The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 374 Two Dragons Compete for Food, A Hidden Dragon Lurks in the Abyss

Meanwhile, the campaign against Wu was in full swing.

Li Yi summoned the Hebei generals to his residence alone and gave them a pep talk before their departure for the campaign.

The gist is that the Jingzhou army and the Huainan army were the main forces in the war against Wu.

The various tribes in Hebei mainly provided support.

However, Xu Huang still had some questions about Li Yi's arrangements.

His thick eyebrows furrowed, and he asked in a deep voice:

"If the two armies fight over the road, the Huainan army may miss its opportunity to fight..."

"Gongming is overthinking it."

Li Yi took out the Ministry of War's transfer order from his sleeve.

"The routes for each army have been planned in advance, and I will also make arrangements in advance for specific command and dispatch."

"Don't you gentlemen trust this old man?"

Everyone had followed Li Yi for many years and naturally trusted his organizational skills.

"If there really are some disagreements..."

He suddenly lowered his voice, "There are supervisors who will speak directly to the emperor."

Zhang Liao quickly interjected from the side:

"I wonder who will be honored with the important task of supervising the army?"

"This is His Majesty's decree."

"The person chosen must be someone His Majesty trusts implicitly."

Li Yi's gaze swept over the solemn faces of the crowd, "However..."

He then changed the subject, saying, "If any extraordinary event occurs, you may send a secret letter directly to the Prime Minister's residence."

The implication is that Li Yi still gave special treatment to the generals in Hebei.

They were allowed to directly act as "supervisors," receiving firsthand information directly from him.

Although Li Yi nominally said that the military supervisor would still obey his command as the commander of the five armies.

But that's only in name.

In reality, they were definitely the emperor's eyes and ears.

Li Yi himself most likely only received secondhand information.

So, just in case, we decided to give the generals in Hebei a special training session.

This is why Li Yi emphasized that they should not try to steal the limelight.

Li Yi's expectation for the campaign against Wu was actually that it would be a smooth and successful outcome.

"Alright, it's getting late, and I've said what I needed to say."

"Go back and prepare yourselves. We'll be launching an attack around next spring."

All the generals rose in unison and responded:

"Order!"

……

In the autumn of Lu State, a refreshing breeze blows and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms fills the air.

Inside the Lu King's Palace, sixteen-year-old Liu Yongzheng was practicing calligraphy in his study.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside, and a servant announced loudly:
"Your Highness, an imperial envoy has arrived!"

Liu Yong paused with his wolf-hair brush, and the ink spread across the bamboo slip.

He put down his pen and straightened his clothes.

"Xuan."

A short while later, a palace attendant entered, carrying an imperial edict, and said in a shrill voice:

"Prince Liu Yong of Lu, receive the imperial decree!"

Liu Yong immediately knelt down:

"Your subject respectfully listens to Your Majesty's decree."

The imperial edict reads: "The Wu bandits have been occupying the territory for a long time, and I wish to punish the disobedient."

"I hereby appoint Prince Liu Yong of Lu as military supervisor to oversee all military affairs in Jingzhou. He shall take up his post immediately."

"Appreciate this!"

Liu Yong received the imperial edict with trembling hands, his forehead almost touching the ground:
"Your subject obeys the decree and will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust!"

As he rose, his eyes gleamed with excitement, and he turned to the attendant, saying:

"Bring fifty taels of gold as a reward to the angel."

The eunuch beamed and fawned, saying:

"Your Highness is young and promising. His Majesty has entrusted you with the important task of supervising the army, which shows the great favor the Emperor bestows upon you."

"When he returns victorious, he will surely be of great use."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yong was overjoyed and ordered someone to bring him a box of pearls as a gift.

After the envoy left, he could not hide his excitement.

He paced back and forth in the hall.

"Someone come here! Quickly summon Prime Minister Zhuge!"

A moment later, Zhuge Jin, the prime minister of Lu, arrived in haste.

This former official of Eastern Wu was nearly fifty years old, with gray hair and beard, yet his eyes still shone brightly.

