Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Seeing that Pei, Xu, and Wang, the three attendants, were looking at each other with some dissatisfaction and were about to refute him, Cao Rui promptly reached out to stop their impending debate.

Cao Rui said in a deep voice, "I know your respective positions and intentions. However, I will also give you a definite answer. In the court today, I will not allow former officials of Wu to hold high positions without merit. All the positions assigned are temporary and ceremonial, not substantive positions as in the past when surrendered generals were accepted."

"The position of Minister of the State is highly prestigious. Minister Huang, today I will give you an explanation for your appointment as Left Vice Minister of the Secretariat. Whether it is Gu Yong or the four Ministers of Wu, their positions as Ministers will only be nominal rather than substantive, and will not affect the operation of the Secretariat. Is that acceptable?"

"Your Majesty, I am deeply apprehensive." Huang Quan bowed respectfully.

"Let's do it as Wang Qing suggests." Cao Rui clearly agreed with Wang Su's opinion: "One Minister of Works and four honorary positions of Minister are enough to demonstrate the benevolence of the Great Wei. Zhuge Ke is over thirty years old, right? I'll give him the position of General of Annan. Gu Ji can be the Prefect. If he doesn't do well, the Ministry of Works can remove him from his post. Let's decide on this."

"Your Majesty's decree will be obeyed," the crowd replied in unison.

“Good.” Cao Rui said, “In addition, news has also come from Wu Commandery. Zhong Gong appointed a man named Lou Xuan as the governor of Wu Commandery. In his letter, he said that this man has done a lot of work. I trust Zhong Gong. Minister Huang will issue an official certificate to this man later. As for the other officials in Wu Commandery, please approve them according to the list in Zhong Gong’s memorial.”

"Yes, Your Majesty, I have noted it down," Huang Quan replied.

Cao Rui coughed lightly, stood up, looked around, and slowly said:

"I had given instructions to the Grand Commandant before setting out. If I were to cross the river, I would only go to Jianye and not anywhere else. Now that Jianye has been captured, I should personally cross the river to show the world that Yangzhou has been recovered. This matter should be done quickly rather than late. In one hour, I will lead the Right Army of the Imperial Guards to Hengjiang Ferry at Liyang."

“Jiang Qing.” Cao Rui looked at Jiang Ji.

"Your subject is here," Jiang Ji replied, bowing respectfully.

Cao Rui said, "Minister Jiang is the governor of Yangzhou. You will be in charge of the fleet from Ruxu to Wuhu. I will arrive at Hengjiang Ferry in two days. The day after tomorrow, on the morning of February 2nd, I will lead the army from Hengjiang Ferry to Caishiji."

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will not make any mistakes!" Jiang Ji bowed deeply.

Since the second year of the Taihe era, Jiang Ji had been serving in Yangzhou. Seven years of hard work had finally paid off. The territory under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Yangzhou would finally be complete, but there was still a long way to go in governing the former Wu territory. Jianye, the capital of Wu, would also become his residence as governor.

It remains to be seen how he, as the governor of Yangzhou, will be rewarded when his merits are recognized in the future.

Cao Rui had been frequently in the army in recent years, so cavalry marches had become a necessary mode of transportation for his central officials. They set off on the morning of the 30th and did not arrive near Hengjiang Ferry until the evening of the following day.

Of course, sailing downstream from Ruxu was also a viable option. Unfortunately, the imperial court did not have enough ships at Ruxu to support this mode of transport; most of the ships were with Lu Xun's navy. Cao Zhen's previous advance to Wuhu also involved crossing the river south from Ruxu to Chungu, followed by a land march.

When Cao Rui led his army to this place, Jiang Ji had already been waiting there for half a day. The waterway, less than two hundred li long, was only about half a day's journey for the fleet.

Meanwhile, near Wuhu, after more than two days of fierce attacks, the city of Wuhu fell first from the south and east. The fact that the already weak city could hold out for so long under the full-scale offensive of the Great Wei was a testament to Zhu Ran's skillful defense within the city.

But whether it's sooner or later, the result is the same.

