Cao Rui's words fell, and the ministers in the hall stood up one by one, bowing and kowtowing to respond.
However, Cao Rui did not have much of the surging emotion of about to set out on a campaign at this moment. His heart was full of gravity and pondering.
There's no other reason; there's just too much to be done. War is a systematic project, where the removal of a single hair can affect the entire body, and one must be cautious.
Fortunately, there are many talented people in the court at this time, and there are plenty of able ministers to assist.
Cao Zhen had just straightened up when he bowed and said, "Since the emperor has already issued the order, please allow me to go to the military guard camp now and supervise the preparations for the campaign."
Cao Rui faintly nodded and said, "Then it will be troublesome for the General. If there is an urgent situation on the front, the General can take charge without asking for my permission beforehand!"
"Can I provide the General with a strategist to stay by his side?" Cao Rui turned to look at Du Xī, who sat behind the several Zhongshis, and asked, "Mr. Du, during Jian'an years, you served as the long-term governor of west of pass. Today can you be General's military advisor and go west together?"
Du Xi is in his sixties, of average height and slightly overweight, but from his appearance, he is quite ordinary. However, as soon as he opened his mouth, it lit up Cao Rui's eyes.
"Serving the country wholeheartedly is the natural duty of a minister," Du Xī said. "However, I have a few questions that I would like to ask the emperor before we set off."
Cao Rui was slightly surprised: "Mr. Du, what is your question? Now everyone is here. I will definitely give you an answer."
Du Xi bowed and said, "Is there any intention for Your Majesty to personally go to Longyou?"
The room in the study fell silent again.
The Cao Zhen on the side also noticed that just now the emperor only said he wanted to follow him and set off for Chang'an the next day, but didn't say anything about going to Longyou!
Seeing Cao Zhen's puzzled gaze turn in his direction as well, Cao Rui slowly said, "I originally thought to discuss it in Chang'an. But since Mr. Du asked, if Longyou still needs reinforcement after the Jie Qiao and the General have gone, I will lead the troops there myself."
"Before I reach Longyou, the General will be in charge of all military affairs in Longyou."
The emperor will go to Longyou himself. At this point, no one cares about whether he is usurping Zhe He's power over "commanding military affairs in Yong and Liang"
Du Xi asked again, "May I ask Your Majesty what kind of situation you would like to see in Longyou?"
Cao Rui's expression became serious: "What do you mean, Mr. Du?"
Du Xi explained, "Do you want every county in every district to fight for it, or try to hold back the enemy forces and wait for the court's main force to arrive?"
Cao Rui waved his hand: "I know what you're going to say. But now is not the time to debate how to maintain a stalemate. First, we need to hold our ground against this wave of enemy advance, secure the Longshan Pass, and protect Shangguan. This is of utmost importance. Other matters can be discussed later."
"You are overthinking," Du Xi replied, somewhat apologetic.
"Never mind." Cao Rui said calmly, "I am hurrying you off so abruptly that many things and strategies are not fully considered."
"You go first. If there is anything I need to change or adjust, I will send someone to inform you in a timely manner."
Cao Zhen and Du Xi stood up together to bid farewell, and Cao Rui stood up from behind the desk and escorted them both out of the study door.
At this time, the sky at the edge was already slightly brightening. Cao Rui took a deep breath of cold air, then turned back into the study.
Upon entering the room, Cao Rui did not pause, and directly began to assign tasks: "Restore Wei Zhen to his position as Minister of Revenue and the position of Secretary of the Interior. He will stay behind in Luoyang with Dong Zhao, the Minister of Ceremonies."
"We, Wei Zhen (Dong Zhao), accept the order." Both bowed in response.
"Wei Master, please go to the Ministry of Revenue immediately and issue urgent orders from Luoyang to Chang'an along the route for all counties to ensure the smooth progress of the main force."
"Order the three counties of Pingyang, Hedong, and Hongnan to immediately transport the stored grain to Chang'an!"
"Yes, Your Highness!" Wei Zhen accepted the order and turned to leave.
"Sir Dong! You must now issue orders to Chen Geng and dispatch one thousand external troops to Chang'an as soon as possible. Then order the state and prefectural forces of Huajiang and Yanzhou to gather, stand ready for deployment, and ensure that the military storehouse is properly equipped."
"Your servant will comply!" Dong Zhao bowed and then slowly walked out.
"Qin Lang!" Cao Rui looked at this trusted person responsible for palace guards, "You don't have to go on this campaign. Stay in the palace and properly guard it. Don't make any mistakes."
Quietly, Geng Lang bowed and said: "With me here, Your Majesty can rest assured."
Cao Rui nodded lightly.
"The rest of you, the four ministers, and Si Kong," Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi, "Will accompany me on this campaign! You have one day to take care of your household matters. Start following the army tomorrow when the sun rises."
Everyone responded promptly.
Just as everyone was leaving, Sima Yi remained behind, as if he had something to say.
Cao Rui also noticed, and asked out loud, "Is there anything else you want to discuss with me, Si Kong? Is there anything that is not right?"
Sima Yi bowed and said, "I have a word, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate to speak."
Cao Rui narrowed his eyes and shook his head lightly, saying, "What could there be that's not appropriate to discuss at this moment?"
Sima Yi said, "I remember that Your Majesty went on a campaign in Huainan last year, which was also around the beginning of December."
"Your Majesty has not been in Luoyang for three months, and some disturbances have arisen within the city, which cannot be ignored," Sima Yi said, looking down at the ground and speaking softly. "Perhaps Your Majesty could bring along Crown Prince Yongqi to accompany the army."
