The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 81 Sending troops from three directions, how could Liu Bei be so lucky? (First order! 45)

Facing the panicked Yan Xiang, Yuan Shu remained calm and said with a faint smile:

"Why is Jingxi so panicked?"

This……

Yan Xiang was stunned and asked:

"The lord's army had already crossed the Huai River, but suddenly ordered to stop advancing. The soldiers were all confused."

"So I sent a letter to ask the lord the reason."

When the cannon is fired, there is a thousand taels of gold.

War is the most expensive thing, especially for the soldiers on the front line, the daily cost of food and wages alone is a huge amount.

Yuan Shu was not in a hurry to start a war, but suddenly ordered his soldiers to stop advancing. This move stunned everyone.

"……Hahaha."

Yuan Shu raised his head and laughed, "Jingxi, do you remember what Cao's envoy said when he came here the other day?"

Envoy Cao?

Yan Xiang recalled carefully.

Not long ago, Cao Cao sent an envoy from Yanzhou.

Invite Yuan Shu to attack Xuzhou together.

He also promised that Yuzhou and Qingzhou would send out two armies at the same time to cooperate with Yuan Shu in attacking from the north and the south.

Yuan Shu had originally planned to attack Guangling in the early spring of next year.

Now that Cao Cao took the initiative to extend an olive branch and agreed to send troops in three directions, Yuan Shu naturally agreed.

After dealing with the envoy from Yan, Yuan Shu actually sent Zhang Xun and Qiao Rui to lead troops north.

But just as they were about to enter the Huai River, Yuan Shu suddenly ordered his soldiers to stop advancing.

"Cao Cao is a treacherous man. Although he has agreed to unite our three armies to attack Xuzhou together."

"But I don't see any soldiers from Yanzhou."

"He was trapped in the civil strife in Yanzhou, and was afraid that Liu Bei would interfere in Yuzhou, so he wanted to unite the troops of the three routes and force him to retreat back to Xuzhou."

"Now he wants to borrow my strength to lure Liu Bei into an attack and kill him."

Many people’s first impression of Yuan Shu may be that he is a skeleton king with no brains.

In fact, in history, Yuan Shu was very good at a series of conspiracies and tricks such as assassination, kidnapping, incitement, winning over and rebellion.

The strategy of driving the tiger to devour the wolf was actually first used by Yuan Shu.

Therefore, in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 11, the special skill given to Yuan Shu is a brilliant plan.

In fact, Yuan Shu has many shortcomings, but if you ask what his biggest shortcoming is,

That is narcissism.

Yuan Shu was an extreme narcissist.

In the second year of Jian'an, Yuan Shu had already begun to go downhill.

Unfortunately, a drought broke out that year, and people in many places were in dire straits. The common people had nothing to eat and were resorting to cannibalism.

However, an official under Yuan Shu named Shu Shao acted on his own and distributed more than 100,000 hu of military rations directly to the victims.

When Yuan Shu found out about this, he was furious and wanted to behead Shu Shao in public.

Shu Shao said:
"I know I will die, but it's worth it to sacrifice my own life to save so many people."

Yuan Shu was deeply moved after hearing this, and he dismounted, took his hand and said:

"Zhong Ying, do you want to enjoy this reputation alone and not share it with me?"

This incident does not mean that Yuan Shu is a good person.

A person with a bad record cannot be cleared just because he does one good thing.

How could a warlord who had been constantly exploiting the common people suddenly feel pity for them?

This is Yuan Shu’s extreme narcissistic tendency.

He really doesn't think he is a bad guy. He thinks he is chivalrous and cool.

Even when he wanted to usurp the throne and proclaim himself emperor, he did not consider himself a traitor.

He felt that his Yuan family deserved to be the emperor, and that Yuan Shu deserved to suffer this hardship.

Yuan Shu is a typical example of a person who is unaware of his evil deeds.

He feels that the whole world should revolve around him, and he does not think that all the evil things he does are evil.

"Since you know this is Cao Cao's plot, why did you send troops north?"

