Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

Of course, although Zang Ba led his troops to be stationed in Kaiyang, Langya Kingdom, he adhered to the principle of not fouling one's own nest. Zang Ba did not plunder within Xuzhou, but instead robbed the Taishan Commandery of Yanzhou nearby, thus gaining the name of the Taishan Bandit.

In essence, Zang Ba was not greedy for wealth or power, but raising soldiers required a large amount of money and food.

Early on, Zang Ba led Sun Guan, Wu Dun, Yin Li and others to make contributions in the Yellow Turban Rebellion, but he fell out with his superiors, thus cutting off the supply of money and food from his superiors.

In order to maintain the supply of money and food, Zang Ba could also lead his troops to become bandits, entrenched in Kaiyang, and then plunder the wealthy and powerful within Taishan Commandery to support his subordinates.

However, Zang Ba knew that this was not a long-term solution.

Unlike Sun Guan, Wu Dun, Yin Li and others who only sought momentary pleasure, Zang Ba knew that in this chaotic world, there would eventually be no room for the Taishan bandits to survive.

Tao Qian was weak and incompetent, and Yanzhou was without a master. This allowed the Taishan bandits to be entrenched in Kaiyang, plundering in Taishan, barely living a few happy days.

But with the rise of Liu Bei and the Yuan clan, could they still tolerate the existence of such a narrow space?

And if Zang Ba had to choose between the Yuan clan and Liu Bei, Zang Ba would undoubtedly prefer Liu Bei.

For no other reason.

Zang Ba knew that his background would not be valued by the Yuan clan.

In contrast, Liu Bei not only had a widespread reputation for benevolence and righteousness, but also bore the great righteousness of supporting the Han Dynasty, and many of Liu Bei's subordinates, both civil and military, came from humble backgrounds.

Even someone like Gan Ning, who came from the錦帆賊 (Jin Fan Thief) background, was also accepted by Liu Bei as a major general.

However, for a group of Taishan bandits, the current fierce defense of the city had long caused them to feel retreating.

If it weren't for Zang Ba's constant insistence on defending the city, I am afraid that this group of Taishan bandits would have scattered long ago.

After Sun Guan spoke, Wu Dun, Yin Li, and Chang Xi also persuaded him one after another.

"That Zhang Fei didn't help defend the city at all when he came, and he also said that the main force of reinforcements was in the rear, but now it's been five or six days, where are the reinforcements?"

"General, what is the benefit of risking our lives for Liu Bei and Tao Qian? It is better for the brothers to plunder in the city, and then retreat from Pengcheng to Taishan Commandery to live a carefree life. I don't think Ji Ling will pursue us deeply."

"As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn."

Faced with the successive persuasion of the generals, Zang Ba frowned and waved his hand to interrupt.

"You all must not speak too much! If you don't know the times, you can only be bandits for the rest of your lives."

"In order to make money and food, we were forced to become bandits for a while in the past, but that is not a long-term solution after all."

"Today, the general trend lies in Yuan and Liu!"

"Now, as long as we defend Pengcheng, with the reputation of the Imperial Uncle Liu and the wisdom of Marquis Guoshi, we will definitely be able to repel the combined attack of Cao and Yuan on Xuzhou. We will definitely be valued by the Imperial Uncle Liu, and from then on, we will be able to wash away our bandit status, and it is not impossible to be enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as a general."

After a pause, Zang Ba sighed and said.

"Furthermore, even if we are considering for the sake of all the brothers, we must fight. Being a bandit is ultimately a lifetime of unease."

"But as long as we are accepted by the Imperial Uncle Liu, the brothers will have the hope of marrying wives, having children, and enjoying their old age."

"If we don't fight now, when will we fight again?"

Speaking of the end, Zang Ba asked earnestly, causing Sun Guan and others to show a look of emotion and shame.

In the chaotic world, great people have the plans of great people, and small people also have the way of survival of small people.

How to survive, how to survive better is the consideration of small people.

Zang Ba understood that the Taishan bandits who did not know the times, did not understand the general trend, and lived a carefree life for a while would eventually be crushed into powder by this chaotic world.

