In the Wei Dynasty at this time, the imperial court still had a high degree of control over various places. For Luoyang, which is the capital of Xijing, it goes without saying that Cao Rui single-handedly controlled the imperial guards of Xijing.
Cao Rui is not a good-for-nothing waste like Cao Shuang. He was caught without a fight just after the Gao Pingling Incident. Cao Rui has very strict control over his own troops.
Although Xiahou Shang was the commander of the imperial guards, without Cao Rui's military symbols and edicts, Xiahou Shang could not mobilize the Luoyang imperial guards at all.
Therefore, Cao Rui was only angry, not helpless, about Xia Houshang's sudden "forcing the palace".
Cao Rui, who was still annoyed that his two clan uncles sent troops without authorization, faced Xiahou Shang's "forced palace" behavior of suddenly breaking into his palace and demanding that he move to Yecheng. He directly ordered the guards guarding the palace to Take down Xiahou Shang.
Xia Houshang was anxious, but he couldn't resist, so he could only keep complaining, and then said that there was an urgent military intelligence report.
At this time, Cao Rui finally calmed down a little. Thinking about it carefully, it seems that Xia Houshang broke into the palace alone. If he really wanted to force the palace, Xia Houshang would not do such a stupid thing with his brain.
Therefore, Cao Ruicai waved his hand to signal the guards to let go of Xiahou Shang temporarily, but he did not let the guards leave. After all, it was a fact that Xiahou Shang broke into the palace without permission.
But Xiahou Shang glanced at the guards on both sides, but at this time, he didn't say a word.
Cao Rui was puzzled at the time.
This guy first broke into the palace and asked me to move to Yecheng. Just now he shouted that there was an urgent military intelligence report. Now I let him speak, and this guy didn't say a word. What's wrong with this? !
But Cao Rui is not a fool after all. With Xia Houshang like this, it is obvious that he can only let himself know this military information, and it is best not even for the imperial guards to know. But what Cao Rui needs to consider is whether he wants to fight with the man who just committed the crime. Those who are guilty of trespassing into the palace should be left alone.
In the end, Cao Rui made a decision, drove away the imperial guards, and chose to trust Xiahou Shang.
Although Cao Rui was very angry with Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu for sending troops without permission, Cao Rui's mind was still clear.
Cao Rui is still unclear about Cao Xiu's actual purpose of sending troops, but Cao Zhen's purpose of sending troops is still to recapture Guanzhong for the Wei Dynasty and to make contributions to the Wei Dynasty.
The uncles of these two clans are disobedient, but there is a high probability that these two people will not rebel. This is why Cao Rui is obviously disgusted that Cao Zhen sends troops without permission, but in the end he has to send Wang Lang to give additional approval. reason.
It's all for the Wei Dynasty. If there is anything wrong, we can settle the accounts behind closed doors when we come back. Cao Rui will not hold back his own people when we go to war.
Similarly, although Xiahou Shang broke into the palace without permission, the crime could be serious or minor. Even for Xiahou Shang, a veteran of two dynasties and a lonely and important minister, it was not really a serious crime.
Therefore, Cao Rui did not believe that Xiahou Shang, who had been favored by his father and son for two generations, would choose to betray him.
In fact, Cao Rui's judgment was correct. Xiahou Shang broke into the palace because he was really anxious about the military situation, but it did not have to be kept within a small area. Even the imperial guards had better not know about it.
This military situation is - Tongguan fell.
When Cao Rui heard this, he sat on his dragon chair and didn't react for a long time.
Tongguan defense. Well, Tongguan, that is indeed a very important place. We must strengthen the defense, but we must not, eh? ! Wait, what did Xia Houshang just say? !
Tongguan fell? ! ! !
Cao Rui finally reacted.
"Tongguan was lost?!" Cao Rui emphasized again, and at the same time, he also placed his last hope and repeatedly asked Xia Houshang for confirmation.
Xiahou Shang was also helpless. He knew the seriousness of the news, but at this time, he could not deceive the emperor. He could only answer again and said, "The envoy from the front came to report that Tongguan was attacked and fell. General Cao Zhen's retreat was cut off. Shu Thieves can enter Hongnong at any time."
Cao Rui no longer had the intention to listen to the rest of the words. He now urgently wanted to take something from his hand and smash it to express his anger.
Then Cao Rui's imperial case suffered.
There is a saying that Cao Rui is in much better health than his father. When he heard such bad news, not only did he not become blind like his father, but on the contrary, he overturned the imperial case in front of him.
"Cao Zhen is incompetent and Wang Lang has no plan. Why did Tongguan fall?!!!"
Cao Rui almost roared and cursed. From Cao Zhen, Wang Lang, to Tongguan guard Cao Tai, they all scolded them one by one. It must be said that Cao Rui has a really good memory.
Xia Houshang was helpless. He could only kneel on the ground. After Cao Rui vented all his anger, he asked again, "Now that Tongguan has been lost, Luoyang is in danger. I ask your Majesty to move and return the capital."
After venting his anger, Cao Rui finally calmed down again. After hearing Xiahou Shang's words, Cao Rui thought about it for a moment, and with a mixed expression on his face, he asked Xiahou Shangdao, "You want me to escape from the battlefield?!"
Well, no wonder Xiahou Shang didn't mention this when the imperial guards were present just now. What he dared to fight was the idea that the emperor would escape from the battlefield. Of course, the fewer people who know about it, the better! ! !
When Xia Houshang heard this, he immediately bowed his head and said, "I don't dare!"
He said he didn't dare, but in fact that's what Xia Houshang meant.
