Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

“Gong Ze is absolutely right,” Xu You also chimed in, agreeing.

“Gongsun Bogui intends to maintain this stalemate, aiming to deplete Han Fu and our army's resources, avoiding a situation where defeating our army would only benefit Han Fu.”

“For if Gongsun Bogui were to engage in a decisive battle before winter, even if he defeated our army, the cavalry would find it difficult to move in the winter, wouldn't that both benefit Han Fu and give our army a chance to recuperate?”

“Therefore, Gongsun Zan will inevitably launch a large-scale offensive after the spring of next year.”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the tent couldn't help but nod, which brought a bit of joy to Yuan Shao's face.

Perhaps, it seems beneficial for Gongsun Zan to deplete the resources of both Yuan and Han through this stalemate, but in reality, what Yuan Shao lacks most is time.

With the profound foundation supported by the aristocratic families, Yuan Shao is not short of money and food at the moment.

What Yuan Shao lacks is the time to build military equipment and armor.

In the past, even when the Yuan family's prestige was at its peak, they still didn't dare to manufacture various prohibited military equipment and armor on a large scale in private.

This led to a situation where, after Yuan Shao raised his army, he could recruit a large number of young men with sufficient money and food, but the treasury didn't have enough military equipment and armor to equip the soldiers.

Therefore, even if the consumption of money and food during this stalemate is severe, Yuan Shao is not in a hurry to engage in a decisive battle.

The strategists were still constantly discussing and deliberating on various strategies to deal with Gongsun Zan.

“However, although Gongsun Zan is self-opinionated, we still need to continue to show weakness. We should also create more smoke in the camp, and even spread the news that the lord is going to increase taxes on the territory, creating the illusion that the lord's money and food are being depleted too quickly and are already in short supply.”

“We can also continue to contact the former officials of the Yuan family who are still under Han Fu, and instigate them to clash with Gongsun Zan, thereby continuously worsening the relationship between Gongsun Zan and Han Fu.”

“If we can instigate Gongsun Zan and Han Fu to turn against each other, that would be the best.”

“Han Fu is weak and timid, and will definitely not dare to openly antagonize Gongsun Zan, but if we find ways to continue to increase Gongsun Zan's arrogance, the accumulated contradictions will surely be effective.”

“According to the scouts' reports, Liu Xuande's Zhao Yun and Guo Jia have also appeared in Gongsun Zan's army, is there any way to take advantage of this… … ”

Under the discussion of the strategists in the tent, one strategy after another, whether overt or covert, real or false, was constantly produced, and Yuan Shao continued to adopt them after careful consideration.

Now, the difference in strength between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan on paper is too great, as long as there is a strategy that has even a bit of effect, Yuan Shao will not hesitate to invest three points to implement it, in order to increase the chances of winning before the decisive battle between the two sides.

… …

While the news of the Battle of Jingzhou spread, unknowingly causing changes in all directions.

Yuan Shu had just returned to Runan Commandery after going through many hardships, and as one piece of news after another was transmitted to Yuan Shu's hands, Yuan Shu was so angry that his eyes turned black.

Of the nearly 120,000 troops, only 20,000 managed to escape back to Nanyang Commandery, which Ji Ling barely reorganized to set up a defense line in Nanyang Commandery. The losses can be described as heavy.

In addition, just as the Battle of Jingzhou broke out, Guan Yu, with Jia Xu as his military advisor, led 20,000 troops from the direction of Shouchun, advancing north along the Ying River to attack Ruyin.

Before sending troops to Jingzhou, Yuan Shu had sent Qiao Rui as a general, leading 20,000 troops into Ruyin to block the Ying River and guard against Guan Yu, in order to defend against Guan Yu.

But what Yuan Shu never expected was that, just before and after his defeat in Jingzhou, Guan Yu feigned to bypass Ruyin and penetrated deep into the hinterland of Runan Commandery, forcing Yuan Shu to withdraw his troops.

In order to avoid Runan Commandery, which had a weak internal force, being turned upside down by Guan Yu's partial army, Yuan Shu had no choice but to withdraw his troops.

Qiao Rui had no choice but to give up his solid defense, and chose to personally lead his troops out of the city to try to cut off Guan Yu's supply line.

