Like Taishi Ci, Xu Shu paid very little attention to the process of this surprise attack, but he gave a detailed description of Taishi Ci's martial arts, which opened Wang Yu's eyes and at the same time he was secretly glad that he did not rush into action with this guy.
If we lose, we will lose both our lives and our wealth.
The role of brave generals in war is certainly not as exaggerated as described in novels, but at critical moments, having brave generals take the lead can play a considerable role in improving one's own morale or opening a breakthrough in the enemy's array.
.
In history, the battle in which Ma Su lost Jieting was, in a sense, a problem of not having brave generals.
Ma Di's army was on the mountain, charging from a high position, but suffered a bloody blow in front of the Wei army's formation, and ultimately failed. Ma Di himself could only stand behind and supervise the battle, worried. If Zhao Yun or Wei Yan were in his army at that time,
What will happen?
Of course there are no ifs in history, but Wang Yu can be sure that at least the battle situation will be much better than Ma Su's at that time. You must know that the advantage of the condescending terrain has a great impact on the outcome.
When Xu Shu mentioned Taishi Ci's martial arts, it was not without purpose. According to Jia Xu, Xu Shu was showing that he would not compete with Taishi Ci for merit and power, but would make up for the previous rift and continue to cooperate.
If it weren't for Jia Xu's reminder, Wang Yu might not be able to see this meaning. His emotional intelligence is actually not very high. If it weren't for the insights of later generations, he would be on par with Tai Shici.
It's easy to deal with smart people, but it's also very tiring. There's no telling where there might be a pitfall... Wang Yu cursed in his heart and continued reading.
Xu Shu then mentioned the handling of the prisoners. Although Kong Rong took over the matter, Xu Shu was still a little worried. He mentioned in the letter that he hoped Wang Yu would clarify his attitude as soon as possible and it would be best to establish a charter.
Xu Shu's approach is quite consistent with Wang Yu's thinking.
Wang Yu will not kill his own people. No matter what the reason is, anyone who points his knife at his own people is inhumane. From a utilitarian point of view, the importance of population is unparalleled.
Talents can be cultivated, soldiers can be trained, food can be bought or borrowed, and money is not an insurmountable problem, but the prerequisite for all this is that there are people!
No matter in peaceful and prosperous times or in war-torn times, people are the most important wealth. It is not difficult to increase money and food. The easiest way is to rob or extort. It is not difficult to train soldiers. As long as the nutrition can keep up, training an elite will have a chance.
Two years is enough anyway; cultivating talents is more troublesome, but it is also shorter than increasing the population.
Gongsun Zan didn't pay much attention to these details, and he fought with foreign tribes for a long time, which made Baima Yicong more murderous.
Huangfusong and others probably adhered to the concept of using heavy codes in troubled times, so they killed the Yellow Turban Army. In a sense, he succeeded, and the edge of the Yellow Turban Uprising was suppressed by him; but in the long run, his approach
It had no positive effect. It only deepened the Yellow Turban Army's distrust and hatred of the imperial court, and the confrontation became more intense and cruel.
Wang Yu is different from them. The reason why he chose Qingzhou is because the terrain here is good enough to ensure the safety of the rear and build a Taoyuan in troubled times with peace of mind. Without people, what is a Taoyuan?
In addition, Xu Shu also asked about the treatment of Guan Hai and his party members, as well as the relevant information about the large-scale operation launched by the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans.
Guan Hai and his followers were different from ordinary minions and the common people who had just been kidnapped. These people were bandits with many years of experience.
They only know how to rob and kill, and it is impossible for them to farm honestly. Not to mention Xu Shu, even if Xu Rong comes, he will not use his kindness on these people. Killing to end the war is more like it.
Xu Shu's opinion was to kill them all after asking for confessions. Taking advantage of the situation, he could also sell favors to Qingzhou celebrities, especially those who had a blood feud with Guan Hai.
However, Taishi Ci put forward the meaning and his opinion was to recruit these people.
Wang Yu was not sure whether Taishi Ci meant to demolish Xu Shutai, but what he said did make sense. Guan Hai was very good at fighting, although he was not as good as Taishi Ci and Huang Zhong, who were top-notch generals, but if he was placed in the second-rate, it would be
Top tough guy.
