Three Kingdoms: I, Ma Su, just want to die

Chapter 677 It’s all a plan
After making the decision, Ma Su returned to Shouchun. After bringing a few scholars with him and instructing Deng Ai on the subsequent farming arrangements, Ma Su personally set out to survey the terrain.

Deng Ai was also helpless about Ma Su's restless character. He was already a great general, but he still liked to run around with just a few people.

You should at least take a break, have a cup of tea and bask in the sun every day, right? You have been fighting for so many years, why don't you enjoy yourself for a while?

But Ma Su just couldn't sit still, or it could be said that he still had no idea of ​​retiring.

After taking a few scholars and guards with him, Ma Su personally set out to explore the terrain in the south.

The excavation of the canal is very particular. The direction of the canal, the terrain and even the people along the way must be taken into consideration. This is an extremely rigorous matter. If you are not careful, it may even turn into a man-made flood in the Central Plains.

Fortunately, Ma Su, as a person who had experienced it before, had already been through it. Having lived two lives, he basically only needed to explore the waterway of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal according to his memory, and he could basically replicate the canal.

Ma Su recorded all the results of this series and prepared to summarize them all in "On the Grand Canal".

With the theoretical knowledge, when the Han people have the need for this matter, everything will be a natural thing.

Alas, I have worried so much about this family. Without me, Ma Su, this family would have fallen apart!
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While Ma Su was studying the feasibility of digging the North-South Canal and personally exploring the mountains and rivers, Hebei was not at peace.

At this time, Sima Shi and Cao Shuang were still fighting in Jizhou.

Facts have proved that if Cao Shuang did not surrender, even Sima Shi would have found it difficult to kill him quickly. The two sides fought each other for nearly two years, and there is still no final conclusion until now.

After all, as a member of the Cao family, Cao Shuang still had some influence in the country. Although he was beaten up by Sima Shi all the time, and even Cao Yu died in the battle, he was still extremely strong.

Sima Shi was criticized both inside and outside the court for his status as a minister entrusted by Cao Shuang. All these restrictions made Sima Shi's plan to quickly take down Cao Shuang completely bankrupt.

Looking at the Cao Shuang flag flying over the Qinghe County, Sima Shi's face was extremely grim.

If the local terrain had not met the requirements, Sima Shi would have even planned to flood the city.

"General, why don't we shake hands and make peace with Minister Cao?"

Guanqiu Jian beside him also had a sad face, with his brows knitted into a ball. This last loyal minister of Cao Wei had no light in his eyes at this moment, only endless despair for the future.

"If we continue to fight a civil war with Minister Cao, our strength will be greatly depleted. If we continue to fight like this, the people of Shu will be happy!"

The two-year civil war in Hebei had almost wiped out the last bit of Cao Wei's wealth. If the stalemate continued, Cao Wei would have no chance to struggle.

In response, Sima Shi just shook his head lightly, sighed and said to Guanqiu Jian,
"General Guanqiu, if possible, I would also like to cooperate with Cao Shuang. But you know his level. He can do nothing but cause trouble in the court."

"Do you really think it's a good idea to shake hands and make peace with this kind of person?"

"But if we go on like this..." Guanqiu Jian was a little anxious, but before he could finish his words, soldiers rushed in from outside.

"Sir, the Shu army from Qingzhou has suddenly crossed the Jishui River and is heading towards Pingyuan County. They have a total of about 10,000 troops, led by the Shu general Jiang Wei!"

"It's him again! His ghost is still lingering!" Upon hearing this name, Sima Shi and Guanqiu Jian both flashed a trace of anger in their eyes. In the past two years, Zhang Yi's troops at Baimadu basically strictly followed Ma Su's orders and tried to avoid conflicts with Hebei. This also allowed Sima Shi to pursue Cao Shuang without any worries, and he forced Cao Shuang into desperate situations many times.

But every time when Sima Shi was about to succeed, Jiang Wei of Qingzhou would suddenly lead his troops northward. Every time Jiang Wei took action, Sima Shi had to withdraw his troops and miss the opportunity to destroy Cao Shuang.

Because of this, both Sima Shi and Guanqiu Jian hated Jiang Wei, a dog-skin plaster, to the core.

"General, we can't go on like this. We will be exhausted sooner or later!" Guanqiu Jian's expression became stern and he asked Sima Shi directly for instructions.

"Please give me 10,000 soldiers and I will march east to fight Jiang Wei. I will definitely kill him at the Ji River!"

"General Guanqiu, I'm afraid we can't muster 10,000 people..." Sima Shi shook his head and said helplessly.

"Then five thousand people! I will fight to the death on the south bank of the Yellow River and will never let the Han army enter Hebei." Guanqiu Jian compromised and proposed to Sima Shi.

Sima Shi approved of this proposal and immediately assigned his troops to him.

Guanqiu Jian led his 5,000 troops and resolutely marched towards Qingzhou.

However, after watching Guanqiu Jian leave, Sima Shi's face gradually darkened.

"Keep an eye on him! If Guanqiu Jian makes any unusual movements, report them immediately!"

Even though Sima Shi acted very open with Guanqiu Jian just now, the person he was actually most wary of was Guanqiu Jian!

This was a truly loyal minister of the Wei Dynasty, and he was only loyal to Cao Fang.

This created a certain conflict with Sima Shi's interests. After all, Sima Shi's purpose in seizing power was essentially to preserve his own clan.

As for Cao Fang, in Sima Shi's view, he was just a banner for internal unity. His only role was to appease those Cao's ministers and make them willing to fight for the Sima family, nothing more.

But the little emperor was obviously not willing to be a puppet. Just a few days ago, Sima Zhao wrote to him saying that Cao Fang was making trouble.

If Cao Fang really wanted to cause trouble, he would probably have to depose and enthrone the emperor, and then replace him with another emperor who would continue to be a puppet.

Guanqiu Jian, who was loyal to Cao Fang, became a big hindrance in this process.

In short, although Cao Wei, a small regime in Hebei, was not large, it was full of calculations internally.

Sima Shi's arrangement was quickly passed down, and there would be death squads specifically sent to protect Guanqiu Jian.

But after Sima Shi finished making the arrangements, the confidant following behind him spoke hesitantly.

"General... General Guanqiu is already the most capable general in Wei. If we force him to death, can we really stop the Northern Expedition of the Shu Army?"

"It doesn't matter. I have already prepared a big gift for Ma Su!" Sima Shi shook his head and did not intend to say too much on this topic. He just said it expressionlessly.

"As long as Ma Su dares to come, I have the ability to make him die south of the Yellow River!"

"Before that, we must figure out how to kill Cao Shuang. If Cao Shuang doesn't die, we won't have the energy to resist the invasion of the Shu army!"

(End of this chapter)