Cao Rui's cheeks were deep, his fingers seemed even more powerful. He held the informal letter of nationality brought back by Sima Zhao, and his hands could not control themselves. He could only put his hands in his sleeves and prevent others from seeing them.
Expose his nervousness.
The Battle of Luoyang has ended almost two years ago, and Bingzhou has been pacified for more than a year, but his burden has not been reduced. Wei Ba's three armies forced Sun Quan to surrender, Wu State surrendered to Shu Han, and the dispute between the three countries became a dispute between the two countries.
,For Cao Wei, this is more nervous news than defeat.
A long time ago, he knew that Wei Ba had the plan to use troops to Liaodong. At that time, he thought it was tantamount to dreaming. Attacking Liaodong across the sea is still a little different from attacking Wujun by sea. Qianlixing troops no longer have the suddenness.
The possibility of attack was that Wei Ba hoped that the chance of forcing Gongsun Yuan was very small, just like forcing Sun Quan to surrender, and it was destined to be a protracted war.
The protracted war requires a large amount of supplies as a backing, which is far from comparable to the battle of more than ten days. Wei Ba was aggressive and forced to surrender Sun Quan in just half a month. It is better to say that he is using troops like a god than using troops like a god.
It is a last resort. If Sun Quan’s defense line cannot be broken in the shortest time, it will be a futile expedition.
He was lucky. In the face of his fierce offensive, especially when the navy went up the river, and was unstoppable, and finally occupied the Yuzhang Shipyard and controlled the lifeline of the Wu Kingdom, Sun Quan gave up his resistance and resigned to Shu Han.
However, when he conquers Liaodong, he will not have such good luck. He has to make a lot of preparations and it takes a lot of time, and this time can also provide enough room for Gongsun Yuan.
Therefore, this plan looks more like a psychological warfare, and it is a momentum created to force Gongsun Yuan to surrender at the negotiating table, and it is unlikely that it will actually be done.
Cao Rui has always comforted himself like this. Only in this way can he have the confidence to persevere.
The news brought back by Sima Zhao completely broke his fantasy. The Shu Han court passed Wei Ba's plan and began to prepare for the war. Obviously, they were ready to start the war. Before the expedition to Liaodong, Cao Wei was
To start to welcome the continuous war, Wei Ba's warship will appear in Qingzhou immediately, and Li Yan and Lu Xun will continue to disturb him. To deal with such a situation, Cao Wei must do his best, and it will take less than two or three years to deal with it.
, he will be dragged down.
The real goal of the expedition plan was Cao Wei, not Gongsun Yuan. Knowing this did not bring him much joy, but on the contrary it was deep despair. Since the fall of Guanzhong, Wei Ba continued to increase pressure on Cao Wei.
Now, these pressures are finally great enough to destroy Cao Wei. At this time, the suggestion of maintaining the title of King of Wei is no longer a fool, but a practical and feasible forced landing plan.
"What do you think of the general?"
"The situation is urgent, and you must not slack off for a moment." Sima Yi's expression was serious and his tone was heavy. "Please make a quick decision and never hesitate."
"How to break it?"
"Taking the strength of the country to fight back."
"Counterattack?" Cao Rui was very surprised. At this time, is there still power to counterattack?
"Yes, fight back." Sima Yi raised his voice and repeated again: "When you are alive and dead, if you cannot put yourself to death and live, how can you have a glimmer of hope?"
"The general thought how should he fight back?"
"Your Majesty, I have a plan. Please read it." Sima Yi took out a memorial from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. Cao Rui's eyes tightened, so he asked the eunuchs to take it over. "The General said briefly.
.”
"Only!" Sima Yi bowed and took the order: "I have three strategies to respond to the current crisis. Recruiting talents and severing the source of talents; conferring Gongsun Yuan as king to strengthen his heart and cut off his support; advocating frugality,
Forbid luxury and cut off the source of its wealth.”
Cao Rui's eyes flashed: "General, let's talk about it in detail."
"Your Majesty, the Shu Han Dynasty can have the present, because there is Wei Ba. Wei Ba can have the present, because there is a powerful weapon. Wei Ba can have the advantage of it, so that he can gain talents." Sima Yi talked happily and analyzed Wei Ba's strengths.
.He said that Wei Ba's mechanical skills are indeed unique in the world, but his achievements today are not his own achievements. For example, the invention of the fire bomb has nothing to do with him, and the successful creation of the giant ship is even more collective wisdom.
Wei Ba played a very limited role in the achievements of the country. His role was to gather a large number of talents and give them a favorable experience that others could not seek. Only by playing the role of these talents can he create extraordinary weapons.
Why are the aristocratic families in Jiangdong unwilling to cooperate with Sun Quan and Wei Ba? It is because Wei Ba can give them something that Sun Quan doesn't want to give or cannot give. By recruiting these aristocratic families, Wei Ba takes time to take the foundation of Sun Quan step by step
, strengthen your own strength. If you want to block his erosion, you can only recruit the children of aristocratic families first, give them generous treatment, and make him indifferent when facing Wei Ba's supremacy. This will help you keep people's hearts alive and at the same time
Use their ingenuity.
In other words, if Wei Ba can give it, Your Majesty will give it first. Will those aristocratic families still be moved by Wei Ba’s recruitment? If you don’t, Wei Ba will not be able to obtain talents from Wei. This is called cutting off the source of talents.
