The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 357 Young men should not fear the perils ahead; they should take the cold, adversity as a mere trifle, and look towards the vast expanse of the sky.
The three eastern commanderies were three commanderies separated from Hanzhong.

The rulers who dominated the three prefectures were the brothers Shen Dan and Shen Yi, known as the Shen Brothers.

The two of them have been dominating this place for over twenty years.

He was not only good at governing the people, but also possessed a shrewd political mind, making him a successful politician.

At the same time, Shen Dan was also the only general in the history of Shu Han who conquered the north.

However, the two brothers are actually rather opportunistic politicians.

Therefore, it is also called Shangyong Chendeng.

They help whoever comes to them.

They were the undisputed local tyrants of the three eastern prefectures, much like the Chen family father and son.

Everything he did was to preserve the three eastern counties and protect the interests of his own family.

On this day,

Shen Dan stood atop the city tower, gazing at the surging Han River, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

"Shangyong will never be at peace."

He sighed softly.

The imperial court was about to take action against the three eastern prefectures, and Shen Dan had already heard the news.

Shen Dan has almost no solution to this problem.

He was a local tycoon who controlled thousands of books.

Although they only number a few thousand, they are all elites and extremely capable fighters.

Even so, facing the mighty army of the Han Dynasty, it was like an ant trying to shake a tree.

There is no chance of winning.

Even if he performs superhumanly and defeats the first wave of Han troops, how will he withstand the second and third waves?

The Han army may fail countless times, but Shen Dan only fails once.

Just as Shen Dan was brimming with confidence.

His younger brother, Shen Yi, approached with his hand on his sword and whispered:

"Brother, a spy reports that Cao Ren from Hanzhong has sent an envoy who is coming soon."

Upon hearing this, Shen Dan's expression darkened further:
"So they really came..."

Meng Da, a historical figure, was a fickle and treacherous man, yet he was able to be won over by the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu simultaneously.

It's not that he's particularly capable, but rather that Shangyong's geographical location is too advantageous.

For the Shu Kingdom, this was a strategic route that allowed them to attack Luoyang from the south.

Jiang Wan, Zhuge Liang's successor, felt that it was too inconvenient for Prime Minister Zhuge to send troops to Qin Chuan so many times.

Therefore, a strategy was proposed to advance south along the Han and Mian rivers, with the goal of attacking Shangyong.

They changed their strategy and attacked the Central Plains from Shangyong.

For the Wu Kingdom, Shangyong was located at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Han River.

It controls the vital passage from Xiangfan to Chang'an.

Therefore, by controlling the three eastern commanderies, Eastern Wu was able to create a check on Cao Wei.

Conversely, the State of Wei gained control of the three eastern commanderies.

It can both suppress the Wu army coming from the direction of Jingzhou and block the Shu Han soldiers who are switching to waterways.

Therefore, the three eastern commanderies became a strategic focus that all three kingdoms coveted.

As the current commander-in-chief of the northern region of Wei, Cao Ren certainly could not allow the Shen brothers to side with Liu Bei.

He had to win over the two men, otherwise Hanzhong, as the gateway to Western Sichuan, would have another enemy to contend with.

Shen Dan sighed deeply:
"We have held the three eastern commanderies for many years. Now Liu Bei has inherited the Mandate of Heaven, and the momentum for the restoration of the Han Dynasty is already in place."

"If the Han army attacks, I fear we will not be able to withstand them."

"It would be better to surrender early to avoid the calamity of war."

"Then this Wei envoy...?"

"Cao Ren is sending an envoy now, surely to prevent me from returning to Han! It would be better to refuse him entry."

Shen Dan slammed his fist on the table and stood up, saying...

Shen Yi raised his hand to stop him and advised:

"Wait a minute."

"Let's meet them and see what their purpose is."

"If there is anything amiss, we will discuss it further."

"What's your opinion, brother?"

Shen Yi's eyes darted around, and a plan suddenly came to mind:
"Why not set up a frying pan and wait for them?"

"If they dare to enter, then listen to what they have to say."

"If they shrink back, we will drive them out of the city to show our willingness to return to Han."

Shen Dan nodded. "Good."

So he ordered a large cauldron to be placed in front of the central command tent, and oil to be poured in and boiled.

The bubbling oil and rising smoke were daunting to behold.

Shortly afterward, the city gates were opened.

The Wei envoy, riding in a tall carriage drawn by four horses, went straight into the government office.

The envoy's name was Fu Xun, a descendant of Fu Jiezi, the Marquis of Yiyang in the Western Han Dynasty.

He served as a court attendant in the state of Wei, which meant he was considered a minister of Wei.

The fact that Wei sent him directly is enough to prove the importance they attached to the three eastern commanderies.

A short while later, Fu Xun entered with a haughty air.

He was over fifty years old, with a thin face, but his eyes were bright and piercing.

Seeing the oil bubbling in the courtyard, he remained unfazed and went straight forward.

Shen Dan was secretly surprised, but still said in a deep voice:
"The Wei envoy has come from afar and has had a difficult journey."

“However, we have already decided to return to Han. If you wish to persuade me to betray Han and join Wei, please enter this cauldron!”

