Zhaoguang Liang looked at Wei Yan with some confusion.
"Wen Chang said that Chang'an is more difficult to attack, why then do we need to go to the Guanzhong region?" Zhaoguang Liang asked.
Wei Yan bowed and said, "My lord, I believe that we can cut off the road of Gou Xia to block the area of Long."
Zhuge Liang felt somewhat speechless for a moment.
Last year, after learning Zhuge Liang's strategy for the Northern Expedition, Wei Yan had suggested in a letter to Zhuge Liang that it could be possible to take control of Chang'an directly by crossing the Zi Wu Pass and occupying all of Guanzhong region.
This quite bold strategic idea was immediately rejected by Zhuge Liang at that time.
Not to mention the difficulty of traveling through the Zi Wu Pass. Even if we lead our army through the pass and reach Chang'an, how can we guarantee a quick conquest of Chang'an and also resist the relief forces coming from the east?
Just now, when Zhuge Liang heard that Wei Yan had changed his mind and abandoned the plan to directly take Chang'an, he felt somewhat relieved for a moment.
However, Wei Yan's aggressive thinking remained unchanged.
The so-called "cutting off Long" refers to cutting off the Long Mountains, preventing the Wujun from advancing westward to the Liangzhou region.
Long Mountain is a very broad geographical concept.
The custom has always been to regard the west as right and the east as left. The Long Right referred to the southern An, Tianwater, Guangwei, and Longxi regions located on the east side of the Yellow River and on the west side of Long Mountain.
And the non-existent 'Long Left' is actually the Guanzhong region.
In Zhuge Liang's mind, the Northern Expedition should not involve any element of chance, but rather a solid strategy of gradually achieving success by first taking the Liangzhou region and then the Guanzhong region.
To occupy the Long Right, it still needs to rely on the main force coming out of Qi Shanshan, and legitimately occupy the four regions of Long Right.
How can we block the Guanzhong region to the east of Long Mountain by leading a contingent of troops from Hanzhong, so that the Wujun cannot come through?
This is no different from Wei Yan's previous belief that blocking the city of Chang'an would prevent the Wei army from entering the Guanzhong region.
Zhuge Liang looked at Wei Yan and said patiently, "Wen Chang, no matter what, the main force must go through the Qi Shan Road. The Zi Wu Road is too long and dangerous, too far away from Long Right. We can only use Tang Luo Road and Gou Xia Road."
"My intention is merely to lead a contingent force as a feint in the Guanzhong region to distract the Wujun's forces. What do you think, Wen Chang, can such a contingent force withstand the vast number of soldiers from the eastern part of the Guo?"
Wei Yan quickly replied, "Your Majesty, this task can be carried out by this servant!"
Zhuge Liang frowned and asked, "How can you do that?"
Wei Yan answered, "I roughly deduce that Your Eminence intends to attack the Long Right and completely occupy the Liangzhou region, and the strategy you will use is similar to the one used by Kuai Xian to cut off the Long Right."
During the early Xin Dynasty, with the world in chaos, Wei Xiao, who controlled Tianshui, used the strategic position of Long Mountain to repeatedly defeat Liu Xiu's army as it sought to subdue the Liangzhou region.
Any military strategy is not spontaneous, but almost has its historical basis.
Zhuge Liang nodded, "The stories of Wei Xiao cutting off the Long Mountain and nearly fully occupying the Liangzhou region can serve as a reference."
Wei Yan said, "Your Eminence, the only two roads connecting the Guanzhong region with Long Right are the river valley along Wei and the tortuous Zi Wu Road. If the Wei army launches a large-scale attack, they can only take the Long Mountain Road."
"If I lead my troops north from the Gou Xia Road and occupy Yulu, blocking the eastern end of the Long Mountain Road, won't Your Eminence be able to move freely in the Long Right with his main force?"
Zhuge Liang said with a look of helplessness, "To go north from the Gou Xia Road, one must pass through Yi County and Yong County. How can one reach Yulu?"
"In my opinion, Wen Chang's strategy is not as good as attacking Chang'an!"
