At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty

This kind of thing requires the entire Cao family and even the Xiahou family to react.

While Cao Ren was worried, he was intensively preparing for the Wei army's westward expedition.

And in Gancheng, Cao Xiu and Ma Yuan are also making intensive preparations to make excuses for Wei Jun.

In fact, excuses are easy to find. It mainly depends on when and to what extent the active party needs it, and whether it can accept the shameless situation, the situation that everyone knows but no one dares to say.

As long as it's acceptable, it's fine.

Whether it's a weapon of mass destruction or washing powder, anyway, the excuse has already been obtained, as long as there is an excuse, whoever it is, just hit it.

I am strong, I hit you, I am justified.

The countries in the Western Regions have been dizzy from making money over the years.

In order to obtain more benefits, many people have quietly raised tariffs, or engaged in differentiated tariffs, and specifically targeted certain bullying groups to collect more taxes.

For example, the official caravans of the Wei State were given preferential treatment, and a symbolic tax was collected, which was not much, and was used to please the Emperor of the Wei State and make the Emperor feel happy.

As for things like making money, of course, it is directed at private caravans, and the taxes on private caravans will be high. Official agencies in various countries will also specifically catch those private caravans to collect taxes, and there will be various name increases. Taxes, there is no limit to pitting money.

On the part of Wei Guo, Guo Peng sent a secret letter to Cao Xiu to turn a blind eye to this kind of thing, which is good for everyone, so that Cao Xiu felt that Guo Peng was happy to see this kind of thing.

If it is not pursued, it is not a big deal. If it is pursued, the matter will become serious. These small countries all have problems, and all of them are worth cleaning up.

After discussing with Cao Xiu and Ma Yuan, they decided to play Yangmou. Anyway, it is the last time, and it will be the end of all elimination. The international will disappear, and there is no international reputation to worry about. It is a real Yangmou.

You overcharged me and I'm going to beat you.

It's that simple.

So Cao Xiu sent a letter of inquiry to the countries in the Western Regions as the guardian of the Western Regions.

Said that they had received complaints that the countries in the Western Regions were suspected of collecting tariffs and poll taxes when the caravans of the State of Wei crossed the border, and now they want to investigate.

The Protectorate of the Western Regions ordered the countries in the Western Regions to submit the accounts of taxes collected over the years to the Protectorate of the Western Regions. The Protectorate of the Western Regions must verify and confirm the existence of this matter, and then propose a solution.

It’s okay if there is no problem after verification, but if there is a problem, hehe, you just wait and see.

Cao Xiu's words were particularly unreserved, and his sense of threat was palpable, so the countries of the Western Regions that received the letter of inquiry from the Protectorate of the Western Regions split apart three times.

They didn't know what was going on in the Protectorate of the Western Regions, and why they suddenly became interested in the ledger.

Isn't this a joke?

Account books are internal affairs of the country. Even if Wei is the suzerain country, they have never blatantly asked them to hand over the national tax accounts to them for review. This is a blatant violation of internal affairs. How can this be done?

Do you really think of them as colonies and not a sovereign state?

Although we are canonized by you, it is a symbol, a symbol, who made you take it seriously?

So they sent people to visit Cao Xiu in Gancheng, and presented the kings' personal letters and doubts to Cao Xiu.

"The tax accounts have always been our country's internal affairs, and the Shang Kingdom is our country's suzerain. There has never been a time when we have questioned our country's tax accounts. It has not been done in the past, and it has not been done in the past. Has the Du Hu ever been authorized by His Majesty the Emperor for such an act?"

They asked Cao Xiu this way.

Cao Xiu was furious.

"Without the authorization of His Majesty the Emperor, how could I do such a thing? Since I, Wei, is the suzerain of your country, I have the right to ask anything about your country. The reason why I didn't ask before was because it was unnecessary.

But now these things are related to the interests of my people in Wei, I have to ask, this is what His Majesty the Emperor meant, do you want to violate His Majesty's order? "

After being scolded by Cao Xiu, the envoys felt anxious.

"Such things are non-existent. Our country's tariffs and poll taxes have always been fixed. How can there be more charges and less charges?"

The messengers still wanted to quibble.

Cao Xiu was very angry, and called the people in charge of the business trip to [complain], and confronted these envoys face to face, and took out all the customs accounts that were handed over to which country on which day, month, and day, and the accounts were clearly written in black and white. .

