I seek economic hegemony in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 81 Luoyang: Zhuge Liang has nothing to fear!

Cao Rui was stunned for a moment and asked: "How much?"

"Report to Your Majesty, 50!"

Liu Fang presented Sima Yi's memorial to the chamberlain, who presented it to Cao Rui.

Cao Rui's expression darkened, he opened Sima Yi's memorial and read it quickly, his brows furrowed, and he said: "Announce the ministers to discuss politics!"

After Cao Rui returned to the palace to change his clothes, he went to Luoyang Palace.

Ministers arrived one after another.

After the ceremony, Cao Rui said: "It's such a beautiful spring, and I still ask you to come, which really ruins your elegance. I don't want to, but now some people make it difficult for me to sleep well!"

After finishing speaking, Cao Rui picked up Sima Yi's memorial and gave it to the chamberlain on the side, saying: "Read it!"

The chamberlain immediately began to read Sima Yi's memorial.

After finishing reading, the officials already looked surprised.

"Your Majesty, there is no doubt that this is Zhuge Liang's plan to deceive the enemy." Cao Shuang was the first to stand up. He even had a smile on his face, as if he had the overall situation in hand, "We definitely don't need to panic."

"Your Majesty, the people of Yizhou are very thin. Even if Zhuge Liang has the power of heaven, it is impossible to mobilize 50 troops to Guanzhong. There is no doubt that this is definitely a lie." Liu Shao, the regular servant of Sanqi, also said.

Naturally, others also expressed their opinions.

"Your Majesty, 50 is absolutely impossible."

"Even if Zhuge Liang exhausts Yizhou, he still won't be able to produce an army of 50."

"..."

The solemn look on Cao Rui's brow did not weaken.

"Dear gentlemen, there is one more thing I may have forgotten to mention." Cao Rui said, "At the end of last year, Zhuge Liang sent an envoy to Sun Wu again to ask Sun Quan to send troops north."

As soon as he said these words, the court immediately became quiet.

If these two things happen alone, then there is a high probability that nothing will happen next.

For example, Zhuge Liang simply wrote to Sun Quan and asked him to go north. Sun Quan would not go north because of a bad start last year.

But now Zhuge Liang on the western front wants to increase his troops, and at the same time he sends an envoy to see Sun Quan.

The probability of Sun Quan going north has greatly increased.

Even though everyone knows that Sun Quan will wait and see first, who can guarantee when Sun Quan will stop waiting and send troops directly?
Cao Rui added: "Sima Zhongda has sent scouts to detect the movements of the Shu army many times. It is definitely not true that Zhuge Liang increased his troops to 50, but he is indeed increasing his troops."

"Your Majesty, I feel that the situation is very dangerous now." The person who came out was Situ Dong Zhao.

"What do you think Dong Qing said?"

"Zhuge Liang is an extremely cautious person, and his behavior this time is very abnormal, which only illustrates one problem."

"what is the problem?"

Dong Zhao said: "Zhuge Liang fought very smoothly on the Western Front."

As soon as Dong Zhao said this, the officials immediately started talking.

Others did not dare to come out to accuse him, because Dong Zhao was an old man in Cao Cao's era and the founding hero of Cao Wei. He was highly respected and talented.

"If Zhuge Liang is not making good progress on the Western Front, he will not write to Sun Quan again, let alone increase his troops, but will directly withdraw his troops because the people of Yizhou are thin and he is not that kind of reckless person."

His words immediately won the approval of some people.

"Dong Situ's words are wrong." Cao Shuang said, "Zhuge Liang is true that he increased his troops, but this does not mean that the Shu army is fighting smoothly on the western front. Last year, His Majesty personally led the expedition and already had reinforcements in Guanzhong. Our army The troops are superior to the Shu army, Zhuge Liang must have discovered this, so he continued to increase his troops."

Cao Shuang's views won the approval of another faction.

Cao Shuang continued: "As for Sun Quan, he is already frightened, so why bother?" Dong Zhao remained silent and retreated.

Cao Shuang continued: "If Your Majesty is really worried, why not send an envoy to Jianye to see Sun Quan and make friends to ease the relationship, and wait until the Western Front is stable before pursuing other matters?"

Cao Rui asked: "Sima Zhongda suggested in the memorial that the imperial court should continue to increase troops in Guanzhong. Does Shao Linghou mean not to increase troops?"

"No increase." Cao Shuang said confidently, "There is no need at all."

"Do the other ministers have anything else to say?"

"I second the proposal to send people to Jianye and make friends with Sun Quan. There is no need to increase the number of troops on the western front."

Cao Rui glanced around and asked, "Why didn't Chen Sikong go to court today?"

Liu Shao said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Chen Sikong is unwell and is recuperating at home."

Cao Rui was silent for a moment and said: "Then we will follow the instructions of Marquis Shaoling and send an envoy to Jianye. We will not increase troops on the western front for the time being."

Cao Rui is also under great pressure to increase troops to Guanzhong, and he cannot easily increase troops.

After he resigned from the court, Cao Rui wrote a letter to Sima Yi. The general meaning was to ask the governor to work hard. Good times are still to come. As for increasing troops, they will be increased slowly in the future.

Early in the morning on February [-]th, Sima Yi received Cao Rui's handwriting.

"Father, what is your Majesty's new decree?" Sima Zhao asked quickly.

"Your Majesty will send people to Jianye to befriend Sun Quan, and there will be no additional troops on the western front for the time being."

"But Zhuge Liang claims to increase his troops by 50!"

Sima Yi glanced at Sima Zhao, who quickly said: "There are not 50, but 20. We now have a total of 15 troops. Last year, we had a bad start, and our morale was not as good as before. Moreover, we have become the attacking party. Luoyang will not give us Increase your troops, this battle will be difficult to fight!"

Sima Yi lowered his head and fell silent.

This battle is really not easy to fight.

He was no match for Zhuge Liang in field battles. As a result, Zhuge Liang now began to build cities and use defense instead of attack tactics.

"Father……"

"I know the current situation!" Sima Yi said calmly, "But it is really impossible for Luoyang to continue to increase troops. It is Luoyang's decision not to increase troops, not mine. We have sent the information back. Next It is to seize Chencang. How is the front line in Chencang?"

"Xiahouba launched attacks on the Shu army many times, but they were all blocked by the Shu army. Our army has been attacking in turns for more than half a month, but we can't defeat it!" Sima Zhao said, "If this continues, I'm worried that the Shu army will suddenly detour and raid our grain road. !”

It is more than fifty miles from Sima Yi's camp to Xiahou Ba's camp.

A normal march in the cold weapon era was fifty or sixty miles a day.

In other words, the grain transport team would have to walk a day and a night to arrive.

During this process, the Shu army had the opportunity to use a cavalry force to attack the Wei army's grain transport team in a detour.

In other words, the Shu army on the south bank had the opportunity to cross the river at night and attack the Wei army's grain transport team.

This is what Sima Yi is most worried about.

Xiahou Ba and Le Wei have an army of [-]. Even if part of it is lost now, there are still just over [-].

Not to mention there are ten thousand people.

There are more than 3 mouths to eat, and Xiahou Ba is marching over in a hurry. The supply of food and grass behind must be in a hurry.

So a lot of soldiers and horses were sent to escort them.

"It doesn't matter, don't rush for a while, the Shu army can build the city for a few months or as long as half a year! Let Xiahou Ba take turns to send people to the battle, replace the frontline soldiers regularly, and wear down the Shu army bit by bit!" Sima Yi said, "In this round, Zhuge Liang may not He cannot win unless he builds a city within two months!”

(End of this chapter)