Is there such a thing?
As Cao Hong's words slowly trailed off, Cao Wei also fell into deep thought.
Yesterday, it was known that Sima Zhi was the cousin of Sima Yi and had been transferred to serve as the mayor of Henan in the second year of Huang Chu.
What is Huang Chong Eren? It is the first whole year after Emperor Cao Pi took over the throne. At that time, the 'Four Friends' led by Chen Qun and Sima Yi were appointed to beautiful positions.
At this time, when Sima Zhi came to Luoyang to serve as the mayor of Henan, it's impossible for anyone to believe that it was because of Sima Zhi's own outstanding achievements.
It must be Sima Yi's arrangement.
"Ask you, your family people believe this 'no to God' for how long?" Cao Rui asked.
"About a year," Cao Hong replied, "At first, when my wet nurse first believed in this deity, it was the time when I was imprisoned by the late Emperor last New Year and my life and death were uncertain."
"My wet nurse also heard that believing in 'no to God' could bless the family, dispel calamity and bring good fortune, so she started believing in it," Cao Hong explained.
Cao Rui said with a calm face, "Then why did Sima Yi try to harm you?"
"I don't know! Perhaps it's because he saw me being reappointed by Your Majesty, or maybe because he has a narrow mind," Cao Hong said. "My intuition tells me that this matter is connected to Sima Yi."
"Since there are no proofs, don't make false accusations," Cao Rui shook his head gently and said. "I have heard you. Go home first."
Cao Hong performed a bow, and then he left again.
It's not that Cao Hong's evidence is particularly complete, nor that Sima Yi actually did this.
When Cao Hong said that Sima Yi had harmed himself, Cao Rui had a feeling of seven-fold trust in his heart.
Sima Zhi and Sima Yi had close relations and even his post as the mayor of Henan was likely obtained through Sima Yi's arrangements.
During the reign of Emperor Huang Chong, party unity and opposition to others reached its peak.
However, in other dynasties, the emperor was supreme and watched as officials divided into factions, constantly competing for power and status.
In the case of Huang Chong, it was the founding emperor of Wei Cao Pi himself, who led his party members who helped him gain power, to occupy various positions in the court.
Indeed, it is a breach of decorum.
It's even more improper when it comes to Sima Yi. Sima Yi using some political tactics behind the scenes has led Cao Rui to believe it emotionally.
But... why is Sima Yi trying to do something to Cao Hong at this time?
It is not yet known.
Since we can't figure it out for the time being, it's better to wait and see. Eventually, everything will be clear as time passes.
...
As time went by, the new Guardian of the Qiang Commandant Lu Shun, also known as Lu Boyan, finally arrived in the Western Capital.
The Western Capital is an important city in the valley of the Huang He River, and it is also the seat of the Xiping Commandery.
In the middle of January, the governor of Xiping Commandery, Qu Ying, made a rebellion and temporarily captured Linqiang and Xidu counties.
The region of Liangzhou is remote.
When news of Qu Ying's rebellion reached the Western Capital and the emperor who was then in Qiao County, commanding the Guardian of the Qiang Commandant, it was already too late. The military deployment had already been made by Zhang He, the Left General of the Guardian of the Wei State.
According to the system, Zhang He commanded an external army of 15,000 troops and was stationed in Mian County, Fu Feng Commandery.
Even with this incident, Zhang He did not make a major deployment of his forces east of the Long Mountain; instead, he sent 1,000 men from Chen Cang westward to Lintai, roughly providing protection for the Long Mountain pass.
Ji Wan, the old home of Ji Wei, located in Jing County, Xiantong Commandery, was normally garrisoned by General Lu Pan with 3,000 external troops.
In the Jincheng Commandery of Liangzhou, the city of Jincheng was also normally garrisoned by General Hao Zhao with 2,000 external troops.
Zhang He only maintained his post in Mian County and sent General Lu Pan to lead 1,000 troops westward to Jincheng, while also sending General Hao Zhao's 2,000 troops to quell the unrest in Aniy County.
By the time General Lu Pan arrived in Xidu, Qu Ying's troops had already lost several battles under the attacks of Generals Hao Zhao and Xiahou Biao.
