Jiangdong Jianye, Emperor Wu summoned the important ministers of the court to discuss state affairs.
Just ten days ago, Ji Han envoy Deng Zhi visited Jianye again, but unlike previous courtesy diplomatic visits, this time Deng Zhi came to Jianye and formally proposed to Sun Quan his intention to renew the alliance.
Of course, renewing the covenant at this time would have some benefits for both Han and Wu, but both sides knew how binding this covenant was.
It was just a means to delay the two sides from directly turning against each other and starting a war, allowing Cao Wei to reap the benefits.
But the problem is that Shu Han can propose this alliance, but Sun Quan cannot easily accept it. Sun Quan still wants to show some respect. He has already betrayed the alliance twice in a row. If it comes a third time, Sun Quan's reputation will be almost as good as Lu Bu's.
Therefore, when Deng Zhi proposed an alliance, Sun Quan fooled him.
However, after the court meeting, Deng Zhi took the opportunity to meet Sun Quan alone to pay homage to him and put forward a condition that made Sun Quan very excited.
Forming an alliance or something is just a cover. This is not the real purpose of Deng Zhi's mission.
The real purpose is to exchange for the ownership of Jiangxia County in exchange for Sun Quan sending troops to Qingxu to attack Pengcheng or Runan.
As soon as this condition came out, Sun Quan immediately understood that Shu Han was going to launch another Northern Expedition against Cao Wei.
The purpose of asking Sun Quan to send troops was to share the pressure on the Wei army on the eastern front and create a two-sided siege of Cao Wei like the last time the Shu Han attacked Guanzhong.
At the same time, we can also take the opportunity to reduce Jingzhou's defenses in the southeast region, mobilize troops, go north to attack Wancheng, and coordinate the Shu Han troops in Guanzhong to attack the Central Plains.
Judging from the current situation in the world, if Liu Bei's last battle with Guanzhong is repeated, and Sun and Liu continue to jointly attack Cao Wei, then Cao Wei will inevitably be unable to stop the joint attack of the two families. Whether it can save the Central Plains is a question. .
Although it is said that weakening Cao Wei is also beneficial to Soochow, the problem is that in the past three years, Sun Quan's effect in consolidating military power and reforming the military system has not been obvious, and his adaptation to fighting in the north has also progressed slowly. The most important thing is that, After all, Sun Quan failed to obtain enough horses to form a cavalry unit.
In this case, by helping the Shu Han to attack Cao Wei, Soochow would not be able to gain much advantage in the Central Plains, and the final results would most likely be monopolized by the Shu Han family.
To be honest, even from Sun Quan's strategic perspective, this is not a good deal.
but!
But the most important thing is here.
The place Shu Han gave in exchange for Sun Quan sending troops was Jiangxia County.
Sun Quan knew very well the importance of Jiangxia County to Jiangdong.
After experiencing the lesson of the failure to betray the alliance last time, Sun Quan once again realized that without Jiangxia County as a barrier to the east of the Yangtze River, important places such as Chaisang would face enemy attacks at any time. At the same time, the land routes in Changsha, Guiyang and other places would also be in danger. Without flank cover, he could be attacked by Shu Han at any time.
Think about it, when Jiangxia County was in hand, Lu Meng crossed the river with a move in white clothes. Although he failed in the end, he finally reached the gate of Jiangling City. If Guan Yu had not already occupied Xiangfan, Wang Ji relied on Jiangling's solid city defense to defend it. , the result is still unknown.
But the last time they betrayed their alliance, Jiangxia County, under the control of Wenpin, personally led the expedition, but was still blocked at the mouth of the Sanjiang River. In the end, the plan to attack the two counties in Jingnan failed.
Yes, in Sun Shiwan's heart, he would not think that his commanding ability was in shambles. He would only think that it was because he did not control Jiang Xia's relationship in advance.
Thinking back on this, when Jiangxia was in the hands of Huang Zu, Soochow's westward expansion plan had been hindered. Sun Ce and Sun Quan frequently attacked Jiangxia, but never achieved good results.
After such a back and forth calculation, Sun Quan once again believed in his judgment - if he wants to completely occupy the Yangtze River defense line, the first step is to capture Jiangxia.
Only with Jiangxia in hand and Sun Quan in Jianye can he sleep peacefully. Otherwise, the land east of Jiangdong may encounter threats from the Shu Han at any time.
Now, the Shu Han is willing to take the initiative to exchange Jiangxia in exchange for Soochow sending troops to the north. Sun Quan, who was coordinating the Shu Han's Northern Expedition, felt that it was not impossible to discuss it.
When it comes to sending out troops, it means sending out one soldier or sending out hundreds of thousands of soldiers. No matter how strong your Shu Han is, you can't make specific demands on Soochow in this regard, right? !
Well, even if Sun Quan wants to lose face, he can't send someone to attack Pengcheng or Runan. Isn't it difficult to fish in troubled waters and pretend to attack? !
At that time, I sent out troops. Although I couldn't help much due to "lack of combat power", I finally tried my best. If the Shu Han does not give Jiangxia County, the unreasonable party will be the Shu Han.
Sun Quan thought this deal was a good deal no matter how much he thought about it.
To be honest, Sun Quan almost agreed to Deng Zhi's request on the spot, but fortunately, Sun Quan was only in his forties this year, and he was not yet an old fool.
