My younger brother Zhuge Liang

Chapter 652: If Guan Yu competes for merit, everyone in the world will believe it
According to Zhuge Jin's original plan,

The two battles of Dangyang and Shangyong lured the enemy to counterattack and won great victories, annihilating a total of 40,000 Cao troops.

After suffering such a great loss, Cao Cao will definitely learn his lesson.

Besides, Cao Cao and Jia Xu were both cunning and treacherous, so how could they fall into their trap again in such a short period of time?
Therefore, Liu Bei's army's subsequent counterattacks could only rely on building strong camps, fighting stupid battles, and nibbling away at the enemy's advantage step by step in an attempt to defeat Cao's main force.

If they wanted to take shortcuts and lure Cao's army out to annihilate them, it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Cao Cao would not fall into the same trap twice.

However, at the welcoming banquet for the reunion, Zhuge Jin was persuaded by Guan Yu under the influence of alcohol and finally had to give in.

He promised to find some room for maneuver and ensure that Guan Yu's troops could achieve some military merit before Zhang Fei's reinforcements from Yizhou arrived.

Guan Yu knew that Zhuge Jin always kept his promises, so he was overjoyed and sobered up. He just grabbed Zhuge Jin's arm and asked:
"Situ is indeed very well-planned. I knew that Situ must have a plan! May I ask what the plan is?"

Zhuge Jin actually didn't have anything in his mind. Everything he did was adapted to the circumstances and based on what he saw and heard today.

In order to delay time and slowly improve his ideas, he could only throw out some general concepts to fool Guan Yu:
"After Cao Cao's recent defeat, he must be seeking stability. In fact, apart from a violent attack, our army has no other chance to find a chance to fight.

However, seeing Yunchang so eager to make achievements today, I suddenly felt something and came up with a plan, but it may not be effective. I can only give a rough idea first, please correct me."

Zhuge Jin first gave everyone a heads-up, saying that what he had in mind was just a draft and was still very immature, requiring everyone to work together to improve it.

Unfortunately, his heartfelt words, to others, sounded so humble that they were almost hypocritical.

Haha... Zhuge Situ said that he only had a "slightly superficial opinion" and could not be used directly.

What a joke! Looking back at the historical records of the past twelve years, which military strategy of Zhuge Situ has not worked? 100% of them are successful!

Therefore, no one, including Liu Bei, took it seriously, and the banquet was filled with a happy atmosphere.

Liu Bei even smiled and joked: "Tzuyu, just say whatever you want, we won't use it directly."

Zhuge Jin then carefully deduced: "Yun Chang has always been arrogant and conceited, and Cao Cao is well aware of this. Now, the lord had no one to use before, so he had to use General Huang Lao to win the battle of Dangyang.

After Yun Chang arrived, our army changed to fortifying their positions and clearing the fields, waiting for more reinforcements, and no longer eagerly seeking battle. Yun Chang was indignant about this, and in order to give his men a chance to make merit, he clashed with General Huang.

In order to win the support of the people, the lord persuaded Yunchang to make peace in public and told him not to cause trouble... Then, in order to appease Yunchang and the generals of the Yangzhou Army, the lord might have to agree to Yunchang's solo advance and launch some tentative attacks. "

As Zhuge Jin was speaking, before he could fully reveal his plan, Guan Yu's face had already turned red with embarrassment.

He couldn't help but interrupt and explain: "Why do you say that, Situ? Although I am fighting for the opportunity for my subordinates to make achievements, there is no need to be jealous of Huang Hansheng..."

Zhuge Liang immediately smiled and reminded: "Don't worry, Yunchang, I didn't say you were jealous. I was just trying to deceive the enemy. We just want to spread the word that you are jealous of General Huang's chance to make a contribution.

That's why I wanted to show off my might and bravery, or even just to win an opportunity for Zhongda to capture the stronghold and win the merit of breaking the city. What kind of rumors and details are there can still be discussed. "

Guan Yu then realized that Zhuge Jin was not saying that he was arrogant and jealous. This was only part of the plan to spread the word to the enemy that Guan Yu was arrogant and jealous, and it should not be taken seriously.

It's just that Guan Yu is easily ashamed after drinking. He did think so in his heart just now, but the degree was not so strong. So when Zhuge Jin pointed it out, he felt so involved.

Guan Yu couldn't help but think to himself: Even after drinking, I almost thought that I was really jealous of General Huang. If such rumors were to get out, the enemy would surely believe it.

This is very consistent with Guan Yu’s consistent personality.

Moreover, with Tzuyu's strategy, he will definitely find a way to make the details more realistic.

For example, Guan Yu himself was indeed in a high position and had no reason to compete with Huang Zhong for favor, but what if Guan Yu was protecting his own subordinates and fighting for merit? He just wanted to give Gao Shun an opportunity, which was completely understandable.