Cao Rui sighed lightly and said, "Your thoughtfulness, Si Kong! All right, you can send someone to inform Crown Prince Yongqi later. Let him follow you tomorrow and help you with matters related to literature. He can still write an edict and a proclamation."
Sima Yi did not respond, but nodded to acknowledge the response.
Cao Rui continued, "Si Kong has reminded me. There are about a hundred Taixue scholars graduating this year, aren't there?"
Sima Yi nodded: "Exactly so. These one hundred Taixue scholars have not yet been given official positions, and they live with the three agencies scholars in Luoyang."
Cao Rui said, "Only a hundred people, they can be divided among various armies to do some consultancy on military affairs or assign to do menial tasks for those who know nothing."
"I understand, I will notify this accordingly later," Sima Yi replied.
With an urgent military report from Chian Qiao arriving from Chang'an, Luoyang city in late December of the Tahei Year was stirred up in an instant.
Regarding this sudden war, especially defensive actions in Longyou, from high-ranking ministers to low-level military officers in the central troops, most people were optimistic.
Having just won a battle in Huainan at the beginning of the year, going to fight against a weaker enemy like Shu Han at the end of the year would certainly increase the chances of victory, wouldn't it?
Moreover, the current emperor is so generous. After the army returned from Huainan at the beginning of the year, almost everyone in the central troops who received a title became a Marquiss of Guandong, and the rewards and gifts distributed were exceptionally generous.
The enthusiasm for war was even higher.
From the fourth to the fifth of December, in just one day, from west of Tianshui to east of Luoyang, all were mobilized in response to the sudden attack by the Shu army.
In the city of Shangguan, Guo Huai's mood was even more serious.
It's really a huge number of Shu troops outside the city.
The Shu troops did not cross the river near the city of Shangguan. Even though the Shu army was stationed six miles east of Shangguan last evening, today they only crossed the river carefully, guardedly, and marched towards the Longshan Pass, without any intention of stopping.
As the governor of the Xuning region and the person responsible for military affairs in Longyou on behalf of Zhe He, Guo Huai must have done something at this time.
"Governor Guo is going to set up a camp outside the city?" Lu Pan looked at Guo Huai with an expression of disbelief.
"Correct, it's precisely setting up a camp outside the city." Guo Huai and Lu Pan stood shoulder to shoulder on the city's rooftop and gazed out over the vast plain across the Wei River.
Shangguan city was located to the north of the Wei River, with its eastern and northern sides built against mountains, and its southern side just one li away from the Wei River.
If the enemy were to besiege Shangguan, they would have to cross the Wei River and camp on the northern bank, but there wouldn't be much space for maneuvering.
Lu Pan was also puzzled by this and raised doubts to Guo Huai.
Guo Huai whispered softly to Lu Pan beside him, "Look, this large formation of Shu troops is moving so quickly in the east. They must be trying to compete with General Jie for control of the Longshan Pass and blocking any aid from the Wei capital in Guanzhong."
"And this group of Shu troops heading north seems to have no connection with the Shu troops still below our city. Otherwise, with coordination between the two, they could have surrounded us yesterday."
Lu Pan frowned and asked, "Does that mean you're planning to engage in open battle and defeat this Shu force, Governor Guo?"
"No, no, no," Guo Huai shook his hands repeatedly, "The city of Shangguan is well-fortified. Why would I want to waste lives in an open battle with the Shu army?"
"In the city of Shangguan, there are only 3,000 external troops and 1,500 county troops. If they can match the Shu army with three or four men to one during defense, how can they possibly compete in open battle and waste lives?"
Lu Pan was even more confused: "Then what does the governor intend to do? I really don't understand."
Guo Huai asked, "Do you think, when considering the vanguard of the Shu army, is it the thousands of Shu troops across the Wei River that are the vanguard, or is it the northward-moving force?"
Lu Pan said, "Of course, it is the northward-moving Shu army that is the vanguard, and it is certainly more elite!"
Guo Huai asked again, "Then what do you think, can this thousands-strong Shu army, which is not as elite, know the internal situation of our city?"
Lu Pan shook his head, "He's not a god, how could he know?"
"That's right." Guo Huai clenched his fists, hammered hard on the city head, and bit his teeth tightly as he said, "We're just going to gamble that they don't know the situation in Shangguan!"
"General Lu, I will take all three thousand external troops out and bring three thousand civilian laborers from the city."
"At three miles to the west of the city, build a campsite that looks like it can accommodate ten thousand people, and fill it with banners!"
Guo Huai laughed and said, "What do you think those thousands of Shu troops across the river would dare to attack? They must be waiting for reinforcements from the rear before daring to cross the river!"
Lu Pan sighed and said, "The governor's brilliant strategy will certainly instill fear in the Shu troops. However, in terms of the governor's 'empty bluff' strategy, how many days can it buy for the city of Shangguan?"
Guo Huai took a deep breath, "Under this situation, we can send twenty thousand to the vanguard of the Longshan Pass, and the Shu army still has at least twenty to thirty thousand more."
"The encirclement of Shangguan is a certain fate, even if it can be delayed for one or two days is good. Fortunately, we sent a letter to the left general yesterday asking him to halt his advance."
"The real opportunity is not in the Shangguan I have here, but in the Longshan Pass where the left general is passing through!"
Saying that, Guo Huai heavily patted Lu Pan's shoulder: "Now, there are only you and I as the generals within the city. You stay here to defend the city, and I will lead men out to create a show of strength!"
Seeing that Lu Pan seemed to want to say something, Guo Huai smiled and said, "I know, if the situation is dire, I will return to the city immediately. Don't worry."
Lu Pan nodded gravely, his expression serious. （End of Chapter）
