Chapter 55: Wu and Wei collusion

Jiangnan, Jianye.

Lord Wu Sun Quan and Sun Zhongmou were discussing military and national affairs with his confidants.

The war in Jizhou had long been reported to Jiangnan. Although the news was far less accurate than Kong Ming in Luoyang, they knew the general situation very well. Almost everyone realized that the dispute between the Han and Wei was an opportunity for the Eastern Wu.

Sun Quan pointed to the north and sneered: "Cao Rui is young and knowledgeable, has ordinary skills, has little knowledge, has no broad knowledge, and has no opinions. Everything is dominated by the people around him. These people will definitely be able to make tricks and wisdom, fight for power, form cliques and make private interests, and cling to each other. Over time, traitors and villains are full of the court, and the subordinates are competing for profit, and each is occupied by one side. The young master is difficult to control, so his failure is only in front of him. So, since ancient times, where are the traitors who have power not suppress each other? Cao Zhen suppresses Sima and Chen Qun in the Guard and Jijian are all like this. Strong I want to bully the weak, and the weak have to find another backer. This is the way for the country to be in chaos and destruction. (Now Rui is young and weak, and he follows people and the world. These Cao people must be tricked by this. A party is more than Zhou, and each of them is supported by them. On this day, traitors and slander have arisen, and they become disgusted. Once you have gone by, the subordinates compete for profit, and the ruler is young but not controlled. How can he be defeated for a long time? Therefore, those who know this are, since ancient times, there are four or five people who have controlled the punishment handle without leaving the stabbing and turning the hoofs! The strong should be weak, and the weak should ask for help. This is the way for chaos and destruction.)”

Prime Minister Gu Yong nodded and said, "Yes, Ji Han is now attacking Jizhou, and his army is extremely strong. Cao Rui is defeated and retreats to Henan. Cao Wei has already suffered a defeat. In response to the current situation, I have three strategies. Please ask Your Majesty to decide. First, join forces with Han to swallow Wei, take advantage of the chaos in Cao Wei, and rush to conquer Yangzhou and annex Xu Qing. However, Cao Xiu is in Yangzhou now. He is very good at using troops, and has many soldiers and horses, and many capable people have emerged. Our army has failed to defeat it several times. If it fails to defeat it in one fell swoop, it will be dangerous to waste national strength; second, join Wei to resist Han. At present, Ji Han is strong in the world and his country is orthodox. If he defeats Cao Wei, he will definitely become the one who is in a state of justice. At present, Cao Wei is weak. If I support me, I will definitely stand firm and block Ji Han. But I have an alliance with Ji Han first. I will lose faith and may lose the people's hearts. Third, sit and watch the tiger fight. Let the wind and waves rise and sit firmly on Diaoyutai. If Ji Han fights Cao Wei, I will develop my national strength and train my troops and wait for both of them to suffer losses. However, this plan is too conservative, and I don't know which one Your Majesty chooses?"

Sun Quan smiled and turned his attention to his two sons, Sun Deng and Sun Lu.

Sun Deng looked solemn: "Father, my son-in-law chooses the first plan. Ji Han and I have formed an allies, and if we violate the alliance and attack them, we will be laughed at. The chaos in Cao Wei is now a great time for our army to send troops. Although Cao Xiu is a brave general, he is too arrogant and likes to take risks. My son-in-law has arranged plans and decided to surrender. He lures him to attack. At that time, he will be defeated."

Sun Quan smiled and said, "Is it Zhou Fang's surrender book?"

“That’s right.”

Sun Quan nodded: "My son has trouble."

Sun Lu said, "My son thinks it is inappropriate."

Sun Quan asked, "What are your words?"

