On the very night that Zhuge Liang laid his ambush, Zhang He led his army to Shangguan.
Another day passed, that is, the evening of the twenty-eighth day, and the news that all the cities of Shangguan, Linwei, and Xinyang had been reclaimed, together with the news that Zhuge Liang was leading his army southward, reached the city of Yueliang.
But with two letters from Luoyang in his hand, Cao Rui's expression turned slightly doubtful.
"Your Majesty, what is your concern?" Sima Yi looked at the emperor's slightly troubled expression and asked tentatively.
Cao Rui looked up at Sima Yi and then at Yang Fu and Chen Jiao, and others in the hall, not knowing whether he should speak or not.
After a moment of hesitation, Cao Rui still spoke up: "It is the good news from Luoyang! Sun Jieyu has become pregnant and Maopin, responsible for the management of the harem, has written a letter to report it to me personally."
Sima Yi and Chen Jiao exchanged a glance with each other, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Neither Cao Rui nor Sima Yi and Chen Jiao, who were important officials in the Wei Dynasty, were considering trivial matters like the pregnancy of Sun Jieyu or the news report by Maopin.
What really made the two feel somewhat difficult was that the pregnant woman was Sun Quan's eldest daughter, Sun Luba.
Seeing the hall fall into a silence, Cao Rui laughed with a hint of helplessness and spread his hands, saying, "Why are all of you silent? Isn't there anyone who can give me some advice?"
Seeing no way out, Sima Yi smiled and bowed his hands to congratulate the emperor: "I congratulate Your Majesty on the coming addition to the royal family! Matters of state are of the utmost importance, and a prosperous household of the Heavenly Family is a blessing for Dali Empire."
"Stop talking nonsense," Cao Rui said, giving Sima Yi a cold look: "Marquis Sima knows what I want to ask!"
Sima Yi coughed lightly: "I indeed know what Your Majesty is concerned about. It is nothing more than the worry that if Sun Jieyu gives birth to a prince, how should he be treated and how should Dali deal with Sun Quan."
"That's right, continue."
"Indeed, Your Majesty does not need to worry about this," Sima Yi said with a smile. "The one who should be worried is Sun Quan!"
"What makes you say that?"
Cao Rui straightened up and looked at Sima Yi.
Sima Yi explained, "I won't talk about things too far in the future, but just mention a few recent events."
"During the reign of Emperor Ling, Queen Helan gave birth to Liu Banguang, and Dong Empress raised Liu Xie. There were constant disputes in the palace, which made the outer court unstable and allowed individuals like Yuan Shao and Dong Wu to wield power arbitrarily."
"If we look closer, there are also examples such as the sons of Yuan Shao and Liu Bei. Your Majesty's worries are understandable, and I can understand them."
Cao Rui slightly nodded, remaining silent, and continued to look at Sima Yi.
Sima Yi's throat moved slightly, and he explained, "If Sun Jieyu is indeed able to give birth to a prince, it will not only not cause any trouble but will also help Your Majesty in the recovery of Dali from the Eastern Wu."
Cao Rui smiled and shook his head: "How do you know this? Even though Sun Jieyu is the child of Sun Quan, will he use this as an opportunity to serve the emperor?"
"Not so," Sima Yi said. "When Sima Zhi returned from his mission to the Eastern Wu, Sun Quan had even sent valuable gold, jewelry, and riches as a grand gift to Your Majesty."
"If Sun Jieyu is pregnant, it will be more difficult for Sun Quan than for Your Majesty," Sima Yi said.
"Your Majesty should first put this matter aside and issue a reward to soothe Sun Jieyu. Also, let Sun Quan know about it and see how he will act!" Sima Yi suggested.
"Hahaha," Cao Rui laughed heartily, "Marquis Sima is taking the easy way out! If Sun Quan continues to show goodwill towards Dali, the people within the Eastern Wu will doubt him. And if Sun Quan ignores this matter, how can he explain his previous act of bribing with heavy gold and jewels?"
"I remember that since Sima Zhi returned this year, Sun Quan has sent me three letters," Cao Rui said.
"That's right, three of them," Sima Yi replied. "The humility in the words is even greater than it was during the Jian'an period."
When Sun Quan sends letters to Cao Rui, it is not only a private greeting and communication between two monarchs, but also a dialogue between two political entities that are in opposition.
When Sun Quan presented the head of Guan Yu to Cao Cao as a gift, there was also an extremely humble letter accompanying it that reached Xuchang.
Zhong Yin, who was very good friends with Cao Pi, read the letter and made a comment saying, 'Sun Quan is remembered in a more charming way.'
Even Cao Pi himself felt impressed, saying, "The charm of Sun Quan is such that one cannot put down the letter."
As Sun Quan is expressing such a strong desire for goodwill, let's see how he will respond!
"Bring ink and paper! I want to write a letter back to Mopin myself!"
Yang Fu, who was closest to the emperor, brought the ink and paper from the desk he had used to draft documents earlier and placed them directly in front of the emperor.
The other officials in the hall saw the emperor busy writing letters and kept silent, waiting in turn by the side.
Cao Rui wrote for half an incense stick of time, then put down his brush and smiled: "Even family affairs need more attention!"
"Chen Minister, send this private letter of mine along with the next group of messengers returning to Luoyang!"
"Understood your majesty," Chen Jiao stood up, used a small piece of silk to remove the areas with the heaviest ink stains, and then folded the Zuobo paper into layers and sealed it with firefly lacquer on the emperor's behalf.
"We shall see how Sun Quan responds," Cao Rui said. "Just now, General's report was passed on. You all have seen it."
"Adi, Xinyang, Linwei and other cities have been recaptured. The Nan'an District and Longxi District, because of their remote location, the news has not yet reached Lueyang."
