When Liu Cong returned to Xiangyang City, he talked with Pang Tong at night by candlelight. It was not until the maid brought the meal the next day that he smiled at Pang Tong: "Talk to Shi Yuan about ancient and modern events, and discuss the world's situation. I am like drinking nectar, and I am tireless."
He waved his hand to the maid again and said, "Go down."
"No." The maid put down her meal, excused herself and left.
Pang Tong cupped his hands and said: "My lord wants to be the heir, so he will sit in charge of Jingxiang. We need to make plans early, and the eldest son has nothing to worry about. According to Tong, my lord has three concerns."
Liu Cong put the food on the plate on the table, cupped his hands to Pang Tong and said, "Please give me some advice from Shi Yuan. Cong is all ears. Shi Yuan, please be casual. You and I can talk while we eat."
Pang Tong was not polite. He picked up the bowl and took two bites into his mouth. After chewing and swallowing, he drank a few more mouthfuls of soup. Then he wiped his mouth and said: "First, as for status, the lord is not the eldest son. If you want to
If you want to conquer Jingxiang and dominate the world, you must be designated as the heir by the governor of the state. Secondly, no matter how the lord lays out his plans, he must have an army under his control. Only by mastering the military power can he be invincible. Thirdly, Jing must be in an invincible position.
The Xiang family and the big families mostly focus on their own interests, so the lord should suppress them with thunder, and then repel the Cao thieves when they go south, and then adopt a gentle policy, these people will definitely be used by the lord!"
After Liu Cong swallowed the food in his mouth, he also said: "Shi Yuan is very wise, and Cong deeply agrees with the three considerations just mentioned."
"According to what the lord said last night, Mr. Zhou Mu did not punish him after talking to the lord. According to the rules, Mr. Zhou Mu will feel even more gratified. After all, which father does not want his son to strive for success? Therefore, the lord should seize the opportunity.
If you try your best to win the approval of Master Zhou Mu, your status can be determined early and military power can be fought for." Pang Tong said to Liu Cong again.
Liu Cong nodded: "I deeply believe what Shi Yuan said. Cong is not worried about military power. Although the family has some troubles, it is still under control. Cong has one more concern, Xinye Liu Bei!"
Pang Tong stopped eating, thought for a while and said, "Liu Bei? My lord, although Liu Bei is a lifelong hero, he is weak, so what should we worry about?"
Most people of this era should think so. Although Liu Bei has been defeated many times, he has never really surrendered to others, and he can always survive in desperate situations. But in the eyes of most people, the situation in today's world has become a foregone conclusion, and the princes
There are only a few left, and Liu Bei's strength is too weak to accomplish anything.
Liu Cong didn't blame Pang Tong for not taking Liu Bei seriously. After all, he had the foresight to understand history and belong to God's perspective, which people of this era did not have.
But this further illustrates the ability of Liu Bei. In the eyes of the world, the down-and-out emperor uncle was trapped in a small new wilderness. Who would have thought that this man would be able to occupy most of Jingzhou in the future, capture the Kingdom of Abundance, and sit on Yizhou and Jingzhou.
If Lü Meng hadn't stabbed Guan Yu in the back, maybe Liu Bei's group could really conquer Yongliang, go to Guanzhong, and Liu Bei and Guan Yu would join forces with Wan Luo. The ending of the world should really be rewritten.
Liu Cong looked solemn and said: "Shi Yuan must not underestimate Liu Bei. If I take charge of Jingxiang in the future and Cao's thieves go south, Liu Bei will come to avoid disaster. Do you think I will accept it or not?"
Pang Tong couldn't figure it out. Although Liu Bei had two generals, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Xiong Hu, he was weak after all. Why did Liu Cong attach so much importance to him? But he still persuaded him: "My lord, when Cao Cao's traitor goes south, he will definitely come with the whole country.
I think the Lord should accept Liu Bei and concentrate his efforts to defeat Cao Cao's thieves."
Liu Cong didn't bother with this issue anymore. He just needed to be more careful with Liu Bei, so he said again: "Yes, defeating the Cao thieves should be the first priority at the moment. Shi Yuan, please finish your meal first and then take a rest."
, I went to meet my father, we will go to Jiangxia first, and then to Jingnan to recruit our own strength."
In the governor's mansion, Liu Biao looked at the bamboo slips in his hand and fell into deep thought.
