Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

The following morning, Cao Rui moved from the newly named Changle Palace to the Yangzhou Prefecture, where he listened to a report from the three Grand Secretaries Pei, Xu, and Wang, along with Liu Ye and Huang Quan.

Today, the discussion before the Emperor concerns the upcoming military arrangements, which is the matter that the cabinet ministers and Liu Ye had not yet decided last night: whether to launch an immediate attack or a more gradual one.

"...In conclusion, I recommend a swift attack." After saying this, Liu Ye looked at Cao Rui, who was sitting at the head of the table, and was surprised to find that the emperor was lost in thought.

Such a thing is rare. In the first few years of his reign, the emperor was known for his diligence in governing. Although he did not concern himself with every matter, big or small, he would at least take a look at almost everything. In recent years, due to the stability of the court and the proper appointment of officials, the emperor has relaxed his focus on political affairs and devoted much of his energy to military matters and inspections of the surrounding areas.

However, it's extremely rare for someone to get distracted during a meeting!

Liu Ye was somewhat stunned, thinking that he had been a bit long-winded in his conversation with the cabinet ministers today. Just now, the ministers had presented facts, listed data, and reasoned, covering almost every factor that could affect the speed of the war's progress, which was indeed rather lengthy.

"Your Majesty?" Liu Ye cautiously reminded him, "We humbly request Your Majesty's wise decision."

The cabinet ministers and Huang Quan also looked over.

"Oh," Cao Rui replied casually, "Where were we, Minister Liu?"

Liu Ye repeated, "Your Majesty, I have just summarized the reports from myself and Attendant-in-Ordinary Xu, and we were discussing whether we should launch an immediate attack or a delayed one."

Cao Rui composed himself and said, “According to the calculations that you ministers just mentioned to me, the army is gathered in Chaisang, and the provisions can last until the end of April. There are reasons for both a rapid attack and a slow attack, but I think a rapid attack is better. Last month’s war against Wu has already achieved considerable results. Since we can take advantage of the momentum, we should not delay any longer.”

“This morning, when I was having breakfast, Minister Jiang and Minister Gu came to me to report something.” Cao Rui looked at the group of people and said, “After the banquet in the palace last night, Governor Jiang found Minister Gu and, despite having drunk a lot, the two of them dragged several newly appointed ministers to roughly take stock of the grain reserves in Wu.”

Cao Rui chuckled: "Based on the supply from Danyang and Wu Commandery, it can provide enough rations for at least another month and a half for the 100,000 troops. You should know that Sun Quan's largest storage of military rations is not in Jianye, nor in Wu County, but in Wuchang, in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Every year, a considerable amount of grain is transported from Wu to Wuchang."

"If we can squeeze out this grain, the army's deployment will be more secure."

The ministers in the hall exchanged glances and all bowed in support of the emperor's urgent attack, but they were all more or less dissatisfied with Jiang Ji's style of doing things.

Such a big thing, and the cabinet didn't even know about it?
After the banquet ended late at night, he immediately summoned Gu Yong and others to take stock of the grain and fodder in Wu, just so he could get up early the next morning to report the good news to His Majesty.

This person is far too opportunistic...

But all crows are black, and it's because they were busy with official business last night and didn't attend the banquet that they were still concerned about these things.

Frankly speaking, seeing that the Wu Kingdom was doomed, these trusted officials in the army were all eager for the rewards that were about to be bestowed upon them.

Show your face more now, and you'll have more confidence when it comes to recognizing your achievements later!
Seeing that the matter was settled, Cao Rui didn't say much more to the others and returned to the palace to rest. That morning, when he left the palace, Sun Luyu had invited him to return at noon so she could personally prepare soup for him. How could Cao Rui refuse such a warm and inviting invitation?
Speaking of Sun Luyu... Cao Rui was a little distracted just now, and it was partly due to Sun Luyu. The other 30% was because he was indeed a little tired. He felt a little sleepy in the morning, which also seemed to be related to Sun Luyu.

The last time the palace accepted concubines was in the fourth year of the Taihe era, when Empress Dowager Guo took charge of the matter. Cao Rui vaguely remembered that at that time, Yang Huiyu, Wen Fang, and four other women entered the palace. When they dined with him at the same table in the palace, they still had a sense of naivety in their eyes.

Time flies, and the palace has not taken in any new concubines for five years. Yesterday, Sun Luyu offered himself as a concubine, which gave Cao Rui a fresh feeling that he had not experienced for a long time.

And it's a completely different kind of novelty.

Although Xiao Hu's appearance is basically similar to Da Hu's, there are still many differences in his voice, tone, posture and many other details, which are worth appreciating inch by inch. He is almost like a younger version of Sun Da Hu, as if time has been turned back.

This kind of experience is extremely difficult to attain without encountering a sister. No wonder the Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede sisters were so favored during the Han Dynasty; the ambiguous feeling of being half similar and half different is enough to immerse one in it. Not to mention that compared to the gentleness and passion of the eldest tiger, the young tiger, perhaps due to her own experiences, had a more resolute and intense feel when first serving the king, giving her a unique charm.

Cao Rui walked slowly back to the palace under the protection of the Tiger Guards, leaving the prefectures and counties to the cabinet ministers, ministers, and privy councilors as the main venue.

The prefecture should rightfully be the seat of Jiang Ji, the governor of Yangzhou.

The master, Jiang Ji, was not in the prefectural government at this time, but had gone to the former Ministry of Personnel of Wu. Due to the Wei's basic policy of appeasement towards Wu officials, except for leaders such as Gu Yong who had to be appointed to their posts at this time, all the others were dismissed from their Wu posts. However, they were not sent home, but continued to do their original work in their original offices, waiting for the war to end before being reassigned. Huang Quan had previously promised that even their salaries would be temporarily paid according to the standards of the people during the Wu period.

On the one hand, it was to observe the effects, and on the other hand, it was to temporarily use the old people so that the Wu region could continue to function normally, and things such as grain collection and material transportation could proceed normally without having to go through the lengthy process of military control and re-selection of officials.

Gu Yong was from Yangzhou, and so was Jiang Ji. The two shared a common origin and were naturally close. Moreover, Gu Yong's family was still in Wu County, and would later be under the jurisdiction of this Prefect Jiang.

Given the unclear political situation, it would be too obsequious for Gu Yong, as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, to actively befriend the cabinet ministers. Furthermore, Gu Yong looked down on Huang Quan. At least he had the support of the scholars of the entire Wu region, while Huang Quan was a lone minister of Wei and a surrendered official of Shu. It was better for Gu Yong, a surrendered official of Wu, to keep his distance from Huang Quan.

After careful consideration, Jiang Ji seemed to be the most suitable candidate. He was highly trusted by the emperor, and associating with the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and the Prefect was not considered currying favor, but rather a way to gain a good reputation.

This morning, Gu Yong and Jiang Ji reported on government affairs together and received praise from the emperor in person, which put Gu Yong's mind at ease.

"Lord Gu," Jiang Ji addressed the emperor with the same title. "As the governor, I cannot govern a prefecture without the help of local virtuous and capable people."

"Please provide me with a list, Mr. Gu, as I wish to recruit ten officials in Jianye."

Gu Yong cupped his hands in greeting and replied, "Of course, please wait a moment, Magistrate Jiang." (End of Chapter)