After such careful processing, even Cao thieves who originally did not believe it will most likely believe it.

After collecting his thoughts, Guan Yu quickly perked up and asked earnestly: "But I don't know how Zi Yu should underestimate the enemy and advance rashly after he publicizes my jealousy and arrogance to the outside world?
Even if Big Brother allows me to go deep into the enemy's territory alone and conduct a test attack in order to calm me down, there must be a sufficiently important goal - does he want me to take Zhongda and directly attack Xiangyang?"

In order to successfully pretend that you underestimate the enemy and are aggressive, not only must your personality and the content of the rumor be highly consistent, but the "aggressive" target you choose is also very important.

If the chosen target is not important enough, or the difficulty is too high or too low, the credibility of the strategy will be greatly reduced, and the enemy will not fall for it.

It is for this reason that Guan Yu’s first reaction was to attack Xiangyang head-on, or at least attack the Xianshan camp.

Zhuge Jin did not answer this question immediately. Instead, he opened his folding fan again and fanned it slowly for dozens of times, going over the idea in his mind again before he told the plan that had just come to his mind today:

"If they had only attacked Xiangyang and Xianshan, it would not be surprising at all. Such an upright attack would not provoke Cao's army to counterattack. They just had to defend to the death.

Therefore, we must be careful in selecting our targets, and proceed step by step and lay the groundwork.”

Guan Yu listened very carefully, and hurriedly took another sip of the fish soup to sober him up, fearing that he might miss a few words because of his unclear mind: "Please tell me in detail, Ziyu."

Zhuge Jin waved his folding fan, signaling the attendant to fetch the map, and then spread it out in the middle of the hall, pointing with the handle of the fan and saying:
“If we want to capture Xiangyang and Fancheng, my final plan is to first capture the counties upstream, and at the same time, capture Yuliangzhou downstream, attack from both sides, and try to cut off the connection between Xiangyang and Fancheng.

In this way, even if Cao's army is large in number and we are short of troops for a strong attack, we can rely on a protracted siege and eventually annihilate them. There is a lot of surplus food in Xiangyang City, and Cao's army will definitely not be able to eat it all this year.

So far, Cao Ren has not transported grain from the north to Xiangyang. It should be that the north has not been recuperating for a long time, and there is not much grain in the local area. Cao Cao does not want to make trouble. Liu Biao has not fought a war for more than ten years. The grain and grass collected were all stored locally. It was enough to eat what Liu Biao left.

However, no matter how much grain Xiangyang has stored, if it is not eaten up this year, it will definitely be eaten up next year. It is only the beginning of July now, and Jingbei has not promoted Linyi rice with the power of the government, nor has it been harvested twice a year. The rice in the Jianghan Plain is generally harvested in late August or even early September.

As long as our army advances as quickly as possible and completely controls all the counties in Hannan except Xiangyang, and prevents Cao's army in Xiangyang from leaving the city to harvest the autumn grain in Hannan, we can greatly shorten the time that the Xiangyang defenders can hold out in the future.

Therefore, once our army launches the counterattack, the goals of the first phase can be roughly divided into two parts. The first is to divide our troops to attack Shandu and Zhuyang counties upstream of Xiangyang and south of the Han River.

These two counties also followed Cai Mao to surrender to Cao Cao, and then when Xu Huang led his troops up the Han River to attack Shangyong, which was guarded by Huo Jun, they were controlled by Xu Huang's direct subordinates. They were also the springboard for Xu Huang to attack Shangyong.

After our army divides its forces to seize these two counties, and then goes upstream to recover Wudang County, we can completely connect with the troops of Shangyong and Hanzhong. It can also prevent Cao's army from crossing the Han River from Xiangyang upstream and detouring to the south in the future. "

As Zhuge Jin explained, Liu Bei and Guan Yu looked at the map and quickly digested his ideas. Then Guan Yu asked eagerly:

"Just now I said that the counterattack plan is divided into two parts. The first part is aimed at the two counties upstream, and what about the other part? Is it to find another target downstream?" Zhuge Jin nodded: "Yun Chang's guess is correct. Not far downstream from Xiangyang and Fancheng, there is a sandbar in the middle of the river, named Yuliangzhou, which is just east of Xiangyang City.

Although it is called a sandbar, it is actually connected to the land during the dry season when the water level of the Han River is low. At the easternmost part of the island, there is a hilly highland where you can set up camp and defend, and Cao's army is also stationed there.

Only when the autumn rains surge, the land route between Yuliangzhou and Xiangyang will be completely submerged by the Han River. Now it is July, and it won't be long until August, or at the latest September, when the Han River surges.

Therefore, our army can seize this place when the autumn rains rise, which will also be of great use in cutting off the connection between Xiang and Fan."

