Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 418 A big game of chess

Strategic deception, diverting himself away from Cao Cao's plan, making him a part of Guan Yu's plan for the Northern Expedition to Xiangfan. Although Huo Jun was unwilling, he was forced by the situation and for the sake of the overall situation, so he had to do it.

What's the situation now?

When Guan Yu ascended the northern expedition to Xiangfan, even Liu Bei expressed his willingness to cooperate. At present, the Jianghuai Governorate District has no choice but to cooperate with Guan Yu in fighting.

At the same time, from the perspective of resource allocation, Liu Bei just raised 100,000 troops for the Northern Expedition to Shouchun this year. Judging from the material reserves and the large-scale recruitment of people from Jiangdong for corvee service, the Jianghuai Governorate District will no longer be able to launch a large army for the Northern Expedition in the short term.

On the contrary, the Nanjun area has a large population, has been recuperating for many years, and has sufficient reserves of military supplies. If the Southern Han Dynasty wants to make a northern expedition in the short term, it is most appropriate to use Jingchu supplies. Under this situation, the Jianghuai Governorate District either did not send troops, or sent some troops to cooperate in the battle.

From Huo Jun's own point of view, after experiencing the incident of 'King of Huainan', he finally understood the saying that a big tree attracts the wind. Now why not lower your sense of existence, follow the national strategy, and use yourself as a pawn of tactical deception to cooperate with the Jingchu war zone operations.

The protagonist goes on stage to sing, writes and rehearses the script, and sets up the stage. This is Huo Jun's current positioning of himself.

Therefore, based on the views of Zhuge Liang, Fazheng, Bu Zhi and others, Huo Jun has made a rough plan.

That is to say, using Cao Cao's alienation plan as a springboard, Liu Bei was allowed to transfer himself out of the Jianghuai Governorate. Then, Liu Bei mobilized his troops to Jiaozhou, giving the illusion that Jiaoling would be insurmountable for a long time, making Cao Cao believe that Liu Bei's current strategic focus was on integrating internal separatist forces.

The macro strategy confuses Cao Cao, and then the micro tactics can be used to advance the Xiangfan war, that is, Guan Yu's strategy is used to deceive Cao Ren and ambush him to win.

As for the war on the Jiaoling side, an appropriate strategy needs to be formulated for it, so as not to frighten Shi Xie due to the previous intimidation, which would lead to the erosion of the situation in Jiaoling.

Liu Bei stroked his beard and pondered, and agreed: "Cao Cao is suspicious and can't trust people. If you follow his plan and adjust Zhongmiao to Jianghuai, you can make him believe it. When the general surrendered the city, Cao Cao thought that I was aiming at Jiaoling, so he would definitely meet him. Send troops to meet them and profit from them."

Liu Bei and Cao Cao have known each other for many years, and they know each other's temperament well.

Cao Cao was suspicious and would not trust others easily, but Cao Cao was a confident person and was always confident in his own decisions.

Liu Bei took the initiative to spread the word, expressed his distrust of Huo Jun, and transferred Huo Jun to another place. Cao Cao might become suspicious.

But now Cao Cao is resorting to alienation tactics, originally intending to alienate Liu and Huo. Although Huo Jun is not seen rebelling today, Liu Bei is still suspicious of Huo Jun, so he will believe that his strategy will work. After all, the friendship between Liu and Huo was so deep that no ordinary person could realize it.

While thinking, Liu Bei said: "It would be wrong for Zhongmiao to act like this!"

"Ha ha!"

Huo Jun touched his moustache and said with a smile: "Cao Cao is plotting to taint me. If I don't find an opportunity to counterattack now, won't I let him think that I, Wu Chu, have no one?"

Zhuge Liang held a fan and commented, saying: "What Zhong Miao said is a good strategy. How to lure Cao Ren to fight now and how to level the mountain range requires careful discussion of the deployment."

After a pause, Zhuge Liang said: "If Lu Meng asked himself to be a surrender general, it would be difficult to set up an ambush at Dangyang."

Lu Meng asked himself to be a surrendered general, but it was not Guan Yu's order. But Guan Yu couldn't find a suitable candidate, so Lu Meng had no choice but to take the initiative to ask for help.

You ask why Guan Yu can't find a suitable candidate?

Because he thought that his subordinates were unlikely to rebel, such as Liu Zan, Lu Meng, Shi Ran, and Shi Ren. These people had either followed him for many years or followed Liu Bei for many years.

Let's talk about Shiren, the prefect of Yidu. He has followed Liu Bei since he launched his army. He can't be said to be rich and powerful, but he is also a man with an official residence of two thousand stones. He really can't find a reason to rebel.

After all, there must be a reason for rebellion. It does not mean that whoever has surrendered must surrender.

For example, if you say that General Jin, who has served Cao Cao for decades, surrendered to Guan Yu, even Guan Yu himself would not believe it.

