Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Cao Rui and Cao Zhi looked at the map of Xuzhou's coastline for a long time before Cao Zhi asked softly:
"Your Majesty, now that the Wu army has retreated, I wonder what the losses in Licheng and Quxian in Donghai County are?"

As if Cao Zhi had touched a sore spot, Cao Rui's face gradually turned cold. He turned around and walked quickly back to the desk, picked up the memorial on the top, turned around and handed it to Cao Zhi.

"Wu Gou has done evil. Let the emperor see for himself."

Cao Zhi bowed slightly and took the document with both hands. After glancing through it, Cao Zhi put the document back on the table and clenched his fists unconsciously:
"Such evil deeds are abominable to both humans and gods! Sun Quan has already been sentenced to death!"

This memorial was a military report jointly sent from Licheng by Xuzhou Governor Xue Ti and Tiger Tooth General Xiahou Xian.

After the Wu army landed on the seashore, they divided into two groups and headed for Licheng and Quxian respectively.

The worst was suffered in Licheng.

According to Xuzhou tradition, it was the time when people from all over the country came to the county town for trade and leisure. The sudden attack by Wu soldiers frightened the people so much that they left their belongings at the market and fled into the city, so crowded that the city gates could not be closed.

The more than 100 soldiers guarding the city had no choice but to send people to kill more than ten people at the city gate, and only then was the gate closed. And this Wu army was also very ruthless, capturing civilians in the wilderness outside the city and then beheading them immediately, killing innocent people for credit.

Licheng was a small city, with only a hundred people stationed there. In addition, the city walls were not high, so how could it resist the attack of thousands of Wu troops? It took only an hour for the Wu army to capture it, and then the Wu army killed nearly two thousand people in the city.

According to the people of Licheng who managed to survive, the leader of the attack on Licheng was none other than Tang Zi who escaped from here more than ten years ago!
Although the situation in Qu County was better than that in Licheng, the crime of looting property and capturing young and strong people could not be escaped. According to Xue Ti's calculation, at least 2,000 innocent people died in Licheng and Qu County, and 700 to 800 young and strong people were captured. Food, supplies and other property were looted.

Cao Rui took a deep breath, suppressed the anger that had started a few days ago, and said in a low voice:

"In the past, during the chaos at the end of the Han Dynasty, the princes rose up and fought endlessly. Emperor Wu also massacred cities at that time, and I admit it. During the Xingping period, Emperor Wu was attacked from all sides and fought against Tao Qian and Liu Bei. He killed many people in Xuzhou. I have no intention of excusing him, and I will not change the history books. Uncle, but that was during the Xingping period! There are ways to deal with troubled times, but now is different from then. The Wei Dynasty has been established for more than ten years, and even Sun Quan himself usurped the throne in the south. How could a man who called himself the Son of Heaven and the Emperor do such a thing?"

Cao Rui gritted his teeth and said, "I have been thinking about it for three days and three nights, but I still can't figure it out! Is he so short of these two or three thousand heads? I have also led troops to fight against Zhuge Liang. The Wei Kingdom and Shu Kingdom are enemies, and the hostility is no less than that with the Wu Kingdom. Zhuge Liang relocated the people, but I have never worried that the people would be killed by Zhuge Liang!"

"The difference is clear!" Cao Zhi sighed and said, "I beg you to execute the Sun family and the people who led the army this time after we destroy Wu, as a punishment for future generations!"

Cao Rui lowered his head slightly, thought for a long time, and then said, "Uncle, I want to borrow your literary talent today to write a notice for me."

"Your Majesty, please speak. I respectfully listen to your instructions." Cao Zhi bowed.

Cao Rui sat behind the desk and said slowly: "No matter who led the troops of Wu this time, or who the generals were, Sun Quan will be held responsible for the evil deeds done by Wu. He cannot escape this matter."

"If Sun Quan attacked the city, even if he plundered the people and their property, I would not say anything. But this behavior is truly outrageous to both humans and gods! Let the uncle write this matter and my words into a notice, and I will have it spread throughout the country, and also send a copy to Zhuge Liang and Liu Chan in Shu."

"Also, Licheng and Quxian counties will be exempt from tax for 30 years. If there are widows, widowers, orphans, the court will provide compensation and assistance to enable them to maintain their livelihoods." "Write it like this!"

Cao Zhi cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is merciful. I have taken note of all your instructions just now!"

As soon as Cao Zhi's article came out, hundreds of copies were circulated and distributed to various government offices in Shouchun. According to the cabinet's order, all the central and foreign troops stationed in Yangzhou must post this article in the camp, and the military officers must preach it to the soldiers. Even the places where the farms were cultivated must be mentioned one by one, without missing a single person.

The sentiment is indignant.

On the night the article was circulated, Sima Shi went home for dinner, then went to his father's study and talked about the matter with Sima Yi.

"Father, what is the purpose of the proclamation written by Prince Yongqiu today?" Sima Shi said, "At a glance, it is clear that the cabinet is stirring up the indignation of the people of Yangzhou, as if to pave the way for a future attack on Wu Yong."

"What if it's obvious? What if it's not obvious?" Sima Yi said, "The Wu Kingdom committed the scandal themselves, not Wei. Since they did it, Wei can't say anything?"

"Also," Sima Yi said slowly, "Among the four ministers in the cabinet, Cao Zhen is not well-versed in literature, Dong Zhao is old and tired, and my father and Chen Jiao would not do such a thing. It can be said that all such unusual orders made by the cabinet are the intentions of your majesty himself and have nothing to do with the cabinet."

Sima Shi nodded: "I understand, son. So, it means that we are going to use military force against Wu? Can father estimate the time?"

"It's hard to say." Sima Yi shook his head: "Ziyuan, the conquest of Wu depends not only on your majesty's wishes, but also on the actual situation of Wei."

Sima Shi thought for a moment and said, "The imperial court has just reduced taxes in various states. This year is the right time to implement this policy. If the army is mobilized again, it will inevitably mobilize a large number of people. Reducing taxes will be the same as not reducing them at all, which is almost like cheating."

"And the Wu Kingdom is a separatist country. If it continues to be a separatist country for another year, Wei will have to support so many more soldiers in the southeast, which will only be a waste of time year after year. The best strategy is to pacify Wu as soon as possible."

"If you say slow, then we should slow down. If you say urgent, then we should also hurry. The balance between urgent and slow is what the court should weigh."

Sima Yi said: "Ziyuan is right, but there must be a time limit for the delay, otherwise it will really become a cowardly act of sitting on the city and defending it, which is ultimately inconsistent with the great cause of unifying the four seas."

"In my opinion, after Cao Zhi's article spreads everywhere, the people's hearts and minds will gradually change. The tax reduction should be implemented for at least one or two years, so that the people can rest and store food and grass, and then large-scale corvée labor and military operations can be carried out. Either next year or the year after, it will be time to use the army."

"Father, you are wise." Sima Shi thought for a moment and said, "Then we should do what needs to be done this year as soon as possible. There should be no delay. Wouldn't it be the best time to take over after Lord Xin returns in autumn and winter?"

"Hmm." Sima Yi stroked his beard and said nothing. (End of this chapter)