"In the military report, General Zhang He asks me to move my residence to Shangguan. What do you all think?" Cao Rui looked around at the assembled ministers in the hall and asked aloud.
Yang Fu, a native of Tianshui, was the first to reply: "I believe that General Zhang He's suggestion is very reasonable!"
"His Majesty has been staying in Lueyang for a long time. Since the Shangguan area has already been garrisoned by a large army and there is no risk, the over ten thousand troops left here should also be moved to Shangguan."
"Then, either to govern the internal affairs of the four counties in Longyou, or to lead the army south to recapture Hali City and Qishan area, will be as easy as moving one's arms."
"Yang Minister, why didn't you invite His Majesty to your home in Jixian?" Cao Rui smiled and asked.
"Your Majesty," Yang Fu said with an embarrassed smile and explained, "Even though my family is in Jixian, I am also aware that Shangguan is the most important place in Longyou."
"Traveling south to Shangguan is the right path, why would one go to Jixian?"
"Then there's no chance for Jixian," Cao Rui gently shook his head.
Yang Fu was slightly stunned for a moment, thinking for a while before finally understanding the implied meaning in the emperor's words. He then stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, Shangguan is indeed better than Jixian. I cannot allow my personal interests to interfere with public matters!"
Sima Yi and Chen Jiao also agreed.
Cao Rui stood up and sighed, "You all think that Shangguan should be the new capital of Qinzhou Prefecture?"
Sima Yi said: "Shangguan is located at an important crossroads and is the major town of Tianshui. Are there any other more suitable places besides Shangguan?"
Upon hearing Sima Yi's words, Yang Fu and Chen Jiao also nodded in agreement, looking at the emperor with a look of confusion.
Cao Rui asked: "Why do you always look at Qinzhou from the current perspective?"
"Marquis Sima, I ask you, how should the location of a prefecture capital be chosen?"
Sima Yi saw that the emperor was addressing him and thought for a moment before answering, "It should be chosen at a place with convenient transportation, beautiful landscapes, and abundant resources. Shangguan is situated by the Wei River, controlling the Weishui passage to the east and the Longshan passage to the north, making it the first major town in Longyou."
"What is a major town? What does it mean?" Cao Rui asked again.
"Of course, it's a strategic defense area that controls the key passageways…" Sima Yi said up to this point, suddenly realizing the emperor's intention.
Sima Yi slightly bowed: "I understand Your Majesty's deep thought, and it is my shallow thinking."
"Not shortsighted, but thinking in the wrong direction!" Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi and then at the two who didn't quite understand, Chen Jiao and Yang Fu, sighing and explaining:
"I want to establish this Qinzhou Prefecture, not to let it become like the other prefectures of Henan and Hebei that serve the emperor's subjects, but for the purpose of attacking Shu and keeping our swords unsheathed!"
"Come, all three of you come over here."
Cao Rui stood up and walked towards the geographical map drawn by Zhang Yi the day before, calling for Sima Yi and the other three to come over and said: "Let us take a look at the map together before making any plans."
When the three men stood behind him, Cao Rui used his right forefinger to point at the location of Shangguan, and then traced back along the route that Zhuge Liang had just advanced.
First, pointing southwest from Shangguan, then south to Hali City and Qishan Fortress after reaching Xian County.
Cao Rui turned his head and looked at Yang Fu and Chen Jiao.
Yang Fu, who is very familiar with the local area, now understood, but Chen Jiao was still in a half-understanding state.
However, Cao Rui had no intention of explaining to Chen Jiao separately and asked Yang Fu instead, "How about the area around Qishan Fortress and Hali City? Can we rely on this place to attack Shu to the south?"
Yang Fu slowly opened his eyes, and the expression between his eyebrows also became serious. It seemed that he was struggling to recall something.
"Your Majesty, Hali City is indeed a place that the subject is familiar with. In the past, when Ma Chao caused trouble, it was I who led my troops from Hali City and advanced north to attack the remnants of Ma Chao's forces."
"Your Majesty, please look," Yang Fu pointed with his finger at the banks of the Western Han River, "Hali City is narrow from north to south but wide from east to west. For nearly a hundred miles along both sides of the Western Han River valley, there is land that can be cultivated."
"Moreover, Hali City is called Hali City because it is rich in salt pans, and the salt produced here is almost as flavorful as sea salt. If we can build a fortress near Qishan Fortress, we can take advantage of the benefits of Qishan's terrain and also the convenience of transportation along the Wei River."
"Whether transporting provisions for an expedition or gathering supplies, it is an excellent choice!"
As he spoke, Yang Fu grew more and more excited.
"Your Majesty, by advancing from Qishan along the Wei River, we can directly reach the foot of the Yangping Pass! Although Zhang Yi deceived me that day, he was right when he said that the Wei River is indeed an easy way to transport grain!"
Yang Fu retreated half a step and bowed deeply, saying: "The subject believes that Your Majesty's intention is very wise!"
"If we build cities to the left and right of Qishan Fortress, we will have both the resources of full grain supplies and the benefits of salt production. We can advance to control WuDu and Hanzhong, or retreat to protect the entire territory of the four counties in Longyou!"
"Your Majesty," Yang Fu earnestly said: "There is no better choice than this!"
However, Sima Yi on the side had some different opinions: "Yang Viscount, have you thought about it, how many people will remain in Qishan and Hali after the Shu troops have destroyed them?"
"How could it support the administration of a prefecture capital?"
"Since other things are not problems, then it is only a matter of one person!"
Yang Fu bowed and said: "Your Majesty, if we move the people to fill Qishan and Qishan area, then this difficulty will be solved instantly!"
"This place is excellent!" (End of this chapter)
