Three Kingdoms: Heir of Wolong, my father-in-law is Guan Gong

Zhuge Ke took out a list of troop mobilizations from his arms.

The officers and generals on the list all came from wealthy and aristocratic families in Hebei.

Zhang He took a careful look and was shocked.

Because on the list was the name of Sima Yi’s eldest son Sima Shi!

"Your Majesty, you can't even trust the General of the Army?" Zhang He's hands were shaking a little.

Zhuge Ke said in a slightly cold tone: "Sima Yi was originally the minister entrusted by the late emperor, and your majesty is also very kind to Sima Yi."

"However, Sima Yi betrayed your majesty's trust. He not only allowed the Sima family to annex the land and population of Wei, but also made promises to other aristocratic families in private."

"In the past, the aristocratic families of the Han Dynasty only knew about the Yuan family, but not the emperor. Yuan's disciple Dong Zhuo was even more arrogant and proud of his achievements, and he arbitrarily deposed the young emperor of Han."

"General Zuo was once a subordinate of Yuan Shao, so he must know this better than I do."

"Your Majesty is such a talented person, how could you be willing to be a puppet manipulated by aristocratic families?"

"Thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace from the Lord."

"If Sima Yi is not warned, he will not know who is the supreme emperor of Wei!"

"General Zuo, you are not going to betray His Majesty just because Sima Yi pleaded for you, are you?"

Zhuge Ke stared at Zhang He with his eyes fixed, and held the hilt of the sword with his right hand.

It seemed as if Zhuge Ke would draw his sword and kill Zhang He if he hesitated even a little.

Zhang He was very sensitive to Zhuge Ke's change and said quickly, "Please be patient. I am loyal to Your Majesty and will never be disloyal to Your Majesty."

"But Sima Yi is a very meticulous person. If I let Sima Shi join, I'm worried that he will see through me."

Zhuge Ke sneered: "So what if he found out? General Zuo is not really going to defect to the Han."

"They used the guise of a self-torture tactic to target Zhuge Qiao. The competition was about who could foresee the future."

"Calculate what the enemy cannot calculate, and use the right tactics."

"General Zuo is deploying his troops normally. Could Sima Yi still let Sima Shi disobey his orders?"

"It can't be that other generals can go into battle fearless, but Sima Yi's son can be afraid of death and shy away from battle?"

"Sima Yi will definitely suffer this loss!"

"If you want to blame someone, blame Sima Yi for not being of the same mind as Your Majesty."

"General Zuo, we must be careful not to let anyone catch us with this plan."

Zhuge Ke slowly laid out his plan.

Zhang He carefully examined Zhuge Ke's plan and was amazed at his deployment.

"Zhuge Ke, if you join hands with Zhuge Qiao in the pseudo-Han, no one in the Wei Dynasty can stop you!"

Zhang He was generous in his praise.

Zhuge Ke's battle plan was very meticulous, and even Zhang He did not have the confidence that his plan could be more meticulous than Zhuge Ke's.

Not only are they linked together, but they also anticipate every move of the opponent.

Because of this meticulous battle plan, Zhang He completely dispelled his doubts about Zhuge Ke.

Zhuge Ke said without hesitation: "Although Zhuge Qiao and I are brothers, we each serve our own masters and should show our own abilities."

"As the elder brother, I have lived a few more years. I cannot be outdone by my younger brother."

"Whether Your Majesty can make the flags of the Great Wei spread across all the states and counties depends on the methods of General Zuo."

Zhuge Ke bowed deeply to Zhang He and complimented him with his nice words just right.

Zhang He was overwhelmed with emotion: "At my age, if I can still help Your Majesty solve the internal and external troubles, I will die with no regrets!"

After leaving Zhang He's tent, Zhuge Ke returned to the general's tent to report to Cao Rui.

"How is General Zuo's injury?"

Although Zhang He suffered setbacks as a vanguard, Cao Rui still cared about Zhang He, the only remaining one of the Five Elite Generals.

Zhang He was over 60 years old and still being beaten with a stick. Cao Rui didn't know whether he could survive.

Zhuge Ke replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, don't worry. General Zuo's injury is not serious."

Cao Rui secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that everything is alright."

"I intend to send General Cao Zhen to challenge Baima City. What do you think, Yuanxun?"

Zhuge Ke said: "Since ancient times, the use of troops has always been to complement the normal and the strange."

"Although the general is brave and good at fighting, the main walls of Baima City have been repaired, and Zhuge Qiao has deployed a large number of weapons to defend the city."

"It's very difficult to defeat White Horse City head-on!"

"General Zuo sent me a message, hoping to use the self-torture trick to lure Zhuge Qiao to send troops."

Cao Rui frowned: "The self-torture trick may not be able to deceive Zhuge Qiao."

Zhuge Ke said: "Of course it's not a simple self-torture trick!"

"Although Zhuge Qiao was cautious in employing troops, he was also extremely conceited and liked to outwit the enemy, taking advantage of his opponent's tactics and making plans that the enemy could not."

"General Zuo lost the vanguard camp because Zhuge Qiao was more far-sighted than General Zuo in his calculations."

