The sixteenth day of the first month of the fourth year of the Han Dynasty (AD 243).

Chang'an, Prime Minister's Mansion.

Long Shi Jiang Wan hurriedly walked into Prime Minister Zhuge Liang's study. Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, who was busy, heard footsteps and knew someone was coming in, but he did not stop what he was doing.

"Prime Minister!"

Jiang Wan approached, his voice a little anxious, and he said: "Let's take action."

Hear the words,

Zhuge Liang's brush paused while he was writing. It was a little later than expected. He thought about it in his mind, then put down the brush, picked up the feather fan and shook it gently.

"When?" Zhuge Liang asked.

"Yesterday at noon." Jiang Wan replied.

"Prime Minister!" Jiang Wan then asked: "How should we deal with it next?"

Jiang Wan seemed a little anxious, but Zhuge Liang was calm and calm, as if it was nothing serious.

"Step by step,

Everything is as usual." Zhuge Liang smiled,

Then he stood up from his seat, looked outside and said, "It's almost time. I have to go to the East Palace to see His Highness."

"No!"

Jiang Wan responded and immediately withdrew.

After Jiang Wan left, Zhuge Liang simply tidied up and then headed towards Weiyang Palace.

It's two o'clock in the morning.

East Palace.

"I have met the Prime Minister!" Prince Liu Chen saluted Zhuge Liang. This was what Liu Chan had told him. He must salute the Prime Minister and not act like a prince.

"Your Highness!"

Zhuge Liang said politely, and then the two of them took their seats respectively.

"The Prime Minister came a little late today," Liu Chen said.

In the past, the prime minister would always enter the palace at the first quarter of the hour. Today, it was not until the second quarter that the prime minister arrived late.

Liu Chen asked with concern: "What happened, Prime Minister?"

"Report to Your Highness!" Zhuge Liang nodded slightly and said: "Some things have been delayed for a while, and I would like to ask Your Highness to atone for my sins."

"The Prime Minister is joking;" Liu Chen waved his hand and said, "The Prime Minister is busy with state affairs.

You have to come here to give lectures to me every day, it’s hard work for the Prime Minister.”

Zhuge Liang is very satisfied. Liu Chen is now similar to the emperor when he was young. He is very respectful to others, especially to the veterans in the court.

"Your Highness!" Zhuge Liang said with a smile: "Before today's lecture, I have something I would like to hear your Highness's opinion on."

"Prime Minister, please speak!" Liu Chen said.

Zhuge Liang shook his feather fan slightly, then frowned slightly, and then said: "If Cao Wei sends troops to attack Wu at this time... Your Highness, how do you think I, a big man, should respond?"

"Cao Wei wants to conquer Wu?" Liu Chen did not answer directly, but asked instead.

"Yeah!" Zhuge Liang nodded slightly and said: "A few months ago, Cao Wei raised 150,000 troops and divided them into three groups to attack Wu..."

Liu Chen gently lifted his chin with his small hand and thought for a moment.

"I believe that Cao Wei's intention in attacking Wu is not in Jiangdong;" Liu Chen shook his head and said calmly: "What he really wants to attack...should be Hefei."

Zhuge Liang was stunned for a moment.

Cao Wei's attack on Wu actually happened a few months ago. Not long after Liu Chan's western expedition, Cao Rui claimed to have raised 150,000 troops.

The troops divided into three groups to attack Wu, and threatened to destroy Soochow in order to avenge the loss of Hefei.

However, although the Wei army did have a large army going south, it was so slow that Zhuge Liang did not receive the news until today that Cao Wei had taken action.

In other words, Cao Wei's attack on Wu took several months from sending troops to officially starting the war.

Moreover, as Liu Chen said, his goal is Hefei.

Yesterday at noon, the three armies of Cao and Wei moved simultaneously. Lujiang Governor Wen Qin led 30,000 troops to attack Jiangxia; Sima Yi led 50,000 troops out of Jingzhou, intending to cross the river; Grand Sima Cao Shuang led 100,000 infantry to attack Hefei.

Zhuge Liang was a little curious and asked Liu Chen: "Your Highness, what do you think that Cao Wei is interested in Hefei?"

"Return to the Prime Minister!" Liu Chen said: "Cao Wei and our Han Dynasty suffered a series of defeats. The Battle of Jinzhong has severely damaged his vitality. In addition, Sun Quan suffered a heavy setback in the Battle of Hefei."

"Now Cao Wei does not have the strength to attack Soochow, so their goal is naturally Hefei."

Although Liu Chen is only eleven years old this year, he often listens to Liu Chan telling him about the general trend of the world, and Mr. Taixue also tells him some things between the Three Kingdoms from time to time.

Now that he heard that Cao Wei wanted to destroy Soochow, Liu Chen's first reaction was that this was impossible.

Zhuge Liang nodded, secretly praising the prince, and then asked: "According to your highness's wishes, what should I, a big man, do now to respond?"