Secondly, what could Wei Ba attract Gongsun Yuan? There was nothing except a throne that recognized him. Shu Han could confer Gongsun Yuan as king, and Your Majesty could confer him. The Gongsun clan had been in power forty years in Liaodong, and there was no Luoyang there.
The places where the imperial court can control, not recognize Gongsun Yuan as king is just a matter of reputation. Now things are urgent, so I will first sign Gongsun Yuan as king. Will Gongsun Yuan still care about the rewards of Shu Han? In this case, he will definitely be inclined to
For Cao Wei, if Shu Han is rejected, Wei Ba can only attack Liaodong. If he attacks Liaodong for a long time, it requires a large amount of materials, and secondly, it requires a long time of preparation, which can all relieve the pressure on Cao Wei. Once Wei Ba cannot capture Liaodong for a long time, then
The manpower and material resources of Shu Han were consumed in Liaodong, so the opportunity for Cao Wei came.
This is called breaking the support of its horns and turning enemies into friends.
Finally, whether it is war or governing the country, it requires money. Reducing and exempting the expenditure in the palace, promoting frugality, and rewarding farming can reduce the dependence on Jiaozhou treasures, avoiding the outflow of a large amount of money, and on the other hand, it can also accumulate financial resources.
Material resources to prepare for the war.
After listening to Sima Yi’s three strategies, Cao Rui felt a little hot. On the one hand, he was angry, and on the other hand, he was embarrassed.
The first strategy is the first strategy. It cannot be said that what Sima Yi said is unreasonable, but this strategy also has obvious implications. Sima Yi is speaking on behalf of the aristocratic family and asking for more power. He is even threatening the court if he still suppresses it like before.
If aristocratic families cannot avoid the fate of destruction. If those aristocratic families do not get the right rights they deserve in Cao Wei, they will turn to support Wei Ba. In this way, if people lose all their hearts, how can they not perish?
This was almost the same as forcing a palace, which made Cao Rui very angry. Even if he knew that Sima Yi was telling the truth, he could not rule out his unhappiness.
What is shameful is the last strategy. Cao Rui is like his grandfather Cao ** in all aspects, but he is like his father Cao Pi in terms of attitude towards life. He advocates luxury, and even when the national strength is difficult, he is still extravagant.
A large part of the treasures from Jiaozhou entered the palace, and the money paid for it was also amazing. Sima Yi said that he would start by saving the expenses in the palace, but in fact he was tactfully accusing him of this shortcoming.
Cao Rui coughed twice and changed the topic: "I'm afraid I can't handle these three strategies alone?"
Sima Yi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the three routes of Shu Han are advancing together, with great momentum, but it is not without any gaps. With the strength of Shu Han, even if the Wu Kingdom is added, they are not enough to support the three routes of conquest. If there is no hope of contacting Liaodong, only
If you can go on an expedition, then the two offensives of Guanzhong and Yanzhou will be much weaker. Li Yan will replace Zhuge Liang to guard Guanzhong and will not be able to grasp the strength of Guanzhong in a short period of time. And when the Wu Kingdom has surrendered, they may not be able to do their best, so these two routes will inevitably be
We mainly use harassment and restrain our army as our main purpose. The enemy is weak and I am solid, and national affairs can still be done."
Cao Rui's eyes flashed and he pondered for a long time: "In this way, the offensive of Shu Han is indeed suspected of bluffing."
"Your Majesty is a wise and wise sign of the incompatibility of the Shu Han court, and it is also a great opportunity for me to fight back."
Cao Rui's fingers in his sleeve jumped twice and nodded gently. This is indeed an opportunity, and it is likely to be the last chance. It is like the charging stage before the opponent launches a full-strength attack, if you can catch it
If you live in this opportunity, you may be able to knock down your opponent in one go and turn defeat into victory. If you can't seize this opportunity, you will basically have no hope when the opponent's attack begins.
Although Sima Yi's suggestion was different, he had to say that his vision was very vicious. Seeing this fleeting opportunity, he also saw the weakness behind the seemingly powerful Shu Han.
Crisis means that danger and opportunity coexist. Some people see danger, while others see opportunities.
However, Cao Rui did not agree to Sima Yi immediately. He still needed to think carefully and listen to other people's opinions.
...
Wei Ba walked down the river and went to Jiangling.
Li Feng led the generals out of the city to greet him. As soon as he saw Wei Ba, he smiled. "Congratulations to Ziyu for being promoted to General of the Chariot and Cavalry."
Wei Ba laughed: "Shame, if it weren't for the general's help, I wouldn't be promoted to the post. Why, the Major General is leaving now?"
"No, I'm just waiting for you to hand over." Li Feng shook his sleeves pretending to be careless. According to the latest results of the court struggle, Li Yan rushed to Guanzhong, and Li Feng will also go to Guanzhong. His son knew it himself.
Li Yan wanted to take Li Feng by his side to train him personally. Otherwise, God would know if he would be killed by Wei Ba in the end.
Li Feng had just been the prefect of Nanjun for several months and was about to serve as the chief general of the Eastern Expedition, but was transferred to Guanzhong. He couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. Seeing Wei Ba return from his return, he felt so sad, but he was not easy to reveal it.
, he could only hide his bitterness and look graceful.
Wei Ba knew it in his heart, but he didn't point it out. He held Li Feng's hand and smiled: "Major General, do you know why the General transferred you to Guanzhong?"