Shuhan

Inside the Taiji Hall, the flickering candlelight illuminated Cao Rui's young and solemn face.

He was wearing a dragon robe and sitting upright on the high throne. His eyes were as sharp as torches as he scanned the group of ministers below - Zheng Cheng, He Zeng, Gao Tanglong, Ji Mao, Bi Gui, and the newly joined Xiahou Xuan.

Compared with the time when he ascended the throne, there were two fewer people and one more person. The absent ones were Guanqiu Jian and Li Feng. Li Feng was still far away in Qingzhou, while Guanqiu Jian had turned into a handful of earth.

"In the battle of Shouchun, our army was defeated, and Guanqiu Jian was criticized and condemned in the court."

Cao Rui's voice echoed in the empty hall, with a barely perceptible tremor.

"However, are they really targeting Guanqiu Jian alone? No, their spearheads are clearly directed at me and my kingdom!"

Having said this, he suddenly paused, his eyes like swords, shooting straight at the ministers below, as if looking for the answer in everyone's heart.

"What's worse, they proposed to appoint Zhang Liao as the general of the southern expedition. If I agree, what will happen to the Wei Kingdom, the Wei Kingdom that I personally protect?"

Cao Rui's words were like a huge rock thrown into a deep pool, causing ripples.

Inside the hall, there was silence for a moment, with only the crackling of candlelight, as if even the air had frozen.

Zheng called this old minister, his brows furrowed, and a hint of worry flashed in his eyes.

He knew very well that this was not just a question about Guanqiu Jian, but also about the delicate balance between imperial power and court officials.

He thought to himself, "Your Majesty, are you trying to test our loyalty, or are you really worried? How should I answer so that I can show my loyalty and not get involved in unnecessary disputes?"

He Zeng's face was solemn, and his fingers tapped the jade plate in his sleeve unconsciously. He felt mixed emotions: "Zhang Liao is the general of the Southern Expedition? If this proposal is passed, it will indeed shake your majesty's foundation. But if I directly oppose it, I am afraid it will go against the feelings of my colleagues. What should I do?"

Gao Tanglong's eyes were firm, and he had something in mind: "Your Majesty's worries are actually worries for the country. As ministers, we should take it as our responsibility to safeguard the imperial power and stabilize the court. How can we sacrifice public interests for personal ones?"

Ji Mao's heart was filled with mixed emotions: "Your Majesty's words are full of tears, and I can see the pain in your heart. However, the court is unpredictable, and one wrong step will lead to all the wrong steps. How can I guide the wind and make it stable?"

Xiahou Xuan, as a new member, felt the heaviness of this even more.

He thought to himself, "Although I have just arrived, I also know the importance of this moment. My words and deeds will affect my position in the court and even my future destiny. How can I express my position so that I can make it clear without being abrupt?"

Finally, Zheng Cheng, the emperor's teacher, slowly stood up.

He was wearing a dark court robe with intricate cloud and water patterns embroidered on the lapels, appearing calm and solemn.

He first saluted Cao Rui, his movements were standard and respectful, and then he said: "After all, Guanqiu Jian was a general appointed by Your Majesty himself. This time, Shouchun was lost because of him. This is indeed a crime. If Your Majesty insists on it, the court officials will only use this as an excuse to attack Your Majesty again. At that time, Your Majesty's situation will become even more difficult, and the loss will outweigh the gain."

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui frowned so hard that he could almost make the shape of the word "川" (chuan).

He tapped lightly on the armrests of the dragon throne with his hands, making a dull sound, and he seemed extremely irritated.

He said in a deep voice: "Should I bow to them? Wouldn't that be a disgrace to me?"

Zheng Cheng shook his head, his eyes revealing a kind of wisdom and depth, as if he could see into people's hearts.

He said slowly: "It's not about bowing, but about retreating to advance. Your Majesty, what do you think of the situation in the south?"

Cao Rui thought for a moment, his brows still furrowed, and he said in a deep voice: "It is extremely urgent and the situation is extremely bad. If we don't speed up the process, I'm afraid the entire south will fall into turmoil."

Zheng Cheng smiled gently, his smile was filled with calmness and confidence, as if everything was under his control.

He said, "That's it. The situation in the south may continue to deteriorate. If the person appointed by Your Majesty goes and suffers another defeat, then Your Majesty's situation will be really unfavorable. And if Your Majesty agrees to the request of the court officials and appoints Zhang Wenyuan as the general of the southern expedition, then even if there is a defeat in the south, Your Majesty will have an excuse to clean up the court and eliminate those officials who are disloyal to Your Majesty one by one."

When Cao Rui heard this, his eyes lit up, as if he saw the dawn of hope.

"Miao miao miao!"

He said the word "wonderful" three times in a row, his voice filled with sincere admiration and joy.

He stood up, walked to Zheng Cheng, held Zheng Cheng's hand tightly, and said excitedly: "Teacher, what you said is really wonderful! I will issue an order to appoint Zhang Wenyuan as the general of the southern expedition and let him deal with the situation in the south."

