The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 370 He is Cao Rui

During the years he spent observing mourning rites by the salt lake in Hedong, Mi Wei often pondered a question.

Is there any way to end this chaotic world as soon as possible and live a peaceful and tranquil life?

But after much thought, it seems that the only way out is to expand industrial production capacity by climbing the technology tree, which every transmigrator can master.

But who can blame him for not being cut out for it and not being able to climb the ladder?

Then we can only settle for second best and use some of our foresight to create favorable conditions for the unification of China.

To be honest, in the eleven years since the time travel, the Shu Han has expanded from one and a half provinces to now controlling two-thirds of the world.

It also encompassed the core hinterland of the Central Plains, including Guanzhong and Luoyang.

This isn't slow at all.

It should be noted that when Liu Bei's group rose to power in Jingnan, Cao Cao had already almost completed the unification of the north.

Confronting such a behemoth was far more difficult than the chaotic wars between the feudal lords of earlier times.

Therefore, during the chaotic period at the end of the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang was able to unify the country in seven years.

Even with Zhuge Liang's assistance, Liu Bei could only become the master of Yizhou in seven years.

Besides personal ability, the times and opportunities are also factors that cannot be ignored.

But Miwei still felt a sense of urgency.

This sense of urgency comes partly from historical experience in later generations.

For example, after four hundred years of great division, Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, reunified the north and south.

However, they suddenly discovered that there were significant differences between the two sides in terms of calendar, music, accent, writing, customs, and even the aesthetic appreciation of poetry and songs.

They no longer really considered each other as kindred spirits.

Thus, they had no choice but to follow the same path as the First Emperor, implementing a Sui Dynasty version of standardizing writing and cart axles during the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty.

It wasn't until the mid-Tang Dynasty that things truly stabilized.

Another example is the latent potential of the Sanhe clan, as revealed by the earlier Luoyang craze.

This put him under immense, invisible pressure, as he aspired to rewrite the course of history.

They have no choice but to rely on more direct military conquest to deal with potential future counterattacks and setbacks.

Even the place Puyang itself put some pressure on him in terms of metaphysics.

Because seven or eight hundred years later, this place had a new name, Chanzhou.

At that time, the emperor of the Central Plains was Emperor Zhenzong of Song, Zhao Heng, and the prime minister was Kou Zhun.

The emperor and his minister arrived at this place to confront the Khitans who were invading from the south, and eventually signed the Treaty of Chanyuan, which has been praised and criticized by later generations.

Thus, the Northern Song Dynasty lost its historical opportunity to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun.

Although there were no Khitans or Jurchens in this era.

However, it is also an indisputable fact that the Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes gradually rose to prominence after learning about Central Plains culture.

If I were to integrate myself into the Chinese nation, my pace would be too slow.

Will I lose a certain opportunity and become a sinner for all time?
Miwei never overestimated himself.

Therefore, we can only make full preparations and try our best to seize every opportunity.

In short.

At this moment.

For the Shu Han, the last obstacle to unifying the north was the Cao Wei military group in Hebei, represented by Ye City and Cao Rui.

From a purely military perspective, Ye City was perhaps even more important than Cao Rui himself.

This is not hard to understand.

Because history has changed.

In this lifetime, Cao Rui lacked sufficient military victories to enhance his personal prestige.

Therefore, it has influence domestically.

He was far inferior to the monarchs of his father and grandfather.

The fact that generals like Zhu Ling and Zang Ba traveled alone to Jiangzuo is clear evidence of this.

Ye City, however, is different.

Since the time of Yuan Shao, this place has been the core of the military group in Jizhou, Hebei.

This will not change just because a new emperor has been appointed.

Therefore, as long as we can conquer Ye City.

So even if Cao Rui himself were to escape by chance, fleeing to the borderlands, to Liaodong, to Goguryeo, or even to some other far-fetched place... it wouldn't affect the overall trend of the Han army's conquest of Hebei. This is a strategic victory.

