Chapter 217 Grand Strategy and Guo Tus Divine Assist
If you want to chop down a towering tree, one ax and two axes are definitely not enough.
You need to use a saw, chop with an ax, dig with a hoe, cut off all its branches and leaves, grind off its trunk, and finally dig out its roots to achieve the final victory.
The Yuan family is a towering tree. Wang Fen has governed Jizhou for many years. Yuan Shao came to power in the name of party members and the Yuan family, and his influence has been deeply rooted in Jizhou.
Even though Guo Tu was a good mole who provided assists to the enemy, in his heart, he was always supported by Yuan Shao.
In history, even if Yuan Shao's big tree fell down and Cao Cao cut off its branches, leaves and trunk, leaving only a bare tree stump standing there, Guo Tu was still willing to die for the Yuan family and did not surrender to Cao Cao.
Moreover, except for Xu You and Xin Pi, none of Yuan Shao's eight great counselors rebelled and surrendered to the enemy. Some of them, such as Ju Shuo Shen Pei, died generously and were praised by future generations.
It can be seen that in the eyes of the scholar-bureaucrats, the Yuan family is still popular. Even if Cao Cao raises the banner of the Han Dynasty, it is not as elegant as the Yuan family.
Therefore, if you want to completely eliminate a building like Yuan Shao, if you want to imitate Cao Cao and rely solely on luck to win, waiting for a destined person Xu You's family to break the law and be forced to come here by Yuan Shao, it is no more than a dream.
The reason why Xu You was able to join Cao Cao was that his relationship with Cao Cao and Yuan Shao was both weak and if he couldn't stay here, he would go to another one.
And Liu Bei has no relationship with Xu You, so how can Xu You ensure that he can be reused after surrendering to the enemy?
Therefore, at this point, Chen Mu had never had any illusions.
Since we can't place our hope on Xu You surrendering to the enemy and reenacting the Battle of Guandu, it is natural to fight Yuan Shao to the death from the perspective of strength with gongs and drums in front of him.
After years of hard work, the total military strength of Qingzhou and Luoyang reached 220,000. Their weapons and equipment overwhelmed Jizhou, and their soldiers were far more elite than Yuan's army. Even when Yuan Shao was at his most powerful, the total military strength was between 250,000 and 600,000.
At that time, I'm afraid it was already far inferior.
What's more, Yuan Shao's strength has been weakened a lot after several battles. In several battles in Luoyang, Jizhou's more than 10,000 cavalry were wiped out. The elite soldiers were either killed or captured, and the losses reached as much as 70,000 to 80,000.
Although Luoyang and Qingzhou also lost a lot of troops due to several battles, through years of hard work, the two have slowly caught up with Jizhou. In addition, the Black Mountain Army came to surrender, many of which started fighting during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
With a little training, the soldiers can become elites, effectively supplementing Luoyang and Qingzhou.
After Chen Mu used tricks to squeeze Gongsun Zan out of the Jizhou dispute, he no longer had to worry about dividing the cake in the future, and now he finally began to fight to the death. All the conditions have been met, and the only thing left is to see how to deal with the overburdened camel of the Yuan family.
Here comes the last straw.
On the second day, after finishing the matters in Xiabao, Chen Mu also headed back to Jieqiao. Xiabao is very close to Jieqiao, about twenty kilometers away. It is about the same distance from Wuchao to Chibi.
There are countless of them, and it is a very ideal place to store food.
In addition to transporting grain to the front boundary bridge this time, the second batch of grain and grass from Xun Yu's side will also be sent over. In order to make room for the new grain, another batch of grain warehouses must be built to the south, because even the southern offensive is a feint.
, but necessary supplies of grain and grass still had to be sent, including Qingyuan, Yuancheng, Guantao, and Wei County. The supply line suddenly stretched by more than 100 kilometers.
The only good news is that in the battle in Hebei, even if the supply line is one or two hundred kilometers, it will not be so fragile. What is really tragic is like when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty fought against the Xiongnu, thousands of kilometers of supply lines cost people's lives and mobilized five or six hundred thousand civilians.
He almost emptied the national treasury to win this war, and was labeled as militaristic by later generations.
Therefore, a large-scale decisive battle is really a competition between the national strength and heritage of both sides.