Seeing Liu Yong holding the imperial edict and looking delighted, he couldn't help but ask:

"What brings Your Highness such joy?"

Liu Yong handed the imperial edict to Zhuge Jin:
"Prime Minister, please look! My father has appointed me as the military supervisor for the campaign against Wu, to oversee the Jingzhou army!"

"This is a golden opportunity, a chance to realize my ambitions and prove to my father that I am no ordinary person!"

Zhuge Jin took the imperial edict and read it carefully, but his brows gradually furrowed.

He hesitated for a moment, then cautiously said:
“Your Highness, the position of military supervisor is indeed important, but…”

"But what is it? Prime Minister, please speak frankly."

Liu Yong was puzzled. "Could there be something fishy about this position?"

Zhuge Jin stroked his long beard and sighed:

"Has Your Highness considered that the Huainan army is the main force in this campaign against Wu?"

"Logically, the Huainan Army should be the one most in need of supervision."

"However, His Majesty ordered Your Highness to supervise the Jingzhou army, this..."

Liu Yong's smile froze instantly:
"What does the Prime Minister mean by this?"

"This old minister dares to speculate."

Zhuge Jin lowered his voice, "I'm afraid Your Highness isn't the only military supervisor."

what! ?

Liu Yong's expression changed drastically, and he shouted:

"You mean...there are other people serving as military supervisors?"

"To inspect the Huainan army?"

Zhuge Jin nodded slightly, then frowned and said:
“The Huainan Army holds high positions and wields great power, and its military supervisor must be above Your Highness.”

Although it had been said long ago that two military supervisors would be appointed.

But such military secrets are certainly not leaked to the public casually.

As a result, Liu Yong simply believed that he was unique.

I thought it was because Liu Bei had left a good impression on him during his last inspection tour of the county.

My luck has finally turned around.

Zhuge Jin's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head.

"Who is the other person?!"

Liu Yong slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, causing the teacups on the table to overturn and spill tea.

"But is it Liu Li, the King of Liang?!"

When his younger brother was mentioned, Liu Yong seemed to have a sensitive nerve touched.

The main reason is that both of them were feudal lords, and their fiefdoms were both in Henan.

In fact, Liu Bei had three main considerations for enfeoffing both of his sons in Henan.

First, Henan is very close to Luoyang, which makes it convenient for Liu Bei to test his two sons at any time.

Secondly, Henan had just suffered a severe blow, and this was to appease the people of Henan and express the imperial court's high regard for the region.

After all, the princes there receive more policy support and resource allocation.

Thirdly, it was a test for the two sons to see how they fared with the support of the imperial court.

If we can restore the livelihood of people in Henan, then we can promote them in the future.

Therefore, there is actually a competitive relationship between the two.

The last time Liu Bei inspected the counties, it was clear that Liu Li left a better impression on his father.

Zhuge Jin sighed:
"Since His Majesty has chosen a prince to serve as military supervisor, among all the princes, apart from Your Highness, only the Prince of Liang is the oldest."

"Therefore, if there are other candidates for supervisory officers, I dare to make a guess."

"It can only be the Prince of Liang."

"It's him again!"

Liu Yong was furious and kicked over the table. "I am older than him, so why should I always be inferior to him?"

"Could it be simply because he was born to the Empress, while my mother was merely a concubine?!"

The attendants in the hall were so frightened that they all knelt down. Zhuge Jin quickly advised them:

"Your Highness, please watch your words! Walls have ears!"

Liu Yong's chest heaved violently, and his eyes were filled with fury that seemed about to burst forth.

He knew from a young age that he was born out of wedlock. Although he was a prince, he was never as favored as the legitimate sons Liu Shan and Liu Li.

Now even the position of military supervisor is inferior to others, how can one not hate it?

"Your Highness, calm down."

Zhuge Jin stepped closer and whispered:
"The campaign against Wu involved a wide range of people, and various forces were secretly at work."

"In my opinion, the best course of action is to avoid making mistakes."

"Your Highness's abilities are only revealed when others make mistakes."

Liu Yong clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms.

