At the end of October in the second half of Zhang Wu's seventh year, Zhuge Liang and Shen Chen also got the news.

Guan Yu's side defeated Cao's army in late October, but Cao Pi's side did not immediately believe it, because Huainan was thousands of miles away from Luoyang, and the news did not spread so quickly.

The Han in the south has established a carrier pigeon system, and Jianye's carrier pigeons will fly to Jiangxia, and then report to Xiangyang from Jiangxia.

Xiangyang and Nanyang Wancheng also have carrier pigeon bases, so communication can be achieved within two days.

In the past year, Chang'an has also established a carrier pigeon system from Nanyang Wancheng to Chang'an, so to a certain extent, as long as the efficiency is fast enough, the news of Jianye can be sent to Chang'an in about four days.

Since the news was sent to Xiangyang first, and then from Xiangyang to Wancheng, Zhuge Liang got the letter on the third day after Guan Yu broke Cao's army.

At this moment, Wancheng was guarding the mansion, and Zhuge Liang was a little tired sitting in the hall of the mansion looking at the official documents.

In addition to being the commander of the three armies of the current Nanyang army, he also has to take into account the government affairs of Nanyang, because Nanyang is the grain and grass base of the Northern Expedition and one of the main granaries of Jingzhou.

The food problem was the key to the Northern Expedition, as well as a series of people's livelihood, public security, economy, criminal law, and so on.

Although Ma Liang Huang Quan Zhou does not doubt Cai Du and the help of local officials in Nanyang, he personally still prefers to do everything in detail, even if someone helps deal with it, he has to see how the result is.

So I tend to make myself very tired.

In addition, he has been worrying about things on the Jiangdong side lately, so he hasn't slept well.

Zhou Budo, who was next to him, saw that he was uneasy, so he said: "Prime Minister, didn't Jianye send a message from Jianye before, saying that Sun Quan had been beheaded and there was no trouble in the rear?" Why should the prime minister worry? ”

Zhuge Liang groaned and said: "I'm worried about whether Yun Chang can break the enemy, if the Cao army is not fooled, only occupy Huainan and don't continue to march, I'm afraid."

Zhou Budo said with a smile: "The prime minister doesn't need to worry, then Lu Boyan's plan, even I think it's amazing, no matter how smart Cao Jun is, it is impossible to think that Taicang is our own fire, and Sun Quan's side has already had more of our internal responses, they unite with Sun Quan, and they will not stop just for a Huainan that has no people." ”

"Hmm."

Zhuge Liang nodded slightly and said: "Unless Cao Pi has no ambitions, it is impossible not to covet Jiangdong." Lu Boyan really has a strategy, using the entire Jiangdong as bait to lure Cao Jun to cross the river and defeat them on the river, which is a good strategy! If I had used my troops, I probably wouldn't have done that. ”

"That's because the prime minister can defeat Cao Jun head-on and disdain to use conspiracy."

Next to him, Cai Du said with a smile.

"Definitely."

Zhuge Liang shook his head and said: "I'm really not good at plotting, but if Lu Boyan suggests to me, I won't use it, it has nothing to do with whether this plan is dangerous or not, I just don't want to lose any inch of Dahan's territory!" ”

To tell the truth, even if Lu Xun's plan failed, the loss was not as big as he imagined.

At most, Huainan was lost.

If Huainan was still the population of the Yuan Shu period, it would definitely be a huge loss.

However, Huainan is now a wasteland, with empty land and no population, and the city of Hefei has been burned, and Cao's army lacks important strategic cities and means of production, so it is difficult to pose a threat to Jiangdong.

At that time, Guan Yu would have the opportunity to go north to attack Cao's army again.

So to a certain extent, the reason why Guan Yu chose to adopt Lu Xun's suggestion was that in addition to Lu Xun giving up his life as a guarantee, the more important thing was that Lu Xun's suggestion failed and would not have much impact.

However, Zhuge Liang felt that if he was the head coach, even though the probability of Lu Xun's strategy being successful was very high, he still didn't want to adopt it.

