ATPnovel Chapter 57 Using one tiger to devour another
Chapter 57 Using one tiger to devour another
During the Han Dynasty, Huainan was one of the nation's granaries.
After Yuan Shu occupied Huainan, he looted a large amount of wealth, which he then gathered in Shouchun City.
It can be said that if Yuan Tan could plunder the wealth of Huainan, it would be equivalent to at least three years' worth of tax revenue from Qingzhou.
This money is enough for him to strengthen the military and enrich the people.
Thinking of this, Yuan Tan found himself somewhat eager to try:
What does Fengxiao mean?
"Borrowing a path to conquer Guo, snatching chestnuts from the fire!"
Guo Jia spoke slowly and deliberately.
"Cao Cao and others besieged Shouchun with the aim of taking Yuan Shu's head and gaining political prestige. Our army marches south, not prioritizing sieges, but rather seizing territory and treasures! Yuan Shu's surrounding counties must be poorly defended! Our iron cavalry is swift and can sweep away his wealth like a whirlwind, using war to sustain war! This is the first point."
"Secondly," Guo Jia lowered his voice, "and more importantly, our soldiers also yearn to achieve merit. If our army remains idle at home for too long, it will dampen our morale. Only through major battles can we understand strengths and weaknesses, gain and loss, and enable our soldiers to establish their own achievements!"
"Thirdly, if we seize the opportunity properly, we might even be able to capture Shouchun first! Even if we only manage to seize a portion of the treasure, it will be enough to relieve Qingzhou's immediate crisis! At that time, with the treasury full, why worry about the looms not running? Why worry about the banks not thriving?"
These words stirred the blood of the soldiers in the hall.
The lord has established a merit-based system for military ranks, which has long been eager for the soldiers to compete.
If one can gain military merit through this battle, one can be granted a title and a position that benefits one's wife and children. Why not do it?
Yuan Tan took a deep breath, having made up his mind.
Guo Jia's words struck a chord with him!
Being confined to Qingzhou makes it difficult to carry out domestic affairs, which is not a long-term solution.
Yuan Shao's order, seemingly forcing him to his death, could, if used properly, be an opportunity to proactively break the deadlock!
"Fengxiao's words resonate deeply with me!"
Yuan Tan slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly.
"Yan Liang, Zhang He, Zhao Yun, Lou Ban, listen to my command!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
The four generals stepped forward with a roar.
"Effective immediately, the entire army is on high alert! Carefully plan the southward advance route and attack targets! If we're going to fight, we'll fight to show the might of Qingzhou! If we're going to plunder, we'll plunder the wealth that will ensure Qingzhou's peace for years to come!"
"Lu Su, Wang Xiu!"
"Your subject is here!"
"Make every effort to ensure logistics and procure military rations! As for the money shops, suspend interest payments for now and prioritize stability."
"promise!"
……
A huge map of Huainan was spread out on the table, with generals and strategists standing around it.
Zhang He took the lead by clasping his hands in a fist salute and said in a deep voice:
"My lord, there are only two routes south. The first is through Xuzhou, directly attacking the flank of Shouchun, which is the shortest route. However, Lü Bu is ambitious and has a long-standing feud with Qingzhou. He would not easily grant passage; we fear he might block and ambush us, causing us harm instead. The second is to go west through Yan and Yu provinces, a long detour of a thousand miles, where supplies would be scarce, potentially missing our opportunity to attack. Please, my lord, make a wise decision!"
This question hits the nail on the head regarding the southward expansion strategy.
Guo Jia stroked his short beard and said slowly:
"Junyi's concerns are absolutely correct. Lü Bu is a faithless and treacherous man. Even if he agrees on the surface, we must still be wary of him. I believe our army should feign an attack on one side while secretly advancing on the other."
He pointed to the map.
"We can make a big show of it, announcing that we're taking the route through Xuzhou, forcing Lü Bu to make a decision. If he lets us pass, our army can advance quickly; if he obstructs us, it's exactly what we want!"
"At that time, our army will immediately set sail and change course to sea! The Zhen family has numerous ships, enough to transport troops. In this way, we can avoid the dangers of land routes, shake off Lü Bu's entanglement, and achieve the effect of a surprise attack, heading straight for Huainan!"
"However,"
Guo Jia abruptly changed the subject, revealing a sly smile.
"Speed is of the essence in war, but this time we must combine speed with delay. Even if our waterways are clear, we must not rush to the walls of Shouchun. We should sit back and watch the tigers fight, and wait until Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Ce and Yuan Shu are exhausted before we can use our fresh troops to reap the benefits."
The claim that "the route through Xuzhou was blocked" provided our army with the perfect excuse to "delay" its journey!
