"Yingzhou?" Cao Rui thought for a few moments and asked, "I can't remember clearly, in which dynasty was Yingzhou proposed?"
Xu Shu bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, the Book of History, Shun Canon, once divided the world into twelve states, and Yingzhou is one of them, which is in line with the ancient system."
Cao Rui nodded: "Actually, I really don't care what the name is. Yingzhou, or something more straightforward like Liaozhou, is fine. It's not like we're choosing a country name."
Xu Shu was somewhat surprised: "I hope Your Majesty can teach me."
Cao Rui said: "In my opinion, the geographical divisions between states cannot be simply divided by a mountain or a river. Xu Qing's division is a bit crude."
Rough?
Xu Shu frowned slightly, not understanding the emperor's intention. Everyone in the hall also retracted their scattered gazes and focused on the emperor.
Cao Rui said, "Today I am dividing Liaodong with you here, just like the establishment of Qinzhou in Longyou in the past. The establishment of a state cannot be achieved without mobilizing a large army and overcoming a great chaos. Once it is determined, I am afraid it will not change for decades or even hundreds of years, so I have to think carefully."
"My Lords, think about this. If the Liao River is used as the boundary, what will happen if an ambitious person intends to seize Liaodong a hundred years later?"
Cao Rui glanced around and said to himself without waiting for everyone to explain: "Maybe the court will come again to attack, and we will have to fight another battle at Liaoshui and outside Liaosui City!"
Sima Yi bowed and smiled, "I understand what your majesty means. I have observed the borders of various states in the world, and only Sili has all the strategic locations. Through Hedong and Pingyang in Sili, you can go directly to Taiyuan, and from Henan Yin to the south, you can go directly to Yingchuan."
"Sikong is indeed a wise man." Cao Rui smiled and said, "There are many similar examples. Why is the Yellow River not the boundary between Jizhou and Yanzhou? Why is the strategic location of Taishan County in Yanzhou and not in Qingzhou? It's all the same reason."
"Mr. Xu," Cao Rui pointed at Xu Shu, "You were the one who proposed the name of Yingzhou. You also heard what I said to the Minister of Works just now. Do you have anything to add?"
With Xu Shu's intelligence and wisdom, he just hadn't thought of this level. When the emperor said the first two sentences, Xu Shu had already thought of all the solutions.
"Your Majesty, I do have something to say." Xu Shu bowed and said, "I think Liaosui City is located east of the Liao River. Although it is closer to Xiangping City, it is in a dangerous location. It should be separated from Liaodong County to the west."
"And Liaoxi County, which is west of Liaodong County, has its capital Yangle at the western end of Banghai Road, which is too far from Liaosui. I think a new county should be established for this vast area to govern the vast area west of Liaoshui."
Cao Rui smiled and clapped his hands: "Xu Qing just said that Wu Bo has extraordinary talent. Xu Qing is the real one with great talent! Where should the new county be governed and where should it govern?"
Xu Shu answered without hesitation: "I think the area around Changli and Bintu should be the county seat, and the Jieshi should be the boundary with Liaoxi County."
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Well, I won't add any more information. This county will be called Changli County, with Changli City as the county seat."
"Let's talk about Liaodong." Cao Rui cleared his throat: "I thought we could set up this Yingzhou, but judging from the jurisdiction of Xuantu, Liaodong, Lelang and Daifang counties, it seems a little short."
Pei Qian was puzzled for a moment, and asked with his hands clasped, "Your Majesty, Yingzhou is a newly established state, originally separated from Youzhou. The land and people are not abundant. If we divide it into counties, won't the area be too small?"
"Who said I want to divide the four counties?" Cao Rui glanced at Pei Qian and said, "Land should not be taken from within, but from outside! When I was in Xuchang, didn't I tell you that I wanted to take the lands of Buyeo, Goguryeo, Baekje, and the Three Han?"
Do we need to fight again? By the time we completely stabilize the four existing counties in Yingzhou, it will probably be the end of July. How can we have time to conquer so much land?
At this time, there was not a single flatterer among the ministers in the hall. Although their personalities and habits were different, some of them were talented and dared to speak frankly and give advice.
Jiang Wei, who had not spoken for a long time, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I think if we go on another expedition, I'm afraid the army won't be able to return before winter, and I'm afraid it will be embarrassing then."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "It's a good thing that Bo Yue gave me direct advice, but I'm not so foolish. How can I be so greedy for Shu?"
What does that mean?
Sima Yi said: "Your Majesty is wise and decisive. I have some questions that I do not understand. I hope Your Majesty can give me some advice."
Cao Rui nodded calmly and said, "Sikong, let me ask you a question. If you were the King of Buyeo and had been friendly with the Gongsun clan for most of your life, and the Gongsun clan was destroyed in a few months, would you be afraid?"
"He must be terrified." Sima Yi replied with a bow.
Cao Rui asked, "Gongsun Yuan is willing to surrender, will he be willing to surrender to me?"
Sima Yi: "Of course I am willing."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "That's it. What is Fuyu? It's a vassal state, a vassal state that has not yet clearly defined its territorial limits. I have drawn up the boundaries for him and rewarded him with a title of a prince. How can he not accept it? How dare he not accept it?"
As he spoke, Cao Rui placed his right hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist: "Just because I don't attack these small countries doesn't mean that I and the Great Wei have no means. First, we will grant Buyeo, Baekje, Goguryeo, and the Three Han as de facto county kings, and bring them under the jurisdiction of Yingzhou, just like the counties and kingdoms in the interior. Wouldn't Yingzhou have eight or nine counties?" "If the court ever wants to rule them, can't we just do it again as Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did? Anyway, they don't understand! Even if they understand in the future, what can they do?"
