I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 377: Inspiring Generals

No!

We were just joking with you! Why can't you understand?

When Liu Zhang, who was wearing a jade crown with seven tassels and was somewhat short and stout, heard that Liu Miao was going to personally attack him, he almost jumped up from his couch!
"Is Liu Miao really going to personally lead an expedition to Shu?"

Although Liu Zhang's crown was that of a prince, the ribbon he wore was not the crimson color prescribed for princes, but rather the yellow color that only the emperor could wear.

The four colors of yellow, red, and blue (bluish-white), and dark blue (deep blue) patterns fall in sequence on the ribbon, but the final jade tablet is not the pure yellow jade reserved for the emperor, but rather the red jade of the feudal lords.

However, the length was set at 29 feet and 9 inches by the emperor, not 21 feet by the feudal lords. The end of the ribbon had 500 tassels, with an unusually strange design.

In fact, when Liu Zhang's father, Liu Yan, was in power, he had over a thousand carriages made exclusively for the emperor, which was reported by Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou.

The emperor's robes and hat were naturally made as well. However, the Shu region did not produce yellow jade, and Liu Zhang ultimately dared not wear the emperor's crown, so his attire was so incongruous.

In his panic, Liu Zhang's jeweled robes trembled, making him appear even less like a ruler and causing his ministers to feel disgusted by him.

Unfortunately, the officials in Shu had no time to worry about Liu Zhang.

The current emperor of the Han Dynasty, Liu Miao, who once pacified Jiangdong, attacked Yuan Shu, conquered Jingzhou, defeated Yuan Tan, and crushed Yuan Shao, is about to attack Shu!
"This... doesn't make sense!"

With Yuan Shao posing a threat from the north, how could Liu Miao have the audacity to attack Shu?

According to Yuan Shao's envoy, Liu Miao would likely only send a portion of his troops to guard places like Yiling as a diversionary tactic, and would not actually launch an attack!

So, Liu Miao really came?
Liu Zhang felt a chill run down his spine when he thought of Liu Miao's undefeated record since his debut. He even whispered a suggestion: "How about I relinquish my title and negotiate peace with Liu Miao? After all, Liu Miao and I are of the same clan, so he shouldn't be too ruthless."

Most of the Shu officials present felt a twitch in their eyelids!
What did Liu Zhang take the war for? Was it a game?

Now that Liu Miao has led a large army to our doorstep, do you still think you can make Liu Miao retreat without giving anything in return?

Moreover, Liu Zhang could withdraw, but what about these powerful clans in Shu? Were they just supposed to wait for Liu Miao to come and take away all their property and land to distribute to others?

"Your Highness can't!"

Wang Lei, an official from Yizhou and a representative of a powerful clan, immediately stood up to oppose it.

"A nation without integrity lacks authority! Your Highness's fickle nature belies the dignity of a king."

At the same time, Wang Lei comforted Liu Zhang, saying, "Liu Miao's arrival was indeed unexpected. But he probably also had the idea of ​​a quick victory and did not want to get entangled with our army, which allowed the Northern Zhao to take advantage of the situation and invade!"

"Therefore, Your Highness, as long as you can thwart their ambition for a quick victory, you will be able to make them return empty-handed!"

Liu Zhang's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Chief Clerk Huang Quan agreed, saying, "Liu Miao's sudden arrival is precisely to take advantage of our army's confusion and seize the initiative!"

"Shu has always been easy to defend and difficult to attack! If we send a good general to guard Baidi City in the east, it will be enough to prevent Liu Miao's thousands of troops from entering Shu!"

Wang Lei and Huang Quan gradually calmed Liu Zhang's anxious mind.

Liu Zhang sat back down on the bed: "But who should we send to guard Baidi City?"

At this moment, the brothers Zhang Su and Zhang Song stepped forward simultaneously—

"Your subject recommends Zhang Ren (Fazheng)!"

Ok?
The brothers exchanged a glance, both seeing the doubt in each other's eyes.

However, the officials in Shu were already discussing the two.

"Zhang Ren comes from a powerful family in Shu Commandery. He is brave and virtuous from a young age, and can be a good general!"

"Fa Zheng is the grandson of the renowned scholar Fa Zhen, and also a military advisor! He is certainly capable of becoming a good general!"

One was a powerful and influential family from Sichuan, and the other was a descendant of a famous scholar who had migrated from Guanzhong to Sichuan. It was obvious to anyone who these powerful families from Sichuan would choose!

Just as things were about to settle down and everyone was about to nominate Zhang Ren as general, Zhang Song suddenly said, "Has Your Highness forgotten Zhao Wei?"

Upon hearing this, even Liu Zhang couldn't help but become serious!
When Liu Zhang took over the power of Yizhou from Liu Yan, many powerful clans in Shu were actually dissatisfied.

Zhao Wei, a native of Anhan in Ba Commandery, was one of them.

Zhao Wei, in alliance with powerful local clans in Yizhou, rebelled against Liu Zhang. Shu Commandery, Guanghan, Jianwei and other places responded one after another, and their power was immense! If it weren't for the desperate resistance of the Dongzhou troops, and the betrayal of Zhao Wei's generals Pang Le and Li Yi, the position of ruler of Yizhou would probably have been taken by someone else long ago!
Although Liu Zhang was sometimes confused, he valued the survival of his power more than anything else!

If Zhang Ren becomes the second Zhao Wei, and no one can control him, how should I conduct myself?
"cough."

Liu Zhang ultimately did not choose to send Zhang Ren to Baidi City alone.

"Establish Zhang Ren as general and Fa Zheng as strategist, station them at Baidi to block Liu Miao!"

"Then we will appoint Yan Yan, the Prefect of Ba Commandery, as the rear guard to provide support! In this way, the border will be at peace!"

