When Zhao Chen walked into the county government office, Liu Bei, Sun Qian, Jian Yong, and Zhang Fei were already sitting in the meeting hall, waiting for him.
Zhao Chen was a little embarrassed. He lived the closest, but he was the last to arrive.
Liu Bei said, "It's none of the military advisor's business. I asked them to gather first and then call you last, so that you wouldn't wait in vain."
Zhao Chen was slightly surprised. Liu Bei was probably the only one who valued his subordinates to this extent.
Generally, leaders ask their subordinates to arrive first before the leader arrives. However, with Liu Bei, the leader arrives first and then waits for his subordinates.
Zhao Chen was a little surprised that he was given such preferential treatment especially for himself.
Zhao Chen did not beat around the bush and asked: "My lord, I don't know if there is any urgent military situation."
Liu Bei handed the letter in his hand to Zhao Chen.
Zhao Chen glanced at it, feeling a little embarrassed.
He learned all kinds of knowledge in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, but he didn't learn enough about this character. He knew most of the characters, but reading letters and books still had some influence.
It seems that the top priority is to learn writing well, but this is relatively easy. After all, Zhao Chen understands the meaning, but the shape of the ancient characters is different from the modern ones, so they need to be matched one by one.
Liu Bei seemed to see Zhao Chen's dilemma, but he couldn't understand how such a resourceful person could still be illiterate?
However, it was not easy to ask on the spot, so Liu Bei smoothed things over for Zhao Chen: "The letter was received by Gongyou. Please explain the situation to Gongyou."
Zhao Chen understood that this was Liu Bei trying to help him, and there was a reason behind his words.
Sun Qian didn't think much about it, and immediately said: "My lord, military advisor, Lu Bu from Xiapi sent a letter asking for help. Cao Cao raised an army of 100,000 and advanced towards Xiapi, aiming at Xuzhou. The front army is already fifty miles away from Xiaopei. I hope my lord can raise troops to help." . Xiaopei’s information has confirmed that Cao Cao raised an army.”
After hearing this, Zhao Chen thought to himself, did it come so quickly? If we follow the historical process, Cao Cao attempted to conquer Xuzhou in the fifth year of Jian'an, that is, four years later. In order to fight Yuan Shao and avoid fighting on two fronts, Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou before the Guanfu War and captured Liu Bei in one fell swoop. How come this happened four years in advance?
Little did Zhao Chen know that since Huaipu defeated Ji Ling with fewer strikes and more strikes, history had quietly changed its trajectory.
Seeing that Zhao Chen had been thinking for a while, Liu Bei asked, "Commander, what do you think of this matter?"
Everyone waited quietly for Zhao Chen's judgment.
Zhao Chen straightened his thoughts and began to analyze the situation.
"Cao Cao was in Yanzhou, with many soldiers and generals. He also used the emperor to command the princes and took the initiative. If he attacks Xuzhou at this time, I am afraid that the front of the army will not be directed at Lu Bu."
Sun Qian didn't understand and asked: "Cao Cao wanted to take Xuzhou, but at this time Xuzhou was occupied by Lu Bu. If Cao Cao didn't point his sword at Lu Bu, who would he be?"
Judging from everyone's expressions, they probably don't understand.
Zhao Chen explained: "My lord, now Xuzhou is not owned by Lu Bu alone. Yunchang and his uncle have already divided their troops into two groups to recover several other counties. I predict that there will be news within five days. In this way, our army in Xuzhou will It accounts for one-third. What’s more, the lord has won twice with fewer strikes and more in the past few days. The news should have spread to all the princes by now. The princes have subconsciously regarded the lord as a powerful opponent in the future. "
Hearing this, Liu Bei finally understood.
"What does the military advisor mean? Cao Cao is afraid that our army will become bigger and stronger, so he wants to take advantage of Xuzhou's undecided plans to suppress our army?"
Zhao Chen nodded and said: "Of course! Cao Cao came here to point his army at us. Otherwise, with Cao Cao's march, it is less than a hundred miles to Xiaopei, and the cavalry raid only takes one day to arrive. Why is Lu Bu still there now?" When the opportunity comes to ask for help, Cao Cao’s army is still waiting fifty miles outside Xiaopei City?”
"I understand!" Jian Yong responded quickly, "Cao Cao is waiting for Lu Bu's distress letter to be delivered to us so that we can rush out the army."
Zhao Chen gave Jian Yong a thumbs up: "Xianhe is right."
Liu Bei rubbed his temples, feeling a little tired.
"What's the best way to deal with great virtue?"
Zhao Chen suddenly understood why Liu Bei's hair turned gray faster than others. Not everyone can do it. He needs to have a strong consciousness to bear the pressure from all sides and make a calm judgment. Every decision of the lord affects the entire world. The life and death of the army depended on it.
Looking at Liu Bei's slightly tired face, Zhao Chen blamed himself. As a military advisor, he could not fully relieve his lord's worries.
If there were more advisers like Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang around him, Liu Bei and himself would be more relaxed.
"Don't worry, my lord, there are dust..."
Before Zhao Chen finished speaking, Zhang Fei on the side interrupted: "Chen has three strategies... Military advisor, let me tell you for you!"
Everyone laughed, and Zhao Chen was a little helpless and surprised. Fortunately, Zhang Fei made such a fuss, which made the originally tense discussion a little easier.