After returning to Jieqiao, Liu Bei met with Chen Mu for a meeting. Zhuge Liang, Huang Qi and others served as assistant officials accompanying the army. Currently, they include Sima Yi, Chen Qun, Yang Xiu, and Zhuge Liang. Although they are talented, they are still young.
, cannot take on big responsibilities immediately, and mainly do work such as writing documents, mainly to gain experience and accumulate experience.
At this time, Tian Feng and Zhang Fei were cleaning up the mess in Linxi, Xun You went south to follow Zang Ba to Wei County, and Ju Shuo stayed in Qian County to serve as a transshipment of grain and grass. The current supply line of grain and grass in Qingzhou is not as good as the world believed.
Long, but definitely not short.
Because there are three main grain-producing areas in Qingzhou, one is the Lubei Plain, one is the Luxi Plain, and the other is the Jiao Lai Plain.
Among them, most of the land in the Western Lu Plain and the Northern Lu Plain belongs to the four counties of the current Pingyuan Kingdom, Jinan Kingdom, Qi Kingdom and Le'an Kingdom. A small part belongs to the current Yanzhou East County and Jizhou Bohai and Qinghe. Because it is located between the Yellow River and
On both sides of the lower reaches of the Jishui River, a large number of plain areas were created, with fertile soil and large cultivated areas, becoming two major grain-producing areas.
The principle of Jiao Laiping is in the hinterland of Qingzhou, the Beihai Kingdom of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and Weifang, Jiaoxian, Laiyang and other places in Shandong in later generations. In addition, now it has acquired the Xuzhou Donghai Kingdom and owned part of the Northern Jiangsu Plain. Therefore, Qingzhou now mainly produces
There are four grain areas with a lot of cultivated land, more than enough to feed a population of tens of millions.
But the problem is that half of the area before the Lubei Plain and the Luxi Plain is at war. Yuan Shao's troops marched north of the Yellow River and occupied part of the Lubei Plain. As a result, a large number of people dragged their families across the river to flee, and the fields were uncultivated and could no longer be cultivated.
Produce food.
As a result, Qingzhou's grain and grass sources in the past two years mainly came from the Jiao Lai Plain and the North Jiangsu Plain. The grain and grass had to be transported from Xuzhou and Beihai to Linzi, and then transferred to the front line from Linzi.
The farthest one is more than a thousand kilometers away, which is no different from Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty's war against the Xiongnu.
However, Chen Mu invented a layer-by-layer promotion method, allowing counties to withhold taxes and take back all the grain and grass collected every year to the county government. This was not directly sent to Linzi by each county, but was pushed between counties.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! For example, taxes from Donghai counties are transported to Langya counties in the north through official roads between counties, and taxes from Langya counties are then transferred to
Beihai, and finally from Beihai to Linzi, proceeding step by step. Each county will only have a single line of communication with another county. Each county will share the cost, which can reduce a lot of unnecessary losses.
After grain and grass from all over the country have been transported to Linzi, they will then set off from Linzi to Jinan, then to the plains, and then to the front line. Although the supply line is long, fortunately, most of the areas are our own territory, and we can help with the help of various county and state officials.
, not as miserable as Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.
The current situation is that because the supply line is too long, there will be great pressure on frontal grain and grass. Grain can indeed be stored for a long time, and Qingzhou has a lot of grain. However, it needs to be properly stored. If it is contaminated with a little moisture, it can easily cause large-scale mold.
Therefore, in terms of strategy, the Qingzhou Army did not intend to actually take action against Weiqiao. The supply line of more than a thousand kilometers from Linzi would be really terrible, and the logistical pressure would be too great.
Chen Mu and Liu Bei were sitting together. Below them were Dian Wei, Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Qian Zhao, Xu He, Sima Ju and other generals.
Xu Chu stood behind Liu Bei. He had many military exploits in the recent conflicts with the Jizhou Army, so he was promoted quickly. Before, he was just the commander of the personal guard, equivalent to a captain, but now he is the commander of the guard army, and he is already considered a captain.
At the level of army commander, it is only a matter of time before he is promoted to general.
"Fourth brother, look."
Liu Bei pointed to the map near the boundary bridge and said: "The Military Intelligence Department sent a message back. This is Yuan Shao's granary reserve near Guangzong. There are about 10 million stones of grain and grass placed here."