Therefore, Lu Pan only joined forces with Hao Zhao and then proceeded to advance towards Linqiang County, ultimately recapturing it.
For this suppression of the rebellion, only a few thousand external troops were deployed.
A thousand local troops from Jincheng Commandery were conscripted, in addition to the 1,000 troops from Wuyi who descended southward under the command of Xichou State Governor Xiahou Biao and 3,000 Qiang cavalry.
The total military force for this suppression of the rebellion was no more than 8,000.
It can be said that this rebellion by Qu Ying did not cause any rippling effects. The Qiang and Hu people in the various counties of Liangzhou, except for the Qiang people in the Huang He Valley, did not respond to it.
Qiang people are just different in lifestyle, not idiots.
Several years ago, General Cao Zhen and Left General Zhang He had just won a major victory in Liangzhou.
And they wouldn't be so desperate that they would follow Qu Ying in causing trouble, right?
At this time, in the county of Xidu, Xichou State Governor Xiahou Biao, General Hao Zhao, and General Lu Pan were hosting a banquet to welcome the arrival of Lu Shun.
Lu Shun, also known as Lu Boyan, even though he was a Weijin general far away in Liangzhou, was well-known for his reputation.
From the perspective of literati in Luoyang, Lu Shun was just a defeated general and a surrendered general, and not worth mentioning.
However, from the perspectives of Xiahou Biao, Hao Zhao, and Lu Pan, Lu Shun's past victory at Yiling, where he wiped out more than 40,000 troops of Liu Bei, was a feat they could never match in their lifetimes.
Compared to such a record, what's the significance of being a surrendered general? After all, he was still highly favored by Your Majesty.
Xiahou Biao raised his wine cup: "General Lu from the Wei State came all the way to Liangzhou, enduring hardships along the way. The cold climate of Liangzhou is much harsher than that of Yangzhou."
Xiahou Biao had given so much face, and Lu Shun couldn't be insensitive: "General Xiahou guards over Liangzhou and has quickly quelled the rebellion this time. General Xiahou, along with both of you, are truly national heroes."
"Pick up white!" Lu Shun said.
"Pick up white!" The four of them drank to the bottom.
Hao Zhao is very unrestrained in character, while Lu Pan is more reserved.
Hao Zhao asked, "General Lu, did you travel from Shouchun to here? How long have you been on the road?"
"It has been more than a month," Lu Shun said. "Emperor Rui commanded me as the Guardian of the Qiang Commandant in early February. I first traveled from Shouchun to Luoyang, and stopped at the Ministry of Rites for three days before leaving for Liangzhou."
"I stayed for a day at Left General Zhang He's place in Mian County, then traveled through the Long Mountain Pass and arrived in Ji County of the Xiantong Commandery. After that, I met Governor Guo there and stayed for another day."
"Taking everything into account, the journey took about a month and a half."
Hao Zhao exclaimed, "So far! I am from Taiyuan. The farthest south I have ever been is in the State of Yuzhou's Xuchang. I never imagined that it would take such a long distance to go from Yangzhou to Liangzhou for my appointment."
Lu Shun nodded, with a slightly bitter but not excessive expression.
After parting with the emperor in Shouchun, Lu Shun boarded a boat and crossed the Wei River, passing through Chen Commandery and Yingchuan Commandery before arriving in Luoyang, where he was able to see the capital of the Han Dynasty for two hundred years.
Luoyang, located at the heart of the world, has classic rivers such as the Yi River and the Luo River. Finally, Lu Shun was able to see these rivers. The excellent terrain surrounded by eight passes and the majesty of the Su Water Pass were also personally witnessed by Lu Shun.
If the journey from Shouchun to Luoyang can be said to be ordinary, but the journey from Luoyang to Chang'an, then from Chang'an to Tianshui, and even from Tianshui to Xidu, this trip is completely different from the previous one.
The towering and majestic Qiaoluan Pass, the great reputation of Chang'an, the boundless grasslands and fertile land in the Wei River region, coupled with the rugged terrain of Longyou.
