Soldiers come to the world

In the deputy prime minister's mansion, Cao Pi listened seriously to Zhou Yuan's report from Yushi Zhongcheng. Something happened to the intelligence point in Chang'an. Several intelligence points were wiped out by the Han army. More than half of the spies were arrested. All ten spies were also arrested by the Han army.

This news made Cao Pi very worried. He didn't know how to explain to his father. Not long after Zhou Yuan was put in charge of intelligence, this kind of thing happened. appears to be very important.

Of course, Cao Pi also knew that Zhou Yuan couldn't be blamed for this incident, but Chang'an's spies were not secret enough to be discovered by the Han army, but could he say that to his father?

Helpless, Cao Pi had no choice but to say to Zhou Yuan: "The most urgent task now is to rebuild the intelligence point. All the spies who have not been caught must be recalled to prevent some of them from being instigated by the Han army, and then send new spies to Chang'an. This matter must be paid close attention today. You have to decide on a good candidate.”

Zhou Yuan nodded silently, and asked again: "How should I report to Duke Wei?"

"I will report this matter, and I will take the responsibility. You only need to do the follow-up work well, and leave other things alone."

Zhou Yuan was grateful in his heart, and bowed and said: "Thank you, my son, for taking care of me, I will definitely do my best to finish the follow-up matters."

"Go!"

Zhou Yuan bowed and retreated slowly. Cao Pi was the only one left in the room. Cao Pi was pacing back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. He was really upset. The Han army had begun to prepare for battle in the past two months, and he also received his father's preparations. Order, then issued an order to the counties, requiring the counties to prepare supplies.

But the list of supplies from each county that he got today surprised him secretly. The quantity of various supplies was less than half of his previous estimate. Only then did he realize that they had suffered a great loss in the past half a year of liberalization of trade. , a large amount of materials were bought by the Han State with money and gold ingots. Although the market in Yedu was prosperous, it was gradually withering locally.

This problem was his responsibility, he discovered it too late, he was worried that he would not be able to report the matter to his father, but the news that the Chang'an intelligence point had been wiped out came soon after, it could be said that misfortunes never come singly, he dared not face his father.

Cao Pi is in a dilemma. He knows that the situation is critical now, and his father is also very nervous. If he keeps it secret, it may cause future troubles, but if he does, it will also make his father angry.

After hesitating for a long time, Cao Pi decided to report to his father, but he had to conceal the key link, so as not to disappoint his father with his ability. Thinking of this, Cao Pi immediately ordered: "Prepare the carriage and go to Tongque Palace!"

Cao Pi got into the carriage, and the carriage accelerated to the Tongque Palace outside the North City.

Cao Pi entered the Tongque Palace. In front of his father's official room, he unexpectedly met his brother Cao Zhang. He seemed to be waiting for his father's reception. Cao Zhang, like his third brother Cao Zhi, had also strived for the position of son, but he had nothing to do in Ye. Supported, he was quickly defeated and withdrew from the battle between the sons, but Cao Zhang gained his father's military trust and asked him to command [-] Youzhou troops to defend the northern border.

In the past two years, Cao Pi basically did not have any entanglements with his brothers and did not communicate with them. Cao Pi did not want to meet Cao Zhang at this time, but since there was no way to hide, he had to go forward and smiled reluctantly: "When will the second brother come?" Back to Yedu, I didn’t even know?”

Cao Zhang glanced at him, and said coldly: "Brother is busy investigating the case of the Seven Sons of Jian'an, how can he have time to think of me?"

There was a thorn in Cao Zhang's words, which made Cao Pi suddenly realize that Cao Zhang and Xiahou's family had a deep friendship, and he transferred Xiahou Dun by himself. How could Cao Zhang have a good face for him, so Cao Pi had to laugh dryly, "Second brother really knows how to tell jokes."

Cao Zhang turned his head away and ignored him. Cao Pi was secretly annoyed, and also lowered his face and stopped talking. The two brothers seemed a little embarrassed. Shizi and Young Master Zhang enter the house!"

Cao Zhang snorted heavily, and walked quickly into his father's study, but Cao Pi deliberately slowed down, and walked slowly into the room. Sure enough, his father had already talked with his second brother, and Cao Pi saluted his father and stood aside.

The reason why Cao Cao recalled his second son back to Yedu was that he planned to withdraw [-] Youzhou troops to the Central Plains for defense, but he was a little worried about the frontier, so he asked, "How is the situation in Xianbei?"

Cao Zhang bowed and said, "Father, Xianbei has been at war with the Xiongnu since the beginning of the year. The two sides have won and lost, and the Xiongnu has a slight advantage. Last month, my son got the news that Xianbei is actively preparing for the battle and is preparing for a decisive battle with the Xiongnu next spring."

It is almost November now, and the first snow has fallen on the grasslands. Of course, nomads in the grasslands will not invade the Central Plains at this time. Cao Cao is also considering the spring of next year. Once Cao Zhang’s Youzhou Army is transferred back to the Central Plains, Youzhou will be empty. Will Xianbei take the opportunity? Invasion, which put Cao Cao in a dilemma.

He pondered for a moment and asked again: "Is your information reliable? Xianbei will fight the Huns next spring."

