The distance from Yizhou to Jingzhou is really too far.
In this era, there was no reliable means of instant communication. It was not easy for Liu Bei in Yizhou to contact Guan Yu in Jingzhou.
Not to mention that the Northern Expedition is currently underway. Liu Bei has already led his troops out of Baoxie Road in Qishan and is at Wuzhangyuan in Guanzhong.
If Liu Bei wants to directly command Guan Yu in Jingzhou, his fastest communication route should be for the messenger to return to Hanzhong from Baoxie Road, take a boat down the Han River in Hanzhong to Xiangyang, and then go north from Xiangyang to Deng County , sent orders to Guan Yu.
This journey, even if everything goes well, will take at least a month with the fastest horses and warships.
How can a military order withstand such a long delay?
Therefore, during the two Northern Expeditions, Liu Bei directly authorized Guan Yu for military operations in Jingzhou, with Guan Yu as the commander-in-chief and deciding his own offensive strategy.
During the last Northern Expedition, Guan Yu was specially called by Liu Bei to Chengdu to attend a military meeting. It was made clear that Guan Yu's purpose of marching to Nanyang was to coordinate Liu Bei's march to Longyou and capture Yongliang. But this time, Liu Bei only sent Guan Yu An edict only allows Guan Yu to act expediently.
Therefore, after sending troops this time, Guan Yu's strategic purpose was to capture Nanyang.
But the problem is still the same old problem. Jingzhou needs to be fortified everywhere and has insufficient troops. Nanyang is backed by the heart of the Central Plains, with Xudu, Luoyang and other big cities on its side as logistical support. Guan Yu is not sure of conquering Nanyang if he uses all his energy.
If Guan Yu wants to capture Nanyang, he can only choose a quick victory. This is why Guan Yu persistently pursues a duel with Zhang Liao.
But in Xu Shu's view, some things don't need to be so serious, and the strategic purpose is not dead. We can definitely change it.
This Northern Expedition was originally prepared in a hurry, and just like the last time, Jingzhou and Yizhou sent troops to attack Guanzhong. There is no need to fight with the Wei army in Nanyang. Just do the same as the last Northern Expedition, and do a good job of containment. That's it.
Xu Shu and Guan Yu talked so much in circles, just to persuade Guan Yu. If it doesn't work, let's not ask for a quick victory. Maintaining the current situation will be a great help to His Majesty's Northern Expedition army. .
Guan Yu led an army of 50,000 to confront Zhang Liao in Deng County, and Cao Pi had already arrived in Luoyang. Therefore, the Cao army in Wancheng must not be easily mobilized. Even the Cao army in Luoyang and Xudu did not dare to leave without authorization, otherwise Guan Yu would break through. After reaching Wancheng, we can march directly into Luoyang with light troops. The person who should really be angry then will be Cao Pi.
Therefore, even if Guan Yu only stayed in Deng County, he didn't have to do anything. At least the 60,000 to 70,000 Cao troops left behind in the hinterland of the Central Plains would have to be restrained by Guan Yu.
Didn’t you see that until now, there is still no movement from Sima Yi in Xuchang? !
In the last Northern Expedition, Sima Yi personally led his troops to flank Guan Yu's army in Xinye, where they were stationing grain in the Northern Expedition. However, in this Northern Expedition, because of Cao Pi's visit to Luoyang, Sima Yi has remained stationary in Xuchang until now. The reason is not clear at a glance.
With the current changes in the war situation, Xu Shu sincerely wanted to advise Guan Yu, but if it doesn't work, let's just waste it like this. On His Majesty's route, there are many famous advisers and generals, and His Majesty is conducting the expedition himself, so their route should be the main direction of attack.
Guan Yu thought carefully for a while and had to admit that what Xu Shu said was indeed very reasonable but Guan Yu didn't want to hear it.
As a general and the governor of a state, Guan Yu really didn't want to make two Northern Expeditions without making any achievements.
Although the way of judging military honors these days is different from that in the Han Dynasty, more emphasis is placed on "benefit comes from the highest", and it is unlikely that there will be a situation where "Li Guang is difficult to be awarded".
