Xu Mu, who had comforted Yan Tang and returned to Liancheng, had worries all over his face.
Dongfang Jing, who also received the information, looked remorseful.
"Lord, I didn't expect that Lao Zhongde's plan would be so decisive. You know, if this plan fails, it will push the entire Donglai directly to Xishu."
"It's a bit beyond my expectation. If I had to guess...Old Zhongde may be leaving. Before leaving, does he want to leave one last round of information for the King of Yuzhou?"
"Got to go?"
Dongfang Jing nodded and took out a secret message from his sleeve, "The Night Owl lurking in the inner city happened to send back the information. The miracle doctor Chen Que also secretly said that old Zhongde's days are numbered."
"As expected of the great planner in the world, I even decided on Donglai before I left."
"After his death, there will be another person from the King of Yuzhou who will succeed him as military advisor."
"Ye Xiao has no information, and I can't think of any. But the inner city aristocratic families, and even the Hebei aristocratic families, should have many great talents, and perhaps another great sage who has never been born before."
In the dispute between the North and the South, what kind of great sage can stop Jia Zhou and Dongfang Jing's plans...
"It's a pity that Shen Tu Guan did not defect to Shu. However, I had vague expectations at the beginning. After all, Shen Tu Guan also belongs to a noble family. He cares about his family name, follows the folk way with his lord, and even Chao Yi and Yu Wen. Everyone seems out of place.”
Xu Mu was silent for a moment. Things in Donglai have been settled and cannot be changed.
"Again, there is still a rebellion in Hebei. In the past two or three years, the King of Yuzhou will not be eager to go to war. But I estimate that after these two or three years, the King of Yuzhou's troops may be mobilized during war. As much as half a million."
"Bo Lie, five hundred thousand..."
It was previously said that the number of troops in the north is now only more than 300,000, but in just two or three years, it has actually increased to 600,000.
"The northern land is rich, and the King of Yuzhou has no shortage of food and grass. Furthermore, there is support from aristocratic families. It is not a fantasy to mobilize 600,000 people before the war."
"Bolie, where is I, Xishu?"
Dongfang Jing sighed, "I have been reading the files for the past two days. Two or three years later, including the Shanyue Camp and the South China Sea Alliance, our military strength in Western Shu will be less than 300,000. Moreover, there are still prerequisites The condition is that Lingsu must send 30% of the food and grass."
"I know that the lord in Shuzhou already has two crops a year, but no matter what, the lord's current state is already the king of nine states. In order to appease the people in the two states of Chuling, they can only give low taxes and low taxes. Within two or three years, Naturally, the treasury will not be full. Of course, if in ten or eight years, my lord's rice-growing skills spread all over the south of the Yangtze River, I, Western Shu, will have no food problems."
"Starting next year, the states in the south of the Yangtze River will imitate the rice-growing method of Shuzhou, striving to clear up wasteland one year and plant rice the following year."
"This is a good idea. In this way, we may be able to recruit more troops. But no matter what, my lord must face the facts. Beiyu is powerful, while I, Xishu, are weak."
"I always understood."
"But I want to say that my lord, as a stickman, did not rely on the family, and worked step by step until he is today. In the ancient bamboo books, he is already a first-rate hero in troubled times."
Listen, Xu Mu doesn't have any arrogance. In two or three years, there will be a real crisis in Xishu.
"During the truce, we, Xi Shu, had better not provoke a war. Even if a war begins, we should still focus on the defensive, rely on the natural dangers of Xiangjiang River, and then wait for opportunities to counterattack and defeat the enemy."
"Bo Lie, do you think Chang Laosi will attack Dingzhou first?"
After all, there are four small and barren states of Western Shu in the northwest of the south.
Dongfang Jing thought for a while, "Probably not. If we fight to the northwest, the battle line will be too long, which will be detrimental to the food route. It will also be easy to plunge the war into a quagmire. Moreover, after all the effort to conquer these four states, If it is too barren, the gain outweighs the gain. Furthermore, after these four states, there is the Yuguan Pass, which cannot be opened by ten thousand people, which is very strong. The staff in the inner city will definitely take this into consideration."
"Only by relying on a spirit that can swallow up the world, we can cross the Yangtze River in one fell swoop. As long as we occupy one of the states in the south of the Yangtze River and then station troops and transport food, it will be the best situation."
It must be said that Dongfang Jing's analysis has become perfect. The current situation in Xishu is not optimistic. The military strength is different, and the weapons and armor are not as good as those in the north.
"But lord, there is another opportunity now."
"What Bo Lie means is the Western Region?"
"Exactly. If the Western Region is managed well, perhaps there will be an additional cavalry force of 20,000 to 30,000 people."
Xu Mu exhaled. The basic general trend is right in front of us. He really needs to think about it carefully.
"By the way, Bo Lie, how is Ling Su's situation?"
Dongfang Jing was silent for a while and said, "This man is very smart. He did not deliver all the food and grass he promised to deliver. In the future, he will have to deliver them one after another. I guess he knows what I mean. But considering the future of Xi Shu In preparation for war, this batch of food and grass is actually very important."
After a pause, Dongfang Jing raised his head and looked at Xu Mu.
"Lord, is Ling Su a must-kill?"
"Look at the benefits gained by Xi Shu. The benefits are huge, I will consider the situation."
Dongfang Jing nodded, "The preparations for the war in the past two or three years are the top priority. The people of the Grain King are not welcomed by the northern families, and there is no way they can defect to Beiyu... After my lord's words, it's better for you and me to think of some ways. , squeeze out some more grain from the Grain King."
Xu Mu looked at Dongfang Jing strangely. The little strategist back then was becoming more and more sophisticated in his tactics.
"I listen to Bo Lie. All matters concerning Cangzhou are left to Bo Lie."
"My lord, winter is coming. Let's go back to Shu to recuperate for a while. In Cangzhou and Chuling Prefecture, I will definitely control the rivers and mountains for my lord."
The implication is that Dongfang Jing will stay outside again this winter.
Xu Mu didn't know what to say, but after months of fierce fighting outside, he really needed to return to Chengdu and re-strategize the direction of Western Shu with Jia Zhou. In addition, there are matters related to the Western Regions, which should be considered carefully after the beginning of spring.
In the past two or three years, if Xi Shu cannot strengthen itself, it will inevitably be annexed.
People like Dongfang Jing and Yu Wenma Yi can only guard outside for the time being.
"In the general hall in Chengdu, after next year, the lord can boldly use a group of young generals. After two or three years of training, it is time to go to the battlefield during the war between the north and the south."
In the past few years, Jiangguantang has been focusing on cultivating talents, focusing on loyalty according to Xu Mu's considerations. People like Xiaoyao Xiaofu must be trained as future generals.
This attack on Dongling was a tragic victory. People like the Dou family brothers all died tragically in the battle. There is a shortage of generals, so promotion is needed in this area.
"My lord has returned to Chengdu, could you please say hello to my brother and sister-in-law for me." Dongfang Jing calmly bowed his hands.
"Of course, Bo Lie and I have been brothers for a long time."
"Staying in Cangzhou, I will find a way to build the most perfect river defense line for my lord and Western Shu."
"With Bo Lie here, everything will be safe."
Xu Mu stood up, pushed Dongfang Jing's wooden cart, and the two of them walked outside the house. The last dusk of late autumn spreads over the entire Jiangnan.
…