Upon hearing this, Fu Xun laughed loudly, straightened his clothes, and strode towards the oil fryer with his head held high.

Seeing this, Shen Yi quickly stopped him:

"Sir, are you truly not afraid of death?"

Fu Xun said solemnly:

"Life and death are preordained, so what is there to fear!"

"What Xun regrets is that the two generals have wasted their talents and ruined their futures!"

Shen Dan frowned and asked:
"how do I say this?"

Fu Xunyi cupped his hands and said:
"Please allow me to say a word."

"Although Liu Bei now dominates China, his subordinates, such as Li, Guan, Zhang, Zhao, and Chen, are all trusted and important ministers."

"Even if you two surrender, you will only receive the position of a lieutenant general. How can you possibly retain control of the three eastern prefectures?"

Shen Yi sneered:

"Even so, it is still better than dying for Wei in vain."

"Could it be that your esteemed country can grant my brothers even greater wealth and honor?"

Fu Xun took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve and said loudly:

"Cao Cao wrote in his own hand: If Lady Shen returns to Wei, she can be permanently stationed in Shangyong."

"The annual allowance is 100,000 bushels of grain, 100 shi of refined salt, and 100 bolts of Shu brocade."

"This is an imperial edict; how could it be false?"

Upon hearing this, the Shen brothers, Shen Dan and Shen Yi, had a glint in their eyes.

One hundred thousand bushels of grain, one hundred bushels of refined salt, and one hundred bolts of Shu brocade.

This is a huge benefit for the three eastern counties!

If what Fu Xun said is true, then the conditions offered by the State of Wei are indeed very generous.

It can't even be called affluent anymore.
Because the State of Wei mentioned the most crucial point about permanently guarding Shangyong, without attaching any other conditions.

That alone is enough to make one's heart flutter.

Not to mention, the State of Wei also provided the Shen brothers with extra money and grain subsidies every year.

This is practically a billion-dollar subsidy for Cao Duoduo!

The two brothers were of one mind.

In the end, Shen Dan suppressed his excitement and pretended to be indifferent, saying:
"Liu Bei's benevolence and righteousness are known throughout the world. If we can offer up three counties to him, we will surely be able to join him."

"They will surely treat us well."

"He may not necessarily be inferior to Cao Cao."

Fu Xun stepped forward, lowering his voice:

"General, you are wise."

"Liu Bei, under the pretext of restoring the Han dynasty, was most wary of local powerful clans."

"He created a cabinet and appointed Lee Ik as prime minister."

"During the years that Li has been in power, he has continuously suppressed local powerful figures."

"Recently, private schools have been established and the recommendation system has been improved."

"Almost every one of its policies was aimed at local powerful families."

"As prominent local clans, do you really think you can remain unaffected?"

The two were taken aback and looked at each other in bewilderment.
Fu Xun continued speaking:

"Our Shu and Wei kingdoms are vast and sparsely populated, and we need talented individuals like you two to guard the borders."

"Since you two are in Shangyong, you should know that Cao Cao has always been kind to the powerful families in Shu."

"Isn't this much more benevolent than Liu Bei's?"

Fu Xun was telling the truth. In order to consolidate his rule in Sichuan, Cao Cao sold out a lot of national interests to local powerful clans.

In exchange for their support.

Otherwise, Cao Cao would not have been able to win the Battle of Hanzhong.

Of course, the State of Wei in history also compromised with powerful clans.

Is this akin to the Shu-Wei regime today, desperately needing the support of powerful clans?
However, the conflict between the native faction of Shu and Wei and the outsider faction of Dongzhou is now accumulating and becoming more and more serious.

Watching Old Liu next door begin to reform the system for selecting officials.

Cao Cao had also begun to consider whether he should also change the official selection system in order to strengthen centralized power.

The tent fell silent for a moment, except for the bubbling sound of the oil in the pot.

Fu Xun's words were as harsh as needles.

Shen Dan's hand holding the sword trembled slightly, clearly indicating an inner struggle.

Shen Yi asked:

"If we return to Wei, how will Cao Cao ensure the safety of my family?"

Fu Xun smiled:

"In addition to what was just promised, we may also petition the Emperor to enfeoff the two of them as marquises."

"Hereditary succession will be passed down through generations, sharing the fate of the nation."

Of course, saying that he was presenting a memorial to the emperor was just a formality.

In reality, it was Cao Cao who bestowed the title privately on his own.

However, honoring Liu Xie as emperor was the legal basis for Shu and Wei, so they still had to maintain appearances.

As Fu Xun spoke, he took out a brocade box from his bosom.

"This is Lord Cao's seal. Please take a look, General."

Shen Yi took it and examined it closely; it was indeed the gold seal of the King of Wei.

Fu Xun then reminded the two of the following:

"The three eastern prefectures are connected to Hanzhong in the north and Jingxiang in the south."

"If the Han army really attacks, the King of Wei will not ignore it."

The implication is that you two brothers feel we are making you bleed for nothing.

But if the Han army really attacks, will the Wei army just stand by and watch them die?

Fu Xun was telling the truth.

After all, the strategic location of the three eastern counties is too important.

Liu Bei was both the legitimate successor of the imperial dynasty and the one who revived the Han dynasty three times.

