Cao Pi set out from Yecheng. In addition to personally leading an army of 150,000, he also brought many advisers and generals with him.
Originally, Cao Pi thought that with so many soldiers and the help of so many counselors and generals, even if it was his first time to lead troops into battle, nothing would go wrong.
But now it seems that I am still too naive.
Of the 150,000 troops, only 40,000 were left after entering Chang'an. 110,000 Chinese troops were sent out along the way. Judging from the current battle reports, it is hard to be optimistic about how many will return in the end.
The accompanying counselors and generals were basically sent out to fight by themselves.
Zhang He went to rescue Shangguo and Guo Huai, Cao Ren went to replace Cao Hong to deal with Zhao Yun, Jiang Ji led his troops to rescue Zang Ba of Xuzhou, Cao Xiu went to Huainan to stop Zhou Yu, Xu Huang went to You Fufeng to stop Kou Fengzhi from Shangyong's invasion. Only one good friend, Xia Houshang, and two bad friends, Sun Zi and Liu Fang, are still with him.
Xia Houshang is Cao Pi's last trump card, and he is also the only general who can lead the army in Cao Pi's place. In order to avoid having no one available in case of emergencies, Cao Pi cannot send him to lead troops out again. Sun Zi and Liu Fang are both good counselors in government affairs. , Counselor Military Aircraft, it was really difficult for them.
But the problem now is that there is really no one around Cao Pi. He doesn't want to ask these three people. As a last resort, Cao Pi can only find all three people to discuss what to do next.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty!" Xia Houshang tried his best to comfort Cao Pi and said, "General Chariot and Cavalry has defeated the Shu thief Zhao Yun. I think it won't be long before we can march west to Shanggui, join the two generals Zhang He and Guo Huai, and capture Longshang, so Yongzhou will be conquered." There is no need to be too impatient, and you will be able to defeat the enemy slowly. In the land of Qingxu, the southerners abandon their boats and saddle their horses. This is to avoid weaknesses and avoid strengths. Zang Xuangao is not a mediocre person, and Jiang Shangshu is also a wise man. Gentlemen, it will not be difficult to hold on to Xiapi. The king only needs to sit in Chang'an and mobilize his troops and generals to defeat the enemy and win."
There is a saying that Xiahou Shang was speaking in accordance with the current situation, and was trying to comfort Cao Pi, but this should not be taken seriously.
In fact, Cao Pi also knew that Xiahou Shang was just using this to comfort and advise him that he must not mess up his position and must stabilize. Only when Cao Pi stabilizes can he have any hope of winning in a two-front battle.
But what Xia Houshang said makes sense.
Regardless of Jiangdong's current momentum, it seems that the passage between Huainan and Qingxu can be opened at any time and occupy the eastern part of the Central Plains. But in fact, the current commotion in Jiangdong is entirely because the Yongliang War has involved too much of Cao Pi's energy. Just let Jiangdong succeed for a while.
Xia Houshang was right about one thing. The soldiers of Jiangdong were good at handling boats and crossbows. In hilly areas like Huainan, where the terrain is relatively complex, the gap between the two sides might not be too big, but in large plains like Qingzhou and Xuzhou, Even if Jiangdong's army really occupied the place where the main force was, they might not be able to hold it.
After all, these places are the most suitable for rapid cavalry advance.
Even if Cao Pi was more willing to let Zang Ba take the initiative to retreat, introduce the Jiangdong army into the plains of Runan and Yanzhou, and use the advantage of the cavalry's impact to defeat the enemy on the plains, it would be impossible to find the Jiangdong army that could fight in minutes. north.
Therefore, even if Jiangdong's army temporarily occupies Qingxu, it will only be a temporary loss. As long as Jiangdong does not have enough cavalry to stop Cao Wei's cavalry army, Qingzhou and Xuzhou will be able to get it back sooner or later.
Based on this, Cao Pi's confidant Sun Zi put forward his own ideas.
"Today's situation is due to us fighting on two fronts, so we lost the other!" Sun Zi suggested to Cao Pi, "Why don't the king send an envoy eastward, in the name of the imperial court, and promise Sun Quan great benefits, and the two families will stop fighting and repair." .In this way, the king can march westward with all his strength, meet Liu Bei, and defeat Longyou in one battle."