Cao Zhang understood what his father meant, bowed and said, "I want to tell my father that the information should be reliable. It was the fur merchant from the south who told me, and my boy can be sure that the Xianbei people will not take advantage of the situation to attack the Central Plains."

Cao Cao thought for a while, suddenly understood, and smiled: "I am really confused. If the Xianbei invade the Central Plains, who will defend their homeland? It seems that the Xianbei will not go south for the time being until the Huns are destroyed."

Cao Cao was relieved, and then said to his son: "The situation is critical now. The decisive battle between us and the Han army is about to break out. We are short of troops. I want to transfer the Youzhou army back to Yedu. Do you have any objections?"

"The child obeys his father's orders!"

Cao Cao was very satisfied with his second son's attitude, so he nodded, turned his eyes to Cao Pi again, and asked with a smile, "What's the matter with Pi'er?"

At this time Cao Zhang bowed and said, "If father has nothing else to do, my son will leave first."

"You go! Rest for two days before returning to Youzhou to transfer troops."

Cao Zhang retreated slowly. Seeing that the two brothers didn't greet each other, Cao Cao felt a little unhappy and asked, "Have you two brothers quarreled?"

"Haier and the second brother didn't quarrel, it's just that they haven't seen each other for a long time, and they are a little strange to each other."

"This is not possible. Brothers must be sincere and united. If I die, Cao Wei will rely on the support of the three of you. I have decided to let your third brother return to Yedu to be in charge of the rituals and music of the Wei Kingdom. Don't embarrass him anymore."

Cao Pi's heart skipped a beat. His father actually wanted to let the third brother return to Yedu, and let him be in charge of rituals and music. Although this was just a false job, it was a signal. The Wan army is stationed in Yedu, who will be in command is a big problem, otherwise the second brother will easily launch a coup.

Cao Pi became more and more nervous, but he forgot that his father was waiting for him to answer the business. Seeing that he was distracted, Cao Cao asked again, "What urgent matter do you have to report to Wei Father?"

Only then did Cao Pi react, and quickly bowed and said, "Father, I got the news that the Han army is investigating our spies in front of Chang'an. I am worried that some of the spies have betrayed and the Yang Gong incident will happen again, so I suggest that Chang'an All the spies will be withdrawn and a new batch of recruits will be replaced."

Cao Cao frowned slightly, "But if they change to new people, they have to start all over again. Isn't it a bit inappropriate at this critical moment?"

Cao Pi didn't dare to tell the truth, so he had to bite the bullet and said: "Qi father, if the Chang'an spies are controlled by the Han army and send back fake news, I'm afraid it will cause us even more losses. It is at a critical moment that the boy feels the need to replace him. , for a new intelligence point."

Cao Cao felt that what his son said made some sense, so he nodded and said, "Since you think there is no problem, go arrange it! You don't need to report this kind of thing to me again."

Cao Pi was overjoyed in his heart, and quickly agreed. At this time, Cao Cao asked again: "I asked the counties to prepare materials for war last time. How is the progress now?"

Cao Pi's heart that had just been let go suddenly became suspended again. He was very nervous, and he said according to the countermeasures he had thought up in advance: "All places are summarizing reports, and I haven't come to Hai'er yet. It's just that Haier is a little worried."

"What are you worried about?" Cao Cao asked puzzled.

"Haier is worried that various places will conceal the real situation and underreport the amount of supplies, because during the Battle of Hefei, Haier found that more than half of the local government underreported the food in the treasury, leaving room for it. In the end, we were very passive. I am worried that it will be the same this time. .”

Cao Cao knew that it was possible that his son was telling the truth. He pondered for a moment and said, "Let's do this! Send five censors Zhongcheng to inspect various places and urge the counties to check the real supplies. This matter is very important and must not be vague."

Cao Pi secretly sighed in his heart. Although the current test has passed, the fact of insufficient supplies will be revealed sooner or later. He really doesn't know how to face his father's reprimand by then.

Cao Pi left the Tongque Palace with a lot of thoughts, while Cao Cao's mind was on the defense of the Central Plains. He walked slowly to the sand table with his hands behind his back and stared at the sand table for a long time.

Early this morning, he got a report from Yu Jin that Liu Jin appeared in Shouchun, which made Cao Cao a little confused. It is normal for Liu Jing to inspect various places, but he did not go to Nanyang Wancheng to inspect, but came directly to Shouchun. What does it mean? Did Liu Jing decide to make a breakthrough from Shouchun?

Thinking about it carefully, there is indeed this possibility. Shouchun is close to the Huaihe River in the north, Xuzhou in the northeast, and Qiaojun in the northwest. It happens to be in a strategic position that can be attacked and defended. Moreover, the Han army's navy is strong, and it is completely possible to go northward through the vortex. Qiao County, as long as Qiao County is captured, the entire hinterland of the Central Plains will be safe to defend.

More importantly, he deployed [-] troops on the front lines of Xuzhou and Qiaojun. Once these [-] troops are defeated, Cao Wei's entire battle situation will fall into a passive situation across the board.

Cao Cao secretly made up his mind that he must consolidate the defenses of Qiaojun and Huaibei, and never allow the Han army to break through here.

. . . . . . . . . .