The next day, after the ship incident, Xu Mu asked Lu Xiong to take him with him on several warships to go to the iron ore source offshore.
According to Lu Xiong's previous statement, although the mining of sea mines is difficult, it has already been carried out.
"Afraid of being discovered, I specially arranged for some people to pretend to be pirates and fishermen nearby. Fortunately, no disaster occurred."
"After the mined ore is smelted at the seaport, our logistics camp in Xishu will bring it back to the Chengdu Iron Works through trading."
Lu Xiong sighed.
"It's a pity that the iron miner recently returned to Chengdu to deliver the ore. Otherwise, he would have been extremely happy to meet my lord's old friend."
Among the iron collectors is Zhou Zun.
After arriving at the destination, when Xu Mu looked up, he found that everything was as Lu Xiong said, and the mining matters were proceeding in an orderly manner according to his previous suggestions.
"Although it is close to the sea, there is no cover. Lu Xiong, send two thousand more soldiers to obey orders at any time. If any spies are discovered, they will be killed immediately."
"Lord, if an ordinary sea dweller accidentally enters here..."
Xu Mu thought for a while and said, "After thorough investigation, I will be recruited as a civilian husband in the port first. Like other civilian husbands, I will be given a monthly salary."
"My lord is wise."
"Be careful."
Xu Mu raised his head. At this juncture, there must be no problems in Xishu. Otherwise, the entire plan will probably be scrapped.
…
"Chang Shu... Ziyou, you mean that Xi Shu is very likely to be carrying out a plan secretly?" Liu Chen said seriously in the carriage he was riding with.
When he first became a staff member of Beiyu, he had not yet learned to ride a horse.
At this time, Chang Sheng nodded after listening to Liu Chen's words.
"Indeed, there are various signs that King Xu Shu and the lame man are thinking of some big plan. Otherwise, after winning several battles in a row, King Xu Shu really wanted to fight according to his temper, rather than choose to retreat to Dawan. close."
"Although I am in the study room, I have heard about it. Since the death of Poisonous Osprey in Western Shu, the lame man Dongfang Jing has raised the banner and won many tricks."
Chang Sheng's voice was a little bitter, "To me... he is like a high mountain, blocking my way. The water war was useless, so I gave up the Jiangnan water war and chose Dingzhou, which is close to the inner city, as the place to fight. .”
"Lizhou is not chosen by the emperor, but pushed by the situation."
Liu Chen's words made Chang Sheng's eyes light up.
"Pingde, what do you say?"
"Throughout the ages, wars have always been about the right time, place and people. Needless to say, under the leadership of the King of Western Shu, the Shu people are united and want to join forces to create a new peaceful dynasty. On the other hand, I, Beiyu, have suffered more defeats. , making the old aristocratic families dissatisfied and ready to take action."
Liu Chen raised his head and his voice was as the name suggests, deep and powerful, "Ziyou, this is also the reason why Beiyu has suffered so many defeats. As soon as the war started, you were the first to lose."
"I lost Renhe."
"Indeed." Liu Chen nodded and continued, "As for the weather, the Shu people also have the upper hand."
"What to say?"
"In the past, when the King of Shu had just crossed the river into Shu, a poisonous owl caused a fire in Fushan and used the wind to burn Chen Changqing's vast navy. Furthermore, when King Dong Wen of Liang was conquering Shu, there was a lame man named Dongfang Jing. Water came from the sky and flooded 30,000 Liangjia. Ziyou, this is making good use of the weather. I know that you are extremely resourceful, but have you discovered that the tricks you have been using are nothing more than surprise attacks and dangers? The red-eyed gamblers in the gambling house hope to win a double six."
"Chang Sheng is taught." Chang Sheng stood up and bowed to Liu Chen.
"Of course, I can't blame you entirely. Many times, you want to take advantage of the situation, but it's already too late. This is what I will talk to you about next, the location."
Liu Chen's voice deepened, "Have Ziyou discovered that many times, the choice of geographical location is actually firmly grasped by the Shu people and they have the upper hand. Therefore, in many cases, even if Ziyou tries his best, he cannot reverse it. War situation.”
"Although Pingde lives in a study room, he has the world's affairs in mind."
"Reading will clarify your ambition, but it is even more important to clarify your future." Liu Chen was not arrogant, but his voice became darker.
"Chang Ziyou, this is a shocking statement. I will tell you slowly."
Chang Sheng handed over his hand, feeling moved in his heart. He really made the right choice. The renounced scholar in front of him was just like him back then, and he was going to leave his name in troubled times.
"You have lost the right time and harmony, so if you want to win Xishu, you can only choose the right location. And in my opinion, it is not wise to fight on the terrain of Lizhou."
"How to say?"
"I, Beiyu, have tens of thousands of cavalry and 20,000 bow cavalry, but over in Western Shu, King Xu Shu is familiar with the art of riding, and has the wolf tribe Chao Yi as the commander, and there is also a horse-producing area in the northwest. , fighting with horses may not be safe. What’s even more ridiculous is that you sold Beiyu’s elite infantry soldiers to the rice army and used them as cavalry troops to defeat the white-armored cavalry of Western Shu.”
Liu Chen pointed at the desk, "You shouldn't be like this. The weakness of Western Shu is not in the navy or the cavalry, but in the infantry. In the same way, the strength of Beiyu is not in the navy or the cavalry." , and in infantry warfare. The geographical advantage I talk about is for you to find a way to maintain the favorable terrain that is suitable for infantry warfare but not suitable for cavalry warfare, and then defeat the Shu people!"
"Lizhou is not the first choice." Liu Chen said loudly.
"What you should do is to lead the decisive battle with Xi Shu step by step into terrain that is favorable to Beiyu. If not, how many years do you plan to spend in Lizhou? If according to what you said before, Xi Shu has a secret plan If it continues, I'm afraid that if it continues, a catastrophic disaster will come to Beiyu!"
"Fighting on foot, and fighting on foot alone, is the best way for us to win in Beiyu."
After Chang Sheng listened, he breathed out comfortably. He didn't reply immediately. He looked a bit like the pretentious little scholar back then, and stretched out his hand to hug Liu Chen.
Back then, he was standing in the academy to take shelter from the rain. Among the many figures covering their heads with book bags, he spotted Liu Chen holding the book in his arms and walking slowly in the rain.
At that time, he understood that this young man who studied hard with money from charity would become a great person in the future.
"Pingde, it's great to have you." Chang Sheng said.
"My friend Chang Shu, you and I will work together to end the troubled times as quickly as possible." Liu Chen's voice was still deep, "The person chosen by Lord Yuan is in the wrong place after all. No matter how bad the dynasty is, he will He shouldn't let things go and let the war spread and the heroes break up. It would be a great thing if he could return to the court after rejecting Beidi."
"Although there is some suspicion of self-recommendation, I, Liu Chen, may be the real mantle of Lord Yuan."
…
