As soon as Cao Rui finished speaking, all the ministers in the hall stood up and bowed in response. However, Cao Rui did not have much excitement about going to the battle at this moment. His heart was filled with solemnity and consideration. There is no other reason, there are just too many things to do. War is a systematic project, one move affects the whole body, so we have to be careful. Fortunately, the court at that time was full of talented people and there was no shortage of wise and capable ministers to assist. As soon as Cao Zhen straightened up, he cupped his hands and said, "Since your majesty has given the order, please allow me to go to the Wuwei camp now to supervise the expedition." Cao Rui nodded slightly: "Then I'll trouble you, General, to go first. If there is a military emergency ahead, you can make the decision yourself and don't need to send an envoy to ask me in advance!" "May I find someone to serve as an advisor to the general?" Cao Rui turned to look at Du Xi, who was sitting behind several attendants, and asked, "Mr. Du, you served in Guanxi for a long time during the Jian'an period. Would you be willing to serve as the general's military advisor today and go west with us?" Du Xi was already in his sixties, of medium height and slightly fat, but his appearance was unremarkable. But as soon as Du Xi opened his mouth, Cao Rui's eyes lit up. "It is my duty to serve my country faithfully, but I have a few questions. Please ask Your Majesty in person before I leave." Cao Rui was a little surprised: "What do you want to ask, Mr. Du? Now that everyone is here, I will definitely give you an answer."
Du Xi bowed and asked, "Your Majesty, do you intend to go to Longyou in person?" The study suddenly became quiet again. Cao Zhen on the side also noticed that the emperor had just said that he wanted to follow him and head to Chang'an the next day, but he did not say whether he wanted to go to Longyou! Seeing Cao Zhen's puzzled look, Cao Rui said slowly: "I originally wanted to talk about it in Chang'an, but since Du Qing asked, if Longyou still needs help after Qian Zhao and the general, I will lead the troops there in person." "Before I arrived in Longyou, the general was in charge of the war in Longyou." Even the emperor had to go to Longyou himself, and at this time no one cared whether it was an infringement on Zhang He's authority to "supervise the military affairs of Yongliang." Du Xi asked again: "May I ask how Your Majesty wants the battle in Longyou to turn out?" Cao Rui's expression became serious: "What does Du Qing mean?" Du Xi explained: "Should we fight for every county, or should we try to delay the enemy and wait for the imperial army to arrive?" Cao Rui waved his hand and said, "I know what Lord Du is going to say. But now is not the time to discuss how to hold out. We must first withstand this wave and protect Longshan Road and Shanggui. This is the top priority. We can discuss other matters later." "I worried too much." Du Xi responded with a hint of apology. "It's alright." Cao Rui said calmly, "I want you to leave in such a hurry that there is no time to consider many things and strategies." "You go first. If I want to change anything, I will send someone to inform you in time." Cao Zhen and Du Xi both stood up to say goodbye. Cao Rui also stood up from behind the desk and escorted them out of the study. At this time, the sky was already slightly bright. Cao Rui took a long breath and turned back to the study. After entering the house, Cao Rui immediately made an assignment: "Reinstate Shangshu Zuo Pushe Wei Zhen as Sili Xiaowei, and let him stay in Luoyang with Weiwei Dong Zhao." "Your servant Wei Zhen (Dong Zhao) obeys your order." The two men responded with a bow. "Master Wei, go to the Secretariat now and issue urgent orders to all the counties and prefectures along the way from Luoyang to Chang'an to ensure the army's westward advance." "Send a message to Pingyang, Hedong, and Hongnong counties to immediately transfer the stored grain to Chang'an!"
"Yes, sir!" Wei Zhen took the order and turned to leave. "Mr. Dong! Go and give orders to Chen Qun now, and have him send 10,000 foreign troops to Chang'an immediately. Then order the troops from Sili and Yanzhou to gather and be ready to go, and have the arsenal make arrangements." "I obey your order!" Dong Zhao saluted and then walked out slowly. "Qin Lang!" Cao Rui looked at the trusted man who was in charge of the palace guards and said, "You don't have to go on this expedition. Just stay in the palace and guard it well, and don't make any mistakes." Qin Lang, who was usually taciturn, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry, I am here." Cao Rui nodded slightly. "The rest of you, the four attendants, and the chancellor." Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi and said, "Follow me on this expedition! You still have one day to take care of your family affairs, and you will set out with the army at dawn tomorrow." Everyone agreed one after another. However, when everyone said goodbye and left, Sima Yi stayed and seemed to have something to say. Cao Rui also noticed it and asked, "Sikong, do you have anything else to tell me? Is there anything wrong?" Sima Yi cupped his hands and said, "I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not." Cao Rui narrowed his eyes and looked at Sima Yi, then shook his head and said, "Is there anything inappropriate to say at this time?" Sima Yi said: "I remember that your Majesty went to Huainan last year, probably in early December." "Your Majesty has been away from Luoyang for three months, and some trouble has occurred in Luoyang. We still have to be on guard." Sima Yi looked down at the ground and said softly, "Perhaps Your Majesty can bring Prince Yongqiu with you to accompany the army." Cao Rui sighed softly: "Sikong is very thoughtful! How about this, Sikong will send someone to tell Prince Yongqiu to let him go with me