Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Zong Yu still hesitated, glancing between Wei Yan and Fei Yi before asking:

"General, what are you going to do...?"

"Send troops." Wei Yan calmly uttered two words: "If Heaven grants us an opportunity and we do not seize it, we will suffer the consequences. The Wu army is so useless that they can barely hold Yiling. Do you think I can just sit by and watch Wei take Yiling and then look upstream to Yong'an?"

Zong Yu knew he couldn't persuade Wei Yan, so he looked at Fei Yi with a pleading gaze, only to find that Fei Yi's words were exactly the same as Wei Yan's:
"The states of Han and Wu are allies. Zhuge Ziyu wrote to the Prime Minister explaining the critical situation in Jingzhou. Although he did not ask for help, the sense of urgency was very clear. Our troops are not going to Yiling to attack the city, but to escort Bu Chan. However, if Wu needs our help, we can also help Wu hold off the Wei troops."

Zong Yu was greatly surprised. He could understand Wei Yan's decision, but he did not expect Fei Yi to say the same thing.

And just as Zong Yu was processing this matter, Fei Yi said to Wei Yan:
"Wenchang, I think we should inform the Prime Minister about this matter as soon as possible. The situation in Jingzhou is critical for the Wu army. If it falls into the hands of the Wei army, the Wei army can launch attacks on the court from the east and north. At that time, the national situation will be no different from that of Gongsun Shu during the reign of Emperor Guangwu."

Wei Yan raised an eyebrow: "Please, Prime Minister, send reinforcements?"

“Excellent,” Fei Yi said. “In addition to our 30,000 troops, I request that the Prime Minister further increase the force by about 20,000 elite soldiers, who can be temporarily relocated from Fuxian and Baishui to Yong’an. If the situation changes, reinforcements can be sent to Jingzhou at any time!”

Wei Yan immediately nodded: "Wenwei's words are very true. It would be even better if the Prime Minister himself came. Isn't he the same brother as Zhuge Ziyu? Why not just persuade Zhuge Ziyu to take Jingzhou and surrender to the Han Dynasty? At the very least, give him a princely title!"

Fei Yi did not respond to Wei Yan's rambling words, but stood up and looked at Zong Yu: "General Zong, you should make preparations first. We need to prepare the ships and supplies needed for the army's eastward march, so as not to forget anything."

"Neither Han nor Wu stationed troops between Yong'an and Yiling. We will first set up camp east of Xinling, waiting for the arrival of 15,000 infantrymen and for further news from Wu."

Zong Yu sighed, "Then let's do as the general says! I'll go and do it right away!"

……

On the night of February 2nd, Cao Rui led 10,000 cavalrymen of the Right Wing Army of the Imperial Guards and 1,000 cavalrymen from Zhen Xiang's Yue Cavalry Commandery across the Hengjiang River to Caishiji. There they met 10,000 Hu cavalrymen led by Jiang Wei from the south. The force at Caishiji had reached 21,000 cavalrymen.

Cao Shuang had already captured Shicheng, which was not far from Caishiji, so Cao Rui naturally chose to stay there. Having a city and houses to rely on was much better than sleeping in the wilderness.

"I did not expect Boyue to come." Cao Rui looked at Jiang Wei, who was kneeling before him, waved his hand to signal him to rise, and then pointed to the side: "Minister Pei, find someone to give Boyue a seat."

"Your Majesty, thank you for offering me a seat." Jiang Wei nodded in response, then paused and presented the letter in his hand: "Your Majesty, this is a military report entrusted to me by the General. Please read it carefully. I have also brought the heads of Wu generals Zhu Ran and Hu Zong with me."

Wang Su rose, took the military report, and presented it to Cao Rui. Cao Rui read it carefully several times, his expression slightly grave as he looked up at Jiang Wei:

"How is Zhao Bo?"

Jiang Wei said, "It's alright."

"Boyo, was the city deserted when you arrived?"

Jiang Wei nodded: "That's what I heard."

