Silver Fox of the Three Kingdoms

Under the courtyard corridor, several people sat in rows.

Liu Bei questioned the three advisers, and Sun Quan sent people to discuss peace and asked for Jiaozhou.

Shen Chen smiled and said, "Give it to him if he wants it, and let him get it by himself."

"Although Jiaozhou borders Yangzhou, the only direct borders are Yuzhang and the south of Kuaiji."

Liu Bei said: "It's full of continuous mountains and the roads are impassable. What the messenger means is that Jiangdong is offering a memorial service to Zhou Yu and wants to invite people to Jiangdong for business talks."

"It's been almost two months and Zhou Yu hasn't been buried yet?"

Shen Chen laughed dumbly and said, "It's really tiring to be a subject of Sun Quan, it's tiring to live, and you'll suffer when you die."

"Can't say that."

Liu Bei waved his hand and said, "In ancient times, when the emperor passed away, it happened that he stopped for a year and waited for the condolences of the princes from all over the world. What does Kong Ming think of this incident?"

Zhuge Liang buried his head in thought and said, "Sun Quan was afraid that he wanted to make some kind of deal with us, and he was also afraid that Cao Cao would find out, so he wanted to invite us to Jiangdong for talks in the name of condolences to Zhou Yu. This matter may be to go to Jiaozhou via Jingnan."

But the problem is that Jiaozhou is too far away.

Zhuge Liang said, "What did you think of?"

A gentle breeze blew towards his face, blowing Shen Chen's long temple hair gently and covering his face.

If ethnic minorities are included, the population may be closer to 500 million.

"Hahahahahaha."

Shen Chen stroked his chin in thought.

"What is brother thinking?"

Liu Bei said with a smile: "After all, this matter is also an agreement to Sun Quan's covenant conditions. If you don't abide by it, won't you let me break my promise? Since he wants to talk, let's talk. I will send Gongyou as an envoy to go there in the name of condolences to Zhou Yu." Jiang Dong, what do you think?"

The three of them walked side by side, people were coming and going on the street, and the guards around them protected them as they walked forward, but everyone saw Shen Chen, who was wearing a blue brocade robe with a knife hanging from his left waist, the merchants made way for him, and the people took off their hats Paying tribute, the scholars bowed their hands to him, and everyone respected him.

Therefore, Liu Bei's talent pool can be said to be still insufficient.

Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "Let's look at this matter again. I don't think it is necessary to refuse."

Although now there is an extra Shen Chen, but Shen Chen is like an enhanced version of Cheng Yu, both civil and military, and his internal affairs ability is far less orderly than Zhuge Liang's. He can only provide advice, and if he does practical things, he may not do well.

At that moment, several people discussed some other matters, such as eliminating the army, training soldiers, appeasing the family, and managing people's livelihood.

Due to the long distance, high mountains, inconvenient transportation, miasma and other problems, it is difficult for him to develop the rule of Jiaozhou.

Zhuge Liang said: "I'll go too. Although Jiangdong is newly defeated, I think it's best to take Yizhou first. Yizhou is currently in serious civil strife. Liu Zhang and Zhang Lu are fighting endlessly. Seeing that Luocheng is about to lose its hold, if you can't intervene immediately, In case Yizhou is acquired by Zhang Lu, it will be even more difficult to go west to Yizhou, so now we need to negotiate peace with Jiangdong."

Not to mention Jiaozhou, even Jingzhou was a remote area in the Han Dynasty. Except for Nanyang, all places including Nanjun and Jiangxia to the south were remote and wild places for the Central Plains people.

So now Shen Chen is not only a general who is good at fighting, or a strategist who is good at planning, but also a great Confucian in Jingzhou who is proficient in the Seven Classics and even established new theories.

Xu Shu said, "What is your plan for this first step?"

This level of great Confucian status is also one of the reasons why he is widely respected.

Therefore, it is the best choice to fight Yizhou first.

Even if the population of Jiaozhou is relocated, and people are sent to serve as the prefects of the counties to collect local taxes and do maritime trade to make up for the losses of Yangzhou, it is difficult to bring him too much real benefit.

This is the strategic intent.

The main reason is that the soldiers and horses in Yizhou lost a lot. Thirty thousand Dongzhou soldiers were lost in the first battle of Zigui. Later, Zhang Lu attacked Yizhou, and Pang Xi was defeated again and again. With Cai Mao involved, it was a mess.

Xu Shu is good at military affairs, a bit like Xun You, good at tactics.

It can be seen that Jingzhou and Jiaozhou are remote.

Zhuge Liang put his hands behind his back, looked down at the walk, and said with some doubts: "It's just that Sun Quan doesn't know the pros and cons of seizing Jiaozhou. Why is it so?"

Zhuge Liang is a hexagonal fighter, who knows almost everything about politics, military affairs, strategy, economy, diplomacy, and law, except that his strength may be slightly lower. He is even excellent in inventions, literature, and thinking.

"Borrow him."

Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "I think Sun Quan's ambition is not small. I am afraid that this time he joined forces with Cao Cao to carve up Jingzhou, but Xiaoqing defeated it. Yuan Zhi is right. Now Jiangdong's vitality is seriously injured, and it really needs to be made up. Using Jingnan as an excuse to attack Jiaozhou on the pretext of the original covenant, if he deploys troops in Jiaozhou, he may have the intention of spying on Jingnan."

At that time, Sun Quan really sent troops there, but with fewer troops, the local people would not pay attention to him at all, and maybe they would unite with a few people to resist his rule.

Liu Bei turned his head to look at Shen Chen and said, "Xiaoqing, what do you think?"

Shen Chen nodded and said: "Sun Quan is ambitious and will not give up. Maybe he just wants to spy on Jingnan. Although Jiaozhou and Yangzhou are connected, there are too many mountains and miasma in the middle. Even if Sun Quan wins it, it will be difficult to grow much. Only Jingnan is relatively rich, such as Changsha County and Lingling County have a population of more than one million, and they are connected to Yuzhang and Nanchang, so they can dispatch troops quickly, this is probably his idea."

"Sun Quan would accept his fate so willingly? I don't believe it. I'm afraid this kid is planning some bad idea."

"Ah."

Shen Chen brushed her long hair behind her ears, squinted her eyes and looked up at the sky.

"Yes."

Xu Shu was confused and asked, "What happened?"

At this point, Sun Quan seemed a bit stupid and insisted on handing over to the state.

If you want to retrain an elite navy, build their military spirit, military bones, and temper their courage, it will take at least one or two years to integrate.

During the Hedi period, Jiaozhou had a population of more than 50 million in 200 households, and was rich in spices, wood, treasures, etc.

Xu Shu said to Zhuge Liang: "Kong Ming, if this is the case, then when you go to Jiangdong as an envoy, you should find a way to refuse."

The problem is that Jingzhou has been fighting for years, Cai Mao's attack on Yizhou from the west was defeated, and Huang Zudong's capture of Yangzhou also suffered heavy losses.

"There is no need to refuse, just give him an excuse."

It can be seen from this that Liu Bei entrusted his wealth and life to Shen Chen.

Shen Chen nodded, and said with a little seriousness: "Yes, I just feel that the burden on my body is extremely heavy. If I don't do it well, I will let General Zuo down."

Xu Shu pondered and said: "Now Jiangdong is unable to seize Jingzhou after Hongkou's defeat. If I were Sun Quan, I would find a way to recuperate and make up for the loss. Back then, my lord promised to give him Jiaozhou. Although Jiaozhou is remote, it is rich in spices, If wood and treasures can be communicated, they may be able to restore some vitality, so I am afraid that they want to use Jingnan to send troops."

Because with Shen Chen taking over the power, if he chose to backstab himself, then Liu Bei would have little place to stand.

Shen Chen solemnly said: "I will live up to the general's entrustment!"

Zhuge Liangliang nodded and said: "Now Jingzhou's army adds up to more than [-], we have to reduce the old and the weak, and keep the elite. We can take [-] soldiers from Xichuan. After that, you can march into Jiangdong."

Jiaozhou is a piece of tasteless.

Shen Chen nodded and said: "It is true that Yizhou should be taken first. If we take Jiangdong, Sun Quan relies on the natural dangers of the Yangtze River and sticks to the defense of the river. Although our fleet defeated the Jiangdong ships, the number of the navy is less than [-]. Jiangdong needs to retrain the sailors, otherwise it will be very difficult."

The main reason is that Liu Bei's advisors are far from being as comprehensive as Cao Cao's advisors, or that there are insufficient talents in reserve.

"Ah."

Shen Chen said: "I'm here to rectify the military affairs. The work of fertilizing the land, reclaiming new fields, reducing the number of retired soldiers and resettling refugees may have to be handed over to my brother."

Not only because Shen Chen fought well, but also because he educated his disciples, and the theory has been spread, including Longzhong Township and Xinye County. "Shen's Classic Collection" was printed in volumes, and even if they were not his disciples, they would buy them to watch.

Shen Chen laughed loudly and said, "Brother is indeed what I thought."

"Just to see if you think what I think."

Shen Chen nodded slightly in return to everyone who saluted him, and said as he walked: "Again, brother is going to Jiangdong, what do you think Jiangdong suddenly invited us to discuss under the guise of Zhou Yu's memorial service? ?”

"Why should I lend him a way?"

Now that Jingzhou has been pacified, Liu Bei needs to do the following things.

This is what is very realistic in front of them.

Zhuge Liang said with a smile: "Now the eldest son is seriously ill, let the lord attend the Fuzhou affairs, the lord is going to prepare for the attack on Xichuan, entrust the state affairs to Xiaoqing, this is entrusting the future to Xiaoqing."

"Brother is testing me?"

After arriving in Jingzhou, I finally got two capable advisers, Xu Shu and Zhuge Liang.

It sounds good. If Sun Quan connects Yangzhou and Jiaozhou together, it seems that he can grow stronger, and the population under his rule will approach tens of millions.

