The tip of the brush, soaked in ink, slowly traced on Zuo Bo's paper.
Zhang Yi, 35 years old, with a pale face, slightly plump and sparse beard, was kneeling in front of a desk, concentrating on drawing a map. His elegant demeanor did not resemble that of a general leading troops, but more like that of a Confucian scholar.
With a few quick strokes, the shapes of Longshan Mountain, Weishui River and Xihan River were depicted. But Cao Rui, who was watching Zhang Yi's drawing order from a distance of more than ten feet, could not help but frown.
"Wait a moment." Cao Rui stopped Zhang Yi and said, "Draw the mountains and rivers first. Place names and annotations will be written later. Draw them in the direction of north up and south down."
"North and south?" Zhang Yi was puzzled and asked in surprise.
Sima Yi, who was sitting at the side, also explained: "Yes, the north is on top and the south is on the bottom. Last year, your majesty sent eunuchs to Luoyang to revise the world map, and he already used the new way of making maps."
That's right, the original map was south up and north down. But when Cao Rui hung the existing map on the screen, he found that the Wei Dynasty, which was located in the north, was located at the bottom of the map. It was a bit uncomfortable to look at.
Of course, the main reason was that Cao Rui himself was not used to it. North-to-south was more similar to the maps of later generations and looked more pleasing to the eye.
Zhang Yi knelt alone in front of the table drawing a picture. Cao Rui, Sima Yi, Yang Fu and others were also busy discussing Xin Pi's arrangements for logistical matters in Guanzhong.
Cao Zhen and Cao Rui sent troops westward from Luoyang on the 5th and 6th respectively, commanding a total of 24,000 cavalry.
Xu Chu set out on the 6th with 16,000 infantrymen, traveling 60 miles a day regardless of wind or rain. Twenty days had passed so far, and they had traveled 1,200 miles. They had probably reached the eastern end of the Longshan Road.
In about ten days, Xu Chu's troops will be able to reach Shanggui or Jixian. When the central army infantry, who are good at attacking strongholds, arrive, they will be able to further open up the situation in Longyou.
After more than half an incense stick of time, Zhang Yi gently put down the brush in his hand, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I have already drawn the map of Yizhou. All the mountains, rivers, counties and prefectures of Yizhou are included in this map. Please take a look, Your Majesty."
Cao Rui nodded and pointed to the screen on which the map of Longyou was originally hung.
Jiang Wei brought two tiger guards to take the Yizhou map, then stood aside and said, "Your Majesty, the Yizhou map has been hung up."
Cao Rui nodded, slowly stood up, shook his sleeves, walked slowly to the map and examined it carefully.
"Zhang Yi, I want to ask you a question." Cao Rui did not turn around and asked directly: "Are the Shu army's food and grass transported to Hanzhong from Jinniu Road? How long does it take to transport food from Chengdu to Hanzhong and then to Qishan?"
"Your Majesty," Zhang Yi stood up and bowed, "It takes more than 20 days to transport grain from Chengdu to Mianyang in Hanzhong County, and eight days from Mianyang to Qishan."
"Only eight days?" Cao Rui frowned, turned around and stared at Zhang Yi and asked, "From Mianyang to Qishan is at least 600 miles. Even if there is the West Han River to transport grain, it is not like the Yangtze River or the Yellow River. How can it transport grain 600 miles in eight days?"
Everyone in the hall looked at Zhang Yi with disbelief.
Zhang Yi bowed his hands and said earnestly: "Your Majesty, it is indeed possible. Before the Han army set out, they had already built several food storages along the West Han River. If we hurry, six or seven days will be fine."
"Nonsense!" Yang Fu didn't care about Zhang Yi's words "Han army", but stood up and refuted: "Zhuge Liang is not a god, how can he transport grain so quickly! Zhang Yi, right? Show me!"
After saying that, Yang Fu stood up and walked to the front of the screen, waving to Zhang Yi to come over.
Seeing Zhang Yi looking at him with a questioning look, Cao Rui nodded slightly to show his permission.
Zhang Yi stepped forward quickly, bowed, and stood between the emperor and Yang Fu.
"Please look, Lord Yang." Zhang Yi slid his finger from Mianyang to the east, following the outline of the West Han River. Finally, he pointed heavily at Qishan Fort on the bank of the West Han River and said, "What I said is correct. It will take eight days to get there."
Yang Fu was so angry that he almost laughed. He pointed to the distance between Mianyang and Wuxing and said, "I won't ask you about the grain transportation on the water in the Western Han Dynasty. I will ask you, is it true that the Shu army's grain was first transported from Jinniu Road to Mianyang?"
Zhang Yi nodded: "Mr. Yang is right, that's exactly what he said."
Yang Fu asked again: "Has Zhuge Liang gone mad? Instead of storing the grain and grass at Yangping Pass by the West Han River, he wants to transport them to Mianyang by land? And then transport them back to the West Han River from Mianyang?"
Zhang Yi laughed in silence: "So this is what Mr. Yang was talking about! Your Majesty and Mr. Yang, please look, Zhuge Liang built a..."
Just as Zhang Yi pointed to a place in Mianyang on the map, Cao Rui and Yang Fu both looked there.
Almost at the same time, Zhang Yi, who had bent down to gather strength, had a flash of determination in his eyes. He turned his eyes to the right and glanced at the Emperor of Wei who was only two feet away from him.
Jiang Wei stood in front of the emperor, about ten feet away from the emperor, Yang Fu, and Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi's strange look immediately made Jiang Wei's eyes widen and his heart tremble.
