Cao Hong's situation, in fact, it wouldn't be much better if he told Cao Pi the truth. In matters between military formations, no one can say who will win.
If it were Cao Cao, Cao Hong would have already submitted a report to explain the situation.
But this is Cao Pi.
We are all elders and have watched Cao Cao's sons grow up. Doesn't Cao Hong know what kind of person Cao Pi is? !
Not to mention that Cao Hong had offended Cao Pi. It is hard to tell what is right and wrong. In short, the relationship between the two people is quite bad.
If Cao Pi would still call Cao Ren "uncle" to save face, Cao Pi would never call Cao Hong "uncle" in private.
The relationship between the two people is extremely bad, and now, although Cao Hong has legitimate reasons, if Cao Pi insists on punishing him for delaying the war opportunity, it seems to be justified.
Anyway, Cao Hong felt that with Cao Pi's narrow-mindedness, there was a high probability that he would do this. Cao Hong simply didn't give any report, so he thought of getting rid of Zhao Yun and others first, and then take the credit for repelling Zhao Yun and others after his flank was clear. Submit the previous battle reports together.
Now that you have the merit, even if you want to settle the score later, you still have to show your respect for the merit, right? !
This was Cao Hong's plan. To this end, he wrote a letter to Cao Ren specifically, asking Cao Ren to help him cover up in front of Cao Pi.
Cao Ren really doesn't want to do this, but this is his biological brother.
Moreover, Cao Ren and Cao Hong are actually the same. They somewhat put themselves in the position of Cao Pi's elders, rather than sincerely regarding Cao Pi as the King of Wei. There is only one King of Wei in their hearts, and that is Cao Cao.
So Cao Ren really didn't realize there was anything wrong with doing this.
He helped Cao Hong cover it up as much as possible. As long as Cao Pi didn't mention it, it was nothing to do. If Cao Pi occasionally mentioned it, he would say that the Shu invaders were cunning and feared that they would repeat themselves. After the invasion, they would march westward to support Guo Huai.
But now that Guo Huai has been defeated and retreated to Shanggui, Cao Hong is still fighting with Zhao Yun at Baoxie Road. How can he fool this matter?
Therefore, Cao Ren could only report truthfully.
After hearing this, Cao Pi looked extremely gloomy, interrupted the military discussion, dismissed everyone, took out a report, and handed it to Cao Ren.
Cao Ren took it and saw that it was a report from Zhang Ji, who was left behind in Chang'an.
There is actually nothing much to say in the first half of the report. It is just to report on the current battle situation in Guanzhong and the situation in Chang'an. After all, Cao Pi is going to fight in person and is stationed in Chang'an. It is normal for Zhang Ji to report these to Cao Pi.
But in the second half, when Zhang Ji reported on the grain and grass stocks in Chang'an, he said that Chang'an's grain and grass stocks could probably supply 150,000 Chinese troops for nine months.
There is a saying that this is already a lot, enough for Cao Pi to start a big war in Chang'an.
But the problem is that at the beginning of the year before Cao Cao passed away, Cao Hong once wrote a memorial to Cao Cao. At that time, Cao Cao was seriously ill and could not be in charge. Cao Pi read it to Cao Cao. After reading it, Cao Cao specifically told Cao Pi to be sure. Pay attention to the grain and grass reserves in the direction of Chang'an, and make sure there is no shortage.
At that time, Cao Hong reported that Chang'an's grain and grass reserves could last an army of 200,000 for one year.
On paper, there's nothing wrong with it.
The weight of food and grass consumed by an army of 200,000 in three months basically corresponds to the food and grass consumed by an army of 50,000 in a year. But there are some things you should not think about in detail.
This year, where have the entire Yongzhou region's grain harvests, local taxes, and a batch of grain and grass that Yecheng allocated in advance because of the war gone? !
Looking back, think about Cao Hong's character and his biggest hobby. Don't you think there is a big problem here? !
As for this matter, if we leave it aside when Cao Cao was here, it wouldn't be a big deal. After all, Cao Hong is quite measured, and at least he doesn't delay important national affairs. Although he is a bit greedy, the basic guarantee is still given to you.
Even if you go to Cao Cao, Cao Cao will most likely reprimand Cao Hong, and then continue on like this, without asking anyone to get the money back. Although Cao Hong is a bit greedy, he is really good at it, and he is Risk your life.
But the problem now is that the King of Wei is no longer Cao Cao, but has become Cao Pi, who is very different from Cao Hong.
Coupled with the previous series of subtle factors, Cao Ren didn't know what to say.
As an elder brother, what can I do? I can only surrender and not say a word.
You can't say it. If you say it, you will admit it. This will give Cao Pi more reason to punish Cao Hong, but he cannot make any statement, otherwise Cao Pi will only become more angry. Even if he escapes this time, what about the next time he cannot escape? !
Cao Pi suddenly felt much more comfortable.
To be honest, Cao Pi has indeed disliked Cao Hong for a long time, but it wasn't because he didn't lend him money. Well, it really wasn't.
Mainly because of Cao Hong's behavior, his complacency and self-satisfaction in corruption, which can easily corrupt the official atmosphere and bring disgrace to the old Cao family.
Another one. Although it has been almost a year since he succeeded to the throne as King of Wei, Cao Pi always felt that a group of older generations never regarded him as King of Wei, especially those within the Cao family.
