Shuhan

"Quickly gather the troops. I have made up my mind. We must rush to help General Cao Xiu!"

Sima Yi's voice was firm and powerful, as if every word contained unshakable determination.

However, the reality is more cruel than imagined.

The Wei State was short of military forces at the time. Most of its elite troops had been sent to the front lines, and the rest were mostly untrained and poorly equipped civilians.

Shouchun City and Huaishui Fort must be defended. The elite troops cannot be wasted like this.

So Sima Yi forcibly recruited the young and strong men in Shouchun City and ordered them to rescue (send death to) Cao Xiu.

This is a plan that kills two birds with one stone.

On the one hand, most of these young and strong people who were forcibly conscripted were troublemakers in the city. If there were fewer of them, Shouchun would be much more stable.

On the other hand, Cao Xiu wanted to rescue, but he couldn't let the Wei army suffer heavy losses.

Did he save it?

Send troops to rescue.

It's just that he wasn't saved.

Even if Luoyang questioned him, Sima Yi would still have something to say.

Ever since.

Sima Yi's performance began.

The first time, Sima Yi sent out three thousand men. They were wearing tattered armor that had been hastily gathered from the treasury, holding all kinds of weapons, and their eyes were full of confusion and anxiety.

Sima Yi stood on the city wall and watched them go away.

He glanced at Cui Lin and said solemnly: "I hope you can return safely."

Sima Yi muttered to himself, with a barely perceptible hint of helplessness between his brows.

Cui Lin rolled his eyes.

Can these people go to the rescue?
Everyone knows what you, Sima Yi, are thinking.

But Sima Yi did send troops to rescue them, so even Cui Lin couldn't say anything.

But soon
There is bad news from the front.

The three thousand men sent out were almost wiped out.

"We must rescue General Cao, at any cost!"

Sima Yi said in a decisive tone.

But Cui Lin was no longer talking.

Maybe he understood it in his heart.

曹休
Already dead.

Sima Zhongda is such a cruel person.

Since Cao Xiu opposed him in the army, he wanted to kill him as soon as possible.

If he provoked Sima Zhongda, even if he had the status of an imperial envoy, he would probably not escape death.

Unconsciously, Cui Lin became a lot more honest.

Soon, the second team of 4,000 people was ready to go again.

Sima Yi personally saw them off, clenching his fists. He said, "Although this journey is difficult and dangerous, it concerns the safety of the country. I hope you will bravely move forward and live up to your mission!"

After saying this, he bowed deeply. The heavy responsibility seemed to weigh on the hearts of every conscripted laborer along with this bow.

However, these people only want to curse.

What does the safety of Wei have to do with them?
But the inspection team is following behind, and they will kill anyone who retreats on the spot.

Reluctantly.

These four thousand people set off anyway.

Only half a day later.

The bad news is back again.

The 4,000 men who came to the rescue were wiped out again.

"I will not give up until General Cao is rescued!"

Sima Yi slammed the documents in front of him fiercely in the General's Mansion.

"This time, I will send 5,000 people to rescue!"

The third time, Sima Yi decided to send out five thousand men.

"Master, you will lead the troops this time!"

Looking at Sima Shi's resolute face, Sima Yi felt both reluctant and expectant.

"You must be careful on this trip. Your safety is more important than anything else."

There was a slight tremor in his words, and his eyes showed both fatherly love and consideration for the overall situation.

Cui Lin couldn't bear to watch it anymore.

Sima Zhongda, you really played the whole play.

He also asked his son to go to the rescue.

Now, even if he wrote a letter to Luoyang to impeach Sima Yi, he would not be able to do it.

Sima Yi did a really great job in this matter, it was absolutely flawless.

"General, I'm afraid this rescue will be fruitless and will waste lives in vain. Why don't we just give up now?"

Cui Lin's heart is still not hard enough.

Seven thousand innocent people have already died.

Please don't sacrifice any more of these 5,000 people this time?

Just to put on a show for you, Sima Yi, you actually want to bury tens of thousands of people with you?
But Sima Yi seemed to be speaking righteously.

"No, General Cao must rescue them. I don't want the army to lose all its morale! Luoyang will also blame me, and I will feel bad about it!"

Cui Lin opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

I just sighed in my heart.

Sima Yi, this man has such a dark and cruel heart!
To win over him and defeat him, one must have a darker and crueler heart than him.

Cui Lin already felt inferior to him.

Soon, Sima Shi set out with five thousand men.

