Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

Looking into Tao Qian's earnest eyes and then at the anxious expressions of everyone in the hall, Zhuge Gui was filled with a myriad of thoughts.

He pondered for a moment and then said, "My lord, there is no need to worry. Although Duan Yu's forces are strong, he is not invincible."

He was cruel and unpopular. The people of Xuzhou, grateful for the benevolence of their lord, would surely be willing to work together with him to defend the city.

With the right strategy, holding Xuzhou should not be difficult.

Sima Fang nodded in agreement, adding, "What Lord Zhuge said is absolutely right. Duan Yu's army has come from afar, and their supply of provisions will certainly be difficult. We can adopt a scorched-earth policy to cut off their food supply."

At the same time, strengthen the city's defenses, recruit local militia, and expand the army;

"Send more men to the surrounding prefectures and counties for reinforcements; with a pincer attack from both inside and outside, we will surely defeat Duan Yu."

The flickering candlelight cast a play of light and shadow on the faces of the people in the hall.

After listening to Zhuge Gui and Sima Fang's initial countermeasures, Tao Qian did not immediately express his opinion. Instead, he picked up his wine cup, took a small sip, and gently stroked the bronze patterns on the cup with his fingertips, his tone carrying a hint of probing:

“What you two wise men say is indeed true.”

But Duan Yu's current power is no longer comparable to that of ordinary princes—he holds the emperor hostage to command the princes, occupies the Sili Commandery, and holds the imperial seal, making his position legitimate.

He also annexed six provinces: Ji, You, Yi, Jing, Liang, and Bing. He had countless soldiers and armor, abundant provisions, and a multitude of fierce generals and strategists under his command.

Liu Yan had been guarding Yizhou for many years, and the city's defenses were strong, but Liu Yan captured it in a single battle.

Despite Liu Yu's benevolence and love for the people, and the unwavering support of the people of Youzhou, he still could not escape the calamity of his death and the fall of the city.

He set down his wine cup, his gaze sweeping over Zhuge Gui and Sima Fang, his tone becoming more forceful:

"Now, Kong Rong of Qingzhou, Liu Dai of Yanzhou, Liu Yao of Yangzhou, and Liu Biao of Jingzhou, although each occupies a region, are all self-preserving individuals, harboring mutual suspicions and finding it difficult to work together."

Yuzhou was even more fragmented, with powerful local lords holding their own territories and posing no real threat.

You two talk about forming alliances and counter-alliances, but how can these feudal lords be willing to put aside their prejudices and join forces with my Xuzhou?

"Fortifying the city and clearing the fields are merely passive defenses. What if Duan Yu's army besieges the city for a long time, exhausting Xuzhou's food supplies and weakening the people?"

These words, seemingly a question, actually concealed a test.

Everyone in the hall knew that although Tao Qian was kind and benevolent, he had also experienced the ups and downs of officialdom and was by no means someone who would easily trust others.

Mi Zhu, Zhao Yu, and the others held their breath, their eyes fixed on Zhuge Gui and Sima Fang, wanting to see how these two renowned scholars would respond.

Zhuge Gui had long understood Tao Qian's thoughts. His expression remained calm as he slowly rose, walked into the hall, and bowed to Tao Qian, saying:

"What Your Excellency is concerned about is precisely the key to forming alliances and counter-alliances."

Although Duan Yu was powerful, he was not invincible.

Within a few years, he conquered six provinces, committing excessive killings. Liu Yan and Liu Yu, two provincial governors, both died at his hands. All the lords in the land were in fear, and this is the foundation of our alliance.

The saying goes, "If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold." If Xuzhou falls, Qingzhou, Yanzhou, and Yangzhou will be next to suffer. Even if Kong Rong, Liu Dai, Liu Yao, and others have their own grudges, they will never sit idly by and watch Duan Yu gradually conquer the world, ultimately leaving them isolated and helpless.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and continued:

"The magistrate mentioned that Duan Yu held the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords, which was both his advantage and his disadvantage."

