"There are only two routes for Liu Bei to send troops, one is to go to Xiapi, and the other is to go straight to Shouchun City!"
"If I were Liu Bei, I would use a two-pronged approach to contain the princes and capture Shouchun City at the same time!"
Chen Gong said in a deep voice.
"Then when should I send troops?"
Lu Bu also knew that time was running out and he had to build two lines of defense in a short period of time.
A line of defense was built around Xiapi City to prevent Liu Bei from leading soldiers and horses to sneak attacks.
A line of defense is built around Pengcheng State. Sending troops will inevitably lead to emptiness. Perhaps Cao Cao has different thoughts.
If Zhang Liao and others had not been subdued, Lu Bu would have fallen into a trap of having no available troops, but now there is no need to worry about this problem.
Lu Bu has a total of 20,000 troops and horses under his command. Just leave 10,000 troops and horses to take care of the two lines of defense. Lu Bu personally leads the army to the expedition!
After much deliberation, Lu Bu decided to let Wei Xulai lead the defense line of Xiapi City, and let Gao Shun lead the defense line of Pengcheng State.
As for Zhang Liao, Lu Bu will not use it for the time being. After all, this person has an unstable temperament and has not been completely conquered. Moreover, he is quite dissatisfied and will most likely not act sincerely for Lu Bu.
In this case, there is no need to let Zhang Liao continue to command the troops. When Zhang Liao figures out that he is worthy of trust, Lu Bu will use this fierce general again!
"It should not be too early, nor should it be too late. The main thing in war is to have an opportunity first!"
"Now we should contact Yuan Shu's rebel generals and promise them benefits to attack Shouchun City. When the situation in Jiujiang County is completely chaotic, the monarch will lead his troops and attack in one fell swoop!"
Chen Gong explained all the countermeasures he had thought up on the way.
"Well, this is a good idea. The situation in Jiujiang County is not chaotic enough now. If we send troops at this time, if we fall behind, we will have to wait a little longer."
"Who can contact Yuan Shu's rebellious generals?"
Lu Bu asked.
"Junhou, since I brought up this matter, let me handle it."
Chen Gong didn't shirk and took the job directly.
"Thank you for your trip to the public station."
Lu Bu nodded. There was no other counselor available except Chen Gong.
The rest of the counselors were either incompetent or unwilling to sincerely serve Lu Bu.
So after much deliberation, the most suitable counselor for lobbying was Chen Gong.
As the saying goes, soldiers are valuable and fast, so Chen Gong did not hesitate and set off on the same day, while Lu Bu prepared the civilians, money and food needed for the war. After all, it takes time to start a war machine.
It doesn’t mean that if Lu Bu wants to fight, he can gather his troops and set off immediately the next day!
The preparation time for a war is usually one month or even several months, depending on the dominance of the major princes.
Those with strong dominance and good mobility can quickly gather soldiers, horses and civilians to transport food and grass, and start a war brazenly.
Being able to gain the upper hand on the battlefield in this era depends very much on the organizational ability of the princes. If others have already attacked, but here are still slowly gathering troops, the difference will be clear at a glance.
The slow speed of gathering troops can lead to fatal consequences. The enemy may have penetrated the entire defense line by the time the gathering is completed, leaving the enemy trapped in an isolated city.
Lu Bu's command can only be considered medium in power, neither too strong nor too weak. To mobilize the people, it all depends on Lu Bu's iron-blooded suppression!
Rely on strong personal force to make the civil servants under his command obey unconditionally. If they don't obey, they will die!
…
In Guangling County, Chen Deng found Liu Bei overnight and had a long talk in the house, "Brother Liu, Yuan Shu has been cornered. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"Really?"
Liu Bei was shocked, with confusion on his face.
In his opinion, after all, Yuan Shu was the fourth generation and the third prince, sitting in the land of Huainan, with sufficient money and food, and strong soldiers and horses, how could he be desperate?
Chen Deng explained to Liu Bei one by one the absurd things Yuan Shu had done over the years, and then informed Liu Bei of the latest information.
Liu Bei suddenly realized this and sighed: "This Yuan Gongdao is really asking for his own death. No one can blame him."