After reading the Battle of Zhuxu recounted by Tai Shici, Wang Yu was slightly amazed. The supporting role in this novel is indeed extraordinary.
Guan Hai's party members are not bad either, they are all desperadoes. Just because Guan Hai was able to assemble a force of nearly a thousand people under such an unfavorable situation as a night attack, you know that the combat effectiveness and fighting spirit of this bandit army are quite strong.
Wang Yu knew these people better than Tai Shici. If he guessed correctly, these people were the famous Qingzhou soldiers in later generations.
The characteristics of the Qingzhou soldiers are that they fight bravely and have extremely poor military discipline. When Cao Cao recruited the Qingzhou soldiers, they were not very strong. It is likely that when they were recruited, they were in a situation where the guest was strong and the host was weak, so he could not restrict it too strictly.
In the Battle of Wancheng in history, Cao Cao was plotted against by Jia Xu, and his entire army was routed. Yu Jin led hundreds of Taishan soldiers to fight and retreat, and also set up a camp to clean up the defeated troops. As a result, he found a few wounded and naked soldiers.
When I asked, I was robbed by the Qingzhou soldiers, and I didn’t even leave my trousers on...
Therefore, although the Qingzhou soldiers are very strong, Wang Yu is not very interested. Using this kind of army to fight will bring a bad reputation. Of course, selecting elites and rigorous training may be able to correct it, but it may not be possible in a year and a half.
It can be done.
Wang Yu was a little unsure about this issue, so he simply asked Jia Xu: "Wen He, what do you think? Should Guan Hai be killed or retained?"
"Then it depends on your plan for Qingzhou, my lord." Jia Xu answered fluently, obviously having a plan in mind.
"how do I say this?"
"My lord, if you want to expand your army, these people are undoubtedly the best source of troops; if you continue to take the route of elite soldiers, then there is no need to think too much. But no matter what your lord chooses, it will all happen after the war. This surprise battle is nothing more than
It’s just an outpost battle, what we need to consider now is how to squeeze out all the value of Guan Hai and prepare for the subsequent war.”
Wang Yu heard something and asked curiously: "Then what do you mean..."
"Let him go." Jia Xu said the third option simply and neatly. After thinking about it, he added: "Of course, after asking for a confession."
Wang Yu frowned slightly and thought carefully. This suggestion seemed absurd, but since it came from Jia Xu, it must have deep meaning.
"Isn't that letting the tiger return to the mountain?" Wang Yu didn't say anything, Diao Chan couldn't help being surprised and interjected.
"From a certain point of view, it is true that there are many consequences for letting the tiger go back to the mountain." What made Diao Chan even more surprised was that Jia Xu actually nodded and admitted it frankly.
"Then..." Diao Chan was puzzled and frowned. She was a very smart woman, but how could she guess what the old fox was thinking? This is not just about being smart. She has to have experience and a penetrating wisdom.
OK.
Turning to look at Wang Yu, seeing a look of surprise in his eyes, Jia Xu smiled and explained in detail: "My lord's strategy is to conquer the Qingzhou Yellow Turban. Since you want to conquer, you have to make a gesture. If you change
When General Huangfu comes, even if his army is ten times larger than my lord, will the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans surrender?"
"Of course not." Jia Xu asked and answered: "Back then, he killed hundreds of thousands of Yellow Turbans and dyed the river red. Even a three-year-old child knew that surrendering or not would lead to death."
"But," Diao Chan thought about it seriously and asked, "aren't most people in Duchang safe and sound? Even if they need to be appeased, the ones who are left behind are not the ruthless bandits who kill without blinking an eye, right?"
"That's what I say, but people's hearts are much more complicated than this, and rumors can be very outrageous when spread."
Jia Xu shook his head: "Our army knows it, and the people of the Beihai Navy also know that killing Guan Hai and others to save the good people is a countless kind act by living people, but the Yellow Turbans may not know it. Not only do they not know, but also, under the guidance of thoughtful people,
Under the instigation, the lord may be connected with General Huangfu. Guan Hai and others are also prisoners. Killing one is not much different from killing ten thousand. They are all killing prisoners."