"However."

"General Zuo was quite dissatisfied with this defeat. If Zhang Xiong had not disobeyed orders and went into battle, General Zuo might have been defeated by Zhuge Qiao."

"Therefore."

"General Zuo hopes to fight Zhuge Qiao again."

"The purpose of using the self-torture tactic is to lure Zhuge Qiao into taking advantage of the situation. This is also a disguised way of luring Zhuge Qiao out of the city to fight, so that Zhuge Qiao will voluntarily give up the advantage of defending Baima City."

Cao Rui believed it a little: "I am very pleased with General Zuo's loyalty to the Wei Dynasty."

"But the use of troops is a major national event and must be carefully considered. General Zuo has now been caned again. If..."

Although Cao Rui did not say it out loud, Zhuge Ke had already guessed what Cao Rui was thinking.

"Your Majesty, for veterans like General Zuo, fighting for the country and dying on the battlefield is their best fate."

"For a true man, it is a shame to grow old in a bamboo forest or die in bed!"

"So, when Yu Jin committed a serious mistake in the past, he still asked to go into battle and eventually died on the battlefield. His loyalty is commendable."

"General Zuo is a man of courage. Your Majesty should not let him down."

Zhuge Ke was eloquent and had a lot of passionate speeches in front of Zhang He, and he also had a lot of passionate speeches in front of Cao Rui.

Although the two are different, they lead to the same goal.

All of them were for the purpose of getting Zhang He to send troops.

Cao Rui believed it a little more and was moved by Zhang He's determination at such a late age.

"General Zuo has such a lofty sentiment, how can I refuse?"

"I will give General Zuo a secret order, allowing him to do as he sees fit!"

Cao Rui had little doubt about Zhuge Ke's words.

Just a surprise attack.

Even if we lose, it will not affect the front battlefield.

But if they win, they can turn the game around and restore the morale of the pioneers that was dampened by the defeat.

"Your Majesty, there must be people in the army who are loyal to the Han Dynasty, so this matter must not be known to a fourth person!" Zhuge Ke reminded at the right time.

Cao Rui nodded: "Secrecy is the most important thing in the use of troops. Yuan Xun is thoughtful."

After making sure that Cao Rui had no doubts about the matter, Zhuge Ke asked again, "Your Majesty, I beg for permission to return to Yecheng."

Cao Rui was puzzled: "When I have doubts in my daily life, I still need Yuan Xun to solve them. Why did I suddenly return to Yecheng?" Zhuge Ke talked about Sima Yi's slander: "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to stay in the army, but my status makes the generals quite afraid of me."

"The General of the Fu Army has always believed that I have colluded with Zhuge Qiao, making it difficult for me to defend myself."

"Therefore, I will return to Yecheng to stop the suspicion in the army."

Cao Rui slammed the table and said angrily: "Sima Yi has become more and more presumptuous recently. He even dares to speculate about the people I employ."

Zhuge Ke advised, "Your Majesty, please calm down. My position is indeed sensitive, and it is normal for me to be suspected."

"Since I took charge of the Office of Education, I have been suspected and slandered more than once or twice. As long as Your Majesty trusts me, I have no complaints."

"But when a large army goes to war, the worst thing is for the generals to be at odds with each other. If I continue to stay in the army, it will only bring me a hundred disadvantages and no benefits."

"Furthermore, when a large army goes out to war, food and fodder are of utmost importance. I am worried that someone in Ye City will follow the example of Xu You under Yuan Shao and allow his sons and nephews to embezzle military rations."

"I, the notorious lieutenant of the Imperial Academy, have returned to Ye City. I believe no one dares to tamper with the grain and fodder."

Seeing that Zhuge Ke took all the blame on himself, Cao Rui felt pity for him and said, "Yuanxun, you have suffered!"

Zhuge Ke resolutely said: "For Your Majesty, for the sake of the Great Wei, this little suffering of mine is nothing!"

The more selfless Zhuge Ke behaved, the more Cao Rui disliked Sima Yi.

After thinking for a long time, Cao Rui agreed to Zhuge Ke's request.

On the pretext of Zhuge Ke supervising grain supply, Zhuge Ke was allowed to return to Yecheng.

Upon hearing that Zhuge Ke had left the military camp, both Sima Yi and Jiang Ji were delighted.

If Zhuge Ke was not around, Cao Rui would not be deceived.

"The traitor Zhuge Ke has finally left. If it weren't for this traitor, General Zuo wouldn't have been punished with the caning." Jiang Ji was quite dissatisfied with Zhuge Ke.

Sima Yi couldn't hide his smile: "Zi Tong should not criticize ministers recklessly. Zhuge Ke also wanted to stabilize the army and clarify the military rules."

Jiang Ji snorted and said, "What kind of minister is a mere lieutenant of the School Affairs Office? He is just a dog raised by His Majesty, but he really thinks he is a human being."

"Zhongda, stop saying nice things here. Your smile is written all over your face."

Sima Yi couldn't help laughing: "The one who understands me is Zi Tong!"

"Without Zhuge Ke's interference, we don't have to worry about Zhuge Ke colluding with Zhuge Qiao."

