Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

In other words, a scale of 30,000 to 40,000 is sufficient for the mountainous battlefield of Qinzhou. It is a number that will not hinder logistics command due to its size and is also convenient for the commander-in-chief to command and dispatch.

Seeing that the four people had gathered around, Zhuge Liang said calmly: "In war, one must play to one's strengths and attack the enemy's weaknesses. Han is attacking and Wei is defending. The current task should be to annihilate the Wei army's forces as the main thing and seize the Wei army's cities as the secondary thing, so as to avoid repeating the mistakes of the sixth year of Jianxing."

The mistakes made in the sixth year of Jianxing refer to Zhuge Liang's behavior of using heavy troops to besiege Shanggui and at the same time sending troops to seize Linwei, Jixian and other cities.

Two years ago, when the army returned to Baishui to review the battle, Zhuge Liang was also in the prime minister's residence. He openly stated to all the officials in the residence that this was a major mistake in the past decision-making.

At that time, if the troops could be concentrated in Lueyang and other places to block the reinforcements of the Wei army, the cities of the four counties in Longyou could be taken slowly. If the Wei army could be defeated in a field battle, the cities of the four counties in Longyou would even surrender without a fight.

As for Shanggui, a bone that is hard to chew, we can just place a small number of troops to guard it and exchange pieces with the Wei army. Why is there a need to attack it by force?
Based on this common understanding, as soon as Zhuge Liang opened his mouth, Yang Yi took over and said:

"Prime Minister, from a geographical point of view, the 140-li area from Xiabiancheng in Wudu County to Wudu City is winding and rugged, so the Wei cavalry has no place to use their skills, and the infantry can maximize its advantages. I wonder if the Prime Minister wants to fight a battle with the Wei army here?"

"Well, Lord Wei is right." Zhuge Liang said, "You are all familiar with the geography of Wudu County. From Xiabian to Wudu is 140 miles, and to Qishan is 220 miles, both are battlefields set up for infantry."

"If our army reaches the vicinity of Xiabian, Zhang He in Qishan and Cao Zhen in Chencang will surely send troops to support us, and we will defeat them one by one."

Wei Yan also stood aside and said calmly: "Prime Minister, you are wise. Either we defeat Zhang He first and then defeat Cao Zhen, or we defeat Cao Zhen first and then defeat Zhang He. Both are possible."

Fei Yi, Wu Yi and others also nodded.

If Cao Zhen and Zhang He saw this scene, they would surely drop their jaws in shock. How can you say that we are so calm, one general and the other a general of the Western Expedition? We just beat one and then another, and the goal is achieved?
Zhuge Liang and the people of Shu Han really thought so.

……

The next afternoon, when Cao Rui was still practicing swordsmanship with Guanqiu Jian in the martial arts field, the eunuch Bi Jin approached, lowered his head and waited without saying a word.

Cao Rui caught a glimpse of Bi Jin's arrival, gathered his strength and struck out to deflect Guanqiu Jian's sword, then swung his sword and put the unsharpened sword back into the scabbard.

"What's the matter? What do you want to see me about?" Cao Rui wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and turned to look at Bi Jin.

Bi Jin whispered, "Minister Pei wants to see you and is waiting outside the martial arts arena. He said that Minister Lu has urgent news."

"Let him in." Cao Rui said.

"According to the order."

Not long after, Pei Qian walked in quickly with a document in his hand. He did not rush to tell Lu Yu about the urgent report, but instead started with a greeting:

"Greetings, Your Majesty. I guess I came at an inopportune time and was unable to witness Your Majesty's swordsmanship with my own eyes."

Cao Rui smiled and asked, "Is Pei Qing good at using a sword?"

Pei Qian shook his head slightly: "I am not good at using a sword. Compared to a sword, I can be said to be good at archery."

What Pei Qian said was not surprising.

The scholars who grew up at the end of the Han Dynasty were far from the weak and frail image of later generations. Most of them adhered to the traditional Confucian concept of cultivating the six arts.

Archery is one of the six arts, and most of the scholars are good at it. As for swordsmanship, it is more sophisticated and complex, and requires more time to practice, and is far less handy than swinging a ring-handled sword.

The ring-handled sword was the common weapon used by everyone in this era, from the central army to ordinary scholars, even bandits and chieftains.

Cao Rui didn't care: "If that's the case, I'll call Pei Qing along the next time I practice archery. Tell me, what do you want to say, Minister Lu?"

Guanqiu Jian also put the iron sword in his hand on the weapon rack, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, please discuss matters. I will take my leave."

"That's fine." Cao Rui said, "The emperor has no private affairs. Zhong Gong can just listen and give some advice."

"Yes." Guanqiu Jian nodded in agreement.

Pei Qian said, "Didn't your majesty order Lu Shizhong to escort the Xiongnu cavalry back to Taiyuan? On the way, the Xiongnu told Lu Shizhong that they wanted to follow him into Henan to serve your majesty and fight for you, just like they did in Liaodong before."

Cao Rui sneered: "Why, are these Huns frightened by Kebi Neng's fate?"

"Perhaps so." Pei Qian said. Cao Rui said: "Serving the country, this sounds like a good thing, but I think the Xiongnu are overthinking it. Just based on the fact that these Southern Xiongnu are not as powerful as the Xianbei and Wuhuan, I don't take them seriously."

