I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 471 The Winner and the Loser

Qingzhou, Pingdu.

The weather is getting colder.

So Yuan Tan's cook got up early to stew a pot of snow-white mutton soup for him, generously adding pepper and spices from the Western Regions, along with ginseng from Liaodong, and cooking it over a high flame, releasing a rich aroma. Let alone tasting it, even ordinary soldiers felt a surge of heat and their fighting spirit returned just from smelling it.

Yuan Tan picked out the mutton leg meat from the bowl and ate it all. He only took a sip of the mutton soup before having the bowl taken away. The happy waiter had just left Yuan Tan's sight when he picked up the bowl and drank the remaining soup in one gulp, making the personal guards in front of Yuan Tan's tent swallow their saliva with envy.

After rinsing his mouth with salt water and applying some ointment to his face and feet, Yuan Tan began to attend to official business.

They claimed to be handling official business, but in reality, they were just flipping through maps or even military books.

After accepting Chen Deng's dying advice, Yuan Tan made up his mind not to confront Liu Miao directly.

Meanwhile, inspired by Chen Deng, Yuan Tan also reread "The Art of War," especially the "Military Formations" chapter mentioned at the end by Chen Deng, which he regarded as the ultimate guideline.
"Those who are skilled in warfare in ancient times are those who win against those who are easy to defeat. Therefore, the victory of a skilled warrior is without fame of wisdom or merit of bravery. Thus, his victory is infallible. Infallible means that his actions are sure to succeed, and he defeats those who have already been defeated. Therefore, a skilled warrior establishes himself in an invincible position and does not miss the opportunity to exploit the enemy's defeat. Thus, a victorious army first secures victory and then seeks battle, while a defeated army first engages in battle and then seeks victory."

Good fighters have no illustrious feats.

Because those skilled in warfare always ensure their own invincibility and never miss any opportunity to defeat the enemy. Therefore, victorious armies always create the conditions for certain victory before seeking opportunities to engage the enemy; defeated armies often rashly engage the enemy first, hoping to win by chance through a bitter struggle.

In the past, Yuan Tan always scoffed at these military books when he read them.

What valiant warrior has no glorious achievements?

A general should be like a star, shining brightly in the sky; such a person is a star general!

Are we to say that people like Lord Wu'an Bai Qi and Marquis Huaiyin Han Xin were not renowned military talents?

Only now, facing the decisive battle with Liu Miao, did Yuan Tan truly understand the meaning of those words.

War should never be about taking risky moves.

War should be like bursting a dam bursting through a mountain stream, unstoppable!

If you fight a battle and end up looking disheveled, even if you manage to win, you probably can't be called a great general, right?

Yuan Tan carefully studied military strategy and, combining it with practical experience, gained a clearer understanding of the current situation.

Now, he is the victorious army that has created the conditions for invincibility and is just waiting for Liu Miao to make a mistake.

Liu Miao's army, on the other hand, was a defeated force that could only rashly start a war and then beg for a lucky victory!
After understanding this, Yuan Tan couldn't help but feel a little elated.

After fighting for so many years, this was the first time Yuan Tan felt that the war was so easy and clear to him.

At this moment, Yuan Tan even felt that he was worthy to sit with military strategists like Jiang Shang and Sun Tzu, where they could freely discuss military strategy, analyze gains and losses, and enjoy themselves immensely...

"If I have the time after I have pacified the world, I should write a military treatise to pass on to future generations."

While in Ye City, Yuan Tan had heard that his father-in-law, Cao Cao, was apparently writing a military treatise called "Mengde's New Book".

Then, we can compare the two and see who is better!

"Your Highness! Something terrible has happened! Wang Xiu has defected!"

In a single sentence, Yuan Tan was brought down from his pedestal.

Yuan Tan's eye twitched.

At that moment, the figures of Jiang Shang and Sun Wu in front of him vanished into thin air, leaving only a Yuan army scout prostrate on the spot with a look of fear on his face.

"What did you say?!"

"Wang Xiu! Wang Xiu has defected!"

"Bastard!"

Yuan Tan was furious!

"I know Wang Xiu better than you do! How could a loyal and righteous man like him possibly defect so easily?"

Although Wang Xiu released Chen Gong and Lü Bu's family, Yuan Tan still trusted Wang Xiu's character.

Wang Xiu was known for his virtue and was famous throughout Qingzhou!

At the age of twenty, Wang Xiu traveled to Nanyang to study and stayed at Zhang Feng's house. Zhang Feng's whole family fell ill, and no one visited them. Wang Xiu took pity on them and personally cared for them until they recovered before leaving.

When Wang Xiu was recommended as a candidate for the civil service examination, he gave the position to Bing Yuan, believing that his virtue could not surpass that of the other. Even when Kong Rong personally wrote a letter to dissuade him, Wang Xiu did not agree.