"Yide, listen carefully to the military advisor."
Zhang Fei nodded.
Zhao Chen answered: "Cao Cao's march into Xuzhou this time is indeed a clever move. The timing is just right. It happens to be when we are trying our best to capture Guangling County. If our army responds in a hurry, we will not have enough military strength to confront Cao Cao head-on. , Secondly, even if we send troops, Cao Cao is waiting for work, and our army has traveled a long distance and has lost three points. If our army does not attack, Lu Bu alone will not be able to resist Cao Cao. Within a month, the northern part of Xuzhou will fall into Cao Cao's hands."
Zhao Chen knew in his heart that at this time, counselors such as Cheng Yu, Xun Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia, etc. had already joined Cao Cao, and generals such as Dian Wei, Xu Zhu, Le Jin, etc. had also joined Cao Cao, and they were very powerful. There is no doubt that this plan to send troops to Xuzhou came from Guo Jia, who was famous for his ghosts.
"Military advisor, no matter what you say, Cao Cao has the advantage. Are we bound to lose this battle?"
"Judging from the current situation, it is indeed detrimental to our army."
Zhang Fei became interested and said, "Brother, give me five thousand troops. I will kill them all the way and chop off Cao Cao's head, lest he mess up my plan again."
Zhao Chen laughed dumbly.
Liu Bei also knew that Zhang Fei was brainless, so he waved his hand to signal Zhang Fei not to mess around.
Zhao Chen patted Zhang Fei on the shoulder: "Yide will sit down first. If I can't solve this situation as a counselor, how can I be a strategist?"
As soon as he said this, Zhang Fei smiled: "Is there anything the military advisor can do?"
"That's natural."
Zhao Chen smiled confidently, not expecting that he would have to fight Guo Jia so soon.
"Lord, I guess this plan must have come from Guo Jia and Guo Fengxiao."
"Guo Jia and Guo Fengxiao? Who is this?"
"This man was originally a counselor of Yuan Shao. Later, he was recommended by Xun Yu and joined Cao Cao's army. He has clever plans and is good at strategy."
Liu Bei thought a little.
Zhao Chen continued: "Although Cao Cao's troops sent troops to Xuzhou, he had the advantage of location and time, but he lacked the people and people. First, there was no edict from the emperor, and anyone with a discerning eye could see that Cao Cao wanted to seize Xuzhou, so the reason for sending troops was unjust; second, , Cao Cao's Yanzhou is now surrounded by enemies from both sides, with Yuan Shao in the north and Yuan Shu in the south. If he draws out his army to attack Xuzhou at this time, Yanzhou in the rear will definitely be empty. Guo Fengxiao was willing to make this plan because he saw through Yuan Shao's indecisiveness and Yuan Shu was short-sighted and did not dare to advance. Unfortunately, this The matter is urgent and should not be slowed down. Xuzhou has been captured with lightning speed. Now Cao Cao has adopted a wait-and-see strategy, which violates his original intention. How can he be undefeated?"
After listening to Zhao Chen's analysis, everyone suddenly became enlightened.
Liu Bei said: "The military advisor hit the nail on the head and hit Cao Cao's vital point. Our army has no worries about this matter. I have a great virtue, just like the great ancestor Zhang Liang!"
"My lord, you have given me a reward."
"There are only two things we need to do at this time to make Cao Cao return to Yanzhou. First, our army ignores Cao Cao and continues our policy of taking Guangling County first, leaving Cao Cao waiting; second, the lord can write a letter and hand it over Yuan Benchu explained the reason, and his adviser Tian Feng would definitely persuade him; thirdly, he wrote back to Lu Bu and asked him to spread rumors that Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao had discussed it and jointly attacked Yanzhou."
"Cao Cao has not seen our army for a few days, and he heard that the rear may be attacked. He will definitely return to rescue, so this strategy will naturally be solved."
Liu Bei clapped his hands and applauded!
"Gongyou, Xianhe, act in accordance with the military advisor's instructions, and immediately write a letter to Lu Bu and Yuan Shao."
The two took the order and left.
Zhang Fei was a little unhappy.
Zhao Chen knew that he must be depressed because there was no battle to fight and there was no place for Zhang Fei to contribute his efforts.
"Yide doesn't need to be like this. After Yun Chang and Uncle Zhi have news, it will be the time when our army goes south to Guangling County. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to go to the battlefield."
When Zhang Fei heard this, he turned angry and smiled, and said cheerfully like a child: "Commander, we have made an agreement. When we go south, I, Lao Zhang, will be the vanguard."
"sure!"
The two of them looked at Zhang Fei going out and smiled at each other.
"My third brother just likes to fight."
"It is a good thing that General Zhang dares to go to the battlefield without fear of danger, but the war is the suffering of the common people. After all, it is not a good way to stabilize people's livelihood. Subjugating the enemy's troops without fighting is the best way. Lord, please retire."
When Liu Bei heard this, he watched Zhao Chen leave in a daze.
He believed that he loved the people like his own son and no one could control him, but he didn't expect that Zhao Chen seemed to be at a higher level than him. In Zhao Chen's eyes, war was a helpless act, and the safety of the people was the first priority.
"Unexpectedly, Houde is not only extremely resourceful, but also has a compassionate heart."
Liu Bei's admiration for Zhao Chen is beyond words.
