State Yong.
Chang'an has always been the most important city in the western part of the Great Wei.
As early as the Yellow Emperor's era, when Emperor Cao Pi appointed Cao Zhen as the commander of Yong and Liang, the commander's office of Cao Zhen was established in Chang'an city.
After Cao Zhen, Xiuma also served in Chang'an.
But as the title suggests, it was the "Yong and Liang" commandery, and the region of Yongzhou was vast, encompassing from Tongguan in Fengling County to Didaokou in Longxi County, which was almost equivalent to the combined area of the three auxiliaries in the Western Han period and the part of Liangzhou east of the Yellow River.
Such a vast area, the time it takes to travel from Chang'an to Longxi County would be almost the same as the time it takes for the central army to travel from Luoyang to Shouchun.
Therefore, when Xiuma served as the commander of Guanzhong, Zhe General Zhang He had been stationed in Chenping and Mian County to the west of Chang'an.
Zhang He's presence here served two purposes: first, it allowed him to guard the exits of the Chencai Pass and the Baosha Pass; second, being situated between Longyou (the region to the west of Longxi County) and Chang'an, he could launch troops towards Longyou when advancing or suppress Guanzhong when retreating. It was indeed an excellent location that was hard to come by.
If we explain this in a simpler way, Mian County is right next to the Wufangyuan.
As the Yong and Liang Commandant, Zhang He has recently been looking worried and troubled.
Zhe General's Commandant Office, the Military Advisor Chen Pin and lightly stepped into the hall, not wanting to make a loud noise and disturb their own Commander-in-Chief.
"General," Chen Ping said softly, "Commander Lu Shun and Lieutenant General Hao Zhao have sent Qu Ying, who was involved in the recent rebellion from the Western Commandery, to Mian County."
"Commander Lu and General Hao's messengers said that Qu Ying was delivered to Mian County and handed over to the Left General," Chen Ping asked, "Was it directly sent to Luoyang, or……?"
Zhang He frowned and said, "Have Lu Shen and Hao Zhao said anything?"
Chen Ping replied, "Reporting to the general, Commander Lu also sent the confession statement of Qu Ying."
After saying that, Chen Ping presented the letter with both hands to Zhang He.
Zhang He opened the letter, glanced at it, and shook his head.
As Chen Ping, the military advisor who was a close confidant of Zhang He, saw this, he asked, "General, what did Commander Lu say?"
"It's the same as the Southern Dynasty," Zhang He handed the letter to Chen Ping and said, "You can read it yourself."
After skimming the letter, Chen Ping said, "Qu Ying's rebellion was ordered by Wei Yan of the Southern Dynasty? General, if what Qu Ying said is true, the Southern Dynasty may have some moves."
Zhang He nodded gently.
Zhang He has been commanding troops in the Western Commandery for over ten years.
Although Zhang He often took the initiative as a commander in command, he was leading an army under Xiuma Yan and Cao Zhen, frequently acting as the vanguard and making achievements. After over ten years, Zhang He considered himself capable of standing alone.
To be honest, during the time when Xiuma Mao served as the Commander of Guanzhong, Zhang He had openly and secretly expressed his dissatisfaction with Cao Zhen.
When Cao Pi sent Xiuma Mao to Guanzhong, what could Cao Zhen do? Could he tell the emperor not to send Xiuma Mao, and instead make Zhang He the commandant?
Cao Zhen could only station Zhang He's troops in Mian County, which is to the west of Chang'an, so that he would not have to see him every day and avoid unnecessary trouble. It was also a convenient place for military operations, so it was good for both public and private affairs.
Fortunately, Xiuma Mao was self-aware. Over the years, Zhang He and he managed to coexist without any trouble.
Among the foreign generals of the Great Wei, the highest position was still that of Yu Jin, who surrendered to Guan Yu in Xiangyang and Huainan. However, after Yu Jin surrendered to Guan Yu, the Emperor and the Prince Wu began to suspect foreign generals.
It could be said that Yu Jin betrayed a group of people. Even when the Emperor died in Luoyang, some people suggested that all the generals should be replaced with Jiao Pei.
Zhang He returned to Luoyang at the end of last year and was also favored by the current emperor, being entrusted with the important position of Commander of Yong and Liang.