However, these hastily formed armies of civilians were so vulnerable when facing the well-trained Han army. Before they even approached the place where Cao Xiu was trapped, most of them had already collapsed and disappeared on the vast battlefield like fallen leaves swept by the autumn wind.

Fortunately, Sima Shi fought desperately to escape and escaped alone.

After Sima Yi learned the news, he was silent for a long time. He looked into the distance with empty eyes, his heart full of self-blame and helplessness.

"It was me who failed to protect them and failed to save Cao Xiu."

He sighed silently in his heart, the heaviness seemed to crush him.

There were even two lines of tears flowing down his face.

Cui Lin almost cried when he saw such acting skills.

If he didn't know the whole story, he might have been fooled by Sima Yi.

But later, he had to hypocritically say to Sima Yi: "The general has tried his best, but the Han army is too cunning. I will write to your majesty and explain the general's difficulties."

People have to bow their heads under the eaves.

Given Sima Yi's viciousness, Cui Lin felt that if he did not express his opinion, he might be assassinated by the spies of the secret army hiding in the city. This kind of thing was not impossible.

Upon hearing this, Sima Yi immediately grabbed Cui Lin's hand and said, "No one knows you better than Mr. Cui. Zhongda thanks you."

What else could Cui Lin say?
I could only respond with a smile.

The place where Cao Xiu was besieged.

At the foot of the mound, the Han army’s flags fluttered in the wind, in stark contrast to the exhaustion and despair of the hundreds of Wei army soldiers.

They sat in a circle on the dry land, their eyes empty and their faces haggard, each of them filled with the desire for survival and helplessness towards fate.

Cao Xiu also looked embarrassed at this moment.

His armor was covered in dust, and his once shiny battle robe was now wrinkled and stuck to his body. Sweat and dirt mixed together, emitting an indescribable smell.

His face was tanned by the scorching sun, the corners of his mouth were cracked, and his skin was tight, as if every inch of it was telling of the pain of lack of water.

The former radiance in his eyes had completely faded away, replaced by deep fatigue and helplessness.

He knew that if this continued, not only would the soldiers not be able to hold on, but he himself would also die.

"General, Shouchun's reinforcements have been defeated again."

The deputy general's voice was low and hoarse, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

There was anger and despair in his eyes, and a deep sadness for being unable to change the current situation.

"I see those reinforcements are clearly civilians. Sima Yi wants to kill the general!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Xiu just smiled bitterly.

He understood this logic very well. Sima Yi's intention was obvious: he wanted to use him to consolidate his own power.

He shook his head slowly, a bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "I am the fish and he is the knife, what can I do?"

He sighed and glanced at the soldiers who had followed him for many years. Their eyes were filled with desire for life and fear of death.

An indescribable emotion surged in his heart, a mixture of pity for the soldiers and helplessness about his own fate.

"Let the brothers go down the mountain and surrender. You can also surrender."

Upon hearing this, a hint of hesitation flashed across the deputy general's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

"What about the general?"

There was a slight tremor in his voice, and it was obvious that he was not willing to accept such an arrangement.

Cao Xiu smiled bitterly. His gaze pierced through the layers of surrounding Han troops, as if penetrating time and space, and he saw his hometown in the distance and his relatives who were waiting for his return.

"I can't surrender. I have no choice but to die here."

His tone was calm and firm, as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

As a general of the Cao family, he must shoulder his due responsibilities, even at the cost of his life.

As he spoke, he slowly stood up. Although his body was shaky due to lack of water, his back looked exceptionally tall.

He looked around and shouted with all his strength: "Brothers, I, Cao Xiu, am sorry for you, for letting you suffer like this. Surrender and stay alive, for your families and for yourselves!"

When the soldiers heard this, they all burst into tears.

Some people cried out the general's name, some lowered their heads silently, but more people, at this moment, strengthened their determination to live.

Cao Xiu watched the soldiers walk down the mound one by one and surrender to the Han army. He felt both relieved and reluctant.

He knew clearly what his decision meant, but he had no regrets.

He slowly closed his eyes, letting the scorching sun burn his body, but his heart was unusually calm.

At this moment, he seemed to have returned to his youth when he was riding a horse and full of vigor and vitality. At that time, he was full of infinite longing and dreams for the future.

However, the reality is cruel, and the wheel of history rolls forward and will not stop because of individual will.

His figure gradually became blurred in the afterglow of the setting sun. With a clang, the sword shone brightly in the sunlight, but soon the light was obscured by the blood.

Cao Xiu committed suicide on the spot. Although Shouchun was not captured by the Han army, Cao Xiu's death undoubtedly played an important role on the battlefield.

