Chapter 1047 Continue the Northern Expedition?

  The last month of the 14th year of Jianxing passed quickly.

  According to the usual practice, the three kingdoms of Han, Wei and Wu will hold a grand court meeting on New Year's Day at the beginning of the year.

  The new emperor of Wei State ascended the throne in Xuchang, officially announcing the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty.

   One came to declare to the world that Wei is still the righteousness of the world.

  Secondly, it also implicitly expressed to the subjects of the Great Wei that where the Son of Heaven is, it is the righteousness of the Wei State.

   At the same time, the world was amnesty, and all the ministers and workers were rewarded as nobles.

  Tai Fu Sima Yi and General Cao Shuang joined the court together. Both of them held festivals, supervised all Chinese and foreign armies, and recorded official affairs.

  Among Sima Yi's children, three are lieutenants and four are captains of cavalry.

  Cao Shuang's younger brothers Cao Xi, Cao Xun, Cao Yan and others also received awards.

  Besides these two, the most eye-catching ones are Zhongshu Supervisor Liu Fang and Zhongshu Sun Zi.

  These two were each added to the left and right Guanglu doctors, both with gold seals and purple ribbons, and the three divisions of Yitong, adding 300 households in Shiyi.

  At the same time, each of his beloved sons was named Tinghou, the second son worshiped the captain of Qi, and the rest sons worshiped doctors.

  The world is paying attention to the precious moments of these people.

  But they didn't notice that Sima Shi, the son of Sima Yi, Liu Xi, the son of Liu Fang, and Sun Mi, the son of Sun Zi, were all involved in the "Fantastic Case" in the early years.

  Now these people are either enshrined in the shade, or occupy the positions of cronies around the emperor.

  This means that Cao Rui suppressed these people in the early years to curb the wind of pomp and talk.

  At the same time, by the way, he used this to warn the aristocratic family or the actions of the powerful and powerful who are close to the aristocratic family, so far all have been in vain.

   At the same time, it also announced that family politics once again won the victory in Cao Wei.

  Compared to Wei Guo’s happy funeral, the Great Han Dynasty’s 15th year of Jianxing’s Great Court Meeting was another round of excitement.

  Because of the victory in the first battle in Guanzhong, Liu Chan, the emperor of the Han family, held a grand court meeting in the palace in Hanzhong.

  From the seven quarters before the end of Yeleu, the palace is full of bells and drums, and all the officials in the court are all in front of the palace.

  The little yellow gate could only be heard shouting: "The auspicious time has come, Your Majesty is coming!"

  Officials with more than two thousand stones took off their shoes and swords one by one, and ran into the hall in small steps.

  The second person stands on the porch of the hall, and the third person stands outside the hall.

  Just waiting for the verse to call the police, all the officials shouted long live three times.

   After receiving the congratulations, the emperor gave a feast, and at the same time made a great music of playing food and lifting.

  The little fat man was very happy today, and bought a lot of wine and meat out of his own pocket, and drank with his ministers until night.

  Han and Wei countries each have their own excitement.

  While the Great Court Meeting of Wu State seemed much deserted.

  Emperor Wu used to like to hold banquets, drink with his ministers, and even ordered not to sit down if he was not drunk.

   Logically speaking, Emperor Wu's favorite occasion is when there is a justifiable reason to hold a banquet at the Dachaohui.

   Unexpectedly, after accepting the congratulations from the courtiers, Emperor Wu only drank a few cups, which was more like a routine, and then hurriedly left the table.

  All the ministers saw that the emperor was in a bad mood, so naturally they didn't dare to let go of their drinking—otherwise, wouldn't this be an obvious way to offend the emperor?

  Sun Quan returned to the palace with an irritable expression on his face. After walking back and forth, he began to sigh again.

   After a long time, he seemed to have made up his mind and ordered:

   "Where is Zhongshu Lang?"

  Zhong Shulang, who was on duty, quickly trotted in: "What orders does Your Majesty have?"

