Former Emperor Cao Pi attacked Wu three times.
The first time, three routes were advanced, but after half a year of fighting and weariness, they withdrew.
And the second and third were more like a joke, commanding over one hundred thousand troops, and even dared not to cross the Yangtze River.
Therefore, when Cao Rui questioned Cao Xu and Cao Zhen, the two military leaders of the Wei state were once again left speechless.
It can't be shoved onto the shoulders of the previous emperor Cao Pi!
Cao Rui snorted lightly: "The Marshal, you are the commander-in-chief of the military in Yangzhou. I ask you, how many troops have you received from Zang Biao successively?"
Seeing Cao Rui's question had touched on the key issue, Cao Xu's embarrassed expression vanished instantly, as if he had learned the art of changing faces, and a smug look appeared.
"In the third year of Huang Chu, I led ten thousand troops across the river. After the late emperor summoned Zang Biao to Luoyang as the Goldsmith, I further collected two million troops from Qingxu and Xuchuan. In total, it amounted to three million."
"In Huang Chu 5, during the second campaign against Wu, I laid off more than a dozen local Governors and Dukes in Qing and Xuchuan. In 6, during the third campaign against Wu, I suppressed the rebellion in Licheng District."
Cao Rui squinted his eyes and pounded the table heavily several times with his palm.
"You say this is a campaign against Wu? This is clearly using the pretext of a campaign against Wu to seize Zang Biao's troops and replace the commanders in Qing and Xuchuan!"
"And you, the General, is there no such situation in the Western Route?"
Cao Zhen, seeing that Emperor Cao Rui was already angry, dared not act as proudly as Cao Xu had: "Lord... there was also such a situation in the Western Route. The late emperor stationed in Yu City to supervise the three routes' armies and executed the Governor of Yu City, Yang Jun."
Yang Jun was a capable commander under Cao Zhi during the struggle for the throne between Cao Pi and Cao Zhi.
Cao Rui sighed deeply and stood up, pressing his hand on the desk: "I'm not saying it's wrong to stabilize Qing State and Xuchuan State. I just mean that the Qing Xuchuan matter is nothing compared to the campaign against Wu!"
"Marshal!"
Cao Xu also realized at this moment that he shouldn't have such a look on his face: "I am here."
"When Zang Biao crossed the river, how many troops did you leave on the northern bank to prevent him?"
Cao Xu awkwardly replied, "I left thirty thousand troops on the northern bank."
Cao Rui asked again: "If we don't seize Zang Biao's troops, will Zang Biao rebel?"
Cao Xu hesitated and replied: "This... I guess Zang Biao won't rebel either."
Cao Rui's anger grew with each word: "How could Zang Biao possibly rebel? He's over sixty years old, for heaven's sake! He didn't rebel during the Battle of Guandu, he didn't rebel during the Battle of Red Cliffs, and he didn't rebel when the late emperor ascended the throne. Why would he suddenly rebel during the campaign against Wu?"
Cao Rui waved his sleeves and said: "Look at this! Is this how we fight to conquer the Eastern Wu? Perhaps you all haven't even thought about being able to destroy the Eastern Wu before you even start fighting!"
Both sides fell into silence. After a while, it was still the least talkative Chen Jun who broke the silence.
Chen Jun bowed and said, "Your Majesty, military matters involve many complexities and some confidential information is inevitable. Please, Your Majesty, do not be angry about past events."
Cao Rui said, "I know that, I was just angry for a moment and there is no intention to blame you."
"I was just thinking that the Eastern Wu has only about one hundred and twenty thousand troops, and they have to defend from Yangzhou to Guangling, with defenses everywhere, there must be holes everywhere. How can it take twenty years to defeat them."
Cao Xu and Cao Zhen exchanged a glance, with a look of much helplessness in their eyes. As two individuals who had followed the Cao family since the early days of their uprising, they had a profound understanding of the difficulties of the past years.
Indeed, twenty years without being able to conquer the Eastern Wu, there are too many things that are beyond our control.