After a long silence, he took a deep breath, suppressing his anger:

"The Prime Minister is absolutely right... I... understand."

Seeing that he had calmed down, Zhuge Jin said with relief:
"Your Highness, only by being able to endure what ordinary people cannot can you lay the foundation for great things."

Liu Yong looked out at the deepening twilight outside the hall, his eyes dim and unreadable.

He suddenly asked:
"I've heard that the Prime Minister has also visited Eastern Wu. What are your thoughts on this war against Wu?"

What are the chances of victory for our Han army?

Zhuge Jin's expression hardened, and he answered cautiously:

"Sun Quan, the ruler of Wu, was a man of great talent and strategy, and Lu Xun and others were all outstanding generals of their time."

When I went there, it was still a wasteland covered with swamps.

"Now the land of Wu has been developed by Sun Quan into a prosperous and thriving place where everything flourishes."

"This shows that although Sun Quan lacked the talent for expansion, he was more than capable of defending the territory."

"The war to destroy Wu will not be as easy as it seems on the surface."

"but……"

Zhuge Jin then changed the subject.

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty."

"With virtuous ministers above and famous generals below, our great Han Dynasty possesses the wealth of China."

"Destroying the Wu Kingdom is not difficult."

Liu Yong sneered, and for some inexplicable reason, he blurted out:
"If we win, I'll just be adding icing on the cake."

"But what if the army is defeated..."

He suddenly lowered his voice, "Prime Minister, if the Huainan army is lost, what will the King of Liang do?"

Zhuge Jin was greatly alarmed:
"Your Highness! Such words must not be spoken lightly."

"...Hahaha, Prime Minister, do not worry, I was just asking casually."

Liu Yong waved his hand, his face regaining its composure.

"But then again, if I remember correctly..."

"There must be quite a few ministers in the court who have impeached the Huainan Army, right?"

"Sir, you always say that those who act justly will find many supporters, while those who act unjustly will find few."

"If I were on the side of the majority, it would not only be more helpful, but it would also remove a worry for Father Emperor, wouldn't it?"

The autumn wind swept through the hall, lifting a corner of the imperial edict, as if an invisible hand was turning the pages of destiny.

In the eyes of the young King Lu, ambition burned like wildfire.

Zhuge Jin's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly whispered a reminder to the young prince.

"But Your Highness might want to think about it carefully."

"Why are so many people in the court impeaching the Huainan Army, and why is His Majesty so slow to take action against them?"

"Only the strong attract the envy of others."

"Only the powerful can arouse the lord's fear."

"If Chen Yuanlong were truly so easy to manipulate, how could he have been able to guard Huainan for over twenty years, and why would he have attracted so many impeachments?"

"Moreover, conquering Jiangnan is Chen Yuanlong's lifelong ambition."

"He won't allow this operation to fail."

"Furthermore, Li Ziyu never makes mistakes, so you must not try to outsmart him."

Zhuge Jin earnestly advised Liu Yong.

He himself was also inwardly groaning.

This young prince is simply too young; he seems completely unaware of what this war to destroy Wu means.

How many more people will be drawn into this battle?

Do you think Zhuge Jin was really afraid that Liu Yong would make a mistake?
He was not afraid at all.
Because I don't have the ability, you know!
He was afraid that the prince would do something foolish, and if His Majesty punished him, he would be implicated as well.

His younger brother, Zhuge Liang, had already been demoted to Jiaozhou, and now his family had produced another "political prisoner."

Then the Zhuge clan of Langya would truly be unable to hold their heads high in the Han Dynasty.

Fortunately, Zhuge Jun went to the Liang Kingdom, and the Zhuge family still had a chance.

“…Jun Di, I hope you can do a good job of assisting King Liang.”

Zhuge Jin sighed, put his hands behind his back, and gazed wistfully into the distance.

……

Inside the Liang King's palace, Liu Li was practicing swordsmanship in the back garden when a servant came to report.

"Your Highness, an imperial envoy has arrived, bearing an imperial edict!"

Liu Li sheathed his sword and wiped the fine sweat from his brow:
"Change your clothes and receive the imperial decree in the main hall."

