Luoyang.
The city of Luoyang at midnight was pierced by the urgent galloping of horses, breaking the peaceful night.
Two knights carried torches, their backs laden with urgent military intelligence. They entered the city of Luoyang through Yiyang Gate, the southernmost gate, and followed the road of Tonguodao Street all the way north, pounding on the door of the Secretariat.
Today, the Secretary of the Ministry of Ceremonial, who was on duty at night, was Wei Zhen, a trusted and capable official who had been favored by both the former Emperor Cao Pi and Emperor Cao Rui.
After Wei Zhen received the military dispatch, he knew that the situation was urgent and dare not be complacent. He quickly mounted his horse and rang the bell at the gate of the Northern Palace.
At this moment, Emperor Cao Rui was sleeping soundly in his study.
For over two months since his ascension, Emperor Cao Rui initially joked about compiling the literary collections of Cao Cao and Cao Pi. However, as he delved deeper into the task, he found it increasingly interesting.
Really interesting.
The transformation and development of local wealthy families, the networking of noble families, the early experiences of civil and military officials, and unknown secrets... there are always interesting discoveries.
Starting from the early years of the Chancellor's residence, Cao Cao had been consciously preserving various written archives. After Cao Pi succeeded to the throne, he also inherited this habit of his father, ensuring that archives of all sorts of matters were always kept in the palace.
However, many of these archives contained confidential information that could not be disclosed or shown to officials.
This was one of the reasons why Emperor Cao Rui always stayed in his study, reading under the lamp. Often, he would stay up until late into the night, and end up sleeping in his study.
Of course, an emperor's study would definitely have a bed.
"Your Majesty, wake up, Your Majesty ~"
The outside again brought the annoying high-pitched voice of Bi Jin.
Emperor Cao Rui pulled back the curtain and took a look; the room was dimly lit, clearly not yet dawn. It was the first time he had been woken up by Bi Jin at this hour.
At this moment, Emperor Cao Rui was already somewhat alert. His right hand had already touched the sword placed next to the bed. Then, he asked in a voice.
"What is the matter that wakes up the emperor?"
Bi Jin's voice outside sounded urgent: "Your Majesty, Chancellor Wei Zhen is at the North Palace, knocking on the gate and saying he has an urgent military report."
Wei Zhen? Military situation?
Emperor Cao Rui, with bare feet, descended from the bed and felt the coldness of the floor. He took a few quick steps to open the door. He saw Bi Jin holding a exquisite bamboo tube in both hands.
Without time to think, seeing that the sealing wax was already broken, indicating that Wei Zhen had already read it, Emperor Cao Rui knocked off the sealing wax from the bamboo tube and took out the military dispatch for a moment. Then he quickly ordered, "Summon Chancellor Wei here at once."
Bi Jin took the order and left. Emperor Cao Rui looked at the military dispatch, then asked the guard standing by the door: "Who is on duty for the Wu Wei Camp tonight?"
The guard replied from outside the door: "It is Xiao Xingfu, a Camp Leader, and Chen Tai."
Emperor Cao Rui replied, "Send them both here, to my study."
After the guard rushed off, Emperor Cao Rui slowly walked to the bedside and sat semi-cranially, leaning on the pillow and closing his eyes to think.
The content of the military dispatch was simple and straightforward.
Wen Pin, as the General of the Rear Army and the Marquis of Xinye, sent an urgent report from Jiangxia to Luoyang, stating that a large number of Wu army troops had crossed the river, and Wen Pin had dispatched soldiers and officers to prepare for defense.
Just one thing.
Sun Quan across the river? Emperor Cao Rui remembered that in the original timeline, Sun Quan did not achieve any achievements and was even repelled by Wen Pin. Moreover, Cao Rui had also dispatched Sima Yi to oversee all troops to deal with them. Sima Yi even destroyed Zhege Jin.
But at this moment, Emperor Cao Rui dared not rely completely on the memories in his mind.
The reason is very simple. The memories in Emperor Cao Rui's mind are mostly strategic matters.
For example, Zhuge Liang repeatedly invaded central China, for example, Cao Xu and Cao Zhen will die in turn, for example, Sima Yi will take over the great power by starting the Gaopingling coup...