Cao Wei had absolutely no advantage in public opinion.

Therefore, they could only offer generous terms to win over the Shen brothers.

Now, the two brothers face a crucial decision.

Ultimately, the choice was to surrender to the Han dynasty and submit to the imperial court.

Or should they choose to surrender to Wei and serve Cao Cao?
The two brothers are typical opportunistic politicians who don't care about legitimacy or orthodoxy, only about the vested interests of their own family.

Liu Bei is an honest and kind man. If we join him, he will definitely treat us well.

At least you don't have to worry about being killed.

He should have no problem living a comfortable and wealthy life in his later years.

But as Fu Xun said,

Liu Bei gained the empire through the help of his brothers, not through the influence of powerful clans.

Powerful clans monopolized a large amount of land, population, and, most importantly, intellectuals in the country.

They can be considered a key target for Liu Bei's attack.

He appointed his confidant, Yi Ik, as prime minister, and Yi Ik did indeed do so.

If the two brothers had lived in the Han Dynasty, they would have been considered "politically incorrect" by nature.

If you send your money there, you'll most likely be marginalized.

Although being a wealthy man is still very satisfying for many people.

But compared to your previous status as a local tyrant, you've suddenly fallen from grace.

The difference between before and after is still quite significant.

Looking at Yizhou today, it seems like the last hurrah for the powerful and wealthy families.

Powerful clans could annex land and plunder beautiful women with impunity.

Cao Cao turned a blind eye to this, as long as they were willing to provide him with money and manpower.

That place was practically the last sanctuary for the powerful clans.

What does my elder brother think?

Shen Yi looked at her brother, clearly very tempted by the conditions offered by the State of Wei.

Shen Dan, however, was even more worried and hesitated, saying:

"However, the Han dynasty was the legitimate dynasty, and Liu Bei was powerful."

"Their military strength is at its peak. If we fight them and fail, my brother will be in grave danger."

Upon seeing this, Fu Xun immediately interrupted:

"General, you are mistaken."

"The world does not belong to one person."

"The Han dynasty may seem to be thriving now, but it is only because Liu Bei is surnamed Liu."

"If Emperor Guangwu had not been of the Liu family, where would the Han dynasty be today?"

"A true man must be decisive in the face of adversity."

"Since the two generals hold such a prominent position in their respective regions, they should plan far ahead for their descendants."

The two brothers looked at each other and exchanged a glance.

After a short while, Shen Dan sighed and waved his hand to order the oil pot to be removed.

He stood up, took Fu Xun's hand, and said:

"Sir, your integrity and courage are admirable."

"Please inform Lord Cao that my brother and I should consider this for three more days before giving you an answer."

Fu Xun bowed deeply:
"I hope the general will not fail Wei Wang's high expectations. I, Fu, will take my leave now."

After Fu Xun left, Shen Yi hurriedly said:

"What exactly are you planning, brother?"

Shen Dan paced to the window, gazing at the continuous rows of houses in Shangyong City:
"Ten thousand bushels of grain, one hundred bushels of salt, and the title of marquis... Could Liu Bei provide all of that?"

Liu Bei could easily provide this amount of money and provisions.

But why did he give it to the Shen brothers?
If I destroy you, won't the three eastern counties also be mine?
Historically, Liu Bei conquered the three eastern commanderies himself, so the Shen brothers chose to surrender.

Afterwards, Liu Bei dispatched Liu Feng and Meng Da to take over the area.

This effectively stripped the two brothers of their power and strengthened their control over the local area.

Later, Meng Da betrayed Shu Han and defected to Cao Wei, whereupon Cao Pi treated him very well.

However, Meng Da was not stripped of his power in Shangyong.

Because Meng Da had voluntarily surrendered, Cao Pi feared that sending someone to take over would force Meng Da to leave.

Therefore, it is preferable to let him become a semi-independent feudal lord.

Meng Da's betrayal with the three eastern commanderies was a blow to Shu Han.

Although I did not gain the three eastern commanderies, Shu Han also perished.

So I don't have to take it, as long as you don't take it either.

This was Cao Pi's attitude.

After some internal struggle, the two brothers ultimately couldn't resist the temptation of Yongzhen Shangyong.

They decided to surrender to Cao Wei.

They wrote back to Cao Ren, expressing their willingness to cooperate.

Cao Ren was overjoyed upon receiving the letter and immediately replied.

It is said that Zhang He has mobilized troops from Wan and Luo and will arrive soon.

Therefore, he would immediately send troops from Hanzhong to assist in the defense, which would arrive in ten days.

During this period, the Shen brothers must strengthen their defenses.

The book states briefly:

"General Shen, please understand:"

"I am greatly pleased to learn that you two are both very righteous and have submitted to the King of Wei."

"We have now mobilized the elite troops from Hanzhong, and they will travel day and night. They will surely reach Shangyong within ten days."

"Although Zhang He wanted to mobilize the armies of Wan and Luo, the journey was long and difficult, and even if he marched quickly, he would not be able to arrive first."

"Please hold the city firmly and wait for my army to arrive."

"A pincer attack from both inside and outside will surely thwart Liu Bei's plans!"