This plan can be described as cunning and ingenious, killing three birds with one stone.
The successful raid on Xuzhou in the past has verified the safety of taking the sea route.
Therefore, none of the people present raised any doubts about taking the sea route.
However, Xinpi frowned and continued to ask:
"While Fengxiao's strategy is brilliant, what I am worried about is not only Lü Bu blocking the way. If our main force marches south, leaving Qingzhou vulnerable, will Lü Bu collude with Yuan Shang to launch a surprise attack on our base? At that time, with the front lines unstable and the rear lost, our army will be caught in a dilemma!"
Yeah! And there's Lu Bu too!
This time I've mobilized all my troops; Lü Bu will surely try to harass Qingzhou.
If left unattended, all previous preparations could very well be destroyed.
Yuan Tan thought for a moment, then laughed loudly, confident of victory:
"George's concerns are precisely the key to breaking the deadlock! But why wait for Lü Bu to attack? Why can't we strike first, leaving him no time to look north?"
His gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on Guo Jia's face. The two exchanged a knowing smile.
Yuan Tan said in a deep voice:
"Lu Bu, though possessing the courage of a common man, occupies Xuzhou, but his greatest threat lies not in the north, but right here! Liu Bei of Xiaopei, though temporarily under his command, is not one to remain subservient for long. How can two tigers share one mountain?"
"I have a plan, which can be called 'driving a tiger to devour a wolf'! We can send a skilled and eloquent man with generous gifts to sneak into Xuzhou and bribe Xu Si, the chief clerk under Lü Bu. He is corrupt, and we don't need him to work for us. We only need him to keep whispering in Lü Bu's ear that Liu Bei is stationed in Xiaopei and is winning over the people. He has great ambitions and will eventually become a threat. Lü Bu is suspicious by nature, and if he hears this slander, he will surely harbor resentment towards Liu Bei."
"We can also send assassins to spread rumors in Xuzhou, saying that Yuan Qingzhou wants to form an alliance with Liu Bei to jointly attack Lü Bu and restore the Han Dynasty. Lü Bu is brave but not wise, and once the seeds of doubt are sown, they will be difficult to eradicate. In this way, we can attack Shouchun without any worries about the rear."
This plan was naturally not Yuan Tan's own idea.
It was actually a plot from the novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" that I read when I was a child; I simply adapted the plan slightly.
Even if you've never eaten pork, you've at least seen pigs run.
When Ye Zhupi entered the pass, he had never read any military books, but he had read "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".
Therefore, it is reasonable that Yuan Tan was able to imitate him.
Hmph, Liu Bei, don't blame me for showing you no mercy.
If you don't draw fire for me, Qingzhou will be in trouble.
Then I'll have to sacrifice my fellow Daoist to save myself.
As expected, this plan astonished everyone present!
Drive away the tiger to devour the wolf!
My lord has such a scheme!
Without using a single soldier from Qingzhou, they could cause chaos in Xuzhou, thus relieving the main force of its worries about the rear when it marches south.
Xin Pi took a deep breath and bowed in submission, saying, "My lord's wisdom and foresight are beyond my reach! With this, Qingzhou can be at peace!"
Guo Jia exclaimed in admiration, "My lord is wise! Lü Bu is reckless and suspicious, while Liu Bei is weak but arrogant. This rumor is like throwing a spark into dry tinder. Even if both Liu Bei and Lü Bu know it's a divisive tactic..."
But the seeds of suspicion have been sown, and both sides, for their own protection, will inevitably increase their troop deployments, leading to immediate friction. There's no need for an imperial edict; their alliance will crumble on its own!
As expected, Guo Jia really knows how to provide emotional value!
Not only did it point out the brilliance of the plan, but it also explained the strategy in simple and easy-to-understand language.
This time, even the soldiers who were initially confused understood.
Generals Zhang He and Yan Liang were also greatly encouraged, and their last trace of concern vanished.
Zhao Yun remained silent, deeply shocked by Yuan Tan's cunning and ruthless methods, but also deeply grateful for the profound kindness shown to him by Lord Xuande!
However, he was not a rigid person and quickly realized that everyone serves their own master, and there was nothing he could do about it.
If this plan were revealed to Lord Xuande, it would be a fulfillment of loyalty, but it would also be a betrayal of his lord!
A man shouldn't be like this!
Yuan Tan surveyed his ministers:
"Good! Now that the future threat can be eliminated, let's proceed according to Fengxiao's plan! Yan Liang and Zhang He, prepare the army and make it appear as if we are advancing on Xuzhou, feigning an attack to mislead the enemy! Zijing, quickly contact the Zhen family, allocate ships, assemble them at the port, and prepare to head south!"