Yan Xiang was a little puzzled. Don’t you know how expensive marching and fighting is?
"...Haha." Yuan Shu stroked his goatee and chuckled:

"If I don't send troops, how can Guo Gong and Yuan Tan be willing to send troops?"

Yan Xiang suddenly realized and slapped his head:
"So the lord wants to lure Yuzhou and Qingzhou to send troops first."

"After Liu Bei has fought with him, we will then march to Xuzhou and reap the benefits."

exactly……

Yuan Shu showed a smug smile.

"Today, all the heroes in the world are loyal ministers in public, but secretly they pursue their own selfish desires."

"The only one who can rule the world and save the people from danger is me, Yuan Shu."

Yan Xiang lowered his head and remained silent.

Yuan Shu seemed to be quite sure about the attack on Xuzhou, and asked nonchalantly:

"How much food is left in the state capital?"

Yan Xiang hurriedly flipped through the files to check, and then replied:
"The harvest this year was poor, and the war on the front line was intense. There are only 400,000 bushels of grain left in the state."

"The Liyang front needs to be supplied with 20,000 hu of grain every month."

"Since Generals Zhang Xun and Qiao Rui have led their troops north, the state's grain supply may be around 30,000 to 40,000 hu per month."

I have to say that Yuan Shu’s family background is really strong.

Despite the poor harvest and tight supply on the front line, there were still 400,000 hu of grain left.

"……Um."

Yuan Shu said calmly:
"Bofu defeated Liu Yao in Dantu the other day and will attack Kuaiji next year. Within two years, Yangzhou will be ours."

"Therefore, the Liyang Front must not stop supplying food."

This……

Yan Xiang secretly sighed that Yuan Shu was really ambitious. He didn't know how expensive firewood and rice were until he became the head of the household, and he wanted both.

He didn't want Sun Ce in the rear to stop his attack on Yangzhou, and he also wanted Zhang Xun and Qiao Rui on the front line to lead their troops to capture Xuzhou.

Even if Xiang Yu were resurrected, it would be impossible for him to conquer both Xu and Yang states at the same time, right?
Yuan Shu was very confident about this:
"Don't worry, Jing Xi. I know you are very anxious, but Liu Bei is even more anxious."

"The military food route in Xuzhou is hundreds of miles long, connecting north and south. His daily consumption of food and fodder is several times greater than mine."

"I still have enough food in Shouchun to last for half a year. Can Liu Bei hold out for half a year under the siege of three armies?"

"As long as Guo Gong and Yuan Tan launch an attack, I will take advantage of the situation and march north to capture Guangling in one fell swoop."

When everyone heard this, they were speechless.

Now that the boss has finalized the plan, what can the subordinates say?
I just hope that if the army is defeated, Yuan Shu won’t get angry and blame them.

However, there are too few leaders who don’t pass the buck.

……

On the official road, a team of carriages and horses moved slowly.

There were two teams of soldiers guarding in front and behind.

The car curtain opened, revealing a gaunt face with bright eyes.

"Since Cao Cao's second attack on Xuzhou, many counties and prefectures I have passed through have been slaughtered. No human habitation is seen within a hundred miles, and no cockcrow is heard within a thousand miles."

"There are many people living here, as if there had not been any war."

The driver turned around and said to the old man:
"My Lord, if we go further, we will reach the seat of Xia Pi."

It turned out that this person was Xu Qiu, the Prime Minister of Donghai State recommended by Liu Ye.

He was also a local wealthy man in Xuzhou, a descendant of a general, and a member of an aristocratic family.

When he was young, he also participated in the battle to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion and made many military achievements.

Later, he was successively transferred to the positions of Rencheng Xiang and Runan Taishou. He was a talented person with both civil and military talents.

"Since we're almost there, I'll get off the bus and take a walk."

Xu Qiu got out of the car on his own initiative.

A guard came over and stood in front of Xu Qiu to stop him.

Xu Qiu looked at the guard with confusion.

……

　The first order exceeded 300, and it’s per day per month, brothers! ! ! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)