tomorrow and help me manage literature." "He can write a manifesto or draft a notice." Sima Yi did not reply, but nodded in response. Cao Rui continued, "Prince, this is a reminder to me. There are a hundred students graduating from the Imperial Academy this year, right?" Sima Yi nodded: "That's right. These 100 Imperial College students have not yet been appointed to official positions. They live in Luozhong with the three official students." Cao Rui said: "Only a hundred people, they can be assigned to various armies to assist in military affairs, and those who know nothing can be sent to do odd jobs." "I understand. I will inform you later." Sima Yi replied. With an urgent military report sent by Qian Zhao from Chang'an, the city of Luoyang at the end of the first year of Taihe was stirred up in one morning. Regarding this sudden war, especially the defense of Longyou, the general mood was optimistic, from important officials to grassroots military officers in the central army. Having just won in Huainan at the beginning of the year, wouldn’t the chance of winning be higher if we fight the weaker Shu Han at the end of the year? Moreover, the current emperor was so generous. After returning from the battle at the beginning of the year, almost all the two thousand stone officials in the central army became marquises of Guannei, and the gold and silk rewards they received were extremely generous. The enthusiasm for war was even higher. From December 4th to December 5th, within this short period of one day, from Tianshui in the west to Luoyang in the east, all were mobilized to prepare for the attack of the Shu army. But in Shanggui City, Guo Huai was in a more serious mood. There were simply too many Shu troops outside the city. The Shu army did not cross the river near Shanggui City. Even the Shu army that was stationed six miles east of Shanggui yesterday afternoon only crossed the river carefully with full vigilance and headed north to Longshan Road, with no intention of stopping at all.
As the governor of Yongzhou and entrusted by Zhang He to be in charge of military affairs in Longyou, Guo Huai must have done something at this time. "Envoy Guo is going to set up a camp outside the city?" Lu Pan looked at Guo Huai with an expression of disbelief. "That's right, we are setting up a camp outside the city." Guo Huai and Lu Pan stood side by side on the top of the city wall, looking at the vast fields on the other side of the Wei River. Shanggui City is located north of the Wei River, built against the mountains on the east and north sides, and only one mile away from the Wei River to the south of the city. If the enemy army besieged Shanggui, they would have to cross the Wei River and set up camp on the north bank, but they would not have much room to maneuver. Lu Pan was also confused by this and raised his doubts to Guo Huai. Guo Huai said softly to Lu Pan beside him: "Look, this large group of Shu troops in the east are moving so fast, they must be trying to seize the Longshan Road with General Zuo and block the reinforcements from Guanzhong of the Great Wei." "And the Shu army heading north doesn't seem to have any connection with the Shu army still under our city. Otherwise, with the two forces working together, they could have surrounded us yesterday." Lu Pan frowned and asked, "So, Envoy Guo wants to defeat this Shu army in a field battle?" "No, no." Guo Huai waved his hands repeatedly: "Shanggui City is so well built, why should I waste my lives in a field battle with the Shu army?" "There are only 3,000 foreign troops and 1,500 county soldiers in Shanggui City. If one of them can defeat three or four Shu troops in defending the city, how can they throw away their lives in a field battle?" Lu Pan was even more confused: "What does the envoy mean? I really don't understand." Guo Huai asked: "Do you think that if we talk about the vanguard among the Shu army, is the Shu army with thousands of people across the Wei River the vanguard, or is it the one heading north?" Lu Pan said: "Of course the Shu army heading north is the vanguard, and must be more elite!" Guo Huai asked again: "Then do you think that this Shu army of several thousand people, which is not that elite, can know the strength of our city?" Lu Pan shook his head: "He is not a god, how can he know?" "That's right." Guo Huai clenched his fist and hammered the top of the city wall fiercely, gritting his teeth and said, "I want to bet that they don't know the strength of Shanggui!" "General Lu, I will lead all 3,000 foreign troops out, and 3,000 civilians out of the city." "Go three miles west of the city and build a camp that can hold 10,000 people, and put up flags all over it!" Guo Huai said with a smile: "Do you think the thousands of Shu troops on the other side will dare to attack? They must wait for support from the rear before they dare to cross the river!" Lu Pan sighed, "Your Excellency's brilliant plan will surely make the Shu army suspicious. But then again, how many days can your bluffing strategy buy for Shanggui City?" Guo Huai took a deep breath and said, "According to the current situation, we can send 20,000 vanguards to Longshan Road, and the Shu army will have at least 20,000 to 30,000 more." "Shanggui will be surrounded for sure. Even if we can delay it for one or two days, it will be good. Fortunately, you and I wrote to General Zuo yesterday, asking him to suspend the advance." "The real opportunity for battle is not in Shanggui where you and I are, but in Longdao where General Zuo passed by!" After saying that, Guo Huai patted Lu Pan's shoulder heavily and said, "Now there are only you and me in the city. You guard the city, and I will lead the people to the outside of the city to 'bluff'!" Seeing that Lu Pan seemed to want to say something, Guo Huai smiled and said, "I know. If the situation is critical, I will return to the city immediately. Don't worry." Lu Pan nodded solemnly. (End of this chapter)