The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 318: Using the General to Command the Princes
"Is it okay to just issue an edict like this?"

At this moment, Cao Mao was sitting in the Secretariat, looking at the ministers in front of him.

After Chen Ben returned to the imperial court, the structure of the Secretariat changed again.

Hua Biao served as the Minister of the Central Secretariat, and Chen Ben succeeded him as the Supervisor of the Central Secretariat. These two people came to help Cao Mao draft imperial edicts and issue them.

There is no need to say much about Huabiao. He is one of the few senior and experienced officials among Cao Mao's ministers.

With the support of Cao Mao, his prestige in the court has soared in recent days, and he has become a hot figure in Luoyang.

The reason why Cao Mao wanted to use Chen Ben was that, on the one hand, Chen Ben's clan had just started out and was not very strong, at least not as large as those old and established clans.

On the other hand, it is also because of Chen Ben. He is serious about his work and pays attention to every detail. He is a very down-to-earth and capable person, which is completely different from his brother. Chen Qian is adventurous and does not like to take the ordinary path. He is radical, while Chen Ben is steady.

Cao Mao always felt that these children from prominent families were all cast in the same mold.

The older brother is steady and the younger brother is radical.

Oh, except Sima Anshi.

Then there is always a "brotherly feud".

Moreover, almost everyone of them has been commented on by famous people when they were young and is believed to have great achievements in the future.

Oh, except Sima Anshi.

Anyway, just looking at the experiences of these people, it is as if they were created by the same assembly line industry. It seems that at this moment, the training of children from wealthy families has already had certain rules, and the industry has been well rectified and standardized.

However, Chen Ben is still usable.

This person is still very honest at the moment. As for what will happen to him in the future, at his age, he won't be able to survive for many more years anyway.

Compared to him, his younger brother Chen Qian was a real capable man, proficient in both civil and military affairs. After the matter of the Supreme Court was settled, Cao Mao was ready to take Chen Qian to attack the Kingdom of Shu.

In fact, at this moment, Wei had a great advantage over Shu and Wu.

Let’s not talk about population or food, but just talk about military strength.

When Zhuge Ke of Wu attacked Wei, he mobilized 200,000 people, which almost drained all of Wu's capital. Historical records show that: 200,000 people were mobilized in many prefectures and counties, and the people were in turmoil, and Wu began to lose the support of the people.

In other words, the State of Wu could barely muster an army of 200,000 despite its frantic military expansion.

However, these 200,000 people were blocked in Hefei by Zhang Te, a subordinate of Guanqiu Jian, with only 3,000 men. Cough cough, they were given away anyway.

If the State of Wu were to send out an army now, at most 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers, if it sent more than that, the local aristocratic families would start to curse.

At this moment, the total military strength of the Wu State fluctuated around 150,000.

As for the Shu Kingdom, its military strength should have been close to 150,000 at its peak. Although the Shu Kingdom has been actively attacking the Wei Kingdom over the years, the attacks have not achieved much success.

On the contrary, due to years of war, the domestic situation has become increasingly worse, and the country is constantly eroding its existing financial resources.

Their total military strength now fluctuates around 100,000.

As for Cao Wei, you have to remember that even after the Guanqiu Jian uprising, Sima Zhao was still able to mobilize 260,000 troops to attack Zhuge Dan, and there were still nearly 180,000 troops on the defense lines in various places.
The total military strength of Cao Wei could reach about 500,000.

Of course, this is when all the troops guarding the border and cultivating land are included.

If it was just a normal mobilization, Cao Wei could mobilize an army of nearly 300,000 people at this moment.

After all, in history, Sima Zhao, after launching civil wars against Guanqiu Jian and Zhuge Dan, was still able to mobilize nearly 180,000 people to attack the Kingdom of Shu. Later, Sima Yan was able to mobilize more than 200,000 people to attack the Kingdom of Wu.

Although Emperor Wen of Wei was incompetent, his policy of defense and cultivation did play a significant role. It can be said that he had both merits and faults. Moreover, Wei State originally occupied the richest land and the largest population. After a long confrontation, the gap in strength among the three parties would naturally become larger and larger.

Cao Mao even felt that if Guanqiu Jian was made the chief commander at this moment and was paired with a great team consisting of Zhong Hui, Chen Qian, Hu Fen, Chen Tai, Wen Yang, Ma Long, Deng Ai, Wang Ji, Yang Hu, Zhou Tai, Sima Jun, Sima Wang, Du Yu and others.

He was able to defeat Shu Han.

No matter what, it's 500,000 versus 100,000, the advantage is on me!
Jiang Wei was a good fighter, but he was not a god. If Zhuge Liang were the commander-in-chief, Cao Mao would still be worried about accidents.

But if it is Jiang Wei, his character is worthy of respect, but to be frank, he can't even deal with Chen Tai and Sima Wang.

It would be better to expect Liu Bei to be reborn with the Five Tiger Generals than to expect him to defeat this group with extremely inferior forces.

However, this was just Cao Mao's idea after all.

Unification is certain, but the process will be tortuous.

Cao Mao had to first pacify the traitors in the country and accept Sima Shi's inheritance before he could consider the cause of unification.

