Chapter 277: Why are you crying? This general is not dead yet!

"Lord, something is not good." Jin Shang said panic, "Why move the capital to Lujiang to temporarily avoid the military attack?"

"Yes, yes, you can move the capital to Lujiang." Ge Xiang echoed, "Cao Cao, Lu Bu, Sun Jian and others captured Shouchun and then got all the money and food in the city. After the three coalition forces retreated, it would not be too late for the lord to return to Shouchun. In this way, the lord just lost some money and food."

"Your Majesty!" General Zhang Xun hurriedly came out and said, "Don't move the capital."

"If the capital is not moved, how can we resist the invasion of the three enemy troops?"

Yuan Shu was unwilling to move the capital. After all, the construction of the Royal Imperial Garden in Shouchun had just started. Wouldn't it be that all the previous efforts were wasted? But if the capital was not moved, Yuan Shu was worried that he would be trapped by Cao Cao, Lu Bu and Sun Jian to death in Shouchun City, and even if he wanted to escape, he would not be able to escape.

Zhang Xun said: "Although Sun Jian rebelled, it is not enough to shake the foundation of our army! There are still 100,000 elite soldiers in Shouchun City. The money and grain accumulated in the granaries of Huainan and Lujiang counties are enough to provide the 100,000 army with two years of war! Even if we do not get the support of the four counties of Jiangdong and Nanyang counties, it is enough to repel the enemies attacked by Cao Cao, Lu Bu and Sun Jian from three routes."

"General Zhang Xun said very well!" General Lei Bo agreed, "The three-way coalition forces are not afraid of the situation."

Chen Lan said: "Although Cao Cao had occupied Yan and Yu prefectures, he suffered heavy losses in the battle against horses. Moreover, Yan and Yu prefectures were located in the Central Plains, with long wars, people were poor and lacking in money and food. The army was only 30,000 to 50,000 people, and there were still considerable forces to guard against horse butchers, and at most 20,000 troops could only send 20,000 troops to invade Shouchun."

Lei Bo said: "Lu Bu is even more worth mentioning. The small soldiers in the country of Pei are weak, and it is already the limit to sending five thousand soldiers."

Chen Lan said: "The rebel Sun Jian also suffered heavy losses in the battle against horses. Cheng Pu (the typo was wrong yesterday, and it has been revised), Han Dang, Zhu Huan, Chen Wu, Dong Xi, Ling Cao and other generals all died at the hands of Ma Chao. After returning to Wu County, although they re-recruited 20,000 troops, they were all under-trained recruits like Cao's army, and they were not afraid of it."

Zhang Xun finally said: "In other words, the three rebels of Cao Cao's army, Lu Bu's army, and Sun Jian's army are only 30,000 or 40,000, which is less than half of the army. Moreover, our army is well-trained elite soldiers, while the three enemy troops are inadequately trained new recruits, so you can tell whether you win or lose."

"Zhang Xun, Lei Bo, Chen Lan! How can you know military affairs? Military is a clever way. Even if Cheng's army has the advantage of military strength, how can we win easily? If this battle is defeated, Cheng's country's elite loses all its elites. Why should Your Majesty unify the world?" Jin Shang said this and said to Yuan Shu, "Your Majesty, I think the most urgent task is to preserve strength. The three rebels attacked in different ways. If they can give up Shouchun, they must retreat without fighting."

Yuan Shu hesitated for a while, but still couldn't bear to leave the royal imperial garden in Shouchun City, so he drew his sword and cut off a corner of the imperial case, looked around the ministers, and shouted loudly: "I swear to live and die with the people of Shouchun, and never give up easily! Anyone who says he can move the capital will be the same as this case!"

Yuan Shu said this and said loudly, "Zhang Xun obeys the order!"

"I'm here."

"Lead 30,000 troops out of Cai, and advance into Runan to meet Cao Cao!"

"I obey the order."

"Thunderbolt."