Furthermore, when Wang Xiu was serving as an official under Yuan Tan, Liu Xian, the Prefectural Governor, repeatedly slandered and framed Wang Xiu. Later, Liu Xian was sentenced to death for some offense, but Wang Xiu presided over the case, and Liu Xian was spared death!
It was precisely because of this incident that Wang Xiu was directly appointed by Yuan Shao as the Prefect of Qingzhou!
How could such a talented person, who did not seek wealth, fame, or profit and was a model of a scholar, choose to defect?
Therefore, Yuan Tan's first reaction was disbelief!

If Wang Xiu is that kind of villain, then there probably won't be any gentlemen left in the world!
Yuan Tan finally accepted the fact only after the scouts produced evidence proving that Wang Xiu had indeed left.

"Wang Xiu! How dare you betray me!"

Yuan Tan let out a wail, his entire face turning bright red.

But Yuan Tan's first thought was not why Wang Xiu had defected.

He simply felt that Wang Xiu's actions were a disgrace to him and to the Yuan family!
The Yuan family should be the rulers of the land, and should stand as the successors of the Han dynasty. This is the will of the people and the popular support they deserve!
But Wang Xiu, a universally recognized model of a scholar, actually chose to defect to the Yuan family!
Doesn't this mean that Yuan and Zhao were unpopular?
If it were someone else, Yuan Tan might not have been so angry.

But it was Wang Xiu who defected!
The more you know Wang Xiu, the more you realize that he is not the kind of person whose resolve is shaken by fame and fortune.

The only things that could make him waver were morality and virtue.

Wang Xiu's actions were clearly a declaration to the world that the Yuan family's morality was lacking and that Yuan Tan's character was insufficient!
How could Yuan Tan tolerate this?

However, the matter is clearly not over yet...

The scout then presented another official document.

"And this is also there, Your Highness. Please take a look."

"..."

Yuan Tan took it and casually glanced at it.

But soon, Yuan Tan's eyes widened as he carefully examined the numbers on the table.

The next moment, bloodshot veins appeared in Yuan Tan's eyes!
"Where is the grain? Why is there such a shortage of grain?"

The scouts remained silent.

However, this clearly did not quell Yuan Tan's indignation.

He slammed the official document into the other man's face, gritting his teeth: "Speak! Is it Wang Xiu? No, Wang Xiu isn't that kind of person... Then could it be..."

Yuan Tan was instantly filled with fear!
He seemed to understand why Wang Xiu had chosen to defect at this time...

"Investigate! Find out exactly how much grain and fodder is left in the treasury! I don't care about the figures on these official documents!"

Yuan Tan's anger gradually turned into fear.

Right now, he holds the most elite heavy cavalry of Yuan's army, as well as the capital he had accumulated by selling out his country.

If food supplies were to suddenly run out, the future of Northern Zhao would be completely ruined!

At this moment, Yuan Tan still held onto a sliver of hope.

It's like the luck of "fighting first and then seeking victory".

He hoped that this was just something Wang Xiu had deliberately left to disrupt his army's morale, or even that Han spies had somehow altered the amount of grain on the report.

The treasury of Qingzhou should still be full, enough for him to wear down Liu Miao, enough for him to become the invincible victorious army!

But the harsh reality was like a sharp sword piercing straight into Yuan Tan's heart.

"Your Highness, the current food supplies will only last for half a month at most..."

Yuan Tan suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded.

Compared to this news, he would rather Liu Miao's army of 100,000 suddenly appeared outside!
With an army of 100,000, he still has the strength to fight!
But if food supplies run out, then there's really nothing we can do!
At this moment, another Wuhuan man entered Yuan Tan's tent. Although he imitated the etiquette of the Han people quite well, his arrogance and haughtiness remained undiminished.

"Your Highness, the Chanyu sent me to inquire when the grain supplies will be delivered."

The more you don't want to hear something, the more likely you are to hear it. Yuan Tan was somewhat agitated when he heard the words "grain and fodder," but in front of the Wuhuan people, he pretended to be calm.

He knew that these Wuhuan people were indeed insatiable wolves!
If they knew that their food supplies were about to run out, the first thing they would do would be to turn around and tear apart the master who raised them!

"I understand. I will send it to the Chanyu tomorrow."

The Wuhuan man was overjoyed to receive an affirmative answer: "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Yuan Tan waved his hand, signaling the other party to step back.

Meanwhile, Yuan Tan summoned his advisors and, with a sense of helplessness, ordered: "From this day forward, the soldiers' rations will be halved. Gather enough provisions tomorrow and send them to Tadun."

The aide looked puzzled and asked incredulously, "All the soldiers? Including the cavalry and the Guanzhong warriors under Your Highness's command?"

"OK! OK!"

Yuan Tan urged the other party with considerable annoyance, but did not give him any explanation, which made his staff members feel somewhat resentful.

"Instead of feeding their own people, they're giving grain and fodder to the Wuhuan people?"

