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Chapter 207: Riders sigh, Cao Pi arrives in person(1/2)

Nanyang County, Wudang County.

As time passed, Cao Ren received a lot of news from Hanxing County one after another.

At first, Cao Ren's scouts captured several Shen soldiers who luckily escaped from the Han River military stronghold.

After interrogating those Shen soldiers, Cao Ren learned the news that Mi Yang led his army to raid the Hanshui military camp.

But when he learned the news, he sent people to carefully investigate the situation of the Hanshui Water Village.

According to reports from the scouts sent out, there were several times more flags and soap drums in the Han River military camp than before.

Moreover, there seemed to be signs of a large number of troops hiding in the mountains and forests of Shuizhai.

The most important thing is that Mi Yang's flags are planted all over the Han River military stronghold upstream. It is suspected that Mi Yang has personally led his army to the Han River military stronghold.

After learning the news, Cao Ren paid great attention to it.

Not long ago, Cao Pi worshiped Cao Ren as a general of chariots and cavalry, commanded the military forces of Jing, Yang, and Yizhou. He was granted the title of Marquis of Chen, adding 2,000 new towns, and adding 3,500 households in total.

After being appointed as the general of chariots and cavalry, Cao Ren led his army back to Wancheng from Fancheng.

Shortly after Cao Ren returned to Wancheng, he learned that Mi Yang had been appointed as the prefect of Hanxing County by Liu Bei.

To this day, Cao Ren still remembers that Cao Cao fainted from anger at the "Linghan Terrace" during the New Year's Day banquet, and the culprit who caused Cao Cao's fainting was Mi Yang.

In addition, before Cao Cao fainted, he reminded Cao Ren to be careful about Mi Yang. Cao Ren, who always obeyed Cao Cao's words, always kept Cao Cao's warning in his heart.

When he learned that Mi Yang had become the prefect of Hanxing, Cao Ren sent Yangwu General Man Chong to lead his army to garrison Wudang County in the lower reaches of the Han River.

If Mi Yang wanted to attack Nanyang County from Xicheng down the Han River, then Wudang County would be the first important place for Mi Yang's attack.

Once Wudang County is captured by Mi Yang, Mi Yang's army can rampage across the hinterland of Nanyang.

But not long after making this arrangement, Cao Ren's scouts captured a small team of clan soldiers sent by Shen Yi near Wudang County, and the scouts found Shen Yi's autographed letter from them.

After Man Chong got Shen Yi's autograph letter to Cao Ren, he did not dare to neglect and quickly ordered someone to deliver Shen Yi's autograph letter to Cao Ren in Wancheng.

Because Shen Yi often exchanged letters with Cao Ren in the past, Cao Ren knew Shen Yi's handwriting.

When Cao Ren received Shen Yi's autograph letter, Cao Ren learned two important pieces of news from Shen Yi's autograph letter.

One is that Shen Yi intends to submit to the imperial court, and the other is that it is not Mi Yang who is in the Han River military camp.

After knowing these two points, Cao Ren personally led his army from Wancheng to Wudang County.

After leading the army to Wudang County, Cao Ren summoned Man Chong and said to him: "There is a change in Xicheng. I want to lead the army to attack it. What do you think of Boning?"

Man Chong, courtesy name Boning, was born in Changyi, Shanyang.

Man Chong once served as postal supervisor, and later acted as the magistrate of Gaoping County. He once tortured prisoners to death, so he resigned and returned home.

In the third year of Chuping, Man Chong was recruited by Cao Cao to serve as the magistrate of Xu County and in charge of justice. During his tenure, he was known for his strict law enforcement.

Later, Man Chong was transferred to the post of governor of Runan and began to participate in the military. He participated in the Battle of Chibi.

When the Battle of Xiangfan occurred last year, Man Chong assisted Cao Ren in defending the city. When someone advised Cao Ren to abandon the city and flee, it was Man Chong who killed the white horse to inspire the morale of the army and urged Cao Ren to hold on. This prevented Fan City from being captured by Guan Yu.