However, after the initial excitement subsided, Zhang He often worried about the military situation in Yong and Liang.
There was no other reason. It was simply that the troops in Yong and Liang were too few.
According to the total military strength of 300,000 in the Great Wei, the central army of 50,000 is needed to defend the empire in Luoyang.
After deducting the 100,000-man army of the county and state, the total number of foreign troops is only 150,000.
The five states of Qing, Xu, Henan, Yang, and Yuan collectively have 80,000 foreign troops. Hebei has 10,000, and Jing State has 40,000. When it comes to Yong and Liang, there are only 20,000 foreign troops.
In Yong and Liang, Zhang He's direct army also consists of only 20,000 men. Moreover, among these 20,000, only 15,000 are stationed in Mian County.
The remaining 5,000 men consist of 3,000 led by Luo Pan, stationed in Tianshui, and 2,000 led by Hao Zhao, stationed in Jincheng.
With a total of about 40,000 men, it is indeed difficult to keep an eye on such a vast area of Yong and Liang, as well as defend against both domestic and foreign Xiongnu people.
However, the shortage of troops in Yong and Liang is not a new issue.
As early as the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an, after the failure of the Battle of Hanzhong between Emperor Cao and Liu Bei, the Southern Dynasty had no further activities in Yong and Liang. For six or seven years, both Wei and Shu were in a state of peaceful coexistence.
But when Zhang He returned from Luoyang and received the emperor's order to block the Zimu Pass, Tangluo Pass, Baoxia Pass, Tangluo Pass and Sanjiao Pass, Zhang He also began to be alert.
Furthermore, with the emperor's great victory in Huaihuai, Zhang He was even more determined to ensure there were no gaps in his Yong and Liang territory.
During the winter, the mountainous roads were difficult to travel on, so Zhang He naturally had no time to send people to block these passes.
Since the early days of March, Zhang He had dispatched people to repair the Sanjiao Pass. At the same time, he also split his troops and sent people to investigate the positions along Zimu Pass, Baoxia Pass, and Tangluo Pass, in order to determine where the roads could be blocked.
However, several days ago, a subordinate who had returned to Mian County reported that traces of the Southern Dynasty's army were found in both the Baoxia Pass and the Tangluo Pass.
This situation forced Zhang He to be on full alert, which was also the reason for his recent looks of worry and concern.
Zhang He asked, "How is the progress of the Sanjiao Pass repair? It's almost a month and a half since work began, when will it be ready for use?"
Chen Ping replied, "General, two thousand soldiers and many laborers were dispatched to repair the Sanjiao Pass in early March. However, the original site of Sanjiao Pass was in very poor condition. Zhou Xie believes it will take about a month and a half to complete."
Zhang He frowned: "That means Zhou Xie won't be able to fully repair the Sanjiao Pass until late May or early June?"
Chen Ping nodded: "General, you are right. However, the outer defenses of the Sanjiao Pass can be used already; it's just that the city walls and watchtowers still need some time."
"Things have their priorities and urgency," Zhang He nodded. "Order: Send five hundred men to each of the three roads—Zimu, Tangluo, and Baoxia—and burn down the plank roads halfway along!"
"First cut off some of them, and deal with the rest later."
Chen Ping bowed and said, "General, do you want to bring Qu Ying over for an investigation?"
Zhang He looked at Chen Ping, "Is it that Hao Zhao arrived in Xiping first, followed by Xiahou Bao, and then Lu Pan? After Xiahou Bao and Lu Pan withdrew, Lu Shen captured Qu Ying?"
"Exactly," Chen Ping replied.
Zhang He nodded and said, "First, draft a petition for me. The first merit goes to Hao Zhao, followed by Xiahou Bao, Lu Shen, and Lu Pan."
"You go ahead and write it, I'll go check the camp first."
"Understood, my lord," Chen Ping replied.
......
Jizhou, within the city of Ye.
If we really have to talk about the in-laws of the Great Wei, they can only be called the "Imperial Family."
The first "Imperial Family" in the Great Wei was the Cai family, headed by Wenzhao Zhenhou, the Cai's one and only.