Zhuge Liang just wanted to test Liu Chen, but Liu Chen didn't even think about it and said, "Send troops immediately to contain Cao Wei."

"Oh???" Zhuge Liang asked: "Why?"

"Your Majesty is far away in the Western Regions. Wu and Wei are at war again at this time. Shouldn't I, a big man, sit back and watch the tigers fight and reap the benefits?"

Liu Chen secretly said to himself, Prime Minister wants to test me again?

"Return to the Prime Minister!" Liu Chen said: "Hefei is in Wu, and Cao Wei cannot sleep at night, and his food is not satisfying. If Hefei is in Wei, Cao Wei can deal with my big man wholeheartedly."

"Your Highness is brilliant!" Zhuge Liang praised.

Liu Chen's answer was indeed beyond Zhuge Liang's expectations. Although he had known that the prince was smart over the years, he was still just an ignorant boy after all.

But this answer made Zhuge Liang's eyes light up. It was really rare to have such insight at such a young age.

There is hope for the revival of the Han Dynasty.

If the emperor had an unexpected encounter, traveled to the future, and gained the power of prophecy, then the prince's wisdom can make the future of the great man even brighter.

"The Prime Minister has given you too much praise..." Liu Chen said with some embarrassment: "This is all due to the Prime Minister's good teaching, so I can only understand the basics."

Zhuge Liang certainly agreed with Liu Chen's suggestion.

After giving lectures with Liu Chen in the East Palace for an hour, Zhuge Liang left Weiyang Palace, feeling very good along the way.

After leaving Weiyang Palace, he ordered his attendants: "Go to the Cavalry General's Mansion."

"No!" the attendant responded.

After a stick of incense, the chariots and cavalry arrived at the general’s mansion.

In the study room.

Chariot General Wu Yi and Prime Minister Zhuge Liang had just sat down when Zhuge Liang raised his hands and said: "Old General, it seems that you have to go through a hard trip."

"Good thing, good thing!" Wu Yi said with a smile: "I am worried that I have no place to stretch my muscles, hahaha."

"Old General!" Zhuge Liang said: "This time the old general has arrived in Hongnong...don't he have to quickly attack Hongnong County?"

"???" Wu Yi was stunned.

In fact, Zhuge Liang had discussed this matter with him a few months ago. Now that the Emperor is leading his troops on the Western Expedition, there are not many generals in the court, especially the younger generation of generals. They have all gone with the Emperor on the Western Expedition.
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The rest, such as Wei Yan, Chen Dao, Ma Dai, Liao Hua, Wang Ping, Yang Tongshan and others, are all stationed in important border towns.

However, a few months ago, Cao Wei threatened to destroy Wu. Zhuge Liang naturally knew that Cao Wei wanted to take advantage of the Han Emperor's westward expedition and the Han Wuxia's eastward visit to attack Soochow.

Of course, Zhuge Liang had already guessed that Cao Wei's goal was Hefei.

As Prince Liu Chen said, the current Cao Wei does not have the strength to complete the war to destroy Wu. Not to mention that Cao Wei can recruit good warriors. Except for Sima Yi and Cao Shuang, there are not many generals who can take the lead.

Although among the Three Kingdoms, Soochow is the worst in terms of strength.

However, even the worst Soochow has more than 200,000 soldiers and horses at the moment, and there is a defensive line of the Yangtze River. The Wei army is not used to water warfare, and it is not that easy to destroy Wu.

Even the eleven-year-old prince knew that if Hefei was in the hands of Soochow, Cao Wei would never be at peace, and he would be worried about Soochow sending naval troops northward at any time.

Therefore, for the current Han Dynasty, Hefei is definitely more beneficial in the hands of Soochow than in the hands of Cao Wei.

Once Cao Wei re-captures Hefei, they will naturally send heavy troops to guard Hefei and block the Dongwu navy south of the Yangtze River and Huaihe River, so that Cao Wei can free up his hands to deal with the Han Dynasty.

Therefore, once Cao Wei attacks Hefei, the Han Dynasty will definitely send troops to contain Cao Wei.

However, Wu Yi is a little confused.

The last time they sent troops to Hongnong, whether it was Emperor Liu Chan or Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, they all asked him to work as a foreigner in Hongnong. They didn't need to actually fight, just put on a show and scare Cao Wei.

After all, as soon as Hongnong was defeated, Luoyang was exposed to the front of the Han army.

Once the Han army leaves Tongguan, Cao Wei will definitely focus on Hongnong to deal with the Han army.

"Are we going to capture Hongnong in this battle?" Wu Yi asked.

"That's right!" Zhuge Liang nodded and said: "This time Cao Wei sent troops to Hefei. Naturally, he felt that His Majesty was busy with the Western Expedition, and I, the great Han Wuxia, was looking eastward. If he still pretended to attack like last time, Cao Wei would definitely remain unmoved and continue to attack with all his strength.
To be continued...