On the west side of Yuliang Islet, facing the river, Sun Quan's words had not only caused him to gaze intently at Sun Deng's face but also made the surrounding ministers do the same.
It must be known that the enemy situations faced at Xiangyang, Fan City, and Yukou are entirely different.
If ranked by importance, Yuokou is the most difficult, Fan City is next, and Xiangyang is the easiest.
Where Sun Deng would go is not just a simple multiple-choice question, but also a significant issue for Sun Quan to test the true intention of Sun Deng.
If he were an ordinary general, requesting to go to Yu Kou and Fan City, the most dangerous places, would be the correct move, and the one that would best demonstrate courage to Sun Quan. However, as the Crown Prince and the future heir of Wu, a stable and secure place like Xiangyang is more suitable for him.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, no one else would dare to come up with a plan for him. After a moment of thought, Sun Deng bowed and said:
"If we are dealing with the Wei army, son, I can go to any of the three places." Sun Deng chose a cunning answer: "If you wish for me to go to any place, please show me the way as ordered by my father."
Indeed, clever! Sun Quan's lips curved into a smile, and he laughed softly a few times.
For this campaign, the total number of Wujun soldiers is approximately seventy thousand.
Right General Bup Yu led a force of ten thousand soldiers and fought alongside Feng Wei General Pan Jun, who also commanded a force of ten thousand, encircling Fan City from the west and east.
The most important place, Yukou, was under the command of Shamo General Quan Cong. Currently, they were busy building a fortress at Yukou.
The army responsible for besieging Xiangyang was led by General Zhuge Jin, the Left Commander, with a force of ten thousand.
Among the remaining three thousand, besides the four thousand soldiers stationed along the banks of the Han River in Yicheng and Rong County, there are also Sun Han's forces following the Han River upstream. All other troops are stationed on Yuliang Islet.
Sun Quan laughed for a while, shook his head and pointed to the southwest: "Zi Gao, go to find the Left General."
"There are many things to do in besieging a city, such as setting up barriers, building camps and forts, constructing levees. These are all things that a general must understand. Attacking a city is even more complex; digging canals, constructing earthen mounds, making weapons, and digging tunnels – each one is crucial for winning."
"For the first time accompanying the army, I don't ask you to learn everything at once. Just keep watching, asking questions, listening more and doing less. Do you understand?"
Sun Deng bowed respectfully: "I understand, then shall I go across the river on a boat?"
"Go ahead," Sun Quan nodded, "take the four people behind you with you as well."
"Thank you, my father."
After Sun Deng's farewell, he left with Zhuge Kè and the other four people, and simply packed some things. Then they walked to the pier.
"From here to the Left General's place, Yuanxun brother will be even more at ease," Sun Deng said with a relaxed expression and looked at Zhuge Kè. "Brother Yuanxun, have you ever entered the Left General's camp during wartime?"
Zhang Xiu also joked, "Yes, what have you learned from the Left General's military strategies, Yuanxun brother?"
Zhuge Kè laughed and said: "How could I not be good at using soldiers? My father has been in command for a long time, my uncle is in charge of troops on the west to attack Wei, and as a member of the Zhuge family, how could I not know how to use soldiers?"
Said and done, Zhuge Kè made a gesture of invitation with a smile, indicating that the Crown Prince should board the boat first. At the same time, he said, "The Crown Prince is the son of the Supreme Emperor and will undoubtedly inherit the family business in the future. As for me, Zhuge Kè, after following in my father's footsteps, I will continue to lead troops for the Crown Prince!"
"Ha ha ha."
In a burst of laughter, the oily ship slowly left the pier and headed to the northeast, towards the pier by the Han River.
Although Zhuge Kè's words were somewhat unconventional, according to the political traditions of the Eastern Wu at the time, they were very reasonable. The top generals of the Eastern Wu each had their own retinues, and father-to-son inheritance was the norm. The position of Du Zong (military governor), the title of General, and the retinue could all be passed down from generation to generation, with few exceptions.
Compared to this, the appointment system of the powerful Northern Wei Dynasty is somewhat more advanced.
If we evaluate it from an objective perspective, the current Xiangyang and Fancheng area is like a battlefield tailored for Wu and Sun Quan.
The camp on Yuliang Islet is situated in the middle of the Han River, with Fan City to the north and Xiangyang to the south, both along the riverbank. The furthest point from Fan City to Xiangyang is no more than seven or eight miles away, and it is about ten miles from Yuliang Islet. The place furthest away, Yukou in the northeast, is only twenty miles from Xiangyang city and five miles from Yuliang Islet.
The three places of Xiangyang, Fan City, and Yukou are all along the Han River, under the control of the large camp on Yuliang Islet. The only place without troops is the direction where Sun Quan is withdrawing his army and returning to Wuchang.