Besides, I'm afraid these traitors in the temple will not agree to my going to war.

Cao Mao knew very well what these bastards were thinking.

After conquering Shu and Wu, they could not reach the local areas, and the local interests were still monopolized by the local clans, while they could come to the temple to compete with them for rights.

When personal and clan interests outweigh the interests of the world, they are unwilling to see the unification of the world.

Moreover, the major clans of various countries often interact with each other and trade openly or secretly. If the world is unified, they may suffer many losses that cannot be seen in public.

After defeating Sima Zhao, now it is time to have the fun of conquering the legacy.

Cao Mao looked at the two ministers in front of him.

Hua Biao looked at the imperial edict and asked suspiciously, "Why did Your Majesty insist on summoning these two people to the temple?" "Because these two people are extremely important to me."

Huabiao didn't ask any more questions. Chen Ben on the side looked at the imperial edict in his hand thoughtfully.

The emperor came to the Secretariat today and expressed his thoughts. He issued edicts and orders in the name of the emperor and General Wei respectively, asking Deng Ai, the governor of Yanzhou, and Wang Ji, the governor of Jingzhou, to return to the temple to pay homage to the emperor.

They are all Sima family's confidants. If they were asked to come purely by the emperor's edict, it is hard to say whether they would have any reservations.

But since General Wei and the Emperor have given the order, they will definitely come.

Cao Mao was in a very good mood at the moment.

This is what it means to use the general to command the princes.

Now that Sima Zhao is in his hands, he can issue all kinds of orders in the name of Sima Zhao. He can mobilize the subordinates of the Sima family at will. Do these people dare to oppose General Sima?
Not only personnel transfers, but many war orders can also be issued in the name of General Wei.

If there is any merit, it belongs to the executor; if there is any mistake, it belongs to General Wei.

How cool it is.

No wonder powerful officials since ancient times have liked to support a puppet emperor and do things in their name.

At this moment, Cao Mao finally achieved his goal. He really had a general who was almost a puppet in his hands, and he could use the general to mobilize Sima Shi's troops at will.

When Deng Ai arrived in Luoyang, he would bring Sima Zhao with him to greet him.

When the time comes, Sima Zhao will have to say whatever he wants to do.

In this way, he gradually took on the rich legacy left by Sima Shi.

Sima Zhao will then experience what he had experienced before. It is not just about being imprisoned. It will make you understand what it feels like to be a puppet, to be used and humiliated!

Cao Mao couldn't help but smile.

He then thought of the other members of the Sima family.

"And Hu Fen, let him come too!"

Huabiao and Chen Ben listened to the emperor's instructions, and they probably understood the emperor's thoughts.

At this moment, Chen Ben finally understood why the emperor did not kill Sima Zhao. Over the years, he had seen powerful ministers sideline the emperor and use the emperor to command the world, but this was the first time he saw an emperor sideline the powerful minister and then use the powerful minister to command the world.

I've never seen this before.

Looking at his majesty's past actions, it seems like something only a powerful official would do!

At this moment, His Majesty finally stopped pretending and decided to be a powerful official.

Will there be another incident of deposing and enthroning a general in the future?

Cao Mao handed the matter over to the two of them, and then looked at the young talents in the Secretariat.

Wei Guan.

Wei Guan had never seen the emperor before. From the beginning, he stood not far away, secretly looking at the emperor in front of him.

Cao Mao smiled and waved at him, "Why don't you come closer and take a look?"

Wei Guan was shocked and quickly walked up to Cao Mao, bowing and apologizing.

Cao Mao laughed and said, "Stand up! I've heard of you a long time ago. You're a talented person in the Secretariat, eloquent and bold in writing. Why are you so timid today?"

Wei Guan is worthy of being Wei Jie's grandfather. Although he is not as good as Pei Kai, he is also very good.

It is obvious at first glance that he is a talented person who can be recognized by Zhong Hui.

Wei Guan quickly replied, "I am overwhelmed by the opportunity to meet the Holy King."

Cao Mao gave him a seat and started chatting with him.

When Cao Mao asked about the affairs of the imperial court, Wei Guan answered fluently without any hesitation. He was a man of real talent and hard work, and his reputation was well-deserved.

"Lord Hua told me that you have been in charge of most of the Zhongshutai's tasks these days, and you have done a very good job."

"Earlier, I was truly exhausted, and the Secretariat was the first to share the heavy responsibilities with me."

"I will record your merits first, and when you make great achievements again, I will reward you as well!"

Wei Guan naturally hurried to express his gratitude.

Cao Mao then asked, "Jiang Wei is causing rebellion in Yongliang and frequently invading, causing great hardship for the people. What do you think should be done about this?"

Huabiao and Chen Ben looked at Wei Guan beside them with serious expressions.

Wei Guan said seriously: "If Your Majesty wants to pacify Shu, it is not a difficult task."

"But now is not the best time."

"Your Majesty, please appease the generals and officials in various places first, then reorganize the Wei army. After a year, you can send troops to attack Shu."

"By then, Jiang Wei's attempt to stop the Heavenly Army would be like hitting a rock with an egg!"

(End of this chapter)