Chapter 697 The Wang Brothers
It is said that Huaiyang, Sima Lang and Guo Huai talked about each other and cherished each other. With Ma Yunluo's push, Diao Chan and Diao Chan raised their glasses to swear an oath to the heaven and earth, and formed a sworn alliance with Jinlan to form the Xiangyun Alliance. In the social atmosphere at that time, where hereditary family members were the most important, for a loser like Huaiyang, this could be regarded as a super counterattack, and it also proved how amazing Chen Long's performance was that day.
The official inspection and promotion system implemented during the Han Dynasty had been manipulated and exploited by the elites in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. They influenced the public opinion in the countryside at that time, causing the inspection and promotion system to breed various corruption phenomena, and created conflicts with elites from other classes who wanted to participate in politics. Sharp conflicts arose and the struggle was fierce on how to select officials. After Cao Cao's death, Cao Pi established the nine-level Zhongzheng system after adopting Chen Qun's motion. As a result, the nine-level Zhongzheng system became the main official selection system in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. However, Chaju had not been completely abolished at that time, and the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System was born under this background situation.
After the implementation of the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System, the gentry gradually monopolized high positions and became increasingly corrupt, while poor families could never get ahead. However, a person's background itself does not necessarily completely determine his talents and achievements. During the Three Kingdoms period, it was not uncommon for famous generals like Deng Ai who came from a poor family and good generals like Zhong Hui who came from a high family. Therefore, this Xiangyun Alliance is a combination of several humanistic talents and military strategies, and it also represents a new trend that breaks the decadent trends of the clans.
Several people were chatting after sworn sworn vows. When they were enjoying themselves, suddenly a gloomy voice next to them said: "What's the happy event for you? Are you all drunk? You didn't even choose a place to throw the wine glass. It hit my brother on the head." It’s a big bag!”
Everyone turned around and saw a man with a long body, a face as deep as water, a dark face and a short beard, handsome appearance, wearing a gray green silk robe, a dagger hanging from his waist, and a pair of very rare soft leather boots on the soles of his feet, obviously. He is dressed as an aristocrat. He was seen supporting the young man beside him, and the young man was covering the back of his head. It turned out that the wine glass that Chen Long had just thrown hit him in the back of the head.
When Chen Long took a look, he recognized that the young man was Wang Chang and Wang Wenshu. He couldn't help but feel funny. On the surface, he quickly apologized: "It turns out to be brother Wenshu. I was offended by the mad wolf just now! Please forgive me Wenshu."
This was a very minor matter, but Wang Chang's face was still gloomy, and he obviously came here to find trouble. Sure enough, the person supporting Wang Chang sneered and said, "You smashed my brother, and that's it?"
Chen Long turned to look at the handsome young man and said, "I am stupid, may I ask who this is?"
The young man held his hands in front of his chest, raised his chest and raised his head and said, "A man who doesn't change his name in work or his surname in office, is the same as Wang Ling of Taiyuan!"
Chen Long was applauded in his heart, but he didn't expect that Wang Ling would also follow Wang Chang to Tianshui. The two brothers were both famous generals of Cao Wei in the official history in the future, so they didn't expect to join them here. After thinking for a while, he asked: "It turns out to be Brother Yanyun! I have long heard about the two young talents from the Wang family in Taiyuan, but I never expected that they would meet together. Brother Yanyun, just tell me what you want me to do to forgive my sin."
Wang Ling and Wang Chang were both heroes in the official history, and they successively served as high-ranking officials at the level of prime minister of Cao Wei. Wang Ling was originally Wang Yun's nephew. It is recorded in the official history that when Wang Chang was young, he served Wang Ling, a famous person in the same county, as his brother. Wang Chang, who was born in a famous family, had been the prince before Cao Pi became emperor, and moved to the common son. The people who had previously served as Cao Pi's crown prince and concubine were Sima Yi. Wang Chang's official career was smooth. Before Cao Rui came to the throne, he had been appointed as the governor of Yanzhou. His brother Wang Ling was also a high-ranking local official.
In the middle and late period of the Cao Wei Dynasty, most of the generals were recruited by scholars from all over the country to serve in the court for trial, and then their talents were evaluated and then transferred to be governors, governors, and generals. Therefore, these generals had no military merit before. However, it did not hinder the general's military quality. Before leading the troops to go to war, Wang Chang wrote more than ten chapters of military books, describing the usefulness of magic and correctness.
