Three Kingdoms, I'm really not a general!

Chapter 530 It turns out to be you!

Zhong Yao walked very fast and arrived in front of Cao Pi almost at the same time as Xu Huang.

Cao Pi was still fighting with Sima Yi when he saw Xu Huang and Zhong Yao coming together. He immediately knew that trouble was coming.

Although he is now the emperor, Cao Pi is still young and naturally not as cunning as his father.

Before anyone could say anything, a somewhat irritated expression appeared on his face, and he asked the two, "My dear ministers, why are you here instead of abiding by your position?"

Xu Huang could naturally hear Cao Pi's impatience, but the situation at Hangu Pass was at stake.

We have come all the way here and have wasted enough time, and we can’t delay any longer!

Then he bowed straight and said, "Your Majesty!"

"Please save the soldiers at Hangu Pass!"

Cao Pi frowned when he heard this and asked suspiciously, "General Xu, I sent you with Cao Xiu because I was afraid that Hangu Pass would be lost. Why are you coming here to ask for help now?"

Xu Huang said: "Your Majesty's envoys are stationed at the pass, and they will not hesitate to risk their lives to fight to the death against the enemy."

"But if there is no food in the army and no supplies from outside, even if the enemy does not attack, the pass will fall by itself."

Cao Pi frowned even more deeply after hearing this.

He glanced at Zhong Yao who was listening silently beside him, and then asked Xu Huang: "General Xu, the food and grass supplies are provided by the rear, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Xu Huang was stunned when he heard this, and then he realized that something was wrong.

Just as he was about to talk about the shortage of food and fodder in Yecheng, Zhong Yao took the initiative.

But he said: "Your Majesty, this old minister is still clear about this matter."

"Hangu Pass did come to ask for food and fodder, but the food and fodder collected by the court are all for your majesty to use to quell the rebellion, and cannot be moved easily."

"Besides, Your Majesty has personally ordered Guanzhong to raise its own food and grass."

"So I, this old minister, discussed with the Grand Marshal and decided to let Hangu Pass handle this matter on its own, and not supply any grain."

Zhong Yao's words reminded Cao Pi of something.

Not bad!

I did say that I should prepare some food and fodder at Hangu Pass.

but…

At that time, this desperate measure was indeed taken because of the fear that the war to quell the rebellion would become more intense.

Besides, although the imperial court supplied grain and fodder to himself, there should still be grain in other places.

It is not difficult to ask Hangu Pass to raise food and fodder on its own.

He nodded and said, "Yes, I did issue a military order."

"General Xu, you can just follow my orders and prepare food and fodder from everywhere."

When Xu Huang heard this, he realized that the crux of the matter really lay with Cao Pi, and his heart sank.

If that's the case...it's likely that all the time wasted today would be in vain.

But now that we're here, we might as well say everything that needs to be said.

Xu Huang put aside all the burdens in his heart, raised his head suddenly, looked straight at Cao Pi and said: "Your Majesty! We are out of food!"

"The imperial court's collection is too harsh. They want to collect both grain and money."

"The money collected is only the new currency from the South."

"In order to raise the tax revenue, Henan Yin Sima Zhi had no choice but to sell the remaining grain and grass at a low price."

"As a result... there is really no food left!"

Cao Pi's heart skipped a beat when he heard this.

He knew that this required raising money.

After all, what is the purpose of raising money? Isn't it to buy more grain from the South on the "black market"?

The result is good. We can sell the grain at a low price and then buy it back at a high price!
This whole trip... I don't know how much I lost!
Furthermore, if there are corrupt officials among them, the loss will be even greater!
At this point, no matter how slow Cao Pi was in reacting, how could he not know that he had fallen into a trap?
I was secretly wondering in my heart: "How did I fall into these interlocking calculations?"

"From the new currency to the temporary shortage of food and fodder, it seems that I have been following Liu Bei's plan step by step!" Although Cao Pi did feel that something was wrong, he could not figure it out for the time being.

The key point at the moment is to solve the dilemma of Hangu Pass first.

In fact, it is not just Hangu Pass. The Qingxu front and the Xuchang front are all facing the crisis of food shortage.

It was just a checkpoint and was the first to break out.

Cao Pi closed his eyes and frowned. After an unknown amount of time, he made the decision amidst the anxiety of everyone!
"There is no other way today. If we continue to fight Sima Yi here, we will not be able to resist Liu Bei's army."

"If Hangu Pass is lost, the lands of Sili and Yanzhou will all be in danger!"

"I want to negotiate peace with them personally and ask them to divide their troops and go to Chang'an."

"It would be better if the day I perish would be the day Sima Yi dies!"

When everyone heard that they were going to negotiate peace with the rebels, they found it hard to accept for a moment.

Negotiating peace with the rebels is simply unheard of and unimaginable!
But if you think about it carefully, this is indeed the only way.

If he fought with Sima Yi again, unless he could quickly eliminate his forces, he would be defeated one by one by Liu Bei.

On the contrary...if Sima Yi can still counterattack Chang'an as Your Majesty said, it would be a good thing!
Friend or foe...sometimes it is not eternal.

What Cao Pi said was so reasonable and well-founded. Although everyone was a little surprised by the idea, no one objected.

Until a voice came out and said, "Your Majesty, you must not do this!"

"The Sima family is a traitor! How can we compromise with them?"

"We should quickly wipe them out to boost morale, then head south with all our strength to pacify Liu Bei."

"If we negotiate peace with them, and the rest of the people follow the example of the Sima family, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

"Your Majesty! Think again!"

I have to say that Zhong Yao's sincere words do make some sense.

Especially the last paragraph, which says that some people will imitate Sima's rebellion, does make some sense.

Therefore, Cao Pi and everyone else did not hear anything unusual and just thought that Zhong Yao was truly loyal.

Cao Pi even advised: "What Lord Yuan Chang said is correct, but..."

"The current situation is such that we can only use this as a temporary measure and cannot continue to be brave for the rest of our lives."

"I think...if my father were still alive, he would make the same arrangement."

When Zhong Yao heard that Cao Pi was really planning to negotiate peace with Sima Yi, he thought to himself that this was not good!

It would be best for Liu Bei if Cao Pi and Sima Yi fought against each other.

Thinking of this, Zhong Yao began to exert his strength again.

But he said: "Your Majesty... Even if the situation is like this, we can't really negotiate peace with the Sima family!"

"No, no, absolutely not!"

Zhong Yao again gave bitter advice.

Xu Huang looked at it and thought that His Majesty's decision was a good one.

If we negotiate peace, there will be food and fodder supplies at Hangu Pass.

He immediately stepped forward and said, "Lord Yuan Chang, I understand your feelings, but His Majesty said that this is only a temporary measure."

"As for the march, your majesty has his own plans, so don't give him any more suggestions."

Xu Huang had good intentions in giving advice, but after he said this, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind!
"wrong!"

"If you say that Zhong Yao doesn't know military affairs, how could he not know since he was originally guarding Tongguan?"

"You should be familiar with the military situation, but why are you trying so hard to persuade Your Majesty today?"

"Could it be... this guy is loyal on the outside but treacherous at heart?"

An idea suddenly flashed through Xu Huang's mind!
(End of this chapter)