Therefore, generally speaking, conquering Ye City and capturing and killing the ruler of Wei were actually the same thing.

Moreover, it would be difficult to succeed without sending an army of more than 100,000 to Hebei.

However, right now, Cao Rui has been suddenly encouraged by Sima Yi to go south, and then Cao Rui seems to have made some unusual moves.

Miwei discovered a way to achieve this goal quickly at a relatively low cost.

Of course, given the gravity of the matter, Mi Wei wouldn't just impulsively decide to take action.

No matter how the war goes, supplies and troops must be prioritized.

So he sent Guan Xing to Baima to rescue Huo Yi.

Meanwhile, he ordered his troops in Yuzhou to immediately march north to Yanzhou.

In addition to Kou Feng continuing to guard the vital Yingru Pass and cooperating with Jingzhou Governor Deng Zhi and Jiangxia Prefect Liao Hua to continue defending against enemies from the Jianghuai region.

The remaining 30,000 troops, along with a sufficient number of civilian laborers, gradually assembled on the eastern front after the emergency wheat was sown.

Meanwhile, scouts sent north to explore the area never stopped, in order to ascertain the Wei army's deployment as much as possible.

Time quickly passed to the middle of the first month of the sixth year of Jianxing (231 AD).

The weather is still cold.

But the Han army first won a battle.

The siege of White Horse City has been lifted.

Of course, this victory was never in doubt.

This is not the same battle where Guan Yu took the head of a general from among thousands of soldiers here.

The only commendable thing is that Huo Yi, as expected of Huo Jun, the descendant of "Jia Shi," defended the small city flawlessly, preventing the much larger Wei army from gaining any advantage.

However, on their way back to the north bank, the Wei army was attacked by a cavalry force coming from the direction of Luoyang.

Although most of the Wei troops successfully withdrew back to Hebei with the help of friendly forces.

However, their commander was captured by a veteran Han general amidst the chaos of battle.

This Han general was named Zhang Fei.

This Wei general was named Xiahou Mao.

"It was His Majesty who ordered me to carry the imperial banner and cross the river to feign an attack on Baima."

After being captured, Xiahou Mao readily confessed everything.

There's not even a need for interrogation.

Zhang Fei said:
"If this is a feint, then there must be a real attack. Where is Cao Rui? Where are the rest of your troops? Tell me the truth!"

Xiahou Mao:
"I truly do not know!"

"Huh?!" Zhang Fei's tiger eyes widened instantly, and he exhaled a pillar of steam.
Xiahou Mao couldn't stand Zhang Sanye's glare.

I instinctively shuddered and almost couldn't help but kneel down.

"General, please calm down. My lord has been quite suspicious lately, and only trusted and wise men can be entrusted with important matters."

"I have never been good at strategy or military tactics; all I have left is courage. How am I qualified to participate in planning?"

"Of course! Of course! My meager bravery is nothing in the eyes of a general like you, a warrior capable of defeating ten thousand men in this world."

Perhaps it was because Xiahou Mao was too cowardly that Master Zhang had no interest in scolding or beating him.

After carefully questioning the other prisoners and confirming that Cao Rui had indeed not come to Huainan, he quickly sent someone to inform Puyang.

As for Xiahou Mao, considering that he was from the same clan as his wife, he was not killed, but was also taken to Puyang to be dealt with by the emperor.

……

Mi Wei was overjoyed to see Xiahou Mao.

More surprised than others.

He immediately said to Liu Shan:

"Your Majesty, I already know where Cao Rui is?"

"Where?" Liu Shan asked expectantly.

But then Mi Wei pointed at Xiahou Mao, who looked completely bewildered, and said decisively:
"This man is Cao Rui, the emperor of the puppet dynasty!"

"what?"

In an instant, a variety of surprised voices rang out almost simultaneously.

(End of this chapter)