On the afternoon of February 1st, at 1:45 PM, the Wuwei Army under the command of Dian Man and Zou Gui were the first to enter the city. The well-disciplined and highly motivated Wuwei Army advanced resolutely like an impregnable wall, completely shattering the low morale of the Wu army's defenses. As the breach in the city wall widened, the retreat of the Wu army within the city gradually turned into a collapse, then, like an avalanche, became unstoppable.

The city was littered with stones that hadn't yet been cleared away, making it difficult for the Wu army to resist. Organized surrenders began to appear. However, the Wei army did not seem to accept these surrenders. They would usually just order the Wu soldiers to lay down their weapons and then easily behead them. The military judges accompanying the army would not refuse any of these surrenders, regardless of whether the Wu soldiers were killed in battle or surrendered before being killed. They would count each head as a military achievement.

From high-ranking officers to ordinary armored soldiers, everyone expressed their absolute support for the general's wise decision not to spare any surrendered prisoners. The Wu region was about to be pacified; what was the point of keeping these detestable Wu soldiers? It would be better to exchange them for military merit!

Generals were granted titles and fiefs, and soldiers were promoted and exempted from taxes—all thanks to the collection of enemy heads. This is what it means to be of one mind from top to bottom.

There were no civilians left in Wuhu City. Zhu Ran had already driven all the civilians out when he entered the city. This could be considered one of the few beneficial things he did in this war.

Inside the central command tent, Wang Ji entered from outside, cupped his hands, and said, "Reporting to the General, General Dian has come to report that he has captured Wu general Zhu Ran alive. Should this man be escorted to the General's tent?"

"Proceed as previously ordered." Cao Zhen waved his hand: "Bring this man's body here. Zhu Ran is a heinous criminal who held a high position in Wu. His head should be sent to various prefectures and counties in Wu. As early as Ruxu, His Majesty and the Privy Council had already decided on his fate. I will not allow him to have any other outcome."

"Yes." Wang Ji left.

Before long, Wang Ji came in again: "General, Wu general Hu Zong has been captured by General Zou's troops. He has suffered several knife wounds. General Zou asked how to deal with him."

Cao Zhen glanced at Wang Ji and said, "Proceed according to the previous order."

"Yes." Wang Ji bowed and then left.

If we follow the previous order, then we should be beheaded like Zhu Ran.

The area around Wuhu is now completely surrounded, like an iron barrel.

On the outermost edge were Jiang Wei's cavalry, and Bei Yan's cavalry also joined the charge into the city. Various camps and fortifications surrounded Wuhu City, leaving no way for anyone inside to escape.

The city was initially engulfed in chaos and fighting, which then turned into a one-sided massacre of the demoralized Wu army by the Wei forces. When Cao Tai, who was in charge of the battle within the city, personally came to the camp to report that the battle within the city had ended, everyone in the military tent, from General Cao Zhen down, understood that there should be no Wu soldiers left alive in Wuhu City at this moment.

More than 10,000 people were slaughtered in Wuhu City in just half an afternoon, becoming military merits for the soldiers of the Great Wei.

Cao Zhen's chest heaved a few times, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist. He stood before the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, the Battle of Wuhu has now come to an end."

"I would like to inform you all that His Majesty will be crossing the river to Jianye tomorrow. The main direction of our army's next attack has not yet been determined, so our main force needs to quickly restore its combat strength."

"Issue the order that Cao Tai lead the Wuwei Army and Bei Yan lead his cavalry to immediately withdraw from the battlefield and rest at the main camp south of the city. Cao Shuang, the Colonel of the Archers, shall also lead his troops to rest and prepare for battle."

"Order Commandant Jiang Wei to lead his troops north to Shicheng tomorrow to protect His Majesty's vicinity."

"Wuhu City will be sealed off tonight. Infantry Colonel Bian Lan is ordered to lead the troops of Yingzhou and other nationalities to be responsible for the aftermath of the city's siege tomorrow morning."

"Do you understand everything?"

"Your subordinates obey!" Everyone in the tent responded in unison.

Cao Zhen nodded slightly: "The matter of Yangzhou has been somewhat accomplished so far, but the journey has only just begun. We still need to conquer the various counties and prefectures in Wu, and we have not yet obtained Jingzhou of Wu."

"Everyone still needs to work harder!" (End of Chapter)