"It is true that the vast majority of the Yellow Turban Army are ordinary people, but those who control the power are people similar to Guan Hai. If we kill Guan Hai, they will be pitiful, resist to the end, and pull others to follow them.
Let’s fight together. But if Guan Hai is let go, these people will take chances and be at odds with each other. At least they won’t spread rumors that our army killed prisoners. It would be useless if they did."
"The effect may not be great now, but when the thief army is exhausted, some people will be shaken, and most people will not have the idea of fighting to the death. The authority of the thief chiefs comes from the fear brought by killing. When
When someone more powerful appears, their prestige is shaken."
Jia Xu concluded: "If Guan Hai is killed, the result may not be much different, but it may also be very different."
Wang Yu was so impressed by Jia Xu's eloquent remarks that he almost blurted out an allusion to the story of the seven captures of Meng Huo.
The structure of the Southern Barbarians is similar to that of the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans. There is a nominal Barbarian King, but most tribes do their own thing. The leaders sit on equal footing with each other, forming a big alliance.
The reason why Zhuge Liang captured and released Meng Huo, released and arrested again, was to show these tribes that our army is a benevolent and righteous army and does not kill people indiscriminately. It is not that they cannot kill, but they do not want to kill. The same behavior is repeated many times.
, even a monkey understands this truth, and the southern barbarians naturally do not dare to rebel again.
On the contrary, if Zhuge Liang killed Meng Huo as soon as possible, then he would have to fight a war of conquest if he wanted to pacify southern Xinjiang.
It is true that the fist is big, but when the fist is not big enough, you have to use tactics to assist. Intelligence shows that the Qingzhou Yellow Turban is also a big alliance, with hundreds of thousands of followers. Wang Yu only has 8,000 soldiers and horses, so naturally he cannot just
By force.
"If you let go of Guan Hai, you can not only show it to the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans, but also pave the way for the future..." As he said that, Jia Xu pointed to the southeast. Wang Yu understood in his heart that the southeast of Taishan County is Langya, and the occupiers there are also
The one with the name of thief, Taishan thief!
"In addition, it will also have many benefits for the upcoming war, which will make it easier for the Lord to plan... In short, returning the tiger to the mountain will bring more hidden dangers in the immediate future, but in the long run, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages."
It was very rare for Jia Xu to say so many words in one breath. After making his concluding remarks, he picked up a glass of water and drank it all in one go.
Wang Yu glanced at Diao Chan, and the girl obediently came up to her, carrying a pot and pouring water. Jia Xu did not refuse, but smiled and thanked her, and then drank slowly.
"Then how can we drive Qingzhou Yellow Turban to the end?" Diao Chan understood that Jia Xu said so much mainly to teach herself. If it was to remind Wang Yu, there was no need for him to make a long speech, it was enough to point out the key points.
"I can't control this, and I can't control it." Jia Xu spread his hands, looked at Wang Yu, and laughed: "How to strategize and win a thousand miles, that is the Lord's business. If it were Xu, he wouldn't think about how to use it.
Eight thousand soldiers defeated hundreds of thousands."
"Then let him go. It's just Guan Hai. There are so many benefits, so why not let him go..." Wang Yu waved his hand indifferently and suddenly raised his voice: "Where is Marquis Li Jun?"
"The general is here. What are your orders, my lord?" Li Shiyi and other people from the Intelligence Department had been waiting outside the door and immediately came in.
Wang Yu ordered: "Go to Beihai and give my order to General Taishi and Lieutenant Xu. Then, take action yourself and see if you can ask anything more from Guan Hai. Be careful.
, don’t leave too many traces, I want everyone in Qingzhou Yellow Turban to see a complete Guan Qushuai.”
"Here!" Li Shiyi understood. He had been with Wang Yu for a long time and learned a lot. Among them, what he was best at was extorting confessions through torture, um, the kind that leaves no trace.
"The complicated Qingzhou is really not an ordinary chaos." After Li Shiyi left, Wang Yu suddenly sneered: "However, some people still don't seem to understand that nothing can be achieved with just fists or conspiracy.
It’s a big deal!” (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to register as a member of Piaotian Literature to recommend this work. Your support is my biggest motivation.)