My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Chapter 56: The enemy is divided into internal and external. If you can't capture the external enemy, you can capture the internal enemy.
The plan to flood Cao's camp was thus decided.

Inside the big tent, everyone was in high spirits and eager to fight.

Liu Bei and everyone gathered around the map to discuss the specific implementation plan.

"My Lord, we still have to wait at least a month until the peak of the flood, and the remaining food and grass in my warehouse is only enough for two months."

"Besides, even if we defeat Cao's army and eliminate the danger in Xiangfan, we still can't solve the problem of insufficient food and grass."

"After repelling Cao's thieves, we still need to free up our hands to march south to seize Jiangling, wipe out Liu Cong, Cai Mao and other thieves, and then recapture the entire Nanjun."

"But after we defeat Cao Cao, we will be out of food and fodder. Not to mention feeding tens of thousands of troops to march south to Jiangling, I'm afraid that without food, the people and the army will be in chaos without a fight. Wouldn't that mean victory for you, my lord, would be turned into defeat?"

Amidst the excitement, Ma Liang, who was always steady and calm, poured a bucket of cold water on everyone's heads.

The discussion in the tent suddenly stopped.

A shadow fell on Liu Bei's face, and he nodded.
"Ji Chang's words make sense. We only control Xiangfan and a few small cities nearby. It is indeed difficult to support more than 40,000 troops."

"Once the food and grass are gone, even if we repel Cao Cao's army, I'm afraid the situation will still be precarious."

A look of worry flashed across everyone's face, and discussions broke out again.

The topic this time is how to solve the problem of running out of food and grass.

Some people proposed to increase the grain tax to provide for military needs.

Liu Bei naturally rejected it on the spot.

Cao Cao could treat the farmers like slaves, exploit the people under his rule to the utmost, and was not afraid of provoking civil unrest, but Liu Bei could not do that.

If he did this, what difference would he make from Cao Cao?

Therefore, the proposal to increase grain taxes was quickly brushed aside.

"My lord, I have heard that after Advisor Kong Ming left the mountain, he oversaw a household census in Xinye. Within a few months, he uncovered tens of thousands of hidden residents and nearly a thousand acres of arable land, enabling him to raise thousands more elite soldiers."

"Since this measure is effective, why don't you also conduct a household registration check in Xiangyang and make all those who should have paid their taxes but haven't paid their taxes pay what they owe?"

"In this way, my lord will not have to increase the grain tax, and at the same time, he will be able to obtain some food and fodder to alleviate his urgent needs."

Ma Liang offered a strategy, and he was quite capable in domestic affairs.

Liu Bei's eyes lit up and he nodded repeatedly:

"A household registration check is a good way to have the best of both worlds. Ji Chang's method is feasible."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jian Yong reminded:
"My lord, don't forget that Military Advisor Kong Ming spent several months to complete the household registration check in Xinye."

"The population of Xiangyang and the surrounding cities, towns, and villages is more than ten times that of Xinye. There are also numerous powerful families, both large and small, with complex relationships."

"Under such circumstances, it will take at least half a year to check the household registration."

Ma Liang frowned and fell silent.

Liu Bei's eyes, which had just been bright, were once again covered with a layer of shadow. He stood up and paced around the tent.

time!

The most critical difficulty now is time.

The food supply will run out in two months, and he doesn't have much time left.

In just two months, it was not easy to defeat Cao Cao, conduct a household registration check, and solve the problem of insufficient food and grass.

Not to mention that Zhuge Liang couldn't leave for the time being, even if Zhuge Liang was transferred back to Xiangyang, there would be far from enough time for Zhuge Liang to show his skills.

Inside the big tent, the atmosphere gradually became quiet again.

"I have a headache..."

Xiao He also gently pinched his forehead with his fingertips.

Just as he burned a bunch of brain cells and helped Liu Bei solve a difficult problem, another difficult problem arose right after.

I have to say, Liu Bei is really difficult.

Being Liu Bei's counselor is really difficult... "My lord, with such a difficult problem, why don't you ask Bo Wen for his advice?"

Zhao Yun, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said this.

Liu Bei was slightly shocked and turned to look at Xiao He.

Everyone's eyes were focused on him again.

But this time, Liu Bei and the others' eyes were not as full of anticipation as before.

When it comes to brilliant strategies and military tactics, everyone naturally has complete faith in Xiao He.

But the food and grass problem that needs to be solved now, strictly speaking, should be regarded as the "politics" in the military and politics.

Although Xiao He was a disciple of a hermit immortal, he was good at fortune-telling and had great foresight.

But military strategies can be calculated, so can the issues of food and household registration be solved by calculation?
This is also the reason why Liu Bei did not ask Xiao He.

He also did not ask Xu Shu, because he knew that Xu Shu also had shortcomings in governance.

After all, people like Zhuge Liang, who are proficient in military strategies and good at governing, and who are both counselors and capable officials, are really rare.

After Liu Bei hesitated for a moment, he hurriedly asked Xiao He:

"Bowen, do you have any other good solutions to solve our urgent problem of insufficient food and fodder?"

Since Zhao Yun reminded him, Liu Bei naturally had to ask, otherwise it would seem that he did not trust Xiao He.
"Zilong, Zilong, thank you so much! I just racked my brains to come up with a plan to defeat Cao Cao, and you gave me another job. The donkeys in the production team need a break..."

Xiao He secretly groaned in his heart.

But no matter how much he complained, he had to work for Liu Bei. It would have been fine if Liu Bei didn't ask any questions, but since he did ask, he still had to fulfill his duties.

Xiao He frowned slightly, twisted his forehead with his fingertips, and began to rack his brains.

Throughout history, there are only three ways to deal with a shortage of food at home.

Grow it yourself, borrow it from others, or go out and rob it.

Planting it yourself is the method that Ma Liang and others mentioned, but it is slow to take effect and distant water cannot quench immediate thirst.

As for borrowing from others, who should I borrow from?
Liu Cong and Cao Cao will definitely not lend it to you.

Liu Qi only has Jiangxia County, which was previously looted by Sun Quan. He is almost poor and can't even afford to eat, so how could he have any extra food to help you?

Borrow from our ally Sun Quan?
Given Sun Quan's cleverness, he will most likely lend you the money, but he will inevitably have to attach conditions.

If this additional condition is that the Jiangdong Army enter Xiakou, or even station in Xiangfan, will you agree or not?

If growing it yourself or borrowing from others doesn't work, then the only option is to go out and rob.

Cao Cao certainly couldn't rob the city, after all, there were 150,000 troops blocking the door, how could he rob the city if he couldn't even get out?

Liu Cong in the south seems easier to deal with on the surface, but he also has 30,000 troops blocking Yicheng. If you want to seize him, you have to withdraw the troops south, which is certainly unrealistic.

"If Cao Cao can't snatch it, and Liu Cong can't snatch it for the time being, who else can I snatch it from..."

Xiao He muttered to himself, staring at the map, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

Sudden.

There was a gleam in his eyes.

"Enemy can be divided into internal and external. If you can't capture the external enemy, you can capture the internal enemy..."

Xiao He muttered to himself, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

Liu Bei didn't hear clearly, so he asked hurriedly:
"Bowen, have you come up with any good ideas?"

Xiao He coughed lightly a few times, pointed his finger at Xiangyang, and smiled meaningfully:
"My lord, don't forget that there are still a few fat sheep in Xiangyang. If we slaughter these fat sheep, it should be enough for my tens of thousands of troops to eat for a year or two."

A few fat sheep?
Liu Bei looked confused.

(End of this chapter)