He remembered all these things. So in the presence of the four advisors, facing Cao Xu, Cao Zhen, Sima Yi, and Chen Qun, Emperor Cao Rui was not at all nervous. He knew their ultimate fates and had nothing to worry about.
It is those who do not exist in Emperor Cao Rui's memory that are even more worthy of his attention and vigilance.
Like when Emperor Cao Rui took Huang Zheng and Zhong Yu to the Wu Wei Camp, only to find that Chen Qun had control over the entire armed forces of the imperial guard.
Although Chen Qun, as a civil officer in charge of the Secretariat and also as the General Marshal, does not actively command the imperial guards, in name, Chen Qun is the leader of all the imperial guards.
This matter was very alarming to Emperor Cao Rui.
For example, half a month ago, Emperor Cao Rui went to the Secretariat and was blocked by Chen Jiao. Cao Rui only found out later that Sima Fu had plotted to refute him, and Chen Jiao was involved in it.
This has led Emperor Cao Rui to begin studying those individuals who hold important but not the highest-ranking official positions.
Emperor Cao Rui's recent night reading under the lamp is mostly due to this reason.
Emperor Cao Rui was thinking, when he heard the footsteps outside in a hurry.
Wei Zhen arrived, along with the two captains on duty that night, Xiahou Xian and Chen Tai.
Emperor Cao Rui put on a brocade robe and put on shoes slowly, then stood up. The eunuch had already lit the candles in the study. Emperor Cao Rui sat down behind the desk and called the people outside to come in.
Wei Zhen simply bowed, while Xiahou Xian and Chen Tai bowed on their knees.
Regardless of the difference in their ranks, there is still a distinction in the ways civil officials and military officers perform their bows.
Emperor Cao Rui cleared his throat and addressed the few people: "Wei Zhen, I have read the military dispatch. What is your opinion?"
Wei Zhen looked at the two generals standing next to him with blank expressions, and thus briefly introduced the content of the military dispatch.
After Wei Zhen's statement, he slowly expressed his opinion: "Your Majesty, if Sun Quan has invaded Jiangxia, does that mean he has only sinned in Jiangxia?"
Emperor Cao Rui interjected: "I don't know."
Wei Zhen nodded: "The emperor does not know, and the subject does not know either. But the subject knows that since the loyal Prince Cao Ren passed away, the late emperor sent Xiahou Shang, the Administrator of Jingzhou, to command Jingxiang.
"But since the end of last year when Xiahou Shang fell seriously ill and returned to Luoyang to recover, military reports from Jingxiang could only be sent to the late emperor."
"I want to say that it's not unusual for Sun Quan to invade our borders. We've been at war with the Eastern Wu for twenty years. Wen Pin, as the General of the Rear Army, has been stationed in Jingxiang for a long time and can ensure that Jiangxia is safe for a while."
"Your subject would like to ask the emperor, is it closer to Xiangyang or Luoyang to send a military dispatch from Jiangxia? If Sun Quan invades multiple places, is it quicker to dispatch troops from Xiangyang or Luoyang?"
Emperor Cao Rui had understood Wei Zhen's meaning: "I understand, of course it is Xiangyang."
Emperor Cao Rui continued: "According to your opinion, should I dispatch some generals?"
Wei Zhen replied, "Exactly."
It has to be said that Emperor Cao Rui and Wei Zhen still have some tacit understanding.
Wei Zhen's meaning was simple and clear. Sun Quan's invasion was not extraordinary, and it wasn't something that couldn't be fought. The border defense commanders would deal with the first wave, hold out for dozens of days, and it wouldn't be a problem at all.
The key issue is the dispatch of troops. If Sun Quan invades multiple places, having a command center on the front line will be more efficient than Emperor Cao Rui's command from Luoyang, tenfold or even a hundredfold.
Wei Zhen's conclusion was very clear, that the system of bureau chiefs must be reinstated. When Emperor Cao Rui came to power, he used the pretext of mourning and regent to keep Cao Xu and Cao Zhen in Luoyang, which was no longer appropriate.
It is time to send the advisors out.
Wei Zhen didn't know that Emperor Cao Rui was thinking in his mind, and it had already been decided that Cao Xiu was in the east and Cao Zhen was in the west.
If Sima Yi is not dispatched to Jingxiang, and Chen Qun is instead sent, how can Chen Qun win?