Cao Rui nodded: "From a broader perspective, Wu has been a separatist state for nearly forty years, starting from the time of Sun Ce. The court can appease and pacify them, or appoint former Wu officials, but in general, swift and decisive measures are still necessary. The General is right; the name of Wei must inspire fear."

"A mere city with over ten thousand Wu soldiers, slaughtering them is no big deal."

"Minister Xu." "Your subject is here." Xu Shu, who was sitting on the side in the hall, stood up and bowed.

"Summon Liu Ye to me."

"According to the order."

After Liu Ye arrived, Cao Rui gave him the military report brought by Jiang Wei to read. Liu Ye dared to kill at the age of fourteen and dared to take the head of a bandit general in the bandit camp when he was in his twenties. He was not a kind-hearted person. In addition, he had seen many such things during Cao Cao's time, so he did not have much of a reaction.

"Does Your Majesty wish to have me discuss the general's next offensive direction?" Liu Ye asked, bowing respectfully.

"This is true, but it's not the only one," Cao Rui said calmly. "The Privy Council has issued an additional military order to the General, in my name, authorizing him to massacre the city of Wuhu to deter the villains."

"Your Majesty, this..." Liu Ye was somewhat stunned: "Your Majesty is a sage ruler, and this is the Taihe era, not the chaotic end of the Han Dynasty. How can we allow Your Majesty to be involved in such a thing?"

“What Privy Councilor Liu said is absolutely right.” Xu Shu, who was standing nearby, quickly added, “Your Majesty need not do this.”

Cao Rui waved his hand: "Whether it's the Privy Council, the Grand Secretariat, or the generals leading the troops, you are all my subjects. What you do is equivalent to what I do. How can I let the Grand General bear the blame while I hide behind him?"

"Let the Privy Council do it this way."

"Furthermore, with the precedent set in Wuhu, things will be much easier in the future," Cao Rui said calmly. "Lu Xun is about to blockade the area east of Chaisang, and all the counties and prefectures of Yangzhou in Wu will fall under the control of the Great Wei. The Grand Secretariat and the Privy Council will draft a common document, which will be issued to all armies as a proclamation. All counties, cities, and fortified towns in Yangzhou and Jiangzhou that do not surrender after a siege will have their garrison commanders executed after the city falls. Those that do not surrender after a siege will be massacred after the city falls, just like the case in Wuhu."

Wang Su sighed softly: "Your Majesty, I still wish to ask you to reconsider."

Cao Rui chuckled lightly: "No need to think twice, just do it this way."

"Your Majesty, we obey." The three cabinet ministers and Liu Ye bowed and acknowledged the decree.

Cao Rui nodded, then asked:

"Now that the battle of Wuhu is over, the General still has more than 30,000 troops in Wuhu. How should we proceed with the army now?"

Liu Ye spoke first: "Your Majesty, the key to the current war against Wu is still Chaisang. I believe that the General should be divided into two parts. One part should take several thousand men to conquer the area around Wuhu, such as Wanling, Jingxian, and Liyang, and then take control of the entire Danyang Prefecture."

"The main force led by the General, including 10,000 Wuwei Army soldiers and 10,000 Liaodong infantry and cavalry, should quickly move upstream along the river towards Chaisang."

"I second that opinion," Xu Shu replied from the side.

"I second that opinion," Pei Qian, Wang Su, and others echoed.

Cao Rui nodded: "Then let's do it this way."

"Issue the imperial decree, ordering the Grand General to lead 10,000 troops of Cao Tai's Wuwei Army, 10,000 infantry and cavalry from Liaodong, and 2,800 cavalry from the Central Army, and to command 22,800 infantry and cavalry to sail up the river, requisition all the ships near Ruxu, and arrive at Chaisang within 15 days."

"Commander Duan Mo of the Changshui School is ordered to march north from Chungu to Jingnan Dongwu to garrison the area. Commander Cao Shuang of the Shesheng School is ordered to lead 4,000 troops from Yingzhou and over 2,000 surrendered Wu soldiers southward from Wuhu to conquer Danyang County. They are permitted to recruit and accept surrenders along their own route!" (End of Chapter)