On Lao Liu's side, the monarch and his ministers were harmonious and happy, while Cao Pi and Wu Laoer were much more miserable.
Go back in time for a while.
Wu Laoer took great pains to write a letter of encouragement to the newly succeeded Cao Pi and also sent rare treasures.
Cao Pi accepted the treasure and opened the letter, which was full of flattery and compliments, and even he felt a little disgusted.
Once he was happy after reading it... he sent troops to attack Wu.
"What did you say?!"
"Cao Pi personally led the army to form troops in the north of the Yangtze River, facing our army across the river. He didn't know what he was planning to do!"
Sun Quan was so frightened that he dropped his chopsticks to the ground. The plump and fresh fish on the plate immediately lost its aroma.
its not right? ! You also collected the treasures, entertained the envoy with delicious food and drinks, and asked him to bring back a letter of praise... Of course, the letter declined Sun Quan's persuasion to enter.
However, this was a routine operation. Even with his own ministers, he had to make three concessions and three concessions. Sun Quan did not take it seriously.
You can't say anything about this kind of thing, you have to look at the other person's attitude after you say it.
Looking at this, Cao Pi really planned to take the throne to replace the Han Dynasty.
Sun Quan was also secretly happy. Once Cao Pi replaced the Han Dynasty, Liu Bei would have no choice but to fight to the death with him. Then his chance would come.
How could it be that in the blink of an eye, Cao Wei was marching to the north of the Yangtze River with the intention of attacking Wu? !
The steady Gu Yong asked one more question at this time: "Where will the enemy deploy their troops?"
"In the Jinghu area."
"Huh?" General Sun, the god of war in Xiaoyaojin, keenly discovered something was wrong. Why is it Jinghu?
When sending troops to defeat Wu, should they be in the Jianghan or Chaohu area?
What kind of psychedelic operation is Chen Bingjing Lake?
General Sun didn't understand, but he was greatly shocked.
"My lord, Cao Pi's intention here is not Jiangdong." Gu Yong twisted his beard and said with a smile, "My lord, you can rest assured. I think it won't take long for Cao's army to retreat."
Gu Yong is different from Zhang Zhao. He is usually silent and rarely speaks. His presence among the important officials in Jiangdong is not high.
But whenever he spoke, he rarely made mistakes.
So when Sun Quan heard what Gu Yong said, he immediately felt relieved.
Thinking about it carefully, this does not look like he is going to use troops against himself.
"It's just... If Cao Pi has no intention of attacking Wu, what is the purpose of this move?" Sun Quan asked again.
Not long after he ascended the throne, he planned to replace the Han Dynasty. He had to be busy with more things every day than the concubine he kept in Tongquetai?
This is the critical moment for managing Wanji. If you don't take care of her in the capital, why are you leading the troops south?
Gu Yong fell silent again. He would never tell anyone about his uncertain guesses.
Zhang Zhao answered at this time: "Is it possible that the King of Wei still has doubts about Jiangdong, and on this occasion of the change of dynasties, he led his troops to patrol south as a warning?"
Sun Quan rolled his eyes. He really didn't know how to fight, right? Even if he warned Jiangdong, he still had to send troops to Jianghan or Chaohu?
Besides, no one can be sent to do this, except Cao Pi himself.
The Jiangdong monarchs and ministers were confused, waiting anxiously and vigilantly for the next move of Cao Wei's army.
Fortunately, as Gu Yong said, Cao's army withdrew not long after Chen Bing came to the lake.
…
It was unusual for the Jiangdong monarchs and ministers not to guess Cao Pi's intentions, because in this southern expedition, the conquests were not from outsiders.
As the army returned, Cao Pi looked grim and was obviously not in a good mood.
"Your Majesty, during this southern expedition, Qingxu has not seen any action. The previous appeasement must have worked, and we can proceed to the next step." Sima Yi said with cupped hands.
Cao Pi's expression softened a little, and he nodded and whispered: "After everything is settled, I will order Cao Xiu to command Qing Xu to first bring Zang Ba and all the Qing Xu tyrants under his control, and then look for an opportunity to transfer Zang Ba away."
"Your Majesty is wise." Sima Yi cupped his hands and said.
Cao Pi smiled sinisterly, as long as Zang Ba lost his military power, he could just knead him as much as he wanted.
He launched such a big battle, indeed not for Jiangdong, but to completely solve the problem of Qingxu led by Zang Ba.
Then why did he want to engage in Zang Ba? The cause of the matter was the rebellion of the Qingzhou soldiers after Boss Cao died.
In fact, not only the Qingzhou soldiers, but also the Xuzhou soldiers under Zang Ba's command, who were also in Luoyang at the time, were also involved in this matter.
To say that Zang Ba knew nothing about the behavior of his soldiers beforehand would be to treat Cao Pi as a fool.
Most of the Qingzhou soldiers and Xuzhou soldiers were the Qingxu Yellow Turbans who surrendered to Cao Cao. Their fighting prowess and military discipline were very low.
Except for Boss Cao, it is usually difficult to restrain others.
As for Zang Ba and other Qingxu tyrants, they were nominally under the command of the emperor and were dispatched by Cao Cao. In fact, they were in a semi-independent state for a long time.
Qingxu Haoba has a strong local color. Although many people have been granted lordships based on their military exploits, due to their own faction and special status, they have always been an alien force to Cao Wei compared with other generals.
After the incident, Cao Pi once wanted to attack Qingxu's rebels, but he finally endured it under Sima Yi's persuasion.
