Survival Three Kingdoms

Chapter 328
After sending Xin Ping away, Zhou Cang immediately called Zhang Jiong and Xu Huang.Now is the time for Xu Huang to reveal the overall battle plan, if there is any delay, Xu Huang might develop a grudge.

I wanted to hide Xu Huang from Xu Huang, because I was afraid of leaking the news. If Chen Jiao found out and leaked it to Cao Cao, it would be a failure. However, only Zhou Cang and Zhou Chong knew about Chen Jiao's relationship with Cao Cao. what happened.The second is that they are afraid that the generals will compete for success. Zhou Cang has not found a suitable replacement in the absence of Zhang Jaw.

"I called Yuanfang and Gongming here this time because I made up my mind to send troops to Liaodong, and I asked you to come and discuss."

Xu Huang was taken aback, "Why did my lord suddenly send troops to Liaodong? I am willing to take Liaodong for the general."

"Don't be in a hurry, Gongming. The reason for sending troops to Liaodong is due to multiple considerations: first, the large number of immigrants in the Dabie Mountains need to be resettled. Although Xuzhou can accommodate them, there will inevitably be insufficient cultivated land after a long time, so we must make early plans. Second, Ziming arrived in Dongdong. Lai wrote later that Gongsun Du of Liaodong once crossed the sea to occupy Donglai and other places, but was repelled by Yuan Tan. Since he can cross the sea, I can also cross the sea. Now the Central Plains has no place to use troops. If you don’t take Liaodong, sooner or later you will be defeated To seize it, it is better for us to start earlier. These three, Tian Guang said that his clan is in Liaodong, which can be used internally." Zhou Cang explained. "I have ordered Chen Dao and E Lai to go to Liaodong as internal responses."

"That's how it is. No wonder Chen Dao said goodbye to me just now, saying that the lord had a heavy responsibility to entrust me to manage the cracked earth camp." Xu Huang nodded. Hearing what Zhou Cang said, it seemed reasonable to send troops to Liaodong, and Zhou Cang I have made up my mind, now I have to study how to send troops.

"This battle can only be won, not defeated. The matter is of great importance. I intend to lead the army myself!" Zhou Cang said.

"My lord, don't do it!" Zhou Wen was shocked. It turned out that this was not the way to discuss it. Why did Zhou Cang change his mind? "My lord's body of ten thousand gold can't be moved lightly. It is enough to send a general."

"Exactly, what Mr. Yuanfang said is very true, my lord must not leave Xuzhou, Xu Huang is willing to fight!"

"Don't worry, I won't go to battle in person. The reason why I want to go in person is not to worry about the disadvantages of the battle, but to appease the army and people of Liaodong after the war, consolidate the defense of Liaodong, and the development strategy of Liaodong in the future. Who can replace me? "

Zhou Wen and Xu Huang opened their mouths, speechless.This reason is irrefutable. No one can replace Zhou Cang. This also includes the appointment and dismissal of Liaodong officials and a series of policies for governance. No one can make decisions, and no one dares to make decisions, not even Pei Yuanshao.

"I plan to leave for Donglai in January next year, and send troops in March. Apart from Chen Dao and Elai, I will transfer the first battalion of Gan Ning's navy, the second battalion of Pei Yuanshao and Zhou Cai's infantry, and the first battalion of Guan Hai's cavalry. , plus the Independent Battalion and the Engineer Battalion. Zhang Jiong, Cao Xing, and Wu Anguo sit in Donglai, but Xuzhou is not at ease, and only Gongming can make me feel at ease."

"Don't worry, my lord. With Yuanfang and I here, we will keep Xuzhou safe and sound." Seeing that he had no hope of leading the army, Xu Huang had no choice but to ask for orders to guard Xuzhou.

"I will go here for half a year at the shortest time, and I will definitely return for a year at the longest. I will entrust Xuzhou to the two of you. Yuanfang will take charge of government affairs, Gongming will take charge of military affairs, and you, Yuanba and Hansheng will do a good job of defense. Liao Hua's new barracks will increase. To 4000 people, do a good job of patrolling Xiapi and Pengcheng. You must pay close attention to the movements of Cao Cao and Sun Quan. Yuanlong is not in good health now. Chen Zhong is temporarily assisting him in Guangling. Gongming should keep in touch with Wei Xu, Ding Feng, and Xu Sheng .”

