Cao Rui himself was when Xin Pi arrived in Youbeiping at night.
"Why is your majesty so anxious?"
When Xin Pi heard that cavalry were entering the city, he hurried out of the house to see what was happening, but he ran into the emperor and his entourage who were rushing in.
Cao Rui dismounted, looking tired: "I will rest in Quanzhou today and continue my journey south tomorrow."
"Let's go, Xin Qing, find me a place to rest, and I'll talk to you slowly."
"As you wish." Although Xin Pi had a lot of questions in his mind, he quickly cleaned up the best room he lived in the mansion and gave it to the emperor.
Cao Rui didn't hesitate and went straight into Xin Pi's bedroom and half-lay on the couch to rest. The attendants and the imperial guards all followed the order to rest in the camp, but Liu Ye "took no pains" and followed the emperor into Xin Pi's bedroom, finding a carved chair and sitting down.
Although the furnishings in the room were quite simple, he was leaning on the couch with Xin Pi and Liu Ye in front of him. This scene was somewhat similar to when he first ascended the throne.
That was the seventh year of Huangchu, and the reign title had not yet been changed to Taihe.
At that time, there were only two official ministers, Liu Ye and Xin Pi. Huang Quan was still an idle general with nothing to do all day. Chen Jiao was in the Secretariat, working under the supervision of Chen Qun and Sima Yi, the two recorders of the Secretariat.
Cao Rui sighed with emotion: "When I saw you two in front of me today, it was as if I had returned to four years ago."
Liu Ye first bowed to Xin Pi, then turned around and said, "This is very different from four years ago. In the past four years, Your Majesty has conquered the south and the north and established a foundation. It is a blessing for the Wei Dynasty and the world to have such a holy ruler!" (End of this chapter)