The last time I slapped my head, I almost got Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu to gang up on me for some close and far-reaching attack. Today, I'd better discuss it with my ministers before making a decision.
Therefore, Sun Quan once again summoned Zhou Yu, Zhang Zhao, Sun Shao, Zhu Huan, Gu Yong, Bu Zhi and others to discuss the matter.
The next four people can just provide a little advice. The people Sun Quan really wants to make the decision are actually Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu.
However, the recent physical condition of these two people is not very good.
Needless to say, Zhang Zhao, the old man is seventy-two years old this year. In this era, he is considered to have a long life and auspiciousness.
For a man in his seventies, you can no longer treat him as if he were forty years old and keep having minor ailments. This has become the norm for Zhang Zhao now.
As for Zhou Yu, let alone that.
Zhou Yu is already over fifty, and Zhou Yu's physical condition has not been very good since he saved his life in Baqiu. Three years ago, he led the troops to spend the winter in Xuzhou, which was even worse. If Sun Quan hadn't used Fan In exchange, Du Du was brought in to see Zhou Yu, but Zhou Yu might not be able to survive.
Although Zhou Yu managed to save his life after more than three years of recuperation, he now rarely participates in military affairs and is almost in a state of semi-recuperation.
These two people, Sun Quan felt, were really useful once and once, but for such a big matter, he had to ask these two people for their opinions.
Summoning the important civil and military officials headed by Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao, Sun Quan explained Deng Zhi's conditions, and both Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao fell into deep thought.
In fact, after they heard Sun Quan talk about this matter, they had already thought of everything Sun Quan could think of.
It seemed like a good opportunity. Using a pretentious troop dispatch in exchange for a strategic location was a good deal no matter how you thought about it.
But if these two people, like Sun Quan, could only think of this level, they would not be worthy of enjoying such special status and treatment in Soochow.
The first thing Zhang Zhao thought of was the political impact of Sun Quanzhen's actions.
We have broken our alliance twice. There are some things that cannot be done again, again, and again.
The first time we betrayed the alliance, we had an imperial edict as an excuse. We were officials of the Han Dynasty at that time, and the emperor ordered us to attack Guan Yu in Jingzhou. We had to listen. Although it is a bit ridiculous to say it out loud, it was still a fig leaf.
The second time we betrayed the alliance was because the current situation had changed and the world was divided into three parts. We did this for the sake of our own national interests and to fully occupy the Yangtze River to protect the people east of the Yangtze River. Although outsiders do not believe this stuff, it is Internally, we can also be regarded as explaining the past.
But if they form an alliance with the Shu Han to attack Cao Wei this time, it would really be unreasonable.
We broke the alliance last time, and we have an excuse anyway, but we cannot continue to form an alliance with Shu Han again. We must maintain a detached attitude, so that no one will believe our excuse for breaking the alliance last time.
If there is any benefit, we will make an alliance. If there is no benefit, we will break the alliance. Do you still want our reputation? !
If we really want to be called "capricious", let alone what Cao Wei and Shu Han think, what should our internal aristocratic families, soldiers and generals think? !
Therefore, Zhang Zhao is firmly opposed to it. A private tacit understanding of re-alliance with the Shu Han is one thing, but on the surface, it is absolutely unacceptable for the Shu Han to use Jiangxia County as a condition in exchange for Soochow sending troops north.
Once you accept this condition and use it as an excuse to send troops, it will inevitably be true and affect your own reputation.
As for Zhou Yu, mainly from a military perspective, he actually didn't agree with this.
There is no way, Soochow's military reform was limited by the dual pressure of the Jiangdong Family and the Huaisi Group, and it has not been going smoothly. Sun Quan also has no determination to completely complete the reform. When will this matter be ended? Even Sun Quan himself has no idea. have no idea.
Although the land combat capabilities of today's Soochow soldiers have improved a lot compared to before, if they really have to go north to fight against Cao Wei's soldiers in the plains, Zhou Yu still doesn't think he has a chance of winning.
It may be okay to fight a defensive war, but to fight an offensive war, the result will not be much better than three years ago.
Now is not the best time to officially break up with Cao Wei and go north to attack the Central Plains.
Moreover, the current defense arrangements of the Cao Wei Group in Pengcheng and Runan can be said to be quite thorough.
Pengcheng was backed by Yanzhou. Although Xu Huang, Zang Ba and other old generals passed away one after another, the successor Jia Kui was not that easy to mess with. He was proficient in both culture, Tao and military strategy. With the help of an old fox, Jiang Ji, and Lu Xun, Xu Sheng and Zhuge Jin still can't do anything with them. Even if Zhou Yu personally leads the army northward, he probably won't get anything good.
It's not that Runan County cannot be considered. Although Cao Xiu is also very capable, he thinks too highly of himself. Such a person can always find suitable openings to attack when guarding Runan.
But the problem is that behind Runan is Xudu. Not only are Cao Wei's elite guards there, but the guard Wang Ling is also said to be a capable general both in civil and military affairs. Moreover, Wang Ling himself has a good personal relationship with Cao Xiu. With Xuchang as his With Runan's backup, there is little hope of breaking through Runan in the short term.
Therefore, Zhou Yu felt that although Jiangxia County was indeed very important to Soochow, the results that could be achieved by marching northward were limited, and they might not be able to make wedding clothes for the Shu Han.
(End of chapter)
