Cao Zhen understood that the emperor was about to hold a meeting again.
Cao Zhen saw the serious expression on the emperor's face and felt a bit confused. After all, a one-term governor surrendered in Wu, it was just a matter of acceptance or not. Why was it so solemn?
In fact, Cao Zhen and the emperor were not on the same wavelength at all.
Cao Zhen thought that, regardless of whether Zhou Cang's envoy's surrender was true or false, the most severe consequence would be just another battle.
In the Yellow Spring period of the third, fifth, and sixth years, Cao Pi's more than six years in power had three campaigns against Wu. Of course, it wasn't as if he were driving with familiarity. However, from the front lines to logistics to coordination, there was a pattern to follow, so it would just be another time.
But Cao Rui's concerns were quite different from those of Cao Zhen.
In the original history, Zhou Cang's deception occurred in the second year of Taihe. However, the chain reaction caused by Sun Quan's failure to conquer Jiang Xia and Han Zong's betrayal led to Sun Quan allowing Zhou Cang to deceive him two years earlier than in the original history.
It's a mixed bag.
The drawback, of course, is that the Cao Wei Empire was unprepared. Emperor Cao Rui has been on the throne for less than half a year, and he is still using the era name of the seventh year of Huang Chu, from Emperor Cao Pi's reign. The last time Emperor Cao Pi returned to Luoyang after his campaign against Wu was in the first month of the seventh year of Huang Chu.
The middle army had been in operation for less than a year. The prefectural troops of Yuzhou, Xuzhou, and Yangzhou had been under repair for a year as well. Now using the troops, it was indeed slightly hasty.
Of course, there are also benefits. The main points are two: first, the pre-determined battlefield is near Wan City and Shi Ting; second, Zhuge Liang will not send troops.
It's worth noting that in the original history, during the second year of Taihe, the Wei forces defeated Sun Quan and completed the Shi Ting Battle on the eastern front, while successfully repelling Zhuge Liang's first invasion on the western front.
Zhou Cang's deception happened two years earlier, which made Zhuge Liang unable to move his troops to Hanzhong in time and couldn't prepare the necessary grain and military supplies for the northern expedition.
That's not even a good thing!
Just, these words cannot be said by Cao Rui to Cao Zhen, nor can they be explained to officials and ministers.
Today's attending the office, Zhengpi and Huangquan have arrived at the study. According to the new system of Zhongshu Temple, every day, the two of them will serve in the side room of the emperor's study. The remaining two will wait in the attendant house of Zhongshu Temple for the emperor to call.
After entering the study, Xin Pi and Huang Quan greeted the emperor and Cao Zhen first. Then Xin Pi asked, "May I inquire, Your Majesty, what matters are to be discussed?"
Cao Rui was silent for a moment and said, "Wait a bit, people haven't arrived yet." Xin Pi and Huang Quan saw his expression and didn't say much, standing by the side to wait.
Seeing that Xin Pi and Huang Quan were still standing, Cao Rui pointed to a corner of the study with his finger, indicating the eunuchs to bring two stools. He then bent down again to read the seven scrolls of Zhou Cang's letter.
Xin Pi and Huang Quan quickly thanked the emperor, as this was the first time they were sitting on the stools. They found it quite novel.
After a moment, Liu Ye and Chen Jiao arrived, following the same pattern as Xin Pi and Huang Quan, sitting on the stools to wait.
After a while, the two secretaries Liu Fang and Sun Zi, as well as the Shangshu Tai's Sima Yi, finally arrived.
With everyone present, Emperor Cao Rui no longer hesitated: "Please, General Commander, brief everyone on the situation."
Let's go back to this point, this is the first time so many people have been sitting in the emperor's study to hold a meeting. When Cao Zhen first entered, he sat on the left side of the emperor.
Xin Pi and Huang Quan arrived and sat behind Cao Zhen as a natural result. The remaining two ministers and two secretaries also sat near Xin Pi and Huang Quan.