Liu Fang also joined in and said, "Now the enemies of the country are not in the east but in the west. If the king wants to do great things, he must have great achievements. If he can defeat Liu Bei, stabilize the world, and return to Yecheng with this great achievement, such a great thing can be done." .”
Sun Zi's suggestion was okay, but it was just to explain that Cao Pi was now facing a two-front battle, which was a taboo among military strategists. He would inevitably suffer heavy losses if he mobilized his troops back and forth like this and was exhausted.
It is better to make peace with Sun Quan for the time being, and even promise to give Sun Quan some heavy profits. Anyway, with the strength of Jiangdong Army, even if they accept these heavy profits now, they will not be able to keep them in the future. Sooner or later, they will have to pay them back with interest.
It was just a temporary concession.
Cao Pi understood Sun Zi's suggestion, and Cao Pi himself had had thoughts in this regard before. I have to say that he was very moved.
And what Liu Fang said made Cao Pi's heart beat so much that he could even hear it.
Liu Fang was hinting to Cao Pi that if he could defeat Liu Bei and thwart Liu Bei's so-called Northern Expedition strategy, he would be able to prove his ability, and it would also be a hint that the destiny was not in Han but in Wei. If destiny In the Han Dynasty, how could Liu Bei, a veteran prince who was trying to support the Han Dynasty, lose to a new king of Wei who had just succeeded to the throne? !
Once Cao Pi defeats Liu Bei and thwarts Liu Bei's Northern Expedition, it will not only establish enough prestige for Cao Pi, but also make people in the world who still have illusions about the Han Dynasty feel a sense of despair.
At that time, Cao Pi's major events can be officially put on the agenda.
The so-called major event actually refers to the matter of Cao Pi proclaiming himself emperor on behalf of the Han Dynasty. Cao Pi thought about this matter for more than a day or two.
Putting the words of the two people together, they suggested that Cao Pi could temporarily give Sun Quan some benefits and make concessions, then gather his troops and attack Liu Bei with all his strength.
After all, Sun Quan is nothing, and he cannot keep the benefits given to him, but Liu Bei is different. Defeating Liu Bei not only has practical significance, but also symbolic significance.
It’s clear who is lighter and who is heavier.
And to say the least, as long as Sun Quan agrees to a truce, at least Cao Pi will have no worries in Chang'an. He does not have to hold on to the last 40,000 Chinese troops in his hand and dare not call them. He can completely hand over these soldiers to Cao Ren's command and let Cao Ren march to Shanggui. Go find Liu Bei for a decisive battle.
After much deliberation, negotiating peace with Sun Quan was really a brilliant move.
Of course, if possible, Cao Pi also wanted to fight on two fronts and thwart the attacks of both sides at the same time, so as to show his ability as the new King of Wei. But now there is no other way, and a choice must be made.
What Cao Pi is best at is this kind of trade-off.
Cao Pi immediately made up his mind and instructed Sun Zi and Liu Fang to draft an edict, naming Sun Quan as King of Wu in the name of the Han Dynasty. At the same time, he asked Cao Rui, the eldest son of King Wei of Wei, to marry Sun Quan's daughter as his wife. The two families broke off the war and reconciled. Anyway, as long as Cao Pi defeated Liu Bei, he would proclaim himself emperor on behalf of the Han Dynasty. The so-called King of Wu who was granted the title of King of Wu by the Han Dynasty, at worst, the Wei Dynasty would not recognize him.
To put it bluntly, it's just a blank check. If you, Sun Quan, are willing to be the one, then go ahead and be the one.
As long as Sun Quan is willing to suspend his troops, then Cao Pi will not have to worry about the safety of Yanzhou and Runan, and can concentrate on fighting on two fronts.
Although it is not possible to transfer all Cao Xiu from Runan and Jiang Ji from Xuzhou, at least he does not need to retain mobile troops for the time being. He can safely and boldly deploy troops and generals in Chang'an, order Cao Ren to lead the army into Longshan, and follow Liu Bei decided to decide the outcome.
