Three Kingdoms: Ancestors of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 465

Two days later, at dawn, cooking smoke rose above the Wei army camp, but it was blown away by the bitter cold wind.

In the camp, the soldiers of the Wei army walked out of their tents one after another, being drowsy away by the cold wind blowing towards them.Emperor Wei Cao Rui didn't sleep too much, he also got up early and went to the tent of the Chinese army, waiting for Du Xi and others who returned from their envoy.

At this time, Du Xi got off the carriage with a tired face and came out of the Han army camp. In order to deliver the information as soon as possible, Du Xi almost kept on his way. In order to catch up with the military meeting this morning, he only had a few rests last night. At the hour, I hurried on the road again, which was very hard.

Du Xi leaned on the talisman and walked slowly into the camp. The attendants in Yingkou brought warm soup.Under the long-term cold wind, Chijie's fingers were already frozen stiff, so Du Xi switched hands to receive the warm soup.

He slowly stretched the fingers of his right hand, took a sip, and the warm soup flowed into his stomach through the tip of his tongue, and a feeling of warmth rushed to his heart.Stiff fingers are also feeling the warmth of the wooden bowl.

"Your Majesty is already discussing matters in the big tent, and Junshi Du can go in directly." The attendant took the empty bowl with a wink and said.

"Good!" Du Xi leaned on the talisman and walked towards the camp of the Chinese army.

Without any hindrance, Du Xi walked into the big tent, feeling a sense of warmth rushing towards his face, and the cold air suddenly dissipated, making people feel more comfortable.

"Chen Du Xi pays homage to His Majesty, and today he fulfilled his mission, went deep into the Shu camp, found out information, and repaid it." Du Xi saluted.

Cao Rui got up, stepped forward to help Du Xi, and said with a smile: "Zixu went deep into the enemy's camp to find out the inside information of the enemy. It is very hard work. Take your seat quickly."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Cao Rui sat on the seat, looked at Du Xi who was seated, and asked, "How is the false emperor Liu Chan?"

Du Xi cupped his hands and said, "My Majesty, Liu Chan is about the same age as Your Majesty. Although his demeanor and military strategy are not as good as His Majesty's, he is a respectful person and knowledgeable. You should not underestimate him. He is indeed a strong enemy of Your Majesty. Liu Chan is good at civil and military affairs. Many of them have prestige, so I thought that although most of the Western Shu government orders were issued by Zhuge Liang, a certain person secretly thought that there were Liu Chan's thoughts in them, and he was not a false king."

Cao Rui is three years older than Liu Chan, Cao Rui is 31 years old, and Liu Chan is 28 years old.

"When I was sent to Shuying as an envoy, Liu Chan's words were refined, his words were straight to the point, and his thinking was quick. Moreover, although Liu Chan called Zhuge Liang his father-in-law, Zhuge Liang was called his father-in-law without pride. There should be harmony between the monarch and his subjects. There is a tacit understanding, and it is difficult to provoke dissension. It can be seen that Liu Chan is hidden under Zhuge Liang, and what he can do is unknown."

Hearing this, Cao Rui looked at the crowd and said with a smile: "Listen to what Zixu said. It seems that Liu Chan is not the vain king that everyone said, and he listened to Zhuge Liang's words, and he was a submissive."

As he said that, Cao Rui looked at Du Xi again and asked, "How about Zhuge Liang and the soldiers of the Shu camp?"

Du Xi pondered for a long time, and said: "I think that Zhuge Liang can caress the people when he is a subordinate, and he can make appointments with officials when he is superior. Handsome, long generals and soldiers. As for the soldiers under his command, there are many brave men."

Cao Rui looked a little ugly, looked at Sima Yi, and asked, "General, is Zhuge Liang really capable?"

Sima Yi cupped his hands, lowered his eyes and said: "I think Zhuge Liang should have such abilities, otherwise how could Western Shu invade our country one after another."

As soon as this remark came out, Cao Rui, who was originally displeased, was speechless. If Zhuge Liang was not good, how could Wei lose again and again!

