The rapid circulation of Dajing's banknotes in the Chu State caused the rapid loss of gold and silver within the Chu State, but what they got in exchange for the special paper was the special paper. Due to the rapid loss of gold and silver, the prices within the Chu State rose rapidly, coupled with the malicious price gouging by the Jing State. Prices, especially in terms of grain and grass, have been raised several times in Jingguo, and the domestic situation in Chu State is extremely serious.
The land area of Chu State is small, and it is mostly hilly. There is also the land of Baiyue, and there are countless unruly people. At this time of internal and external troubles, the Baiyue people took advantage of the situation and came in, burning, killing, and looting, causing harm to all parties. .
Liu Bei was forced to send troops to attack Baiyue, and his original plan to attack Jingzhou was postponed. He ordered Zhao Yun to be the general and led 20,000 horses south to prepare for the complete surrender of Baiyue's rebellion. He also decided to take the Jingguo-like approach. The measures to treat foreigners preferentially allowed Baiyue to surrender.
The Baiyue people are good at fighting in the mountains and have tough folk customs. If they can be surrendered and incorporated by Liu Bei, the strength of the Chu army will be greatly increased. Jingzhou is also mostly mountainous. If you use Baiyue troops to capture Jingzhou, you will get twice the result with half the effort. Therefore, Liu Bei sent Zhao Yun as a general and Xi Zhicai as a military advisor to fight deep in the Baiyue land.
At the same time, Liu Bei also stepped up preparations for war. After the Baiyue people surrendered, he led his army into Jingzhou in two groups.
As a Confucian general with a high status as a minister, Zhao Yun knew that to conquer Baiyue, he could not rely solely on strong military suppression. The most important thing was to win over the people of Baiyue. So after he entered the land of Baiyue, he did not violate the people and enforced strict military laws. , wherever he goes, not only must he not persecute the people, but he must also help the people, thereby achieving tactical victory.
Literature is one thing, but martial arts is also indispensable.
Zhao Yun challenged the warriors of Baiyue with his peerless appearance and became an undefeated myth in the hearts of the people of Baiyue. He was honored as the General of Heaven. He completely returned to the Chu Kingdom and relieved Liu Bei from the harm of Baiyue in the rear.
In preparation for the Battle of Jingzhou, Liu Bei selected 8,000 warriors from hundreds of Yue, known as the 8,000 Yue Army. Under the leadership of Zhao Yun, plus 10,000 elite Chu troops, a total of 18,000 people were prepared to advance. Jingzhou.
Liu Bei knew that Jingzhou was already on guard against them, and there were many spies from the Jing State within the Chu State. If the Chu State mobilized large-scale troops and horses, they would never escape Zhang Xiu's eyes. If they wanted to attack Jingzhou by surprise, they must adopt a foolproof strategy. Liu Bei had a premonition that this might be Chu's last chance to capture Jingzhou.
Therefore, Liu Bei must be foolproof.
"Jingguo's spies are all-pervasive. Zhang Xiu must have mastered our plan to attack Jingzhou a long time ago." Chen Gong was old, with white beard and hair, but his eyes shone with a cunning light. "There are three people like Jia Xu, Li Ru and Liu Ye." This old guy is here, and they may have anticipated our plan to build a plank road in secret to infiltrate Chencang."
Liu Bei nodded: "We must think of another strategy to ensure a surprise victory."
Chen Gong said: "Actually, they know our plan, so it may not be a bad thing. They can use it, and we can also use it."
Liu Bei's eyes flashed with light: "If you have any clever ideas in the palace, tell me quickly."
Chen Gong twisted his beard and said: "Your Majesty, since they know that our plan is to build a plank road to reach Chencang secretly, and prepare to attack Jingzhou, but the border of Jingzhou is so long, even if they have the power to reach the sky, they cannot predict our army's route of action."
"We can come up with a two-story plank road to cover up Chen Cang. This plan requires the emperor to personally lead a heavy attack on Jiangxia, attract all the attention of the Jing army, and order General Zhao Yun to lead 8,000 Vietnamese soldiers and 10,000 elite troops southward. A surprise attack on Cangwu, Cangwu is a mountainous area, and our army is good at fighting. Even if the Jing army has muskets and artillery, it is no match for our army. Once we capture Cangwu and go north, we will definitely be able to take back Jingzhou with the cooperation of the two groups."
It has to be said that Chen Gong was brave enough to let the emperor serve as bait to attract Jingguo's heavy troops to besiege and let Zhao Yun launch a surprise attack.
As soon as this plan came out, it was immediately opposed by Chen Deng and other ministers. How dare you put the emperor in danger?
In an instant, the ministers immediately began to consult Chen Gong, feeling that his intentions were sinister and that he wanted to murder the emperor and Da Chu.
Chen Deng, Jian Yong and others were Liu Bei's confidants. When they heard the plan that put Liu Bei in danger, it was understandable that they would retort fiercely. Of course, Chen Gong was also absolutely loyal to Liu Bei, but they were on different sides. Chen Deng and others put Liu Bei's life first, while Chen Gong put the safety of Chu State first.
Obviously, Chen Gong understands Liu Bei's thoughts best and understands them most thoroughly. Today, Liu Bei's time is short and he no longer values his own life so seriously. What Liu Bei values now is the foundation of Chu State and Chu State's foundation. In the future and the future of Liu Chan, he will strengthen the Chu State in his lifetime so that Liu Chan can go on smoothly.
This is why Chen Gong dared to reveal this plan.
After listening to the fierce resistance of Chen Deng and others, Liu Bei was very relieved. After all, it was for his own safety, and he was loyal to himself and to Dachu. A happy smile appeared on his face: "Yuanlong, you don't have to blame Gong. "Tai, what Gong Tai said is an old man's advice to seek the country. It is the country of Chu, so why don't I put myself in danger."
Chen Deng was anxious: "Your Majesty, you are the heaven of Dachu! If something unexpected happens to you, the sky of Dachu will collapse..."
"The sky won't fall!"
Liu Bei resolutely said: "The sky of Chu State will not fall. Even if I die, the prince is still alive, and all the ministers are still alive. As long as you loyally assist the prince, the sky of Chu State will not fall. Zhang Xiu, the rebellious ministers and traitors, I have been stealing from the Han Dynasty for four hundred years, and I am really just a traitor. As a clan member of the Han Dynasty, and a remnant of the Liu Han lineage, how can I let Zhang Xiu succeed?"
All the ministers immediately knelt down and worshiped.
Liu Bei stood up and paced on the high platform of the dragon chair. His face became more determined as he walked. He was quickly calculating the gains and losses of this battle in his mind. If he succeeded, he would share the world equally with Dajing. If he failed, Chu would be in danger of subjugation. This This step is of vital importance to the current state of Chu and is life-threatening.
This determination is not something ordinary people can make.
Obviously, Liu Bei is not an ordinary person.
At a certain moment, his steps suddenly stopped, and he looked outside the hall like lightning. The sky was clear and cloudless, as if it was foreshadowing the future of the great Chu. At this moment, Liu Bei firmly stood down. Determined, he leisurely returned to the dragon throne and sat down. He glanced at the ministers below and issued an order:
"Jingguo is aggressive and I have no choice but to raise troops to fight. This battle is related to the survival of our great Chu. All ministers must work together to fight against the national calamity. My second brother said that even if the body dies, the name can be left on bamboo and silk. , for the sake of our great country and country of Chu, for the continued glory of Chu and Han, kill the thieves of Jing and restore Chu and Han!"
The ministers shouted: "Kill the Jing thieves! Restore Chu and Han!"