After the ceremony concludes.

Zhang Su caught up with his younger brother Zhang Song: "Ziqiao, why are you recommending Fazheng today?"

Zhang Song avoided his brother's gaze: "Xiaozhi is exceptionally talented; no one in the entire Shu region can compare to him! With him guarding Baidi City, the Shu region will naturally be safe!"

Zhang Su looked at Zhang Song with suspicion, but ultimately couldn't figure him out.

Before leaving, Zhang Su still left Zhang Song with some advice—

"We are from a powerful family in Sichuan, and we must not act rashly!"

"Under Your Highness's rule, we are able to realize our ambitions! If Liu Miao were to come here, we would surely perish without a burial place!"

"Brother, please don't say anymore, I know all of this."

Zhang Song seemed to want to say something but hesitated, ultimately revealing nothing to his elder brother.

------

Jiangling. After confirming the war in Shu, Liu Miao immediately went to Jingzhou.

"Zhongda, did you say that Yuan Shao would absolutely not march south?"

"Absolutely not."

Although the decision was made to attack Shu, Yuan Shao in the north still had no choice but to take precautions.

Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong, and others advised Liu Miao to deploy heavy troops in the Central Plains and have Lü Bu make some moves in Qingzhou to attract Yuan Shao's attention. However, Sima Yi, who was also discussing the matter, believed that there was no need to worry too much about Yuan Shao in the north.

"Yuan Shao has not yet emerged from the shadow of the defeat at Kunyang, and not long ago he suffered another crushing defeat at Liaokou. Now the people within his territory must be in uproar, demanding a period of rest and recuperation."

"Most importantly, Yuan Shao's side was not actually prepared to march south."

"Yuan Shao bestowed a golden seal upon Liu Zhang and enfeoffed him as the King of Shu, but this was merely to avenge Liu Bei, not to truly prepare for his southward advance."

Sima Yi was certain: "Yuan Shao will not take this opportunity to march south!"

Lu Su also agreed, saying, "Yuan Shao is an indecisive person."

"If Your Majesty suddenly decides to attack Shu, it will surely catch Yuan Shao off guard. If we make a show of force in the north at this time, it will only confirm Your Majesty's intention to attack Shu."

"On the contrary, if we remain inactive, given Yuan Shao's mindset, he will surely think that Your Majesty's attack on Shu is a pretense to lure him south, and he will not take the opportunity to move south!"

Lu Su wanted to set up an empty city ruse for Yuan Shao.

Holding back our troops might actually make Yuan Shao hesitant and afraid to march south!

And the most crucial point—

"Your Majesty should not forget that there is still a lot of smuggling trade between the Han Dynasty and Hebei through Guanzhong."

"Those who have profited will certainly not urge Yuan Shao to fight a decisive battle so quickly; instead, they will advise Yuan Shao to rest and recuperate."

Liu Miao immediately agreed to Sima Yi and Lu Su's plan, which was to keep the troops in the north in place, neither increasing nor decreasing their numbers, and to maintain the status quo.

As for the troops attacking Shu, they were mainly composed of the Jingzhou garrison, namely the navy under Gan Ning and the Changsha soldiers under Huang Zhong who were skilled in mountain warfare.

The two armies assembled and converged at Jiangling, each numbering over 20,000.

Together with the 10,000 imperial guards brought by Liu Miao, the total number was 30,000, though it was said to be 100,000, which was quite impressive!

When Liu Miao arrived in Jiangling, he did not first summon his generals to formulate a plan, but instead sought out Gan Ning.

"Xingba, do you know why I came to find you first?"

Gan Ning appeared somewhat timid in the face of Liu Miao, who had already declared himself emperor.

"Because I am from Shu, Your Majesty wishes to know about the terrain and customs of Shu?"

Liu Miao chuckled to himself.

"There are so many merchants traveling between Jingzhou and Shu, why don't I ask them instead of asking Xingba?"

However, Liu Miao went along with it: "Since Xingba wants to talk about it, then let him tell me."

Gan Ning looked somewhat melancholy: "Your Majesty is right. I haven't returned to Shu for several years, so how could I possibly know anything about it?"

"In the land of Shu, the mountains are green, and the waters are blue..."

Even though he couldn't even say a simple number, Gan Ning was now rambling on about the paths, rivers, and girls of his hometown.

For a long time, Gan Ning got so excited that he even drew his dagger from his waist and started brandishing it. However, Liu Miao didn't interrupt him. Instead, he listened with great interest as Gan Ning recounted his past experiences.

"..."

"Xingba used to be a real scoundrel."

This is Liu Miao's evaluation of Gan Ning's life in Shu.

Gan Ning blushed, but was powerless to refute.

Because it is.

Even now, when Gan Ning thinks back on it, he realizes that he didn't do anything good when he was a Jin Fan bandit, and he deserves the title of "scoundrel".

"Therefore, Xingba should think carefully about how he can be worthy of the title of General of Annam."

The title Liu Miao gave Gan Ning was not "Conquering the South" or "Suppressing the South," but "Annan."

"Have you heard about the criticisms you've received before, Xingba?"

"I have certainly heard of it."

Among the twelve generals, Zhang Liao and Gan Ning have faced the most criticism.

Some things, even if Gan Ning plugged his ears, he could still hear, so they couldn't be faked.

"Now, it's time to prove yourself."

Liu Miao gave Gan Ning a push from behind—

"Go and prove to the people of your hometown that you're not the same bastard you were back then!"

"You are now, Gan Xingba, the damned General of Annam of the Great Han!"

"In this campaign to conquer Shu, I will appoint you as the vanguard!"

Gan Ning took a deep breath: "Yes!"

"Your Majesty, rest assured! Even if this land of Shu were made of iron, I would still carve a hole in it!"

(End of this chapter)