Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 210 Never offend these fortune tellers!

There are four schools of thought in military strategy: military tactics, military yin and yang, military situation, and military strategy.

Those who master military skills are those who practice their hands and feet, are adept at using weapons, and accumulate strategies to gain an advantage in offense and defense. Those who understand the principles of Yin and Yang in military strategy are those who act in accordance with the times, apply the principles of punishment and virtue, follow the course of battle, utilize the five elements, and rely on the assistance of spirits and deities. Those who understand the dynamics of military situation are those who act like thunder and wind, arrive first despite starting later, and whose movements are unpredictable, changing constantly to subdue the enemy with speed and agility. Those who understand military strategy are those who defend the country with orthodox methods and use unorthodox tactics in warfare, planning before fighting, considering the overall situation, encompassing Yin and Yang, and employing techniques.

Military tactics are the easiest to understand, which involve using sufficient material resources to increase the army's combat effectiveness. Military Yin-Yang refers to taking advantage of the right time and place. Military situation refers to seizing opportunities with an indomitable spirit and high morale, and winning through tactics or formations. Military strategy combines the first three types of military tactics.

Liu Bian's eyes lit up slightly, and he couldn't help but ask, "Lord Gongxi, the Marquis of Huaiyin must be practicing the art of military strategy. Since the art of military strategy integrates the first three military tactics, one must be the most skilled in using troops."

Upon hearing this, Ju Shou, Zhang He, Yan Liang, and others behind the Crown Prince all nodded subconsciously. With his military prowess, ingenious strategies, and brilliant plans, he could win both through orthodox and unorthodox tactics. What passionate man wouldn't admire such a general?

But Yuan Pang shook his head slightly, his brows furrowed, and his eyes held a deep look. He said, "No, it is military strategy."

Laymen look down on military skills that rely on material resources, and admire military strategy. But in reality, what the great military strategists of all ages have advocated is the most basic and even somewhat crude military skills.

My troops are more numerous, physically stronger, better fed, better equipped, and have higher morale. They fight steadily and never make mistakes. Even if you were to combine Han Xin, Bai Qi, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing, I would still win.

Of course, these assumptions are too absolute, but in the end, the odds are against the odds and the odds are against the odds.

The reason why many famous generals' victories against overwhelming odds are called military miracles is because of their unrepeatable nature. Even if they were to execute the same battle under the same conditions, they might not be able to achieve the same result.

The strong, except for a few extremely foolish fools, ultimately win more often than they lose, and are more able to afford to lose.

As long as one's national strength is strong enough, like Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, he may lose one, two, three, or four battles, and he may return defeated each time, but he can always regroup and rekindle his fighting spirit.

Emperor Gaozu of the Ming Dynasty only won one battle in the end, but that one victory shattered Xiang Yu's army and morale, making Emperor Gaozu the ruler of the world.

This is what is meant by a skilled warrior who doesn't boast of glorious victories. A good strategist doesn't choose to fight against stronger opponents, but instead constantly improves himself, making every battle a victory of the strong over the weak.

After explaining the essence of the four schools of military strategists, Yuan Pang began to recount Huangfu Song's strategy. Pointing to the giant map that Gao Wang had brought over, he drew a red line on the map with a vermilion brush, connecting Luoyang and Ji County of Hanyang Commandery, and said: "The good men from the Three Auxiliary Regions and the Three Rivers Regions are entering Liangzhou. After a long march, they are exhausted. The soldiers are unfamiliar with the terrain and the weather when they first enter Liangzhou. They are tired and unaccustomed to the local climate. This is what is meant by 'even a strong crossbow cannot pierce silk.'"

"Knowing the timing of the heavens and understanding the advantages of the terrain, resting and recuperating to wait for the strength to recover, and then striking decisively when the morale is at its peak, while also employing the principles of yin and yang in warfare and the overall situation of the army, I believe that Huangfu Yizhen should be preparing in this way."

Yuan Pang's explanation was very detailed, breaking down and explaining almost every point, especially his description of the predicament faced by Huangfu Song's army at this moment, which immediately reminded Liu Bian of another war that changed the situation at the end of the Han Dynasty - the Battle of Red Cliffs!
The hero of a chaotic world, capable of stopping a river with a whip, failed because he was unaware of the opportune time (east wind) in Jiangdong and the advantageous terrain of the Yangtze River. His army was exhausted from years of fighting, and the northerners who came south were not used to the climate and water, which led to the spread of disease in the army. In the end, he was defeated in the great fire at Chibi, which burned away his only chance to pacify the world.

While military strategy was being discussed in Yong'an Palace, on Lingtai in the southern suburbs of Luoyang, Situ Liu Yan hurried up the stone steps, his robes fluttering in the strong wind on the high platform. He saw Shan Yang standing with his back to him on the edge of the platform, his slightly hunched figure seemingly blending into the sky.