"I'm here."

"Lead 20,000 troops to station troops in Liyang to face Sun Jian."

"There are my husbands who follow the order."

"Chen Lan."

"I'm here."

"Leading 20,000 troops, occupying Yinling and Dongcheng, and facing Lu Bu!"

"There are my husbands who follow the order."

"Liu Xun."

"I'm here."

"Leading 10,000 troops to serve as the third line of support commander, responsible for receiving the third line of army horses, and no mistakes shall be made."

"There are my husbands who follow the order."

"Gexiang."

"I'm here."

"For the general of light chariots, we can transfer food, fodder and baggage, and squeeze out the three armies at any time."

"I obey the order."

Yuan Shu took a deep breath and looked around the ministers and said, "I hope that all my dear friends can abandon their personal grievances, put state affairs first, work together to retreat to the enemy! When the three armies pass by triumph, I will personally lead the people of Shouchun to welcome them out of the city and welcome the soldiers of the three armies!"

Runan.

Cao Cao personally led an army of 20,000 and was rewarded with the horses just after passing Yingshui. Yuan Shu's general Zhang Xun led 30,000 troops to Ruyin. Cao Cao's face changed drastically when he heard the news. He urgently ordered the army to set up camp on the spot. He also summoned Guo Jia, Xun You, Cheng Yu and other confidant advisers, as well as Guan Yu, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Cao Chun and other generals to discuss countermeasures.

The Central Army’s tent.

A trace of cold stinging color flashed through Cao Cao's narrow eyes, and he looked around and said, "Everyone, give me a detailed return. The army has divided into three groups to fight our army, Lu Bu's army and Sun Jian's army! The head general of Cheng's army to the north is Zhang Xun, the number one general under Yuan Shu. He has 30,000 elite soldiers in Yangzhou, and his strength cannot be underestimated."

Guo Jiaran said: "If Yuan Shu trapped Shouchun with a 100,000 army, there was no way to deal with him. Our army could only plan to siege the city for a long time, but if Yuan Shu did it, it would be a completely different matter! Haha, I didn't expect that Yuan Shu would dare to take the initiative, but in this way, the battle against Yuan could end early."

Xun You smiled and said, "Although Zhang Xun can be regarded as a long-time general on the battlefield, it's a pity that Shang Zheng is not good at making a spoiler, so it's not difficult to defeat him! Lei Bo and Chen Lan are even more mediocre people. Although Lu Bu and Sun Jian's army are at a disadvantage in terms of military strength, they have Chen Gong and Xu Shu's help in tricks, and winning should be no problem."

Cao Cao said happily: "Did Gongda already have a good plan to defeat the enemy?"

Xun You said: "Winter has just passed and the rainy season has not arrived. It is the time when the weather is dry. The mountains, forests and weeds are very likely to catch fire. If a fire attack strategy is applied, it will inevitably be discovered by Liu Xun. If our army goes against the rules and implements flooding plans, Liu Xun will definitely fall into the trap without observing it!"

"The plan of flooding?" Cao Cao's expression moved and he said in a deep voice, "Yingshui?"

Guan Yu suddenly opened his long and narrow eyes of Danfeng and asked in a deep voice: "If you use flooding to defeat the enemy, you will inevitably need to choose favorable terrain. How can you lure the army into a slum?"

"This is not difficult." Cheng Yu continued, "There is a depression outside the Duanhun Valley. The terrain is lower than Yingshui and is close to Yingshui. Just dig a gap to lure Yingshui water to flood the depression! As for luring Cheng's army into the slum, our army can lose ten consecutive battles and lure Cheng's army to the Duanhun Valley."

"Defeat ten consecutive times to lure the enemy?" Guan Yu said disapprovingly, "Mr. Cheng Yu thought too simply? Zhang Xun has followed Yuan Shu since the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Over the past decade, he has been fighting in the east and west, and he has been a long-time general on the battlefield! If our army is defeated once or twice, Zhang Xun may not have doubts, but if he loses ten times, Zhang Xun will definitely be suspicious."