In front of Cao Xiu, the two sides began to quarrel.

The business travellers strongly demanded justice for them, but the emissaries argued that the accounts were suspected of being fraudulent and could not be taken seriously.

So the business travelers asked them to try to bring their own accounts, and compare the two to see if there is any problem and where the problem lies.

"Since you say that their accounts are fraudulent and unreliable, then you can show the credible accounts and ask me to see what is the real account and what is the fake account."

Cao Xiu cornered the envoys, but the envoys couldn't say a word anyway, so they could only retreat in embarrassment, and went back to ask their respective kings for solutions.

But Cao Xiu didn't intend to give them time to figure out the problem. Wei Jun's preparations were very fast, and he had already sent someone to tell Cao Xiu that at most half a month, they would be able to get the armament ready and send troops at any time. They have even started military exercises now. up.

After receiving such news, Cao Xiu began to put pressure on the countries of the Western Regions.

Inquiry letters followed one after another, the tone of the inquiry became more and more intense, and the attitude became tougher one by one.

This kind of situation made the kings of the Western Regions realize that this time it might not be a joke. Wei Guo really wanted to clarify this matter with them, and really wanted to settle the account with them.

What the hell is this!

I didn't care about it for so many years, and now I suddenly have to care about it, what's the matter?

play us?

This kind of thing has been going on for several years, and it has almost become a routine. Once the accounts are checked, there must be a problem.

This won't work, if this really becomes a reality, wouldn't everyone be finished?

In desperation, these kings thought of such things as [fire].

Since the problem cannot be solved, let the problem disappear, just pretend that this matter does not exist, destroy all the accounts over the years, and do not keep them, just pretend that the previous accounts do not exist, come to death without proof, and then introduce a few more Just a scapegoat and everything is settled.

They were really pleasantly surprised by their wit.

So for several days, Cao Xiu learned that fires had broken out in the capitals of several countries around Gancheng, and he was impartial, and he happened to burn all the accounts recording taxes.

The kings of the Western Regions felt that as long as this happened, Cao Xiu would have nothing to do with them, and the Emperor Wei would have nothing to do with them.

The thing is over.

This idea is really beautiful, the idea is very good, but there is a little flaw.

fatal flaw.

Wei Guo didn't really want their accounts, what Wei Guo wanted was all of them.

So Cao Xiu reported the news to Cao Ren.

Cao Ren also received Guo Peng's secret edict. Once the excuses are ready, he will immediately announce the army [question], and don't wait for his order again.

Therefore, at the beginning of September in the eighth year of Yande, Cao Ren officially announced to the outside world that there was a rebellion in the Western Regions, and a large army was needed to crusade.

Not only that, this time the one who leads the army to crusade against the disobedient ministers in the Western Regions is the Crown Prince of the Kingdom, Guo Jin!

Chapter 1251 One Thousand 160 Sons of the God of War is of course also the God of War

The Crown Prince Guo Jin was named General of Zhengxi by Emperor Guo Peng and the commander of the whole army.

He also took Cao Ren, the general of Zhenxi, as the deputy commander of the whole army, and assisted Guo Jin to lead the army to crusade against the non-officials in the Western Regions.

Then, at the beginning of September, Guo Jin officially appeared in the army. On the third day of September, he climbed to the high platform in the Dunhuang County barracks, and formally swore to go to war.

Crown Prince Guo Jin, for the first time in his life, took the place of the emperor as the crown prince and General Zhengxi to lead the army.

The excuse for this expedition is that the countries in the Western Regions did not obey the emperor's orders, used vicious means to resist the emperor's inspection, and fooled the emperor like a child, which is extremely hateful.

For such a hateful and shameful country, the only way to dispel the wrath of Wei is by means of military crusade.

The crown prince was ordered by the emperor to command the entire army of the Northwest as the general who conquered the west, to crusade against the countries in the western regions that offended the emperor Wei, and to punish them, vowing to let them know what is right and what is wrong!

This incident caused an uproar in the army, and all the generals and officers of the battalion rushed over to see the real face of the crown prince.

No one would have imagined that the emperor would send the crown prince to such a place, and let the crown prince be the commander-in-chief of the army to lead the entire army.

This is unprecedented news.

Everyone couldn't help but doubt it.

Crown Prince, will you really lead troops?

There has never been any news about the crown prince being able to lead the army to fight before, and even if there was, it was Guo Peng's.