Looking at Man Chong's career, it can be said that he has served both Chinese and foreign officials with both civil and military skills.

Because of their experience of guarding Fancheng together, Cao Ren trusted Man Chong very much.

Before Cao Ren asked Man Chong questions, he had already told Man Chong all the information he knew so far.

After Man Chong learned that Cao Ren intended to conquer Han Xing County, he thought for a while and replied:

"Xicheng is bordered by the Han River to the east and high mountains to the south. Mi Yang sent troops to attack and besiege it. They should rely on the Han River to gain momentum, so they first seized the water stronghold and cut off the Han River.

Mi Yang is good at fighting, and he has the Han River as his support. If the general sends out officers and soldiers to rescue him, he should break the water stronghold first, and then the siege of the west city can be broken.

However, with the official army at the lower reaches and the Mi army at the upper reaches, it would be easy for Mi Yang to retreat, but it would be very difficult for the official army to send troops to rescue him.

The general should stick to Wudang County. Wudang County will be worry-free, and Nanyang will be safe. I hope the general will think about it."

After listening to what Man Chong said, Cao Ren had a look of hesitation on his face. From what Man Chong meant, he did not agree with sending troops to Han Xing County.

But Cao Ren continued: "Since Shen Yi asked for help, and I hope that the water stronghold is well defended, I don't expect Mi Yang to have captured the west city.

If we do not take advantage of this opportunity to mobilize internal and external forces to repel Mi Yang's troops and move for a long time, Xicheng Shenyi will be defeated.

Once Shen Yi was defeated in Xicheng, Mi Yang stationed his troops in Xicheng, sitting on the Han River and peeping at Nanyang. He also had a clever plan, and it was not a plan to protect Nanyang for a long time."

Cao Ren would not understand what Man Chong said after many years of leading troops.

But as he said, now that Shen Yi in Xicheng is holding the city to resist Mi Yang's army, it is an excellent opportunity to repel Mi Yang's army and capture Xicheng.

As long as Xicheng is captured, it will not only ensure the safety of the upper reaches of the Han River, but also take the opportunity to recapture Hanxing County. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Coupled with Cao Ren's fear of Mi Yang, Cao Ren felt that he could not let Mi Yang do whatever he wanted in Hanxing County.

Otherwise, once Mi Yang is allowed to gain a foothold in Hanxing County, Mi Yang in Hanxing County will be like a sharp sword hanging over his head. How could Cao Ren endure this?

Since he has led troops to Wudang County, he must not return without success.

In this state of mind, Cao Ren asked Man Chong to quickly organize supplies and prepare ships. He planned to sail upstream to attack Mi Yang in the near future.

Although Cao Pi had secretly ordered Cao Ren to guard Nanyang County and not to act rashly, Cao Ren had the power to make arbitrary decisions based on the situation.

But before Man Chong could prepare the ship, a new piece of news reached Cao Ren.

Xicheng was captured by Mi Yang.

At that time, Cao Ren was gathering the generals to discuss the strategy for the invasion, but before the strategy was discussed, the west city had been captured by Mi Yang.

After learning that Mi Yang had defeated the city in one day, Cao Ren said with emotion to the generals: "The antlers are so powerful."

What Cao Ren thought was an excellent opportunity just disappeared.

After expressing his emotion, Cao Ren had canceled the news of attacking Hanxing County.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! It is not easy for the downstream to attack the upstream.

Cao Ren had this idea before because he saw the internal instability in Hanxing County. Now that the unrest in Xicheng in Hanxing County has been quelled by Mi Yang, it is no longer suitable to attack Hanxing County at this time.

In desperation, Cao Ren could only return without success.

After Cao Ren led his troops back to Wancheng, he learned another news - Cao Pi's king general would arrive in Wancheng soon.

