Luoyang.

Cao Rui was lying on the sickbed, his eyes were closed, the tears on his face had not been wiped away, and there was already anger hidden in his expression.

The two letters that arrived one after the other were placed on the table beside them. One is Xiahou Ba's, and the other is Sima Yi's. Xiahouba reported the course of the battle in Pengcheng and wrote Zhang He's Jihua on it, and Zuihou accused Sima Yi and his son of failing to follow up in time, so that they missed the opportunity. Sima Yi was much calmer, he didn't say anything about Zhang He, but just pleaded guilty, saying that he didn't know Zhang He's Jihua, and when he knew the news of the Battle of Pengcheng and led the army to support, it was already too late, so that Zhang He died in battle and suffered heavy losses.

The two people are talking about the same thing, and there is no big difference in even the content, but the angle of the narrative is different.

But Cao Rui already smelled an ominous smell from it.

Xiahou Ba is right, this is indeed Sima Yi's responsibility. If Sima Yi's father and son follow up in time, there is a great chance to kill Wei Ba this time and completely solve the trouble in their hearts. But Xiahou Ba forgot that Zhang He did not copy Jihua to Sima Yi, so not only could he not blame Sima Yi for not being able to rescue him, but he was suspected of unauthorized power. If you really want to investigate it, Zhang He is too much meritorious, and even takes the blame for himself.

Although Cao Rui knew that he was helpless to do so - Sima Yi could not take the initiative to cooperate with his actions, he reported to Sima Yi, and Sima Yi would not agree, but would obstruct it; On the other hand, if he doesn't tell Sima Yi, Sima Yi can also know - but this cannot deny the fact that he has exceeded his authority, and Sima Yi will not be responsible for the dispute in the court. Zhang He, who died heroically, had a great responsibility.

From this point of view, Xiahou Ba's march and battle are quite orderly, but the court battle is very idiotic, otherwise he would not have written such a note.

And Sima Yi's initiative to ask for guilt was full of fearlessness.

Zhang He died in battle, and there was no one in the Southeast Theater, or even in the entire Wei State, who could compete with Sima Yi. Even if Sima Yi is guilty, the imperial court may not be able to accuse him easily, so he can generously ask for guilt, even if you demote him to the military now. After a while. You'll have to bring him back.

Because there will be no one to replace him for a while.

Originally, Xiahou Ba could, but Xiahou Ba's letter exposed his political short-sightedness, which was enough to prove that he was not qualified. Sima Yi failed to follow up in time as Zhang He had hoped, and lost a great opportunity. Xiahouba also failed as Zhang He hoped. Following Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, and Zhang He. became the mainstay of the competition with Sima Yi.

Cao Rui was very angry because of this.

He consulted several ministers. It is not to discuss the merits and demerits of Zhang He and Sima Yi, but to discuss the situation after the battle of Pengcheng. Anyway, the battle is over. Both sides suffered heavy losses, Wei Guo folded Zhang He, a good general, Shu Han also folded Wei Yan, and more importantly, Wei Ba suffered heavy losses, and he probably couldn't put pressure on Wei in a short period of time. Wei ushered in a rare respite, should he use this opportunity to counterattack, or should he accept it when he sees it, negotiate with Shu Han, and strive for a good condition?

The ministers couldn't figure out Cao Rui's thoughts, and they didn't believe that Cao Rui was really willing to be a minister like Sun Quan, so they had to say that they should take the opportunity to recover Pengcheng and counterattack Jianghuai. Cao Rui listened to it and was noncommittal, but he became more and more annoyed in his heart. The more annoyed he became, the more uneasy the ministers became, and the ideas they came up with were even more varied, and everyone had different opinions.

Song Shu was left in the middle again and again, the ministers panicked, and Cao Yu, the king of Lu, was also very uneasy. In desperation, he had to find Huan Fan.

