Inside Xiangping City, the prefect's mansion was bustling with activity.
Regardless of the dynasty, the handover of work is the most hectic and tiring task. Liaodong Governor Du Shu is introducing the situation of the state to the new Yingzhou Governor Wang Xiong, and former general Man Chong is explaining the military overview to the new Yingzhou Governor Wang Chang.
Such trivial matters did not need to be done by the emperor himself. Cao Rui was also happy to be free, and walked out with three attendants and three cavalrymen, and came to the tower of Xiangping City.
Xiangping City is located on the mountain and controls the water. It has both geographical advantages and water transportation advantages. Whoever controls this city can control the entire Liaodong area. This area, which was later called Liaoyang, is actually the heart of Yingzhou today.
"Climbing high and looking far can express one's emotions!" Cao Rui looked at the clouds floating in the sky from the top of the city wall and said with emotion: "I have been busy in the army, and I don't know how many years have passed. Now it is almost August."
Xu Shu at the side continued, "In December of the first year of Taihe, Your Majesty set out from Luoyang to the west to aid Longyou, and returned to Luoyang in July of the second year, which is about eight months. However, Xiangping is far from Luoyang after all, so this expedition will indeed take longer."
Cao Rui turned his head and looked at Xu Shu: "It has been four years since I took the throne. During these years, I have either been on a campaign or preparing to go on a campaign. I actually don't want to work so hard. Do you believe me?"
"I believe you." Xu Shu nodded gently. "If you could be a peaceful emperor like the Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing, Your Majesty wouldn't have to work so hard. Right now, the country is not at peace, Wu and Shu are not at peace, although it is difficult, but things still need to be done."
Cao Rui sighed, "It is said that starting a business is difficult, but maintaining a business is even more difficult. From Emperor Wu to the previous emperor and then to me, the Cao family's foundation has gone through three generations. In the final analysis, I am still in the process of starting a business, and it is not time to maintain the business yet."
"This expedition to Liaodong consumed the most food and time, but the national strength and military power were not damaged. I set out from Xuchang, passed through Yecheng and went to Bingzhou and Youzhou, subdued the Xianbei, conquered Liaodong, and established Yingzhou. These more than half a year have not been wasted after all."
Pei Qian was standing behind and thought, "Liaodong has been under state rule for fifty years and is now under state control. We should carve a stone to boast of our achievements and pass it on to future generations, just like Dou Xian did at Yanran Mountain!"
Your Majesty likes literature, which is known to everyone in the court and the country. During the expedition to Shu, when they were at Qishan Fort, Your Majesty had taught Zhang He how to write a poem. This is not a wartime period, so I think Your Majesty will not refuse.
"Carve a stone to commemorate the achievement?" Cao Rui thought for a few moments and said with a smile: "For such an achievement, it is only natural to make a stone tablet. Pei Qing asked a good question. What should the inscription be? You can't let me think about it, right?"
The emperor was in such a good mood today that the attendants and palace attendants around him also laughed along with the emperor.
Pei Qian bowed slightly, smiling: "I am a humble official and dare not say much, but according to common sense, this inscription should specify the time, battle situation, results, etc. The seven counties and kingdoms of Yingzhou should also be included one by one."
Before he finished speaking, Pei Qian bowed to the emperor with a smile on his face.
“Hahahaha.” Cao Rui smiled and pointed at Pei Qian: “Okay, Pei Qing wants me to write this inscription today?”
"Well, I will write one myself today! With Pei Qing's talent, I believe there is no need for any writing. I say, how about Pei Qing memorizing it?"
Pei Qian bowed and smiled, "I will obey your order and will make sure there are no omissions."
Just as everyone on the city wall was talking, the originally gentle breeze seemed to gradually grow stronger, slightly shaking the hem of Cao Rui's robe.
"In the fourth year of Taihe in the Wei Dynasty..."
Cao Rui had just said a few words when he noticed the wind was picking up and his voice was rising a few pitches:
"On the sixth month of the summer of the fourth year of Taihe, the Emperor of Wei personally led the six divisions, received the mandate of heaven, and succeeded Qian to strengthen his power, and Dongping was disloyal. He organized the troops in Youbeiping, including the Central Army Yulin, the five leading schools, the Jichang Changji, the Youbing Jianrui, and the Hu Ben. The Wuhuan vanguard, the Xianbei Jingfu, and the Xiongnu followed, with 10,000 and 6,000 light cavalry."
Pei Qian stood there with his hands behind his back, listening attentively to the emperor's words, wanting to remember every word firmly in his mind.
The other ministers also stood with their hands clasped, listening to the emperor's words. The inscription should not only focus on literary quality, but also include a realistic record of the entire battle.
This is an inscription to be engraved on stone to commemorate the achievements. It is also a summary of the expedition to Liaodong and the strongest voice of this era.
Cao Rui took a deep breath, paused, and gently stroked the green and yellow bricks on the city wall with his right hand: "The rebel chieftain Gongsun Yuan secretly occupied Liaodong, relying on his superiority and betraying the emperor's grace, which angered both humans and gods. He then crossed You and Bing, crossed dangerous obstacles, and waded through the Liaoze, driving nearly 4,000 miles. The rebels relied on the dangerous terrain and tried to hold on. So we crossed the Liao River from five directions and defeated the rebels. Then he rushed for four days and approached the Heshenggu City; once he showed his power, the tyrant fled and surrendered."
Pei Qian remained motionless.
His Majesty had just finished talking about the battle, and he would have to summarize it later. Although Pei Qian had a good memory, he could not afford to be distracted at this moment.