Sima Yi opened his mouth slightly, wanting to say something but unable to say anything. After a moment of silence, he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the whole world belongs to the king. These places are originally the land of the Son of Heaven. I think there is no need to do these things..."
Cao Rui waved his hand to interrupt Sima Yi: "I will not talk to you about legal inheritance or claims."
"Just to say one thing, it has been four years since the Taihe era. Do you think the people of Goguryeo and Baekje can be educated by the Wei Dynasty? Can they become ordinary people in the interior?"
Sima Yi thought of the Qiang people who had been naturalized in the second year of Taihe and were treated equally by the court with the Han people. He bowed and replied: "Although the geography and language are different, they are all your Majesty's people and can all be educated."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Since they can all be educated, why not bring them under the rule of the prefectures and counties? Even if they are now actually sealed prefectures and kingdoms, after having this title, there is no need to rush. I have plenty of time!"
Sima Yi sighed softly. Your Majesty is doing something incomprehensible again. But what can be done? Your Majesty wants to do it, then do it!
"Your Majesty has a far-sighted vision and we are impressed!" Sima Yi took the lead in bowing and said.
Cao Rui said: "Alright, I know you may not understand. Let's do this first, and you will understand slowly."
"Sikong, send envoys to the four counties of Yingzhou and order the county chiefs to come to Xiangping to pay homage! If they don't come, punish them!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Sima Yi replied respectfully.
As for the Yingzhou governor, Cao Rui did not mention it, and no one asked. Xu Shu, who proposed the word "Yingzhou", tried to recall what he had heard in Luoyang City after leaving the hall.
How did Chen Jiao get appointed as the governor of Qinzhou? As he thought about it, he couldn't remember it.
……
Cao Rui and his ministers made clear arrangements for Liaodong in Xiangping City, and also newly established Yingzhou and Changli County.
However, Gongsun Yuan, who had sent troops from Xiangping to attack Goguryeo a few days ago, was now in a dilemma.
The Goguryeo Kingdom east of Liaodong had indeed been defeated by the Gongsun clan many times before. But they were defeated in a field battle, but they could defend the city!
Gongsun Yuan set out from Xiangping at the end of May and went upstream along the Daliang River eastward. At this time, he had arrived at the city of Heseunggu in Goguryeo.
From the perspective of later geography, Gongsun Yuan's Xiangping was located on the edge of the Liaohe Plain, while Goguryeo's Heshenggu City was a mountain city in the valley. To be more precise, the entire country of Goguryeo was in the mountains, and the people also lived in the valleys, farming, fishing and hunting.
When Gongsun Yuan first arrived at the city of Heshenggu, he was unable to capture it for a while.
Gongsun Yuan was anxious about not being able to capture Heshenggu City, but what worried him even more was the Wei army chasing him. This group of chasing soldiers were all light cavalry, numbering more than 5,000 and less than 10,000. They did not engage in direct combat with Gongsun Yuan, but instead followed behind the main army for 30 miles.
These were the 7,000 light cavalry led by General Liu Ye, who was in charge of the Liao army. They were composed of 2,000 light cavalry led by Cao Zhao and Duan Zhao, and 5,000 light cavalry led by Wuhuan.
Gongsun Yuan did not think about turning around and engulfing this enemy force, but he simply could not do it. When the 10,000 cavalrymen of the Beiyan tribe he relied on were blocked and intercepted by Liu Ye's troops when they wanted to go east in Xiangping. When they wanted to return to Xiangping, they were blocked by the elite cavalry of the Wei army.
As early as the Liaosui City Wall, Bei Yan had seen the entire battle situation clearly. How could Gongsun Yuan still have any hope? Bei Yan led the entire army to surrender directly, which was clean and neat. The Gongsun family was finished, but he still had clansmen and relatives at home!
The Wei Dynasty was always tolerant of surrendered generals, and Bei Yan was fully aware of this. Therefore, after handing over the cavalry and temporarily placing him under house arrest in Xiangping City, Bei Yan was not panicked at all.
Without Bei Yan's support, Gongsun Yuan's main force only had 20,000 infantrymen left. If 20,000 infantrymen attacked Heshenggu City, it would certainly be possible to capture it. But isn't Liu Ye still behind?
Liu Ye was not the only one behind.
General Man Chong, General Wen Qin of the Left Yu Lin, Lieutenant Sun Li, Lieutenant Dai Ling, as well as Captain Duan Mo of Changshui, Captain Cao Shuang of Shesheng, 3,000 light cavalry of the Xiongnu and 5,000 light cavalry of Kebinen's tribe, all gathered here.
On the evening of June 14, in the camp tent forty miles east of Gongsun Yuan's army, Liu Ye stroked his beard and said with a smile: "I think Gongsun Yuan is as good as dead. We just need to go up and chop off his head, then we can withdraw our troops and report to Your Majesty."
"I wonder when General Man plans to march?"
Man Chong, who was sitting in the middle of the tent, also calmly replied, "General Liu arrived first, and we arrived later. We have just assembled today, so it is time to send out the troops."
"All officers, listen to my orders!" Man Chong stood up and shouted solemnly, "General attack tomorrow morning!"
"As you command!" All the generals responded with their hands clasped together. (End of this chapter)