"As long as Zhuge Ke is in the army, I will not be able to sleep or eat well."

While talking.

Sima Yi's eldest son Sima Shi came into the tent to bid farewell to Sima Yi.

"Ziyuan, is this your Majesty's military order?" Sima Yi asked casually. Since he had joined the army, it was normal for him to be ordered to carry out military orders.

Sima Shi shook his head: "It's not your Majesty's order, it's General Zuo's order."

"Hmm?" Sima Yi frowned. "General Zuo has recruited you as well?"

In the past few days, Zhang He recruited officers from the army according to the list given by Zhuge Ke.

In order to avoid arousing suspicion, Zhang He used a clever trick.

First recruit some of them, and then select the officers and generals on the list based on the “best”.

This "selection of the best" method is specifically designed for officers and soldiers from aristocratic families.

In short: exchange of interests.

Ordinary officers have no interest in exchanging with Zhang He, but officers from aristocratic families have enough interest in exchanging with Zhang He.

In this way, Zhang He gathered almost all the officers on the list under his command, leaving only Sima Shi as the last one to arrive.

Jiang Ji didn't see what was going on. He just thought Sima Yi was worried about Sima Shi, so he couldn't help but smile and said, "Zhongda, this young eagle also needs to fly alone."

"You can't always keep Ziyuan by your side and not give her a chance to grow independently."

"You and I are both old. The future of Wei needs young people like Ziyuan to support it."

Sima Shi also thought that Sima Yi was worried about him, so he patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, father. This is not the first time I have led an army."

"What's more, General Zuo has been through hundreds of battles, and I can ask him for advice on how to use troops."

Sima Yi always felt that something was wrong.

The officers and soldiers that Zhang He recruited this time were all from aristocratic families, and most of them were related to Sima Yi and Jiang Ji.

This made Sima Yi more suspicious.

Am I too worried?

Maybe, it's just a coincidence.

Sima Yi thought for a moment, and finally suppressed his worries and suspicions, and warned: "Ziyuan, although you are my son and the legitimate son of the Sima family, you must not be proud."

"This time, following General Zuo, you should talk less and do more, and you must not be negligent."

Sima Shi nodded and said, "Don't worry, father. I know what to do!"

Looking at Sima Shi leaving, Sima Yi's heart beat faster for no reason.

Seeing Sima Yi's strange expression, Jiang Ji teased, "Zhongda, if you are really worried about Ziyuan, why did you let him come to the army for training?"

"You might as well learn from me. My son Jiang Xiu now only governs one area and doesn't have to suffer in the army anymore."

Sima Yi did not agree.

Although Jiang Ji also understood military strategy, he only gave advice and did not lead troops in battle.

Sima Yi was different. He knew very well that military power was the most important thing in these chaotic times.

Therefore.

Sima Yi would switch from a civil position to a military position, and would also let his son Sima Shi serve as a general in the army, instead of following Jiang Ji's example and letting Sima Shi govern a region.

There is a huge difference between having military power and not having military power.

At this moment, Sima Yi has not yet realized that Sima Shi has already stepped half a foot into the gate of hell!

When it comes to getting rid of Sima Yi, Zhuge Qiao and Zhuge Ke have the same understanding.

As long as Sima is alive, Zhuge Liang will not be at ease.

White Horse City.

Zhang He's "secret letter" was secretly delivered to Zhuge Qiao by Wang Yun's nephew Wang Ling.

The content of the secret letter was very simple: Zhang He was beaten with a stick, and he felt resentment towards Cao Rui and wanted to surrender to the Han Dynasty.

If an unknown person uses the self-torture trick, you can ignore it. Since it is Zhang He who uses the trick, there must be something fishy about it.

Zhuge Qiao looked at the messenger who called himself "Wang Ling" and boasted slowly: "In the past, Wang Situ endured humiliation and bore heavy burdens in order to kill Dong Zhuo."

"Now, Situ Wang's nephew is also enduring humiliation in order to help Han destroy Wei."

"The Wang family of Bingzhou is full of loyal and brave people."

Although Wang Ling despised him in his heart, his tone was respectful: "Although I am in the pseudo-Wei, my heart is in the Han Dynasty."

"If I can help the general destroy the pseudo-Wei, I will not be ashamed of my uncle's spirit in heaven!"

"General, Cao Rui is just as cold and heartless as Cao Cao. General Zhang He was already over 60 years old and was still sentenced to caning. It is really chilling."

"If the general trusts us, we are willing to help him take Cao Rui's head!"

Zhuge Qiao clapped his hands and laughed: "Good! Good! Good! I was just worried that there was no one to help me. If General Zhang He can accomplish this great feat, there will be a portrait of General Zhang He on the Yuntai Pavilion of the Han Dynasty in the future."

"But I heard that Zhuge Ke is also in the army. Although he is my brother, he is greedy for wealth and helps Cao to commit atrocities."

"Furthermore, this man is very sharp-minded and in charge of the pseudo-Wei's school affairs office. I wonder if General Zhang He is prepared?"

"I have no other intentions, but the use of troops is a matter of national importance and must be handled with caution." (End of this chapter)