Chen Mu looked in the direction pointed by Liu Bei. It was Changle Township, about twenty miles away from Guangzong City. This place would be Wei County in later generations. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was located at the junction of Guangzong and Jingxian County. To the south was Quzhou.
It is forty miles away from Quzhou and Jingxian, but only more than twenty miles away from Guangzong.
Guangzong City has now been built into an important town. However, the size of the city in the Han Dynasty was not large, and it was similar to a small town in later generations. Not to mention tens of millions of stones of food and grass inside, even tens of thousands of troops would feel extremely crowded.
Therefore, Yuan Shao did not put the grain and grass in Guangzong City at all, but in Changle Township. Zhou Tao, the internal commander of the Military Intelligence Department, successfully became the Canglin Lingcheng with the help of Xun He and Liu Hui.
The official of Canglin Lingcheng is not a big one, equivalent to the chief of the granary, but he can know a lot of information, such as the specific location where the grain and grass are stored, the amount of grain and grass, the number of troops stationed around, who the garrison is, etc., these are all
Important intelligence, if such crucial information is sent to Liu Bei's desk, at least half of the war is won.
"This is great news."
Chen Mu suddenly laughed, pointed at the map and said: "Brother, I have an idea. If it succeeds, I'm afraid it won't be long before we can completely defeat Yuan Shao."
"oh?"
Liu Bei asked hurriedly: "Fourth brother, please tell me."
Chen Mu muttered: "Our false news has been released. Whether the trick of seducing the east and attacking the west will succeed depends on whether Zang Ba, Huang Zhong, and Tai Shi Ci act realistically. Once Yuan Shao is fooled, he will definitely send some of his troops south.
Then they will raid our Jieqiao camp, and they should also go south to attack our granaries in Dongzhao Xiabao Jianzhong and other places. While we are guarding the camp, we can make a surprise attack on Changle."
Liu Bei nodded and said: "I was thinking about how to use this information before, and I was still considering whether to send troops now. According to the fourth brother's idea, indeed, when Yuan Shao attacks us in a big way, it is also the best time to surprise Changle.
"
"You're going to hit yours, and I'm going to hit mine."
Chen Mu laughed.
Everyone's strategic purpose is different. Your strategic purpose is to eliminate us while still retaining our food and grass.
My strategic purpose is to defend against your attack and provide you with food and fodder.
The difference is that our strategic point is fake. The Jieqiao Camp has been created to have an empty force. The grain and grass in Dongzhao Xiabao Jianzhong and other places have long been transported away, so from the beginning,
Your strategic goal is a mistake.
And we have internal contacts who have direct access to your granary and can send back correct information. If Yuan Shao does not fail with such a precise attack, then Chen Mu and Liu Bei will be too incompetent.
"Then what exactly should we do?"
Liu Bei asked again.
Chen Mu lay down on the table with him, pointed at the map, and began to make a detailed plan.
Zhuge Liang and others over there immediately listened attentively. This was a crucial opportunity to accumulate experience. Studying in an academy for a lifetime may not be as good as practicing on the battlefield in person.
Every intern graduate student is not willing to miss an opportunity to be personally demonstrated by a top professor, because often, once you learn, you may benefit for life.
"You hit yours, I'll hit mine."
Zhuge Liang murmured to himself: "Shi Jun once said that tactics serve strategy. Our strategic goal is to defeat Yuan Shao. The key to defeating Yuan Shao is either to fight on the battlefield or to destroy his food and grass. It seems that
Master has found a way to defeat him."
.......
.......
When it got dark, Guo Tu finally found a Jizhou army patrolling the west bank of Qinghe River.
He arrived near Qinghe River yesterday evening, but it was not easy to find the ferry. Moreover, he had not had much rest since the attack on Linxi the night before yesterday. After a day of hiking, he finally couldn't hold on anymore and found a farmer's house to sleep.
Stayed overnight and set out the next day.
When he arrived at the ferry the next day, Guo Tu learned that the ferry had been suspended due to the war. Guo Tu was so worried that he searched everywhere and spent a lot of money to find a boatman and fisherman who was willing to take the risk to take him across the river.
When we finally crossed the river, it was already the afternoon of the third day after the surprise attack on Linxi. We walked north along the shore and walked for more than ten miles before finally approaching Yuan Shao's camp.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! It is almost two days' journey, but compared to walking from the north, it is already faster. If he chooses to go back to Guangchuan, it will take at least four or five days.
