Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 411 Xu Feng Huainan King

As autumn passes and winter comes, Yecheng has been covered by cold winds. Mosquitoes are afraid of the cold, causing many deaths and injuries in winter. As a result, malaria spread by mosquitoes gradually came to an end.

With the death of the last malaria patient in Yecheng, the plague that lasted for half a year in the Northern Wei Dynasty finally ended.

Compared with the Southern Han Dynasty, which only suffered more than 6,800 casualties, due to the spread of infection, the soldiers and civilians of the Northern Wei Dynasty actually suffered more than 100,000 casualties, and the officials in Yecheng were left half empty.

It is difficult to know the exact number of people. We only know that in recent months in Yecheng, every family has been suffering from the pain of zombies, and every room has been crying in sorrow. Some died with their doors closed, or their families were overthrown and mourned.

There were so many casualties among the people that Cao Cao had people conduct a thorough investigation of the registered soldiers, and found out that there were about 20,000 casualties among soldiers and generals in various places. This gave Cao Cao a huge headache.

Wrapped in a big cloak, Cao Cao leaned on the couch and sighed: "More than 20,000 people died. In total, the number of people who died in the southern expedition should be nearly 30,000. Yuan Si, Boda and other more than ten civil and military personnel died of illness. Even though we have lost our troops, we have never suffered such casualties."

Cao Cao has never suffered such a huge loss in his wars until now, except for the defeat at Chrysostom. Even in the Battle of Hanzhong where Xia Houyuan died, the loss was only 10,000 to 20,000.

In the Battle of Shouchun, although Huo Jun beheaded Sun Guan and defeated Huaiyin, on the whole, he and Liu Bei fought evenly. Nowadays, due to the malaria epidemic, so many soldiers, so many high-ranking officials, and the half-empty Yecheng made him feel sad.

How many times can he conquer the south with 20,000 troops?

So many people died from malaria today, which made him feel distressed!

Cao Cao felt distressed, and seemed to think of Liu Bei, and asked: "Many of our soldiers were killed or injured due to the plague, but does anyone know how the water thieves were killed or injured?"

"this?"

Several people in the hall looked at each other, as if they had something to say, but didn't know how to say it.

"Doesn't anyone know the details of the water thieves?" Cao Cao asked dissatisfied.

After a while, Liu Ye gritted his teeth and said: "Let me tell you, Your Majesty, there is an epidemic among the water thieves, and many soldiers have been killed or injured. However, Huo Jun must be there to treat the epidemic. The malaria dissipated two or three months ago. The deceased should be killed." There are not many, maybe only five or six thousand people, and they are all generals in the army."

"Huo Jun knows how to treat epidemic diseases?"

Cao Cao showed an incredulous expression and asked: "The original doctors have been unable to cure malaria. How can Huo Jun cure malaria? Apart from the sergeants, are there any other civilian casualties?"

"Uh~"

Perhaps worried that Cao Cao would be angry, Liu Ye stuttered and said, "Your Majesty, that's not the case. As far as Ye knows, Huo Jun doesn't know how to cure malaria, but he knows why he gets malaria."

"After Liu Bei withdrew his troops to Hefei, he handed over the army to Huo Jun. After Huo Jun took control of the army, he divided tens of thousands of troops into villages and ordered the lieutenants of the army to eliminate mosquitoes and decontamination, and said to isolate various tribes to prevent the spread of malaria."

"After Huo Jun's isolation and control, the number of malaria cases among the navy pirates increased sharply. In June and July, after fifty days of isolation, Liu Bei led his troops to return home smoothly. Only those who were left with malaria stayed in Hefei. It is expected that today By then malaria had dissipated in Jianghuai."

Afraid of Cao Cao's psychological imbalance, Liu Ye added in order to appease him: "However, the water thieves are not without their generals dying. For example, Lu Su, the deputy governor of the Yangtze River and Huaihe River, was infected with malaria. The treatment failed and he died. Liu Bei had to pursue his posthumous title."

"Humph!"

Cao Cao's face was slightly cold and he said: "Although Lu Su is the deputy governor of Jianghuai and has soldiers at his disposal, it is difficult to say that he is a general who is a thief."

Although he said this, Cao Cao felt slightly calmer in his heart. But then I thought about it, I realized I was at a huge loss. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of civilians who were killed and injured, the more than 20,000 soldiers who were killed and injured alone are not simply comparable.

After much thought, Cao Cao finally thought that Huo Jun knew how to control malaria.

"Weird!"