Although the emperor was in his hands, he was nothing more than a puppet. Many senior officials in the court were dissatisfied, and the people were well aware of his cruel nature.

We can send people to Qingzhou, Yanzhou, and Yangzhou to explain the advantages and disadvantages, to explain Duan Yu's intention to usurp the Han throne, and to point out the perilous situation where "if Xuzhou falls today, all the other provinces will fall tomorrow." Then, we can rally people with the call to "jointly support the Han dynasty and drive out the traitor." This should surely persuade them to join forces.

Sima Fang also stood up to add, his tone steady and forceful:

"What Zhuge Liang said is absolutely right."

The strategy of forming an alliance hinges on the two words 'profit' and 'righteousness'. In terms of 'righteousness', we are acting on the emperor's secret edict (which can be forged or carried out in the name of the imperial family) to punish the traitor Duan Yu, which is perfectly legitimate. In terms of 'profit', joining forces to resist the enemy can share the pressure and prevent Duan Yu from defeating us one by one.

As for the rifts between the feudal lords, they are not insurmountable.

We may propose electing a leader to coordinate military forces, divide defense zones, clarify the distribution of post-war benefits, and dispel any doubts you may have.

Upon hearing this, Tao Qian frowned slightly and pressed for an answer: "Electing an alliance leader? This is no easy task."

Kong Rong was a descendant of Confucius and had a high opinion of himself; Liu Dai was born into the imperial family and had great ambitions; Liu Yao was stationed in Yangzhou, a wealthy place, and was unlikely to be willing to obey others.

Who can win the hearts of the people?

"Your Excellency is mistaken."

Zhuge Gui smiled and said, "The position of leader of the alliance does not necessarily require real power. The key is to connect with all parties and coordinate actions."

Although Kong Rong has a high opinion of himself, he values ​​his reputation most. We can honor him as the leader of the alliance and let him preside over the alliance meeting. The nominal title will belong to him, while the real power will be held by each state. He will certainly be willing.

Liu Dai was born into the imperial family and took it upon himself to restore the Han dynasty. As long as the banner of "jointly restoring the Han dynasty" was raised, he would definitely respond.

Although Liu Yao possessed the wealthy lands of Yangzhou, if Duan Yu conquered Xuzhou, Yangzhou would be his next target. To protect himself, Liu Yao had no choice but to join the alliance.

Sima Fang continued, "Besides, although Yuzhou is divided into several parts, there are many people who are loyal to the Han Dynasty and dissatisfied with Duan Yu."

We can send people to Yuzhou to contact the local powerful families, offer them rewards after the war, and have them harass Duan Yu's supply lines from behind, thus tying down his forces.

In this way, with the combined forces of Xuzhou, Qingzhou, Yanzhou, and Yangzhou resisting him on the front, and the powerful clans of Yuzhou holding him back from the rear, Duan Yu was unable to attend to both ends, and his offensive naturally slowed down.

Tao Qian pondered for a moment, then asked, "Even if the alliance succeeds, it will take time to form the allied forces."

Duan Yu's army is already approaching the border of Xuzhou, and we probably won't have much time to contact the other warlords. In the meantime, how should Xuzhou be defended?

What if Duan Yu attacks Xuzhou first, and the allied forces fail to arrive in time?

"This is the strategy of 'scorched earth' and 'flexible defense' that we are about to mention."

Zhuge Gui said firmly, "First, immediately order all border counties and cities to strengthen their defenses, repair city walls and towers, dig moats, and stockpile defensive materials such as arrows, rolling stones, and fuel oil."

Secondly, they organized the border residents to migrate inland, and transported all the grain, fodder, and livestock outside the city into the city or burned them, leaving no supplies for Duan Yu's army.

At the same time, scouts were dispatched deep into enemy territory to gather intelligence on Duan Yu's army's strength, deployment, and supply routes, ensuring a thorough understanding of both themselves and their enemy.

