Deng Zhi explained: "I led my troops and horses forward. General Zhao Yun broke off the rear alone and killed the enemy general. The enemy was afraid and did not dare to pursue him. He also captured the enemy's supplies." Kong Ming sighed: "What a general. ah!"
Yuyi took Zhao Yun's hand and said: "I have known General Zhao for many years, but I never thought that General Zhao Yun is so courageous and knowledgeable. We are really lucky in Xishu!" So he rewarded fifty kilograms and took ten thousand pieces of silk. Zhao Yun was rewarded with soldiers and horses.
Zhao Yun declined: "Our three armies have no merit at all, and the three groups have also been lost. They are all guilty. If they are rewarded, your Majesty's reward and punishment are unknown. Please keep them all and reward them later when you have meritorious service." We’re not too late.”
Kong Ming said: "When the late emperor was here, he often talked about General Zhao Yun's virtue. Looking at it now, it is indeed true!"
Yu Yi said to Kong Ming: "When we appoint newcomers, we must also pay attention to the role of veteran generals. We cannot ignore them because of their age, or even abandon them, which will make them feel cold. I know that the five tiger generals during the late emperor's period have basically passed away. Are you afraid? It’s understandable that General Zhao Yun made mistakes, but virtuous people should still be trusted.”
Kong Ming bowed and said, "Your Majesty is criticizing you."
Suddenly, soldiers came to report that Ma Su, Wang Ping, Wei Yan, and Gao Xiang were all here. Yu Yi was a little unhappy after hearing this, and sat in the center of the hall, signaling Kong Ming to handle it.
Kong Ming first called Wang Ping into the camp and scolded him: "I sent you and Ma Su to guard the street pavilion. You knew there was something wrong with his way of defending, so why didn't you go and admonish him, which led to this disastrous defeat."
Wang Ping said: "I repeatedly tried to persuade him that we should build earthen cities and set up camps on key roads. After joining the army, he was furious and refused to obey. He also said that I didn't understand the art of war. He said that even the prime minister should refer to his opinions. There was no way. I had no choice but to camp ten miles below the mountain with five thousand soldiers and horses. The Wei army came quickly behind and surrounded the mountain. I charged with my soldiers and horses more than ten times but could not get in. By the second day, the defenses on the mountain were exhausted. We collapsed and many people surrendered. It was difficult for us to resist alone, so we went to Wei Yan for help. We were ambushed by the Wei army on the way and were trapped in the valley. We fought our way out of the siege. By the time we returned to the camp, it had already been occupied by the Wei army. , went to Liucheng again, and met Gao Xiang. We discussed dividing our troops into three groups to attack the Wei army camp, hoping to recapture the street pavilion. Because we were very surprised to see that there were no ambushing troops around the street pavilion, so I led my troops to the mountain to see. I only saw Wei Yan and Gao Xiang being surrounded by the Wei army below. I had no choice but to go down the mountain to fight, rescued the two of them, and joined forces with the army. I was afraid that the Wei army would attack Yangping Pass, so I went back to guard. It's not that I didn't dissuade you this time, Prime Minister. If you don’t believe it, you can ask the generals.”
After hearing this, Yu Yi was very angry and said angrily: "Bold and so arrogant, why does it mean that the prime minister should listen to him?" So he asked Wang Ping to leave and called Ma Su in.
Ma Su knelt on the ground, and Kong Ming said sternly: "You have been familiar with military books since you were a child, and are not very familiar with the tactics. I have warned you many times that the street pavilion is our foundation. You shoulder this important task with the life of your whole family. If If you had listened to Wang Ping's words earlier, would there be today's disaster? Now that you have suffered such a disastrous defeat and lost the city, it is all your fault! If you can't clarify the law, how can you convince the public? You have broken the law now, don't blame me, everyone should do it You will pay for your actions, not to mention what you said." After saying this, he was asked to push him and his whole family out to be beheaded.
Kong Ming knew that Yu Yi was angry, so he said this to make Yu Yi feel better.
Ma Su cried loudly: "The Prime Minister treats me as his son, and I also regard the Prime Minister as my father. I know that I cannot escape my death penalty. I hope the Prime Minister can consider Dayu's kindness. Even if I die, it will not matter." Sorry!" After saying that, he burst into tears.
Ma Su's intention is very clear, that is to kill me. I have no resentment, but I hope to preserve my family.
Kong Ming was not sure, so he looked at Yu Yi. Yu Yi waved his hand and said, "Let the Prime Minister make the decision!"
Kong Ming suddenly cried loudly: "You and I are like brothers, your son is my son, no need to say anymore!" He left Ma Su out of the camp gate and prepared to kill him. Suddenly Yu Daye came from Chengdu and saw The samurai was about to kill Ma Su and shouted: "Save one!"
After Yu Daye entered the hall, he inquired about the situation and said to Yu Yi: "Your Majesty, I heard that in the past, Chu State killed ministers, and Duke Wen was very happy. Now that the world is not unified, isn't it a pity to kill the wise ministers like this? "
Yu Yi was very surprised after hearing this. He knew that his son was a reckless man who fought and killed. How could he still use allusions now? Who gave him lessons? His quality had improved so much.
At this time, Kong Ming said: "The reason why Sun Wu was able to conquer the world in the past was because rewards and punishments were clearly defined. Nowadays, in the four-party war, if you don't follow the law in everything, how can you punish thieves? Although Ma Su is a civil servant, he is very arrogant. If you keep trying to dissuade me, you will be beheaded according to the law.”
While talking, the warrior presented Ma Di's head. Kong Ming burst into tears after seeing it.
Yu Daye asked: "Since Ma Di has committed a crime and corrected the military law, why is the Prime Minister crying so much?"
He replied: "I am not crying for Ma Di, but I remember that the late emperor told me when he was critically ill in Baidi City before his death that Ma Di was an exaggeration and could not be of great use. Your Majesty also warned me, and now this word has indeed come true. It is true." I hate myself for being unwise, so I cry bitterly.”
After hearing this, no one in the Shu army did not shed tears. Even Yu Yi's eyes were a little moist. He was very angry at Ma Su's arrogance. However, it was unfair to be beheaded after one failure. Modern people often say that failure It is the mother of success. For the ancients, there is no such saying. There may be only one failure.
After Kongming beheaded Ma Su, he showed his head in various camps, followed strict military laws, and finally sewed it on the body with thread and gave it a grand burial. He also wrote a sacrificial article himself. Yu Yi ordered to appease the children of Ma Su and give him monthly gifts. with food and even visiting them in person.
After all this was over, Kong Ming felt a little embarrassed to see Yu Yi, so he wrote a letter, hoping that Yu Daye could take it to Yu Yi.
Yu Yi opened it and looked at it, and the content was: I was not very talented, but I was appointed as the prime minister of Shu, commanding the three armies, but I could not act according to the rules. I was afraid when things happened, which led to the wrong use of generals on the street pavilion guards. Jigu I also lost it. All the fault actually lies with me. I did not manage well. I did not identify Ma Su’s problem. I made a big mistake by appointing him as the commander of the street pavilion. There is a precedent of punishing the commander in the "Spring and Autumn". I Thinking that I should be punished, I hoped to demote myself to the third level, and hoped that His Majesty would agree. I felt very ashamed and knelt down to listen to the order.
After reading it, Yu Yi sighed: "Although Ma Su is hateful, he is actually very pitiful. Now that the street pavilion has failed, it will be useless to hold him accountable. Why does the prime minister need to demote himself to the third level?"
