The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 225 Using the Past to Discuss the Present
Shi Tao was initially puzzled.

But seeing the ambiguous smile on Xu Shu's face, he suddenly realized what was happening and exclaimed in surprise:
"You want me... to defect to the Han?"

Realizing her lapse in composure, she quickly pursed her lips.

But his gaze was fixed on Xu Shu, full of suspicion.

Xu Shu feigned a laughing and scolding expression:
"What nonsense are you talking about!"

"What I mean is, if you are unfortunately captured, you can use Kongming's name to save your life!"

"Now he is Liu Bei's Chancellor and Grand Secretary, holding a high position and wielding great power. Isn't that enough to save your life?"

"Given our past friendship with him in Xiangyang, do you think he wouldn't be willing to protect you?"

"Of course, if you insist on dying for your principles, I won't stop you. I will take care of your wife and children for you."

Shi Tao's expression softened slightly.

But the thought of my old friend now holding a high position in the government comes to mind.

The country he was in now spanned nearly four provinces, enough to rival the State of Wei... His thoughts inevitably became complicated.

After all, Guan Yu, who was renowned throughout China, was currently eyeing Yingchuan with predatory intent.

This is the place he's going to take up his post!
……

"The general is about to die, why is he still keeping company with beautiful women?"

Looking at Xin Pi's stern, almost unbearably rigid old face, Cao Hong did not get angry, but simply replied lazily:
"I thought Master Xin was a Confucian scholar, but I didn't expect him to also be proficient in the art of diplomacy?"

Sinpi: "...You!"

"Don't be angry, don't be angry!" Cao Hong laughed and ordered a female entertainer beside him to pour wine for Xin Pi.

The latter refused to comply.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he threw the wine cup and the female entertainer to the ground.

Even so, Cao Hong remained cheerful and did not reprimand him for his rudeness.

Seeing his posture, Xinpi suddenly understood:
"Does the general wish to tarnish his own reputation?"

Cao Hong then straightened up slightly:

"The emperor and I have a grudge, and some treacherous officials have risen to power by stepping on me. Yet I have been deeply favored by the late emperor and cannot harbor resentment towards the current emperor... What should I do?"

Xinpi thought to himself, "Just as I thought," and then he also said seriously:
"Throughout history, those who have managed to preserve their integrity have not been able to do so without possessing unparalleled achievements and fame. Examples include Wang Jian of the Qin Dynasty and Xiao He of the Former Han Dynasty."

"Otherwise, it will only give treacherous and wicked people the opportunity to fabricate charges, and they will only end up harming themselves."

"How does the general's achievement compare to that of Wang and Xiao?"

Cao Hong was deeply moved upon hearing this and was momentarily surprised:
"Did Master Xin really also study the art of diplomacy?"

Xinpi gave a cold snort and did not respond.

Cao Hong chuckled, stood up and went forward to greet him, personally helping him to a seat, pouring wine, and offering him a toast.

Then he said:

“I have long known that Lord Xin possesses the wisdom to govern the country. Now, Guan Yu has invaded the Central Plains, and there are treacherous officials in the court. I wish to serve my country, but I do not know where to begin. I wonder what advice Lord Xin may have for me?”

Xin Pi took a small sip of wine and asked in a deep voice:
"Is the general truly only concerned with serving his country and seeking nothing else?"

Cao Hong spread his hands and said:
"I have long since reached the pinnacle of my position. All I desire now is for my descendants and the nation to endure!"

Xinpi: "If that's the case, then I do have a plan."

Cao Hong: "Please do not hesitate to offer your guidance!"

Xin Pi: "He relinquished his command position and then volunteered to serve as the vanguard or rear guard of the army."

Upon hearing this, Cao Hong did not hesitate at all:
"To whom should it be given?"

Xin Pi: "Jia Kui, Governor of Yuzhou!"

Snapped!
Cao Hong clapped his hands.

"To be honest, Master Xin, that's exactly what I was thinking!"

"The problem is that His Majesty dislikes me, so whatever I say is wrong and only delays important matters."

"Now that Lord Xin and I share the same opinion, why don't you speak to His Majesty on my behalf?"

Xin Pi was taken aback, but seeing that Cao Hong did not seem to be faking it, he was overjoyed.

He drank the cup down in one gulp, then bowed and said:
"Only today do I realize the general's loyalty!"

……

The next day.

A memorial requesting the replacement of a general was submitted from Xuchang to Luoyang.

This quickly sparked a new storm in court discussions. Less than three days later, the same issue was brought to Mi Wei's attention.

It quickly sparked heated discussions along the Wancheng-Fangcheng line.

But these are the two key figures at the center of the discussion.

General Cao Hong.

Jia Kui, Governor of Yuzhou.

They all unanimously displayed a low-key and pragmatic attitude.