The other ministers came forward to agree, with awe and admiration on their faces. They knew that Zheng Cheng's strategy not only solved the immediate crisis, but also provided Cao Rui with an excellent opportunity to clean up the court.

Gao Tanglong showed a relieved smile on his face. He had always been worried that Cao Rui would make the wrong decision because of his youth, but now it seems that his worry was unnecessary.

The next day, as the morning light broke, the glazed tiles of the Luoyang Imperial City sparkled with golden light.

Cao Rui was wearing a dragon robe and a crown on his head. He sat upright on the high dragon throne, his eyes as sharp as torches as he scanned the ministers kneeling below.

The atmosphere in the hall was solemn, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the important decision that the emperor was about to announce.

"My dear ministers, I have made up my mind." Cao Rui's voice echoed in the hall with unquestionable majesty.

His words were like a cold breeze in winter, chilling everyone present.

"I will appoint Zhang Wenyuan as the General of the Southern Expedition, and command the military forces of Yuzhou and Xuzhou to resist the northern expedition of the Han army."

As soon as these words were spoken, a whisper suddenly sounded in the hall, and the ministers looked at each other, obviously surprised by this decision.

Cao Rui's gaze fell on Chen Qun, who had a look of surprise on his face, and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

This move he made was both risky and brilliant.

Since ascending the throne, he has always been wary of these powerful ministers, knowing full well that they each have their own ulterior motives and are trying to build their own power network in the court.

Now, in a way that seemed to be concession but was actually aggressive, he not only responded to the demands of the court officials, but also defeated them.

"Guanqiu Jian." Cao Rui's voice suddenly became cold, like icicles in winter.

"You have betrayed my trust and treated military and national affairs as a joke. All your titles and rewards will be revoked, all male members of your family will be beheaded, and your female relatives will be sent to the Jiaofang Bureau to be prostitutes for generations."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the hall.

All the ministers showed surprise on their faces. They never expected that Cao Rui would punish Guanqiu Jian so harshly, and they never expected that he would so decisively agree to their request and appoint Zhang Wenyuan.

Chen Qun felt mixed emotions.

My heart is trembling

He thought that the emperor would reject their request. After all, Cao Rui had been very wary of them since he ascended the throne. They also wanted to test the emperor's attitude and determine their position and power structure in the court.

However, the emperor's decision put them in trouble.

They had to re-examine the wisdom and determination of the young emperor.

Moreover, he is too cruel.

Your Majesty can be so cruel to his own subjects, just like Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty treated his teacher Chao Cuo.

And is Emperor Jing an ordinary person?
In the hall, there was an old man dressed in gorgeous court robes. He was none other than Grand Marshal Hua Xin. His brows were furrowed and his eyes flashed with a complex look.

At the same time, another minister, Situ Wang Lang, also had a solemn expression on his face.

He looked at Cao Rui sitting on the dragon throne and admired him secretly in his heart.

Your Majesty may seem young and energetic, but he is actually very scheming and every step he takes is just right.

He realized that the court would probably be even more turbulent in the future.

Cao Rui looked around at the ministers below, and a sense of pride surged in his heart. Although this move was risky, it was the only way for him to consolidate his imperial power and rectify the government.

He wanted to make these powerful officials understand that no matter what they planned, the final decision-making power would always be in his hands.

"I have made up my mind. Do you have any objections?" Cao Rui's voice echoed in the hall with irresistible majesty.

Upon hearing this, all the ministers lowered their heads and remained silent. No one dared to offend the emperor at this time.

At this time, Liu Ye slowly stood up, bowed to Cao Rui, and said: "Your Majesty is wise, and we have no objection. However, the situation in the south is complicated. Although Zhang Wenyuan has talents and strategies, he may not be able to handle it alone. Do we need to send another capable assistant to help him pacify the south?"

When Cao Rui heard this, his eyes flashed and he appreciated Liu Ye's proposal.

He nodded and said, "Minister Liu's words make sense. I will send another general to go to the south with Zhang Wenyuan to quell the rebellion together."

Cao Rui sat on the high dragon throne, his eyes as sharp as torches, scanning the ministers in the court, and finally fixed his gaze on Wu Zhi.

The corners of his mouth curled up into a meaningful smile, like the warm sunshine in spring, but it also hid a hidden meaning.

"I order you to be the governor of Yuzhou and assist the general in conquering the south!"

When Wu Zhi heard this, his body trembled slightly.

He wanted to keep a low profile, and just now he had deliberately hidden himself in the court, not wanting to attract too much attention.

When his name was suddenly called, he was stunned, with a hint of surprise and confusion in his eyes.

However, he was an old minister who had experienced many hardships, so he quickly regained his composure, nodded slowly, and respectfully accepted the order: "I accept the order and thank you!"

Although his voice was steady, it could not hide the turmoil in his heart.

Seeing this, Chen Qun felt a chill in his heart.