When Sima Yi arrived, seeing that Cao Zhen was sitting closest to the emperor, Sima Yi took the seat opposite the emperor.
Although the emperor did not arrange the seats, these eight officials found their own places according to their natural behavior: Cao Zhen and Sima Yi were the closest to the emperor, followed by four ministers and two secretaries.
Eight people sat on either side, and the lead Cao Zhen cleared his throat and began introducing the latest situation from the Yangzhou direction.
Firstly, the commandant of Pengze in Wu, Zha Dan, led a thousand men across the river to join the Wei.
Secondly, the governor of Poyang in Wu, Zhou Cang, sent someone to Cao Xu's place, claiming that he would meet Cao Xu on the other side of the river.
After Cao Zhen had finished his report, Emperor Cao Rui began to ask his ministers, "General Commander has introduced the situation from Zhou Cang's letter. I think Zhou Cang is deceiving us. What do you all think of this man's credibility?"
Everyone looked at each other, not knowing why the emperor could be so sure that Zhou Cang was deceiving him. First of all, Han Zong's son Han Zong had defected to Wei. Then, the governor of Pengze, Zha Dan, had crossed the river to join Wei. How could Zhou Cang be considered a deceiver?
Xin Pi straightened up and said, "Your Majesty, war is a major state affair. Whether Zhou Cang truly surrenders or is feigning surrender, can we send troops across the river just because of a letter from a defector from Wu?"
Liu Ye looked at Xin Pi and said, "Usually, Your Majesty asks, and I am the first to answer. But this time, Xin Pi beat me to it."
Liu Ye went on to say, "I believe that the key to defending Wu is at Fengyang, Yangling, and Yangling. It's not in Poyang. Poyang is located between Wu Chang and Jianye. If we attack Poyang, then the enemy can come from both upstream and downstream at the same time. Therefore, Poyang is not a good place to go."
The attitudes of Xin Pi and Liu Ye both indicate that Poyang, where Zhou Cang is located, is not a good location for warfare.
While Chen Jiao was exclusively responsible for government affairs, and Huang Quan was discussing the war for the first time with the emperor, they did not want to express their opinions in front of their colleagues. Therefore, both Chen Jiao and Huang Quan remained silent.
Seeing that the others did not speak, Emperor Cao Rui looked at Sun Zi: "Sun Zhongshu, I remember that there was someone who surrendered to Wu before Zhou Cang?"
Sun Zi answered upon hearing his name, "As early as the 21st year of the Jian'an era, a local folk leader named You Tu accepted the imperial seal from Emperor Wu. Besides Poyang, Lingyang, Shikan, and Jing County also responded to You Tu's actions. However, because they couldn't cross the river, our great Wei did not go south to Poyang. In the end, You Tu was defeated and died."
Emperor Cao Rui said, "As early as the 21st year of the Jian'an era, there was such an example. If Zhou Cang truly surrenders, occupying one piece of Poyang would not have a significant impact on our great Wei. If Zhou Cang feigns surrender, then the person behind him must be Sun Quan. Sun Quan is trying to fight against us."
Emperor Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi and wanted to hear his thoughts: "Sima Yin, regardless of whether Zhou Cang's surrender is true or false, should our great Wei care about Zhou Cang?"
After a moment of silence, Sima Yi replied, "Your Majesty, whether Zhou Cang's request for surrender is true or false is not important. Even if he truly surrenders, we should prepare for war as if it were a feigned surrender. The key to this matter is Sun Quan's attitude."
"I would like to carefully examine Zhou Cang's surrender letter."
Emperor Cao Rui took the letter with his right hand and handed it to Sima Yi. Sima Yi took it with both hands and sat down to read it.
Cao Zhen, seeing Sima Yi silently looking at the letter in his hand, said with some impatience, "If it's Sun Quan's command, what good intentions could Sun Quan have? It's nothing more than wanting to engage in war with our great Wei."
Sima Yi looked up at Cao Zhen, then lowered his head: "General Commander, although Sun Quan wants to fight, the time, place, and people of the battle still need to be carefully examined."