Before Guo Peng made the Northern Expedition to the grasslands, the imperial conquest was conducted in person, and the crown prince still stayed behind in the capital. Why is he going to lead the army this time?

The lieutenant soldiers were full of doubts and unease.

Then, Guo Jin took Cao Ren to hold a swearing-in meeting and appeared in the army.

He put on his helmet and armor, rode a steed horse, and under the escort of the equally mighty Luoyang Forbidden Army, he established his original image in front of the army as a mighty general.

The so-called son inherits his father's career, this truth will have some sense of recognition among people nowadays.

Not to mention the people at this moment, seeing Guo Jin appearing as a general, the army immediately had a sense of expectation and recognition for him.

No way, who made him the son of His Majesty the Emperor?

Who made him the son of His Majesty the emperor who was victorious in all battles?

Of course the son of God of War is also God of War.

He is so heroic, handsome, and heroic. He must have learned how to lead the army from the side of the emperor. He will definitely be able to lead us to victory just like His Majesty the emperor.

Being the son of the God of War Emperor is so easy to gain expectations and prestige.

Just an appearance, Guo Jin has initially established her own image.

Next, Cao Ren only needs to make selfless dedication, let Guo Jin make various arrangements smoothly, and then let the army follow suit, and then win. The doubtful successor of Guo Peng, the second generation God of War.

As for the main warriors...

It's not necessary, it can't be done, and it doesn't matter.

As long as the middle and lower-level officers and soldiers believe it, that's enough.

In many cases, in the Wei army, senior officers did not play a decisive role, but the majority of middle and lower-level officers and grassroots soldiers played a decisive role.

Therefore, although Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Yan Liang, Gao Lan, Cao Chun, Xia Houyuan and others who accompanied them on the expedition did not know in advance, they understood after a little thought that it must be the emperor's order to ask Guo Jin to plate the gold.

But they were also puzzled, just like Cao Ren.

Guo Peng was in the prime of his life in the spring and Autumn period, and he stayed in Luoyang well. Why did he let the crown prince contact the army so early to cultivate his prestige?

Isn't he worried that the crown prince's prestige in the army will threaten his status?

The senior generals were a little puzzled by the emperor's approach.

Since ancient times, the emperor has avoided letting the crown prince hold power. Otherwise, in the end, will everyone listen to the crown prince or the emperor?

This is very embarrassing.

This is where they are not smart enough.

If they were smart enough, they would know that this was precisely the emperor's effort to keep them alive and let them live out their old age in peace.

Guo Peng affirmed their achievements in many years of fighting, he did not want them to die in the political storm, and hoped to save their lives as much as possible.

Otherwise, what is the first thing to do after an emperor who has no military prestige and military foundation comes to power?

Or what would the old emperor do before he died in order to allow such an emperor to ascend the throne smoothly?

It's impossible for everyone to understand this kind of thing, but it's not like everyone doesn't understand it.

For example, Cao Ren, who was the first to know about this matter, kept thinking about it during this period of time, and really figured out some flavors, and then he was frightened and decided that he must resign after this battle, otherwise who knows what he will face?

As soon as Guo Jin gave the order, the Wei army immediately began to act, and immediately began to change from the state of "exercise" to the state of crusade. The whole army entered the real combat readiness, and quickly held a military meeting.

With expectations for the crown prince and doubts about the emperor, everyone accepted the "order" of the crown prince.

Guo Jin and Cao Ren personally led a main force of 5 people, and generals Xia Houyuan, Cao Chun, and Gao Lan followed them to attack the northern countries from the Shanbei Road and teach them a lesson.

The countries of Shannan Road were led by General Pingxi Guan Yu to lead an army of [-] troops. Generals Zhang Fei and Yan Liang followed him and attacked the countries of Shannan Road from Shannan Road to teach them a lesson.

The arrangement of Wei Jun's troops was simply stipulated in this way.

The task of recruiting local civilians to accompany the auxiliary soldiers to transport food and fodder for the army was quickly apportioned. The main responsibilities were Dunhuang County, Jiuquan County and Zhangye County.

Since there are roads, post stations, and countries' own food reserves along the way of this battle, it is possible for the army to support the war by fighting, so the Wei army does not need too many grain transporters and auxiliary soldiers.

Moreover, there is also Wei people's own farming base near Gancheng, which can also be used to supply food.

The Wei army is all cavalry, with a two-horse system, and they can transport some rations by themselves, such as flatbreads, dried meat, and water.