Sun Lu said: "Father, the world is three parts. Ji Han is too strong and has posed a threat to me. The Prime Minister's three strategies are considered to be desirable, but they are not desirable. Now the Han and Wei are competing for the changes, I am afraid that I will miss the opportunity. This minister will not take the third strategy. If I join forces with Han Wu and Wei, and Ji Han is strong, our army may not take the Wei but cannot swallow it. This minister will not take the first strategy. As for the elder brother's plan, if it is carried out before the New Year, there may be a possibility of success, but Cao Wei is defeated now, he will definitely guard the city and refuse to take risks, so he is just in vain. As for the second strategy, it is precisely the balance and justification, so he can get a chance to breathe, weaken Ji Han's strength, and whether he is against the alliance, his minister does not care about it. But if he follows the second strategy, it will not do anything that is not good for us.

Sun Quan couldn't help laughing and said, "My son will tell me in detail."

Sun Lu nodded: "Father, according to my own opinion, it is not better to use the first measure to achieve the second measure. Our army will be in Yangzhou and force Cao Wei to cede land and praise him. If he agrees, I will gain great benefits without any effort. Cao Wei can also draw Yangzhou troops back to Luoyang and Jizhou. Both of them are beneficial. My son and I think that even though Cao Rui is stunned, I can figure out the truth."

As soon as Sun Lu said this, all the civil and military officials nodded. Even the prime minister Gu Yong, who had always been respectful, smiled. Sun Deng was covered by his younger brother and couldn't help but be stunned. He didn't expect that his younger brother had made such progress recently. But he was a peaceful person and did not reveal it. When he looked up, he saw Sun Lu looking at him with a provocative look. Sun Deng gave a gentle smile and nodded, "You are very clever." However, a cold light flashed in Sun Lu's eyes and turned his head away. Sun Deng sighed secretly, knowing that the conflict between him and Sun Lu was deep and could not be resolved.

Sun Quan did not pay attention to the secret fight between his two sons and said with a smile: "Wu'er thoughtful and thoughtful, and I am deeply convinced. Let's do this. He sent an order to prepare for the entire army to send troops within half a month to advance to Yangzhou and force Cao Wei to cede land and submit to the ministers."

The Eastern Wu soldiers were in Yangzhou, which was a little more insulting to the already urgent situation of Cao Wei. Cao Rui was shocked and angry when he heard this. He just shouted loudly: "Kill! Kill! Kill! The rats from the Eastern Wu dared to bully me, let Cao kill them and kill them all!"

Situ Chen Jiao offered advice: "The rats in the Eastern Wu have robbed with fire and have bad intentions. Although their hearts are evil, Your Majesty does not have to worry. At present, our enemy of the Great Wei is Ji Han. If we start a war on two sides, we will fall into an endless land. Since ancient times, the wise men of the king have experienced many hardships. Goujian has been a slave to lie on firewood, and Han Xin has been humiliated. Now that the Eastern Wu wants me to cede land and submit, I will not be careful of the emptiness and wind. The father of the Lord of Wu once served as a minister in the same palace with Emperor Wu. It is not impossible for Your Majesty to call him Shuhuang. Wancheng is located between Han and Wu, and fights from all sides, and Sima Yi is in it and does not follow the order. We might as well ced Wancheng to the Eastern Wu and make it fight with Ji Han. As long as the dispute is apart, the pressure on our Great Wei will be greatly reduced."

Cao Rui nodded and was overjoyed, and ordered Sun Zi to serve as an envoy to Dongwu.

Who was Sun Quan? How could he suffer such a loss? He shook his head repeatedly: "Although Wancheng is good, it is just a city, but what I want is Yangzhou. If Yangzhou is not stolen, I will not withdraw my troops."

Sun Zi refused to show weakness and sneered: "Your Majesty, don't force people too much. You are so anxious that our Great Wei is forced. When the whole country surrenders to the Han Dynasty, I am afraid that Eastern Wu will inevitably become the subordinate of Ji Han. Now Ji Han is powerful, Wei and Wu are all relying on their breath. If they combine, they will benefit from each other, and if they divide, they will harm each other. Your Majesty claims to be wise, so you won't be able to see this."