A moment later, Liu Li, dressed in princely robes, stood solemnly in the hall.

The imperial edict was read aloud by the palace eunuch: "By imperial decree: Liu Li, the Prince of Liang, is hereby appointed as military supervisor to oversee all military affairs in Huainan."

"Prepare immediately. So be it."

Liu Li accepted the imperial edict with both hands and respectfully kowtowed:
"Your subject obeys the decree and will do his utmost to live up to the Emperor's trust."

After rising, he spoke gently to the messenger:

"The angels have come from afar with great difficulty, and have bestowed upon us fifty taels of gold and ten bolts of brocade."

The messenger thanked him with a smile.

After the envoy left, Liu Li immediately summoned his trusted confidants for a meeting.

Before long, a group of ministers, including Chancellor Zhuge Jun, Cavalry Commandant Zhuge Ke, Agricultural Commandant Wang Chang, and Registrar Chen Tai, gathered in the main hall of the Prince's Mansion.

These people were all carefully selected by Liu Li in recent years; they are not only talented but also have connections.

Therefore, Liu Li was able to develop the Liang state far beyond the Lu state in the same amount of time.

Zhuge Jun was the first to bow:
"Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness!"

"The Huainan Army is the main force in the campaign against Wu. Your Majesty's entrustment of this important task shows the great favor you have bestowed upon them."

"Exactly!"

Zhuge Ke, full of high spirits, declared, "Our great Han Dynasty has a million armored soldiers and a thousand excellent generals."

"This southern expedition will surely sweep away fallen leaves like autumn wind."

"What worries does Your Highness have?"

Wang Chang, Chen Tai, and others echoed the sentiment.

The hall was filled with joy, but Liu Li remained calm.

He gently stroked the brocade of the imperial edict and suddenly said:

"Do you all remember a saying my uncle once said—"

"Do not be elated by external gains, nor saddened by personal losses."

Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.

Liu Li continued:

"My father entrusted me with this important task not for honor, but for responsibility."

"I only feel the burden on my shoulders is heavy, how dare I be reckless?"

Zhuge Jun then praised:
"Your Highness is mature beyond his years, which is a blessing to the Liang Kingdom."

Liu Li shook his head:

"The generals of Huainan are all veterans of countless battles. Although I am a prince, once I remove my crown, I am but a young man."

"Now that a military supervisor has been parachuted in, how can they not harbor some resentment?"

Wang Chang disagreed, saying:
"Your Highness is a descendant of the dragon and the phoenix. Even if they are arrogant, how dare they be disrespectful?"

"They are outwardly respectful, but inwardly they may not be convinced."

Liu Li rose and paced back and forth, his brocade robe trailing on the ground.

"For example, Chen Zhengnan followed his father in battle for more than 20 years."

"I must go and inspect their army... The balance here is very difficult to grasp."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhuge Ke was only a few years older than Liu Linian, but he had a rather fiery temper.

Hearing this, I couldn't help but interject:
"...Your Highness is overthinking it."

"Generals in the field may disobey the emperor's orders, but the supervising officer is acting on behalf of Heaven to inspect the realm. How dare the generals have any complaints?"

"Yuan Xun!" Zhuge Jun shouted urgently, "Watch your words!"

Liu Li, however, was not angry. Instead, he smiled and said:

“Yuan Xun was young and impetuous, and although his words were blunt, they were also reasonable.”

"However, the best strategy for governing a country and commanding an army is to combine firmness with flexibility."

He turned to the crowd, his expression solemn, and said in a loud voice:
"Today I establish the rule: next year during the southern expedition, although I will serve as the military supervisor, I will absolutely not interfere with the military decisions made in Huainan."

"You must also be careful to keep to your duties and not compete with the generals for power."

Everyone agreed in unison.

Liu Li continued:

"I will personally visit Chen Zhengnan."

"The other generals were also frequently comforted and rewarded."

"The Liang Kingdom should do its utmost to supply military provisions and food, and there should be no shortage."

"In particular, it is forbidden to impose exorbitant taxes and levies, or to harm the people."