"The King of Wei has already submitted a memorial to the Emperor, requesting that the two be enfeoffed as marquises."

"Your Majesty governs the three eastern prefectures; please have no doubts."

After reading through the bamboo slips, Shen Dan slowly closed them, a look of relief appearing on his face.

He looked at Shen Yi beside him and said:

"Since General Cao has agreed, reinforcements from Hanzhong will surely arrive within ten days."

"Although Zhang He wanted to mobilize the troops of Wan and Luo, how could he arrive before his army was dispatched?"

Shen Yi also breathed a sigh of relief, clapped his hands and laughed:
"Since the reinforcements from Hanzhong will arrive in ten days, we have nothing to worry about."

"Liu Bei appointed Zhang He as general, and I heard that he is still selecting generals to take over."

"It takes at least fifteen days to travel from Luoyang to Shangyong."

"By the time the Han army arrived, General Cao Ren's reinforcements would have already arrived."

"We have nothing to worry about now."

The two brothers looked at each other and smiled, feeling reassured.

Shen Dan then ordered the city's defenses to be strengthened, and more logs and stones were prepared.

They also sent scouts to explore all directions to prevent a surprise attack by the Han army.

With such preparations, the two brothers had no more worries.

Let me talk about two things.

During a period of continuous spring rain, an army was making its way through the muddy mountain path.

The horse's hooves were stuck deep in the mud, and its armor was soaked.

The soldiers looked exhausted, but they still gritted their teeth and kept going.

At the very front of the column stood a veteran general clad in iron armor, his eyes piercing.

It was Zhang He, a famous general of the Han Dynasty.

"Faster! Faster!"

Zhang He shouted sternly, his voice piercing through the rain, "If anything changes in Shangyong, and our army is even a day late, then the situation is hopeless!"

Two young generals in the army, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, caught up on horseback, their faces showing worry.

Guan Xing clasped his hands and said:
"General Zhang, the soldiers have been marching for days and are exhausted. Is it possible for them to rest for a while?"

Zhang He frowned and said in a deep voice:

"Young Master Xing, Young Master Bao, this trip is no ordinary one."

“Shen Dan and Shen Yi have always been fickle. I recently sent envoys to appease them, but they were both met with indifference.”

"I fear that the two have secretly defected to Cao Wei. If we wait for their reinforcements from Hanzhong to arrive, the three eastern commanderies will surely be lost!"

"It will be difficult to retrieve it then."

Zhang Bao wiped the rain off his face and gritted his teeth, saying:

"However, the spring rain continued, the roads became muddy, and both men and horses were exhausted."

"Such a forced march may be too much for the soldiers to bear..."

Zhang He's eyes sharpened, and he suddenly pointed his whip into the distance, shouting:

"Your fathers, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, were both heroes who could take the heads of generals from among ten thousand soldiers as easily as taking something out of a bag!"

"You are all young now, how can you back down because of a little wind and rain?"

Upon hearing this, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao felt a surge of heat in their chests, overwhelmed with shame.

Guan Xing gripped his longsword tightly and said loudly:

"General Zhang is right! How could I dare to dishonor my father's reputation?"

Zhang Bao straightened his back and said loudly:
"Since we are serving our country, we should forge ahead even if it means facing mountains of knives and seas of fire!"

Seeing this, Zhang He nodded slightly, then looked at the silent young general on the other side—Zhao Tong.

This is Zhao Yun's eldest son.

He was the youngest of all the generals' sons.

Despite the arduous marching conditions, he was the only one among the younger generation who did not utter a complaint.

This is quite similar to Zhao Yun's calm and composed personality.

"Alright, let's continue on our way."

After saying this, Zhang He dismounted and personally took the whip in front of him.

We walked on foot, trudging through the mud.

Seeing this, all the soldiers were greatly encouraged and gritted their teeth to follow.

Three days later, the rain subsided slightly.

In the distance, the outline of Shangyong City was already faintly visible.

Zhang He reined in his horse and gazed into the distance, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light:
"finally reached……"

Guan Xing, Zhang Bao, and the others also showed joy, as if the fatigue from their days of rapid travel had been swept away.

Zhang He said in a deep voice:
"The entire army shall form ranks, first besiege the city and establish camps, then ascertain its strength and weaknesses!"

"If the Shen brothers have already surrendered to Wei, then attack them immediately."

"If they are still hesitant, then intimidate them so that they dare not act rashly!"

The generals responded in unison:

"Here!"

The spring rain has just stopped, and banners flutter in the wind atop Shangyong City.

When the brothers Shen Dan and Shen Yi heard the news that the Han army had arrived at the city, they were immediately terrified.

"How can it be so fast?"

Shen Dan slammed his fist on the table, his face ashen. "General Cao's reinforcements haven't arrived yet, and Zhang He has already brought his troops to the city gates?"

Shen Yi also looked alarmed:
"Brother, could it be... that Zhang He already anticipated our return to Wei?" Shen Dan gritted his teeth and said.

"Hurry up and take a look at the city!"

The two brothers donned their armor and climbed the city wall, only to see a vast, dark mass of Han soldiers outside.

The formation was imposing, with swords and spears like a forest.