Wei Yan, somewhat impatient, said, "Your Eminence first leads the troops to Long Right, moving Zuo Hei's forces over there. Then the servant will block at Yulu. Wouldn't Liangzhou be within our grasp?"
Zhuge Liang remained silent for a moment, not responding.
Wei Yan's thinking is actually overly idealistic.
Just now, Wei Yan said that Zuo Hei replaced Xiahou Mang as the commander of Guanzhong, and Chang'an was clearly not able to be captured at that time.
But that doesn't mean we can't defeat Zuo Hei!
Years ago, Zhang Fei had defeated Zuo Hei decisively in Langzhong. Everyone knows this.
Therefore, Wei Yan also believes that Zuo Hei can hold the city, but he will certainly not be his opponent in open battle. He pays some attention to the opponent, but not much. Moreover, he inflates his own strength indefinitely.
It might be the illusion brought about by the fact that over the years, the famous generals of the Wei, Shu, and Wu states have all passed away, which has given Wei Yan this misconception.
Zhuge Liang slowly said, "Wen Chang's plan, Your Eminence has already known about it. There are still nearly a year left. We don't need to rush to determine how to deploy our troops at the moment."
The contingents from the Gou Xia Road or Tang Luo Road in Guanzhong to create confusion and attract Wei troops are undoubtedly necessary.
However, why must Wei Yan be the one? Zhao Yun or Wu Yi could also do it!
......
Wei, He State, Ye City.
Yesterday, Chancellor Wang Lang of the Wei state, Governor Lü Zhao of Jizhou, Prefect Zheng Hun of Wei Commandery, and people from the Zhen family such as Zhen Xiang, paid their respects at the tomb of Empress Wen Zhao.
After performing the sacrificial rites according to the Imperial Regulations with the sacrifices of a highest rank, Wang Lang discussed with the others and decided to construct a mausoleum for Empress Wen Zhao on the original site.
In fact, it was just about embellishing the original simple tomb to be more imposing and in line with the etiquette of an empress.
Before setting out, Wang Lang had inquired about this matter with the emperor in a serious manner.
Wang Lang cares about two things.
The first is whether to relocate Empress Wen Zhao's mausoleum to Luoyang and have her buried with the previous emperor.
The second is whether to follow the previous emperor's will and have a modest burial.
Without a doubt, both of these were rejected by the emperor. The emperor said at the time, "People have already been buried and are at peace, so why move them around?" Empress Wen Zhao probably did not want to be buried with the previous emperor, and the previous emperor probably felt the same way.
Therefore, after Wang Lang and the others had roughly agreed on the details, they returned to Ye City before sunset.
Two school affairs officials have been detained for about four days.
Wang Lang did not respond to the two officials, but instead, on the second day of the following month, he had them write down everything they had done in the office of affairs in Ye City since the year 218 of Cao Wei.
Since Wang Zhongshu personally asked questions, the two officials of affairs in Ye City had already been extremely afraid for several days. Upon hearing that Wang Zhongshu said there was still a way out if they confessed honestly, they naturally wrote down everything they knew.
It is now afternoon.
Wang Lang is carefully reading the report of the two officials of affairs behind the desk, and after finishing, he can't help but sigh deeply.
During the reign of Emperor Wu Cao Cao, the Office of Affairs was always under the direct control of Emperor Wu, and no other subject could interfere, including Crown Prince Cao Pi.
During the reign of the late Emperor Cao Pi, for some unknown reason, the Office of Affairs was incorporated into the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Ceremonial, and as a result, the power of Liu Fang and Sun Zhi also grew increasingly.
It is indeed unprecedented for the emperor to personally send someone to lead an investigation into this matter and come to Ye City.
The two officials of affairs did say something, but whatever they said could cause trouble in the court if it were to be spread around.
Wang Lang initially wanted to write a letter to report this matter to the emperor. But after thinking it over, he put down the brush that he had picked up.
Matters of this kind should be discussed personally with the emperor after returning to Luoyang!
......
At this moment, in the city of Luoyang, Emperor Cao Rui had finished his archery training in the afternoon and was still, as usual, reviewing documents in his study.
