Chapter 695 Swearing by Luoshui
Xiahou Ba showed no concern for Ma Su's pretentiousness. But Ma Su could still tell from his slightly trembling hands that this person was very concerned.
Xiahouba is a member of the Cao family after all...
"You should also know by now that the person in power on the Puppet Wei side is Sima Shi. And I think you should be familiar with this person. What feeling does he give you?"
"The ability is reliable." Xiahou Ba narrowed his eyes and said calmly.
"But loyalty doesn't seem to be that reliable, right?" Ma Di smiled slightly, stared at Xiahou Ba and said slowly.
"Master Sima has surrendered to us once since Sima Yi's death. I refused at that time, so he turned around and ran back to Yecheng, and then launched a coup."
"Cao Shuang, you know who he is. He even resisted until the last moment when facing Master Sima. And Xia Houxuan is a scholar and is still resisting to this day."
"Could it be that you would rather believe that Cao Shuang and Xia Houxuan are rebels than that Master Sima is reliable?"
Ma Su's words really touched Xiahou Ba's heart. At least for now, Xiahou Ba is confused about Cao Wei's situation.
Cao Shuang and Xiahou Ba, who were supposed to be loyal ministers, fought tooth and nail to protect themselves, while Sima Shi supported the emperor to suppress his subordinates. As a member of the Cao family clan, he always felt that something was wrong, but because he didn't ask for much information, he didn't know the specific situation.
"Master Sima is not a loyal minister of Wei at all. He just plans to rely on the manpower of Hebei to protect his family." Ma Di shrugged lightly and said calmly.
"Now the pseudo-Wei Cao family are all puppets. The only one who is not a puppet is Xia Houxuan. He is still resisting. If there is no external help, he will not be able to resist for long."
"At that time, the Cao family can only be a puppet, or even a victim responsible for taking the blame."
"Don't forget, Master Sima dug up the embankment of the Yellow River and flooded Qingzhou. Who do you think will be the last person to be infamous in the world?"
As soon as these words came out, Xiahou Ba's face suddenly turned pale, and he knew the final result.
"How do I know that Master Sima thinks this way? On the contrary, after killing Master Sima, aren't you the ones who will benefit the most?" However, Xiahou Ba did not change his attention because of Ma Su's words. He was silent for a moment and then asked.
"With Sima Shi's ability, he can hope to resist the Han army's offensive in charge of Hebei. If the civil strife continues, wouldn't that be a big gift to you?"
"Do you really think your Cao Wei regime still has hope?" Ma Di looked at Xiahou Ba with bright eyes and said leisurely.
As soon as these words came out, Xiahou Ba was speechless and did not even dare to look at Ma Di.
Ma Di was right. Even Xiahou Ba could see that Cao Wei's hope of coming back was basically zero. Even if Master Sima is in charge of power, he can only hold on to it for a little longer.
"The Cao family clan is just a puppet in the hands of Master Sima. I don't think he cares much about your people." Ma Di nodded, then straightened his expression and said seriously.
"But I am different. Even if we fight with your Wei army for more than ten years, the emperor will still treat the Cao family well in the end. The seat next to Your Majesty is reserved for Cao Fang, and he will still retain his status as a prince."
"How to choose specifically, doesn't General Xiahou still understand?"
Ma Su's words finally convinced Xiahou Ba. After a long silence, the emperor's uncle spoke,
"what's your plan?"
"Xia Houxuan is still resisting in Qinghe County, and there are still more than 10,000 remnant troops on hand. I will go south to attack Wu at the beginning of next year, and the northern expedition will be launched in the autumn of next year at the latest."
Ma Di slowly said to Xiahou Ba,
"Go support Xia Houxuan and hold off Sima Shi until the end of my campaign against Wu! If you can, the Cao family will be exempted!"
Now that the war has reached this point, Ji Han is no longer so obsessed with the matter of liquidation. Basically, except for Sun Quan, even the Sun family of Soochow is not immune.
Everything is aimed at reunification with quick victory and minimal losses.
"One year... no problem." Xiahou Ba pondered for a moment, then looked at Ma Su and said,
"I can listen to you, but I need your commitment."
"Of course, I promise..."
"I swear by Luoshui!" Xiahou Ba stared at Ma Su closely and said.
If Sima Yi came to swear by Luoshui, Xiahou Ba might not believe it now. But if it were Ma Su, Xiahou Ba felt that he could still be trusted.
Moreover, Ma Su was the great general of the Han Dynasty and Zhuge Liang's apprentice. If he swears to express his position, Liu Chan will naturally not offend Ma Di.
Now Xiahou Ba just wants to preserve his clan, nothing more.
"I, Ma Di, swear by the Luoshui River that if the entire Cao family comes to surrender, I will never harm the Cao family clan!" Ma Di did not show any pretense. He stood up directly and pointed at the Luoshui River outside Luoyang and swore in public.
Anyway, he had no intention of taking action against the Cao family from the beginning, so he just used his reputation to speak for Luo Shui.
After Ma Su finished swearing to Luoshui, Xiahou Ba nodded solemnly.
"In this case, I, Xiahou Ba, am willing to go to Hebei alone and persuade the Cao Wei court to surrender!"
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Ma Di also had a plan to follow when he persuaded Xiahou Ba to go north and return to Cao Wei as a clan member.
At present, Cao Shuang, the last hawk in the Cao family clan, is dead. The remaining Cao Yu and Xia Houxuan both wanted to surrender, and they didn't have much thought left for resistance.
That is to say, the Cao Wei clan should now stand on the side of Ji Han to fight against Sima Shi.
At this time, they are only one step away from surrender. And sending Xiahou Ba back is to kick the final kick.
As for the oath, it is just going with the flow. After all, since Liu Chan removed a vacant position around him, the entire Ji Han has reached a consensus.
Except Sun Quan, other clansmen of the Cao family and Sun family can be pardoned. Even in order to win people's hearts, treating them well is negotiable.
As long as the Cao family can be pulled over and Sima Shi is troubled, Ma Su is still very happy to make this oath.
After persuading Xiahou Ba to go north to continue to contain Sima Shi and complete the layout of Hebei, Ma Su turned his attention back to the south.
South first and then north is the strategic goal set by Ji Han from the beginning. And at this moment, Ma Su has officially set the last moment to attack Wu.
Next year, that is, the spring of the 24th year of Jianxing!
"Sun Quan, Sun Quan, you have been allowed to live for nearly three years." Ma Su narrowed his eyes, looked towards the south with a deep gaze, and said to himself leisurely.
"Now the Lianghuai area has enough land for farming, I am ready, I wonder if you are ready, Sun Shiwan?"