"How should it be?"
The Emperor's speech rendered both Cao Zhen and Sima Yi dumbfounded.
In the Great Wei or in the world today, could there be such a formidable villain?
Could they control the entire Great Wei's central army and Luoyang city without shedding blood?
Cao Zhen swallowed and asked out of instinct as a commander: "Your Majesty, how many troops do the bandits have, and what is their strength?"
Cao Rui pondered slightly and said, "Three thousand troops, with average military strength for the regional forces."
Cao Zhen looked surprised, how could they control Luoyang with such a small number of troops?
"Cao Zhen said confidently, "Such a mere 3,000 men, I will lead 2,000 cavalrymen, no, 1,000 cavalrymen. I am sure to bring the bandit chieftain's head to Your Majesty."
"No, you can't win," said Emperor Cao Rui calmly.
Cao Zhen was about to refute, but then recalled that the Emperor had said this was a "simulation," so he continued to ask, "Then how about sending someone to infiltrate the city of Luoyang and summon the central army for battle?"
At that time, Luoyang was indeed like a large military camp, with the central army camped within the city. There were only the reserve troops from the Luoyang State Agricultural Bureau outside the city.
Cao Rui lightly shook his head, "General Cao cannot get in. One day from now, the central army will be under the command of the rebels."
Cao Zhen's tone contained a hint of complaint, "Your Majesty, are you joking? How could there be such things in the world?"
Cao Rui merely smiled and nodded to Sima Yi, "If the task were to be carried out by the Premier, how would you handle it?"
Sima Yi had clearly heard the conversation between the emperor and Cao Zhen. The emperor wanted to engage in this 'simulation,' and fortunately, the hunting was uneventful. It would be fine to chat with the emperor leisurely.
Sima Yi combed his short beard and asked, "Your Majesty, I have a question. You said earlier that the bandits were occupying the Luoyang River Bridge, and they must have done so to block our way back to Luoyang."
"What demands do the bandits have? Or, what conditions do they want?"
Indeed, when it comes to strategy, Sima Yi is more adept. Cao Rui smiled and replied, "Premier, that was a good question!"
"The bandits want the positions of General Cao and Premier Sima, as well as the military authority and the power to act as chancellor. They want me to be a puppet emperor like Han Xuanzhong, residing in the palace and performing only formal duties."
Sima Yi frowned upon hearing this and looked at the emperor, wondering if the emperor was just joking as Cao Zhen had done.
But as Emperor Cao Rui's expression gradually became serious, Sima Yi felt a chill in his heart.
Is this a joke? It doesn't look like a joke.
Sima Yi narrowed his eyes in thought and soon gave his response, "Your Majesty, I have a plan in mind."
Cao Rui nodded, "Speak it out."
Sima Yi bowed and said, "I believe that the five principles of military strategy are: When you can fight, you should fight; when you cannot fight, you should defend; when you cannot defend, you should retreat. The other two are either to surrender or to die."
"I dare not compare the imperial highness to Your Majesty."
"In terms of myself and General Cao, if we cannot fight or hold our ground, then we should retreat. To Xuchang or Nanyang, where can't we go? Can we really surrender or die?"
Cao Rui raised his eyebrows and looked at Sima Yi, "Surrender and death are the same thing?"
"Yes, they are the same."
"Surrender means you can still live, but death is truly dead. How can they be the same?"
Sima Yi explained, "If they all surrender, we are at their mercy. Whether to live or die depends on a single word."
Cao Rui rode forward and closely examined Sima Yi's face, then said slowly, "Premier Sima said it well! When we can fight, we should fight; when we cannot fight, we should defend; when we cannot defend, we should retreat. Beyond these, there are only surrender and death."
"Just for this statement of yours, Premier Sima, I shall record a merit for you!"
Cao Zhen, who was by his side, looked puzzled and said, "Your Majesty, what does this mean? Are you going to spread this statement across the country? What Premier Sima said is against the military laws of Great Wei."
"According to military law, only when surrounded for over a hundred days without rescue should one surrender. Great Wei has always valued fierce battle. How could the soldiers be told 'when we cannot defend, we should retreat'?"
Cao Rui lightly shook his head, "General Cao has misunderstood. Premier Sima's words were not about the Great Wei army, but about the emperor himself."
"The military of the soldiers and the military of the emperor have never been the same thing."
Seeing Sima Yi's seemingly understanding but unsure expression on the side, Cao Rui smiled and asked, "Premier Sima, can you write a poem of seven lines?"
Sima Yi found it difficult to keep up with the emperor's jumping thoughts: "Your Majesty, I can write essays and have written a few five-character poems, but I have never written a seven-character poem."
"However, I know that the first seven-character poem in the world was composed by the late Emperor and is titled 'Yan Ge Xing.'"
"Cao Rui began to recite: 'The Emperor most excels at writing poems about a neglected wife. This I know. You linger far away, your thoughts elsewhere. I, alone in an empty chamber, wait and watch with deep yearning. My worry for you is too great to be forgotten; tears flow down my cheeks unbidden."
After reciting the four lines, Emperor Cao Rui smiled and said, "I have also come up with four lines. General Cao and Premier Sima, would you like to hear them?"
Somehow, Cao Zhen's mind wandered back to a scene sixteen years ago.
Sixteen years ago, in early summer, Emperor Cao Pi, who was recently appointed as the Prefect of the Five Courts and Protector of Guanling Commandery, accompanied by his father Emperor Wu, went to hunt at Nanpi. Cao Zhen, along with Wu Zhi and others, went with him.
Cao Zhen remembered it vividly. On the road, as the group rode and shouted, Wu Zhi had laughed and recited this poem aloud. After reciting two lines, Wu Zhi even added a sing-song tone to his recitation, with Emperor Cao Pi laughing along and clapping his hands beside him, also shouting in joy on his horse.
