Xin Pi's concern is based on the fluctuation of policies. If such a big turn is made every time a new emperor takes the throne, it would be too absurd.
What measures can ensure the rule of law for all eternity?
Cao Rui couldn't help but shake his head. Still ten thousand years? Just being able to manage for five decades would be good enough. Although he had such thoughts, things couldn't be left undone just because there was a possibility that they might change.
Cao Rui spoke clearly and directly, "One is the titles of nobility, two is the salaries, and three is the appointment of officials. In my view, the Han dynasty's clan for four hundred years has essentially been about these three things."
"This matter is of great significance, and today I can authorize the relocation of Cao's family in Yan Commandery, but I cannot easily set the other three things like this. When you return to Luoyang, Xin Qin, remember to raise this as a serious issue and submit it to the Examination Yuan, the Western Hall, and the Eastern Hall for discussion."
Xin Qi bowed: "I understand."
...
Cao Rui returned to Yan Commandery on September 4th, and continued his southward journey the next morning, preparing to return to the capital city of Luoyang.
In Wu State, after several days of discussion, judgment, and argument, the internal consensus in Wu State was finally reached to dispatch troops to Xiangyang.
On the sixth day of the ninth month, it was the day when Wu officially dispatched troops to the north.
Thanks to the developed shipbuilding industry, coupled with the mobilization of thousands of civilian ships, it was possible for the entire seven million Wu army to transport themselves by ship.
The central military forces of 40,000 Wu and the military forces of 30,000 for guarding various places came out of the nest. In Wuchang City, only 3,000 troops were left to guard.
This is the advantage of water transportation.
For Wu, the Yangtze River and Han River are like an unobstructed path, as they hold the navigation rights. Both the western Xiling Pass and the eastern Wu Prefecture can be reached by boat without worrying about logistics and supply transportation.
Probably because there was no commander in the first place, or perhaps it was due to the sense of security from water transportation, Sun Quan decided to lead the troops himself to Xiangyang this time.
On a colossal ship with a wide design and adorned with colorful patterns, and with the ship's bow carved into the shape of a dragon, Sun Quan stood at the railing, gazing at the distant river waters.
"Do you remember who came up with the plan to capture Xiangyang?" Sun Quan turned to look at the group of officials accompanying him.
General Zhuge Jin, Quan Zong, Bu Zhi, Sun Huan, Pan Jun, and others were aboard their respective fleets. Besides Hu Zong and the recently favored Yin Fan and Yin Shu Ping, as well as many of the accompanying officials, there was also Sun Quan's son, Sun Deng, the crown prince of Wu.
Sun Deng bowed and answered in a loud voice, "My lord, the plan to capture Xiangyang was devised by Lün Ziming."
Lü Ziming refers to Lü Meng.
Sun Quan nodded, slightly sighed, and said, "If Lü Ziming were still alive, Xiangyang would certainly be in the hands of the Wu, and why would I have to personally lead the troops to take it?"
Hu Zong interrupted and said, "Whether it's early or late, Xiangyang will always be the territory of Wu. With His Majesty personally leading the elite troops northward to seize Xiangyang this time, it is certain that Xiangyang will be captured."
Prince Sun Deng was 21 years old at the time and had lived in the palace and the capital city for a long time, so he was not well-versed in military affairs. Therefore, Sun Quan brought Sun Deng along this time, also with a thought to examine him.
Sun Quan looked at the people in attendance and asked, "Zǐ Gao, I will ask you, how many days will it take for the large army to reach Xiangyang?"
Xiangyang was not an unfamiliar place for Wu. It was a relatively straightforward question.
Sun Deng thought for a moment and said, bowing, "Your Highness, from Wuchang to the Han River via the Miankou Pass, it is about nine hundred miles to Xiangyang."
"Since it's against the current, the boat fleet can travel about 40 miles per hour. If we assume daily marches for more than five hours, the Wu navy will be able to reach Xiangyang at noon on the fifth day of September, which is noon on September tenth."
Sun Quan asked again, "If the Wu navy reaches the Han River between Xiangyang and Fancheng, how should we fight?"
This is somewhat off-topic.
As the crown prince of Wu, Sun Deng naturally had officials under his command.
Zhu Ge, Zhang Xiu, Gu Tan, and Chen Biang were standing behind Sun Deng. Zhuge Ke, who was fat and pale in complexion, wanted to give a reminder and just opened his mouth when he was startled back by a fierce look from Sun Quan.
Sun Deng thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that with the advantage of the Wu navy, the first thing we should do is to use the Han River to separate the north from the south, preventing the northern Wei army from coming south to support."
Sun Quan asked again, "How do we separate the north from the south? Put the ships across the river, so that the Wei army can't cross the Han River to support southward?"
Sun Deng shook his head: "The Wei army also has a navy, so the first thing to do is to capture the Wei navy, burn their dockyards and naval camps, and ensure that the Wu navy has free passage on the river."
Sun Quan finally showed a faint smile: "Good. Even if I follow Zǐ Gao's advice and subdue the Wei navy near Xiangyang, how do we then conquer Xiangyang?"
Compared to one question after another, Sun Deng felt a bit troubled for a moment: "As the saying goes, 'The best strategy is to attack by strategy, secondly, to attack through diplomacy, thirdly, to attack by force, and the lowest is to attack a city.'"
