Liu Yu's voice became louder and louder, and his speech speed also increased, matching his powerful gestures and resolute expression: "What we need to do now is not to divide our troops everywhere, let alone plunder, but to concentrate our troops. We need to station ourselves at strategic locations and guard the places where the demon thieves have landed. More importantly, we need to appease the people and let them return to their hometowns to protect and comfort them. Only when people's hearts turn to me can we prevent the possibility of the demon thieves returning!"
Gao Su sneered and said, "Liu Yu, it's easy for you to say that. Since you are so capable, you might as well do these things yourself." As soon as he said these words, he suddenly felt that something was wrong, because he saw Liu Yu Yuzheng looked at himself with a smile, as if he was waiting for him to say this.
Gao Su gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "Liu Yu, your current identity is to join the army as a soldier under Marshal Liu. Don't forget that you failed to protect the late emperor and have been relieved of the command of the army and have no power to lead troops. , it’s better to put away these paper talks of yours as soon as possible.”
Liu Yu ignored Gao Su, looked at Liu Laozhi, and said sternly: "Commander, what I just said was from the bottom of my heart. The last time the monsters and thieves made trouble, they succeeded because they came from the sea. The army has no way to defend itself. With thousands of miles of sea territory, we can land anywhere, especially here in Shangyu. Once we break through, it will directly threaten Shanyin, so we must guard against it."
Liu Laozhi nodded: "What you said makes sense. I and General Xie have also discussed this matter. After the demon thieves landed in Shangyu last time, they demolished the city wall, so that Shangyu City is now unsafe to defend. It is unrealistic to station a large army at the seaside, but if the number of troops is too small and there is no strong city to rely on, it will be impossible to defend, and even early warning and delay will not be effective."
Liu Yu shook his head, walked towards the sand table map displayed in the palace, picked up his finger stick, and pointed at an inconspicuous castle on the coastline: "Although Shangyu cannot be defended, it can also be used as a garrison here."
Everyone looked around and saw that this was a small county town fifty miles north of Shangyu City, named Juzhang. Liu Laozhi nodded slightly. As a general who had experienced hundreds of battles, he could tell at a glance. This is an important military location. Although it does not have the same access to the sea as Shangyu, it is still the key point for landing in Kuaiji on the Zhoushan Islands. If the army lands again from the Shangyu area and goes straight to Shanyin, it will become an attack on its rear. The key point with the grain road must not be allowed to be occupied by the enemy.
Gao Su gritted his teeth and said, "Juzhang City is too small. The city wall is less than one foot high, and its circumference is less than three miles. There are only more than 300 households in the city, which is far behind Yu City. It is because it is too small and dilapidated. So when the bandit army retreated into the sea, they didn't bother to destroy it. Liu Yu, if you just want to set up an observation post, you don't need to find a city, just let dozens of people patrol the coastline."
Liu Yu said calmly: "If it is just an early warning, then it is enough to send scouts, but in Juzhang, it is to garrison. Although the city wall is low, as long as you use elite soldiers to guard it, one can be as good as a hundred. Even if there are only one or two thousand soldiers, It is enough to pose a threat to the demon thieves. If our army has a strong force stationed in Shangyu and a capable force in Juzhang, the demon thieves will be discovered once they land on the land. When they attack Juzhang, the army will be dispatched. You can cooperate internally and externally to defeat demons and thieves!"
Liu Laozhi nodded with satisfaction: "Liu Yu, your thoughts this time are exactly the same as mine. General Xie, in my opinion..."
Xie Yan suddenly sneered and said: "General Liu, you and Liu Yu are singing harmoniously here. You are really smart. Previously, Liu Yu deliberately said that your military discipline was corrupt, and then he did it again. If you were an ordinary person, you would really believe it. Only It’s a pity that I have been dealing with you for many years, especially since I know that Liu Yu appears to be loyal and upright, but he is very careful and has deep secrets. Your tricks cannot deceive me!”
Liu Yu frowned and said sternly: "General Xie, I am really serving my duty with a public heart. I have no intention of calculating against you. Besides, this proposal will not cause any loss to you."
Xie Yan's face darkened: "You just want to be on guard against demon thieves, so find a reason to stay in Juzhang. Hmph, it would be fine if you go by yourself. Unfortunately, your last words revealed your true intentions. Why do we need to station strong troops in Shangyu? Isn't it just to find an excuse to let your Beifu army lay a ten thousand-year stake in my Kuaiji and Shangyu area and never leave again?"
Liu Yu gritted his teeth: "The small town of Juzhang, Shangyu is even more dilapidated, and even the civilian households are gone. Now that the Beifu Army is stationed, not only will there be no benefits, but it will bear the greatest risk. General Xie, the proposal of humble position is really It’s out of public interest, and I want to destroy the demon thief, and I have no other intentions at all.”
Xie Yan laughed: "Really? I am so moved that I will cry. If I didn't know what kind of army the famous Beifu Army is, I would really believe what you say. Liu Yu, just now, You also made an impassioned speech, saying how the Beifu Army was burning, killing and looting in Wudi. Now, the Beifu Army under General Liu has become such a proud soldier that people in Wudi have become disgraced and dare not even return home. Now, the people fear and hate you more than the monster thieves. Will the Beifu Army fight this kind of battle that has no benefits, only hard work and risks? Marshal Liu, will you? These subordinates of yours who have no profit and can’t afford to fight early, will you? What?"
Liu Laozhi said solemnly: "General Xie, I want to say it again. My subordinates are officers and soldiers of the imperial court. They are not bandits, let alone bandits who are unprofitable and can't afford to get up early as you said. Let's come to Wudi. In order to suppress the bandits and suppress the rebellion, sometimes the methods were a bit harsh, and it was inevitable that some people who were mixed with the demon thieves would be accidentally injured. Those rumors from outside were mostly distorted and untrue, and I am afraid that many of them were demons. The thieves' spies deliberately did this in order to alienate the people and prevent the people from supporting us. As the commander of the first army, you also have such an attitude towards the Beifu army who came to assist, which is very chilling. "
Xie Yan sneered and said: "When we sent out troops, I told the emperor and the King of Kuaiji that the demon thieves were just a mob. As soon as the imperial army arrived, they would immediately fall apart without the help of others. However, the King of Kuaiji was defeated by those demon thieves. Frightened by the intimidation, the Beifu Army also dispatched. Huh, now it seems that Marshal Liu brought the tiger and wolf troops to my land of Wuyue this time. The demon thieves did not kill many, but the manor of our Wang Xie family will be given to you. After cleaning it all, if you stay here for another half year, I am afraid that the century-old foundation of my Jiangzuo family will not be destroyed by the demon thieves, but it will become a trophy for the officers and soldiers of the Beifu Army."
Liu Laozhi couldn't bear it anymore, so he stood up and walked out without looking back: "People from the Beifu Army, let's go. Leave the eight counties of Jiangzuo to General Wei. Let's go home!"
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