Shen Chen also said: "That's right, even though I think Sun Quan's future troubles and difficulties are much stronger than those of Zhang Lu and Liu Zhang, but given the current situation, we should still take advantage of the situation, develop steadily, and then plan other things."

Among them, he entrusted the entire Jingzhou to Shen Chen, which meant that Shen Chen was the main one.

Moreover, there are not only ethnic minorities in the local area, but also the Han people do not accept Wanghua, and the clan power still exists after 2000 years.The population that can actually be ruled may be the county seat, and the royal power cannot go to the countryside, and the benefits obtained are not as great as imagined.

Shen Chen smiled and said, "Brother really thought of it too."

The first is to stabilize the interior, manage people's livelihood, appease the aristocratic family, rectify military affairs, restore the economy, and select talents.

At the end of the Han Dynasty, due to the chaos in the north, many people migrated to the south. Jiaozhou was not affected by the war, and its population development was much higher than that of Emperor Hedi.

Due to various factors, Yizhou has very few troops capable of fighting, less than 3 people. They were defeated by Zhang Lu's army and could not hold on.

He is responsible for reducing the old and weak in the Jingzhou army and training soldiers.

"Well, according to Xiaoqing and Kong Ming's words, protect Jing and benefit, and attack Jiangdong after Yizhou is pacified."

Shen Chen will handle these matters.

"Divide and strike."

Because according to the latest news, just like Liu Bei's counterattack against Liu Zhang in history, Zhang Lu's army is powerful and has surrounded Luocheng for half a year. Now Luocheng is guarded by Zhang Ren and Liu Zhang's son Liu Xun, and Chengdu is also in jeopardy.

Shen Chen explained: "The Jiangdong army attacked Jiaozhou. Jiaozhou is remote and travels long distances. Didn't he divide his troops to weaken Yangzhou's strength? Yangzhou has not many troops, so it can no longer pose a threat to Jingzhou. After General Zuo pacifies Xichuan, he will turn back. Wouldn't it be much easier to eliminate Sun Quan who divided his troops?"

Wang Can wrote about this in his poem, "Jingman is not my hometown, so why stay in prostitution for a long time. The ark sails across the river, and the sun and the evening worry about my heart."

Liu Bei looked at Shen Chen and said, "Xiaoqing, I promised my soldiers from Dongzhou that I would take them back to Yizhou. If there is any change in Yizhou, I may go to Xichuan immediately, and then Jingzhou will be entrusted to you. What do you think?"

Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, Panyu in the Han Dynasty and Guangzhou in later generations have been treaty ports. The five baht coins of the Han Dynasty unearthed in the Philippines in Southeast Asia in later generations are the best proof.

Liu Bei said: "Although I want to keep my promise, I will give Jiaozhou to Sun Quan, but if I want to fight against Cao Cao, I must unify the south. The Sun family must also be eliminated. Since you all said that Yizhou should be taken first, then I should stick to Jingzhou , to rectify the troops and train the sailors, is that so?"

And Zhuge Liang is responsible for coordinating the overall situation, which is equivalent to Xun Yu's position in Shangshutai.

After the small meeting was over, Zhuge Liang, Xu Shu and Shen Chen walked out of the mansion. It was already in the afternoon, the spring rejuvenation was early in the south, the sun was shining, and the weather was comfortable.

And Liu Bei's early counselors Mi Zhu, Sun Qian, and Jian Yong were basically lobbyists. They could handle a little paperwork, but they thought too much about planning the army, the country, and the world.

In addition to the five great advisers, Cao Cao's advisers also included second-line advisers such as Mao Jie, Dong Zhao, Lou Gui, Cui Yan, and Hua Xin.

And Liu Bei himself has to actively prepare for the second thing, so the affairs of Jingzhou can only be taken care of by Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang.

The second is to station troops in the Three Gorges area and prepare to attack Xichuan.

So since Sun Quan wanted to make a bad move himself, it was natural for him to make the move, so why stop him?
"only."

Xu Shu was in charge of Liu Bei's military affairs.

But he is alone, and he has no skills.

This is not only a responsibility, but also an unconditional trust.

It would be more interesting to send more troops, Yangzhou is empty, just wait for Shen Chen to train the navy, the army will be overwhelming, and Sun Quan will be gone.

If you want to attack Jiangdong, you must have a naval force. Cai Mao's Yangtze River Navy is still there and has already surrendered, while Huang Zu's Jiangxia Navy has less than 6 left.If the two armies add up, there may be about [-] people.

You can wait a year or two to fight Jiangdong, but you can't delay in Yizhou.

"I don't want to wait for General Zuo to take Yizhou, and take advantage of the emptiness of Jingzhou's troops to try to seize Jingnan or Jingzhou."

Shen Chen shrugged: "You'll know what he's up to once you think about it."

Xu Shu said: "Then if we lend him the way, wouldn't that mean we are leading wolves into the house? Their naval forces are strong. They really took Jingnan and blocked the river. I'm afraid it will be difficult to rush to help."

"Led the wolf into the house?"

A smile appeared on the corner of Shen Chen's mouth: "Wrong, this is called closing the door and beating the dog. Sun Quan? If he dares to come, he will definitely come back!"