Liu Fang and Sun Zi repeatedly agreed.
Cao Rui seemed to suddenly think of something, smiling lightly as he said, "What do you think, how will Dongwu respond to this matter?"
Liu Fang's serious face also rarely showed a smile: "Since we are mutual enemies, we call the eastern part of the river 'Wu Pirates', and the eastern part cannot help but call us 'Wei Pirates'. If Sun Quan knows that the emperor is offering a reward for the capture of Dongwu, he is likely to have already cursed."
Sun Zi also smiled and said: "Your Majesty, although Dongwu has held the eastern bank for twenty or so years, the hearts of people are like floating water reeds. Your Majesty's wind from Luoyang may still stir up the hearts of the people in Jiangdong."
Cao Rui raised an eyebrow: "Then, I will increase the strength of this wind."
"Chancellery, pass on the order!"
Liu Fang quickly sat down at the small desk in front of the emperor's study, which was specially designed for two secretaries to draft edicts and edicts.
"Lately, Dongwu had a Han Dang's son, Han Zong, who crossed the river to surrender. Have the Grand Marshal give him a grand feast. I want to use him as a bait and elevate him."
"Order, the former Han Zong who crossed the river to surrender be promoted to General of Southern Peace, Han Zong's fief be upgraded from county-level land grant to a traditional local title, and be granted a fief of three thousand households."
"Furthermore, instruct the Grand Marshal and Chen Zhenjun to arrange for letters to be sent to the commanders of all defensive areas in Dongwu, promising them a title of marquis. If they surrender to Wei, a county-level land grant becomes a fief, and a fief becomes a marquisate. If they bring a thousand men to join the Great Wei, they will be granted a fief of one thousand households; if they bring three thousand men, they will be granted three thousand households!"
"It's time to see how strong my wind can blow Dongwu into what shape."
Liu Fang, hearing Cao Rui's words, continued writing with the brush in his wrist without a moment's pause. After Cao Rui's voice had fallen for a moment, Liu Fang also stopped writing on the silk.
Liu Fang blew a few breaths gently, then picked up the edict with both hands and handed it to Cao Rui in front of him: "I have finished writing, Your Majesty, please make any corrections."
Cao Rui looked at it slightly, surprised to say, "Liu Secretary is so talented! There is no need for me to make any corrections. Imprint it immediately!"
…
Two weeks later, October 15th, Wu Chang.
Wu Chang, originally E Zhou. Sun Quan moved the capital from Jianye to E Zhou in the second year of Huang Chu (220-229), and then renamed it Wu Chang, with the intention of "prosperity through military strength".
For most of the time before the end of the Han Dynasty, there were few large-scale battles in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, so there were not many northern strategists to explore the 'landform and natural advantage' areas in this region.
However, during the chaotic late Han Dynasty, as Sun Jian, Liu Biao, and others employed military strategies here, the strategic location of Wu Chang began to be valued.
Sun Quan not only explored this place, but also moved the capital from Jianye to Wu Chang.
After Sun Quan captured Jingzhou, his territory expanded while the area he needed to defend also increased.
Not only did he need to guard against the Shu Han army from the direction of Bai Di in the west, but he also had to defend against the Cao Wei army from the direction of Xiangyang in the north. He also had to consider the safety of his base in Yangzhou. Under such circumstances, Wu Chang became the best location for Sun Quan to station troops in Jingzhou.
Jianye is located downstream on the Yangtze River. If Jingzhou is in urgent need, the water and land troops of the Eastern Region cannot be sent in time for aid.
By establishing the capital in Wu Chang, placing Sun Quan's most elite central army there, and controlling the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. To the west, he can save Xiling; to the east, he can follow the river directly to Jianye. For Eastern Wu's limited troops, this configuration can be said to be very reasonable.
Moreover, in terms of geography, Wu Chang and Jianye are also very similar: both are located on the south bank of the Yangtze River, surrounded by a large river and mountains; Jianye has Stone City for naval forces to dock, and Wu Chang also has Fankou where naval forces can be stationed.
Of course, in the original historical records, Sun Quan moved the capital back to Jianye, which is another story.