   "I have a matter that has been unresolved for a long time. If you want to ask the prime minister for advice, you can go to the prime minister's residence for me."

   "No."

   Knowing that the emperor sent Zhong Shulang from the palace, Gu Yong was not surprised at all.

  In other words, he made himself look calm.

  As the chief minister in name, Gu Yong sits closest to the emperor, so he can naturally see that His Majesty is full of thoughts.

   Let everyone in the family leave, Gu Yong asked;

   "Dare to ask Zhong Shulang, what is your majesty's oral order?"

  Zhong Shulang quickly replied:

   "Exactly, Your Majesty asked me to come here just to ask the Prime Minister: Over the years, Great Wu and Han have joined forces to fight against thieves, and Shu has succeeded many times. Now Liangyong and the three prefectures have all fallen into his hands."

   "However, Da Wu spent countless money and food, but made no progress. Every time I think about this, I can't help but gnash my teeth and feel pain."

   "I heard that the puppet emperor of Wei, Cao Rui, was dispatched by heaven to die suddenly. Isn't it just a good opportunity for the Northern Expedition? Therefore, this year, I want to join hands with the Lord of the Han Dynasty again to defeat the thieves, is it possible?"

  After listening to Zhongshulang's recitation, Gu Yong just sat back in his seat silently and remained silent for a long time.

  Zhong Shulang waited for a long time, but he didn't see Gu Yong speaking, so he had to ask carefully, "Prime Minister?"

  Gu Yong still sat there with his head bowed, as if he had fallen asleep.

  Zhong Shulang had no choice but to speak louder: "Prime Minister?"

   "Oh? Oh, it turned out to be Zhong Shulang, why haven't you left yet?"

  Gu Yong finally raised his head and asked with some confusion.

  When Zhong Shulang heard this, he was stunned:

   "Prime Minister, Your Majesty is still waiting for your reply."

  Gu Yong shook his head: "I'm already old, old and dull, I'm afraid I can't give His Majesty too many suggestions on this matter."

   "Ah, this..."

  It was the first time for the young Zhongshulang to be dispatched to the prime minister's mansion. How could he have encountered such a scene?

  But seeing him dumbfounded, he didn't know what to say.

   "Don't worry, tell the truth after you go back, His Majesty will not blame you."

  Gu Yong seemed unwilling to say much, after saying this, he got up and prepared to see off the guests.

  Zhong Shulang had no choice but to leave the palace anxiously, and returned to the palace anxiously.

   Before he could speak, Sun Quan asked him directly:

   "Come back so soon? Didn't the prime minister provide you with food and drink?"

   "Returning to Your Majesty, the prime minister doesn't say that he is setting up wine and food, even if he doesn't want to talk too much, he only says that he is too old to give His Majesty advice on this matter."

   Zhong Shulang looked at His Majesty carefully as he spoke, for fear that His Majesty would be furious.

   That's the prime minister!

  His Majesty personally sent himself to consult state affairs, but he dared to say that he was old and fatuous and ignored state affairs?

   Unexpectedly, Sun Quan was not angry when he heard Zhongshulang's words, but sighed instead:

   "So, the prime minister disagrees with me!"

  Gu Yong does not drink alcohol on weekdays and is reticent.

  If the above play is accepted, it will be attributed to the above, if it is not accepted, it will be kept secret.

  If the emperor asks him for a plan, and he thinks it can be implemented, he will set up wine and food for Zhongshu Lang who came to the mansion, and he will take the opportunity to study it repeatedly to avoid omissions.

  If he disagreed with the emperor's idea, he would remain silent, and naturally he would not set up wine and food for Zhong Shulang.

  So when Sun Quan heard that Gu Yong did not entertain Zhong Shulang, he already understood that Gu Yong was against this matter.

  It’s just that when he thought of the fact that the two countries joined forces to fight against thieves, the Han State won the land of Yong and the two states, and its national strength has greatly increased.

  But I was still blocked under Hefei, and I couldn't help feeling jealous and anxious.