But as a general, he was also the one who took the initiative to attack. The two Northern Expeditions only wasted soldiers, money and food, but failed to capture an inch of territory. It would be too embarrassing to tell anyone.
Although Guan Yu's role is to provide support, if Liu Bei captured Guanzhong and Chang'an, then his contribution to Jingzhou's support would also be considerable. But the world will not see it that way.
A general went on two expeditions without any results, but gained glory after the war. The world would only think that Guan Yu was Liu Bei's sworn brother, so Liu Bei favored him.
Here is a simple example-Xiahou Dun.
Xiahou Dun is actually quite capable, and his role for Cao Cao is not small.
In the early years when Cao Cao started his own business and launched an army, Xiahou Dun and Xun Yu worked together to guard Cao Cao's rear area, which was the greatest guarantee for Cao Cao to go on an expedition with confidence.
When Chen Gong rebelled against Lu Bu, almost all of Yanzhou was lost. Only Xiahou Dun, Xun Yu, and Cheng Yu held on to the three county towns. But it was the persistence of these three people that gave Cao Cao the opportunity to return to the army and make a comeback.
Later, even though Cao Cao's family business grew bigger and bigger, Xiahou Dun was always the first choice to guard the rear. This shows Xiahou Dun's status and ability in Cao Wei's army.
But when this kind of Xiahou Dun came into the mouth of Zhang Yuanchang, how was he arranged? !
General meat ticket? ! He has never won a battle, and has never been promoted. With a conscience, Xiahou Dun sits in the rear, annihilating bandits and quelling rebellions, which is a complete victory. He only lost against Lu Bu and Liu Bei a few times, and the results are memorable. A lifetime.
Guan Yu and Zhang Xi were already familiar with each other. He knew that Zhang Xi was relatively easy-going and had no grudge against Xiahou Dun. It was impossible for a man like him to belittle a general out of personal grudges.
Obviously, Guan Yu subconsciously believed that this was the private evaluation of Xiahou Dun by the literati of this era. Zhang Xi was just influenced by those literati.
Guan Yu has never had a good relationship with literati, and he doesn't look down on the literati of this era. But because of this, Guan Yu really believes in Zhang Xi's evaluation of Xiahou Dun.
Guan Yu would never have thought that Zhang Xi's evaluation of Xiahou Dun was the product of more than a thousand years of evolution, and it was more of a mockery of Xiahou Dun than a real disparagement of Xiahou Dun.
Guan Yu felt that the literati of this era were all rotten, but they still had the right to speak in this era. Guan Yu was really worried. He couldn't defeat Wancheng in two battles, but after the war he was promoted to a nobility. I don't know. How will it be arranged by this group of literati?
After all, although the second master also has many glorious achievements, the second master actually has a lot of dark history and is a shameless scholar, so he just wants to dig up people's dark history to talk about things.
If there is a chance, Erye still hopes to win this Wancheng.
To a certain extent, the second master is also a human being, and he will also have his own little thoughts, and these little thoughts cannot really be put on the table.
Therefore, the second master rejected Xu Shu's suggestion to change the strategic goal, but did not give his own reasons and explanations.
Xu Shu was not too surprised.
After all, this is Guan Yu!
Xu Shu and Guan Yu have worked together for more than ten years. When did Guan Yu's decisions need to be explained to others? !
"In this case, if the general wants to conquer Wancheng, he can only mobilize his troops!" Xu Shu continued to suggest.
As a counselor, everyone has several alternative plans. In addition, Xu Shu also knew Guan Yu's temper, so as soon as Guan Yu rejected his first suggestion, he immediately came up with his second suggestion.
As for the second suggestion, Guan Yu raised his head slightly and looked at Xu Shu, wondering in his heart, is Xu Shu confused? !
Regarding the suggestion to mobilize troops, I had just explained the reason to Xu Shu.
Jiangdong cannot be trusted. Now Sun Quan has stationed tens of thousands of troops in Jianye, and their movements are unknown. Therefore, Wang Ji, Shi Bao and others must not leave Jiangling and Wuling easily. Kou Feng and Meng Da, both of Shangyong, are on guard against Zhang He of You Fufeng. It's all difficult, how can you have extra troops to support yourself? !