Sun Quan indeed understands military strategies. He has chosen these battlefields and the large camp on Yuliang Islet, which is quite reasonable. If the battle cannot be won, retreating with the entire army is also without any risk.
But here's the problem.
The seven hundred thousand troops are divided into five parts, trying to be everywhere and be safe. However, when spread out to specific places, the combat power may not be enough.
……
While Sun Quan was controlling the battle opportunities at the Yuliang Islet camp, Cao Rui, who was in Luoyang, was not idle either.
Tomorrow, we will be heading to Xuchang, and there are many things to do.
Of course, all these refer to court matters, not the palace. It has been two days in a row, dealing with the two women of Mao Yan and Sun Luban is enough. The rest of the women, Cao Rui has no heart and no strength to call on one by one.
State affairs are the priority!
At noon and a half, Cao Rui's carriage slowly drove out of the southern gate of the North Palace, leaving the city of Luoyang. The carriage then turned towards the west.
This is the case with every dynasty. When the land inside the city is not enough, naturally, expansion outside the city will be required.
Outside the Kaiyang Gate, there were already the Taixue (Academy of Grand Learning) and the Chongwen Guan (Pavilion for the Study of Literature). This year in the first half, Marquis of Guanglu Yang Fu asked for permission from Wei Zhen, the Secretary General, to build a large area of houses to the west of the Taixue. These houses were called "Jixian Yuan" (Institute of Gathering Talent), corresponding to the "Jixian Tang" (Hall of Gathering Talent) within the Taixue.
The purpose of this 'Jixian Yuan' is to house the officials under the jurisdiction of the Grand Officer of Light, as well as to accommodate the new graduates of the Taixue each year.
There is a joke that has been passed down in the Taixue: When students come to the Taixue, they either live here for three years before returning to their hometowns, or after graduating, they go to the frontier area for three years of military service, return to the Jixian Yuan and be dispatched again, none of them have to enter the northern Luoyang city.
Having stayed in Luoyang for a long time, Yang Fu waited on the roadside a full hour ahead of schedule last night, having learned that the emperor would be coming today.
I last saw Yang Fu at the court meeting the day before yesterday. Meeting him face to face today, he kept expressing congratulations on their victory and welcoming the emperor's inspection tour.
The Jixian Hall's courtyard has already erected a pulpit for the emperor to speak on. One hundred Taixue scholars, as well as one hundred and fifty other various officials from Luoyang, all stood around the empty ground.
As soon as Cao Rui stepped inside, he was greeted by his officials who simultaneously bowed and kowtowed to him.
"Please stand up," Cao Rui raised his right hand in the air: "Tomorrow, I will go to Xuchang. Today, I came to the Jixian Hall to talk with you and the officials under me, as well as with my scholars and sons of the throne. I will also tell you about your future."
"Please sit down."
More than two hundred officials stood in the courtyard with a respectful demeanor, their hands folded in front. Cao Rui waved his hand to indicate that they should sit on the mats, and then they all sat down.
After three years of hard work, seeing the emperor and hearing about their future prospects, who would not be excited? However, compared to the Taixue scholars, those original magistrates who were selected through recommendations, are not as excited at this moment.
With the changing of the guard, this applies to the system of the Ministry of Rites as well.
Cao Rui looked around and spoke: "You all followed me to Longyu at the end of the first year of Taiping. Longyu became Qinzhou, the Qiang people became subjects of Wei, and you young scholars with fair skin... I can see that your skin has darkened, and you have become more mature."
A wave of laughter echoed from the audience.
Being an official in charge of rural construction and land management is one of the most arduous positions in the world. During the busy farming season, one must direct and arrange agricultural activities according to the timetable. During the off-season, one must also command labor for public works such as building cities and rivers according to the allocation from state and local governments.
Even with this hard work, compared to the farmers in the fields who toil hard, it is much more relaxed.
Cao Rui asked with a smile, "Who would like to tell me what experiences you have gained in the Guanxi area over the past nearly three years?"
The Taixue scholars in the audience had already started raising their hands eagerly. Cao Rui thought for a moment and pointed to a familiar face:
"Fu Lanshi, come and tell me."
This is Fu Guo, who was once known as a "genius child" in Luoyang. Over the past three years, he has undergone a transformation in both demeanor and demeanor.
Fu Guo stood up from his seat, first bowing with respect, then spoke with a serious expression:
"Your Majesty, as a senior official in charge of rural construction and land management in the Tianjin Prefecture of Qinzhou, there are three insights I have gained that I can present to your Majesty."
"Please go ahead," Cao Rui nodded gently.
Fu Guo said: "First, for the people's livelihood, second, for governance, and third, for appointments."
Yang Fu nodded slightly with a smile. He was well aware of Fu Guo's talent, which is why he arranged for Fu Guo to sit in the first row, right in the middle.
Fu Guo's colleagues in the Taixue, as well as the other officials in the courtyard, all looked at him at the same time. (Chapter ends)
