Chapter 12 Three Attacks on Wu The previous emperor Cao Pi attacked Wu three times. The first three-pronged advance lasted more than half a year and ended in exhaustion. The second and third times were even more like a joke. He led more than 100,000 soldiers but didn't even dare to cross the Yangtze River. Therefore, when Cao Rui questioned Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen, the two military leaders of the Wei State, the two were speechless. You can't just put the blame on the late Emperor Cao Pi! Cao Rui snorted lightly: "Grand Marshal, you are the commander-in-chief of all the military forces in Yangzhou. I want to ask you, how many soldiers of Zang Ba have you recruited?" Seeing that Cao Rui had asked the key question, the embarrassed expression on Cao Xiu's face suddenly disappeared, and he showed a smug look, as if he had learned how to change his face. "In the third year of Huangchu, I drove Zang Ba's 10,000 men across the river. After the late emperor summoned Zang Ba to Luoyang to serve as the Prefect of the Guards, I also recruited another 20,000 garrison troops from Qingxu, totaling 30,000 men." "In the fifth year of Huangchu, during the second attack on Wu, more than a dozen governors and commanders from Qing and Xu were dismissed. In the sixth year, during the third attack on Wu, the rebellion in Licheng County was suppressed." Cao Rui narrowed his eyes and slammed the table several times.
"You said this was an attack on Wu? This was clearly an attack on Wu in order to capture Zang Ba's troops and exchange for Qing Xu's generals!" "And you, General, don't you have this kind of situation in the West?" Seeing that Cao Rui was already angry, Cao Zhen did not dare to be as proud as Cao Xiu: "Your Majesty... there are indeed troops from the west. The late emperor was stationed in Wancheng to supervise the three armies and executed the governor of Wancheng, Yang Jun." Yang Jun was a capable general under Cao Zhi when Cao Pi and Cao Zhi were competing for the throne. Cao Rui sighed deeply, stood up and pressed his hand on the table: "I am not saying that it is wrong to stabilize Qingzhou and Xuzhou, but the matter of Qingzhou and Xuzhou is nothing compared to the attack on Wu!" "Da Sima!" Cao Xiu also realized at this time that he shouldn't have such an expression: "I am here." "When Zang Ba crossed the river, how many people did you leave in Jiangbei to guard against him?" Cao Xiu replied awkwardly: "I have left 30,000 men in Jiangbei." Cao Rui asked again: "If we don't surrender Zang Ba's troops, will Zang Ba rebel?" Cao Xiu replied hesitantly: "This... I guess Zang Ba won't rebel either." Cao Rui's anger grew stronger and stronger as he spoke: "How could Zang Ba rebel? He is already over 60 years old! Zang Ba did not rebel during the Battle of Guandu, the Battle of Chibi, or when the last emperor proclaimed himself emperor. Why would he rebel when the war against Wu is about to begin?" Cao Rui shook his sleeves and said, "Look, are you fighting like this to conquer the Eastern Wu? I'm afraid you didn't even think about destroying the Eastern Wu before you started the war!" The four of them fell silent. After a while, Chen Qun, who was the least talkative, came to the rescue. Chen Qun cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the use of troops involves many things, and some internal affairs are inevitable. I hope Your Majesty will not be angry about the past." Cao Rui said: "I know, I was just angry for a moment, I don't mean to blame you." "I just thought that the Dongwu army only had a few hundred thousand people available, and they had to defend from Xiangyang to Guangling. If they defended everywhere, there would definitely be loopholes everywhere. How could they not be defeated in twenty years?" Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen looked at each other, their eyes full of helplessness. The two of them had fought with Cao since the early days of his uprising, and they were deeply touched by the difficulties of these years. Yes, we have not been able to conquer Dongwu in twenty years, and there are too many helpless things.
The Central Plains was in ruins and in turmoil for years. The cost of pacifying warlords in various places was extremely high, and defenses needed to be deployed everywhere from Liangzhou in the west to Yangzhou in the east. The country was already weak and kept going to war, so it was needless to say what the outcome would be. At this time, Cao Xiu no longer dared to mention the matter of attacking Wu. He bowed to Cao Rui and said, "Your Majesty is right. I also think that we should postpone the attack on Wu." Cao Zhen also agreed: "I second the proposal." Seeing that the two had expressed their opinions, Sima Yi and Chen Qun also said that they should not attack Wu. Cao Rui saw that the four had reached a consensus and nodded, his expression calmed down. "That means if Wu and Shu change, we should be on the defensive?" Cao Xiu bowed and said, "That's right." After all, as the Grand Marshal, Cao Xiu was nominally the top military figure in Cao Wei, and he was still the one who was responsible for carrying out national wars and peace affairs. Cao Rui saw Liu Ye standing next to him for a long time, so he asked casually, "Minister Liu, what do you think about this matter?" Liu Ye's answer was brief, in keeping with his usual style: "Your Majesty is wise, and I second your opinion." Cao Rui nodded: "If there is nothing else, let's stop here for today. Who will be the one to give the briefing in the next five days?" Liu Ye replied: "The first briefing was given by the Grand Marshal, the second by the General, and this time it should be the turn of Lord Chen or Lord Sima." Cao Rui said, "Then you should write it, Chen Qing. Write it in more detail and use at least five times more words." Chen Qun accepted the order. The four of them bowed and left. …… On the way to Shangshutai, the four of them walked back and forth and started chatting. Cao Xiu shook his head slightly: "Zidan, ah Zidan, how long will we have to serve in the Shangshutai? I have long wanted to lead the troops. I am much happier in the barracks than in the Shangshutai!" Cao Zhen showed a helpless expression: "Do you think I don't want to? Brother Wenlie, my butt is almost callused from sitting so much every day." Sima Yi interjected, "Why did you two bother to cause His Majesty to be so angry?" Cao Xiu curled his lips and said, "Did it happen to be us? That's right, the war really has nothing to do with you." Cao Zhen also said: "That's right, when we were marching to attack Wu, Lord Zhongda was still resting in Xuchang." Sima Yi shook his head: "I was wrong. The two Cao generals have made great contributions. Great contributions!" "Haha." Cao Zhen patted Sima Yi on the shoulder and said, "Come on, let's all go to my house tonight for a drink." Sima Yi responded: "Then I'd rather obey your command than be respectful." Seeing Chen Qun walking silently, Cao Zhen patted Chen Qun again and said, "General, come to my house tonight for a drink." Chen Qun glanced at Cao Zhen and said, "I am not good at drinking, so I cannot obey your order." Cao Zhen sighed, "Everyone is here, are you the only one missing, Chen Changwen? You have to go tonight, whether you want to or not." Chen Qun rarely smiled: "Brother Zidan, why do you look like a bandit?" Cao Zhen said: "What bandits? I am a general of the imperial court. Aren't you also a general?" The four of them gradually walked away.
Although they had different careers as civil and military officials, the relationship between Cao Xiu, Cao Zhen, Sima Yi and Chen Qun was not as bad as some people imagined. Instead, they had a quite good relationship. As early as when the late Emperor Cao Pi was competing for the throne, Sima Yi, Chen Qun, Wu Zhi and Zhu Shao were collectively known as the "Four Friends" and were the heroes who helped Cao Pi ascend to the throne. Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen were raised by Cao Cao since childhood and lived with Cao Pi. Strictly speaking, the four regents at present are all Cao Pi's trusted confidants. No wonder Cao Pi allowed these four people to assist in governing the country before his death. But, will this kind of relationship last forever? (End of this chapter)