"Don't worry, my lord, Xuzhou still has tens of thousands of soldiers and horses. With Yuan Shao behind Cao Cao, he doesn't dare to act rashly, and Sun Quan doesn't dare to cause trouble. But, is the lord's army too few?" Zhou Wen said. "Although the lord should be prepared and have internal support in the city, there are only two battalions of soldiers and horses in the expedition to Liaodong, which is too small."

"Exactly." Xu Huang continued. "Xuzhou doesn't need to keep so many soldiers and horses. My lord, you might as well take the cracked soil battalion as the central army. In Xuzhou, the Zhiyan, Panshi, and Lightning battalions are enough."

Although the Cracked Earth Camp was reorganized after being beaten and disabled at Guandu, there are still many veterans in the camp who have experienced that war, and their combat capabilities are second only to the Panshi Camp and the Zhiyan Camp.Zhou Cang thought about it. "Okay, then I'll take charge of the cracked soil camp. Hehehe, cracked soil, okay, seal the border and crack the soil. As for the logistics supply, you don't have to worry about it, I will hand it over to Zhang Shuang and Su Ping."

"Yes!"

"This matter is still top secret, and you must not mention it to anyone. Since I have visited Guangling, let's use it as an excuse. Five days later, I announced to the outside world that I took the cracked earth camp to inspect various places. The first stop was Xiapi, and the second The first stop is Pengcheng, the third stop is Donghai, the fourth stop is Donglai, and the fifth stop is Chengyang. It is estimated that we will arrive in Donglai in early or mid-February."

"My lord is clever, so people don't know it, they all think that my lord is out on patrol. On the day my lord sent troops, I thought my lord was in Chengyang. Hehe~"

After Zhou Cang sent the two away, he called Ganchi, Zhou Chong, and Zhou Xi, told them that he was going to conscript himself, and told them to keep an eye on the officials and outsiders in Xuzhou, and find out why they found abnormal people. isolation.As for the reason for the isolation, Zhou Cang gave the best excuse, in the name of Mr. Hua Tuo, saying that these people need to be isolated and observed when they get sick.

After completing all the preparations, in mid-November of the sixth year of Jian'an, Yang Rui stayed at the State Shepherd's Mansion, and Zhou Cang took the cracked soil battalion to start his inspection. By the way, he also inspected the newly appointed and dismissed officials in the big exam. Zhou Cang was quite satisfied with the results. These new officials Although young and inexperienced, they are full of energy and do not have the bureaucratic habits and buck-passing of old officials.

Cui Jun, the prefect of Xiapi, asked how to collect taxes after the three-year tax exemption period that had been promised to the people had been reached.Zhou Cang pondered for a while and said: "Let's just pay 25 tax ones. From now on, it will be divided into five grades according to the harvest situation. Usually [-] tax ones, [-] tax ones in big harvest years, [-] tax ones in arrears, and the minimum [-] tax ones." , free from natural disasters.”

As soon as this order came out, Xiapi County rejoiced, and everywhere Zhou Cang passed was lined up to greet him.One thing worried Zhou Cang: Zhou Chong's spies reported that Cui Jun and Xu Du had a close relationship.Zhou Cang was not worried that Cui Jun would do something unfavorable, but it was hard to guarantee whether Cao Cao would make a fuss about it, and he would have to spend a little more brainstorming in the future, but he couldn't take care of it now.

Zhou Cang's trip was not only to deceive the world, but also to keep in mind the young cadres with outstanding abilities. In less than a year, this group of people will go to Liaodong as grassroots cadres.It's a pity that there is only one year of study and exercise.

The pointer of time runs according to the trajectory set by Zhou Cang, and it is the beginning of February of the seventh year of Jian'an when he arrives in Donglai.

(End of this chapter)