Fazheng pondered for a while and said: "Lü Meng's request to surrender may make it difficult for Cao Cao to believe him. There is someone in Zheng's mind who may be able to pretend to surrender on Lü Meng's behalf and lure Cao Ren to fight."

"Who?" Liu Bei asked.

"Meng Zidu!"

Fa Zheng stroked his beard and thought, and said: "Zidu has great ambitions and really has strategies. I have been the governor of Badong for many years and have always had ambitions to show off my ambitions. Why not send Zidu to pretend to surrender, thinking that he will help General Guan and lure Cao Ren to send troops?" ."

Zhuge Liang looked puzzled and said: "Liang still remembers that Meng Badong's name is Zijing, which is the same as Suhou. How can he change the name to Zitu now?"

"Forehead!"

Fazheng was a little embarrassed and said: "Zidu had some feelings for Badong, so he changed his name from Zijing to Zitu."

Fa Zheng's explanation for Meng Da's change of character is far-fetched. In fact, Meng Da's intention to change his character attracted Liu Bei's attention. After all, Liu Bei had an uncle named Zijing, and Meng Da had lived in Badong for many years, so he naturally wanted to move up.

Seeing this, Huo Jun couldn't help but smile to himself.

Huo Jun saw clearly that Meng Da was mostly a man driven by greed. In the past, he was under Liu Zhang and felt that he had no future, so he changed his hands and joined Fazheng and defected to Liu Bei.

Historically, after taking refuge with Liu Bei, Meng Da turned to join Cao Pi because of Guan Yu's death, fearing that Liu Bei would blame him.

After Cao Pi's death, Cao Rui was not interested in Meng Da, and Meng Da flirted with Zhuge Liang again.

Seeing that Meng Da was unreliable, Zhuge Liang directly sold Meng Da to use him as a chess piece to attract Cao Rui's attention in order to achieve success.

When it comes to who among the Three Kingdoms can compete with Lu Bu, a slave of the three surnames, only Meng Da can compare.

During the First Expedition, Zhuge Liang sold Meng Da and was helpless. In fact, because Meng Da was such a bitch, in order to increase his social status, he flirted with Soochow and had a deep affection with Shu Han.

If Zhuge Liang hadn't forced Meng Da to rebel, it is estimated that Meng Da would have relied on the relationship between the three eastern counties being close to the borders of various countries to be able to exploit both sides and act as a wallflower when Cao Rui did not attack him. As for why Meng Da and Liu Feng didn't save Guan Yu, they were really in trouble at that time.

In May, the Battle of Hanzhong ended; in July, Liu Bei ascended the throne as King of Hanzhong; in August, Guan Yu entered Fancheng; during this period, Liu Feng and Meng Da were ordered by Liu Bei to attack the three eastern counties.

Due to insufficient troops, Guan Yu asked Liu and Meng to send troops to share the pressure. Liu and Meng refused to send troops to support them on the grounds that they had "not moved lightly since they first set foot on the three eastern counties." As a result, Guan Yu was defeated by Xu Huang under Xiangyang City and had no choice but to retreat to Hannan.

In November, Lü Meng crossed the river in white clothes. Mi Fang and Shi Ren surrendered. Jiangling was captured by Soochow. Lü Meng captured and killed Guan Yu in Maicheng.

The defeat of Guan Yu and the loss of Jingzhou were not due to incompetence of Liu Bei and Zhuge, but simply due to the flooding of the Seventh Army. The situation changed so fast that it was dizzying to see. Like a steam furnace that has been squeezed for a long time, the internal and external conflicts among the three families instantly exploded, causing drastic changes.

At that time, if Meng Da and Liu Fengruo had foreseen the outcome of Guan Yu's defeat, they would rather abandon the three eastern counties and would try their best to help Guan Yu.

After coughing a few times, Huo Jun said: "Xiao Zhi wanted to surrender as a son, but Jun Piao thought it was feasible. In the past, the three monarchs Zhang Song, Meng Badong, and Xiao Zhi welcomed the king to take Shu. During this period, Zhang Song uttered evil words and brought about his own destruction. . However, Meng Badong can be asked to use this fear as an excuse to write a letter to Cao Cao."

Zhuge Liang stroked the feather fan gently and said: "On the grounds that Zhang Song is afraid of being punished, it is more appropriate than Lü Meng to send a letter to Cao Cao. But I don't know what the king and Meng Badong want?"

Liu Bei was not affected by Zhang Song's old story at all, and said calmly, "If Zidu is willing to accept this important task, I think it is feasible."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty!"

Fazheng cupped his hands and replied: "Zidu has wanted to make great achievements for a long time. Now he is pretending to surrender to Cao Cao. This is an opportunity to make great achievements. How can Zidu not do it?"

"Zidu is currently the governor of Badong. Now he wants to pretend to surrender to Cao Cao. He should be reassigned to an official position so that he can contact Cao Ren."

Liu Bei leaned back on the bench and said thoughtfully: "I don't know what position to appoint? Governor of the Public Security City, or Governor of Dangyang City?"

