The Later Three Kingdoms: Slaying Deng Ai, and Reviving the Han Dynasty

After thinking for a moment, Liu Chen summoned another eunuch and instructed him, "Go and invite Zhang Sheng."

"Yes," the eunuch replied from outside the door, then turned and left.

"Huang Chong, Zhang Sheng. Two or three people are enough to plot against each other." Liu Chen smiled and continued to sit and wait.

"Your Majesty," the eunuch entered first, without waiting for him to speak. Liu Chen said directly, "Please come in."

"Yes." The eunuch bowed and left.

Outside the door, Huang Chong straightened his clothes, placed his hand on his sword, and entered the room.

"This old minister pays his respects to Your Majesty." Huang Chong glanced at Liu Chen briefly, then looked away and said solemnly.

He secretly praised in his heart: "Truly heroic and martial."

Everyone says Liu Chen is all show and no substance, but first and foremost, he must possess wealth. Otherwise, he's just a typical spoiled brat. Liu Chen is handsome and has the natural bearing of a king, a fact recognized by both the court and the public.

Huang Chong had already concluded that Liu Chen was an ambitious man, but his perception of Liu Chen changed. He felt more and more that Liu Chen was the rightful heir to the throne.

Only then could the Han Dynasty prosper.

"Sit." Liu Chen gestured to the seat on the right, inviting Huang Chong to sit down. He then said, "Please wait a moment, I have already sent someone to invite Lieutenant Zhang. We will discuss military strategy when he arrives."

"Yes." Huang Chong bowed and sat down in his seat.

A short while later, the eunuch entered. Liu Chen immediately invited Zhang Sheng in. After bowing, Zhang Sheng sat down on the left.

Liu Chen introduced, "This is Huang Gongchong, son of General Quan, the General Who Guards the North. He is my tutor." He then pointed to Zhang Sheng and said, "This is Zhang Sheng, my lieutenant's henchman."

"Master Huang".

"General."

Zhang Sheng and Huang Chong both composed themselves and bowed to each other.

Liu Chen nodded and said, "Minister Huang comes from a family with a long tradition of learning, is well-versed in military strategy, and is skilled in planning. Today he will be explaining military tactics to me, so I have invited Minister Zhang to come."

After a pause, he said to the eunuch outside the door, "Prepare tea and pastries."

"Yes." The eunuch bowed and left. A short while later, three eunuchs came in carrying tea and pastries, put them down, bowed, and withdrew.

Liu Chen raised his hand and said to Huang Chong, "I am all ears, please speak."

Zhang Sheng clasped his hands in a respectful greeting to Huang Chong, his expression solemn. Huang Quan and his son were renowned in Sichuan, and he knew his own family's situation well. His grandfather had died young, and even his father hadn't fully mastered military strategy; what had been passed down to him was incomplete. To be able to hear Huang Chong explain military tactics was a truly rare opportunity.

Huang Chong nodded, and after thinking for a moment, said, "There are many military books in the world, the best being Sun Tzu's Art of War, followed by Wu Zixu's Art of War, and then Wei Wuji's Art of War. I believe Your Majesty has read them all, so this old minister will not go into details."

After a pause, he said, "So-called military strategy is nothing more than national strength, supply lines, and troop training. Only by engaging the enemy head-on can we plan to defeat them. It involves selecting the vanguard, appointing generals, using spies, and employing strategists."

"This is called using orthodox methods to engage and unorthodox methods to win."

As he said this, he looked up at Liu Chen and Zhang Sheng, waiting for their reaction.

Liu Chen and Zhang Sheng nodded. Indeed, Liu Chen possessed all the military books Huang Chong mentioned, and if Liu Chen had them, Zhang Sheng certainly did too.

Military strategy can be complex, or it can be simple.

Military affairs are a continuation of politics. That's why Sun Tzu's Art of War first discusses governing the country.

First, the nation's strength must be sufficient to withstand the pressure before any strategy can be employed. The best strategy is to subdue the enemy without fighting; the next best is to disrupt their alliances. Then comes the supply lines. Transporting grain over thousands of miles requires laborers, livestock, and horses to eat along the way, and by the time the grain reaches its destination, less than one-tenth of it will remain.

Therefore, military strategy dictates that the priority should be to seize the enemy's food supplies, followed by ensuring one's own supply lines.

Seeing that they understood, Huang Chong knew they were also well-versed in military strategy. He understood even more clearly Liu Chen's ambition; if Liu Chen wasn't plotting something big, why would he study military strategy?

