Since ancient times, countless people have sacrificed their lives to serve their country.
However, "a scholar has a hundred things to do, and virtue is the first." It is the duty of a minister to eat the king's salary and be loyal to the country, but to die for the country and to bear the eternal infamy will make people hesitate.
Regarding the posthumous name of the lintel of the family, how many people do not hesitate?
But now in his letter, Zheng Pu bravely and fearlessly claimed that if his evil plot was revealed, he would be willing to take responsibility for the country alone!
“It is the custom of a national soldier to serve the country without hesitation of life, honor or disgrace!”
After being silent for a long time, Li Yan finally sighed and said with emotion, "Today I know why Kong Ming said in the past that this son can be a minister to the public in the future."
"well"
Hearing this, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang also sighed and said in a faint voice, "Zijin is commendable for his talent and loyalty, but this plan is too ruthless and harms the peace of heaven. Although it has contributed to the country, it may cost him his life!"
Li Yan didn't feel much about this.
The son is silent about strange powers, ghosts and gods.
Soldiers are evil.
Since you are a soldier in the conquest, if you don't kill the enemy, you will be killed by the enemy.
Zheng Pu's plan was only to kill the cavalry who were defending Xiaoguan against the Wei Dynasty, and it was not to massacre the common people of Li. How could it harm the peace of heaven?
In the past, when Zhou Yu burned Red Cliff in the east of the Yangtze River, wouldn't it also be the same for the Han Dynasty when Guanhou flooded his seven armies?
Using water and fire to kill enemies can be praised as a great military exploit, but killing enemies with corpse poison is considered ruthless?
Is it possible that people who are burned or drowned feel more "merciful" than those who are poisoned?
If you are not ruthless against the enemy, you are ruthless towards your own army!
Let me ask, in a normal offensive and defensive battle, how many soldiers did the Han need to die in order to capture Xiao Pass?
Considering the steepness and strategic significance of Xiaoguan, it should be no less than 50,000, right?
It was obvious that Xiao Guan could be captured without any bloodshed, but because of the constraints of benevolence and righteousness, countless Han soldiers were buried in a foreign land, which is not advisable!
On the battlefield, there is no talk of benevolence and righteousness!
The only benevolence and righteousness is to cherish the lives of our own soldiers!
With such thoughts, Li Yan quite appreciated Zheng Pu's ruthless plan.
However, since the Prime Minister had already spoken cruelly, it was not easy for him to refute.
After thinking for a while, he followed the Prime Minister's words and said comfortingly, "If Kong Ming feels that this matter is not good for my reputation as a great man, then he should hide what happened today in his heart and not let the world know about it."
After saying this, without waiting for the Prime Minister to say anything, he threw Zheng Pu's letter of advice into the brazier.
The Prime Minister, who was caught off guard by this, was slightly shocked before he quickly stood up to stop him, "It's impossible!"
It's just a step too late.
As soon as the letter fell into the hot pot of fire, it was completely swallowed up by the tongues of flames.
When the Prime Minister saw him, he couldn't help but shook his head and smiled bitterly, saying, "What Zhengfang did is trapping me into injustice!"
right!
The prime minister kept this letter, thinking that one day the corpse poison plot would be revealed, so he used this letter as evidence to claim that the plot was determined by his decision.
In order to prevent Zheng Pu from being criticized by secular morality.
After all, the Prime Minister's code of conduct has never lacked responsibility.
Li Yan understood the Prime Minister's thoughts, and pretended to destroy the cloth first for the sake of the Han's reputation.
It's not that he has any objections to Zheng Pu by acting like this.
It's because Zheng Pu today is just the executor leading the expedition.
But the prime minister is the one who governs the country. He carries the banner of the revival of the Han Dynasty on his shoulders and sets an example for the government and the public.
Which of the two is more important or less important, Li Yan has a clear idea in his mind.