Zhang He stood astride his horse at the front of the formation, clad in iron armor, his eyes gleaming like lightning.

Shen Dan forced himself to remain calm and shouted loudly:

"General Zhang! We are Han subjects, and have been guarding Shangyong for many years. Why have you led troops to invade us?"

Zhang He sneered and cracked his whip, pointing it straight at the city wall:

"Shen Dan, Shen Yi! You two have been secretly colluding with Cao Wei, betraying your lord for personal gain, yet you dare to call yourselves Han subjects?"

Shen Yi was furious:
"Zhang He! Stop making false accusations!"

"My brothers and I are loyal to the Han Dynasty. How could we have ever colluded with Wei?"

Zhang He snorted coldly, took out a secret letter from his robes, and held it high for all to see:

"This is a secret letter between you and Cao Ren, which has been intercepted by our army."

"With conclusive evidence, how dare you still try to deny it?"

Upon seeing the letter, Shen Dan and Shen Yi turned deathly pale.

Shen Yi said urgently:

"This letter...this letter must be a forgery by a villain!"

"General Zhang, you must not be easily trusted if he tries to frame us."

Zhang He shouted sternly:

"The Emperor of Han has decreed that the rebellious benefactor be punished!"

"If you still have even a shred of loyalty, open the city gates and surrender, and you may be spared death."

"If we remain obstinate, the day the city falls, everything will be destroyed!"

Shen Dan was drenched in cold sweat and whispered to Shen Yi:

"Now that things have come to this, we can only hold out and wait for reinforcements."

"General Cao's reinforcements will arrive tomorrow; we only need to hold out for one more day!"

"One day will suffice!"

Tomorrow will be the tenth day.

Everything will be alright once Cao Ren's reinforcements arrive.

Shen Yi gritted her teeth and nodded: "Okay!"

Shen Dan responded loudly immediately:
"Zhang He! We have a clear conscience. If you want to frame us, you can always find a pretext."

"If you want war, then let it be! The Shen family will never submit to you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang He said no more, and brandished his sword, shouting:
"Siege!"

At a command, the Han army surged toward the city wall like a tidal wave.

In this battle, only 10,000 Han soldiers were mobilized.

But they were all the empire's elite, receiving the highest pay and the best treatment.

And the most advanced equipment and engineering machinery.

Take the high-quality route by deploying the fewest people possible.

It can greatly reduce military spending.

After declaring himself emperor, Liu Bei, on Li Yi's advice, gradually began to shift from a quantity-oriented approach to a quality-oriented approach.

The siege ladders were erected, and arrows rained down.

The Shen brothers led their personal guards to defend the city walls to the death, as logs and stones rained down upon them.

In an instant, the sounds of battle shook the heavens, and blood and flesh flew everywhere.

Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, two young students, bravely took the lead and climbed the ladder.

Despite being repelled several times, they remained fearless and continued to charge forward.

Seeing the fierce attack of the Han army, Shen Dan personally took up his sword to supervise the battle and shouted sternly:
"Hold on! Hold on! Reinforcements are on their way!"

"If we hold out for just one more day, victory will be ours!"

After a bloody battle lasting half a day, the Han army temporarily retreated, and the defenders on the city walls also suffered heavy casualties.

Shen Yi gasped:
"Brother, our army only has a few thousand soldiers. If we continue to expend resources like this, I fear we will not be able to sustain ourselves..."

Shen Dan's face was gloomy:
"Quickly dispatch scouts to find out more about General Cao's reinforcements!"

The scouts reported back the following day:
"Reporting to the General! General Cao's army is marching slowly due to the muddy conditions caused by the spring rains, and it is feared that they will have to be delayed for several more days..."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi almost collapsed to the ground:
"If we delay for a few more days, how can we possibly hold on?"

Shen Dan's face was ashen, and he murmured:

"Heaven has forsaken me..."

"Heaven has forsaken me..."

Outside the city, Zhang He had already reorganized his troops, and the war drums were sounding again.

The Han army's second offensive is about to begin...

Chengdu, the Prince of Wei's Mansion.

The night was deep, and the candlelight flickered.

Cao Cao sat alone at his desk, clutching a battle report from the front lines, his brow furrowed.

Snapped!
Cao Cao slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly, shouting:
"broken!"

The advisors and generals below the hall were startled by the sound and stood up.

Jiang Ji stepped forward, cupped his hands, and asked:

"Why is the king so worried?"

Cao Cao's face was grim as he threw the battle report onto the table:

"Cao Ren sent a letter saying that he had already sent troops to aid Shangyong."

"However, the spring rains have made the roads muddy and slowed the march, so we may have to wait several days."

Zhao Yan stroked his beard and pondered:

"The journey from Hanzhong to the three eastern prefectures is inherently difficult, and the spring rains are to prevent further delays. Why must Your Majesty take this?"

"Confused!"

Cao Cao interrupted sharply, "Zhang He is a veteran general on the battlefield, how could he not know the importance of the Shen brothers?"

"The Han army must be traveling day and night."

"If Cao Ren is delayed by a mere rain, then Shen Dan and Shen Yi will be in grave danger!"

Before he could finish speaking, Cao Cao suddenly swayed and put his hand to his forehead.