   It is Han Guo who is jealous, but he is anxious.

  Da Wu also did not make less effort, not to mention costing countless money and food, so why are they all cheap for the people of Shu?

  As the emperor's confidant, Lv Yi, secretary of the school affairs office, has already seen that His Majesty is in a bad mood these days.

  Now I finally know what His Majesty is thinking, so I took the opportunity to suggest:

   "Your Majesty, it is right to inquire about the government affairs of the court and China. But everyone in the world says that the general knows the strength of the army, so when it comes to Chinese and foreign military affairs, you have to ask the general."

   "What's more, during the Northern Expedition last year, the Supreme General once advised His Majesty to withdraw troops. It's not that His Majesty has never understood the real meaning. Why doesn't Your Majesty send someone to Wuchang to inquire now?"

   Sun Quan frowned upon hearing this.

  During the Northern Expedition last year, Lu Xun, like others, persuaded himself to withdraw at the most critical time.

  The so-called knowing the power of the army, is there no time when it is wrong?

   Besides, I let him sit in Wuchang, so that he can lead the affairs west of Yuzhang.

   This is already extremely trustworthy.

   It doesn't mean that even the matter east of Yuzhang has to be decided by him.

   After thinking about it for a long time, Sun Quan finally wrote a letter and sent it to Wuchang.

   After all, the prime minister did not agree with his own ideas. If he insisted on the Northern Expedition this year, it would seem a bit willful.

  If Lu Xun could agree to this matter, it would be a good choice.

  After Lu Xun in Wuchang received the letter from Sun Quan, he immediately found Zhuge Jin, the general guarding Jingzhou, and showed Zhuge Jin a letter.

   At the same time, he said with some worry:

   "Over the past few years, His Majesty has been planning to go north almost every year. He has spent countless money and food, and has to make a lot of money. Nowadays, the prices of goods among the people are soaring, and the people are quite complaining."

   "I've heard that in the Jingzhou area, most folks don't like to use big money. They either barter grain and silk, and big families prefer to use Sichuan banknotes. From this we can see that the disadvantages of big money are severe!"

   "So I think that Your Majesty should rest the people and not use weapons anymore. What does Ziyu think?"

  At that time, the generals stationed in Jingzhou included Zhuge Jin, Lu Dai, Zhu Ran, Bu Zhi, etc., but they were all in charge of military affairs and not civil affairs.

  How can someone like the Great General be able to write a letter to discuss affairs between the court and China at any time?

   Not to mention, even if Zhuge Jin has the power to take care of the current affairs in Jingzhou, he has to think twice about whether he dares to take care of it.

  Shu money bills are much more valuable than big money made of iron, forcing others to use big money instead of money bills.

  Don’t talk about growing sugarcane on the reclaimed fields these years, will the lieutenant soldiers who make a lot of profits every year make trouble.

   (In the fourth year of Jianxing, Lu Xun ordered the generals to increase the fields due to the long-term war in Jingzhou, the land was deserted, and the grain was too little)

  Even the folks and elders in Jingzhou want to poke his back.

  Without the support of the folks and elders in Jingzhou, where does the grain for the army come from?

   Do they all count on the fields reclaimed by the generals in the army?

   Or is it enough for everyone to only eat sugar cane?

  Zhuge Jin pointed to the letter in Lu Xun's hand, and said lightly:

   "Your Majesty only asked me to lead the army. The political affairs in Jingzhou are not something I can lightly talk about. However, I see that Your Majesty has a lot of regrets about last year's Northern Expedition. How should Bo Yan respond?"

  A few years ago, when Lv Yi was at his most arrogant, Lu Xun repeatedly wrote letters bluntly speaking about the abuses of the school administration.

  But Zhuge Jin, Lu Dai, Zhu Ran, and Bu Zhi, the leading generals outside, all kept silent, just to avoid suspicion.