After listening to Cao Yu's words, Huan Fan sneered: "Counterattack Pengcheng? Who's going to attack? Great General? ”

When Cao Yu heard this, he immediately understood: "What does bixia mean to negotiate and be a minister?" ”

"Talk is to talk, but it doesn't have to be a minister." Huan Fan shook his head, twisted his beard and said, "Bixia sent Xiahou Ba and Qin Lang to Suiyang, originally to promote peace and strive for a haode condition for negotiations. How good this condition can be depends on how far this battle is fought. Now although Zhang He is dead, he has achieved Bixia's wish: Wei Ba's main force is damaged and can no longer fight, and of course he also wants to negotiate. If you want to talk about accidents, you can only say that Zhang He doesn't know how to be self-respecting, and he should be a general, how can he risk himself? Now that he died in battle, who will deal with the general? Isn't this a problem for Bixia? ”

Cao Shuang was a little uncomfortable. Huan Fan said this, didn't they become waste? Without Zhang He, there would be no confrontation with Sima Yi?

"Bixia means, I'm afraid I still want to talk about it, and delay it for a while. But ......" Huan Fan hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I'm afraid he has other worries." ”

"What are you worried about?"

"He can't consume Sima Yi."

Cao Yu and Cao Shuang looked at each other, both a little crying and laughing. Huan Fan's broken mouth is really ugly. But you have to admit that what he said may be Cao Rui's true thoughts. It stands to reason that Sima Yi is fifty-six years old this year, and Cao Rui is only in his early thirties, so he should have an advantage. But the fact is otherwise, Cao Rui's health has not been good, and now he is bedridden and has no heirs, while Sima Yi's body is as strong as a cow, and he has given birth to several sons one after another in the past few years. If it drags on for a few more years, Cao Rui is more likely to die before Sima Yi.

"What then?" Cao Yu asked Huan Fan for advice.

"Extend to negotiate, talk slowly, and seize the time to establish an heir. With an heir, supplemented by virtuous ministers, and cultivating a foundation, things can still be done. ”

Cao Yu and Cao Shuang exchanged a look and nodded in unison.

……

Li Yan laughed: "Wei Ziyu is really a lovely person, too smart, too smart." ”

Li Feng was puzzled: "Do you want to kill Wang Ping, or transfer Huo Yi and Zhao Guang to Guangling?" ”

"Both." Li Yan glanced at Li Feng and smiled: "Wang Ping, I sent him to kill." Now that his strength has been damaged, he has a request for me, even if he knows that I am going to borrow his knife to kill someone, he has to lend it to me. Since this is the case, he happily finds a reason to kill him, this is his cleverness. As for the transfer of Huo Yi and Zhao Guang to his command, it shows his cleverness. He knew that I wanted to seize Huo Yi's military power, so he took the initiative to ask Huo Yi to be transferred. He knew that I didn't like Zhao Guang in Longshan. So he asked Zhao Guang to go. Zhao Guang went, he could rebuild the cavalry, recover as soon as possible, and give up Longshan to me, can I not be happy? ”

Li Feng also laughed, and took a serious deep look: "General Hexi." ”

Li Yan hahadaxiao. He pondered for a moment, and then shook his head regretfully: "It's a pity, if it weren't for dealing with the prime minister, this would be a good opportunity to clean up Wei Ba." Let him escape this time, where will he have such a chance next time. There is only one person like Zhang He after all. There will probably not be a second one in the Wei State. ”

"So what. Wei Ba does not have a war horse ranch, and he has to rely on his father after all. If his father didn't give him a war horse, it wouldn't take a few years, and he would be considered a million. It will also slowly weaken. Vulnerable. ”

Li Yan laughed proudly twice. nodded again and again: "Anyway, before the prime minister dies, I still have to borrow his power." Can't watch him being restrained by the prime minister. It's just that I help him stay alive, and he has to give me some good. The price of this horse armor is too high, I have to talk to him. ”

Li Feng couldn't help laughing. The father and son looked at each other and smiled, feeling comfortable.