"Haha." Guo Jia smiled and said, "General Guan Yu doesn't know anything. Zhongde said that he would be defeated ten times in a row to lure the enemy, just to make Zhang Xun suspicious. If Zhang Xun did not arouse suspicion, it would be difficult for the army to fall into the trap. But if Zhang Xun aroused suspicion, he would probably fall into the trap."

After saying that, Guo Jia and Xun You looked at each other and smiled, and the two of them showed a look of mutual appreciation at the same time.

Guan Yu was confused and said in confusion: "It is just to make Zhang Xun suspicious? What's the reason?"

Xun You smiled slightly and explained patiently: "General Guan Yu, I'll ask you, if you were Zhang Xun, what would you think when we met our army was defeated ten consecutive times?"

Guan Yu replied without hesitation: "This must be a trick to lure the enemy, and there may be an ambush ahead!"

"Very good!" Xun You nodded happily, pointed to the map and said to Guan Yu, "General, please see, from Ruyin to Pingyu, how many terrain are suitable for burying ambush?"

Guan Yu observed briefly and replied: "Two places, Yanwei Slope and Duanhun Valley, but the terrain of Yanwei Slope is too steep and the army is difficult to spread, which is actually not conducive to setting up an ambush."

Xun You said: "Then there is only one place in the Soul-Breaking Valley."

Cheng Yu continued: "If the general was Zhang Xun, and he had an insight into the intentions of our army, how would he deal with it?"

Guan Yu said: "Put the plan to burn the soul valley by fire, burn the ambush to ashes!"

"That's it." Guo Jia said, "If Zhang Xun wants to burn the Soul Valley, the fire will be very difficult to control once it burns. In the end, it will inevitably trap Cheng Jun. In order to avoid the fire, Zhang Xun could only bring the army to the low-lying area at the entrance of the valley and first clear the artemisia on the depression."

Xun You, Cheng Yu and Guo Jia explained in a few words and then outlined a complete combat plan. Guan Yu was shocked when he heard it and said in a lost voice: "So that's it! This plan is linked together and is connected step by step. It is exquisite. There are plans in the plan, and it is hard to defend against it. No matter how good Zhang Xun can, he will be afraid that he will not escape this disaster."

Hetao, Pingxi General's Mansion.

Ju Su, Jia Xu, Fang Yue and Guan Ning walked into the hall in a row, clasped their fists to Ma Yue and bowed, "See the lord."

"Are you all here?" Ma Yue stood up from the desk and said, "Everyone should take the seat."

After Ma Yue sat down first, Jia Xu and the other four were seated one after another.

Ma Yue turned around and said to Dian Wei who was standing behind him: "Dian Wei, go and bring Gongzi Zheng to the hall."

"I will obey the order."

Dian Wei agreed and took the order. Jia Xu and the other two did not know what medicine was buried in the butcher's gourd, so they did not dare to make a sound. In less than a moment, Dian Wei took Ma Zheng into the hall. Ma Zheng first saluted Ma Yue respectfully and sang: "I'll bow to my father."

"Yes." Ma Yue nodded and said, "Get up."

Ma Zheng got up, bowed a long time to Guan Ning, and said respectfully: "See sir."

Guan Ning stroked his beard and smiled and said, "No gifts are not allowed."

Ma Zheng greeted Ju Shu, Fang Yue and Jia Xu again, and the three of them hurriedly replied. Ma Zheng then walked to Ma Yue's desk and stood upright with his hands on his belly. Seeing Ma Zheng's appearance, Ma Yue couldn't help but a trace of haze flashed through Ma Yue's eyes. He turned around and glanced coldly at Guan Ning, but Guan Ning smiled and looked very proud.

Ma Yue coughed and said, "I specially invited you here today, and I really want to ask for something."

