Hebei, Jizhou, Yecheng.
The Han Dynasty was preparing for the Sixth Northern Expedition, and all states were mobilizing supplies and soldiers. It was impossible for such a big movement not to be discovered by Cao Wei's agents in the Central Plains.
Therefore, this news was inevitably sent to the hands of Cao Shuang, who was now Cao Wei's sole and important minister and in charge of the government.
However, this military report came at a bad time. When it was delivered, Cao Shuang was entertaining several important guests in his mansion.
To a certain extent, Cao Shuang is indeed a little too arrogant now.
When Cao Shuang served as Sima Yi's guard, he was in Yanzhou and he still had some idea of what he should do and what he shouldn't do.
But now, with Cao Rui's death, Sima Yi took the initiative to give in, and the emperor who succeeded him was only five years old. Cao Shuang became the only minister Tuogu who was in charge of the government alone.
Cao Shuang's floating skills are almost out of bounds.
For example, now.
Cao Rui just passed away less than a month ago. According to the etiquette system, at this time, the officials of the Wei Dynasty should not only wear sackcloth and wear mourning, but at least they still have to do it on the surface. How can anyone do it on their own at this time? A big banquet is held at home to entertain guests? !
Of course, if you say that the people Cao Shuang hosted at the banquet were all important ministers of the country to discuss state affairs, this might be okay. But who are the people Cao Shuang hosted at the banquet? !
Well, no one else, just people like He Yan, Bi Gui, Li Sheng, Ding Mi, Deng Yang, Huan Fan, and Zhang Dang.
Since Cao Shuang came to power, he immediately began to promote and reuse these people, and these people, let alone, there is really such a person who is somewhat capable.
Huan Fan.
Historically, during the Gaoping Ling Incident, he gave Cao Shuang advice and asked him to take Cao Fang to Xuchang to recruit the advisers of King Qin.
Although this idea is not very good, at that time, it was indeed a path that Cao Shuang could choose.
But unfortunately, he met Cao Shuang.
Just like now, Huan Fan actually once persuaded Cao Shuang. The late emperor had just passed away. Such a ostentatious banquet was inconsistent with etiquette and would only increase other people's discussion. As a result, Cao Shuang listened to half of it.
The banquet was going on, but at least we knew it was behind closed doors.
But the problem is, you, Cao Shuang, are closed for a treat, but don’t you know what kind of moral character these guys are? !
One by one, after getting drunk, they don’t even know their last name. How can any one of them have such a good mouth? !
What's the point of closing the door? Everyone in Yecheng who should know and shouldn't know already knows that the newly appointed general of the Wei Dynasty feasted every day during the funeral of the late emperor. Is this reputation good to hear? !
For this reason, Huan Fan once again advised Cao Shuang, asking him not to drink and have fun with others all day long. Even if he was pretending, he should take these people to discuss some government affairs together. This way, at least if the news spreads, the reputation will be better.
In this day and age, drinking is not a big deal for children of aristocratic families. You can drink alcohol, but as long as you get things done, it's not unacceptable.
This time Cao Shuang finally listened. He actually summoned He Yan and others to discuss how to deal with the possible invasion of Shu thieves after the death of the late emperor.
Cao Shuang is not really a fool, and He Yan and others are not really short-sighted. If Cao Rui dies, think about it in another person's shoes. If it were Zhuge Liang who had replaced them, he would definitely have committed an offense.
However, the only thing these guys can do is to think in another person's shoes and realize that the Shu thieves may have violated the situation. It is not easy for them.
In addition, these guys really just discussed things while drinking. After the discussion, they even forgot about what they were supposed to discuss, and just remembered to drink and have fun.
Then these guys made a very ridiculous decision in response to the Shu thieves' invasion - Cao Shuang, in the name of the Assistant Minister, ordered Guo Huai, Xiahou Ba and others to step up their vigilance.
After that, there will be no more! ! !
Is this something that requires a special order from an assistant minister? !
Guo Huai and Xiahou Ba on the front line, who don’t know how to be on guard against bandits and bandits during the emperor’s funeral? Do you need special instructions from you? !
At this time, the most important thing Cao Shuang, as an auxiliary minister, should do was to first send his own envoys to the frontline troops to help boost military morale and eliminate the morale impact of the emperor's death. Secondly, we need to mobilize well in Yecheng so that if the Shu thieves really invade the territory, they can provide timely support.
As a result, Cao Shuang just gave an order and it was done.
Huan Fan really couldn't bear to do this. After the banquet, he asked Cao Shuang privately again, hoping that Cao Shuang would make some changes.
And Cao Shuang, at this moment, handed Huan Fan the intelligence about Zhongyuan.
After reading it, Huan Fan's expression changed drastically and he looked up at Cao Shuang.
Cao Shuang also had a serious look on his face, and slowly said to Huan Fan, "Shu thieves want to conquer Yuan Dynasty again in the north, do they have any ideas?!"