……

Chengdu, Prime Minister's Mansion.

Yang Yi stood in front of Zhuge Liang, his white face was swollen red, he looked at Zhuge Liang, and said impatiently: "Prime Minister, Wei Ba killed the general in vain, the crime is unforgivable." If you don't take this opportunity to deal with him, won't it encourage his arrogance? ”

Zhuge Liang stroked his forehead with his hand, and frowned slightly: "Wei Gong, I'm a little tired, I'll discuss this matter later, let me think about it." ”

Yang Yi had no choice but to bow down and ask for retreat. After he left, Zhuge Liang sighed lightly and said to Jiang Wan, who was still sitting on the side: "Gongyan, Duke Wei is not young, why are you still so impatient?" Fei Wenwei is now busy preparing for the negotiation, and he doesn't have time to take care of him, so you have time to persuade him more. ”

Jiang Wan nodded and got up as well.

Only Zhuge Liang and Zhuge Ke's uncle and nephew were left in the house. Zhuge Ke tidied up the hem of his clothes, and the corners of his mouth provoked a shallow smile: "Uncle, are you worried that Wei Bagou will jump off the wall in a hurry?" ”

"Wei Yan died in battle, Wei Ba suffered heavy losses, and he was confused for a while, and there were also some people. Killing Wang Ping is indeed a bit inappropriate, but by disposing of Wei Ba, will Wang Ping be able to resurrect? Although Wei Ba is stubborn and ambitious, it is impossible for the dog to jump off the wall in a hurry, but if he is frustrated again, so that he is not at ease and his actions are inappropriate, I am worried that the southeast will be unstable. ”

Zhuge Ke's smile became stronger and stronger: "Then what does uncle mean to appease Wei Ba?" ”

Zhuge Liang glanced at Zhuge Ke and asked, "What if you mean it?" ”

Zhuge Ke smiled incomprehensibly: "According to my meaning, even if Wei Ba is not punished and let him go home for three years, it is always okay." ”

"Who will be in charge of the Eastern Front?"

"Could it be that apart from Wei Ba, there is no one else who can be in charge of the Eastern Front battlefield?"

"Yes." Zhuge Liang said without thinking: "But I can't find anyone who can suppress Lu Xun." ”

The smile on Zhuge Ke's face suddenly dimmed, and he didn't speak for a long time. After a while, he raised his head and looked at Zhuge Liang silently: "Uncle, in this way, how can you deal with Wei Ba?" ”

"It's not a trivial matter to deal with Wei Ba, it will affect the whole body." Zhuge Liang said lightly, with a trace of tiredness that could not be concealed between his eyebrows: "Yuan Xun, I arranged Jiang Wei in Liangzhou to let him accumulate liliang and wait for Li Yan to make a mistake." I had planned to find an opportunity to send you to Jiangdong, and if Wei Ba made a mistake, as is the case now, you would replace Wei Ba. However, now this opportunity has come too suddenly, we are not prepared at all, and now we send you over, can you control the situation? ”

Zhuge Ke was speechless, he understood what Zhuge Liang meant. This opportunity is good, but the time is not ripe.

Zhuge Liang sighed softly: "I think, Lu Xun probably can't count on it, and he has to be separated from Wei Ba." Yuan Xun, I plan to let you go to Jiangling and take charge of the negotiation with Wei this time. ”

Zhuge Ke looked at Zhuge Liang in surprise, wasn't Wei Ba and Fei Yi in charge of the negotiation, why did he suddenly ask him to go to Jiangling. He glanced at Zhuge Liang, and Zhuge Liang smiled: "Wei Ba wants Ding Wei, it's not suitable to be in charge of this matter, you can go on behalf of the Prime Minister's Mansion." After all, this matter should have been arranged by the Prime Minister's Mansion in the first place. ”

Zhuge Ke suddenly realized...... (To be continued......)