"What about Yuan Ming (Qin Lang)?"

Cao Zhao asked again.

He and Qin Lang are political allies, if the guards of Huangxian County are replaced, Qin Lang leads the army outside, and he serves the king inside, the plan to echo each other will inevitably be affected.

Cao Rui smiled when he heard this, but he misunderstood what Cao Zhao meant, and saw a look of appreciation in his eyes, "I didn't expect you to be so affectionate, and you can still think of him at this time." ”

Speaking of this, he sighed again, "After Zhang He's death, I realized that many of the generals in the army today are still left by Emperor Wu at that time. ”

"These generals are not young now, so we have to plan ahead. Zhang He also said that Asu (Qin Lang's nickname) is quite strategic, but he is still young and has little qualifications. ”

"If you practice a lot, you will definitely achieve something, so I thought it would be a good idea to keep him in the army, what do you think?"

When Cao Zhao heard this, a stone in his heart fell to the ground, and he followed Cao Rui's back hand to get closer to Cao Rui, and asked, "Then who does Your Majesty plan to let guard Wei County?" ”

Cao Rui smiled confidently, "Although Zhang He didn't say it explicitly, I already know who he means." ”

"Who?"

"Wen Ping was originally a person from Jingzhou, and Emperor Wu asked him to garrison Jiangxia, which is to use the strength of people to calm the hearts of the people, and now it has been 20 years, and he has repeatedly defeated Eastern Wu, and his reputation shocked the enemy country, so he can't be moved lightly."

"Not to mention the full favor, he has served as the Taishou of Runan several times, and followed Emperor Wu to the south to conquer Jingzhou, when Guan Yu attacked Fancheng, he defended the city, and finally fought back against Guan Yu with the generals."

"It doesn't matter whether it's Jingzhou or Yangzhou, it's not a stranger to Manchu, so if Dongwu wants to divide his troops into five routes to invade the Great Wei, whether he is transferred to Jingzhou or Yangzhou, he can do it."

When Cao Zhao heard this, a gleam flashed in his eyes, "Your Majesty wants to transfer Jia Kui over?" ”

Cao Rui glanced at Cao Zhao and knew what Cao Zhao meant, "Long thought, I know that Da Sima and Jia Kui are not in harmony, but Jia Kui is deeply respected by Emperor Wu and the first emperor, and he is really a good material for the country." ”

"I am close to you, and I believe in Da Sima, and I also hope that you can put state affairs first, write a letter to persuade Da Sima, don't get along with Na Jia Kui again. When the two of them got into an argument, I was in a dilemma. ”

When Cao Zhao heard this, he was taken aback, knowing that the emperor wanted to persuade the adults through himself, so he nodded hurriedly, "Your Majesty's words, I have taken them to heart, and I will write a letter tonight to pass on Your Majesty's meaning to your lordship." ”

"There's no need to be in such a hurry, we have other things to do tonight, and we'll write about it tomorrow."

Cao Rui saw that Cao Zhao was so sensible, and he liked it even more, so he was willing to say more things to him, "In fact, these three people are not Zhang He's candidates, what he really wants to recommend is Guo Huai." ”

When Cao Zhao heard this, a look of surprise appeared on his face, "Why? ”

"In the battle of Hanzhong that year, the main general (Xiahou Yuan) was killed in battle, and there was no leader in the army, Guo Huai took the initiative to nominate Zhang He as the interim commander, and the personal relationship between the two was extraordinary."

"Now that Longyou is lost, it really has to be in accordance with the law of the country, and Guo Huai, as the assassin of Yongzhou, is also responsible. Zhang He's move was just to intercede for Guo Huai. ”

When Cao Zhao heard this, he understood, and said with admiration at the moment, "Your Majesty has a clear understanding. ”

Cao Rui was even happier when he heard Cao Zhao praise him, "Although Zhang He is interceding for Guo Huai, Guo Huai is indeed a good person. Back then, he was able to resist Liu Bei in Hanzhong, and he won the heart of Qianghu in Guanzhong over the years. ”

"Guanzhong Qianghu, a person who regards Guo Huai as a god, if it weren't for Xiahou Nan, I'm afraid that the Longyou War might not become like this. Guo Huai is familiar with the terrain of Guanzhong, so I follow Zhang He's intention and let him assist the general to guard Guanzhong, which is also a good move. ”

Cao Zhao was suddenly surprised, but he thought about it for a while, and said with some worry, "What if someone says that His Majesty is unfair?" ”

"It's not going to be unfair." Cao Rui's eyes flashed with a touch of ruthlessness, "In the battle of Longyou, the lack of food and grass is the root of the defeat, so the former Anxi general Xiahou Nan should be the first crime." ”

"Guo Huaibing is less than a thief, but he can support it for several months, and he has done his best, and he is not to blame for this. Zhang He fought against Shu captives, but he was also defeated by few soldiers, and finally died of injuries and should be rewarded. ”

How could His Majesty the Emperor be at fault?