Liu Bei and Guan Yu had also been in Jingzhou for a long time. Although they had never actually occupied Xiangyang, they had many talented civil and military men who had been to Xiangyang or came from Xiangyang, so they were very familiar with the surrounding geography, and Zhuge Jin could explain it thoroughly with just a little guidance.

Guan Yu calculated the time and said, “The scorching heat has not yet subsided, and there are still some days before the autumn rains come. Do we still have to wait during this period?
If we wait until Yide's reinforcements arrive, the enemy may be afraid that our army is stronger and will not dare to fight."

Zhuge Jin couldn't help but laugh when he heard this: "Since Yunchang is eager to fight, why wait? Right now, the weather and terrain are not yet ripe for taking Yuliangzhou. But before attacking Yuliangzhou, our army must take over some more throats along the way.

Yicheng is more than sixty miles away from Xiangyang. If you go through Hannan, there is no strategic location to defend along the first half of the way. If you advance all the way to Xianshan, you will be blocked by Yu Jin's camp.

But if you go north of Han River, there is another mountain on the other side of Xian Mountain, north of Han River, called Lumen Mountain. Lumen Mountain and Xian Mountain are actually one mountain range, but they are cut off by Han River.

As long as our army takes Lumen Mountain, the Han River in the area of Xian and Lu will be under the joint control of the enemy and us, and then our navy can go north to threaten Yuliangzhou. While we are waiting for the autumn rain to come, Yunchang can divide his troops to first break through Lumen Mountain and open up the road. "

Zhuge Jin spoke slowly and completed his attack plan.

He also made a thorough study of the surrounding geography, so the above plan was definitely sound.

The Lumen Mountain is indeed a place that can block the main waterway leading to Xiangyang from the lower reaches of the Han River. Therefore, if you want to attack Yuliangzhou, you must first take over the Lumen Mountain. Even if you have never read a history book and don't know the war history of the Xiangyang area, as long as you have played Microsoft's "Age of Empires 4" game, you can know the importance of Lumen Mountain.

Because in Age of Empires 4, the eighth level of the Mongolian campaign specifically lets players play the role of the Yuan army to break through Lumen Mountain, thereby cutting off the supply route of the Southern Song army from Ezhou to Xiangyang. Zhuge Jin also played this game campaign in his previous life and knew the details well.

After hearing this, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and others naturally nodded frequently and had no objections.

Of course, Zhuge Jin's plan not only included the geographical route of advance, but also some operational considerations. So after reaching a preliminary consensus, he did not forget to check for omissions and said:

"In addition, in terms of attacking the enemy's heart and luring the enemy, the lord can pretend that 'the newly surrendered generals in Jingbei are competing for merit with the old generals of Xu Yang, and they are unwilling to cooperate with each other', and then let General Huang Lao carry out the first part of the plan, going north from Bian County to attack Shandu and Zhuyang. Let Yunchang's troops attack the Lumen Mountain and Yuliangzhou area.

At that time, it depends on which side Cao Ren is more impatient and dares to send troops to counterattack and try to maintain his control over the Han River waterway. As long as Cao Ren comes out, our army will have another chance to defeat the enemy in the field -

I have something to say first. One of the key points of this strategy is to pretend that there are many factions within our army and that the generals are not in harmony, so that the troops are weak. Therefore, I cannot control which of you two Cao Ren thinks is the weakest and who he will send troops to attack.

The key is to see which of Yun Chang and General Huang Lao fights more fiercely, more threateningly, and more isolated, and Cao Ren is more likely to target him. Therefore, whether the final merit of luring the enemy into a fight is won by Yun Chang's troops, or by General Huang Lao and Captain Huo, it depends on your own ability. "

Guan Yu was anxious to fight and win merit so as to give his men a chance to get promoted and given titles, which prompted Zhuge Jin to take a slight risk and modify the bottleneck attack plan in advance and then release it.

According to Zhuge Jin's original plan, there was no need to carry out separate actions to dilute his own military strength. He could just fight slowly step by step without rushing.

Therefore, since this plan adjustment was forced by Guan Yu, Guan Yu must of course show some sincerity.

This sincerity means that Zhuge Jin will not guarantee that he will have a chance to fight in the field.

It depends on your own performance. Guan Yu and Huang Zhong compete fairly. Whoever fights deeper and deeper in the enemy's territory, looks more arrogant, wilder and more threatening, Cao Ren will be more likely to concentrate his forces to counterattack him.

If other people heard what Zhuge Jin said, they might think that "the leader does not support me enough and favors me."

But when Guan Yu heard this, with his pride, why would he care whether Zhuge Jin favored him?
Guan Yu likes to speak with strength the most. For example, if someone like him were asked to take the college entrance examination, he would absolutely disdain to be a recommended student.