  Lu Xun also knew Zhuge Jin's worries, he just sighed:

   "Man Chong is an old man in Cao Cao's time. He is brave and resourceful. Hefei also has the advantage of land, and Wei has the advantage of fine riding. I dare not say that he will win."

   (Historically, Lu Xun was forced to retire by full favor)

   "Last year in the Northern Expedition, Your Majesty was hesitant at first, and then left Chaohu Lake to go ashore and underestimate the enemy. This is a taboo for military strategists. I have to act cautiously for your Majesty's safety."

   "Who would have expected that after I retreated, Cao Rui would die suddenly? This can be said to be unpredictable."

  Zhuge Jin was silent.

  Indeed, with hindsight, if the army can stay under the city of Hefei for one more month, it is still unknown what the situation will be like.

   But in this world, who can predict what will happen in a month?

  Thinking of this, Zhuge Jin persuaded in a low voice:

   "Bo Yan had better explain it to His Majesty in detail."

  Lu Xun nodded: "I know it."

  If it were someone else, after seeing the letter and knowing that the emperor was slightly dissatisfied, he would definitely not go against his will, and at most he would be vague about the Northern Expedition.

   Maybe Sun Quan thought so.

  Just who is Lu Xun?

   How can there be sand in your eyes?

  Moreover, in the past two years, Lu Yi, Qin Bo and others in the school affairs office have acted in a much lower-key manner.

  Lu Xun only said that the emperor is still the former His Majesty who can listen to advice for the great cause of the world.

  But he didn't realize that Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor and moved his capital to Jianye for nearly ten years, and he himself guarded Wuchang for nearly ten years.

  Nearly ten years is enough to turn many people into appearances that they don't even know themselves.

  Lu Xun wrote back this time, not only expressing his thoughts during the Northern Expedition last year, but also emphatically telling Sun Quan:

  These years of continuous use of swords and weapons, the people have complained, I implore your majesty to think of the world and the common people.

  He did not expect that after the letter was in Sun Quan's hands, Sun Quan cleared everyone out with a calm expression.

  After the door was closed, his expression suddenly changed. He drew his sword and chopped it on the table, gritted his teeth and said:

   "Gu Yuantan (Gu Yong, character Yuantan) opposed my Northern Expedition, but he still kept silent, knowing that he wanted to save my face."

   "What does Lu Boyan mean? When you say that the people complain, it's no different from pointing your nose at me and calling me a fool!"

   Just finished scolding and venting, Sun Quan also felt a little troublesome when he remembered that the prime minister inside did not support it, and the general opposed it outside.

  At this time, Xiaoshi Lu, a loyal man who is dedicated to the emperor, made another speech:

   "According to my opinion, cutting down thieves is a major issue for both Wu and Han. In the past, Han took the initiative to make an agreement with Wu, asking us to help hold back Wei thieves."

   "Now that Han has benefited, Great Wu has not gained an inch of land. It would be unfair. If His Majesty sends a letter to Shu, the Han people will not be ashamed to refuse."

   "Your Majesty, all the ministers at home and abroad are opposed to the Northern Expedition, but they have forgotten that it is clear to the world that the Great Wu and the Han Kingdom joined forces to suppress the thieves."

   "I imagined that the Han Kingdom just won a big victory, so it may not be that there is no intention to continue to advance eastward. If the Han Lord intends, but the ministers of the Great Wu oppose His Majesty's Northern Expedition, wouldn't it be trapping His Majesty in a place of treachery?"

  Lv Yi has been thinking about Sun Quan's heart for a long time. The sentence "Han has gained benefits, but Wu has not gained an inch of land" is simply speaking of Sun Quan's heart.

   But seeing Sun Quan finally nodded and made a decision:

   "Okay! I'll write a letter first, and ask the Lord Han what he wants."

   Speaking of this, he glanced at Lu Yi and emphasized:

   "This letter must be sent by the school affairs office in person, and must not pass through the hands of the general."

  At the place of General Lu Xun, there is a seal sent by Sun Quan.

  In the past, letters sent to Sichuan were sent to Lu Xun first, and he was asked to review and revise them before stamping them with a big seal.