When Huan Fan heard this, he felt like he was constipated, wasn't it? You actually asked me alone about such an important matter in such a private setting? !
Shouldn't this kind of thing be brought to the court and discussed with the courtiers? !
ask me? !
Can I count on what I said? !
Huan Fan immediately spoke and said to Cao Shuang, "Why don't Ming Gong wait until tomorrow morning to discuss this matter with all the courtiers?!"
When Cao Shuang heard this, he calmed down a little, and then said, "It's true. But, doesn't Yuan Ze have a good plan for this matter?!"
"."
Huan Fan is really confused now. What does this mean? !
I looked up at Cao Shuang carefully and found that Cao Shuang's face was expressionless now. I lowered my head and thought about it, it couldn't be this general. I didn't know what to do at all, right? !
I'm afraid that when I go to discuss matters with the courtiers tomorrow, I won't understand anything and won't be able to say anything, which will lead to embarrassment, so I asked me in advance if I have any countermeasures? !
No way. How could a dignified son of Cao Zhen be so ignorant and incompetent? !
In this regard, Huan Fan really underestimated Cao Shuang.
Cao Shuang still has the abilities he should have, but... After experiencing the Battle of Yanzhou, Cao Shuang really has some psychological shadow on Shu Han.
During the Battle of Yanzhou, Cao Shuang was in front of Sima Yi for almost the entire process, witnessing the development of the entire battle and having his own thoughts.
To be honest, from Sima Yi's point of view at that time, Cao Shuang felt that he would most likely make the same decision as Sima Yi, but what was Sima Yi's final outcome? !
However, it hardly posed any substantial threat to the Shu thieves, and in the end they were forced to withdraw from Yanzhou.
This gave Cao Shuang some bad illusions.
One is that Cao Shuang had a misunderstanding in his evaluation of Sima Yi's ability.
That old guy Sima Yi was just like that, he was just boasting, and the actual operation was almost the same as what he could think of.
He is still called a famous general of the Wei Dynasty. Doesn’t that mean I am the same? !
The other is that Cao Shuang began to doubt himself. When he really faced the attack of the Shu thieves and needed to make a decision on his own, whether his decision was effective.
Therefore, when he learned that the Shu thieves were preparing for the sixth Northern Expedition, it was not that Cao Shuang did not have his own response plan, but that he now did not believe that his response plan could stop the Shu thieves' Northern Expedition.
It may even be like the Battle of Yanzhou, where all the countermeasures I thought of would be resolved by the Shu thieves one by one, and end up with the same fate as Sima Yi.
In short, Cao Shuang is extremely unconfident now, so he just wants to listen to Huan Fan's opinions first to see if he can get any other inspiration.
Stones from other mountains can be used to attack jade!
Most of the other guests had abilities in local governance, or simply had no talent at all. Cao Shuang recruited them out of the need to win over the wealthy families in Hebei, but Huan Fan was different. Cao Shuang really valued Huan. Fan's ability.
Unfortunately, Huan Fan didn't know about this, but as Cao Shuang's guest, Huan Fan still dutifully expressed his thoughts.
In fact, there is nothing much to say about the previous ones. It is basically the same as what Cao Shuang thought. It is all about mobilizing preparations in advance and the best logistics support. There is nothing new.
Originally, the matter ended here, and Cao Shuang didn't think there was anything bad. There was a high probability that he would do what Huan Fan said, but he shouldn't, absolutely shouldn't, Huan Fan shouldn't mention anyone.
"I often hear people say that the Grand Sima is good at using troops, and he is a famous general in the Wei Dynasty. If the General still has doubts, why not summon the Grand Sima to discuss matters."
"Yuan Ze has said too much. Please step back!!!"
Before Huan Fan could finish his words, he was interrupted by Cao Shuang and he immediately backed off.
Huan Fan was surprised in his heart, but when he raised his head slightly and saw Cao Shuang's face as dark as the bottom of a pot, Huan Fan finally understood where he had said the wrong thing.
It's terrible. I haven't heard any rumors about the quarrel between the general and the great Sima before. Why did they bump into each other this time? !
But looking back and thinking about it, the emperor of the Wei Dynasty passed away, the Shu thieves were about to invade the country, and the two important ministers, the general and the chief minister, were still at odds with each other. The Wei Dynasty was about to end.
No problem, Huan Fan still has some integrity in eating the emperor's salary and being loyal to the emperor.
Therefore, after retreating halfway, he bravely returned to Cao Shuang, raised his hands and said to Cao Shuang, "If the general still has doubts, he might as well summon the leading general Jiang Ji and the governor of Yanzhou Jia Kui to discuss it."
You can't be so indifferent. The general doesn't get along with these two veterans, right? !
"Yuan Ze, there is no need to worry about it. I have my own arrangements."
"."
Yes, Wei Dynasty is really going to end this time! ! !
(End of chapter)