Yuan Shao was shocked when he learned that Guo Tu was not dead. He became furious and immediately asked people to bring Guo Tu.
Guo Tu was brought to the camp. Coach Yuan Shao's tent was very large. When he came in, he saw Yuan Shao kneeling cross-legged on the main seat. The other judges, Liu Hui, Xu You, Xun Chen and others were also there. Yuan Shao was Tie Qing.
With a sullen face, she was glaring at him angrily.
"Ming Gong!"
Guo Tu quickly stepped forward and saluted.
"Snapped!"
Yuan Shao slammed the table and shouted angrily: "Do you still have the nerve to come back?"
Xu You looked gloating.
Liu He and Shen Pei looked calm and noncommittal.
Xun Chen's eyes were slightly worried. They were both from Yingchuan and belonged to the Yingchuan faction. The Guo Tu family and the Xun Chen family were also famous families in Yingchuan and had a marriage relationship.
Therefore, if Guo Tu was convicted and killed by the furious Yuan Shao, the Yingchuan faction would have one less capable general.
However, Guo Tu asked unhurriedly: "Ming Gong, what's wrong?"
Yuan Shao said angrily: "You still dare to ask what's wrong? I handed over all the cavalry in Jizhou to you, but you came back defeated. How can you have the face to see me?"
Guo Tu, however, shouted at Qu, "Ming Gong was wronged. This battle was not Tu's fault. The Qingzhou Army had hidden tens of thousands of cavalry. We had just burned down the Linxi Granary Camp. Their cavalry happened to come to supervise the transportation of grain and grass. The result was just right." How can we blame Tu? If we had sent troops a day earlier, this situation would not have happened?"
Xu You suddenly felt something bad and immediately glared at him and said: "Guo Tu, what do you mean by this? I have said before that Linxi might be a trap, but you didn't listen. I even doubted that Linxi had no food at all. .Now that the cavalry has been wiped out, you are blaming me?"
Guo Tu immediately said: "Linxi is full of grain and grass, how come there is no grain? Those Qingzhou cavalry were sent by Liu Bei to supervise the transportation of grain and grass. We burned them all. It was just bad luck that we happened to meet their cavalry. If it had been one day earlier, what would have happened? This kind of thing may happen, Ming Gong, every picture is true, didn't Ming Gong see the fire that shot up into the sky?"
The news that Linxi Granary is a trap must not be told. Now Zhao Rui, Jiang Qi and the others have been wiped out, and there is no evidence to prove it.
As long as the bite operation is successful and it's just bad luck, there is still room for maneuver.
"this......."
Yuan Shao hesitated for a moment. The thick smoke from the Linxi granary fire could be seen more than ten miles away. The Jizhou spies had already reported it. It was only after waiting for two days that the cavalry had not returned and heard that they had been annihilated by Zhang Fei, so he thought The operation failed. Looking at Guo Tu's meaning now, it seems that the operation did not fail, but he just happened to encounter the Qingzhou Cavalry. It seems that he cannot be blamed.
At this time, Xu You immediately said: "Since you said that the operation was successful and burned all the Qingzhou Army's food and grass, why haven't they retreated yet? We have been in a stalemate with them for nearly a month. Their food and grass should have bottomed out long ago. The Western Granary was burned down, and they have no food on the front line. Aren’t the soldiers still mutinied?”
"Um?"
Xu You's words made sense, and Yuan Shao immediately looked at Guo Tu.
Unexpectedly, Guo Tu took the time to tidy up his clothes, raised his hands and said, "Ming Gong, this is what Tu will say next. This matter is of great importance, and only Ming Gong can know it."
Now the east of Jieqiao is an empty shell. If you can persuade Ming Gong to send troops and capture Liu Bei in one fell swoop, then you will be the biggest contributor to Jizhou!
All we need to do is defeat Liu Bei, then assist Duke Ming to accomplish great things, and be granted the title of Marquis and Prime Minister, I'm afraid it's not far away!
Guo Tu laughed in his heart!
Deep gaze.
It seems that he has already seen that in the future, he will be the leader of all officials in the palace.
Xu You and other political opponents have long been prisoners.