Looking at the sky that was just beginning to brighten, Shan Yang took in the spectacular sight of the sun, moon, and stars all gathered in the heavens and couldn't help but sigh deeply.

The duties of the Grand Astrologer were to observe celestial phenomena and the calendar, publish the calendar for the following year at the end of the year, report auspicious dates and seasonal taboos for sacrifices, funerals, and weddings, and record auspicious omens, rather than to preside over the compilation of historical books.

His single, flowing silver hair was disheveled in the morning breeze, yet he seemed oblivious. His hands were tucked into his wide sleeves as he gazed up at the sky, stroking his beard. His eyes shone with an unprecedented light, and he didn't even acknowledge Liu Yan, the Minister of Works, standing beside him, sparing him a single glance. He murmured to himself, "The waning moon appears in the sun's chariot, countless stars fill the imperial forest, the Purple Star moves eastward, shining upon the Black Tortoise…"

Looking at Shan Yang's appearance, even though the two had known each other for over twenty years, it didn't stop Liu Yan from once again having the urge to slap Shan Yang.

Last year, if a 51-year-old man slapped a 69-year-old man, it would at most be considered mutual fighting, and Shan Yang would still bear the responsibility of assaulting his superior. But this old man is 70 this year, so hitting him is a real crime, even if he is a high-ranking official.

Although he did not slap Shan Yang, Liu Yan interrupted him, saying, "Grand Historian, please speak in a way that I can understand. I need to report back to His Highness the Crown Prince."

This is why Liu Yan wanted to slap Shan Yang; few of these niche Yin-Yang scholars who dabble in celestial phenomena can speak human language.

Not only are they clueless about social etiquette, but they also like to say things that leave you wanting more, and they won't tell you the rest of the sentence, no matter how anxious or frustrated you are.

If pressed, they'll reply with, "It's a secret that can't be revealed."

Dan Yang glanced sideways at Liu Yan, his expression showing considerable displeasure at being interrupted, but he decided to refrain from harshly mocking Liu Yan's intelligence out of consideration for their more than twenty years of friendship and for the sake of His Highness the Crown Prince.

If you can't even understand celestial phenomena, what kind of official are you, Grand Master of Ceremonies and Minister of Works!

Liu Yan was somewhat helpless. Who said that the Grand Master of Ceremonies and the Minister of Works were in charge of rites and laws and had to be knowledgeable about celestial phenomena?
Even though Liu Yan was the Grand Minister of Works, one of the Three Dukes, and the two had not known each other for more than twenty years, Liu Yan still dared not offend the Grand Historian.

It is said that you should never offend a doctor or a cook, but you also cannot afford to offend those who can predict good or bad fortune by observing celestial phenomena.

Leaving aside housewarming and ancestral worship, which auspicious day for funerals and weddings would be complete without these fortune tellers?
Even when choosing a burial site, one must respectfully invite these diviners, treat them to a meal of the highest honor, and present them with generous gifts before they will select an auspicious burial site for you.

Otherwise, if you offend someone, they might secretly choose inauspicious locations for you, and you'll still have to thank them!

If a court historian like Shan Yang, renowned throughout the land for his ability to predict celestial phenomena, were to tell His Highness that "Situ Liu Yan's birth chart is incompatible with Your Highness's," no one would know what His Highness would do.

A diviner, especially a renowned one, may not be able to help you avoid misfortune and attract good fortune, but he can certainly turn your fate into one of great misfortune.

What's most terrifying is that no one knows if this diviner knows witchcraft or sorcery. He may not actually know witchcraft or sorcery, but he definitely has ways to make you believe that he does.

Dan Yang slowly turned his head, his eyelids half-closed, and gave a soft hum before leisurely tidying his robes and speaking.

"The Grand Historian Yang respectfully reports to His Highness the Crown Prince:"

On the 28th day of the fifth month of the seventh year of Guanghe (722 AD), at the beginning of the Yin hour (3-5 AM), your subject observed the celestial phenomena from the Lingtai (Spirit Terrace) in the southern suburbs. I saw the waning moon encroaching on the sun's orbit, numerous stars arrayed in the Feathered Forest constellation, and the Purple Star shifting eastward, illuminating the Black Tortoise. This was an omen of the Supreme Deity's will, signifying the eastward relocation of the imperial throne. However, the presence of the Black Tortoise in the north truly indicated that the imperial regalia should return to the crown prince. The bright stars in the Feathered Forest constellation signified that a wise ruler had gathered virtuous advisors; this was a divine blessing bestowed upon the Han dynasty, like the waning moon transforming into the blazing sun, foretelling the restoration and prosperity of our great Han dynasty.

Your humble servant Yang, risking death, reports this.

Liu Yan's eyes lit up slightly as he extracted several key pieces of information from Shan Yang's words.

The eastward relocation of the imperial throne to the east, with a wise ruler and virtuous ministers assisting him, was a sign of the revival of the Han Dynasty.

(2535 words)
(End of this chapter)