"Submit Ji Han?" Sun Quan was shocked. Could it be that Cao Wei had such an idea? No, Han and Wei are enemies of the world and are incompatible. How could Cao Wei surrender Ji Han?

Sun Zi saw the thoughts in Sun Quan, and knew that he had achieved results by retreating and advancing, and said calmly: "The Lord of Ji Han is very famous for tolerant, treats others gently and is generous to the ministers. Even the Xianbei and Qiang and Barbarian tribes of the Huns, all return to the forest like birds. The current situation in the world is clear. What's wrong with my Lord surrendering to Ji Han?"

Sun Quan couldn't help but be furious: "If you want to surrender Ji Han, what are you doing here?"

When Sun Zi saw Sun Quan's attack, he was also shocked. Sun Quan was the lord of Jiangdong and had been in charge of one-third of the land of the world for more than 20 years. He was a man who was wise and martial, and had a violent personality and refused to convince others. He just said the words of surrendering to the Chinese in order to argue, which was considered too much. If Sun Quan was angry and executed himself, his mission was not over. Wouldn't he betray the country and lose his life? He was extremely worthless. He spoke again and just lowered his head and stood still.

In Sun Quan's opinion, this action was a sign of his strong and upright character and fearlessness of violence. The court was quiet for a while, and Sun Zi felt cold sweat flowing down his back. Just as he was about to change his words, he heard Sun Quan laugh out loud: "Come here, show me. Although I am not familiar with Cao Rui, his ancestors and father have had many years of dealings. Today he comes to me, how can I ignore it? Sir, go back first, and I should reply to you tomorrow."

Sun Quan was forced by Sun Zi in words, pondered for a long time, but could not make a decision, so he summoned the group to discuss.

The two princes under Cao Wei gave the land of Wancheng in Eastern Wu, and they did not agree. Sun Deng did not want to destroy the alliance between Han and Wu, and was unwilling to rob this place directly bordering Ji Han to avoid increasing friction and war. Sun Lu considered that Lu Xun, Zhuge Jin, was the one who was great to Sun Deng, and should not let them increase their rights. After careful discussion, Sun Quan slightly changed the price and asked Cao Wei to call himself the emperor of Eastern Wu, pay 50 million yuan in taxes to Eastern Wu every year. Even if the entire Yangzhou is not cut off, he would still harm the four counties of Lujiang, Hefei, Chengde and Tuzhong in Yangzhou to Eastern Wu, and withdraw Cao Xiu's army and horses.

Sun Zi returned to Cao Wei with this news. Cao Rui refused and sent someone to cross the river again.

In this round trip, Ji Han completed his last blow to the Cao army in Jizhou.

In July of the eighth year of Jianxing in the Han Dynasty (229 AD), Ji Han's chariot and cavalry general Zhang Fei led Ji Han's main army of 100,000, and fought fiercely outside Yecheng with Cao Zhen, the general of Cao Wei. Cao Zhen, the army was hungry for a few days at this time, and not even had many weapons intact. Cao Wei fled all the way, and Zhang Fei chased and killed all the way. The Wei army, who had lost its combat effectiveness, surrendered to Ji Han. All the way back to the Yellow River, Cao Zhen's subordinates were less than 50,000. Cao Zhen and the 8,000 former troops had just crossed the Yellow River, and Zhao Yun led He Jiuqu's troops to suddenly break the floating bridge and blocked all the victorious Wei army on the north bank.

The Wei army lost command and was blocked by natural dangers, and cried for a moment.

Zhang Fei personally surrendered, and 50,000 elite troops from Cao Wei were dismissed and surrendered.

After this battle, Cao Wei was greatly damaged, and his strength was not only unable to be compared with Ji Han, but even compared with Dongwu, he was several levels worse than that of Dongwu.
Chapter completed!