What military strategy did Zhang Sheng study?

Liu Chen's decision to raise Zhang Sheng was essentially to cultivate henchmen. He had chosen Zhang Sheng as a vanguard general.

Conquering cities and seizing territories, invasion rages like fire. A thousand soldiers are easy to find, but a general is hard to come by. A valiant general is invaluable.

Although it was Huang Chong's first meeting with Zhang Sheng, he realized that Zhang Sheng was Xiong Hu.

Huang Chong then said, "During the Battle of Guandu, Yuan Shao had a strong army and advanced south first. Why did he lose? Cao Cao's forces were weak, so why did he win? The reason lies in Cao Cao's evaluation of Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao was fierce in appearance but cowardly in reality, and he valued his life more than he could accomplish great things."

He paused, then continued, "Although Cao Cao was in a precarious situation, and the Central Plains were flat and open, he was able to organize his troops for defense, and the morale of the people never wavered. This was the foundation of his victory."

"Afterwards, the Battle of Guandu took place. Cao Cao selected Guan Yu and Zhang Liao to attack Yan Liang. Guan Yu killed Yan Liang amidst ten thousand troops. Yan Liang was Yuan Shao's elite general, renowned throughout Hebei. His death shook Hebei. Cao Cao then ordered Xu Huang to defeat Wen Chou and burn the grain supplies being transported by Han Meng. This was a strategic move."

"But Yuan Shao's defeat actually came at the very end. Cao Cao selected 5,000 elite troops to attack the Wuchao camp. This was a desperate gamble. What if Xu You was a spy? What if he was luring the enemy deep into his territory? Even if Xu You wasn't a spy, what happened to Cao Cao's isolated and deep-seated forces? Cao Cao could very well have died in Hebei. But Cao Cao went. Because this was the final moment. It was either win or die. Cao Cao won. But even though the fire at Wuchao burned Yuan Shao's supplies, Yuan Shao didn't lose. Yuan Shao sent generals Zhang He and Gao Lan to attack Cao Cao's camp. If they had captured it, the situation would have been reversed. But Zhang He and Gao Lan, seeing the situation was unfavorable, surrendered and left. Yuan Shao's final mistake was this. He should have personally attacked Cao Cao's camp."

At this point, Huang Chong gave Liu Chen and Zhang Sheng a meaningful look.

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes and nodded slightly. He felt a sudden sense of enlightenment; no matter how many military books one reads, it's not as effective as an expert's analysis of a battle's intent.

Huang Chong explained the Battle of Guandu very clearly.

Cao Cao won through both orthodox and unorthodox methods. With great courage, he made a final, desperate breakthrough and secured the empire. Although Cao Cao has many scandals, he was undeniably a capable leader.

Huang Chong started talking and began to explain the Battle of Red Cliffs, the Battle of Yiling, and the Battle of Hanzhong.

These four major battles were all won by using conventional tactics and unconventional methods, without any surprise.

The Battle of Red Cliffs was won because Sun Quan had elite troops who could withstand Cao Cao's advance, and Zhou Yu used ingenious strategies to achieve victory.

The Battle of Yiling was won because Lu Xun held Yiling, first blocking Liu Bei's attack, and then winning with fire.

The Battle of Hanzhong was also because Liu Bei had the strength to wear down Cao Cao, and then Fa Zheng used a plan to kill Xiahou Yuan.

Some things can be won through human cunning.

Some won't work.

Cao Cao could defeat Yuan Shao, but he couldn't cross the Yangtze River or break through the Qinling Mountains.

As long as Liu Bei and Sun Quan are there, along with Zhou Yu, Lu Su, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong and others to assist them.

With Guan Yu and Zhang Fei as their henchmen, the Three Kingdoms era was destined.

Huang Chong spoke eloquently, from day to night, saying a great deal. Liu Chen and Zhang Sheng listened attentively.

The two also raised questions from time to time, which Huang Chong was able to answer one by one.

Liu Chen knew Huang Chong's talent. Zhang Sheng wasn't so sure. But after hearing Huang Chong's words, he also understood that Huang Chong was a man of great talent.

For some reason, Liu Chen suddenly felt an impulse rise within him and asked, "Since we can win by using orthodox methods and unorthodox methods, why doesn't the Prime Minister use Wei Yan's strategies?"

"The Ziwu Valley plot." Zhang Sheng couldn't help but prick up his ears, and sat up even straighter.

Huang Chong smiled.