I have explained this matter myself, and even if I don't explain it, wouldn't Xu Shu still not be able to see it with his ability? !
Guan Yu gave Xu Shu a questioning look, but Xu Shu smiled, walked to the map in the tent, and said, "General, please take a look!"
Guan Yu also looked at the map, waiting for Xu Shu's next words.
"General, today is different from the past. In the past, Jiangdong was unable to break through Huainan, so he betrayed his trust and attacked Jingzhou. It was not a lack of wisdom, but a lack of strength! Now Jiangdong has occupied Hefei and controls Huainan. Lu Xun, Xu Sheng, and Zhou Yu have also broken through Xuzhou. , besieged Pengcheng, the Wei army was in danger again and again, this battle will determine Qing Xu's chance, Jiangdong will never give up lightly!"
"If so." Guan Yu probably understood Xu Shu's words, but he was still a little uneasy and asked, "If it is true as the military advisor said, then what does Sun Zhongmou want to do when he gathers tens of thousands of troops in Jianye?!"
Xu Shu smiled and continued, "To save Hefei, General, please take a look!"
After saying this, Xu Shu took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Guan Yu.
Guan Yu opened it and saw that it was a letter written by Zhang Wen, one of the four major surnames in Jiangdong, to Fei Yi in Xiangyang. The letter mentioned the news that Sun Quan had recently gathered troops in Jianye to rescue Sun Shao who was holding on in Hefei.
In his early years, when Fei Yi was sent as envoy to Jiangdong, his relationship with Zhang Wen had always been very good. Later, Fei Yi took charge of the sale and distribution of paper in Jiangdong, and his relationship with Zhang Wen improved to a higher level.
Fei Yi's main job now is actually to add sand to Jiangdong, and Zhang Wen is Fei Yi's important development target and penetration channel.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the two of them would communicate with each other whenever they had nothing to do, and sometimes they would accidentally say something in their letters.
However, Guan Yu was a battle-hardened man after all, and he had always been extremely wary of Jiang Dong. Although he read Zhang Wen's letter, he still had some doubts and asked Xu Shu, "Military advisor, is there any circumstantial evidence for this matter? !”
Xu Shu nodded and said, "Jiangdong's careful work will be rewarded. Sun Zhongmou's gathering of troops is not a secret. Many people in Jiangdong know about it, and the number of troops gathered is only more than 20,000. The theory of reinforcements for Hefei is not unbelievable!" "
Guan Yu nodded slightly, put down the letter, and said, "I understand what the military advisor meant. It's just that the people in Jiangdong have never been trustworthy. How could they know that this is not a plan to attack the east and attack the west?! It's called to reinforce Hefei, but it's actually a sneak attack on Jingxiang. It's hard to tell. .”
Xu Shu also nodded in approval, and then said, "What the general said is true. However, if Jiangdong wants to attack Jingxiang, there are only two ways. One is to take the Yangtze River waterway. Now that our army has occupied Jiangxia, Jiangdong's naval forces are all dispatched in Wenzhou. Under Zhongye's surveillance, as long as Wen Zhongye doesn't move, the Jiangdong navy will never be able to bypass Jiangxia and sneak attack Nanjun. The other way is to gather troops in Changsha and sneak attack the four counties of Jingnan. Shi Zhongrong is guarding Wuling and Zhang Gongyi is there. The Public Security Bureau will support Wuling and Lingling counties without any loss. The general will not mobilize troops from Wuling, Public Security Bureau, and Jiangxia. He will only mobilize troops from Nanjun to go north. There should be no hindrance! As for Shangyong's troops, the general can mobilize them without any problem. , Zhang He only has more than 10,000 troops, and the defense of You Fufeng is not enough. He will not dare to lightly attack Shangyong. If he attacks, our army can divide our troops to seize You Fufeng and march out of Chang'an. In this way, even if Zhang He conquers Shangyong, it will be nothing more. It is nothing to worry about because it traps you in the belly of our army."
There are a lot of long articles, but Xu Shu's central idea is to mobilize troops.
(End of chapter)