He walked to the map hanging on the wall of the hall and pointed to several key locations on the border of Xuzhou:

"Pengcheng, Xiapi, and Langya are the gateways to Xuzhou, and heavy troops must be stationed there."

General Cao and General Zang are both brave generals who are the best in the army. General Cao can be stationed in Pengcheng, and General Zang can be stationed in Xiapi. Then, Mr. Yuanda can go to Langya to appease the people, organize the local militia, and assist in the defense of the city.

The three locations form a strategic defensive network, supporting each other. If Duan Yu attacks one of them, the other two can send troops to support him, creating a pincer movement.

Upon hearing this, Cao Bao stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"This humble general is willing to go to Pengcheng! I will defend the city to the death and not allow Duan Yu's army to advance an inch!"

Zang Ba also stood up: "This humble general will garrison Xiapi and ensure that the enemy cannot escape!"

Tao Qian nodded, gesturing for the two to sit down.

Sima Fang added, "In addition to frontal defense, we also need to form an elite cavalry force, led by a capable general under General Zang, to roam the border regions and specifically attack Duan Yu's supply lines."

Duan Yu's army has come from afar, and their supply lines are long. If we cut off their supply lines, the enemy's morale will surely be thrown into chaos.

At the same time, the dense network of waterways around Xuzhou could be utilized to deploy naval forces in the rivers and lakes. This would both prevent Duan Yu's army from launching a waterborne attack and assist the army in transporting supplies and supporting combat operations.

"As for the allied forces' rescue," Sima Fang said firmly.

"Your Excellency can send people to Qingzhou to persuade Kong Rong, and to Yanzhou to contact Liu Dai. Mr. Zizhong comes from the Mi family, is wealthy and has extensive connections, and can go to Yangzhou to persuade Liu Yao."

Then send capable men to Yuzhou to contact powerful local figures, employing multiple approaches simultaneously, and ensure their swift return. With Xuzhou's fortifications, holding out for one or two months shouldn't be a problem; this time will be sufficient for us to contact all parties and form a coalition army.”

Tao Qian was completely convinced by their well-reasoned and logically connected strategies, and a gratified smile appeared on his face.

He rose and walked to Zhuge Gui and Sima Fang, bowing deeply with his hands clasped in greeting:

"You two are indeed worthy of your reputation! Your strategies are profound and your thoughts are thorough. My ancestor has been enlightened! If we can act according to this plan, Xuzhou will surely be able to turn danger into safety!"

Mi Zhu also stood up and echoed, "The strategies of Lord Zhuge and Lord Sima are truly perfect."

Strategic alliances can break the external siege, a scorched-earth policy can strengthen internal defenses, and flexible tactics can dampen the enemy's morale. With two wise advisors, Xuzhou is safe!

Zhao Yu nodded in approval, saying, "What you two have said takes into account both the long term and the present, and includes both strategic planning and concrete implementation methods. It is truly an excellent strategy."

"Your Excellency may immediately issue an order to act according to the strategies of these two wise men."

Tao Qian laughed heartily, raised his wine cup again, and said loudly, "Today, having gained two wise men is like having two wings! I toast you both again, wishing that this strategy of alliance and counter-alliance will succeed, that we may jointly defeat the traitor Duan Yu, protect our Han dynasty, and safeguard the people of Xuzhou!"

Then drink it all in one gulp.

Zhuge Gui and Sima Fang quickly raised their cups in response: "We are willing to follow you, my lord, and serve you with utmost loyalty, even unto death!"

Mi Zhu, Zhao Yu, Cao Bao, Zang Ba, and others also raised their glasses, and the hall was filled with the clinking of glasses once again. The atmosphere was even more lively than before, but this time there was a greater sense of determination and hope.