There is actually a quite counterintuitive thing.
In fact, a rather counterintuitive fact is that when the Cao Wei faces the border defense against Eastern Wu, it is not Chen Qun in Xiangyang or Cao Xiu in Shouchun who are closest to Eastern Wu's most elite central army, but Wen Yin in Jiangxia.
Wen Yin's Jiangxia is located south of the Yangtze River, and if seen from this perspective, Sun Quan's attack on Cao Wei during the mourning period for the Wei Dynasty was just a test. He returned to Wu Chang with his central army, marched across the river, and did a little tour.
Inside the Wu kingdom in Wu Chang, King Sun Quan was sitting with Gu Yong, Zhuge Jing, and Lu Su.
The seat occupied by Lu Su was on Sun Quan's left, a seat of higher status than that of Prime Minister Gu Yong.
The small meeting in the Wu palace was to discuss the comments of Cao Rui on the banks of the Lu River.
After Ge Hongjun had finished reading the report from the spy of Cao Rui's 'Ochre River Vow,' Sun Quan said expressionlessly, "All of you, discuss this among yourselves."
Gu Yong and Zhuge Jing both looked at Lu Xun. Lu Xun was in his forties, although he was a military commander, he had a white face and a slightly plump figure with short beard, which appeared more like a scholar on the surface.
Lu Xun remained silent for a long time and did not speak. Zhuge Jing looked at Sun Quan and said, "Your Majesty, I think Cao Rui is just like his father Cao Pi, a person of lofty ambitions and lack of talent. He even dared to use Eastern Wu as an example, which is just a madman's words. Please Your Majesty not to worry about it."
Sun Quan was clearly troubled by it, his brow furrowed and his expression slightly angry. As the King of Wu, to be so lightly dismissed by a child-like Wei emperor, who promised to grant him a title if he were to use the entire Eastern Wu as a bet, was a challenge to Sun Quan's dignity.
Sun Quan did not respond to Zhuge Jing's words, but looked at Gu Yong: "Cao Rui looks down on me so lightly, I wish to lead my troops to challenge him and break his courage. What do you, Prime Minister, think should be done?"
Gu Yong was silent for a moment: "Your Majesty, we just finished fighting in Jiangxia. We didn't gain much advantage from Wen Yin and Chen Qun. It might be better to hold off on sending troops for now, and wait a year or two before discussing moving our forces."
Sun Quan took a deep breath: "Bo Yan, what is your opinion? I wish to vent my anger with a victory, how should we proceed?"
Lu Xun looked up and then lowered his head: "As an underling, I have a plan that may deceive the Wei into falling into our trap."
Sun Quan's eyes widened slightly, and his expression became solemn as he looked at Lu Su: "What is your plan? Please, Bo Yan, instruct me." For a moment, Sun Quan even forgot to address himself as 'I' in his eagerness to hear Lu Su's strategy.
Lu Xun replied with a bow: "Your Majesty remembers Peng Qi who caused trouble in Poyang? The prefect of Poyang, Zhou Fang, and Hu Zong, the commander of Jiefan, are currently attacking and trying to eliminate them. However, it has not been completely pacified yet. As I understand it, two months ago Peng Qi sought Cao Xu's help for troops, and Cao Xu took Ancheng to the south on this basis."
"Since Cao Xu believed Peng Qi and has recently accepted the defection of Han Zong, this would set a precedent. If someone were to feign surrender and defect to Cao Xu again, given his shallow intelligence, coupled with Emperor Cao Rui's promise of a marquisate to entice him, Cao Xu would definitely mobilize troops southward to Poyang."
"At that time, our Eastern Wu could take advantage of the enemy's fatigue to wait for them, thus dampening the morale of Cao Rui and Cao Xu."
Sun Quan pondered for a moment: "This plan is good, but who can we find to deceive Cao Xu?"
Lu Xun bowed and said, "Your Majesty, it would be best to choose a local bandit from Poyang. Your Majesty might as well let the prefect of Poyang, Zhou Fang, look for one."
Sun Quan replied, "Zhou Fang? He is good at coming up with unusual plans. Let him handle it then. I hope he can find someone suitable for me."
