To Cao Rui's surprise, after this statement was made, only a few civil officials echoed it.
Glancing from the side, Cao Zhen, Zhang He, Qian Zhao and other generals were almost silent.
After thinking for a moment, Cao Rui smiled and said, "Is there something wrong with what I said? Could it be that this place cannot be built as I said?"
Since His Majesty has asked the question, then naturally someone must answer it. As the general, the highest-ranking officer among the generals present, Cao Zhen could not avoid it, and he bowed and replied:
"Your Majesty, although Qishan Fort is an extremely dangerous place, the mountains on both sides of the West Han River Valley are not steep, and it is impossible to build a city between two mountains like Sanguan, or a mountain and water like Tongguan."
Yang Fu interrupted, "Your Majesty, there is also the Xihan River between the mountains in the north and south. The water flow of this river is very different in summer and winter, so it is impossible to build a city with water gates and through the city like in the Central Plains."
Cao Rui didn't take it seriously at all. Instead, he treated it as a teaching opportunity for himself and gave him some advice:
"Since we can't blockade it with a city wall, then we can only build a large fortress like Wuguan? The kind that uses the terrain for defense and controls an area with one city?"
"I have observed the river valley here. The mountains to the south of the West Han River are steep, while those to the north are gentler. Moreover, Qishan Fort is on the north bank of the river."
As he was talking, Cao Rui pointed to a slightly higher mountain not far to the north: "The mountain there is a little higher. Perhaps we can build a city wall from Qishan Fort and extend it northward to there?"
"Yang Qing, how far is it from Qishan Fort to the foot of the mountain?"
Yang Fu looked for a moment and said, "It's about less than two miles."
"That's fine." Cao Rui smiled and said, "It's less than two miles away, so it shouldn't be difficult, right? I remember that Yecheng is seven miles long and five miles wide, so it would be enough to build a city less than two miles square."
"Build another fort on the northern mountain to match the Qishan Fort in the north and south, and the area north of the West Han River will be covered."
"As for the south... should we build a small fort or just leave it empty?"
After listening to the emperor's rough division, Generals Zhang He and Guo Huai, who were not very familiar with it, were a little stunned.
Your Majesty is so good-tempered? When your ministers pointed out your mistakes, you didn't even say a word of rebuttal?
Moreover, after being corrected by Cao Zhen, Your Majesty was able to immediately formulate a new strategy based on the existing knowledge. From the perspective of an old general like Zhang He, the city construction pattern Your Majesty mentioned can almost make the best use of the geographical advantages!
"Of course it is enough." Cao Zhen replied, cupping his hands. "Your Majesty has come here in person today and has made plans for the Qinzhou prefecture. How about Your Majesty give this city a name?"
Give a name?
The other ministers around him echoed him, especially the Qinzhou governor Chen Jiao, who squeezed to the front and said, "This city was built by your majesty. If your majesty can give it a name, it will be a blessing for Qinzhou!"
Cao Rui smiled and waved his hands: "I never like to do these empty things. Qishan Fort is right here, so let's call it Qishan City."
"We will guard Longyou with the Qishan town. Let's see if Zhuge Liang can pass through this place again."
After hearing the emperor's words, Sima Yi on the side began to think inexplicably.
Building Qishan City is just a way to make full use of the hundreds of miles long Xihan River Valley.
Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister of Shu, only surrounded Qishan Fort but did not attack it. Why does Your Majesty mention Zhuge Liang again when you are building Qishan City?
And what is the meaning of the guqin placed on the top of Xi County city a few days ago?
Earlier, when Your Majesty heard in Luoyang that Zhuge Liang was coming to Longyou, he disregarded all consequences and personally led the central army to rush to Longyou to provide assistance.
Why does Your Majesty attach so much importance to Zhuge Liang? Even if he is a great general of the enemy army, he shouldn't be treated like this, right?
Cao Rui ignored the different thoughts of the crowd, but led his ministers to the Qishan Fort, which was 15 meters high and connected to the plain only by a winding mountain road.
The Tiger Guards had already taken over all the key points of Qishan Fort. The group walked slowly up and stopped only when they reached the city wall at the southern end of Qishan Fort.
After all, it was February, and the weather was much warmer than when we first arrived in Longyou.
Looking far away, from Qishan Fort to the southwest, the river valley stretches all the way to the end of the sight. The cloudless blue sky is endless, and countless armies are marching southward.
The sound of fluttering flags reached my ears, adding a sense of grandeur as I climbed high and looked far into the distance.
The mountains and rivers were so magnificent that Cao Rui was actually a little mesmerized and couldn't help reciting a verse.
"With the same measure as the heaven and earth, and with the same brilliance as the sun and the moon. With eternal nobility and infinite honor, and equal in age to the King of the East."
All the civil and military officials were at a loss as to what to do, except Sima Yi, who seemed to have recalled something from his memory and was thinking with a frown.
Cao Zhi stepped forward and said, "With such a beautiful scene before us, I should dedicate this poem to Your Majesty, just as I once dedicated this poem to Emperor Wu. Please forgive me for not being able to come up with a better poem at the moment."
Only then did Sima Yi suddenly realize that this verse came from the "Fu on Climbing the Stage" written by Cao Zhi when the Bronze Sparrow Tower was completed.
After the completion of the Bronze Sparrow Tower, Emperor Wu held a literary meeting on the tower and ordered the former emperor, Prince Yongqiu and all the scholars in Ye to write articles to celebrate.