He secretly observed Cao Rui's every subtle movement, trying to figure out the emperor's true intentions.

Cao Rui's eyes were deep and sharp, as if he could see into people's hearts. There was always a faint smile on the corners of his mouth, but people could not feel the slightest warmth.

Chen Qun realized that this emperor was by no means an easy person to deal with.

Last time they retreated to advance, hoping to test the emperor's bottom line, but they didn't expect the emperor to strike back with a move to divide and disintegrate them.

Chen Qun couldn't help but feel a deep sense of powerlessness in his heart.

It will be a long and difficult battle of wits and courage with this emperor.

And
If a minister fights against his king, how can he win?
Qingzhou.

Le'an County.

Bochang City.

Over the past month, the Wei army had been working like industrious ants, piling up earth tirelessly. Gradually, after several field battles, they finally repelled the Han army in the city, pushing the earth up to a level that was almost higher than the walls of Bochang.

Cao Zhen was standing on a high slope at this moment, his eyes were sharp and a cold smile hung on the corners of his mouth.

He was wearing iron armor and a battle robe on his shoulders. The sword in his hand shone coldly in the sun, as firm as the determination in his heart.

His eyes showed both a desire for victory and helplessness towards this cruel war.

"attack!"

With an order, the Wei army surged like a tide, their iron hooves broke the tranquility of the early morning, and the sounds of war drums and trumpets intertwined, deafening.

The elite troops of the Wei army rushed towards Bochang.

In contrast, the Han army in Bochang City seemed isolated and helpless.

Although they fought desperately, they could not hide the fear and despair in their hearts when faced with the Wei army that was surging like a tide.

On the city wall, an elderly general with white hair and beard stood firm with a spear in his hand. His eyes showed both anger towards the enemy and reluctance to leave his country.

He knew very well that this battle was likely to end in disaster, but he was still unwilling to give up a glimmer of hope. His figure stretched out in the setting sun, looking particularly tragic.

The people in the city were even more panicked. They packed up their belongings and tried to escape from the city that was about to become a battlefield at the last moment.

The cries of children and the wailing of women, intertwined with the sound of war drums in the distance, formed a heartbreaking picture.

However, in this despair, there is also light of bravery and wisdom.

A group of young soldiers who were recruited. They may not have rich combat experience, but they have an unquenchable fire burning in their hearts.

They took advantage of the terrain in the city and set up clever ambushes, causing a lot of trouble for the Wei army.

Among them was a young man with a handsome face and a gleam of wit in his eyes. He kept adjusting his tactics and using limited resources to maximize his combat effectiveness, even though he knew that all this might be in vain.

At dusk, the battle still did not stop. The flames shot up into the sky, illuminating the entire Bochang City, and also reflecting the complex emotions in everyone's heart. Cao Zhen stood outside the city, gazing at the city that would soon belong to him, but he did not feel any joy in his heart.

The truly elite Han troops had already withdrawn in advance, and the remaining ones were nothing more than abandoned pawns.

There's nothing to be happy about.

On one side, the figure of the military inspector Li Feng stretched out in the afterglow of the setting sun. His tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed a little. Seeing that the Wei army had finally captured Bochang City after hardships, the heavy stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.

But he did not relax for too long. He straightened his clothes and saluted respectfully to General Cao Zhen, saying with some urgency: "General, it took our army a month to capture Bochang. This progress is really worrying. Beihai and Donglai are still to be recovered. I hope you can speed up. After all, Shouchun has fallen into the hands of the Han army. The situation cannot be delayed!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhen nodded, but a trace of sadness could not be concealed between his brows. He sighed heavily, and the sound seemed to contain countless helplessness and heaviness.

"How could I not know that the situation is urgent? But war cannot be resolved by rushing for quick success. A strong attack will only increase the casualties of the soldiers. I cannot take risks with their lives, let alone make decisions that ignore the importance of life."

Having said that, he looked into the distance with a deep gaze, his eyes flashing with complex emotions.

"As for speeding up." Cao Zhen's words were firm, "Taking Bochang is only the first step. Next, we must stabilize our position and advance step by step. Linzi is our next target. Only by taking it first can we pave the way for driving directly to Beihai and recovering Donglai. One year may be enough for us to recover the entire Qingzhou."

After hearing this, Li Feng had a complicated expression.

He was silent for a moment, but finally nodded to show his understanding.

Eat the rice one bite at a time.

A victory may be small and slow, but it is better than a crushing defeat?
He doesn't want his family to be killed and used as prostitutes!
At this time, the smoke on the battlefield had not yet dissipated, the Wei army's flags were fluttering in the wind, and the soldiers' faces were filled with fatigue and tenacity.

They were either sitting or lying down, simply treating their wounds. Although they were exhausted physically and mentally, their eyes still sparkled with an inextinguishable fighting spirit.

Cao Zhen looked at the sword in his hand with sharp eyes.

War is not a dinner party.

The State of Wei cannot afford to be defeated again.

He, Cao Zhen, cannot be defeated again. (End of this chapter)