This Han territory is indispensable for a single point!

"Report!"

At this time, a messenger suddenly came in from outside and said in a loud voice: "Xiangyang Flying Pigeon passed the book, the general successfully lured Cao Jun to the river, and broke the three armies in one fell swoop, and Cao Jun was killed and wounded and captured by nearly 70,000!" ”

"Seventy thousand?"

Zhuge Liang was shocked, stood up from the seat at once, and said, "Is the news conclusive?" ”

"Conclusively."

"Congratulations to the Prime Minister, congratulations to the Prime Minister."

Next to him, Ma Liangzhou did not doubt, Cai Du, Huang Quan and others hurriedly saluted Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang laughed and waved his feather fan, although it was early winter and October, and the weather was a little cold, it made him feel like a spring breeze, and said happily: "Providence is in Han, great things can be accomplished, next year's Wei Dynasty, the revival of the Han Dynasty, at this time!" ”

Next year?

Everyone looked at each other, bowed their hands, and said, "The prime minister is wise." ”

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Guanzhong, Chang'an.

Compared to the news that Zhuge Liang got on the third day, Shen Chen was on the fifth day.

In the side hall of Weiyang Palace in Chang'an, Shen Chen placed today's military affairs.

Previously, he planned to raid Hedong in the middle of this year, drive Cao's army to Bingzhou, and start threatening Bingzhou.

But he didn't expect that Liu Bei's death in July disrupted his rhythm, so he could only hold back this idea.

After returning to Xiangyang to accept Liu Bei's will, Shen Chen returned to Chang'an, and temporarily canceled this decision because Cao Wei's internal response detected that Cao Wei had transferred a large number of cavalry from the north to the south.

Cao Wei is now desperate.

Mainly due to the defeat of many battles such as the Battle of Guanzhong, the Battle of Xiangfan, the Battle of Hefei, and the Battle of Ziyun Mountain, Cao's army suffered heavy casualties.

According to the statistics of the "Three Kingdoms Food and Goods Chronicle", Cao Wei had 670,000 troops in his heyday, less than 200,000 in the heyday of Shu Han, and more than 300,000 in Jiangdong.

This was also proved by several later campaigns of Cao Wei.

For example, Zhong Hui attacked 150,000 people in Shu, Sima Shi attacked 200,000 people in Wu in the third way, Sima Zhao fought 260,000 in the Battle of Shouchun, and there were 150,000 people when Zhuge rebelled.

None of this is a national force.

Because in addition to the border army, Cao Wei also had to have a certain amount of local troops, the central army and the border army to guard against ethnic minorities.

Therefore, when Sima Zhao fought the Battle of Shouchun, if Sima Zhao's 260,000 troops were added to Zhuge Dan's 150,000 rebellious Wei army, there were 410,000 Wei troops in Huainan alone at that time, which shows the background of Cao Wei.

But no matter how thick the foundation is, it is impossible to consume it like this.

What's more, the current Cao Wei is far from being as powerful as in history, and has been weakened a lot.

Therefore, in summary, the battles of Guanzhong and Jingzhou suffered 150,000 casualties, the battle of Guanzhong lost 30,000, and the battle of Ziyun Mountain lost 30,000.

The total loss is 200,000.

Now the entire Cao Wei's troops are suffering extremely serious losses, and the combined strength of Cao Zhen, Xu Huang, Zhu Ling and others on the Western Front is less than 100,000.

The Central Army is currently the middle lane soldiers and horses collected by Xiahou Yuan, and it is also around 100,000.

The 130,000 people of Cao Xiu on the eastern front were not only the soldiers and horses originally deployed in Xuzhou and other places in Runan to guard against Guan Yu, but also the local garrisons in Qingzhou, Yanzhou, Jizhou and other places.

Therefore, this means that if you count the cavalry such as Tian Yu and Yan Rou who guarded the border of Xianbei Wuhuan in Youzhou, the total number of Cao Wei's central army, border army, local army, and county soldiers may be less than 400,000.