It was almost that time when Emperor Wu compared the literary talents of his two sons that started the competition between the two that lasted for more than ten years!
When this "Fu on the Stage" was written, Sima Yi was still in his hometown of Hanoi, farming and studying. If Cao Pi had not told Sima Yi about this later, he would not have known about it. Sima Yi, who was closest to Cao Pi, still vaguely remembered it, and the other ministers were even less aware of it.
As the emperor of Wei, Cao Rui was naturally open-minded and carefree. When talking about Cao Zhi's past works, they were just inspired by the scenery and almost blurted out.
After hearing what Cao Zhi said, Cao Rui laughed and said, "If others said that they were out of ideas, I might believe them. But since my uncle said this, I will just assume that he doesn't want to write poetry!"
Cao Zhi smiled and said, "If Your Majesty orders me to write a poem, I can certainly do it."
Cao Rui smiled and waved his hand: "How about this, the scenery here is quite beautiful today. In my opinion, the ministers of the Great Wei should not only devote themselves to state affairs, but also understand some culture! If anyone present cannot write a poem, each person will be fined ten bottles of wine at the banquet tonight!"
"Gentlemen, how is it?"
Among the civil officials who now followed the emperor to ascend Qishan Fort were Sima Yi, Chen Jiao, Yang Fu, Wang Su, and Cao Zhi; and among the military generals were Cao Zhen, Zhang He, Qian Zhao, Guo Huai, and Cao Hong.
It is exactly the number of five civil and military officials.
Among the five civil officials, Cao Zhi was naturally a poet of unrivaled talent, and Wang Su was also a man of great learning. Although the remaining Sima, Chen, and Yang had been in the government for a long time, they could still squeeze out an article if they wanted to.
But the generals...
Zhang He liked literature, but his level was mediocre.
Qian Zhao was a man of both civil and military talents, and Guo Huai was also a scholar, but they were no match for Cao Zhen and Cao Hong, two rough and pure warriors.
As expected, Cao Zhen was the first to cry out for injustice, pointing his finger at the civil officials on the other side: "Your Majesty, although I can drink ten bottles of wine, it is not a problem, but I really can't write poetry. It seems a little unfair!"
Sima Yi, Chen Jiao and other civil officials were truly unaware of the emperor's intention, and they just stood there and watched the emperor and Cao Zhen.
Cao Rui smiled and said, "I said, if you can't write poetry, then drink. Can't the general drink?"
"If you are willing to write poetry but don't know how, I and Prince Yongqiu can teach you how to write poetry today." Cao Rui looked at the ministers with a smile: "How is it?"
Cao Zhen spread his hands and said, "I'd better drink some wine!"
With Cao Zhen in front of him, Cao Hong followed suit, patted his belly and said with a smile: "I can drink too!"
The general and the general were in the lead, and Cao Zhi did not want to compete with the others. In addition, he also took Cao Zhen's face into consideration, so he also bowed and said, "I will drink with the two generals."
Wang Su also has the same general view.
"Well, now there are only three civil and three military left." Cao Rui raised his eyebrows and pretended to be angry and said, "No more, otherwise there will be no interest today."
Zhang He remembered the emperor's words: "I want to write poetry but I can't. Your Majesty, please teach me a few words."
Qian Zhao and Guo Huai both looked over here, and several civil officials also wanted to hear what the emperor had to say.
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Well, I will explain it to General Zhang first, and you just listen."
Everyone nodded in agreement, but Zhang He, who had asked the question just now, was a little at a loss. For a general who was good at maneuvering on the battlefield, such a literary matter seemed to be more difficult than asking him to chop off ten heads.
Cao Rui looked at Zhang He and said, "The so-called poetry is just four words, written from the heart! As for the length and rhythm, they are not as important as the emotion."
Today's poetry is not as sophisticated as it was in the Tang and Song dynasties, and is still in its early stages of development. The first seven-character poem in the world was written by the late Emperor Cao Pi twenty years ago.
"Since I want to write poetry, I have to write about the scenery. Let me ask you, what can you see when you look out at the scenery from Qishan Fort?"
Zhang He liked literature but was not good at it. However, he was driven by the courage of a general and did not want to show his weakness in front of Your Majesty. After hesitating for a few moments, he said, "I saw the West Han River flowing southwest, I saw the army moving forward, and I saw the mountains and the wilderness."
Cao Zhen and Cao Hong stared at the back of Zhang He's head with strange eyes, but Guo Huai, who had a better personal relationship with Zhang He, was not surprised.
Cao Rui nodded and said: "Although rhythm is not important, five-character verse is simpler than seven-character verse after all. I will teach you how to write five-character verse!"
"The general just mentioned three items, just add one more."
Zhang He crossed his hands and thought for a moment, then pointed to the flag flying on the city wall and said, "I saw the flag, too!"
"Good! The West Han River, the army, the mountains and the wilderness, and the flags, these four elements are enough."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Let me ask you again, as a general guarding the two states of Qin and Yong in the Wei Dynasty, what are your thoughts and feelings about marching south to Wudu this time?"
Zhang He blurted out almost instinctively: "Of course I will lead the way for Your Majesty, defeat the Shu thieves, and die for the Great Wei!"
"Very good!" Cao Rui nodded: "With the scenery and the feelings, the following things will be easy to handle." (End of this chapter)