In a daze.
Cao Zhen shook his head, waking himself up from the sudden rush of memories. He didn't know why, but recently, he had been recalling old events more and more frequently.
Seeing that Cao Zhen did not respond, Sima Yi took the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty has also come up with some fine verses? Then, Premier, I shall eagerly listen to Your Majesty's great composition."
Cao Rui looked at the two of them and slowly recited: "When Zhou Wu feared rumors, Wang Mang was humble before usurping. If he had died then, who would know the truth about his whole life?"
Cao Zhen, despite his dislike for literature, how could he truly not understand the plain and straightforward verses that the emperor recited?
Sima Yi remained expressionless on the side, but inside, he was ruffling with immense waves. What was the emperor worried about? Or, was the emperor hinting at something?
Cao Rui smiled softly and rode on ahead. Cao Zhen and Sima Yi also quickly followed, keeping up close by his side.
Cao Rui said with a smile, "I've been thinking of Dong Zhuo."
Cao Zhen replied, "Your Majesty, why did you think of Dong Zhuo?"
Sima Yi also looked curiously.
Cao Rui said, "If Dong Zhuo had died in the Battle of Meiyang and had not marched to Luoyang without order from Yuan Shao, wouldn't Dong Zhuo have become a top loyal subject of the Han dynasty?"
Cao Zhen rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment before saying, "Yes, Dong Zhuo's true nature was revealed after he took control of Luoyang."
Sima Yi's heart trembled on the emperor's left side. Cao Zhen might not understand, but how could Sima Yi not understand?
Dong Zhuo entered Luoyang under the orders of He Jin and Yuan Shao, and the first official position he received was not the position of Premier Sima?
Your Majesty is guiding me? But there's no reason for it!
Cao Rui continued to speak to Cao Zhen, "General Cao is right. The loyalty and merit accumulated over decades of service, ultimately was all sold away by Dong Zhuo in one transaction!"
"However, in the emperor's opinion, Dong Zhuo was indeed lacking in intelligence."
"Cannot defend, then retreat. Dong Zhuo indeed went to Chang'an. Chang'an cannot defend either, so Dong Zhuo went to Lianyin County and buried his head in the Wanmaodu Fortress, refusing to leave."
"Since he won't leave, surrender or death, it's just a matter of time."
Seeing the emperor refer to his own words, Sima Yi replied, "Dong Zhuo truly was a rare oddity in history."
Cao Rui nodded, looking at Cao Zhen with a glance before continuing to ride on.
……
Upon reaching the campsite, although the camp had been set up in advance, there were still many preparatory tasks to be done.
These trivial matters naturally have nothing to do with Cao Rui.
Cao Rui looked at Cao Zhen, "General Cao, I have heard that you also once shot a tiger in the past?"
Cao Zhen laughed heartily, "Your Majesty knows about this? That was twenty years ago. According to my current strength, shooting a tiger might still be manageable, but holding a spear against a tiger is certainly not feasible anymore."
Cao Zhen patted his general's belly, and Cao Rui laughed and said, "General Cao is truly a general. This belly of yours is not ordinary."
Cao Zhen said, "Your Majesty, please don't make fun of me."
"I also came to the Dashi Mountain before, and this place does indeed have tigers. Common prey such as bears, deer, antelope, and rabbits are abundant here."
"How many kills are you targeting for tomorrow's hunt, Your Majesty?"
"Me?" Cao Rui smiled and pointed to himself, "In that case, let's have it that Your Majesty, General Cao, and Premier Sima each lead a team."
"There's no need to worry. Whoever hunts less can be penalized with ten jugs of wine at the banquet and singing a song as well."
"Ha ha ha, Your Majesty has a good spirit." Cao Zhen laughed and bowed, "Then tomorrow, I will do my utmost."
In this era, between the emperor and his officials, there was a relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere during leisurely pastimes beyond the strict confines of official business.
There's no need for so much formalism.
Emperor Cao Cao was generous and hospitable, and Emperor Cao Pi was open-minded and perceptive. The heroic spirit that has endured from the turbulent times of the Jian'an era to the present is the true color of this era.
A little competition, a mere pastime, is no harm to the greater good.
……
The next day, the hunting party was divided into three teams.
With one thousand seven hundred mounted soldiers on guard outside and Cao Rui, Cao Zhen, and Sima Yi each leading a hundred riders to hunt, the team set off.
In fact, hunting and military campaigns are extremely similar in nature.
Coordination, planning, setting goals, executing the plan, and finally reaping the rewards.
The flat land near the mountains and forests had been thoroughly searched by the mounted soldiers of the main army. There were no signs of human presence other than wild animals in the mountains and forests.
Cao Rui personally led forty riders in the center, and tasked Liu Shao and Lu Yu to each lead thirty riders on the left and right for support.
That's right, Cao Rui had also brought along Liu Shao and Lu Yu, who were busy with law revision in the capital. There aren't many idlers in Luoyang City, and taking these two out to breathe some fresh air was also a good thing.
Among those brought out were also Sun Li, who had just returned to Luoyang City.
Sun Li was someone who, at the beginning of the year, had shown remarkable performance in the southern campaign against Sun Quan. He left a profound impression on Cao Rui.
The man's abilities are likely not something that can be contained by a prefect who is entitled to a salary of 2,000 stones.
Cao Rui held the reins of his horse with his left hand and raised his right hand, and the knights behind him followed suit by stopping their horses.
Cao Rui extended his right hand, and Sun Li, who was serving on the side, handed over a carved bow inlaid with gold. (This chapter is complete.)