Among them, there are also a large number of new troops that have been expanded in recent years, which are seriously undertrained and do not have high combat effectiveness, and have repeatedly fallen behind in contests with soldiers from the south.

Therefore, Cao Pi was anxious to recover the decline and wanted to weaken the southern Han Dynasty.

This is a good opportunity, if you can cooperate with Sun Quan to defeat Jiangdong, then the Southern Dahan Group will directly lose millions of people and one-third of the land.

This is more than the direct elimination of 200,000 troops.

Therefore, under such temptation, Cao Pi decided to give it a go and transfer the northern border army to the south.

The role of the Youzhou cavalry was not to cooperate with Cao Xiu to attack Jiangdong, but to place it in Henan for rapid reinforcement in all directions.

For example, if Cao Xiu's side is in a bitter battle, the cavalry can be dispatched.

If Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang wanted to come out of the siege of Wei to rescue Zhao, when Cao Xiu and Guan Yu were fighting, they would march into Bingzhou or Henan, and the cavalry would be able to support them quickly.

Therefore, if Shen Chen sent troops to Hedong, then Cao Wei's cavalry would soon arrive, which was a bit unfavorable for him, so he did not send troops and waited for news from Jiangdong.

At this moment, Shen Chen was sitting behind the table, looking at Hedong Yutu in a daze.

There are a lot of lines drawn horizontally and vertically on it, and he has made countless plans for offensive deployment, and now he is waiting for the results of Guan Yu's side.

If he wins, he can swing his master.

If it is defeated, or if there is a deviation in the strategy, and the Cao army is not eliminated in large numbers, it is necessary to consider whether to send troops.

"It's up to Uncle Yun's actions."

Shen Chen rubbed his temples.

He is forty-one years old this year, and more than 30 years have passed since Cao Cao slaughtered Xuzhou.

It has been twenty years since he assisted Liu Bei.

Liu Bang pacified the world for seven years, and Liu Xiu only took 12 years.

Although Liu Bei's starting point is low, there is no way, but this took too long in the time of unifying the dynasty.

He still has a lot to do in the future, and time waits for no one.

"Report!"

At this time, outside the door, Deng Ai and Jiang Wei rushed in almost like a scumbag, and said with joy: "Governor Dadu, General Guan has won a great victory, and the Cao army has been annihilated by 70,000!" ”

"A big win?"

Shen Chen was surprised: "Actually annihilated seventy thousand? ”

"Yes."

Jiang Wei preemptively said: "Just now the flying pigeon passed the book, General Guan adopted Lu Shangshu's plan, lured the enemy to go deeper, led the Cao army to the Yangtze River, and defeated the Cao army with a sailor!" ”

"Okay!"

Shen Chen cheered up and laughed: "Once these 70,000 people are lost, Cao Wei will only have less than 60,000 people left on the Eastern Front, and General Guan's Northern Expedition will be unhindered." ”

"More than that."

Deng Ai said: "According to our detailed report in Cao Wei, Cao Wei has almost exhausted the troops in the hinterland of the Central Plains, if this is calculated, now Cao Wei's total national strength is almost about 300,000, and the northern border and hinterland are almost impossible to defend. ”

"There is no danger in the hinterland of the border?"

Shen Chen frowned and said, "Shizai, you seem to have something to say. ”

Deng Ai said: "Dadu Governor, the northern Xianbei, Wuhuan, and Southern Xiongnu have been oppressed by Cao Wei for a long time, if they can unite and attack the Central Plains together, Cao Wei will be destroyed!" ”

Uniting minorities?

After thinking for a while, Shen Chen shook his head resolutely and said: "This is a war between the Han and Cao Wei, and it is an internal dispute among the Han people. ”

"But."

Deng Ai wanted to say something.

"No, that's the bottom line."

Shen Chen interrupted him and said, "If they want to go south by themselves, I don't care, but we must not collude with them. Even in the future, if they go south and are encountered by our Northern Expeditionary Army, we will destroy them, you understand. ”

"Yui!"