The chill almost extended from the back of the head to the spine, and even the muscles in the body tensed up instinctively.
Too close! Too close indeed!
Zhang Yi shouldn't be allowed so close to Your Majesty!
When a common man gets angry, blood will splatter five steps away. Within three feet, everyone is an enemy!
Jiang Wei almost instinctively wanted to open his mouth to remind him, and subconsciously took a step forward, wanting to reach out to separate Zhang Yi and His Majesty.
But it was too late.
In a flash, Zhang Yi lowered his shoulders, bent his waist, and rushed to the right with all his strength.
In just a moment, Cao Rui was caught off guard and was knocked off balance by Zhang Yi.
"Rebel!"
"Your Majesty!!" "How dare the thief?!"
Everyone in the hall was shocked. Sima Yi, Chen Jiao and others who were sitting there stood up with their eyes wide open. The ten soldiers standing on the left and right of the hall rushed towards the emperor at the same time.
Cao Rui lost his balance and fell backwards. In desperation, he could only support himself with his hands.
Seeing Zhang Yi rushing towards him with a ferocious face, his left hand turned into a claw, only a foot away from his face, and the air he swung had already hit his face.
This person must be trying to grab my eyes!
The sword-fighting skills he had practiced hard and his good physique finally came in handy. Cao Rui pushed his left hand back and rolled to the right, avoiding Zhang Yi's pounce.
Fortunately, Cao Rui managed to avoid this extremely dangerous moment.
otherwise……
Although he dodged the attack, Cao Rui was still frightened.
But for Zhang Yi, this attack, which he had exchanged for the detailed map of Yizhou, his own life, and more than 3,000 soldiers who surrendered with him, was completely in vain.
This is his only chance.
The ministers of the Wei Dynasty were not slow in their actions.
Yang Fu, who was in his fifties, grabbed Zhang Yi's belt from behind and dragged him backwards.
Jiang Wei also flew over, rammed his shoulder into Zhang Yi's chest, and used his body to block Cao Rui, completely separating the emperor from Zhang Yi.
Sima Yi, who was closest to the screen, swung his right foot and kicked Zhang Yi directly to the bottom of the screen. The falling screen covered both Yang Fu and Zhang Yi.
At this point, there was no danger to Emperor Cao Rui of Wei.
Seeing Zhang Yi fall to the ground, Jiang Wei, who was lying on the emperor, remained motionless.
Until one of the Tiger Guards rushed to Zhang Yi, pressed his knees on his back, and pinned his hands behind his back. Another two drew their swords and clamped Zhang Yi's neck from both sides.
Cao Rui caught a glimpse of this scene from the corner of his eye, lay on his back on the ground, and gently patted Jiang Wei's arm.
"Bo Yue, please get up. The thief has been subdued and is pressing on me."
Jiang Wei quickly stood up, and Cao Rui also clapped his hands and stood up from the ground. He carefully adjusted the golden crown on his head with his hand and smoothed his collar at the same time.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was in a hurry and had to resort to this last resort. I did not intend to put pressure on Your Majesty." Jiang Wei took a step back, bowed and explained.
Cao Rui said expressionlessly: "Bo Yue is loyal to me and has made great contributions without any mistakes!"
Zhang Yi's head was stepped on hard by the tiger guards. He could only make a humming sound and could no longer utter complete sentences.
There was silence in the hall, and no one dared to speak.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Cao Rui.
Sima Yi, who kicked Zhang Yi and then stood still, also looked at the emperor. Although his majesty still had no expression on his face, the chill in his eyes was so similar to the look in Emperor Wu Cao Cao's eyes when he wanted to kill someone.
Cao Rui didn't even look at Zhang Yi. Instead, he took two steps forward, looked down at Yang Fu, who was still sitting on the ground weak and frightened, and stretched out his hand.
"Yang Qing, get up."
Yang Fu didn't know what to say at this moment, nor did he know whether he should hold the emperor's hand.
"Yang Qing, get up!" Cao Rui waved to Yang Fu again and continued in a deep voice.
Yang Fu gritted his teeth, took the hand extended by the emperor, and stood up. Then he lowered his head and took a half step, standing side by side with Sima Yi.
Huan Fan, who was standing at the door, had already run into the hall and immediately knelt down with a plop: "Your Majesty, please punish me! I really didn't know that this person was plotting to assassinate Your Majesty. I can't atone for my sins even if I die a thousand times!"
Huan Fan knelt on the ground and banged his forehead against the ground again and again. After only three or five times, blood began to seep out of his forehead.
Cao Rui turned around and looked at Huan Fan intently. He just stretched out his hand and pointed, and two tiger guards came over, pulled Huan Fan up from the ground, and sandwiched him in the middle, unable to move.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see the emperor's rage at the moment.
In the one and a half years since he ascended the throne, he has reformed the system, conquered the Eastern Wu, reduced rent and taxes, and personally provided emergency assistance to Longyou...
For everything he did, Cao Rui felt that he had a clear conscience and did everything an emperor should do.
As an emperor, he was bullied and assassinated, and the assassination almost succeeded. No one would believe it if you told others about it!
I allowed you to surrender out of kindness, but you intended to assassinate me?
Cao Rui's chest rose and fell, his clenched teeth made the outline of his cheeks more prominent, and his right hand unconsciously reached for the sword at his waist.
For a moment, Cao Rui even wanted to torture Zhang Yi to death! (End of this chapter)