After receiving the news, Cao Ren could only temporarily put away his feelings about losing the good opportunity, and he began to make arrangements to welcome King Cao Pi.

...

In June of the first year of Yankang in the Han Dynasty, the king of Cao Pi, the king of Wei, entered the county seat of Nanyang County and the county of Wancheng.

After Cao Ren received the news in advance, he led a group of officials in Wancheng to greet Cao Pi's arrival outside the city gate.

Cao Ren and his ministers did not wait too long. Soon, on the horizon outside the north gate of Wancheng, there was gradually a sound of neat and impressive footsteps.

Reflected by the sound of footsteps, tens of thousands of energetic Wei troops appeared from the north.

Then, surrounded by tens of thousands of Wei troops and accompanied by hundreds of officials, a magnificent king's carriage with six horses began to appear in the eyes of Cao Ren and the Nanyang officials.

When he saw the king's chariot, which symbolized supreme power, appearing, Cao Ren quickly led a group of Nanyang officials and bowed down from a distance to the king's chariot.

Soon after, Cao Pi's king drove outside Wancheng.

When Wang Jia drove ten steps away from Cao Ren and other ministers, Wang Jia slowly stopped.

After the chariot stopped, the visitor on the king's chariot respectfully opened the curtain on the king's chariot for Cao Pi, so that Cao Pi could see the scene in front of the king's chariot.

When the audience opened the curtain on the king's carriage, Cao Pi saw a group of Nanyang officials saluting him. The figure standing at the head was none other than Cao Ren, the number one general of the Cao clan in Wei today.

Seeing how respectful Cao Ren was to him, Cao Pi, who was in the imperial palace, showed a smile on his lips.

Cao Ren was the first person in charge of military power when Cao Cao was alive. Among the Wei generals, Cao Ren's prestige was very profound.

Now that such a high-ranking and powerful general in the clan was so respectful to him, Cao Pi no longer hesitated about that idea.

Cao Pi, who was wearing a crown, looked at Cao Ren, who was bowing to him, and said in a warm voice: "The chariot generals and ministers do not need to be polite."

When Cao Pi's voice reached the ears of Cao Ren and everyone in front of the city gate, Cao Ren and his subordinates had just finished saluting.

But facing Cao Pi's king, the Nanyang officials still slightly bent their bodies and did not dare to look directly at Cao Pi's true appearance.

The reason why the Nanyang officials reacted this way was, on the one hand, the majesty of King Wei, and on the other hand, Cao Pi's methods.

After Cao Pi succeeded to the throne in March this year, on the one hand, he promoted his cronies to important positions in the court to win over and support his own political power, and on the other hand, he began to eliminate dissidents.

In the month after Cao Pi succeeded to the throne, he appointed Cao Ren as the general of chariots and cavalry to command the military in Jing, Yang, and Yizhou. He also appointed Xiahou Dun as the general, hoping that he would succeed Cao Zhang and take over the military power in Guanzhong.

But unfortunately, Xiahou Dun died the next month after Cao Pi appointed him as general.

So not long ago, Cao Pi appointed Xiahou Dun's son, Xiahou Mao, as the general of Anxi. He took over the military affairs in Guanzhong from Cao Zhang and was stationed in Chang'an.

It seems that Xia Houmao was already on his way to Chang'an at this time.

Cao Pi's move was to quickly return the military power of the major borders to the clan.

At the central level, Cao Pi appointed Jia Xu as Taiwei, Hua Xin as Prime Minister, and Wang Lang as Yushi Dafu.

These three people were all ministers who firmly supported Cao Pi in becoming the crown prince. Reusing these three people would help Cao Pi quickly control the government.

If Cao Pi only made the above personnel adjustments, it can only be said that he was superb at maneuvering and balancing.

But not long ago, Cao Pi used the change of Yuan Dynasty to Yankang to imprison and execute some ministers who opposed him on the pretext of "disrespecting the Han Dynasty and intending to rebel."
To be continued...
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