Now, Liu Bei and the Yuan and Cao families are fighting for Xuzhou.

Although Tao Qian is a useless person, Zang Ba is willing to bet on Liu Bei, believing that with the wisdom of Marquis Guoshi, Liu Bei will definitely be able to enter Xuzhou in the end.

At that time, the Taishan bandits led by Zang Ba will also be able to gain Liu Bei's attention by virtue of their merits in defending Pengcheng, so that a group of Taishan bandits with a not-so-good reputation can also have a good future.

This matter had been brewing in Zang Ba's mind for a long time. He didn't want to say it, but seeing that the morale of the army was shaken, he had no choice but to say it to stabilize the hearts of all the generals.

However, Chang Xi, one of the four generals under Zang Ba, said with an angry expression.

"It's fine if the general intends to be someone else's lackey, but I, Chang Xi, will never do such a crawling thing!"

Chang Xi's reaction not only caused Zang Ba's brows to furrow slightly, but Sun Guan and others were also greatly puzzled and spoke one after another.

"Chang Xi, don't be rude to the general."

"What the general said is not without reason. The Imperial Uncle Liu's reputation for benevolence and righteousness is widespread. If we can be accepted by the Imperial Uncle Liu, we will definitely not be treated badly."

"The general's good intentions are also for the sake of the brothers. Why does Chang Xi speak ill?"

… …

However, Chang Xi questioned Zang Ba regardless.

"Does the general really want to surrender to Liu Bei?"

"That's right, and the Imperial Uncle Liu is a benevolent and righteous lord. If we are accepted by him, we will have no worries," Zang Ba replied.

"Hahahaha."

Chang Xi laughed a few times and said.

"Since this is the case, please forgive Chang Xi for not accompanying you! What benevolent and righteous lord, you believe it, but I, Chang Xi, don't believe it, and I don't want to die here for some long-term plan."

After saying that, Chang Xi led a few confidant subordinates and turned around and left, completely ignoring Zang Ba and Sun Guan and others.

When Sun Guan saw this, he said in a low voice.

"General, do you want to stop Chang Xi?"

Hearing this, Zang Ba hesitated for a moment and sighed.

"Forget it, forget it, everyone has their own ambitions. Chang Xi is used to being free and undisciplined, and it is normal that he is unwilling to be bound by the laws and military regulations of the Han Dynasty."

Of course, more importantly, Zang Ba knew that Chang Xi had a great influence among the Taishan bandits, and there were Yuan troops constantly attacking the city from the outside.

If he were to transfer troops to encircle and kill Chang Xi at this moment, and Chang Xi were to break the pot and shatter it, and talk nonsense, I am afraid that it would cause a great chaos within the Taishan bandits, and it is not impossible for Pengcheng to be directly breached because of this.

Therefore, whether it was for the sake of old friendship or for the sake of the overall situation, Zang Ba could only let Chang Xi leave.

And Chang Xi's departure directly took hundreds of trusted subordinates away from the north gate, which was "surrounded on three sides and left one side open."

Not only did it further shrink the already small number of available soldiers in Zang Ba's hands, but it also caused a shock to the morale of some of the troops.

For this reason, Zang Ba could only lead his personal guards to frequently rush to various city walls, constantly stabilizing the morale of the army with his personal prestige.

However, after Ji Ling learned that a small group of Taishan bandits had withdrawn from the north gate, he did not pursue and kill Chang Xi. Instead, he realized that internal strife had already occurred among the Taishan bandits in Pengcheng, and immediately continued to intensify the fierce attack on Pengcheng.

Zhang Fei's arrival in Pengcheng made Ji Ling really uneasy, and he was already impatient to capture Pengcheng, even at the cost of casualties.

Otherwise… …

Ji Ling recalled the figure of Li Ji on the Jingzhou battlefield, who dispatched the army like an arm and finger, and forcibly collapsed the Yuzhou army on the frontal battlefield with a weak force.

Not only Yuan Shu had a large shadow over Li Ji, but how could Ji Ling not have nightmares because of Li Ji?