Therefore, this time Cao Pi gave Cao Hong and Cao Ren, the two elders of the Cao clan, a blow to prevent them from continuing to act like their elders.
But that’s all.
After all, a war is imminent, and Longyou has become like that. Even if Cao Pi wants to deal with Cao Hong, he can't do it at this juncture.
Although Cao Pi was petty-minded and had little success in fighting, he still had a lot of political acumen due to his idealism in employing people.
Taking advantage of Cao Hong's incident, he gave Cao Ren a beating. Then Cao Pi changed his smiling face and helped Cao Ren up himself, saying, "Uncle, please get up. What does this matter have to do with my uncle? I also know the character of Governor Cao, so I will not pursue it." I mean, it’s just that the current situation is complicated and changeable, and the Governor of Yongliang still needs more hard work from my uncle."
Cao Ren paused for a moment. Does this mean Cao Hong was removed from his position as governor? !
Okay, if you want to withdraw, you can withdraw, but what does it mean for me to be the governor of Yongliang? !
Isn’t that just changing the soup but not the medicine? !
But it’s right if you think about it carefully.
Cao Hong now has 50,000 soldiers and horses outside, and he has been removed from his position as governor of Yongliang. If he cannot be replaced by a convincing person, with Cao Hong's character, it is really possible that he will return to Chang'an and give up his job.
Anyway, even if he did this, could Cao Pi still kill him? !
But if it was his own brother who succeeded him, Cao Hong would not dare to say anything and would have to continue to lead troops on the front line. At the same time, Cao Pi could also use this time to replace the governor of Yongliang, take action on Cao Hong, and establish his prestige in the army. .
Taking personal revenge by the way!
Well, the last one was Cao Ren's inner slander, but Cao Ren felt that with Cao Pi's narrow-mindedness, it was really possible.
But the matter has come to this, what can I say, I quickly thanked the King of Wei, received the appointment, returned to the camp and wrote a letter to my brother to explain the situation, and at the same time asked him to quickly deal with Zhao Yun and Chen Dao.
I don't understand, Zhao Yun, he is just a brave general, and Chen Dao is a bodyguard leader. You, Cao Hong, have been fighting for so many years and still have an absolute advantage in military strength. How come it has been so long that you can't even handle these two? !
After doing all this, Cao Pi did not immediately head west to Chang'an. After all, he had already arrived in Luoyang, and Chang'an was very close, so there was no rush.
In addition to Liu Bei's main army in the west, Guan Yu, who is attacking Nanyang, is also a troublesome presence.
Although Guan Yu in the south has proven to be a partial force, Cao Pi knows the reputation of this world-famous general who the late king "cannot love".
"Megatron China" is not just a boast, it is a real one.
Therefore, Cao Pi was still uneasy and took a special look at the battle situation in Nanyang.
Judging from the battle report, it seems that there is not a big problem.
Although Guan Yu launched the Northern Expedition in early October and stationed all the way to Xinye, using Xinye as his base of advance, he launched an attack on various counties in Nanyang, which seemed to be huge.
But in fact, it was just Zhang Liao shrinking his troops, holding on to Wancheng, and deliberately giving up the territory. Now the two armies have formed a stalemate in Deng County, about eighty miles outside Wancheng, and no one has a better way to break the situation.
As for Xu Du, Sima Yi's report showed that everything was calm.
With Zhang Liao and Sima Yi in the way, as long as you are careful and don't give Guan Yu an opportunity, there should be no problem.
Even if there are any problems, don't worry too much. After all, Cao Pi has already arrived in Luoyang. Even if he enters Chang'an in the future, he will be able to support these two places very quickly and there won't be any big problems.
As for defeating the enemy, this can wait for now. After all, Liu Bei to the west is the enemy now. If the main force is involved in Guan Yu, that is what Liu Bei would like to see most.
So Cao Pi just sent a letter to Zhang Liao and Sima Yi, asking them to hold on to the city and try not to fight Guan Yu head-on.
No matter how powerful Guan Yu was, he could not bypass Nanyang and Xudu and penetrate into the hinterland of the Central Plains.
Zhang Liao naturally replied to accept the order, but Sima Yi wrote back to Cao Pi, asking Cao Pi to pay attention to Runan's defense.
If Guan Yu sent troops to attack Runan directly from Xiangyang, he would not be able to take care of the direction of Runan with only the 20,000 troops he had on hand. He would have to ask the Runan prefect to strengthen his vigilance.
Cao Pi frowned and thought for a long time, and finally asked Jiang Ji for questioning, only to learn that there was no prefect in Runan now.
Cao Pi was also puzzled, why was there no prefect? !
Then Jiang Ji told Cao Pi that it was not that there was no governor of Runan, but that the governor of Runan was not in Runan County.
The prefect of Runan is still Man Chong, but Man Chong is currently in Yecheng helping Cao Pi guard the rear and monitor the Han Emperor. Cao Pi has not relieved Man Chong from his appointment as the prefect of Runan, so naturally there is no way to re-appoint him. A governor of Runan.
Therefore, Runan has not been in charge of the prefect for almost half a year now.
Cao Pi immediately understood that it was okay. There was no prefect, and the county magistrate was still there. He just asked the magistrate to strengthen the county's defense.
Jiang Ji immediately took the order to draft documents and prepare to send them to Runan.
At this time, in the direction of Runan, there was already an army of no more than 3,000 people, heading towards Runan at a high speed.
A total of three chapters are owed
(End of chapter)