Zhang He was transferred back to Luoyang from Jingzhou, and then rushed from Luoyang to help Longyou, and now he was injured and died, how can he be too harsh?

Guo Huai has held the city for so long with a small number of troops, if he is punished again, won't it chill the hearts of the soldiers?

Since everything is right, it can only be found to find someone who has made a mistake.

Xiahou Nan sold grain privately, and the crime could be big or small, and his identity was not big or small, which was just right.

"But Your Majesty, General Anxi is the husband of Princess Qinghe after all......"

Hearing that the emperor planned to use Xiahou Nan as a sacrifice, Cao Zhao was taken aback: Princess Qinghe was the daughter of Emperor Wu and the eldest sister of Emperor Wen, and her identity was not trivial.

More importantly, since the death of Xiahou Shang, the general of the Southern Expedition, the year before last, Xiahou Nan is a representative figure of the Xiahou family, and it is difficult for His Majesty to let Xiahou Nan bear the main responsibility for the defeat of Longyou......

Thinking of this, Cao Zhao only felt that his back was a little wet, and even felt that the place touched by the emperor's hand was as hot as iron.

He secretly looked at Cao Rui, only to see that the emperor's face was flickering and dark, and he muttered a sentence in his mouth, "Xiahou ......"

That's right, the Xiahou family and the Cao family were originally one, but as the Cao family became the emperor's family, this unity relationship seems to have undergone subtle changes to this day.

In Cao Rui's opinion, when he first ascended the throne, the Xiahou family should fully support him.

However, Xiahou Xuan, the most famous person in the Xiahou family and the leader of the third generation of the Xiahou family, actually learned from those noble people of the family who boasted of upholding etiquette, and openly opposed his establishment of the Mao family as the queen.

No, even more than those people of a noble family, he actually insulted the queen's brother in public.

This is simply a red fruit slapping the emperor in the face.

This point especially annoyed Cao Rui: You probably forgot how the Xiahou family got up, right? Now that you are noble, you will start to learn from those families?

It's just that Cao Rui sees that the Xiahou family and the Cao family are like flesh and blood, and he has just ascended the throne, for the sake of the overall situation, he just demoted Xiahou Xuan as a warning.

Who knew that since the Longyou incident, Xiahou Nan, the spokesperson of the Xiahou family, actually did this kind of thing again, which finally made Cao Rui feel a sense of betrayal.

At this time, Cao Rui finally made up his mind and said slowly to Cao Zhao, "It is because he is a royal clansman that he must be investigated more strictly, and he can't let it go easily, otherwise how can he deter those big rats of the country?" ”

The Rats of the Nation?

When Cao Zhao heard this evaluation, his heart was suddenly shocked: Xiahou Nan this time, I am afraid that it will be difficult to escape.

"Changsi, why is your back wet?"

Only then did Cao Rui notice that the palm he was stroking on Cao Zhao's back was a little sweaty.

Cao Zhao smiled reluctantly, "Your Majesty, the weather is getting hotter and hotter, that's why I'm sweating." ”

"Oh, is it? Come on, I'll take a look at ...... for you."

Chang'an Palace whispered.

Longxi Xiangwu soldiers.

The Han army pushed the rushing cart and the ladder, and began to rush towards the city with a shout.

Wei Yan pulled the knife and stared at the city.

It took him two full days to fill in the wide and deep moat under the city, and then he destroyed the antlers and bulldozed the partition wall, during which he suffered nearly 3,000 casualties before he could officially rush to the city of Xiangwu.

If it weren't for the prime minister who blocked the Cao thief horse army that was wandering around all the time, so that he could concentrate on attacking the city, I was afraid that the time for the official siege would have to be pushed back.

At the beginning of the Northern Expedition, he was the vanguard, and at the same time he was the first to lead the army to Longxi, but he didn't expect that by now, the other counties in Longyou have been down, and the other armies have made meritorious contributions, but he has not received any credit for this vanguard.

Thinking of this, Wei Yan's gaze staring at Xiangwu City was even more furious.

Cao Jun, who was leaning on the cover of the female wall, shot arrows with a crossbow, and arrows rained down on the city, and many Han soldiers fell to the ground forever before they could reach the bottom of the city wall.

For Wei Yan, who had been fighting for many years, this was just a commonplace thing, and it was also a necessary sacrifice for the siege of the city, so he didn't look at the soldiers who fell to the ground at all.

Instead, it was to see when the rushing ladder would reach the city.

"Boom"!

The first rushing car crashed directly into the city gates.

Then, the ladder began to be erected, and the Han army ants attached to it.

The Wei army occupied the heights and shot the besieging Han army mercilessly.

Many people climbed halfway through and screamed and rolled over and fell.

Human life is extremely small in this kind of carnage.

Just when the Wei army was shooting with all their might, before they knew it, all the ladders had already been set up on the city wall.