Sima Yi, who was forty-one years old, had already begun to show his heroic appearance as the "King of Turtles".
The main theme is that one can endure, endure a warm spring, and endure a bright future.
Not only did Cao Pi not replace Qingxu's generals, but he did not attack Qingxu's soldiers who left without permission while beating drums. Instead, Cao Pi gave Zang Ba the title of General of Zhendong, the title of Marquis of Wu'an Township, and the commander-in-chief of Qingzhou's military affairs.
But all this was to appease General Qingxu and avoid further escalation of the situation, which would give Lao Liu and Guan Yu an opportunity to take advantage of him.
Revenge must be avenged.
How much embarrassment Cao Pi caused him, sooner or later he would have to return these people.
The family Cao Cao left behind is huge, but the internal relationships are also complicated. Each faction has its own small ideas. This family is not easy to manage.
"Alas..." Cao Pi couldn't help but sigh, and turned to look at Sima Yi next to him, "If all the courtiers are as loyal as you, why worry about Wu and Shu being destroyed and the country uncertain?"
The loyal Sima Yi panicked and said, "Your Majesty, this is a false compliment. This is just the duty of a minister."
At this moment, Cao Pi, who felt that there were not enough loyal ministers, thought of his childhood friend Xia Houshang: "If Boren was still here, he would be alone and share the worries, but it's a pity..."
…
Xiahou Shang, whom Cao Pi misses all the more, is now kneeling in front of Liu Chan with his former concubine and now his only Ah Yue, bowing to the ground.
"The prince is so kind that even if he wears a grass ring in the next life, it will be difficult to repay him. Please accept your thanks!"
The infatuated General Xiahou was so excited that he called Liu Chan the prince.
Just banging your head on the ground is just a knock. Don't ask me if I am sincere or not, just look at whether I can bleed and then be done with it.
Behind him, Ah Yue also kowtowed.
[Xiahou Shang’s favorability +10, +10, +10] (80)
【……】
[Xiahou Shang’s favorability is 80, equestrian talent +6×2, strategy talent +2×2] (Equestrian 232/400, strategy 252/300)
"What are you doing?" Liu Chan felt helpless, helped Xia Houshang up and said with a smile, "It's just a small thing, it doesn't have to be like this."
Just picking up a girl is really nothing to today's Liu Chan.
"For the prince, it is a small matter, but for me and my wife, it is a great favor." Xiahou Shang said seriously, "Now Xiahou Shang has no regrets and is willing to die."
Ah Yue behind him turned pale and said: "If the husband dies, how can I live alone? The prince is kind, please let me and my wife go on the road together."
"Ayue."
"Mr. Lang."
The two looked at each other affectionately with tears in their eyes.
Hiss - Liu Chan took a breath of air, good guys, you spread dog food all day long, but today your face was covered in dog food, you really belong to me.
"If you say this, aren't you just like a little evil person?" Liu Chan shook his head.
"No, no, Shang is so loyal that he cannot serve the prince in the end, so he is willing to die..." Xiahou Shang explained in panic.
He thought that since he refused to surrender, he still had to be on guard at all times while he was still alive, so he might as well take the initiative to die.
After his death, with Liu Chan's temperament, he will definitely treat Ah Yue kindly.
Liu Chan laughed loudly when he heard this: "The beauty of a gentleman is the beauty of being an adult, but the evil of being an adult. Since I want to help my father to support the Han Dynasty, Cao Wei is not afraid of taking control of the nine provinces. I will spare your life now. Are you afraid that you can turn the world upside down?"
Xia Houshang looked at the heroic Liu Chan in front of him and felt a little unbelievable for a moment.
"You two can live here with peace of mind. In Chengdu, no one will make things difficult for you."
[Xiahou Shang’s favorability +10, +10]
【……】
[Xiahou Shang's favorability is 100, equestrian talent +6×2, strategy talent +2×2, and obtains the characteristic "until death do us part"] (Equestrian 256/400, Strategy 260/300)
【Until death do us part】: After marrying a loving spouse, all talents can grow over time. (The bonus will be cleared after the relationship breaks down)
Xiahou Shang took a deep breath and said slowly but firmly: "Xiahou Shang swears here now that if he does anything detrimental to the crown prince Liu Chan in the future, A Yue and I will never see each other again for the rest of our lives."
This is already the most poisonous oath for him.
Liu Chan smiled and nodded: "Go, I will arrange a separate residence for you, and live a good life in the future."
Xia Houshang said again: "I still have hands and feet to support Ah Yue, so how dare I trouble the prince again? I hope the prince will rent some land to me temporarily, and Ah Yue and I will farm and weave, and we can live in a house."
Liu Chan nodded: "Then it's up to you. I'll choose a good farmland with you two later."
He has a good impression of Xiahou Shang, and these things are just a piece of cake for him.
After thanking him again, Xia Houshang smiled calmly: "I didn't expect that after being captured, I would be able to get rid of other shackles and stay with Ah Yue forever. It's really a blessing and a curse.
"When I was in a high position, I always laughed at myself like a bird in a cage or a fish in a net. Now that I am captured, I feel like a bird rising to the sky or a fish falling into the sea, no longer unfettered!"
Liu Chan was stunned. This word sounded a bit familiar...
While they were talking here, a waiter suddenly came to report: "Prince, Soochow has sent an envoy. The king has summoned the prince to meet with him."
(End of chapter)