After several rounds of drinks, Tao Qian immediately gave the order:

"Mr. Yuanda, go to Langya immediately to appease the people, organize local militia, and repair the city defenses;

General Cao and General Zang, lead your troops to Pengcheng and Xiapi early tomorrow morning to reorganize your forces and strengthen your defenses;

Mr. Zizhong, prepare generous gifts and set off for Yangzhou in three days to persuade Liu Yao to join the alliance.

Zhao Yu, rest for the night, and tomorrow each of you prepare to travel to Qingzhou and Yanzhou to contact the various lords.

"Yes, sir!" the crowd responded in unison, their expressions solemn, all feeling the heavy responsibility on their shoulders.

...............

late at night.

Zhuge Gui and Sima Fang were all settled in the mansion prepared by Tao Qian.

The two men, who were clearly already quite drunk at the banquet, were now sitting under the candlelight.

The two figures were reflected in the window.

Besides Zhuge Gui, there was also Sima Yi to protect him.

A man with a scarred face was sitting inside the room.

And the man was sitting in the main seat.

"Did Tao Qian respond to the plan?"

Liu Bei, his face covered in scars, looked at Zhuge Gui and Sima Fang and asked them a question.

The two nodded almost simultaneously.

"We agree," Zhuge Gui replied. "Upon hearing our suggestion, Tao Qian has already dispatched Zhao Yu, Mi Zhu, and others to various regions to contact the feudal lords, and has also transferred Cao Bao, Zang Ba, and others to various places."

"In this way, Tao Qian of Xuzhou will not have many men available. We can then arrange for General Xu and General Ziyi to join the city's defenses. In time, they will be able to control a certain number of troops, and then we can place the people we brought with us into the city."

Liu Bei nodded slowly and bowed to Zhuge Gui and Sima Fang.

"Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen."

Zhuge Gui and Sima Fang returned the greeting simultaneously.

"Don't dare."

"To restore the Han Dynasty, we are determined to dedicate ourselves to the cause until our dying breath."

"It's just that you'll have to put up with some hardship for a while," Sima Fang said.

"It's alright," Liu Bei waved his hand.

This way.

From Luoyang until now, he has endured all kinds of hardship.

As long as I can get revenge, as long as I have the power to do so.

Even if it meant going through fire and water, Liu Bei was willing to do it.

"However, there is one thing," Liu Bei said, looking at Zhuge Gui and Sima Fang, "the one who kills Tao Qian must not be us."

Ok?

Both of them were startled and looked at Liu Bei.

"So, what does the magistrate mean...?"

Liu Bei, with his eyes wide, said, "We need to frame Duan Yu."

"Duan Yu has an intelligence department under him, but I don't know its exact name."

This department operates covertly, with machines spread all over the world.

I was slow to realize it, but I'm sure Duan Yu has spies in Xuzhou too. Now that we're here, Duan Yu will find out soon enough.

Time is running out for us; killing Tao Qian must be done in Duan Yu's name.

"Since Duan Yu intends to attack Xuzhou, it is perfectly reasonable for him to assassinate Tao Qian in secret. Only in this way can we successfully take control of Xuzhou."

Upon hearing Liu Bei's words, both of them nodded in agreement.

"What you say is absolutely right, my lord. If the whole world believes that Duan Yu killed Tao Qian, it would indeed be beneficial for you to control Xuzhou. However, this method..."

Liu Bei waved his hand to interrupt Zhuge Gui, saying, "You don't need to worry about that for now."

"The most important goal now is to gain Tao Qian's trust."

Tao Qian has now sent out all his capable men, leaving him with no one else of use. This is the time for you to shine. As long as you can gain Tao Qian's trust, we can proceed with the next step.

I will remain hidden at Tao Qian's residence for the time being, and then make further plans.

"only."

Upon hearing Liu Bei's words, the two men bowed and obeyed.

Liu Bei, sitting in the main seat, took a deep breath.

This way.

He faked his death in Luoyang, traveled to Jizhou and Liaodong, and has now returned to his starting point in Xuzhou.

But as long as he has a breath left, he will absolutely not let Duan Yu get away with it.