Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Recommend, can we recommend someone who may be crowned king?

Pei Qian coughed lightly and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."

"Speak." Cao Rui responded calmly.

Pei Qian said, "Your Majesty, I think this is a little premature. Governor Jiang said he wanted 50,000 naval troops, but he also said he wanted a total of 200,000 infantry and cavalry and 50,000 naval troops. Your Majesty, if we want to coordinate this scale, it will take at least a year. Isn't it better to take a long-term view?"

Cao Rui shook his head. "Two hundred thousand infantry and cavalry is easy. It's nothing more than a few routes of troops. Jingzhou can send out sixty or seventy thousand, Wancheng can send out another twenty thousand, and Yangzhou can send out 110,000 or 120,000. That's enough to make up two hundred thousand. I have led 110,000 or 120,000 troops before. It's nothing strange. With a slightly wiser commander and enough military advisors, it will be easy to lead them."

"But 50,000 naval forces are different. How to deploy the ships, how to understand the commander's intentions, what to do when it's windy or rainy, how to advance, how to pursue, how to defend, every one of them is different from the land."

"I want to select this person by the middle of this year. When Chaohu General builds a ship, the navy will have one more ship, and we will start training. When all the ships are built, the soldiers will be trained as well. In short, the navy is different from the land infantry and cavalry, and it is more difficult."

Since we have to recommend candidates, it is safest to recommend people in high positions. Even if they fail, we won't make a mistake.

Pei Qian was about to push Cao Zhen out, but Xu Shu took a half step forward and recommended himself, saying, "Your Majesty, I would like to recommend myself to lead the navy to fight against the Wu army!"

Cao Rui glanced at Xu Shu and shook his head slightly: "I am not saying that Xu Qing cannot lead the army, but that Xu Qing is not suitable."

"Naval warfare is full of uncertainties and much more difficult than land warfare. When Xu Qing led the troops in Jingzhou in the fourth year of Taihe, I saw how he led the troops. Xu Qing was cautious in battle. Although he did not dare to take risks, it was a prudent move. I admire Xu Qing's courage, but you are indeed not suitable."

"I understand." Xu Shu bowed.

Xu Shu was eager to try, but the emperor easily rejected his proposal with just two or three words.

Seeing this, Pei Qian had to be more careful: "Your Majesty, since the battle against Wu on the water is of utmost importance, why not ask the general to lead the navy? If the naval battle is victorious, the army in Jiangbei will have to cross the river to the south, and the general can return to command the land army at any time."

"General?" Cao Rui still shook his head and said, "General can command land battles. I don't think he can fight on water."

Pei Qian recommended Cao Zhen, but the emperor rejected him for the same reason that Cao Zhen was not good at naval warfare.

Pei Qian thought secretly in his heart that the Wei Dynasty currently had no generals who specialized in naval warfare. From Cao Zhen, Man Chong, Chen Qun to Guo Huai, Wang Chang, Zhu Gai, Huan Fan, Tian Yu and other generals, none of them had experience in naval warfare.

The only person who knows how to fight on water is still in Qinzhou and has just taken over the post of General Zhenxi. Obviously, this person is Lu Xun, the General Zhenxi of Wei, Marquis of Wu, and your majesty's brother-in-law. But when your majesty persuaded Lu Xun to surrender, he clearly promised not to let Lu Xun participate in the war against Wu. After all, Lu Xun was a surrendered general of Wu, so his credibility is still questionable.

After Xu and Pei spoke, Wang Su also cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I think you can order the Right Supervisor of the Privy Council Liu Ye to lead the troops. Liu Ye is a man of wisdom and resourcefulness, and he is trustworthy."

"Liu Ye?" Cao Rui heard an unexpected answer: "Commanding the navy requires assessing the situation and responding flexibly. Although I didn't think of him, Wang Qing's words do make some sense."

"Let's wait and see."

"Yes." Wang Su responded.

"Where is Lu Qing?" Cao Rui looked at Lu Yu again.

Lu Yu said, "Your Majesty, I only remember that when Your Majesty appointed Wang Chang as the governor of Yingzhou, you told me that he would be of great use in the future. Now the Wei Dynasty lacks good naval commanders. In terms of wisdom, courage, and prudence, Wang Chang is not inferior to other generals. I think he can be transferred back."

Cao Rui also smiled at this time: "Wang Chang? He is also a good choice. Lu Qing, please remember that after returning to Shouchun, I will personally write a letter to Wang Chang to ask his attitude towards this matter."

"As you wish, I will take note of it."

……

Lu Ya did not break his promise after all. Lu Xun and Lu Mao were exiled to Jiaozhou, but the Lu family had been a big family in Wujun for many years. There were still hundreds of people in other branches of the clan. In addition, their properties were not confiscated, so it was more than enough to come up with a hundred taels of gold.