Liu Biao had already considered the issue of moving the north to the south. He had already transported more than 1.4 million stones of grain and grass from the entire Jingzhou to Jiangling City in Nanjun. This was enough to feed an army of 100,000 for two full years! Various military and horse equipment,
There is no shortage of bows, crossbows and arrows.
You ask where Jingzhou comes from so much food and baggage? Haha, it is Boss Cao who is often short of food. Since Dong Zhuo entered Luoyang at the end of the Han Dynasty (189), there has been no major war in Jingzhou for nearly 20 years. Liu Biao has accumulated this little family wealth.
It's easier.
Although Xiangyang City is surrounded by water on three sides and backed by mountains, it is easy to defend and difficult to attack. To the north is Fan City, which is garrisoned by Wenpin with 20,000 troops. To the northeast is Xinye, where Liu Bei is stationed, and there are also 10,000 defenders; Jiangxia also has Huang Zu's two
Ten thousand people. Xiakou also had 10,000 naval troops led by Zhang Yun.
But Liu Biao only stored 300,000 shi of grain and grass in Xiangyang. In Liu Biao's expectation, after Cao Cao went south, Liu Bei of Xinye didn't have to think about it. The appointment was unreliable, but he could also join forces with Wenpin of Fancheng and 30,000 shi.
With the addition of generals Liu Guan and Zhang Zhang who were good at fighting, they guarded Fancheng. Even if Cao's army defeated Fancheng, they would still have to face Xiangyang City across the Han River!
There are currently 40,000 troops in Xiangyang and 70,000 troops stationed in Jiangling. Although Liu Biao does not have enough control over the four counties in Jingnan, the prefects do not dare to openly disobey him. It is still possible to mobilize 10,000 garrison troops in each county.
According to Liu Biao's assumptions, after Cao Cao's traitor goes south, the army he can use, excluding Liu Bei's 10,000 troops, will be 200,000.
After Cao Cao's bandit went south, Huang Zu's 20,000 men could not move. He had to continue to guard Jiangxia, and he had to add another 20,000 men to guard against Sun Quan in the east.
Jiangling's 70,000 men cannot be moved, and a retreat must be ensured. Even so, there are still more than 100,000 troops that can be mobilized. Xiangyang city is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Liu Biao relied on Xiangyang. Cao's army was frustrated here and really had to withdraw.
After all, although Cao Cao was powerful, he still had to guard against Gongsun Kang in Liaodong, Ma Teng and Han Sui in Xiliang, and the nomads in the grasslands. His military strength going south would never exceed 300,000.
Unfortunately, what Liu Biao didn't expect was that next year he would die of illness, and Huang Zu would be killed by Sun Quan. The civil and military forces of Jingzhou would force his son to surrender. If it hadn't been for the Battle of Chibi, Cao Cao would have had 380,000 troops after integrating Jingzhou's troops. Maybe it would have happened
Can dominate the world.
"My lord, the second young master wants to see you." The sergeant came in and reported.
"Let him come in." Liu Biao waved his hand.
Liu Cong came in and saw Liu Biao still looking through the bamboo slips, but he didn't bother him until Liu Biao said: "Did you bring Pang Tong back?"
Liu Cong cupped his hands and said: "Father, my child..."
Before he could finish speaking, Liu Biao spoke again: "As a father, I didn't ask too many questions. I brought him back and put him to good use. This man has great talents."
"My child thanks my father. My child came to look for his father today because he wanted to go to Jiangxia and Jingnan." Liu Cong did not expect that Liu Biao would not ask Pang Tong.
Liu Biao nodded: "My father's body has become increasingly useless in recent years. If you want to do anything, while I am still alive and can help you, just do it."
Liu Cong said anxiously: "Father just feels ill occasionally. Jingzhou still needs father. I hope father will take care of himself."
Liu Biao put down the bamboo slips in his hand, looked at Liu Cong and said seriously: "Son, my father is old. One day you will definitely guard our Liu family's Jingzhou. What is the need for you to go to Jingnan now?"
Liu Cong also said sternly: "My child will definitely live up to his father's expectations. I only need one person here, Huo Jun."
Liu Biao nodded and said: "Jingnan is not as good as Xiangyang. You should be careful in everything. I will write a sealing order for him later. You can take Huo Jun and three thousand sergeants with you."
Liu Cong kowtowed and said, "Thank you very much, my dear father. Father, please take care of yourself."