Cao Cao stroked his beard and exclaimed: "Huo Jun is not only proficient in military strategy, but also able to manage the Jianghuai River. I thought that doing both civil and military work was his strength. But I didn't expect that he knew how to control malaria. Is there such a strange person in the world?" "

Then, Cao Cao said with an envious tone: "Liu Xuande, who is not good at civil and military affairs, can actually have Huo Jun and Zhuge Liang as his assistants, which will last for several generations. Without Huo Jun and Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei would have been captured by himself." !”

In Cao Cao's view, Liu Bei's success was mostly due to the fact that he drew two SSR civil and military talents. Without Huo Jun and Zhuge, Liu Bei would have been hiding in a small corner or would have been captured by him. However, current affairs are always unpredictable, and Liu Bei, who was displaced from place to place, actually achieved what he has achieved today.

"Huo Jun!"

Cao Cao stroked his beard and sighed. He loved and hated Huo Jun at the same time.

He hated him for repeatedly failing his plans and killed his beloved general. But he also loves Huo Jun, who is a talented person in the world. Without Huo Jun, there would be no Southern Han Dynasty.

Seeing Cao Cao's words, Sun Quan thought about it again and again, and said: "Your Majesty, Quan may have an unethical policy, and I don't know whether to say it or not."

Cao Cao pointed to the left and right and said: "The hall is full of Gu's confidants and loyal ministers. If you have something to say, it's okay to say it. Gu will never blame you!"

"promise!"

Sun Quan organized his words and said: "Huo Jun has the talent to understand the world and the earth. He helped Liu Qi and Liu Bei to march to the left of the Yangtze River. When the king went south again, he led his troops to attack him and captured half of the south of the Yangtze River. Later Liu Qi died of illness, and Huo Jun and others presented Jingchu to meet Liu Bei. .”

"After Huo Jun took control, he swallowed Hefei and captured Jianghuai; he entered Hanzhong and aided Lu Xun. This means that Huo Jun and Liu Bei should have made great contributions. Without Huo Jun, Liu Bei would not be as prosperous as he is today."

"Forgive Quan for being bold. In the past, Emperor Gao fought against Xiang Yu, defeated him repeatedly, and rushed into Hanzhong. He was able to support Han Xin and marched into Guanzhong. In order to defeat Xiang Yu, Emperor Gao won over people's hearts and granted Peng Yue, Han Xin, Yingbu and others the title of princes and kings. ." "So all the princes led troops to help, and attacked Xiang Yu together. You Gai was defeated and lost at the hands of Emperor Gao. This may be said that Emperor Gao did not care about gains and losses, and Xiang Yu was unkind and unkind. If he gained the right way, he would get more help, but if he lost the way, he would get less help. Gao Gao The emperor and Xiang Yu are superior and inferior!"

"Why don't you, the king, do your best to serve the emperor and make Huo Jun the King of Huainan to induce him to rebel against Liu Bei? The king will have the Jianghuai boats. With Huo Jun's strategy, it will be easy to annex Liu Bei!"

"Call Huo Jun the King of Huainan?"

Sun Quan's imagination was so explosive that everyone in the hall was shocked and started talking about it. Even Jia Xu, who was usually unfazed by favors and humiliations, felt turbulent in his heart, and looked at Liu Ye in shock.

Of course, not only Jia Xu, Liu Ye and other ministers were shocked, even Cao Cao couldn't sit still and got up from the couch and walked around.

You must know that promising Huo Jun the title of king of vassals is not just a matter of bragging and promising an official title. It is a major event that can shock the entire world, and it is also a major event that can affect the reputation of Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

"Is it possible that Lord Wu is smiling?"

Chen Qun stood up and questioned, saying: "Your Majesty has conquered the world and has only been crowned king. What merits and virtues does Huo Jun have that the emperor can confer the title of King of Huainan?"

"How can I be given such a high rank as a king so easily?"

"Exactly!"

Hua Xin responded and said: "Huo Jun is the king of Huainan, so he is not equal to the king. This is against the etiquette of a monarch and his ministers."

After pacing for a long time, Cao Cao stopped and pressed his palms down to signal everyone in the hall to be silent.

"Do you have any different opinions?" Cao Cao asked.

Liu Ye thought for a long time and said: "I would like to inform the king that Wu Hou's strategy may be feasible. Huo Jun has been entrenched in Jianghuai for many years and has a deep foundation. To the southerners, he is the hope of Jingchu and is highly respected by the southerners. If we can lure Huo Jun to rebel now, Liu will definitely be able to intimidate the southerners and frighten Liu Bei."

