Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Chapter 693 Liangzhou Turmoil
Cao Rui then asked, "Boyue, how many troops do you think you are capable of leading?"

Jiang Wei remained silent for a few moments, then cupped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, I believe I can command ten thousand soldiers!"

"At just over thirty years old, commanding ten thousand soldiers." Cao Rui chuckled. "Even members of the imperial clan haven't received such treatment. Cao Zhao currently only commands five thousand soldiers. Does Boyue intend to command more troops than the son of the Grand Marshal?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I misspoke." Jiang Wei said repeatedly, afraid of displeasing the emperor.

“Since Boyue says he can command 10,000 men, I will let you command 10,000 men.” Cao Rui was just joking, and waved his hand: “It’s alright. I was just lamenting how fast time flies. Today I saw you and Zhaobo return with Wenqin’s army, each commanding 5,000 soldiers. You have already become the backbone of the Great Wei.”

"Among you who were among the first to serve as my Attendants, Zhong Yu is cautious and discreet, and I believe he can become my Secretary in the future. Xiahou Xuan is quick-witted in the Privy Council and will be able to take charge of its affairs in the future. Boyue is different from the other two; they are specialists, but Boyue, although specializing in military affairs, is also quite good at writing."

"I am ashamed," Jiang Wei said softly, lowering his head.

Cao Rui said, "If I were to choose two people from among the court officials, one would be Wang Ling and the other Wang Chang. Boyue is quite similar to both of them. He is proficient in both civil and military affairs, and does them quite well."

"I have kept you in the army all these years. Today I ask you, Boyue, do you want to stay in the army or take up an official position in the court?"

If ordinary court officials heard these words today, they would surely be filled with envy. This treatment is almost comparable to that of members of the imperial family!
Without hesitation, Jiang Wei said softly, "A great battle is imminent. I am willing to lead troops to serve as Your Majesty's vanguard. I am willing to be a general and do not wish to serve in the Imperial Censorate."

Cao Rui nodded and then stood up: "I understand Boyue's ambition. Boyue has always been prudent in his actions. Since that's the case, I will grant you a position today."

"When we go to war, the Wuhuan and Xianbei cavalry in Yangzhou, as well as the Goguryeo, Baekje, and Buyeo infantry in Yingzhou, will total 15,000. You have already commanded 5,000 of them, and I am now entrusting all 15,000 of them to you. You will be appointed as the Colonel of the Cavalry and will lead them to follow the central army."

"Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail in your trust!" Jiang Wei immediately bowed deeply.

"Get up," Cao Rui said calmly, then walked forward along the riverbank.

Jiang Wei dared not delay and quickly got up to follow.

From Jiang Wei's perspective, His Majesty's behavior tonight was indeed rather strange. Calling him to a walk by the river in the middle of the night, and then inexplicably placing him in command of 15,000 troops, was truly an overreaction. Jiang Wei believed His Majesty was right; commanding 5,000 troops at just over 30 years old was a privilege even the son of the late Grand Marshal Cao Xiu received.

However, Jiang Wei thought for a moment and recalled another anecdote.

I heard this from Xiahou Xuan in private when I was a junior officer back then.

Xiahou Xuan, son of Xiahou Shang and nephew of Cao Zhen, was far more well-informed than Jiang Wei, who came from the border region of Qin. When the two discussed the late Emperor Cao Pi, Xiahou Xuan bluntly stated that the late emperor's character was known throughout the land.

If the late emperor favored someone, power, high office, and rewards would pour down like rain. If he hated someone, that person would not be allowed to die until the next night. Similar to Emperor Wu, but far more extreme.

At the time, Jiang Wei did not understand, but when he heard about Xiahou Xuan's father Xiahou Shang's experiences from Zhong Yu, he immediately understood.