Dazhuan Cao, as well as others, were also present in the study.
Dazhuan Cao said with a bow while sitting in a chair, "Your Majesty, Zuo Hei has already delivered the traitor Qu Ying from Mi County to Luoyang."
"Your servant comes to inquire from Your Majesty: Shall we follow the precedent, execute him in the market square and hang his head outside the city walls of Luoyang? Or should we make other arrangements?"
Emperor Cao Rui looked up at Dazhuan Cao and asked, "What do you think, Dazhuan?"
Dazhuan Cao was somewhat surprised: "In my opinion, it should follow the precedent."
Cao Rui spoke slowly, "I think I remember that during the Later and Early Han dynasties, the heads of rebels were always sent to Chang'an or Luoyang and displayed outside the city gates to intimidate all around under the name of various ambassadors."
Dazhuan Cao answered, "Exactly."
Cao Rui said, "If we think about it in a different way, what if we send the head of the traitor to all directions?"
"Send the head to all directions?" Dazhuan Cao asked, "Are you saying we should display the traitor's head in each border commandery?"
Cao Rui nodded in agreement, "Exactly. In the past, the Han Dynasty displayed the heads of rebels in Chang'an or Luoyang to intimidate ambassadors. However, there are few ambassadors left in Luoyang now. We are already at war with Sichuan and Wu, and the small countries of the Western Regions are only here to deceive us with bribes. There is nothing we can scare them with."
"It would be better to send the head to all directions, so that officials and subjects in each border commandery can see it. This is a more effective deterrent!"
Dazhuan Cao nodded and replied, "Your Majesty, this approach is indeed effective, but isn't it too time-consuming?"
Cao Rui said, "It's no problem, more time won't matter. As long as there are no more such rebels to be killed every year!"
"If the General estimates, how long will it take to send the head to all directions?"
Clearly, the emperor was starting to think 'out of the box', and Dazhuan Cao replied seriously, "Your Majesty, if we send the head to all directions, it would be better to start from Luoyang, cross the Yellow River to Bing Province, then pass through Pingyang, Xirhe, Taiyuan, Yanmen and Dateng Commandery in Yuezhuan. Then we would reach the capital of Yan Province."
"The Dateng Commandery, if we continue eastward, will be followed by Shanggu Commandery, Yuyang Commandery, Yubeibei Commandery and Liaoxi Commandery."
Dazhuan Cao couldn't help but interject and ask, "Your Majesty, are you really going to send the head to all the border commanderies? Do you also need to send it from Liaoxi Commandery all the way to Yangzhou?"
Cao Rui laughed and shook his head, "The General is right, we don't have to go to all the border commanderies. We just need to send it to the main cities along the way."
"Bing Province and Yan Province each have a general in charge, so I think it's not necessary to send it there. Passing the head to the border commanderies of Bing Province and Yan Province should be sufficient."
Cao Rui looked at Dazhuan Cao and asked, "If I take this opportunity to send people to the borders to comfort and encourage the soldiers, what do you think, General?"
Dazhuan Cao thought for a moment before saying, "I recall that when Your Majesty first ascended the throne last year, you did send a group of officials to encourage the soldiers in various places."
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Yes, that group of people went to different places last year, but after they returned to court, they didn't say anything useful."
"Either the officials and people were overjoyed or they were kneeling to thank the emperor's grace, but there was no substance at all."
"General, what do you think? Let us take this opportunity to send people to visit and investigate all the border commanderies in North China. Only then will we have a more solid foundation when dealing with affairs in North China."
"Right now, Wu and Shu are the priority. It's better to be careful with the Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes in the north."
Dazhuan Cao replied, "Your Majesty's words are sensible. However, who should we send to go on this mission?"
Cao Rui said, "How about Kuqi Jian? Let him go and visit all the border commanderies, carefully observe the situation, and report back to the court."
Dazhuan Cao nodded and agreed, "Zhonggong is indeed capable, but he is still young. If we were to find someone who has been through many military campaigns to accompany him, that would be even better." (End of this chapter)