His attendant rushed forward to help him, but was pushed away by him.

"Father!"

Upon seeing this, Crown Prince Cao Pi hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down, saying, "Father, since returning from Zhijiang, you have worked tirelessly day and night."

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you take care of your health and rest for a while."

Cao Cao looked at Cao Pi's concerned face, and his expression softened slightly:

"Zihuan is very thoughtful."

As he spoke, he slowly sat back down, but still gripped the armrest tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Seeing this, Sima Yi said in a deep voice:
"Don't worry, Your Majesty."

"We should immediately dispatch a fast horse and order General Cao to rush to Shangyong at all costs."

Cao Cao's eyes sharpened: "Send the order!"

"Yes, sir!" the guards outside the hall responded in unison.

"Select elite scouts and send them on an urgent journey of 800 li to Hanzhong!"

"The Emperor conveyed his oral decree: 'The survival of the Shen family is crucial to the gain or loss of the three eastern prefectures.'"

Even if our men and horses are exhausted, we must rush to their aid day and night without fail!

"Here."

After the messenger hurriedly left, Cao Cao remained restless and suddenly called out again:
"Send another light cavalry team, changing horses but not riders along the way, and make sure to deliver the order within two days."

Seeing this, Cao Pi personally served him a cup of hot tea:
"Father, please don't worry."

"Uncle Zixiao is always steady and reliable. He will not dare to slack off after receiving this strict order."

Cao Cao took the teacup, but had no appetite for it; he simply sighed.
"If the Shen brothers are lost, the three eastern prefectures will be wide open."

"If Liu Bei obtains this place, he can threaten the gateway to Sichuan. Moreover, Jingzhou is still in his hands, hmm..."

As he spoke, he felt another wave of dizziness.

After returning from his fruitless campaign at Zhijiang, Cao Cao's migraines became increasingly severe.

He commits at least one offense almost every day.

"Father!"

Cao Pi hurriedly helped him up, "Imperial Physician! Quickly summon the Imperial Physician!"

Cao Cao waved his hand to stop him, saying, "It's alright."

He mustered his spirits and addressed the assembled officials:

"Gentlemen, please step back. I need to think of a solution."

After everyone else left, only Cao Cao and his son remained in the hall.

The candlelight was dim, making Cao Cao's face appear even more inscrutable.

He was clearly deeply troubled by the war on the eastern front.

Seeing this, Cao Pi stepped forward and whispered:
“Father, I recently met an extraordinary person who may be able to relieve your worries.”

Cao Cao raised his eyes, looking slightly tired, and asked:

"Oh? Who is he?"

Cao Pi respectfully said:
"This man's surname is Guan, his given name is Lu, his courtesy name is Gongming, and he is from Pingyuan."

"This person has loved gazing at the stars since childhood and has been unable to sleep at night, which his parents could not stop him from doing."

"Even domestic chickens and wild swans know their time; how much more so should humans in this world?"

"When playing with the neighbor's children, they would draw astronomical figures on the ground, distributing the sun, moon, and stars."

"When he was a little older, he had a deep understanding of the Book of Changes."

"He is skilled in physiognomy, possessing profound mathematical knowledge and also adept at physiognomy."

He was hailed as a child prodigy, a prodigy who achieved fame at a young age.

Cao Cao raised an eyebrow and asked again:
Is there any empirical evidence?

Cao Pi immediately said:
“It is indeed a strange thing.”

One day, when Guan Lu arrived at Guo En’s residence, a dove suddenly perched on the beam and cried mournfully incessantly.

Guan Lu immediately predicted: "Tomorrow, an old man will come from the east, bringing pork and wine to visit me."

"Though the master is pleased, a minor misfortune is likely to occur."

"The next day, a guest indeed arrived, just as predicted."

"Guo En kept Guan Lu's warning in mind and instructed his guests to drink and eat in moderation and to be careful with fire."

"Unexpectedly, when shooting the dove, the arrow hit a branch and bounced back."

"A child's arm was injured, bleeding profusely, causing panic throughout the family."

A hint of interest flashed in Cao Cao's eyes:
"Is there anything else?"

Cao Pi then said:

"Guan Lu once visited Liu Changren, the magistrate of Ande, and saw magpies chirping urgently on the roof."

Guan Lu said, "The magpie said there is a woman in the northeast who killed her husband last night and is going to frame the neighbor in the west."

"But as dusk falls, a lawsuit will surely arise."

"Sure enough, at dusk, villagers from the northeast came to report that the neighbor's wife had killed her husband and then falsely accused her enemy from the west."

After hearing this, Cao Cao stroked his beard and pondered:
"This person seems to have some skills; we can summon him for an audience."

The next day, Guan Lu was summoned to the mansion.

He was less than seven feet tall, with a rough appearance and dark skin.

He had a few pockmarks on his bulbous nose, walked with a swaying gait, and carried a gourd of wine at his waist.

Upon entering the hall, they did not kneel or bow, but merely cupped their hands in a perfunctory gesture.

"Guan Lu, a man from the mountains and fields, has come to pay his respects to the King of Wei."

Cao Cao was displeased to see that he was slovenly and lacked any dignity.

