The Three Kingdoms: Home Travel

(I have corrected the errors pointed out by previous readers, and I am deeply ashamed.)

An hour later, Chen Deng walked out of the Cao family residence with an indignant expression. He glanced back at the Cao family mansion and muttered, "You scoundrel! Not worth discussing things with!"

Cao Bao's words were simple: "Why does Yuan Long care so much about such a rabble? I'll handle the Ximen matter myself; Yuan Long need not worry about it. See him out!"

Chen Deng recalled Cao Bao's contemptuous gaze, and a nameless anger rose in his heart. According to his teacher, those Yellow Turban rebels were no rabble. Humph! Fine, you'll have to take full responsibility for it later!

Mi Zhu lowered his head and pondered for a while after reading the handwritten note. However, unlike Chen Deng, Mi Zhu did not see the value of this tactic. He thought to himself, "If the enemy comes in a righteous manner, I will fight in a righteous manner. Fight the enemy in a righteous manner, and wait for the enemy to tire themselves out. How can we not win?"

So Mi Zhu just smiled, said a few polite words, and dismissed Chen Deng.

The same was true for the West Gate and the South Gate. Chen Deng was disheartened and didn't even want to go to the governor's mansion. He went straight home and showed the item to his father.

After reading it, Chen Gui said contemptuously, "How could Cao Bao see the brilliance of this tactic? That brat Mi Zhu is too arrogant. How can he talk about fairness when fighting against bandits? Mi Zhu is nothing special. Yuanlong, it seems that I underestimated Jiang Shouyi."

"Although the teacher is usually humorous, what he says and what he has learned demonstrates great talent..."

"Hehe." Chen Gui stroked his long beard and laughed. "Let's see how he defeats the enemy. If it's truly as you claim, why shouldn't I personally congratulate him?"

"I heard that the teacher is getting married in a few days..." Chen Deng secretly observed his father's expression.

"You little rascal!" Chen Gui laughed heartily. "Wait until he drives away the Yellow Turban rebels before you say anything!"

"Yes, Father!" Chen Deng withdrew with satisfaction.

Watching his son leave, Chen Gui stroked his long beard and pondered. He had seen the changes in his son. As a father, how could he not know what kind of person his son was?

Yuanlong has always been arrogant, only paying attention to and treating with courtesy those whose talent rivals his. Yet now he is also kind and respectful to the servants in his mansion.

"This Jiang Shouyi is quite a shrewd man..." Chen Gui smiled slightly. Over seventy years old, how could he not know the truth about people's hearts? It's just that his son never listens, and as a father, he can't do anything about it. This Jiang Shouyi certainly has some good methods...

Within three days, the area outside the East Gate was completely transformed. Looking at Cao Bao's contemptuous gaze, Chen Deng secretly chuckled to himself, thinking, "How could you, you idiot, understand?"

Following Jiang Zhe's instructions, Chen Deng led the approximately three thousand soldiers through the trench in three separate trips. After understanding its function, the morale of the soldiers at the East Gate soared, as their chances of survival were greatly enhanced with this item.

Despite Jiang Zhe's impressive feats of conquering tens or hundreds of thousands of enemies in the game, in reality, he felt a pang of sympathy even for a single person. But how can war be fought without casualties?

Besides reducing unnecessary fighting, Jiang Zhe completely forgot about close combat. Watching Jiang Zhe carefully examine the sketch of the East Gate of Xuzhou, Xiu'er sighed slightly and took a long robe and draped it over Jiang Zhe's shoulders.

"Ah, Xiuer?"

"It's late, my husband..." Xiu'er sat down next to Jiang Zhe and made him a cup of tea.

Jiang Zhe glanced outside and, sure enough, it was pitch black outside. He said with some concern, "Xiuer, go to sleep first. I'll check again."

"How can you say that, my husband? You are working hard for the people of Xuzhou. How can I sleep alone? Besides..." Xiu'er glanced at Jiang Zhe, and her face immediately turned red.

For the past month, my husband has been holding me to sleep every night, and that feeling... is so blissful...

Jiang Zhe was also somewhat tempted, but after a moment's hesitation, he said, "Then Xiuer, wait for me a while, I'll think about it some more."

"kindness."

Jiang Zhe carefully examined the sketch outside the East Gate. This was the sketch he had asked Chen Deng for. In later generations, the forum experts all said that in warfare, terrain was of paramount importance because sometimes the weather was unpredictable and people's hearts were also difficult to fathom. Thus, terrain became the most crucial factor.

The terrain outside the East Gate seemed overly simple: a flat area, a grove of trees, and two small rivers—that was all. It seemed like the most suitable place to set up camp, but it was not far from Xuzhou, only about ten miles away.

Further towards Xuzhou, about a mile from the east gate of Xuzhou, lies the fortifications set up by Jiang Zhe. Due to time constraints and a shortage of personnel, the fortifications are only about 500 meters long, with the innermost 200 meters falling within the range of arrows from the Xuzhou city wall.

The antler-shaped chevaux-de-frise were driven directly into the ground, then covered with mud and water, freezing them together and becoming difficult to move.

On the city wall, Jiang Zhe also planned to place several huge bronze mirrors, so that at night, when illuminated by firelight, the outside situation would be clearly visible.

The sentries on the city wall were all Chen family retainers. It wasn't that Jiang Zhe looked down on the elite troops of Xuzhou; rather, he overestimated them and planned to use them as the main force for defending the city. As for the Chen family retainers, they were not as brave as the others, but as sentries, as long as they were careful, there would be no unexpected situations.

Jiang Zhe knew the principle that prolonged defense inevitably leads to defeat. He even planned to send a team to intercept the Yellow Turban army's supply lines, but after thinking about it, he realized he didn't know the enemy's strength and decided against it.

Throughout history, regardless of the general's strategy, attacking a city was the only option available. With the city walls in place, the defenders could achieve a casualty ratio of one to four, or even one to five.

Therefore, the enemy has very few options for taking Xuzhou, but the best one is to have an inside agent!

Thinking of this, Jiang Zhe secretly came up with an idea: to divide the two thousand elite soldiers of Xuzhou into two teams, one team into the trenches and the other team to rest (this refers to the beginning of the battle, after all, such a small place does not need so many people), and rotate them every one or two days. Five hundred of the one thousand Chen family retainers guarded the city walls, three hundred patrolled the east of Xuzhou City, and two hundred were reserved for emergencies.

Passwords are needed for patrols, and passwords are also needed to go to the city gates and walls. Hmm, I need to ask Chen Deng to come up with a way to prohibit people from lingering on the streets after nightfall.

Is there anything I've forgotten? Jiang Zhe tapped his head with his hand, but a small hand reached out and covered it, then gently massaged Jiang Zhe's temples to relieve his fatigue.

Jiang Zhe glanced at Xiu'er with gratitude, only to receive a glare in return. Well, according to Xiu'er's thinking, it was only right for me to do this. Her gratitude towards me was just treating me like an outsider.

If the timing weren't right, Xiu'er would have to tease Jiang Zhe a little with her charm.

Jiang Zhe could only close his eyes and enjoy Xiu'er's service. He went over it in his mind several times, but couldn't find anything he had missed. He then sighed with relief and stood up.

"I have already boiled water, my husband, please wash up and rest... The Yellow Turban Army will arrive in a few days, and I'm afraid it will tire you out..."

"As long as you're by my side, what am I afraid of!" Jiang Zhe chuckled.

"kindness……"

Warfare is a matter of life and death, survival and destruction; it is something that must be carefully considered!

Before Jiang Zhe even realized it, he had already accomplished the most basic things a general should do.

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