Such things simply cannot be kept secret in a place like a military camp.

All the soldiers of Yuan's army cursed loudly when they saw the meager rations in their hands and the grain being transported to the Wuhuan camp!

"Damn it! I'm fighting on the front lines, and this is what you feed me?"

"You sons of bitches! Your mother was raped by the Wuhuan people, so you want to recognize them as your father?"

"Damn it! The grain we Han people grow in Youzhou, and you're giving it to the Wuhuan people?"

"..."

The situation escalated to the point that Yuan Tan had to send his deputy to explain the situation to Yuan's troops.

"There is enough food! There has been a slight mishap at the rear. The brothers' rations will arrive in a while, so please bear with it for now."

But the hungry soldiers clearly didn't buy into it.

"Why the hell didn't they tell the Wuhuan people to just put up with it?"

"Exactly! The Wuhuan people are human, but we Han people aren't?"

The deputy general glared at those troublemakers.

what why?
Are you suggesting we tell them that the Wuhuan people are truly capable of rebellion because they are starving? But how come the Han people wouldn't rebel if they were just hungry?
And what Han Chinese? We're all Zhao people now! Naturally, we should follow the Yuan family's rules!

The deputy general forcibly punished several soldiers who were shouting the loudest with military law, while also assuring the soldiers that he would give them an extra meal after the food arrived in a few days.

Only then did Yuan's soldiers finally quiet down and decide to continue to endure...

"Your Highness, this won't do!"

The deputy general and his staff surrounded Yuan Tan at the same time.

"No matter how the war goes, we can't afford to run out of supplies!"

Yuan Tan had a headache from all the noise.

Who doesn't know the truth?

But now there's no food, that's all! Does he think he can conjure up food supplies?
At the same time, Yuan Tan also felt some regret.

If the Wuhuan had not been allowed to plunder the people of Qingzhou, and had been allowed to continue to recuperate, perhaps some food could have been squeezed out of them.

But now that everyone has been driven to Jiaodong, all that's left for them is an endless wilderness. Even if they wanted to make the people suffer even more, where could they go to suffer?

Unbeknownst to him, Yuan Tan had run out of options.

As for retreating? That's even more impossible!

Yuan Tan was determined to fight this battle for his position as crown prince!
Yuan Tan was extremely anxious at this moment.

As if without realizing it, he had already transformed from a victorious soldier who "won first and then sought battle" into a defeated soldier who "fought first and then sought victory"!

He couldn't understand why things had changed so drastically overnight!

Ye City, Qingzhou, Wuhuan, soldiers, common people...

In an instant, it felt as if the whole world was against us!
“Liu Miao…”

Yuan Tan can only place his hopes on Liu Miao now.

He hoped that Liu Miao would be the first to give up!

He hoped that Liu Miao would launch the attack on him first!
If we can defeat Liu Miao, then all the problems will cease to be problems!

"I remember that all the trees near Jimo should have been cut down."

"Moreover, Yuanlong also said that Liu Miao was marching rapidly, so he would not be carrying too much food and supplies."

Yuan Tan can only continue to cling to a sliver of hope.

Fortunately, Liu Miao ran out of supplies before him and chose to take the initiative!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Jimo, the Han army camp.

Liu Miao, Zhou Tai, Chen Wu, and Sun Ce sat around a pit, gazing longingly into the distance.

"Your Majesty, is it really safe to eat meat buried in the ground?"

“It’s packaged!”

Judging that the time was about right, Liu Miao used the wooden stick in his hand to peel away the layer of coal on top, and soon a large, dark mass was revealed.

Sun Ce and the others all showed expressions of doubt.

However, as Liu Miao carefully cut the thin string wrapping the chicken, a wonderful aroma of chicken burst forth!
"It smells so good!"

"Haha! What did I tell you!"

Liu Miao unceremoniously tore off the fattest thigh, and the others scrambled to grab it, quickly turning it into a mangled chicken skeleton.

"Who the hell ate all the bones?"

"It doesn't matter! Hurry up and bake another one!"

Zhou Tai, who had only managed to grab the chicken neck earlier, continued digging a pit nearby, calling Chen Wu over to help.

Meanwhile, Chen Gong, licking a chicken rib, leaned close to Liu Miao and asked, "Your Majesty, when do you think Yuan Tan will launch his attack?"

"No hurries?"

Liu Miao licked his oily fingers clean, one by one.

"In any case, Yuan Tan has already lost this battle."

"After that, all we have to do is watch how he gets himself killed!"

"In military strategy, what's this called again?"

Chen Gong quickly replied, "The skill of a strategist is to win without seeking fame for wisdom or merit for bravery. Therefore, his victories are infallible. And those who are infallible are those whose every move is guaranteed to succeed, for they have already defeated their opponents!"

Chen Gong then smiled easily.

True.

The battle has not yet begun.

However, Yuan Tan has already become the loser!
(End of this chapter)