Deng Ai and Jiang Wei were in their hearts, and they hurriedly felt in their hearts.

Shen Chen looked at Yutu.

Although in history, Zhuge Liang also united with Kirby to want to attack Cao Wei together.

But Cao Wei's troops were too many at that time, even if they united with Kirby, that is, they could contain part of Cao's troops.

It is impossible to be like now, Cao Wei has no soldiers and horses to defend in the north, and ethnic minorities have horses and horses to step on the Central Plains.

Therefore, Zhuge Liang's behavior in history can only be said to be a strategic way to contain Cao Wei's troops, and it cannot be said to be a collaborator with the enemy and a traitor.

However, the situation is different at this time.

Cao Wei's army was weakened to the extreme, if he also united with Kirby Neng, then the Wuhu Rebellion would have to happen in advance, and a large number of nomads would go south, Kou Luo Central Plains, and harm the people who originally belonged to Cao Wei's rule.

You must know that these are all Han people, and in the future, the northern expedition of the southern Han will be successful, and the people will return to their Han identity one after another, how can they allow the Hu people to plunder?

Therefore, Deng Ai's idea is absolutely undesirable.

However, although he can't unite with the Hu people to make a rebellion, but now Cao Wei's hinterland is empty, if he can get through and merge the state, then the entire Hebei and Luoyang and other places are all under his iron hooves.

Seemingly.

It's time to get ready to march into the state.

Shen Chen thought to himself.

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At the beginning of November of the seventh year of Zhang Wu, Cao Xiu, the general of Cao Wei's expedition to the east, was defeated in Jiangdong, and after retreating to Henan, he suddenly fell ill and vomited blood and died.

And on the sixth day after the end of the battle, in the Luoyang Palace, Cao Pi was the latest to get the news.

No way.

The Southern Han Dynasty used carrier pigeons to fly as a pass, and he could only run with horses, from the mouth of the water to Luoyang, more than seven or eight hundred kilometers, and it took several days to run dead horses.

At this time in the palace, Cao Pi was already terminally ill.

In addition to the blow given to him by the battle of Ziyun Mountain, the most important thing is that his body has long been dead, and now he has run out of oil.

On the side of the hospital bed, Cao Pi said weakly to Sima Yi and Chen Qun beside him: "Pass on my edict, after my death, the four of you, Zidan, Wen Lie, Changwen, and Zhongda, will assist Yuan Zhong in governing the country." ”

"Yui."

Sima Yi and Chen Qun should have given up.

Cao Pi was almost on the verge of dying, and sighed: "I didn't expect that I was about to die soon. I don't want to die, but I can't do it. Providence so. It's just that what I'm most worried about is Wen Lie's situation in Jiangdong. ”

Sima Yi comforted: "Your Majesty don't worry, if things go well, maybe at this time, General Zhengdong has already broken through Jiangdong and arrived in Jianye." ”

"yes."

Chen Qun also said: "The news a few days ago is that Sun Quan has broken through Wu County, and Guan Yu has no choice but to send Wei Yan to quell the rebellion, burn Hefei and Weixukou by himself, and retreat to Jianye. The general of Zhengdong will not fail to seize this opportunity and defeat Guan Yu in one fell swoop. ”

"Huh."

Cao Pi smiled reluctantly and said, "If that's the case, that's great." ”

"Report!"

The eunuch outside the door came in with a sad face and howled: "The general of Zhengdong was raided by Guan Yu when he crossed the river, and lost 70,000 soldiers and horses!" ”

"Poof!"

Cao Pi spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes widened, and he collapsed on the hospital bed, not breathing.

In July of the seventh year of Han Zhangwu, Liu Bei died of illness.

In October of the seventh year of Han Zhangwu, Sun Quan was killed.

In November of the seventh year of Han Zhangwu, Cao Pi fell ill and died.

Within a year, the founders of the three states of Wei, Shu and Wu in history died at the same time!

(End of chapter)