Cao Hong publicly sealed the tiger tally used to mobilize troops in the Xuchang Palace and entrusted his strategist Xin Pi with its guarding.

He then moved to the military camp outside the city to stay overnight, and never stepped into the city gate again.

Jia Kui, who was only fifty years old, traveled hundreds of miles on horseback to reach Xuchang.

They also did not enter the city, nor did they bathe or change clothes.

Instead, he went straight into Cao Hong's camp and, in the guise of a military advisor, discussed military strategies with the enemy.

Accompanying them was a prominent member of the imperial clan, Marquis Cao Tai of Chen.

He was the eldest son of the late General Cao Ren.

He had previously followed Jia Kui, Zhu Ling, and others to Huainan to intercept and kill Sun Quan, and had made considerable contributions in battle.

Cao Hong was overjoyed and personally went out to greet him.

After both sides entered the tent, Cao Hong voluntarily gave up the main seat.

However, Jia Kui stated that he was not the commander-in-chief of the central army until the king's order was issued, and therefore firmly declined the order.

In the end, they simply left the main seat empty and had everyone sit at the lower level.

In short, after a round of seemingly staged courtesy, both sides figured out each other's attitudes.

So Jia Kui stopped hiding it:

"In my humble opinion, the best time to defeat Guan Yu was three years ago, and the second best time was last year."

"By this year, Wancheng is beyond saving. The only hope is to protect the soldiers. It's just a pity that Liu Bei has capable men under his command!"

Cao Tai, who was standing next to him, frowned subconsciously when he heard what was said three years ago.

However, with the elder and veteran Cao Hong present, it was not appropriate to cause a scene.

Cao Hong nodded heavily, deeply agreeing, and said:
"Since ancient times, in order to defend Nanyang, one must control the Han and Mian rivers to the south, fortify Fangcheng to the north, and then block all the passages in all directions as much as possible, so that one can sit securely in Wancheng."

"Our army lost Xiangfan three years ago. Unless something major happens in Shu, Wancheng will fall into Guan Yu's hands sooner or later... Today, all of this has come true."

"But if Nanyang falls into the hands of the bandits, Guanzhong will inevitably be in grave danger."

"Although I have never studied poetry and books in my life, I have been inspired by the late emperor and have studied military strategy extensively."

“In the past, when the Xin dynasty and the Green Forest factions were fighting for Nanyang, Liu Xuan ordered Liu Yan and others to besiege Wancheng, and ordered Emperor Guangwu of Han and others to go to Kunyang to resist Wang Yi’s army.”

"After this battle, the Green Forest Army amassed a mountain of military supplies, greatly increasing its strength. Less than half a year later, it attacked Chang'an from Danshui and Wuguan, destroying the Xin Dynasty."

"It is evident that once Nanyang is lost, neither Guanzhong nor Luoyang will be at peace."

At this point, Cao Hong glanced at Jia Kui, who had a solemn expression, and then at Cao Tai, whose face was deathly pale.

He said in a deep voice:
"Lord Jia, I am not afraid of being laughed at, but I am not afraid of dying on the battlefield. My only fear is that I will not die as a subject of Wei!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Kui was immediately filled with respect.

He sighed, "If you had been the general in the Battle of Huainan, we wouldn't have had to wait until this year to achieve a great victory, which allowed Liu Bei and Guan Yu to take advantage of us!"

Cao Hong waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to dwell on the past, and that they should only discuss the battles of Wan and Ying.

But Jia Kui already had a plan. Following up on what the other party had just mentioned about the Battle of Kunyang, he offered a half-comforting, half-analytical response:
"The current situation may seem similar to that of the Xin Dynasty, but it is not so."

"The tyrannical rule of the Xin dynasty caused widespread resentment among the people, leading to the rise of numerous warlords across the land, with each person becoming an enemy of the state. Once the strategic pass was lost, the entire regime collapsed."

"Now, since the late emperor established the dynasty, we have been working hard to govern for nearly thirty years. Although we have made some mistakes, we have been able to stabilize the army and the people. We will not lose the whole game just because we lost Nanyang. This is one reason."

"Secondly, although General Xu Gongming failed to expel the main force, he did burn the city and inflict heavy casualties on Guan Yu's troops."

"Therefore, although Guan Yu gained the people and land of Nanyang, he did not capture much military supplies."

“If I were him, I should have taken the next two years to rest and recuperate, instead of rushing to enter the pass and take Chang’an.”

"Thirdly, I heard on the way that Guan Yu intends to implement the civilian settlement policy in Nanyang, similar to our dynasty? If so, then he is even less likely to launch a new war next year!"

"That's true!" Cao Hong immediately replied.

At the same time, the worry on his face disappeared by half, and he praised:
"Your words, sir, are like a good medicine, curing my heart's ailment!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Kui laughed and said, "General, don't be impatient. I've only prescribed the first half of this medicine; the second half is still unprepared!"

(End of this chapter)