  Obviously, with Sun Quan's words, he was preparing to take back Lu Xun's right.

  Lv Yi knew what he meant, although he tried his best to hide his inner ecstasy, but the corners of his mouth still couldn't stop curling up:

   "No!"

  After returning to the school office, all the school officials clapped their hands to congratulate when they learned of this.

  School official Qin Bo praised:

   "Why did my Dao Zhongshu suggest to His Majesty to ask Lu Xun from the very beginning? I knew that Lu Xun would object to this?"

  Lv Yi looked proud, but said humbly:

   "How could I expect that Lu Xun would object? It's just a two-handed preparation."

  Qin Bo was really interested, and came up to him and asked:

   "But I don't know what kind of perfect strategy Zhongshu has made?"

  Lv Yi grinned:

   "If he, Lu Xun, agrees to this matter, our school administration can just use the name of preparing food and grass to collect more money."

   "Not to mention taking the opportunity to grow some sugarcane in Jingzhou and get more grain from the people of Shu."

  A few days ago, the Xinghan Association personally sent a man named Xu You over, saying that he was the younger brother of Xu Xun, one of the top ten members of the Xinghan Association.

  At the same time, he is also the person in charge of the route of Dongfeng Express from Jincheng to Yong'an and finally into Jingzhou.

  On behalf of the Xinghan Association, this person reached an agreement with the school government, promising to deliver a batch of military rations to Da Wu every year, enough to feed 30,000 soldiers.

   In the future, if the cooperation is pleasant, or if there is a war, it is not impossible to discuss additional additions.

  The land of Shu is originally a land of abundance, coupled with the improvement of farming technology, as well as the reclaimed barren land, and the increase in cultivated land caused by the use of oxen to open up wasteland and so on.

  Dahan's grain production has nearly doubled compared to previous years.

  Liangzhou is already self-sufficient in grain, and the Hanzhong army is supplied by Hanzhong, Longyou and other places, and there is a road leading directly to Jincheng in the Sunshui River Valley Plain in Yuexie.

   Not to mention that the big man has taken Guanzhong now—this is another land of abundance.

   It can be said that as long as the big Han is willing, Xinghan will be able to mobilize more than half of the grain in the Sichuan plain to enter Wu to make wind and rain in the later stage.

  Using the Land of Abundance to support a mere 30,000 horses, if you change someone else, you may have to consider the cost of food transportation.

  But what would Xinghan be afraid of?

  Dongfeng Express, the mission must be achieved.

   What's more, Dahan Army Food 2.0 has greatly reduced the burden of transportation - anyway, it is not for the soldiers under the elder brother's command, as long as it does not kill people.

   At worst, give the Wu people part of the dry food mixed with brown sugar, and let them eat it for their elite troops.

   Calculated in this way, part of the food is part of the dry food, and the transportation pressure is not that great.

  In the original history, the prime minister of the Han Dynasty made a northern expedition, and the difficulty of transporting grain along the Shu Road could still support a hundred thousand troops.

   And from Jincheng to Jiangling, all can be transported by water, which is much more convenient.

  Anyway, in Lv Yi's view, the deal between the School Affairs Office and the Xinghan Association is a huge profit.

  If the sugar cane land in Jingzhou is used to grow food, it is hard to say whether it will be able to supply the needs of the army in the end.

   Not to mention that everyone can still make so much money.

  It’s not like now, where sugar cane is planted and sold for money, which can be used for military supplies and make money. Where can I find such a good thing that kills two birds with one stone?

   "If Lu Xun disagrees, I will take the opportunity to provoke His Majesty. Even if Lu Xun cannot be defeated for a while, I will ask His Majesty to alienate this person."

   Speaking of this, Lu Yi couldn't help but sneer:

   "People like the general Zhuge Jin dare not do anything to us, they only know how to protect themselves, but Lu Xun dared to slander the school government repeatedly. I hate him to the bone!"

  (end of this chapter)