However, what Qiao Rui didn't expect was that Guan Yu's attempt to penetrate deep into the hinterland of Runan Commandery was a feint, and ambushing in advance was the real goal.

As a result, Qiao Rui was ambushed when he left the city, and 10,000 troops were wiped out on the spot. Even Qiao Rui himself was beheaded by Guan Yu.

Afterwards, Guan Yu used the captured Yuzhou army armor and flags to trick the Ruyin city gate to open and occupied Ruyin City.

Hearing this news, Yuan Shu's face turned black, and he couldn't wait to drag Qiao Rui out and whip his corpse again.

Even a pig, leading 20,000 troops to defend Ruyin City, would not have allowed Guan Yu to lead 20,000 soldiers to break through the city gate.

As a result, not only was Ruyin City lost, but even 20,000 troops were buried with that idiot Qiao Rui.

“Idiot! An unforgivable idiot! ! ! ”

Yuan Shu couldn't help but burst into curses, scolding so loudly that none of the civil and military officials below dared to say a word.

If the defeat in the Battle of Jingzhou meant that Yuan Shu was unable to expand in a short period of time.

Then Ruyin City falling into Liu Bei's hands meant that a hundred miles of land around Shouchun near Runan Commandery belonged to Liu Bei, and even Guan Yu could penetrate deep into the hinterland of Runan Commandery along the Ying River at any time, and the entire Runan Commandery was facing the threat of Yangzhou's soldiers at any time.

In other words, the loss of Ruyin City represented a change in the offensive and defensive positions between Yuan Shu and Liu Bei.

Previously, Liu Bei needed to deploy heavy troops in Shouchun at all times to be wary of Yuan Shu, but now Yuan Shu had to find ways to block the Ying River and deploy heavy troops around Ruyin to be vigilant.

“Can anyone tell me why Qiao Rui dared to disobey my orders and leave the city without permission?”

“Wasn't the order to Qiao Rui to defend Ruyin City to the death? Who gave him the courage?”

“Idiot, an idiot who deserves to die!”

Yuan Shu kept cursing, as if he wanted to vent his dissatisfaction with his defeat.

When Yang Hong was named by Yuan Shu again, and asked why Qiao Rui had the courage to do this.

Yang Hong could only answer with a stiff scalp.

“Perhaps… … Perhaps after the lord increased the troops in Ruyin, General Qiao believed that his strength was comparable to Guan Yu's, and he was more than enough to defend… … So he was eager to share the lord's worries, so… … so he sent troops?”

Yuan Shu laughed in anger, and said. “So you're saying it's my fault? It's my fault for increasing the troops in Ruyin City to defend against Guan Yu?”

Yang Hong didn't dare to say anything more, and quickly lowered his head.

However, based on Yang Hong's understanding of Qiao Rui, this was indeed the main cause.

Or rather, even if Qiao Rui was replaced by other generals, I am afraid that they would not dare not send troops.

In the situation where the garrison of Ruyin City was comparable to the force led by Guan Yu, if Qiao Rui stubbornly defended the city without leaving, and allowed Guan Yu to lead his troops deep into the hinterland of Runan Commandery to destroy it.

Once it affected the trend of the battle in Jingzhou at that time, forcing Yuan Shu to consider dividing his troops to return to aid, Qiao Rui would probably not escape the fate of being severely punished.

Therefore, after Guan Yu seemingly led his troops around Ruyin, Qiao Rui seemed to have many choices, but in fact the best choice was to divide his troops and leave the city to try to stop Guan Yu.

Moreover, Qiao Rui left 10,000 soldiers in Ruyin City, which was obviously very cautious.

However, the military report sent back from Ruyin City was not detailed.

Neither the details of Qiao Rui being ambushed and beheaded by Guan Yu, nor the process of how Ruyin City was tricked into opening the city gate were explained in detail.

But even if Yang Hong felt that perhaps the psychological warfare had already begun from the beginning of increasing the troops in Ruyin City, but as a result, this was undoubtedly a major defeat caused by Qiao Rui's incompetence.

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PS: Stuck, today's writing is a bit slow, the third chapter will be sent immediately. (End of this chapter)