"At that time, Huo Jun rebelled against the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River, and the boat boat was prosperous. If the king borrowed Huo Jun's power to invade the left side of the river, Liu Bei would be severely weakened and unable to compete with China. Or the king could take the opportunity to raise troops to the south to attack Jing. Chu, order Huo Jun to lead his army to the west, and Liu Bei can be destroyed."

After a pause, Liu Ye added: "Even if Huo Jun's territory is limited to protect itself, we can also use its power to contain the enemy in the south of the Yangtze River. Isn't it wonderful to be able to obtain such great benefits for the king with the title of king!"

Sun Quan knelt down and said: "Now that the Han Dynasty is declining, China knows the king but not the emperor. Why doesn't the king emulate the virtues of the three generations and make concessions to unify the world?"

Cao Cao waved his hand and scolded: "Zhong Mou can't talk nonsense!"

While inspecting everyone in the hall, Cao Cao looked at Jia Xu and asked, "Does Wen He have any ideas?"

Jia Xu stroked his beard and said: "Female Huo Jun as King of Huainan, for the king, it will be a hundred benefits and no harm."

"Please be careful!"

Cao Cao sat back on the couch and raised his hand to ask for advice.

Jia Xu pondered for a while and said: "As the Marquis of Wu said, Liu Bei has achieved great success today and has made outstanding achievements. Therefore, Liu Bei promised to be given high officials and high titles, as a former general, governor of Jianghuai, and above Guan, Zhang and others. It is for the purpose of being in a high and powerful position, commanding a large army, and managing the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers."

"Now, why don't the king order people to sneak into Wuhan and spread rumors, saying that the king will confer Huo Jun as the king of Huainan and control Jianghuai forever, with a large army as backup. When the civil and military officials in Wuhan heard about it, they would definitely be suspicious, and they would admonish Liu Bei or recruit Huo Jun's troops. Perhaps the transfer of honor and title will be a false promise, which will make the water thieves jealous."

"The king sent envoys secretly to Jianghuai, granted the Huainan royal seal, and issued the Huainan royal edict. They made a mutual alliance with Huo Jun to rebel against Liu Bei, cut off Shouchun and Huo Jun, and ordered him to control Jianghuai for the rest of his life without changing this edict. In order to help Huo Jun fight Liu Bei, the king added Send soldiers into Huai and march south from Jiangling."

"When the envoy returned, he ordered him to make a big fanfare and tell the Huai people that Huo Jun had been given the title of King of Huainan. From now on, the two countries of Wei and Huainan, instead of being enemies, should be allies to jointly defend Liu Bei."

As he spoke, Jia Xu showed a treacherous smile and said: "If Huo Jun agrees, the king will get a great general and regain control of the Jianghuai River. Not only will Liu Qi's old officials be in danger, but it will also make the people of the south run in fear. Maybe even if it can't To destroy Liu Bei, but to severely injure Liu Bei."

"If Huo Jun is not sealed, Liu Bei learns about the envoy's actions and spreads rumors about Wuhan. It is said: 'If one person speaks of a tiger, the king will not believe it; if three people become a tiger, the king will definitely believe it.' Although Liu Bei is a broad-minded man, he will inevitably be suspicious. Huo Jun."

After a pause, Jia Xu couldn't help but laugh and said: "If Liu Bei believed the slander, or if Huo Jun was afraid of the rumors, he would have to do so even if he didn't want to. At that time, there will be a great king, and two tigers, big and small, will fight. The big king will help the little tiger, and the big will fall." Tiger, this is the great king of heaven’s help.”

Cao Cao looked deeply at Jia Xu and secretly sighed that Jia Xu was really a wise old man. According to what he said, the best outcome for Liu and Huo would be for Liu Bei to be suspicious of Huo Jun, and Huo Jun to prove his innocence and drop his armor to enter the court. Under this situation, Jianghuai will be greatly relieved.

If one of Liu and Huo is suspicious or frightened, and the gun goes off, it will eventually lead to internal fighting.

Of course, the best thing is for Huo Jun to accept his reward from the King of Huainan and directly cooperate with him to overthrow Liu Bei.

While thinking about it, Cao Cao couldn't help but feel glad that he always let the Cao family generals go out of town, so there would be no such risks and suspicions. Even if there is Cao Cao, he doesn't believe that Cao Hong, Cao Ren, and Xia Houyuan can do it, because these three people don't have this ability!

Under Cao Cao's gaze, Jia Xu lowered his eyes.

"Wen He's words are very reasonable!"

Cao Cao's expression remained unchanged and he said: "Today's confidential discussion is not allowed to be leaked to anyone. Anyone who violates it will be killed."

"promise!"

(End of this chapter)