And after arriving in Liangzhou, the frequent mixture of Qiang and Han people, as well as the city of Xidu deep in the Huang He Valley……
Over four hundred years of the Han Dynasty, the deeds of countless able ministers and valiant generals in the western regions emerged one after another in Lu Shun's mind.
As Lu Shun traveled to Liangzhou for his new appointment, he increasingly felt the beauty of the majestic mountains and rivers, and the sense of connection between the different terrain.
Was my suggestion to the King of Wu to establish a realm along the Yangtze River for self-preservation truly correct?
Or perhaps, it was truly correct to divide the Eastern Jiangsu into a realm, leaving the mountains and rivers divided and causing endless wars and expenditure across the empire?
Lu Shun's thoughts were also gradually changing.
Lu Shun spoke up and asked, "General Hao is from Taiyuan? I have heard that Taiyuan's terrain is also quite rugged."
Hao Zhao nodded with a smile, "That's natural. Taiyuan is the key to the Jìn region's mountains and rivers, so it's naturally easy to defend and hard to attack."
"I have long heard of the fame of Taiyuan," Lu Shun said. "However, there is something I don't understand. Why did Qu Ying want to rebel and cause chaos this time?"
Xiahou Biao humphed: "What else could it be? It's just ambition at work!"
"The Qu family in Xiping is a prominent clan. Since the disturbances in Liangzhou during the reign of Emperor Huandi, they have always been involved."
"A few years ago, Qu Yanyu, a brother of Qu Ying's family, rebelled and was killed by the then-Governor of Jincheng Su Gong. It wasn't because he was defeated in battle, but because Su Gong lured him to his death." Xiahou Biao said: "Qu Ying fled into the Qiang and Hu people, so naturally he couldn't be satisfied."
"This year, the Huang He Valley was in a state of famine, so Qu Ying stirred up the Qiang people to cause chaos and attempted to ask for grain from the county and the prefecture."
"Seeking grain?" Lu Shun puzzled: "Isn't Qu Ying rebelling? How can he ask for grain after rebelling?"
Xiahou Biao shrugged his shoulders and said, "Seeking grain? If they can't get it, they will start stealing. With so many Qiang people, how can Linqiang County possibly provide them with enough grain? Furthermore, the government does not even levy grain taxes on the Qiang people. It's already generous not to take their grain."
Lu Shun asked, "So Qu Ying led the Qiang people to attack the city?"
"Hard to say," Xiahou Biao shook his head: "Qu Ying has fled to the west coast, and the imperial army has not yet been able to capture him."
"But after the recovery of Linqiang County, it was said that at that time, the Qiang soldiers shot arrows into the city to show off their might. When the Zhou County magistrate stood on the city wall at that time, he was accidentally hit by a stray arrow and fell off the wall. After seeing that the magistrate was dead, Qu Ying decided to start attacking the city."
"Some say that the County Magistrate Zhou threatened to have the Qiang people kill Qu Ying and bring his head as a tribute. Out of necessity, Qu Ying started attacking officials and rebelling after that."
Lu Shun was also shaking his head in disbelief: "So, isn't this still confusing?"
"Understand? It's not that easy to understand!" Hao Zhao, laughing coldly and shaking his head, said: "General Lu is from Yangzhou. He may not be aware of many things in Liangzhou."
"There are so many Qiang and Hu people living in mixed settlements in Liangzhou, which is naturally hard to govern. There aren't many reliable Han noble families either; most are used to causing trouble."
"Years ago, all of Liangzhou was already handed over to Han rebels and horse bandits. All of them can be treated as bandits."
Lu Shun asked in some surprise, "Then isn't that just a mess?"
"It's a mess," Xiahou Biao also laughed: "General Lu arrived late. I have been in Liangzhou for over two months."
"General Lu, do you know how the government in Liangzhou treats the Qiang and Hu people?"
"I don't know," Lu Shun said.
Xiahou Biao laughed and said, "I don't know either," Lu Shun replied. "When the Qiang and Hu people commit crimes, the government never investigates. If there is a violent incident, they might just notify their tribal leaders and kill a few Qiang people to make a show of it."
(Chapter ends)