"Anyone who violates this rule will be dealt with according to military law!"

Zhuge Jun bowed and said:

"Your Highness's wisdom and foresight are truly admirable."

"The arrogance of the Huainan Army is well-known throughout the land."

"Since we are the military supervisors, what should we do if they violate the law?"

"Minor matters can be tolerated, but major matters must be investigated."

Liu Li's eyes shone brightly. "However, we must have solid evidence and report it to the Emperor for his judgment. We cannot act arbitrarily."

Chen Tai immediately offered his advice:
"I have heard that the Prince of Lu also holds the position of military supervisor, overseeing the Jingzhou army."

"What is the meaning behind Your Majesty's appointment of two military supervisors?"

Liu Li raised his hand to stop him, interrupting:

“The matter concerning Prince Lu is not something we can discuss.”

"You all just need to do your jobs and don't ask any other questions."

He looked around at everyone and gave them his final words of advice:

"From this day forward, the entire Liang Kingdom shall prioritize preparations for war."

"Agriculture must not be neglected, and taxes must not be increased, but military equipment and provisions must be doubled."

“Yuan Xun can inspect his troops and train his soldiers.”

“Zhongxuan was in charge of coordinating the supply of grain and fodder, while Xuanbo sorted out the documents and laws.”

"When Lord Shuping comes to take overall command, he can report any doubts or difficulties to us at any time."

After everyone had received their orders and left, Liu Li sat alone in the hall, staring blankly at the imperial edict in his hand.

A servant asked softly, "Would Your Highness like to have a meal?"

Liu Li shook his head:

"Bring me 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu."

"My uncle has always highly recommended this book. I have read it four times, but there are still some parts that I don't quite understand."

The end of the paper is so shallow that I know that this matter must be carried out.

Liu Li also knew that he couldn't grasp the essence of "The Art of War" just by reading books.

Otherwise, wouldn't we become like Ma Su, a mere armchair strategist?
After the scroll was presented, Liu Li continued with his instructions:
"Pass down the order: tomorrow I will travel incognito to inspect all the granaries of Liang Kingdom."

“If war breaks out, the people will inevitably suffer.”

"I do not wish for my people to suffer because of the campaign against Wu."

In the stillness of the night, Liu Li was still studying diligently under the lamp.

The autumn wind swept through the bamboo forest outside the window, rustling like thousands of armored soldiers marching.

The young prince's gaze pierced through the flickering candlelight, as if he could already see the endless flames of war engulfing the Yangtze River the following year.

He is ready to fight an unprecedented battle on the Yangtze River.

……

The Huai River surged and roared, within the mansion of the General Who Conquers the South in Shouchun City.

Chen Dengzheng stared at the river defense map on the wall with his back to the hall door.

Suddenly, the clanging of armor could be heard outside the hall, and a personal guard reported loudly:
"General, scouts from Luoyang have arrived!"

Chen Deng suddenly turned around, his brocade robe stirring up a gust of wind:
"Announce it immediately!"

The scout, weary from his journey, knelt and presented the secret letter.

"Reporting to the General, the imperial court has approved our request to attack Wu!"

"good!"

Chen Deng slammed his hand on the table and stood up, causing the command quiver on the table to vibrate. He then asked:

"Do you know the specific strategy?"

"It is heard that the general will dispatch five armies to advance simultaneously."

"Five armies?" Chen Deng's fingers unconsciously tapped the hilt of his sword. "Do you know which five armies?"

The scout bowed:

"General, you are wise. It is said that the forces involved are Hebei, Henan, Qingxu, Jingzhou, and my Huainan navy."

Upon hearing this, Chen Deng pondered for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed.

"On the great river, none can rival the Huainan warships!"

"Huang Hansheng of Jingzhou is brave, but he is already nearly seventy years old."

Suddenly, he caught sight of the scout hesitating to speak, and his laughter abruptly stopped.

"What other military intelligence is there?"

"The imperial court...the imperial court has established five military command offices..."

"The generals of the five armies shall all be subject to the command of the five military governors."

hiss……

Chen Deng gasped, squinted, and asked:

"Do you know who is in command?"