From the rear, the city wall is densely packed with soldiers climbing up, like ants.

Wei Yan finally showed a smile in his eyes, this Liangzhou army has a very good reputation, it seems that it is the elite of the Ma army, but the defense of the city is a mess.

There were already Han soldiers rushing to the edge of the female wall, and they were about to turn over, when suddenly a knife slashed at the side, and the soldier was also fierce, picking at the corner of the wall with one hand and blocking it with the other.

As soon as the other party was exhausted, he just shouted violently, and he turned directly onto the city.

It's just that the joy of this first arrival has only lasted for a few breaths, and the spears of the Wei army stabbed him together, stabbed him out of the wall, and smashed it directly down.

The soldier on the ladder only felt a black shadow fall down, and before he could react, he was smashed off the ladder by the corpse.

"General Wei, why didn't this Cao thief put the wooden rolling stones?"

Chen Shi watched more and more soldiers climb the ladder, and asked with some anxiety in his heart.

"Isn't it just right that you didn't put it?"

Of course, Wei Yan knew that there was something strange in this, but in his opinion, no matter what conspiracy the other party had, there would always be a time to show it, and he would know it at a glance when the time came.

You can't stop the siege just because the other party is acting strangely, right?

Just when the ladder was full of soldiers, there was a sudden bang on the head of the city, and I saw that the Wei army at the head of the city began to splash something on the ladder.

Chen Shi's heart tightened, and he stretched his neck, "What is this Cao thief doing?" What does splashing water mean? ”

Could it be that the weather is so hot, so splash water to cool off?

Before he could see it, he saw that the arrows of the Wei army at the head of the city had turned into rockets at some point, and they shot towards the ladder one after another.

I saw that the ladder somehow caught fire, and even a soldier accidentally touched the torch, and his body suddenly ignited.

"Fire ...... Fire ......"

The soldiers who were climbing the ladder shouted, and the people above wanted to retreat, but the people below didn't know what was going on, they pushed up and down, and many of them were not killed by the enemy's swords and arrows, but were kicked down by their own people.

Wei Yan's face finally changed.

"It's oil! They poured oil on the ladder! ”

"Retreat, quickly Mingjin retreats!"

Wei Yan's reaction was not unpleasant, but unfortunately, those cloud ladders that had been splashed with oil were all made of wood, and once they were set on fire, they would quickly burn in such dry and hot weather.

Not to mention the soldiers, even Wei Yan is the first time to encounter this kind of situation of defending the city with fire oil.

Caught off guard, there was no way for the soldiers on the ladder to escape, not only did the soldiers who were originally attached to the ants keep screaming, shouting for help, either becoming a fire man, or being forced to jump down.

With a "bang", one of the ladders was the first to be burned off by the fire, and the remaining wood could not support it, and finally became fragmented and slid down the city wall.

Wei Yan's face suddenly turned pale.

Obviously, the other party deliberately let himself erect the ladder, pour oil when the soldiers climbed full, and then set it on fire, so that not only did all the ladders made in these days burn down, but even lost a large number of soldiers.

The most important thing is that after this time of defending the city, I am afraid that this group of soldiers who are besieging the city have developed a fear mentality, and their morale is extremely low.

If you want to attack the city again, you can either come back after resting, or you can go to the prime minister to change another group of soldiers.

"Feng Yong used fire and oil to capture Longguan unscathed, but I didn't expect this Hao Zhao to burn all the siege equipment with fire and oil today."

Zhuge Liang looked at the still burning cloud ladder in the distance, the expression on his face was a little gloomy, and he felt that he had to get to know this Hao Zhao again.

This move was really ruthless, not only causing great deterrence to his own army, but also taking the opportunity to burn the siege equipment that had been built in these days.

"Prime Minister......

Wei Yan returned to the camp, his face was ashamed, and he didn't dare to look up at Zhuge Liang.

"It's okay, it's not your fault, it's mine. Knowing that Feng Yong had used oil to attack the city, he didn't expect that Cao Thief would also use oil to defend the city. ”

Zhuge Liang reassured.

As soon as these words came out, Wei Yan was even more ashamed.

In the past few days, he has repeatedly asked to lead the army to attack the city, but he didn't expect it to be like this, where do you let him put his face.

"Let the soldiers rest for a few days, and then let me think about it."

When Zhuge Liang saw Wei Yan like this, the light in his eyes flashed, and then he turned around and ordered Yang Yi, "Duke Wei, send an order to Jicheng, let Feng Yong lead the stone-throwing cart battalion and engineering team, and Guan Xing will lead the horse army and the Qianghu coalition army to come for reinforcements." ”

Although the siege suffered unexpected losses, Zhuge Liang did not expect to be able to capture Xiangwu immediately.

This time, Wei Yan was knocked on the head and bled out, and he did not insist on leading the army to attack the city as he did at the beginning, which just allowed Zhuge Liang to implement the plan without hindrance.