Since the second year of the Huangchu reign, ever since Emperor Cao Pi had Empress Zhen executed, members of the Cai family have lived in constant fear and anxiety.
For several years, they were discriminated against by the wealthy, targeted by officials, and insulted by watchmen. Even Cai Yao, the third brother of Empress Zhen, died in despair in the fifth year of Huangchu.
Fortunately, they survived through it.
Since June of last year, when the son of Empress Zhen, Emperor Cao Rui of the current reign, ascended the throne, members of the Cai family have shed their previous degraded state and have once again become a respected high family in Ye City.
After the news of the emperor's accession reached Ye City, the vehicles bringing gifts to the Cai family were so numerous that they stretched for five streets outside.
Some are happy, some are sad.
The Cai family, of course, are elated and proud again, but those who used to mistreat them, those who have lived in fear and uncertainty for over half a year, now find themselves completely turned around.
Currently, the eldest male in the Cai family's direct lineage is Cai Xiang, son of Cai Yin, the second brother of Empress Wenzhao Zhenhou.
In February, Cai Xiang submitted a memorial to the court, proposing the reconstruction of Empress Zhen's mausoleum. After the memorial was submitted, it took over a month for it to be processed.
A few days ago, a messenger arrived in Ye City from Luoyang, saying that the Minister of Justice Wang Lang will personally come to Ye City to oversee this matter.
In the morning, at the age of thirty-three, Cai Xiang, in a carriage, arrived at the Xiaoishi Bureau within the city walls of Ye.
Now in Ye City, who could not know that the Cai family has once again flared up? And with the current emperor on the throne, Cai Xiang has also become the emperor's cousin.
The subordinates of the Xiaoishi Bureau would never dare to stop Cai Xiang.
Cai Xiang, who was very familiar with the place, walked into the main hall of the Xiaoishi Bureau and directly approached Yan Zhi, the military commander of the Beijing Yanzhi Commandery.
Zhao Qu immediately stood up and bowed respectfully upon seeing Cai Xiang.
Zhao Qu smiled servilely and said, "Brother Cai, what brings you here personally? If there is something, just send someone to tell me and I will be happy to help."
Cai Xiang's familiarity with the Xiaoishi Bureau in Ye City was due to the fact that before Empress Zhen was executed, the Cai family had been repeatedly investigated by the Xiaoishi, and Cai Xiang had visited the bureau many times.
Cai Xiang looked coldly at Zhao Qu, "I am not worthy of being addressed as 'Brother Cai' by you!"
"Zhao Qu, from last year to today, I have personally come to the Xiaoishi Bureau six or seven times," Cai Xiang said. "Today, I ask you again: what was the report of the Xiaoishi Bureau in Ye City regarding Empress Zhen's heartfelt resentment against the late Emperor?"
Cai Xiang humphed, "If you speak now, it is still not too late. In a few days, the Minister of Justice Wang Lang will personally come to Ye City to oversee the reconstruction of Empress Zhen's mausoleum. If I then request King Lang to investigate, it will not be as simple as today."
Zhao Qu bowed his head, his gaze complicated as he looked at the tiles on the ground.
During the time when Empress Guo was favored in Luoyang, Empress Zhen was forced to live alone in Ye City.
It was indeed Empress Guo who sent someone to Ye City to have the Xiaoishi Bureau in Ye report on Empress Zhen's poem "Pondside Trip," even adding fuel to the fire by including many curses.
But... that was Empress Guo, who was the most favored by the late emperor!
"As just a military commander of the Xiaoishi Bureau, what can I do?"
Zhao Qu, with a dim look in his eyes, raised his head and looked at Cai Xiang: "Brother Cai has asked many times, and I really don't know. Brother Cai, please go back."
Cai Xiang said nothing, his gaze like a sharp needle, coldly piercing Zhao Qu, then turned around and left without another word.
Zhao Qu finally snapped out of it after Cai Xiang left for two minutes, sighing heavily.
Zhao Qu straightened his collar and turned back to his seat.
Without a moment's pause, Zhao Qu drew a short sword from his waist, and the sharp blade immediately cut across his neck, causing blood to spray out uncontrollably.
Zhao Qu's body gradually fell over, and there was no more sound from him.
Just one life. (Chapter complete)