But out of consideration for Cao Pi, he reluctantly said:
"I've heard that you are skilled in divination. Would you be willing to perform a divination for me?"

Guan Lu grinned, revealing his uneven, yellow teeth:
"Fortune-telling is a trivial matter, but..."

As he spoke, he patted the wine gourd, "I need to moisten my throat first."

Cao Cao's face darkened.

Upon seeing this, Cao Pi immediately ordered someone to bring him fine wine.

Guan Lu took the wine pot, tilted his head back and drank it down, not caring at all as the wine flowed down his beard and onto his clothes.

After finishing his drink and wiping his mouth, he said, "That was refreshing! What does the King of Wei want to ask?"

Cao Cao suppressed his anger and said coldly:

"Since you are skilled in divination, could you please enlighten me on the matters concerning the three eastern prefectures?"

Guan Lu tilted his head back and drank the remaining wine in the pot, wiped his beard with his sleeve, and suddenly his expression turned serious:
"In the year of Yi Si, the fifth year of Zhang Wu, the celestial dog ate the moon in the division of Yi and Zhen."

He gestured with his fingers, his voice growing deeper, "A great general of the imperial family will fall from the southeast like a falling star."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's brows furrowed sharply:
"What do you mean by that?"

Guan Lu's eyes were blurry with drunkenness, yet a hint of clarity remained:

"Heavenly secrets cannot be fully revealed."

"King Wei only needs to remember to be cautious about sending relatives on expeditions this year, and especially to avoid military affairs in the southeast."

"absurd!"

Cao Cao slammed his fist on the table and stood up, causing the bamboo slips on the table to fall to the ground.

"My generals are as numerous as clouds, why would I hesitate or be afraid because of the nonsense of you sorcerers?"

"Guards! Throw this madman out!"

The guards stepped forward with halberds, but Guan Lu burst into loud laughter and staggered out of the hall.

Seeing Cao Cao's ashen face, Cao Pi quickly offered him tea to comfort him.

"Father, please calm your anger. How can we completely believe the words of a wandering sorcerer?"

Cao Cao took the teacup but didn't drink it, gritting his teeth as he said:
"Those who pretend to be gods and ghosts dare to speak recklessly about matters of national importance!"

Suddenly I felt dizzy, and the teacup slipped from my hand, fell to the ground, and shattered.

"Father!"

Cao Pi hurriedly helped him up.

Cao Cao waved his hand:

"It doesn't matter."

His gaze, however, followed the direction Guan Lu had left outside the hall, and he murmured softly, "Southeast...the imperial family..."

"Huan, you should immediately send someone to inform Cao Ren."

"If the three prefectures of Shangyong can be protected, they should be protected; if they cannot be protected, they should not be forced to."

“…Here, here…”

As Cao Cao grew older, he became more and more sentimental.

They began to value family ties more and more.

He sent people to find Madam Ding more than once to persuade her to come back.

Lady Keding consistently avoided meeting her.

Several years ago, Cao Cao lost Xiahou Yuan in Hebei.

He absolutely cannot afford to lose another key minister.

Cao Pi carefully helped Cao Cao to bed, then bowed and left.

That night, Cao Pi secretly visited the guesthouse where Guan Lu was staying.

By candlelight, Guan Lu sat cross-legged, drinking alone.

Upon seeing Cao Pi arrive, he did not rise, but simply smiled and said:
"Is the Crown Prince not afraid that the King of Wei will find out about his nighttime visit?"

Cao Pi gestured for his attendants to leave, then personally closed the door and bowed respectfully.
"I have thought about what you said during the day very carefully, and I am afraid that it has a profound meaning."

"I've come specifically to seek your advice."

Guan Lu poured wine for Cao Pi:
"Your Highness's concerns are not about the war in the southeast, are they?"

Cao Pi's fingertips trembled slightly, and wine splashed over the rim of the cup.

He lowered his voice: "Sir, you are wise."

"Although Pi holds the position of heir apparent, ... "

He looked around, barely able to hear, “...but Zijian is highly talented and deeply favored by his father.”

“Whenever I saw my father discussing poetry and literature with my son Jian, I felt like I was sitting on pins and needles.”

Guan Lu gazed at the shimmering moonlight reflected in his cup, and suddenly asked:

"Does Your Highness know the story of 'using a plum tree instead of a peach'?"

"This, this is a collection of poems from the Han Dynasty Yuefu."

As one of the three Caos, Cao Pi's literary talent was also considerable.

He immediately understood the unspoken meaning in Guan Lu's words.

"good."

Guan Lu tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp. "Peach and plum trees are of the same caliber, why should they vie for the spring breeze?"

"Your Highness, you only need to remember: focus on the essentials and stay away from extravagance, and naturally your roots will grow deep and your branches will flourish."

Cao Pi pressed for an answer:

"Sir, you mean...?"

Guan Lu laughed loudly, "The will of Heaven has already been decided, why should the Crown Prince worry?"

"If Your Highness insists on asking further questions, then I can only offer you four words: 'Hide your talents and keep your strength hidden.'"

While he was still hesitating, Guan Lu had already gotten up to see the guest off:

"It is late, Your Highness, please return."