The generals in Cao Cao's period were mostly limited in their cultural level, so Cao Cao had to simplify the principles of military art and teach them to the generals. People who can write military books must attract attention in contemporary times. Wang Chang was soon moved to the post of General Zhengnan, Chijie, and Commander-in-Chief of the military affairs of Jingzhou and Yuzhou. Cao Ren followed Cao Cao and fought for many years before getting this position.
The military system of the Cao Wei Dynasty centered on the Central Guard Army and gradually evolved into a military system in which generals were in charge of local areas. Cao Cao's first generals who oversaw local military affairs were Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, and Xia Houyuan. After Cao Pi took over, he perfected the governorship system. Usually, the generals of the Four Expeditions also served as governors and oversaw the military affairs of prefectures and counties.
The governor of the Western Front was stationed in Guanzhong and was responsible for guarding against the Shu Han. The Southern Line Governor was in charge of Jingzhou, while the Eastern Line Governor was in charge of the military affairs in Yangzhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou. Since these generals usually also took charge of the administrative affairs of states and counties, they were all capable of both civil and military affairs. However, unlike the late Eastern Han Dynasty, there were generals who were promoted from the military and were only proficient in writing.
During Cao Cao's time, this system of governors was still immature, and most of the core generals rushed out of Cao Cao's central army. During the period of Cao Pi, Cao Zhen was in charge of the western front, Cao Xiu was in charge of the eastern front, Xiahou Shang was in charge of the southern front, and Cao Ren was in charge of the national military power in the name of Grand Sima. Man Chong, Jia Kui, Guo Huai, and Tian Yu were already the top generals in Cao Pi's era. Being able to control one side is actually the limit of Cao Wei's famous generals. Generals like Sima Yi who can control the central power are no longer regarded as military generals.
According to the official history, Wang Ling became friends with Sima Yi's brother Sima Lang, Jia Kui and others in his early years. Later, he was promoted as Xiaolian and served as the magistrate of Fagan County. He was later sentenced for his crime. While serving his sentence, Cao Cao, the governor of Yanzhou, was on an inspection tour. When Cao Cao learned that he was Wang Yun's nephew and had committed a crime on official duty, he immediately relieved him of his labor service and entrusted him with the post of Commander Bo of the Cavalry General and the Grand Administrator of Zhongshan. After many achievements, he was later appreciated by Cao Cao and served as the prime minister's vassal. Later, he made many military exploits until he and Ling Huyu, the governor of Yanzhou, plotted to benefit the new king Cao Biao, which will not be mentioned later.
Wang Chang conspired with Wang Ling to establish Cao Biao as emperor. After Cao Shuang was executed, he offered advice on governing the country and actively moved closer to Sima Yi. He was not implicated after the Wang Ling Incident. Later he defended Soochow and eventually became a general. Wang Chang analyzed Sun Wu's internal chaos based on the dispute between the two palaces. In addition, Lu Xun, Zhuge Jin, Zhu Ran, Bu Zhi, and Quan Cong were all dead, and Gu Tan, Zhang Xiu, Gu Cheng, etc. were exiled. Sun Wu lacked powerful generals. Wang Chang reported that he could start from Xincheng County and attack the border areas of Shuhan and Soochow.
With Wang Chang as the main general, Wang Ji and Zhou Tai coordinated three groups to send troops to attack south. Zhou Tai, the governor of Xincheng, was responsible for the main task of attacking the tombs of Wu, Zigui and Wu. Wang Ji attacked Yiling and cut off Jingzhou's reinforcements to the Wuxia area. Wang Chang's main force attacked Jiangling to contain the main force of the Wu army.
The Wu army's defense in Jingzhou has always been like this. Yiling (Xiling) can not only defend the Shu army, but also serve as Jiangling's joint defense stronghold in Jiangbei. When Zhou Yu attacked Jiangling, he first sent Gan Ning to seize Yiling. After Lu Meng attacked Jingzhou, Lu Xun took the lead in seizing Yidu and Yiling.
Wang Chang's strategy was not to capture Jingzhou in one fell swoop, but more importantly to test Sun Quan's military strength after the civil strife. At this time, the Wu army was already becoming corrupt. The three generals of the Wu army were Shi Ji, the son of the chariot general Zhu Ran, Bu Xie, the son of the prime minister Bu Zhao, and Zhuge Rong, the son of the general Zhuge Jin. All three of them led the army on behalf of their fathers. Shi Ji may have some strength, but Bu Xie and Zhuge Rong are unknown characters except for their father's name.
If you want to know what happens next, listen to the explanation next time.