Jia Xu and the other two were anxiously getting up and clasped their fists and said, "Please tell me, lord."

Ma Yue glanced at Ma Zheng and said, "Zheng'er is the eldest son of this general. In the future, he will definitely inherit the foundation of this general. As the lord, he should learn from the strengths of each school rather than being limited to the one family's words. Confucianism is profound and profound, so of course he must learn it. However, Legalism also has its irreplaceable advantages and must also learn it. There are military and martial arts techniques. As the lord, he should also learn it. I wonder what you think?"

Ju Su and Jia Xu looked at each other suddenly, thinking that the lord was looking for a teacher for the young master.

Guan Ning turned black, and Ma Yue's actions inevitably violated the original agreement, and were suspected of weakening the influence of Confucianism under Ma Yue's rule! The reason is very simple. As the future lord, Ma Zheng's personal likes and dislikes will directly determine the influence of the theories under his rule.

If Ma Zheng had only one teacher, Guan Ning, then Confucianism would undoubtedly become the dominant ideology. But if Ma Yue arranged for Ma Zheng at the same time, military strategist and martial arts teachers, then it is hard to say which theory would become the dominant ideology in the future! If Ma Zheng was good at law, legal strategist would become the mainstream; if Ma Zheng was good at military strategist, military strategist would become the mainstream; if Ma Zheng was good at martial arts, then Ma Zheng would become as powerful as a horse butcher after he grew up!

Thinking of this, Guan Ning couldn't hold back any longer and stood up and said, "My lord is such a bad word."

"Oh?" Ma Yue held back his unhappiness and asked in a deep voice, "Why did You'an say this?"

Guan Ning said: "Formulating criminal laws and maintaining laws and regulations, there are prefects and magistrates of each county and county, studying military tactics and giving advice is the responsibility of a strategist. As for being skilled in martial arts and killing enemies, it is the duty of a general. Only Confucianism is the study of governing the world, and the prince must learn it as the lord."

Ma Yueran was silent. Although he wanted to refute Guan Ning, these words should not be said by him.

Seeing that Ma Yue was silent, Guan Ning thought he was convinced, so he continued: "Young Master Zheng is the master of the lord, and his body is in the safety of the people in the territory under his rule. How could he do everything himself? He would rather think that you don't have to go to the Legalists, military craftsmen and martial arts techniques, just need to study Confucianism carefully."

After Guan Ning said that, Ju Su couldn't help but stood up and argued: "You'an said that the lord is the safety of the people in the territory under his rule, and he should not do everything himself. He deeply agrees with it. However, You'an said that only Confucianism is the study of governing the world. The prince must learn it as the lord, but he dare not harshly."

Seeing Ju Su get up to refute, Ma Yue couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. As long as someone argues with Guan Ning, he, the lord, can mediate in the center and finally achieve his goal successfully, while leaving Guan Ning speechless. At this time, Ma Yue particularly missed the unrestrained freedom during the eight hundred bandits.

At that time, although there were only eight hundred soldiers and only three generals, the butcher Ma did whatever he wanted and no one could interfere with his actions. But now, the territory has expanded, and the people and the army under his rule have become complex, but his own room for transformation has become smaller, and sometimes he is even constrained everywhere, which is really miserable.

This is actually the art of controlling the inferior.

Although the horse butcher doesn't like it, he must learn this knowledge.

Seeing Ju Su refuting, Guan Ning fought back: "If you don't know what kind of insights you have, please listen carefully."

Ju Shu said: "In the past, Shang Yang reformed the country with the rule of law, and accumulated the remaining power of the six generations to unify the six kingdoms of Guandong, which eventually created a powerful Qin Empire. This shows that the law can strengthen the country, but how can Confucianism be the only way to govern the world? Although Emperor Wu of the former Han Dynasty abolished all schools of thought and respected Confucianism, in fact, he still followed the rule of the Legalists in governing the country. Is this true after all?"
To be continued...