"I believe that after the Wu army has besieged Xiangyang, it should persuade the garrison commander of Xiangyang to surrender, similar to when Wu persuaded Ruo Zifang to surrender in Jingling in the past. If he refuses to surrender, we should lure him out for battle. If he still refuses, we should besiege the city forcefully."
Sun Quan laughed heartily, pointing at his son and saying to the gathered crowd, "My son Zǐ Gao also understands military strategy! What Zǐ Gao said is correct; the principles of military affairs are indeed so straightforward."
"Attacking by strategy, by diplomacy, by force, and attacking a city - attacking a city is only an option that has to be taken in extremis. However, Zǐ Gao still seems to have thought it through a bit shallowly. After years of competition between Wu and Wei, they are very familiar with each other. How can Wei's garrison commander surrender easily? We have to attack when necessary and make Wei's generals afraid."
"My lord's wisdom."
"This time, the enemy general will undoubtedly be captured."
"We will definitely take down Xiangyang."
Sun Quan looked at his son, who seemed somewhat satisfactory in his eyes, and listened to the praise from the officials around him. Leaning on the railing, he couldn't help but feel quite proud for a moment.
Just now, Sun Quan gently guided and led Sun Deng to think about how to capture Xiangyang. When Sun Deng mentioned military strategy, Sun Quan also gave guidance on the side. That's right, Sun Quan understands military strategy.
Sun Quan really understands.
Sun Quan has inherited the foundation of Jiangdong for thirty years since he came to power. If he really had no understanding of military strategy, he would have been wiped out by countless wars long ago, leaving no chance for him to hold onto the foundation he has today.
Military strategy is easy to understand, but it's more difficult to command in battle, and the most difficult is fighting in actual combat.
Was it because Sun Quan didn't understand military strategy that he was in a difficult situation when facing Zhang Liao at YaoYan Bridge? With more soldiers and generals than Zhang Liao, it was only a moment of hesitation or uncertainty on the battlefield that allowed Zhang Liao to break through Sun Quan's lines and almost succeed.
The official on the side, Yin Fan, smiled and bowed, saying: "Your Majesty, if Wu is surrounded by Xiangyang City after this, the official is willing to help Your Majesty persuade the garrison commander to surrender."
Sun Quan glanced at Yin Fan: "Shuping, do you know who the garrison commander is?"
Yin Fan smiled and said, "This matter is almost public knowledge. Xiangyang is an important town in Jing Province, and the Wei garrison commander is either Zhao Xian or Xiahou Rong, I don't think there would be any other candidates."
Sun Quan nodded in a noncommittal manner and did not agree or deny but continued to talk about other topics.
Although Yin Fan appeared calm at the moment, if one's ear was brought close to his chest, one could hear his heart pounding fiercely.
That's right, Yin Fan has been passing information to Zhao Xian in the city of Xiangyang.
Before deciding to go to war, Sun Quan actually had discussions within the court that lasted for nearly ten days. During these ten days, Yin Fan used the pretext of writing a recommendation letter for the king to travel between various official offices.
After Generals Zhuge Jin, Quan Zong, and Bu Zhi arrived one by one, Yin Fan also personally went to their army and presented the already drafted recommendation letter, asking each of the two thousand-character generals to sign it.
It can be said that the entire list of officials in Wu's Wuchang, as well as the list of 7,000 leaders and troops, and the number of ships and other military information, are all stored in Yin Fan's brain.
For such a seemingly simple matter as persuading someone to accept the throne, Yin Fan was able to create all these commotions. It can be said that he has not disappointed the teachings from the Imperial Academy nor his own aspirations.
Some people act only to be safe, while others take risks in everything they do, seeking the thrill and great satisfaction that comes from overcoming danger.
There are all kinds of people in this world, although it is difficult for others to understand them. However, Yin Fan wanted to become a spy in Wu and proposed it to the head of the Imperial Academy, Yang Fu, and Yang Yishan.
After hearing the news, Yang Fu reported it to the emperor himself. Cao Rui also received Yin Fan and instructed him to use the Han-Wei abdication as a pretext.
A student from the Imperial Academy knows nothing about the secrets and intelligence of the Wei state. He has nothing else to offer, so he can only use this matter as a tool.
Yin Fan bet on Sun Quan's desire to become an emperor, and he was right.
The Imperial Academy will never teach the abdication ritual. It's obvious that the people of Wu have fallen into this trap of information disparity.
For Yin Fan, as long as he could meet Zhao Yan or any other Wei army general, his journey would be considered successful.
On the other side, Sun Quan was still guiding his son's military strategy: "Your grandson has the correct general ideas, but the actual implementation is a bit shallow."
"If the Wu navy only occupies the Han River to block the enemy from advancing southward, it would be a second-rate approach. The more important thing is to occupy various sandbars in the middle of the Han River with naval forces and conduct large-scale raids on the counties and cities near Xiangyang and Fancheng along the Han River. And surrounding Xiangyang is not something that can be simply accomplished by landing troops onshore."
"Zi Gao, I'll ask you this: This time, the Wu army is taking advantage of the flood. If the ground in Xiangyang is still a swampy land, how should we surround and besiege it?" (Chapter ends)
