Chapter 677: All Calculations
After making the decision, Ma Di returned to Shouchun. After gathering a few bachelors and explaining the follow-up farming arrangements to Deng Ai, Ma Di personally set out on the road to inspect the terrain.
Deng Ai was also helpless about Ma Su's character who couldn't take any time off. Even though he is now a general, he still likes to run around with just a few people.
Why don't you take a break, make a cup of tea and enjoy the sunshine every day? We’ve been fighting for so many years, why don’t we just enjoy it?
But Ma Su just can't take time off, or he still has no idea of retirement.
After recruiting several bachelors and several guards, Ma Di personally set out on the road to explore the southern terrain.
Canal excavation is very particular. The direction of the canal, the terrain, the location and even the people along the way must be taken into consideration. This is an extremely rigorous matter. If you are not careful, it may even turn into a man-made flood in the Central Plains.
But fortunately, Ma Di, as a person who has come before, has already come over. As a man of two generations, he basically only needs to explore according to the waterway of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal in his memory, and he can basically recreate the canal.
Ma Su recorded all the results of this series and prepared to summarize them all in "On the Canal".
With theoretical knowledge, when the big man has a need for this matter, everything will fall into place.
Alas, I have broken my heart for this family. Without me, Ma Su, this family would have to break up!
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While Ma Su was studying the possibility of digging the North-South Canal and personally exploring the mountains and landforms, things were not calm in Hebei.
At this time, Sima Shi and Cao Shuang were still fighting in Jizhou.
Facts have proved that if Cao Shuang himself did not surrender, even Sima Shi would be difficult to kill him quickly. The two sides have been at each other's throats for nearly two years, and there has been no conclusion yet.
After all, Cao Shuang, as a member of the Cao family, still has influence in the country. Although he has been beaten by Master Sima all the time, and even Cao Yu died in battle, he is still extremely strong.
As for Cao Shuang's status as Minister Tuogu, Sima Shi received considerable criticism both inside and outside the court. Such various restrictions completely ruined Sima Shi's plan to quickly capture Cao Shuang.
Looking at Cao Shuang's banner flying above Qinghe County, Master Sima's expression was extremely grim.
If the local terrain did not meet the requirements, Sima Division would even have planned to flood the city.
"General, why don't we shake hands with Cao Shizhong and make peace?"
Next to him, Guanqiu Jian also had a sad face, his brows already knitted together. The last loyal minister of Cao Wei had no sparkle in his eyes at this moment, only endless despair for the future.
"If we continue the civil war with Cao Shizhong, our strength will be severely depleted. If we continue to fight like this, the people of Shu will be happy!"
The two-year civil war in Hebei almost wiped out the last bit of Cao Wei's wealth. If the stalemate continues like this, Cao Wei will have no chance to struggle at all.
In response, Master Sima just shook his head gently, sighed softly and said to Guanqiu Jian,
"General Guanqiu, I would like to cooperate with Cao Shuang if possible. But you know what level he is. He can do nothing but cause chaos in the court."
"Do you really think it's a good thing to shake hands with such a person and make peace with him?"
"But if this continues..." Guanqiu Jian was a little anxious, but before he could finish his words, soldiers rushed in from outside.
"Your Majesty, the Shu army in Qingzhou suddenly crossed the Jishui River and marched towards Pingyuan County. Their total strength is about 10,000 people, and they are led by Shu general Jiang Wei!"
"It's him again! The ghost is still here!" Upon hearing this name, a trace of anger flashed in the eyes of Master Sima and Guan Qiujian.
In the past two years, Zhang Yi's tribe in Baimadu basically strictly implemented Ma Di's orders and tried to avoid conflicts with Hebei. This also allowed Sima Shi to pursue Cao Shuang with confidence and forced Cao Shuang into desperate situations many times.
But every time Sima Shi was about to succeed, Jiang Wei of Qingzhou would suddenly lead him northward. Every time Jiang Wei made a move, Sima Division had to withdraw his troops and return to defense, thereby missing a good opportunity to kill Cao Shuang.
Because of this, both Sima Shi and Guan Qiujian hated Jiang Wei, the dog-skin plaster, to the core of their bones.
"General, we can't go on like this, or we will be exhausted sooner or later!" Guan Qiujian looked stern and asked Sima Shi directly for instructions.
"Please give me 10,000 troops. I will go east to fight Jiang Wei. I will definitely kill him between Jishui and Jishui!"
"General Guanqiu, I'm afraid we won't be able to provide ten thousand people..." Master Sima shook his head and said helplessly.
"Then five thousand people! I will fight to the death on the south bank of the Yellow River and will never let the Han army enter Hebei." Guanqiu Jian retreated to the next best thing and continued to propose to Sima Division.
Master Sima recognized this proposal and immediately assigned him the song.
In this way, Guanqiu Jian took Five Thousand Bubu and resolutely headed towards Qingzhou.
However, after watching Guanqiu Jian leave, Master Sima's expression gradually darkened.
"Keep an eye on him! If Guan Qiu Jian makes any changes, be sure to report it as soon as possible!"
Although Master Sima looked at Guan Qiu Jian as if he was heart-to-heart just now, in fact the person he was most wary of was Guan Qiu Jian!
This is a loyal minister of the Wei Dynasty in the true sense, and he is only loyal to Cao Fang.
This created a certain conflict with Sima Shi's interests. After all, Sima Shi's purpose in seizing power was essentially to preserve his own clan.
As for Cao Fang, in Sima Shi's view, he was just a banner for internal unity. His only role was to appease those Cao's ministers and make them willing to fight for the preservation of the Sima family, nothing more.
But the little emperor was obviously not willing to be a puppet. Just a few days ago, Sima Zhao wrote to him saying that Cao Fang was making trouble.
If Cao Fang really wanted to make trouble, he would probably have to depose and replace the emperor, and then change another emperor to continue to be a puppet.
And Guanqiu Jian, who was loyal to Cao Fang, seemed to be very troublesome in this.
In short, although Cao Wei, a small regime in Hebei, was not big, it was full of calculations inside.
Sima Shi's arrangements were quickly conveyed, and there would be death warriors to specifically resist Guanqiu Jian.
But when Sima Shi made the arrangements, the confidant following behind him spoke hesitantly.
"Envoy... General Guanqiu is the most capable general in Wei. If we force him to death, can we really stop the Northern Expedition of the Shu Army?"
"It doesn't matter. I have already prepared a great gift for Ma Su!" Sima Shi shook his head and didn't intend to say too much on this topic. He just said expressionlessly.
"As long as Ma Su dares to come, I have the ability to make him die south of the Yellow River!"
"Before that, we must figure out how to kill Cao Shuang. If Cao Shuang doesn't die, we won't have the energy to resist the invasion of the Shu Army!"