Cao Rui was silent for a while, and asked: "How many soldiers and elites are there in the Shu army?"

Du Xi stroked his beard and said slowly: "Shu soldiers have returned home, the number is less than me, but there are more fighters than me."

Cao Rui looked puzzled, and asked, "Why is that? All the troops in our army have been sent out, which is where the elite of our country sweeps the world."

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Shu army has been victorious in successive battles, and Liu Chan has labored the army, so that the soldiers return to their hometowns to relieve their homesickness. However, our soldiers have suffered from defeats, are trapped in homesickness, and are also affected by epidemic diseases. Therefore, although our soldiers are fine and There are many people, but there are not as many fighters as the Shu army." Du Xi replied.

Another point that Du Xi didn't mention was the motivating effect of the slogan "return to the old capital" to the generals of the Shu army.

Cao Rui's expression became even more unsightly, and he asked, "Is this all you got from visiting the Shu army?"

Seeing this, Du Xi cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, what I said before was the benefit of the Shu army, and now I will say the disadvantage of the Shu army!"

"First, the minister inspected the camp of the Shu army. There is a lot of firewood in the camp, and the soldiers of Bashu are afraid of the severe cold. Therefore, although the soldiers of the Shu army have great ambitions, it is difficult to show their courage. Or as Wei Gong (Wei Zhen) said, only Wei Yan and Huang Two or 30,000 people under Quan's command can fight a battle, but it is difficult for the elite soldiers of Bashu to display their capabilities. Therefore, Zhuge Liang stationed these two troops in the front line to defend our army."

Du Xi straightened his back and spoke eloquently in front of the crowd, saying.

"Secondly, Zhuge Liang sent the Bashu soldiers back to their hometowns to rest in rotation. The first batch has returned to the army, and the second batch has left the army. Although I don't know the number, I think the number should not be less than [-] to [-]. The enemy army too. This old minister thought that although our army has fewer fighters than the Shu army, it is more elite and outnumbered than the enemy, so it can be used for a battle."

Cao Rui pondered for a while, and asked: "Since you said that our army has few fighters, if I go to the front line in person and distribute money to reward the soldiers, I wonder if I can fight?"

As soon as this remark came out, the civil and military officials present looked at each other in blank dismay. Wei Zhen cupped his hands and came out to persuade: "Your Majesty is the lord of ten thousand chariots. Although coming to the battlefield in person can inspire the soldiers' morale, but fear that the sword has no eyes and will hurt your majesty. Although Xishu is prosperous , but our army's officers and soldiers are enough, why does His Majesty need to personally take risks!"

Cao Rui stood up and said in a deep voice: "If I don't cross the river and live in the rear, how can the morale of the army be boosted, and how can it deter the morale of the bandits. Besides, the enemy is outnumbered and we are numerous. How can I be afraid of the former army and the generals protecting me?"

After a pause, Cao Rui paced back and forth with his sword in hand and said: "In the past, Emperor Wu defeated the enemy at Guandu to have the opportunity to unify the north; although Emperor Wen repeatedly failed in his southern expeditions, he also deterred the Wu thieves and stabilized Qingxu; I am a fluke How can one not admire the style of Emperor Wu after succeeding in the Great Tradition? I wonder what you all think?"

With a big belly, Cao Shuang said excitedly: "I report to Your Majesty, I think it's okay. In the past, Emperor Wu defeated Ma Chao in Guanzhong and settled in the northwest. If Your Majesty can imitate Emperor Wu and defeat the Shu army and severely injure the thieves, our army will be defeated." You can advance to Liangyong and recover the northwest."

Cao Rui glanced at Cao Shuang with satisfaction, then turned to look at the silent Sima Yi, and asked, "I don't know what the general thinks?"

Sima Yi pondered for a while, and said: "Your Majesty, I think what General Wuwei said is not unreasonable. If most of the Shu army's soldiers are afraid of the cold, they can be severely injured. Even if it is difficult to enter Lianglong, the Shu army can be forced to retreat. , but the Shu army should not be underestimated, and our army's planning should be cautious."

(There will be one more tonight)
(End of this chapter)