Actually, it cannot be said that he escaped from the battlefield. It can only be said that the emperor's safety is the safety of Wei. It is impossible for Xiahou Shang to let the emperor continue to stay in Luoyang when Tongguan is lost.
Tongguan is of great importance to the defense of Luoyang.
In later generations, those who made Luoyang their capital, whether they were emperors or princes in troubled times, as long as they chose to fight fiercely in Luoyang after the fall of Tongguan, almost all had a bad end.
The most straightforward example is that Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was facing the Anshi Rebellion. After Ge Shuhan lost Tongguan, he ran away to Sichuan. This shows the importance of Tongguan to Luoyang.
Of course, in this era, Tongguan was just a new pass. Even after it fell, there was still a Hangu Pass behind it.
However, due to a series of factors such as the diversion of the Yellow River, Hangu Pass has gradually lost its defensive elements. After the war in the late Qin Dynasty, the importance of Hangu Pass has repeatedly declined. In the four hundred years of the Han Dynasty, Hangu Pass was only divided into The distinction between the title of Marquis of Guan Nei and Marquis of Guan Wai has different meanings.
Although, in recent years, as Cao Zhen redeployed the defense within the pass, Hangu Pass has been repaired again, but for a pass that has not been repaired for 400 years in the Han Dynasty, what use are the repairs in the past few years? !
Moreover, Tongguan Pass has been lost. With the defense capabilities of Hangu Pass, how long can it withstand it? !
The most important thing is that Luoyang is less than a hundred miles behind Hangu Pass. Who would let the emperor stay in such a dangerous place, waiting to be surrounded by enemies and then take over? !
Therefore, Xiahou Shang's reason for asking the emperor to move the emperor is actually very obvious, which is to nip trouble in the bud.
After all, the real capital of the Wei Dynasty was always Yecheng, and Luoyang was just Xijing.
However, in recent years, in order to cope with the pressure from the Shu Han, after Cao Pi moved to Luoyang, Cao Rui also ascended the throne in Luoyang. But this does not mean that Luoyang was the real administrative center of the Wei Dynasty.
At least in the eyes of outsiders, Cao Rui is now on a tour of Xijing. After the tour is over and he returns to the real capital, no one can say anything.
But Cao Rui was not willing to do this.
Although it is said that returning to Yecheng is a return to the capital, and outsiders can't fault it, there is no problem in going back at other times, but at this time, Cao Rui cannot go back.
Anyone with a discerning eye can see that if Cao Rui returns to Yecheng at this time, he is simply afraid of the offensive of the Shu thieves and cannot escape the suspicion of fleeing before the battle.
And the most important thing is that at this time, fierce fighting is going on everywhere on the front line, and Cao Rui, as the emperor, chose to return to Yecheng just because it was dangerous to stay in Luoyang. What do you want the soldiers on the front line to think? Who will do it for you? Da Wei and fight to the death? !
The three generations of the Cao family were able to occupy the largest territory in the world and become the strongest force in the Three Kingdoms in this troubled time, not through conspiracy and coups.
At least Cao Rui's generation has not yet reached this level of cowardice.
Therefore, after careful consideration, Cao Rui has made a decision in his heart - to stay in Luoyang.
However, Cao Rui can think like this, but Xia Houshang cannot think like this.
The emperor has backbone and courage. As a subject, Xiahou Shang is of course very pleased, but the emperor's safety also needs to be protected.
If Cao Zhen cannot return to the army in time to recapture Tongguan, or if the Shu thieves invade the Central Plains through other means, then Cao Rui will really be in desperate situation.
For this reason, Xia Houshang decided to try again.
But at this moment, Cao Rui, who had made a decision in his heart and regained his composure, personally helped Xia Houshang and asked the key question - how did Tongguan be lost.
Regarding Zuo Fengyi's war, Cao Zhen had obviously sent a military report a few days ago, saying that everything was going well. In about ten days and a half, the Yongzhou Army would be able to completely defeat the Shu thieves. Why did they say that Tongguan was lost today? !
Xiahou Shang was also stunned by this question, not knowing how to answer it.
Xia Houshang had received urgent information. When he heard that Tongguan was lost, he subconsciously thought of the emperor's safety, and his mind became confused. He didn't have time to think about it carefully, so he came directly to ask Cao Rui to move.
Now after listening to Cao Rui's questioning, Xiahou Shang realized that he actually didn't know much about the situation in Tongguan.
Seeing Xia Houshang hemming and hawing and unable to explain why, Cao Rui suddenly felt pain in his cheeks. How come none of his uncles and elders could give him peace of mind? !
When the late emperor entrusted him with the task, he said that Xiahou Shang was loyal to his duties and decisive in his strategy. Is this all? !
In terms of being loyal to his duties, Cao Rui has experienced it. As soon as he heard that he was in danger, he let himself run to a safe place without even thinking. He was quite loyal to himself.
Decisive strategy? !
He didn't know anything about the situation, and he didn't know the details of the battle ahead, so he rushed to ask him to move with a pale face. If he had listened to him, how many things would have been delayed! ! !
Cao Rui had no choice but to ask Xia Houshang to go back first to find out the specific circumstances of the fall of Tongguan, how many enemy troops there were, who led the army, and whether they would take advantage of the situation to attack Hongnong or even Luoyang.
At the same time, Cao Rui ordered the 10,000 forbidden troops left behind in Luoyang to prepare for war.
The specific reason was not stated clearly. After all, the news of the fall of Tongguan would indeed shake the morale of the military. It is best not to spread it until it is understood.
(End of chapter)