The central plain has been devastated for years with constant turmoil, the suppression of various warlords in various regions is extremely costly, and everywhere from the west of Liang to the east of Yangzhou requires defense. The already weak national strength was constantly at war, and what could be achieved without saying anything is not worth mentioning.
At this point, Cao Xu dared not mention the matter of conquering the Eastern Wu again. He bowed to Cao Rui and said, "Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. I now also believe that we should delay the campaign against Wu."
Cao Zhen also concurred: "I agree."
Seeing that both Cao Xu and Cao Zhen had expressed their views, Sima Yi and Chen Jun also spoke up in agreement, saying that the campaign against Wu should not be launched.
Cao Rui, seeing that the opinions of the four had unified, nodded and his expression also returned to calm.
"That means if Wu and Shu change, we should prioritize defense?"
Cao Xu bowed and said: "Indeed." As Cao Xu served as the Marshal, he was currently the highest-ranking military figure in Cao Wei's name, and the state's military campaigns and major affairs were still under his command.
Cao Rui noticed that Liu Xie had been standing beside him for a while and asked casually, "Liu Minister, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
Liu Xie's answer was brief and concise, in line with his usual style: "Your Majesty is wise, and I also concur."
Cao Rui nodded: "If there are no other matters, today's report will come to an end here. Who is on duty for the next five days?"
Liu Xie replied, "The first report is the Marshal's, the second is the General's, and this time's report should be the turn of Lord Chen or Lord Sima."
Cao Rui said, "Then let Lord Chen write it. Make it as detailed as possible, with at least five times more words."
Chen Jun accepted the order. The four people bowed in respect and then left one by one.
......
As they walked to the Ministry of War from the Imperial Palace, the four of them chatted casually along the way.
Cao Xu shook his head slightly: "Mr. Zidan, Mr. Zidan, when are we going to be on duty at the Ministry of War? I have longed to take command of troops. It is much more enjoyable to be in the military camp than at the Ministry of War."
Cao Zhen showed a look of helplessness: "Do you think I don't want to? Brother Wenlie, I sit here every day, and my buttocks are almost wearing out."
Sima Yi, on the side, chimed in: "Why are you two doing this? It has caused the emperor to get so angry."
Cao Xu turned his mouth down: "Now it's like we're the ones who caused it? That's true, wars have nothing to do with you."
Cao Zhen also commented: "Exactly, when we were armor-clad and armed to fight against Wu, Sima Yi was still resting in Xuchang City."
Sima Yi shook his head: "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Generals Cao are truly hardworking and deserving of recognition!"
"Ha-ha." Cao Zhen patted Sima Yi on the shoulder. "Let's go to my mansion tonight and have some drinks."
Sima Yi replied: "Then I will follow your lead."
Cao Zhen noticed Chen Jun walking silently beside him and gave him a slap on the shoulder again. "General of the Imperial Guard, come have some drinks at my mansion tonight."
Chen Jun looked at Cao Zhen and said, "I'm not much of a drinker, it's really hard for me to comply."
Cao Zhen sighed and said, "Since everyone is here, you're the only one left, Chen Changwen. You have to come tonight whether you like it or not."
Chen Jun rarely smiled: "Mr. Zidan, you're like a bandit."
Cao Zhen said, "What bandit? I'm a grand general of the court, and aren't you also a grand general?"
The four of them gradually walked further away.
Although there are significant differences between military and civil careers, the relationship between Cao Xu, Cao Zhen, and Sima Yi on one side, and Chen Jun on the other, is not as imagined by outsiders but rather quite good.
As early as during the late Emperor Cao Pi's struggle for the throne, Sima Yi, Chen Jun, Wu Zhi, and Zhu Shuo were known as the "Four Friends," and they were loyal associates who helped Cao Pi secure his position.
And Cao Xu and Cao Zhen, who were raised by Cao Cao from a young age, lived together with Cao Pi, their brother.
These four ministers assisting in the governance are, strictly speaking, the inner circle of Cao Pi. It is no wonder that Cao Pi appointed them as regents before his death.
But, will such a relationship continue to be good in the future?