"This plan of Situ is very much to my liking! Situ has already pointed out a clear path for us. If we cannot take the first place in the future, it is because we are not as skilled as others. What is there to complain about?"

Guan Yu immediately expressed his position in public, saying that he did not need to show favoritism at all and just wanted to compete fairly with Huang Zhong.

As he spoke, Guan Yu turned to Gao Shun and ordered casually: "Zhongda! You heard it too. The Minister of War has spoken. Let's see whether Huang Hansheng will capture Zhuyang County first or you will capture Lumen Mountain first. Don't embarrass our Xu Yang army!

If Huang Hansheng still gets ahead, then we have nothing to say. We can only say that Big Brother has a good eye for talent, and Huang Hansheng deserves the title of General Annan!"

Gao Shun has always been taciturn and doesn't like to talk much, but since Guan Yu has given him a task like this, he certainly would not be vague. He immediately bowed to Guan Yu, and then went to Liu Bei and Zhuge Jin to formally accept the task.

Liu Bei glanced at Zhuge Jin and confirmed that Ziyu's expression was normal. Liu Bei then figured out what was going on. He knew that Ziyu was trying to provoke the newly returned Jingzhou army and Xu Yang's army to compete for credit.

In this case, Liu Bei certainly knew what to do, so he went with the flow and said, "Zhongda is already the General of Pingnan. In this battle of Jingzhou, if he can make more contributions and defeat the enemy first, then when the time comes, he will be rewarded according to his merits. Even if it is the position of one of the Four Towns, it is not impossible to recommend him to the emperor."

When Liu Bei was promoted to the position of Grand Marshal, he recommended a general promotion for the ranks of his generals. However, because the generals under him were far inferior to the Five Tiger Generals, such as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Gan, and Taishi, Liu Bei did not promote the Four Town Generals, and also left several positions of the Four Expedition Generals vacant.

Now, several years have passed, and it is the year of fierce fighting between Cao and Liu again, fighting for the control of the entire Jingzhou. At this critical juncture, of course, it is a great opportunity to reward meritorious service, and Liu Bei must be prepared to offer a few positions of generals of the four towns as a prize.

Of course, if we were only the first to capture a large stronghold in Lumen Mountain, this achievement would definitely not be enough.

But as long as Gao Shun, Chen Dao, Guan Ping and others can continue to make contributions and perform well throughout the entire campaign, they will naturally have the opportunity for promotion in the end.

After hearing this, Gao Shun didn't say anything, but he was extremely determined in his heart: this time he must capture the Lumen Mountain stronghold first at a faster speed than Huang Zhong did in capturing the two upstream counties, and even go upstream to Yuliangzhou!

"Don't worry, my lord. I will definitely fulfill your mission!" Gao Shun said in a firm voice and accepted the task decisively.

Zhuge Jin, who was standing by, saw that he was eager to try, and stepped on the brakes at the right time:
"Zhongda, don't be impatient. If you want to do your work well, you must first sharpen your tools. You have just arrived in Yicheng today, so you should rest for two or three days to adapt to the climate and recover from the fatigue of the journey.

Besides, our army also needs time to spread rumors and let the enemy know that there is discord among our generals. Otherwise, how can they believe that you are trying to gain merit and underestimate the enemy?
In addition, I will provide you with a guide to help you make progress as quickly as possible. I believe everyone knows that Lumen Mountain was once the place where Mr. Shuijing and Mr. Pang De lived in seclusion and taught, and they accepted many students in Xiangyang.

Therefore, the disciples of Mr. Shuijing are familiar with the local terrain. Originally, the best candidate for military counselor was Xu Yuanzhi, but Yuanzhi has been contacting Liu Qi and appeasing the generals of the Jingzhou Army in the past few months, so this time he will continue to accompany General Huang Lao to fight.

Xiang Lang, the magistrate of Wuchang County, was also a disciple of Mr. Shuijing. Although he is not very familiar with military strategies, I will ask him to send someone to guide Zhongda. "

Xiang Lang followed Xu Shu and came to Liu Bei from Sima Hui. He had not had many opportunities to show his abilities in the past few years. In addition, he was a civil servant, so he was not promoted quickly and could only do some work related to territory construction.

However, Wuchang County was the seat of Liu Bei's government after all, just like Gu Yong, the governor of Jiangxia County, who was an extra high-ranking official. The county magistrate of Wuchang County was not just a county magistrate. If he was transferred to a remote county, he could basically be regarded as a deputy in the county.

Anyway, Zhuge Jin didn't expect the other party to come up with any brilliant strategies for Gao Shun. It was enough for him to just lead the way and plan the specific route for attacking the mountain and capturing the camp.

(End of this chapter)