"Hahaha~~~"
Hearing the Prime Minister's emotion, Li Yan clasped his hands and laughed, pretending to be unclear and asked, "Why did Kong Ming make such evil remarks? Keeping this book is not good for me, a big man, so why not burn it?"
"Heh~~~"
The matter was settled, the Prime Minister did not argue anymore, and could only smile bitterly.
Seeing this, Li Yan also calmed down and said softly, "If Kong Ming thought that Zheng Zijin was commendable for his loyalty, he would not hesitate to promote him. I look at the achievements this son has made in the past, and his official position is definitely more than this. Now we have recaptured Xiaoguan without any bloodshed.
If Kong Ming doesn’t go up to the Emperor to ask for merit for him, I will do it for you!”
"Um"
Nodding slightly, the Prime Minister also put aside his thoughts and smiled gurglingly, "I used to think that Zijin was young, and I was afraid that his high position would make him arrogant, so I didn't want him to be promoted too much. Now he has the ambition to serve the country with his own life, and he is upright.
If you fight for him too, I won't be a bad person anymore."
"That's right!"
Li Yan nodded and responded in a loud voice, "It is at a time when our great Han Dynasty's Northern Expedition requires the utmost strength of our soldiers, and our military achievements cannot be concealed. Although Zijin is young, his wife is the sister of the current empress. As he holds a high position, he does not need to worry about criticism from the government and the public.
And in the past, Huo Qubing, a great man, held a high position at a young age. Who could question it? As long as his military achievements are equal, it is natural for him to be promoted."
After finishing his words, he paused, but then sighed sadly, "Oh, today, all the ambitious people in our country have advanced, and the young men have also made great achievements in battle. As a court official and veteran, I have been entrusted by the late emperor, but I have no size in my high position."
I’m really ashamed of my merits!”
"Haha~~~"
As soon as he said this, the Prime Minister couldn't help but laugh sternly, "What Zhengfang said is an insinuation, accusing me of not acceding to your previous request." After saying this, he rubbed his hands and pondered for a moment, then nodded lightly, "Well, now Zhengfang has old matters.
I can't stop it anymore. After this battle, I will show it to the emperor."
More than ten days later.
The various Cao troops that besieged Hanzhong County retreated in an orderly manner under the leadership of their respective generals.
Wei Da Sima Cao Zhen, who personally led the army to the rear and guarded against the big man's pursuit, had no expression on his face as he walked slowly back, but his usually upright body was slightly hunched over.
In the desolation of late autumn and early winter, I feel even more lonely.
The emperor's edict came from Luoyang, forcing him to retreat.
We have to accept that this war ended with Wei's defeat.
Although it is said that victory or defeat is a common matter for military strategists.
He has been in the military for decades, and has long been indifferent to victory, defeat, honor and disgrace.
However, the main reason for his retreat this time was not the defeat in the military war.
Even if Xiaoguan's strange plan cannot be implemented and the heavy rain in the Qinling Mountains continues for a month, he can continue to attack and make Bashu unable to enter Liangzhou in the next four to five years, or even more than ten years.
Because he wants to fight for national strength!
Use continuous attacks to consume the lives of soldiers on both sides, and use battle losses to destroy the war potential of Bashu.
Bashu, a small country with few people, would be unable to provoke another war as long as it lost 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers.
After all, even though they captured Liangzhou, they didn't have enough soldiers to garrison it, and they didn't have enough deterrence to appease the Qiang and Hu tribes and Hao You.
As for the loss of 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers in the battle between Bashu and Shu, how much did Wei have to pay?
In Cao Zhen's heart, even if a hundred thousand troops die in battle, it is acceptable!
Because after fighting the battle losses, Wei will have no worries about the war in the northwest!
And with Wei's national power, it will definitely recover faster than Bashu!
The deeper reason is that now only this strategy can be used to curb the rise of Bashu.
Wei Guo has lost Xiao Pass.
If we don't take this opportunity to deplete Bashu's war potential, how can we defend Liangzhou, which has become an enclave?