Cao Pi once issued an edict granting Xiahou Shang the power to "kill or save," but it was only after Jiang Ji's earnest persuasion that the edict was retrieved. Xiahou Shang married Cao Zhen's sister. When Xiahou Shang favored his concubines and neglected Cao's daughter, Cao Pi sent someone to kill the concubine in order to ensure harmony between Xiahou Shang and Cao's wife.

As for Your Majesty… we only hear of Your Majesty's fondness for your subjects, but rarely of your hatred for anyone. Such restraint and forbearance from the Son of Heaven is truly rare…

Three days later, in Fancheng.

Before Cao Rui received news of Zhuge Liang's withdrawal, he heard another urgent military report from Guanzhong, which was relayed from Luoyang.

After Liu Fang, the Grand Secretary, presented the military report with both hands, he noticed that the emperor's face was growing increasingly gloomy, and he subconsciously took a half-foot back.

"Xiahou Ba, that piece of trash!" Cao Rui was furious and threw the military report he was holding several feet away.

"Summon Cao Zhen, Man Chong, Xin Pi, and the four cabinet ministers. I have something to ask them!"

Liu Fang quickly agreed and left. Not long after, when everyone saw the furious emperor, they looked at each other, wondering what had happened.

Cao Rui pointed at Xin Pi, frowned and said, "I read Xin Qing's secret report before, which mentioned that Sima Fu and Xiahou Ba were cowardly. At the time, I thought that they had been in the border areas for a long time and did not communicate much with the central government, so they were fearful. But after seeing them today, I can see that they are really useless!"

"Zhongshu, tell everyone the contents of this military report in full, without omitting a single detail!"

"As you command." Liu Fang bowed and accepted the order, then picked up the military report from the ground and began to read it slowly.

As they read on, not only did Cao Rui remain annoyed, but the expressions of Cao Zhen, Man Chong, and others also turned sour, and the cabinet ministers shook their heads in dismay.

Man Chong coldly said, "Xiahou Ba and Sima Fu should both be dismissed from their posts and investigated!"

Cao Zhen, standing to the side, also looked displeased: "They're just a bunch of mixed barbarians. Back then, I beheaded over 50,000 people in Liangzhou, and only a little over ten years have passed. How can they be so arrogant?"

The matter mentioned in the military report concerned Tuoba Agu, a Xianbei from Hexi.

Last summer, Xin Pi, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, traveled to Guanzhong and arrived in Wuwei, where he resolved the issue of Tuoba Agu, a Xianbei chieftain from the Hexi region, harassing the border. As a temporary expedient, Xin Pi granted Tuoba Agu three promises: to establish a trade market in Wuwei, to allow the Hexi Xianbei to sell their mines, and to bestow upon Tuoba Agu a title of nobility.

Xin Pi made this decision, and Cao Rui, who was far away in Shouchun, also expressed his approval. The court accepted the matter and, in November of last year, sent the seal of a Marquis to Tuoba Agu.

In September, October, November, December, and January, Liangzhou engaged in trade with the Xianbei and other non-Han peoples in Wuwei County. The main trade involved livestock for salt and cloth, and these transactions were led by chieftains and government officials. It was a barter system, where goods were tangible and mutually beneficial, making everyone happy.

However, something went wrong in January.

Only five months after the trade fair was opened, the officials in charge of the trade fair in Liangzhou brazenly raised the transaction prices by nearly 20%, and even privately solicited bribes from the Xianbei officials in charge of the trade fair in Hexi!
The appalling circumstances surrounding this event need not be elaborated upon, and the final response from the Hexi Xianbei was quite direct. In early February, they besieged Wuwei City, destroyed the city's trade market, and abducted all two thousand people from the city.

And he declared that he would never trust the government of the Great Wei again.

The mess had become too big to hide, and Sima Fu and Xiahou Ba could no longer conceal it, so they urgently reported it to the court. Moreover, Xiahou Ba, for military reasons, still requested military support from the court!
Cao Rui has no troops left to support him!
(End of this chapter)