"According to sources, it should be Prime Minister Lee Ik."

Upon hearing this, Chen Deng's tense shoulders suddenly relaxed.

Chen Deng picked up the wine cup and poured himself a cup.

"...Hehe, with Ziyu in charge, what do I have to worry about?"

The wine swirled in the glass, and he said leisurely:

"Given my friendship with Ziyu, how could I possibly be hindered in this campaign?"

"To be honest, I really wouldn't feel comfortable if someone else were in the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Five Armies."

“But if it were Ziyu, I would have no worries.”

Before he could finish speaking, the scout suddenly bowed his head and said:

"According to the report on the southern campaign, the imperial court still has a supervisory office to oversee military affairs in Huainan."

what?
The candlelight in the hall flickered suddenly.

Chen Deng slowly put down his wine glass and glanced at him.

It's as if it's saying, "Can't you just say everything you have to say at once?"

"Do you know who he is?"

"This is top secret, and I am not allowed to find out."

"The imperial court has not made it public either."

Chen Deng waved his hand to dismiss those around him and walked alone to the corridor.

The autumn wind swept past the iron horse-drawn carriage under the eaves, its clanging sound mingling with his long sigh.

The captain of the personal guards before the steps stepped forward, sword in hand, and asked with concern:
"Why is my lord so worried?"

"I am not one to fear war."

Chen Deng sighed, "My only worry is that the military supervisor is hindering us."

Chen Deng gazed at the old osmanthus tree in the courtyard, its golden blossoms falling softly.

He suddenly turned around and instructed his men:

"Order the entire army: immediately double the training in naval warfare, and all warships must be re-inspected!"

As the evening drum sounded, Chen Deng climbed the city tower alone.

In the distance, the Huai River stretched like a ribbon, and the masts of warships stood like a forest.

Despite the fact that over the years, Chen Deng had already trained the navy in Huainan to be extremely strong and capable for the campaign against Wu.

The number of warships has already exceeded that of Liu Biao at his peak.

However, for some reason, Chen Deng felt uneasy as he faced the military supervisor that the imperial court was about to send.

"Is the general worried that the campaign against Wu will not go smoothly due to the supervision of the military supervisor?"

A voice came from behind Chen Deng.

Looking back, it was Cang Ci, an official.

He was also a capable official who had followed Chen Deng for many years.

Over the years, he assisted Chen Deng in the land reclamation in Huainan and made many contributions.

"...Alas, although I am in Huainan, I know that there are many ministers in the court who are dissatisfied with me."

"But as you know, there are many inconveniences in fighting on the front lines."

"How can one please everyone and take care of every single detail?"

"What if the military supervisor has ulterior motives and makes a mountain out of a molehill, then he might impeach me before His Majesty?"

"Ugh……"

"Actually, having sat in this position for so many years, I understand many things."

"The only thing I can't let go of is my brothers who have been with me for over twenty years."

"And in Huainan and below, many people rely on me for their livelihood."

Do you understand what I mean?

Chen Deng revealed his true feelings to Cang Ci.

As a politician, he is able to see and understand many things clearly.

But once you're in that position, even if you see things clearly, you can't walk away unscathed.

Because moving one thing can affect the whole situation.

"Hasn't the general already applied to the Prime Minister for a marriage alliance?"

"If you can rise to the rank of the Li family, General, you may be able to retire unscathed after the destruction of Wu."

Chen Deng gave a wry smile, "You don't understand my brother's character."

“I have known him for over twenty years, and I know his personality very well.”

"Although I have already written the letter, I am not sure if he will agree."

"If Ziyu really refuses, then it's within my expectations."

Just then, another fast horse came galloping by.

Reporting to Chen Deng:
"Reporting to the General, a message has arrived in Luoyang!"

"Bring it!"

Chen Deng hurriedly stepped forward to take it, and saw that the letter was signed "Li Yi".

Chen Deng finally felt relieved.

He has been having a very difficult time these days.

Regardless of whether the outcome is good or bad.

He just wants a result!
(End of this chapter)