My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 439 Su Chuo
late at night.

Erzhu Rong sat alone at the table, the light in the room flickering with the candlelight.

Yuwen Tai's words, while not exactly deafening or mind-blowing, certainly served as a great reminder to him.

After dismissing everyone.

He then remained alone, lost in thought.

After thinking about it, it really is true.

Gao Yu's bravery, like an ancient overlord reborn, is indeed unmatched, but... Gao Yu doesn't know how to create clones.

Isn't the massive army that marched from Yuzhou towards Yanqing the most typical example?
Like Hou Yuan, Chi Lie Yanqing was seen by Er Zhu Rong as a capable and loyal man, and the core members of his army were all elite soldiers.

However, this large army was stubbornly blocked at Juyang by the Shandong troops led by Yang Kan.

Although Yang Kan had entered Guanzhong long ago and made great achievements, he was also a capable and brave warrior. The commanders on both sides had similar abilities, so what they were competing with was the bravery of their soldiers.
Chilie Yanqing ultimately suffered a crushing defeat.

That speaks volumes.

"Change is necessary... there can be no new beginnings without destruction."

Erzhu Rong's thoughts gradually became clear.

Just now.

A series of hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, and Prime Minister Wang rushed over, presenting a sealed letter with both hands.

"It was sent by Tian Guang..."

Erzhu Rong was greatly alarmed. Could something have happened in Guanzhong?

Things can't go wrong in Guanzhong!
This was Erzhu Rong's way out.

The Guanzhong region is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Back then, he insisted on sending Erzhu Tianguang with the Wuchuan faction to Guanzhong to quell Xiao Baoyin.

On the surface, Xiao Baoyin was establishing his own power base in Guanzhong and had ascended the throne as emperor. As the prime minister of Wei, he had to quell Xiao Baoyin's rebellion in order to establish greater prestige.

But why send your own people?
The main objective was to quell Xiao Baoyin's rebellion and, incidentally, to bring Guanzhong under his complete control.

With Shanxi and Guanzhong in our hands, we have the advantage of terrain.

Even if we lose Hebei, Shandong, and Henan, it doesn't matter, because as long as we have Guanzhong and Shanxi in our hands, we will have the strategic initiative to attack. After all, Hebei and Henan are places with no natural defenses, and they are the kind of places that are impossible to defend even if you want to.

Erzhu Rong took the letter, quickly opened it, glanced at it briefly, and finally felt relieved.

Guanzhong and Longxi remain as stable as Mount Tai.

However, as he read further down the page, Erzhu Rong's expression became quite 'interesting'.

The Prime Minister, who had been secretly watching him, couldn't help but ask, "What has made the Prime Minister so concerned?"

Erzhu Rong didn't speak, but simply handed the letter to him. Wang Xiang took the letter with utmost respect, and after glancing at it, he was stunned.

In his letter, Erzhu Tianguang first wrote about recent events in Guanzhong to reassure Erzhu Rong, as these were all quite ordinary.

It can be in the latter half of the letter.

Erzhu Tianguang mentioned that Zhou Huida, one of his subordinates, recommended a man from the Su family of Jingzhao, named Su Chuo, courtesy name Lingchuo. He and his brother Su Liang were known as the "Two Sus". They were well-read from a young age and had a good reputation in Guanzhong.

Erzhu Tianguang recruited him to serve under his command and asked him about politics, to which Su Chuo gave his reply.

Su Chuo's reply was in the letter.

Similar to what Yuwentai said earlier today, both of them mentioned that Gao Yu carried out sweeping reforms to the military system in Shandong, which is why he was able to train a group of refugees into truly brave warriors in just two or three years.

It is suggested that Erzhu Rong should emulate Gao Yu's actions in Shandong.

besides……

Su Chuo also pointed out the hidden dangers in Shanxi to Erzhu Tianguang and advised him to amass a large army in Hedong.

To know.

News of the battle in Hebei should not have reached Guanzhong yet.

However, Su Chuo saw the hidden dangers in Erzhu Rong's loss of Sizhou and Hengzhou, and advised Erzhu Tianguang to amass a large army in Hedong to defend it. As long as Hedong remained intact, advancing into Guanzhong from the western Henan passage would be virtually impossible…

Even if Gao Yu were a reincarnation of the ancient overlord, and even if Xiang Yu himself came, he would only be able to sigh in despair when faced with formidable passes like Tongguan.

This way.

Even if Erzhu Rong suffered a defeat, he could retreat into Guanzhong and hold his ground, engaging in a war of attrition with Gao Yu.

"The Su family of Jingzhao..."

Erzhu Rong muttered to himself, "There are so many talented people in the world, but Su Chuo is a rare talent."

Wang Xiang then added, “Prime Minister, I have also heard of the two Su brothers of Jingzhao. I never expected that Tianguang would actually recruit Su Chuo to serve under his command. Judging from this, this person’s knowledge and vision are among the best in the world!”

"This is indeed your Xiao He and Zhuge Liang, Prime Minister!"

Wang Xiang was able to become Erzhu Rong's confidant, which means he was quite capable.

Knowing that Erzhu Rong was eager to find talented people, he naturally had to lavish praise on him.

He gritted his teeth again and continued, "Prime Minister... Mo Heduo has one thing in common: he doesn't practice nepotism..."

"You... should make more use of truly talented people."

Gao Yu did not practice nepotism.

One reason is that he didn't have a 'kidney' to use.

He has no relatives, married late, and his children are still children.

to be honest.

It means sharing power appropriately with others to form a community of shared interests.

Erzhu Rong had previously excluded almost everyone except members of the Erzhu clan from his inner circle. Even his trusted confidants in Dai had to be related to him.

How can we gain the support of powerful families in this way?
Erzhu Rong used to have enough power and prestige.

One can hold power tightly in one's hands, but times change...

"Changes need to be made."

To recruit others to invest.

In fact, just like Gao Huan, he leveraged the strength of all parties, and all parties respected him as their master.

of course……

This will inevitably lead to me having to relinquish some of my power, but that's just how it has to be.

Even if an emperor nominally holds absolute power, can he truly have all the power in his own hands?

As long as you can consistently lead your team to victory, realize the rewards, and build sufficient prestige, no one can take away your power!
The next day.

Erzhu Rong summoned everyone back to his Tianzhu General's Mansion.

"Black Otter, yesterday you said you would emulate Moheduo's actions in Shandong. If I intend to do so, are you capable of undertaking this responsibility?"

Yuwentai was taken aback.

He's good at giving advice, but when it comes to building a framework or establishing a system, he's completely incapable.

But the opportunity is right in front of us. If we don't seize it this time, won't the credit go to someone else?
He gritted his teeth and said, "This humble general is willing to give it a try, but I dare to ask the Prime Minister for one person!"

"who?"

"Su Chuo of the Su family of Jingzhao is a man of extraordinary talent!"

"If we can get their help, we can definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort..."

Upon hearing this, Erzhu Rong couldn't help but chuckle.

“That’s easy. I will send someone to deliver a letter to Tian Guang, asking him to transfer Su Chuo to your command so you can do as you please. The two of you can work together to build up the garrison.”

P.S.: I've been traveling for work lately and writing in an internet cafe. The environment in an internet cafe really doesn't allow for frequent updates... I can only try my best to keep updating. Wait until I get home!
(End of this chapter)