If Liangzhou is not defended, Nishu will have no worries. Relying on the horse breeding land in the four counties of Hexi and the interests of the Silk Road in the Western Regions, can Wei's three assistants in Guanzhong still be at peace?
The first battle can usher in a chance to breathe and prepare for the opportunity to recapture Longyou in the future. Why not bear the loss of a mere hundred thousand soldiers!
Moreover, if we are reluctant to part with it now, the damage in future battles may be even greater.
Compassion does not control soldiers, so why should we be short-sighted?
However, the decision from the temple made him reluctant to give up this strategy.
It was not that the emperor Cao Rui disapproved of his decision, but that the Gonggun princes gathered together to petition for orders, making Cao Rui no longer able to support him.
The theory of destiny originated from Xiaoguan is more serious than expected.
One is the Qiang and Hu tribes.
The small Xianbei Qifu tribe in the Wushui River Basin migrated to the four counties of Hexi in order to avoid being involved in the competition by their leaders. This also spread the saying that "attacking the Han will be punished by heaven". The consequences were that they were originally In response to the call of Xu Miao, the governor of Liangzhou, the 40,000 to 50,000 Qiang and Hu who followed Xia Houru to attack Longyou all retreated.
In other words, without the suppression of the 40,000 to 50,000 Qiang and Hu tribes, the Wu Ban, Chen Shi and other tribes who stayed in Longyou against Shu can have their hands free.
If they rush to help Hanzhong County, they will offset Wei's military advantage.
If troops are sent from Xiaoguan, relying solely on the soldiers from Anding County will not be able to prevent them from entering Guanzhong.
By then, whether they divert to flank Fanxukou on the Guanlong Road, attack Chencang City, or use cavalry to attack the transportation of grain and baggage, Cao's army that has entered the Qinling Mountains will be doomed.
It can be said that the Qiang and Hu tribes who responded to Xu Miao and came to help in the war were a double-edged sword.
What once made Bashu's defense forces stretched thin, now has become an inducement for Wei's front to show flaws.
Secondly, there is the turmoil in the three assistants in Guanzhong.
Nearly 30,000 troops died in the Xiaoguan epidemic, and heavy rains continued for more than a month in the Qinling Mountains, making countless people feel that Wei's advance was cursed by God.
Otherwise, why is God so demanding?
The Li common people who had been conscripted into corvee service since before the autumn harvest were more willing to believe that this was a natural punishment because of their unspeakable suffering and the fact that Bashu lurked in Guanzhong and spread the word "Wei has no destiny".
Even those Li Shu who migrated from Jizhou were doubtful.
Under such circumstances, the Gonggun princes at the Luoyang Temple felt that if they continued to support the Great Sima Cao Zhen in attacking Ni Shu, the Shu army in Hanzhong County might not die in battle, so the Lishu people in Guanzhong took the lead in gathering a crowd to rebel.
Once again, it was the disengagement of the wealthy Kanto family.
Qiao Zhou used to preach the theory of destiny that "Cao Pi replaced Han and let his heirs wither", which eventually spread to Guandong.
Coincidentally, last year Emperor Cao Rui's second son, Fanyang King Cao Mu, also died in infancy.
Now Cao Zhen's expedition to Shu was met with the dissatisfaction of God. The dissatisfaction accumulated by those who had lost the benefits of the Silk Road and the return of farmland had erupted more seriously than the remarks about abandoning Liangzhou.
The aristocratic families who used to vigorously preach that "Han Zuo is extinct and Cao Wei is on the rise" chose to remain silent when faced with the question of whether Cao Wei had incurred divine punishment.
No longer speaking righteously, he claimed that "Cao Wei replaced Han Dynasty as the destiny of heaven".
Sometimes, silence is also an answer.
It also caused various rumors about the destiny of the various counties in Guandong to suddenly arise and become more and more intense.
Especially the places that were once massacred by Wei State.