As long as Liu Bei is defeated, the rest will become logical, and the world will become his Wei world.
I have to say that Cao Pi's move was really very effective, and it completely hit Sun Quan's weakness.
Sun Quan now also needs to end this war with dignity.
Although, this time under Zhou Yu's bold planning, Sun Quan led his troops to occupy most of Qingxu's land. At the same time, Zhou Yu also captured Hefei, and Jiangdong achieved an unprecedented victory.
This victory was enough to raise Sun Quan's prestige and momentum to a big level, but similarly, Zhou Yu also proved once again that he was the number one person in the Jiangdong military through this battle.
Sun Quan didn't want to doubt Zhou Yu. After getting along with him for these years, Sun Quan also knew that Zhou Yu was not the kind of person who has two minds. But Zhou Yu's power is so great, Zhou Yu himself can believe it, but what about Zhou Yu's descendants? !
When he and Zhou Yu were both alive, the Zhou family might not have second thoughts, but if he and Zhou Yu passed away, would Jiangdong's surname be Sun or Zhou in the future? !
Therefore, after Zhou Yu captured Hefei, Sun Quan immediately ordered Zhou Yu to rest and recuperate on the spot. He could just attack Huainan without going north to Xuzhou for support.
Obviously, Sun Quan wanted to conquer Qingxu Prefecture on his own to improve his prestige in the military.
This is not a bad thing. Zhou Yu also knew that his contribution was too great and he needed to let Sun Quan establish greater prestige. Therefore, after Zhou Yu received Sun Quan's order, he immediately stood still and only accepted the surrenders from various places in Huainan and mobilized troops to intimidate Runan. Cao Xiu and Jia Kui were motionless in the direction of Xuzhou.
Originally, Sun Quan had thought everything well, and Zhou Yu was also very cooperative. As long as Sun Quan defeated Zang Ba and captured Xuzhou, then Sun Quan would be able to do what his brother Sun Ce could not do, and officially become the unique monarch of Jiangdong.
But it's a pity that Sun Quan really can't defeat Zang Ba.
Even with the help of two generals, Ding Feng and Xu Sheng, Sun Quan still couldn't defeat Zang Ba and Xiapi. Zang Ba even organized a counterattack, which made Sun Quan extremely embarrassed. If it weren't for Xu Sheng's urging, Sun Quan would have almost killed him directly. Withdraw the troops and return to Guangling.
Faced with this situation, Sun Quan was embarrassed, and so was Zhou Yu.
If he had known this situation, Zhou Yu should not have agreed to Sun Quan and stayed in Hefei to watch the show. It's better now. If he went north again now, even if he captured Xiapi, Sun Quan would have lost all face.
Just when Zhou Yu was wondering whether to ignore Sun Quan's face and eat Xuzhou first, Cao Pi's envoy arrived.
King of Wu. This is the title that Sun Quan has always wanted, but never dared to think about.
Cao Cao was called King of Wei, and legally he was granted the title by Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty. Although it was unreasonable, it was legal.
Liu Bei was called the King of Hanzhong because he was the uncle of the Emperor of Han Dynasty, and it was a reasonable thing to call him king. Although the court did not recognize it and it was completely illegal, everyone in the world recognized it.
These two people have some reasons for becoming kings, but Sun Quan wants to become king. Who cares about him?
But now it's different. Cao Pi said that he could report to the emperor on his behalf and make Sun Quan King of Wu. Legally speaking, Sun Quan's King of Wu is actually the same as Cao Cao's King of Wei, and they have a sufficient basis for authority.
In history, the great king of Wei and Wu, Sun Quan, could secretly enjoy themselves, not to mention the current king of Wu, who is more reasonable and legal and can be on an equal footing with Cao Pi. As soon as Sun Quan heard that he could become the king of Wu, not to mention that he just stopped fighting and reconciled. , even if Sun Quan is asked to withdraw from Qingxu Province, Sun Quan might be able to agree.
What's more, this is also a reason to end the war that satisfies Sun Quan's face and is reasonable. If he rejects it later and Xiapi still cannot be defeated, wouldn't it be even more embarrassing? !
(End of chapter)