As he spoke, Liu Bei shook his head and said: "The two city governors of the Public Security Bureau and Dangyang City have been guarded by Lu Meng and Shi Ran for a long time. Now that the city governors are replaced and Erqian Shi Shangqing is appointed, it will definitely make people suspicious!"

"Why not like this?"

Huo Jun's imagination opened up and he said: "The three counties of Shangyong, Xicheng and Fangling were previously occupied by the Shen brothers and the thieves. Now, why don't the king order the young master to seal off the three counties, and use Zidu as the deputy governor to integrate the three counties? In the county, the people of the Shen clan were moved to live in Wuhan."

"In the meantime, you can let Gongzi Feng and Zidu get angry and discord, causing the conflict to be known to the thieves. At that time, Zidu's letter to Cao Ren will be faked, and Cao Cao will definitely believe it."

Touching his moustache, Huo Jun thought to himself: "It is better to turn the real surrender in history into a fake surrender now. It should not be a problem for Liu Feng and Meng Da."

"Feng'er?"

Liu Bei looked troubled and said: "Feng'er has a straightforward temper. If I am entrusted with this important task of pretending to be demoted, I am afraid that Cao Ren will find out."

"otherwise!"

Zhuge Liang said with a smile on his face: "Young Master Feng has a straightforward temperament. When he goes out of town and has a gap with the general, I don't expect Cao Cao to be suspicious. As for the quarrel between Young Master Feng and Zidu, I should be warned by Haosheng, or I can let Uncle Guidance is given secretly through letters.”

As he said that, Zhuge Liang couldn't help but look at Huo Jun and thought to himself: "Let Liu Feng and Meng Da have a gap from each other, thinking that they are bewitching Cao Cao, but Zhong Miao is really thinking too much!"

"If Feng'er and Zidu are transferred to Shangyong, Xicheng, and Fangling counties, wouldn't it mean that the ambush location is changed to Fangling?" Liu Bei asked with doubts: "Fangling and Jiangling are connected by the Han River. But there is Xiangfan across the road. We take the land route to Fangling. I am afraid of inconvenience when marching with the army. I wonder what Yun Chang thinks?"

Zhuge Liang and Huo Jun looked at each other and smiled. Due to various factors, the two of them knew a lot about the geography of the three eastern counties.

The Han River originates from Longyou, passes through Hanzhong, passes through the three eastern counties, reaches Xiangyang, and flows into the Yangtze River.

Although the three counties in the east are pierced by the Han River, due to the Qinling and Daba Mountains, the mountains are high and the height of the Han River is too high, making it difficult for boats to travel and encounter large armies, making progress difficult but not retreat. Once Cao Ren is deceived into the Three East Counties, his skin will peel off even if he doesn't die.

Zhuge Liang smiled while stroking his fan, and said: "Fangling is mountainous, and it is close to the mountains and rivers. It is easy to advance and difficult to retreat. This is a dangerous place for troops. Compared with setting up an ambush in the sun, Fangling is a more suitable place. The strategy proposed by Huo Du , Gai is a sound plan.”

Historically, when Jiang Wan was in power, he tried to send troops to the three eastern counties, but finally considered the issue of retreat. That is, if he could not defeat the three eastern counties, it would not be so easy to withdraw his troops due to the terrain.

What is a famous general?

Only by easily revitalizing the current strategic deployment of the North and South of the Southern Han Dynasty can he dare to be called a famous general.

Whether it is to hand over first and then support, or first to support and then hand over, Huo Jun said he wants them all!

Looking at the overall situation, few people in the Three Kingdoms can compare with Huo Jun. With the help of available chess pieces, Huo Jun planned a shocking scam for Liu Bei.

Of course, Huo Jun was not the only one who had the wisdom. Guan Yu and Lu Meng initiated the strategy of luring the snake out of its hole. Zhuge Liang corrected the shortcomings, Fa Zheng recommended suitable candidates, and the strategy of sparing the crossing ridges step by step.

After learning about Huo Jun's plan, Liu Bei stood up excitedly and praised: "Zhong Miao is indeed worthy of being a national scholar. He has come to Wuhan for the first time and has such a strategy. If this strategy can be successful, Xiangfan will be ready soon!"

"Somebody come!"

Liu Bei pointed his fingers to the left and right and ordered: "Send the strategy mentioned by the ministers to Jiangling and let General Guan personally review it and consider it. To see if he agrees, Mengda will pretend to surrender and set up an ambush in Fangling."

"At the same time, we summoned Gongzi Feng and Meng Da to Wuhan to entrust us with confidential matters."

After Liu Chan was granted the title of Crown Prince, Liu Feng was not stationed in Wuhan due to his status. Instead, he was assigned by Liu Bei to station in Zhucheng, the other side of Wuhan, to help Wenpin share the pressure of guarding Jiangxia.

"promise!"

(End of this chapter)