Cao Rui then recited: "So the four counties of Liaodong, Xuantu, Lelang and Daifang were divided to form Yingzhou, and the vassal states of Goguryeo, Buyeo and Baekje were combined into counties and kingdoms. In the upper part, Liaodong was returned to China, and the heroic spirit of military and literary virtues was promoted; in the lower part, Jingyou and Ying beacon towers were used to open up Liaodong from the thorns."
"Today, the six divisions marched to the outskirts of Xiangping City and engraved a stone tablet to commemorate their achievements:"
After saying this, Cao Rui looked at the courtiers around him and said, "Since ancient times, the greatest military exploits on the frontier are nothing more than Fenglangjuxu and Yanran. In the Han Dynasty, Dou Xian led his army to the north to attack the Xiongnu, and carved a stone inscription at the foot of the Xiongnu Yanran Mountain to commemorate his achievements. The entire inscription was written by Ban Gu, who wrote the Book of Han, and there were a few words at the end of the inscription."
"Today, I am here with all the ministers and nobles. It is a coincidence that we have come together. Why don't we each say a few words to commemorate the occasion? How do you think?"
Xu Shu said, "Your Majesty, today I am here with the two attendants Pei and Lu, and the three cavalrymen He and the two Xiahou. Each of us can say one sentence, which makes six sentences."
"How about your majesty write the beginning and the end, and we fill in the middle?" "No need." Cao Rui waved his hand: "Just six sentences, one sentence per person, in the order of Xu, Pei, Lu, Zhiquan, Ziqi, and Taichu."
Xu Shu nodded silently, thought for a few moments, and then calmly recited: "The mighty imperial army leads the eagles."
Pei Qian continued without stopping: "Defeat the bandits and pacify the border."
Lu Yu seemed to be considering his words, and said a few beats slower: "Establish counties and states and implement Wei's laws."
Xiahou Hui, who was famous for his literary talent, was much quicker: "Follow the will of heaven and spread education."
The last two sentences should be the ending of the whole article. He thought for a long time before speaking, and his tone was slightly higher: "Record the great event and engrave it on the stone."
Everyone had finished speaking, and all eyes were focused on Xiahou Xuan, who was the last to speak.
Xiahou Xuan raised the corner of his mouth and bowed to the emperor calmly and measuredly: "Promote the holy virtue and benefit all the people!"
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Record the great event and inscribe it on the stone, and spread the saintly virtue to benefit all. This is the achievement of the Great Wei, not just my own, but also the achievements of you all."
"On August 1st, the army will set out to return to Yecheng!"
"Yes, sir!" The six people saluted in unison on the city wall.
……
The capital of Wu State was called Wuchang, but it was not the same place as the "Wuhan" and "Wuchang" that people in later generations knew. It was located in Echeng, which was located further east. The "Wuchang" of later generations was called Xiakou in the era of Sun Quan.
In short, the territory of Wu State covered the area south of the Yangtze River. Having to take into account both Jingzhou and Yangzhou, Sun Quan could only choose Wuchang, which was more central, as the capital.
The configuration of Wuchang has been increasing.
Last year and the year before, Sun Quan upgraded the Wuwang Mansion in Wuchang to the Wuwang Palace. This summer, the gates of Wuchang City were widened and raised, and the city walls were also being thickened and raised. Anyone with insight would know that this was meant to imitate the regulations of Luoyang. However, Wuchang is not Luoyang after all, and no matter how much it is decorated, it can only learn a little bit of Luoyang's form, not to mention its charm.
On August 1st, the heat was particularly severe both inside and outside Wuchang City, as if it would never get hotter this year.
After the court meeting on the first day of each month was over, Sun Quan was the first to walk out of the hall, followed by Prime Minister Gu Yong and Gu Yuantan, and auxiliary generals Zhang Zhao and Zhang Zibu, and the rest of the ministers and officials followed behind him.
The King of Wu's procession led the way, followed closely by drums and trumpets, and in front of them were armored cavalrymen. The scene was unusually formal and solemn. The procession was about half a mile long, and there were occasional officials on both sides to maintain order.
Quan Cong followed Zhang Zhao, looked up at the sun, and whispered to Zhuge Jin beside him:
"General, do you know whose idea this was? The sun was so hot, but all the officials had to wear court robes and walk from the palace to the top of the West Hill just to attend the opening ceremony of some Taoist temple? This is probably about five miles away, right?"
Zhuge Jin looked straight ahead and whispered, "Dongxuan Temple."
"Yes, Dongxuan Temple." Quan Cong said, "I have been leading troops outside most of the time, so I don't know these guests of the Supreme. I heard that this Ge Tianshi is a disciple of Zuo Ci and Zuo Yuanfang? Didn't Zuo Ci disappear many years ago?"
Zhuge Jin glanced at Quan Cong and said, "Zi Huang, you are leading troops outside, don't you know that I am always in Wuchang? Since the Supreme believes in this Ge Tianshi and has built a Taoist temple for him, we should just go and take a look."
Quan Cong sneered softly: "General, do you believe in these supernatural things?"
"Just accept the Supreme Faith." Zhuge Jin shook his head slightly.
Just as the two were whispering, a man standing on the side of the team came trotting over.
"Silence!" School Captain Lü Yi looked at the two of them with a stern face and reminded them loudly, "Please don't make any noise!"
Zhuge Jin then looked straight ahead at the back of Prime Minister Gu Yong, who was ten feet away. Quan Cong looked at Lu Yi in surprise, nodded, and then shut up.
Sun Quan himself was walking calmly four or five meters ahead, under the shade of the ceremonial umbrella, as if he did not hear Lu Yi correcting Zhuge Jin and Quan Cong.
When Quan Cong saw Lü Yi walking to the back, he cursed in a low voice: "You dog-foot schoolmaster, you are so arrogant as soon as you gain power. How dare you act like this in front of the ministers!" (End of this chapter)