Cao Pi understood and took out a bag of gold beads from his bosom:
"This is just a small gift to express my gratitude."

Guan Lu, however, pushed the gold and pearls back:

"What use do people from the mountains and fields have for these material things?"

Having said that, he turned and went inside, leaving Cao Pi alone in the courtyard.

A cool night breeze blew as Cao Pi stood under the eaves, watching Guan Lu's figure disappear around the street corner.

Behind him, his trusted advisor Wu Zhi stepped forward and whispered:
"Your Highness, the King has ordered General Cao to be dispatched by express messenger at an urgent rate of 800 li. Should we send the messenger immediately?"

Cao Pi's gaze was deep and unfathomable. He gently stroked the jade pendant at his waist with his fingertips, lost in thought and remaining silent.

Wu Zhi was taken aback. Seeing that Cao Pi remained silent, he continued:

"The military situation is urgent; if we are delayed, it could lead to serious consequences."

Cao Pi suddenly sneered:
"Ji Zhong believes that if Zixiao wins this battle, what will be the benefit or the harm to the country and to me?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Zhi's expression hardened, and he dared not answer lightly.

Cao Pi stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the night sky, his voice low and deep:
“My uncles held military power and were quite influential, but my father was able to keep them in check while he was alive.”

"If one day..."

The words were left unsaid, yet they already revealed a profound meaning.

Wu Zhi understood and probed:

"What the Crown Prince means is..."

Cao Pi turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife:

"The order can be issued, but the King's verbal instruction needs to be slightly adjusted."

He took the bamboo slips, picked up the brush himself, and the brush tip made a rustling sound on the slips.

After writing it down, he handed it to Wu Zhi, saying, "Transmit this exactly as it is, without changing a single word."

Wu Zhi took the letter and examined it closely. He saw that the letter also urged Cao Ren to quickly provide support to Shangyong.

However, it also concealed the meaning of "doing one's best".

This creates ambiguity, seemingly implying that Cao Ren's Shangyong was the gateway to the three eastern commanderies and was crucial to the fate of the nation.

It was as if the king ordered you to spare no expense to defeat him.

Wu Zhi's forehead was beaded with sweat as he whispered:

"Your Highness, this is the order."

Cao Pi coldly cut him off:

"My father is worried about the affairs of the state. As his son, I should share his burdens."

"General Cao is a pillar of the nation and will surely understand my father's good intentions."

Wu Zhi dared not say more and could only bow:
"I'll do it now."

Cao Pi was one of the most eccentric emperors in Chinese history.

He was an extremely rare emperor who simultaneously severed three major branches of imperial power.

These three powerful forces are: members of the imperial family, relatives of the empress, and eunuchs.

Among them, members of the imperial clan played an indispensable role in safeguarding imperial power.

But Cao Pi, for some unknown reason, became even more wary of members of the imperial clan than of ministers from other clans.

He would rather trust someone outside his own family than his own.

His treatment of the imperial family—especially the close relatives—can be described as harsh.

Under this principle, the Cao family princes were practically powerless to act.

The result of doing this was that the Gaopingling Incident would occur.

Among the distant relatives of the Cao Wei imperial family, those capable of being entrusted with important responsibilities had almost all passed away.

The remaining people are completely unable to provide the necessary support.

Neither the members of the royal family individually nor as a whole were capable of handling the complex environment and changing circumstances at the time.

From Cao Rui's dilemma when entrusting his son to Cao Shuang, to Cao Shuang's clumsy performance in the Gaopingling Incident.

Furthermore, in the later resistance of the Cao Wei imperial family against the Sima clan, there was almost no involvement of distant relatives of the imperial family.

These people, in the design of the system, should have been the pillars of the country.

It is said that the Wei and Jin dynasties were essentially selling hooks to powerful and wealthy families.

But at least during Cao Cao's time, he always adhered to his bottom line.

That is to give Xiahou Cao a high position and support members of the imperial clan to counterbalance the powerful families.

This prevented the power of the state from falling entirely into the hands of powerful families.

Even after Cao Cao went to Sichuan and ceded some power to local powerful clans, this principle remained unshakable.

But Cao Pi had a different idea.

He believed that these uncles and elders held the main power in the country.

He must promote his trusted confidants and firmly grasp power in his own hands.

For this reason, he did not hesitate to relinquish a large amount of power to aristocratic families.

He crippled himself, thus destroying many members of the Cao clan.

If asked when Sima Yi began to rise to power...

Without a doubt, it began to grow stronger during the reign of Cao Pi.

Cao Cao's policy of "appointing people based solely on their talent" was actually a disguised way of suppressing powerful families.

In order to better integrate into the circles of aristocratic families, Cao Pi introduced the Nine-Rank System, a system that benefited these families.

Because it benefited the scholar-official class, Cao Pi was better able to win them over and gain their support.

After Wu Zhi withdrew, Cao Pi stood alone in the courtyard, the night wind blowing the corners of his robe.

He gazed at the starry sky, clenching his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.

"Zhu Shufu and Zi Jian"

"Don't blame Zihuan for being ruthless. I did all this for the sake of the country and the people of my Great Wei."

……

(This is a map of the three prefectures of Shangyong)

(End of this chapter)