Hu Du was roughly located in the western part of Shanghai in later generations. After Lu's people handed over the gold here, Ou Kui sailed north and traveled for several days before arriving at Haixi County, Guangling County, Yangzhou.

Ou Kui was indeed a trustworthy man. As soon as he landed, he threw a bag filled with dry food and water hose to Lu Ya. After smiling and waving goodbye to Lu Ya, he set sail and headed south without stopping for a moment. Lu Ya had no choice but to walk towards Haixi City on foot. After three hours, he finally arrived outside the city. He used copper coins to open the way and found local officials, and then he met the local county magistrate.

Hearing that it was a surrender from Wu, the magistrate of Haixi County did not dare to neglect it and immediately led Lu Ya to Huaiyin to meet Xiahou Xian, who had stopped the rebellion of the Xianbei in Pengcheng. Even though Lu Ya was in Wu, he knew the status of the Xiahou family in Wei. After telling Lu Ya everything in his heart, Xiahou Xian did not hesitate and took Lu Ya to Shouchun on a fast horse.

When Xiahou Xian arrived in Shouchun, it was already midnight on April 20th.

"Open the gate quickly and let me in! I am General Xiahou Xian of Tiger Teeth!" Xiahou Xian and his entourage of fifty riders arrived outside the east gate of Shouchun City. Xiahou Xian reined in his horse and shouted to the soldiers outside the city.

"Greetings, General!" Du Bo, who was guarding outside the city, did not dare to neglect him: "General, you should know that the Central Army has a curfew in Shouchun City. No one is allowed to pass after dark. I hope the General will forgive me."

Xiahou Xian didn't get angry, he just snorted: "You are a duke, you are a responsible man, how dare you talk to me like this. I won't make it difficult for you, who is in charge of the city defense tonight? Which general among Wen, Cheng, Cao, and Wang?"

The four people Xiahou Xian was questioning were Wen Qin, Cheng Xi, Cao Tai and Wang Ling.

Du Bo bent down even lower and whispered, "General, the Yulin Left Army is responsible for the city defense tonight."

"Well, send someone to tell Wen Zhongruo that I, Xiahou Xian, have arrived at night with urgent military information and need to see the general! Go quickly and don't delay things!"

Xiahou Xian glanced at the guard beside him. The guard understood, got off the horse, took out a golden bead from his bosom and stuffed it into the hand of the city guard Du Bo: "Thank you for your help."

"Thank you for the reward, General. Please wait a moment."

Soon, Wen Qin came to the top of the city wall, talked with Xiahou Xian for a few words, and then lifted Xiahou Xian up with a rope and a wooden basket.

"Kang Ren, it is His Majesty's order not to enter the city after dark, and I dare not disobey." Wen Qin patted Xiahou Xian's arm and said, "Thank you for your help. What can I do for you?"

Xiahou Xian laughed heartily a few times and pointed at a man under the city: "Brother Zhongruo, did you see that man?"

"That scholar?" Wen Qin frowned.

"That's right." Xiahou Xian said, "He is a member of the Wujun Lu family. Lu Boyan is his uncle. Sun Quan killed Lu Boyan's brother and exiled his direct descendants to Jiaozhou. That's why the Lu family sent people to communicate with the Wei Dynasty."

"Is that so? Come on, come on, hang that man up as well."

Wen Qin greeted the soldiers beside him and became interested. He put his hands on his hips and said, "Isn't it said that Sun Quan has always been friendly with the Jiangdong nobles? Why did he start killing people?"

"Who knows?" Xiahou Xian shook his head: "I brought him here from Huaiyin in a hurry, thinking that maybe the Central Committee would find something useful."

Wen Qin nodded: "Okay, take him directly to see the general, no need to go to the Privy Council."

"Who's going to the Privy Council?" Xiahou Xian smiled and replied, "Okay, thank you, Brother Zhongruo."

Wen Qin smiled and said, "You and I are brothers, there is no need to say these polite words."

Ten fast horses galloped from the west gate of Shouchun towards the general's residence. After calling the doorman, the butler woke up Cao Zhen. Cao Zhen put on his outer robe and came to the main hall of the mansion to meet the two men in person.

After Xiahou Xian told him what he knew, Cao Zhen stared at Lu Ya expressionlessly: "Who are you? Tell me what you know again."

"I pay my respects to the great general." Lu Ya kowtowed again: "My name is Lu Ya, my courtesy name is Mengjiang, Lu Boyan and Lu Zizhang are my uncles..."

As Lu Ya elaborated word by word, Sun Quan did not attend court in Jianye, Prime Minister Gu Yong was confined to his house, school affairs were rampant, and Lu Mao was sentenced to death...

After hearing this, Cao Zhen calmly said, "So, you want to use the power of Wei to avenge Lu?" (End of this chapter)