"Sir, should we send troops now or when?"
After these days of getting along, Liu Bei knew Chen Deng's great talent and relied heavily on Chen Deng. He asked Chen Deng's opinion on all matters, whether it was internal or external affairs.
This made Chen Deng very satisfied and said with a smile: "Brother Liu, have you ever thought about who wants to compete for Shouchun City the most?"
"A traitorous general under Yuan Shu?"
Liu Bei thought for a while and said.
"Although Yuan Shu's rebel generals have some strength, they cannot unite and are located in various cities to guard against each other. They cannot be interested in Shouchun City!"
"The one who is most interested in fighting for Shouchun City is Xuzhou Lu Bu. This man is very ambitious. He just defeated Zhang Liao not long ago. Now that he has strong troops and horses, he naturally wants to win this battleground for military strategists!"
Chen Deng smiled.
"Lu Bu!"
When it comes to Lu Bu, Liu Bei's heart is ignited with a raging fire, a flame of anger. Although he is a blessing in disguise, having a great talent like Chen Deng join him, it does not prevent Liu Bei from hating Lu Bu at all.
After being beaten to a pulp by Lu Bu several times, Liu Bei was not discouraged at all. He is a representative figure who becomes more courageous with every setback.
What doesn't kill him will eventually make him stronger.
"Brother Liu, do you have any idea to get involved in Xiapi City?"
The smile on Chen Deng's face did not diminish.
"Sir, do you have any good ideas?"
Liu Bei asked like a curious baby.
"When Lu Bu sends out troops, Brother Liu can send a fierce general to take Pi City directly. In addition to Lu Bu, Brother Liu's strong generals must be enough to cope with everything!"
Chen Deng quite recognized Liu Guanzhang's military power. As long as Lu Bu dared to fight in person, Xiapi City would be empty.
No matter who Lu Bu sends to take control of Xiapi City, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei can handle it. This is also the best time to capture Xiapi City.
After all, Xiapi City, with Lu Bu as its commander, was still very difficult to break. Even Cao Cao dispatched an army of 70,000 to 80,000 men, with a cloud of fierce generals, and still fell under Xiapi City. Lu Bu also killed several generals, making him unstoppable.
Presumably Liu Bei would not be able to get any benefits if he led an army to conquer Lu Bu at this time.
"Sir, you are really talented."
Liu Bei was overjoyed, holding Chen Deng's hands and expressing his true feelings.
Being attacked by Lu Bu and capturing the city of Xiapi was a permanent pain for Liu Bei in his life. Now that he finally had the chance to take revenge, Liu Bei was naturally happy.
Liu Bei felt that with a great talent like Chen Deng, the world would be at his fingertips.
"Brother Liu can also contact Yuan Shu and give Yuan Shu a chance to join him."
Chen Deng offered another suggestion.
"Then Yuan Shu will really give up Shouchun City and surrender to me?"
Liu Bei's face was full of doubts. He didn't think he had the strength to take in Yuan Shu now. The dignified Xuzhou Mu only had the power of a county. It would be embarrassing to tell him.
"Yuan Shu is already frightened. He wants to take refuge with Yuan Shao, but the way is completely cut off. As long as Lu Bu leads the army to attack, Yuan Shu, who is desperate, will definitely just want to save his life."
"Surrendering to a benevolent and righteous man like Brother Liu is far safer than surrendering to a tyrant like Lu Bu."
Chen Deng has seen Yuan Shu through and knows that Yuan Shu can't hold on any longer. Now he wants to take refuge with Yuan Shao. When Lu Bu's troops surround Shouchun City, his fear will definitely reach its peak.
At that time, Yuan Shu should give up the so-called dignity after the Fourth Generation and the Three Dukes and seek help from any prince, but definitely not Lu Bu!
Because Lu Bu was notorious and even stabbed his adoptive father, it was difficult for people to believe him. It was impossible for Yuan Shu to put his life in Lu Bu's hands.
However, Liu Bei has not had a bad reputation for so many years, but has only the reputation of benevolence and righteousness. He offered an olive branch to Yuan Shu in desperate situation, and Yuan Shu would not refuse.