Boost the morale of the Han army and weaken the morale of the Wei army!
Liu Chan sat in the dragon tent. The sunlight from outside the window shone obliquely on his desk, but it seemed unable to dispel the haze in his heart.

He had just learned that Sima Yi had sent reinforcements three times, and each time used innocent Shouchun people as cannon fodder. This news made him furious.

He slammed the table and shouted angrily, "Sima Yi, this man is cunning and cruel. He actually sacrificed the lives of the people of Shangwan Shouchun in exchange for the stability of his career and position! He is really crazy!"

His face was full of anger and pain, his hands were clenched into fists, and his knuckles turned white from the force.

Such behavior is not only a disregard for life, but also a violation of the ethics of war.

Although Liu Chan was not a brave and warlike king, he always adhered to the concepts of humanity and benevolent government. Sima Yi's actions undoubtedly touched his bottom line.

At this moment, a messenger carrying a banner came hurriedly. He knelt down in front of Liu Chan and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, Cao Xiu committed suicide on the mound, and the rest of the Wei army has surrendered."

When Liu Chan heard this, his expression froze and he then let out a long sigh.

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, looked into the distance, feeling mixed emotions.

He said softly: "Among the Cao family, there are many people with strong blood. Cao Xiu is a loyal and righteous man."

He turned around and said to Fei Yi beside him: "Fei Yi, you immediately arrange for Cao Xiu to be buried with honor. We must let the generals of the Han army know that even the enemy has a spirit of loyalty and righteousness that is worth learning from."

When Fei Yi heard this, his expression became solemn. He looked at Liu Chan deeply, then took the order and left.

By giving Cao Xiu a grand funeral, the Han army's generals could understand that loyal and righteous people, whether they are enemies or friends, are worthy of respect and admiration.

Ten days passed quietly like flowing water, but in Luoyang city, there was turmoil due to the news of Cao Xiu's death and the imminent danger of the Baguashan camp.

Prince Cao Rui, the regent, was sitting in his study with a volume of the Art of War in his hand. He was about to study it in depth when he suddenly heard a servant rushing in to report that Cao Xiu had died. The book of war slipped from his hand in an instant and he was so shocked that he was speechless.

His eyes were full of disbelief, and then sadness surged like a tide, and even two lines of tears flowed down his face.

He murmured in a low voice: "It is sad and lamentable that Fourth Uncle died in such a miserable way."

Although Cao Rui and Cao Xiu were not close, they were blood relatives. When they heard the bad news, they were overwhelmed with grief.

However, after the sadness, his face quickly turned into anger.

He stood up suddenly, looked directly at the Shangshu Ling Chen Qun, and asked, "But Sima Yi deliberately killed the General Zhengdong?"

Seeing this, Chen Qun quickly explained, "Absolutely not. Cui Lin has already written a letter to explain the details clearly. The Han army used the General of the Eastern Expedition as bait to lure our army to their deaths. Zhongda was not helpless. He sent troops to rescue him, but the casualties were too great and he had to stop."

However, Wu Zhi said sarcastically: "I think Sima Yi is using the life of the General of the Eastern Expedition to consolidate his authority in the army."

Obviously, Wu Zhi was full of doubts about Sima Yi's motives.

Chen Qun and Sima Yi had a close relationship. Upon hearing this, he immediately refuted it, saying, "Sima Yi has already written a letter to confess his guilt and is ready to resign from his position as general. If he leaves, Shouchun will probably be left without a defender and will surely be conquered by the Han army."

There was a hint of anxiety in Chen Qun's voice.

Cao Rui took a deep breath and tried to calm his emotions.

He is no longer the same person he was before. After taking power, he has become much more cunning.

At this moment, he cannot be swayed by emotions and must make the wisest decision.

It is said that it is never too late for a gentleman to take revenge.

The truth of the matter will always come to light.

He immediately said: "Sima Yi was rewarded with a thousand gold coins for his meritorious service in resisting the enemy, and his son Sima Shi was made Marquis of Changping. Cao Xiu was killed by the Han army, and the matter ends here!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qun was overjoyed and bowed quickly to express his gratitude.

Wu Zhi had a gloomy look on his face, but later on, a smile appeared on his face.

As with everything in this world, there are gains and losses.

Sima Yi, if you can gain the favor of His Majesty, then
After His Majesty has passed away, can you gain the favor of the Crown Prince?

A trusted minister
Perhaps soon, you will no longer be. (End of this chapter)