"Whether to come or not is up to you." Cao Rui looked at Pei Qian: "What does Minister Pei say?"

"Your Majesty, I have the same idea. The Xiongnu have always been submissive. It is not a bad thing to recruit their soldiers and use them for the Wei Dynasty. It can also set an example for the Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes. I think we can let the Xiongnu come."

"Your Majesty, I have something to say." Guanqiu Jian said at this time.

"Oh? What do you think, Zhong Gong?"

Guanqiu Jian said: "Your Majesty wanted to recruit the Xianbei light cavalry in the past because he wanted to weaken Kebi Neng's power. Now that Kebi Neng is dead, the Western Xianbei may be in chaos and will no longer pose a threat to Wei for a while. Why bother with this? Besides..."

"What's more?" Cao Rui asked.

Guanqiu Jian paused, then continued, "When we conquered Gongsun Yuan this year, the Wei army arrived and crushed the enemy with a force as powerful as thunder. The Xianbei, Wuhuan, Xiongnu and other Hu tribes must have been terrified when they saw this."

"The Wei used this method against Gongsun Yuan, but when facing Wu and Shu, there were many confrontations, conflicts, and failures. If the Hu people see this and become disrespectful to the Wei, what will happen?"

"Moreover, the Hu people have lived in the border areas for a long time and do not know the essence of battle formations. If the Hu people are used as generals to learn the Central Plains military tactics, I think they will be a long-term problem."

Guanqiu Jian looked worried, but Cao Rui beside him laughed and said, "Mr. Pei, what do you think about what Zhonggong was worried about just now?"

Pei Qian said, "Your Majesty, the commander-in-chief's words do make sense. The Wei army has more than 300,000 soldiers, so we don't need these 3,000 Xiongnu soldiers. Less trouble is worse than more, so it's appropriate to send them back to Taiyuan."

Cao Rui sighed and said, "You two's ideas are correct from the current perspective, but if we look at it from a long-term perspective, they are a bit conservative."

"Pei Qing, Zhong Gong, when do you two think I can conquer Wu and Shu?"

How should the ministers answer this kind of question? If it is too long, it is not right, and if it is too short, it is close to flattery. Fortunately, Pei Qian and Guanqiu Jian are also acquaintances, and they know the emperor's character, so they are not overly restrained.

Guanqiu Jian said, "I remember that when I returned from the expedition against Wu in the first year of Taihe, Your Majesty told me that you would conquer Wu and Shu within ten years. I think that by the tenth year of Taihe, Wu and Shu should have been conquered."

This response is a bit flattering.

Pei Qian said: "War is a major issue for a country. It takes as long as it takes to pacify the country. Delay will lead to changes. Haste makes waste. We should act at the right time."

Saying it means not saying it.

Cao Rui smiled and said, "I am not even thirty years old yet. If it is ten years as Zhong Gong said, I will not be forty years old by then. Even if it is twenty years, I will not be more than fifty years old."

"You two are both learned men. Haven't you heard about Emperor Wu of Han's opening up of the Western Regions? Although Xiahou conquered the West and opened up the Western Regions, only Gaochang has submitted to the Wei Dynasty. The rest of the countries only occasionally pay tribute through caravans. They are not on the same level as the Western Regions Protectorate during the Han Dynasty."

"The Western Regions are so far away. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to lead my elite soldiers, assisted by Wuhuan, Xianbei, Xiongnu and other Hu light cavalry servants, to attack there? Besides, to the north of Xiongnu are Wuhuan and Xianbei, and to the north of Xianbei are Dingling and Gaoche. To the north of Liaodong is the Sushen Kingdom. To the east of the sea is the Wa Kingdom."

Pei Qian and Guanqiu Jian were stunned as they watched the emperor talking about these border areas with great interest, not understanding what he meant for a moment.

Cao Rui continued, "Do you think that Emperor Wu of Han was right to recruit soldiers and march to the Western Regions? It was a waste of money. Ban Chao's method of deploying troops was more appropriate. A small number of the court's elite troops, supplemented by the vassal armies of various countries and the various Hu peoples, would be a practical move for the border areas."

"Your Majesty," Pei Qian said hesitantly, cupping his hands, "Your Majesty is a man of foresight. I really didn't think that far ahead just now."

"I agree with the proposal." Guanqiu Jian said with a bow.

Cao Rui laughed and said, "There are only 3,000 Xiongnu people. If we let them come to my place, can they really cause any big trouble?"

"Pei Qing, please write a letter to Minister Lu for me. I will not write it myself. Order him to take 3,000 Xiongnu light cavalry and head south as quickly as possible to catch up with General Man's army and come to Xuchang with General Man. I will make the arrangements then."

"As you wish." Pei Qian responded.

Guanqiu Jian said, "Your Majesty, I still don't understand. Take your Majesty's example. If you use the various barbarians to fight in the Western Regions, won't there be chaos?"

Cao Rui was somewhat helpless: "Zhong Gong, if I give you a thousand Yanzhou soldiers, a thousand Qingzhou soldiers, and a thousand Xuzhou soldiers, and let you lead these three thousand prefecture soldiers to fight in Liaodong, will they cause chaos?"

"This..." Guanqiu Jian said: "I think it shouldn't happen." (End of this chapter)