For this reason alone, Emperor Cao Rui no longer dared to support Cao Zhen in continuing his offensive.
He needs the soldiers currently commanded by Cao Zhen to guard Guanzhong, so that he can have enough time and troops to eliminate those rumors with ulterior motives and deter the disloyalty of the powerful families in Guandong.
As for Liangzhou becoming an enclave, let it become an enclave.
No matter whether Ni Shu can capture Liangzhou in the future, it is not as important as now to stabilize a state in the hinterland of the Central Plains.
Finally, regarding the ending of this battle, the Gonggun princes also gave Emperor Cao Rui an acceptable proposal.
This proposal can appease the Guandong family and make it difficult for Shu to conquer Liangzhou.
This is an upgrade of the plan proposed by Liu Ye, the former servant: not only to condone the power of Liangzhou Haoyou and the local Qiang and Hu tribes, but also to implement "people on the border governing the border"!
Since the Qin and Han dynasties, the appointment of chief officials in prefectures, counties, and counties has required them to "avoid their nationality." There has always been an unwritten rule that they no longer serve in their own county.
The Cao Wei Dynasty and the Han Dynasty also implemented this policy, with few exceptions.
But now that Xiaoguan has been lost, it will become very difficult for Guanzhong to rush to aid and restrict Liangzhou.
Those Qianghu tribes and Haoyou have always been on opposite ends of the spectrum, so it is difficult to guarantee that they will not turn against Shu.
Therefore, instead of taking advantage of Ni Shu, it is better to grant official positions in the county to those bureaucrats who are native to Liangzhou, so that they can form a "separate regime" in disguise, and then they will not fall back to Ni Shu.
As we all know, what Liangzhou's powerful right people lack most is ambition, and what they cannot refuse the most is separatist rule.
Countless previous rebellions were all caused by this.
And against the national conditions of Shu, it is impossible for these right-wingers to dominate the local area!
Just imagine, if Ni Shu, a country with a small land and few people, allows the powerful rightists to separatist rule, and can neither recruit troops nor collect taxes, then what will be the use of conquering Liangzhou?
Therefore, these heroes will definitely hold up the banner of Wei and fight against Shu to the end.
Moreover, even if the Wei State implemented the policy of "people on the border governing the border", there would be a day when it would take back its power.
For example, in the past, Wei Wu and Cao Cao's policies towards the Qing and Xu states.
At that time, Wei Wu and Cao Cao were not very powerful, so they adopted a restraint policy towards Zang Ba, Sun Guan, Wu Dun and others who had independent territory and military strength. That’s it.
It was not until Wei Wen and Cao Pi's three expeditions to Soochow that Zang Ba and others were transferred back to Luoyang to take up posts, thus eliminating the separatist regime.
Now that Cao Rui has once again delegated power and allowed Liangzhou's powerful rightists to form a separatist regime, this is what the Dukes of Gongun said, and he is imitating the expedient measures adopted by Wei Wu and Cao Cao.
Is it possible to take back the power in the future? It should be possible.
As long as Cao Zhen brings back the army that attacked Shu and garrisoned it in Guanzhong, those Liangzhou heroes will spontaneously join forces with the Wei garrison to resist Shu for the sake of their own power.
There is no shortage of troops and horses, so when will we take back the power? What will be the difficulty?
Furthermore, the garrison's grain, fodder and baggage can also be provided by the powerful rightists in the separatist regime, which can be regarded as a disguised transfer of supply pressure.
Moreover, the immediate effect of this strategy was to slightly appease the resistance of the Kanto aristocratic families.
For them, the imperial court's disguised abandonment of Liangzhou and the inability to mobilize the people of Guandong to fill the bottomless pit of Liangzhou was a disguised concession to them.
Many reasons were put together, and Emperor Cao Rui compromised.
But Cao Zhen was disappointed.
Having guarded the northwest of Wei for countless years, he knew that once something was lost, it could never be regained.
