Zhang Wen was very satisfied, but Fei Yi and others were worried. After sending Zhang Wen to the guest post, Fei Yi rushed back immediately and asked Zhuge Liang directly: "Prime Minister, is this appropriate?"
There was no smile on Zhuge Liang's face at this time. He waved his hand, motioning for Fei Yi to sit down, and then said to Ma Su: "Youchang, tell Wen Wei the situation again."
"Here." Ma Su responded, took out a roll of account books and handed them to Fei Yi.
Fei Yi took it and took a look. It was the latest plan report of the Shu Han Dynasty last year. He quickly opened it and read it. When he left Longyou, the Battle of Longyou was not over yet. He didn't know the final results and losses. Now
After seeing this report, I realized how nervous the Shu Han people were now. How much the Northern Expedition paid and how many difficulties they faced.
In a word, the national strength of the Shu Han cannot support a two-front war, let alone a three-front war. The military strength may be barely enough, but the economy does not allow it. Fighting requires not only people, but also a lot of wealth, soldiers
You need food, clothing, weapons, and all kinds of ordnance consumption. These are all money. Normally, raising a soldier requires 20,000 yuan a year, and it can’t be less, but more than 10,000. Now there are 30,000 main troops in Guanzhong
, Fangling 30,000, Yongan, Jiangzhou 50,000, a total of 110,000 troops, which is almost all the mobile troops that Shu can mobilize. Just raising these troops requires 1.2 billion to 2 billion every year
Financial expenditure does not include standing troops in each county.
How much is the wealth and income of the entire Yizhou? Since Liu Bei entered Yizhou, Zhuge Liang has worked hard. In the best year, it was only one billion. Last year, because a large number of laborers joined the army, the income dropped significantly, to less than 600 million. Excluding various expenses
, the annual savings is about 200 million. The two-year Northern Expedition, with only half a year of actual fighting, consumed all the supplies and wealth Zhuge Liang had accumulated in the previous years.
If income and expenditure are seriously out of proportion, can this battle still be fought?
"The current plan is to unite Wu State to attack Wei and move the main battlefield to Xiangyang to give Yizhou a chance to breathe and free up its hands to run Guanzhong well. This is the only way out." Ma Su explained: "
The prime minister's alliance with Sun Quan is a last resort. Otherwise, let alone a three-front war, a two-front war at the same time, we will be defeated in less than three years."
Fei Yi sighed and closed the account book: "However, in this way, Jingxiang has become the main battlefield, Wu Yi and Meng Da have made contributions, and there will be many factions in the court, each seeking their own interests, and there will be more constraints. The Prime Minister
How can we realize the great cause of rejuvenating the country? Prime Minister, this is drinking poison to quench thirst, and it is not a long-term solution."
Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly: "I know this is drinking poison to quench my thirst, but now I am dying of thirst, and I can only drink poisonous wine. In order to buy a little more time, I can only drink this poisonous wine. Otherwise, Sun Quan will be forced by Cao Wei
Pressure attacks me, what can I do?"
Fei Yi sighed and had no choice. He also knew that Shu Han's economy could not support a large-scale war for a long time, but without looking at these account books, he would not have imagined that the difficulties would be so great. In order to buy buffer time, Zhuge Liang was willing to admit Sun Quan as emperor, and also
It was a choice made out of desperation. After all, Sun Quan relied on his strength to become emperor. Whether you agree with it or not, you cannot really change the outcome.
"Wen Wei, what happened about the warship?" Zhuge Liang interrupted Fei Yi's thinking and asked with some displeasure: "So far, there has been no report from Fangling. If it hadn't been for you in advance
Tell me that I will make a fool of myself when facing Zhang Wen."
Fei Yi frowned: "I have limited knowledge about this matter. Wei Ba took the initiative to inform me. He said that he would look for fighter planes and take the initiative to attack Xiangyang to stimulate Wu and Wei and make them turn against each other. Regarding Cao Wei's warship building,
It's an opportunity. As for..." Fei Yi pondered for a moment: "As for whether he deliberately released the technology of this new warship, or whether it was accidentally leaked, I can't say for sure."
"Prime Minister, could it be that Xia Houhui next to him leaked the information?" Jiang Wei suddenly reminded: "Xiahou Hui is from Wei."
"Bo Yue, don't make random guesses." Zhuge Liang interrupted Jiang Wei: "Wei Ba is a cautious person, he will not make such a mistake."
Fei Yi shook his head: "Prime Minister, I think what Bo Yue said makes sense. However, I think this may be Wei Ba's intention. He just wants to arouse Sun Quan's vigilance. Judging from the current situation, this is in line with our expectations.
I hope that just by doing this, Cao Wei's water fighting strength will be stronger, which is tantamount to raising a tiger to create trouble."
Zhuge Liang frowned slightly, was silent for a moment, and said worriedly: "If Xia Houhui is really a trick of the Wei people, then it would be too dangerous for Wei Ba to keep her by his side. What if Xia Houhui has evil intentions and harms Wei Ba?"
Ba Xingming, what should I do?"
Ma Di suddenly laughed: "What worries the Prime Minister is that I think Wei Ziyu is good at everything else, but he is not alert enough to the people around him. Last time it was the woman from the Peng family, and now it is the woman from the Xiahou family. He really doesn't have a long memory.
.”
Fei Yi and Jiang Wei also laughed, and the originally dull atmosphere became more relaxed.
"Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses." Zhuge Liang interrupted them, frowning slightly: "Young men should be careful about their beauty. I heard that Xia Houhui is a beautiful woman, and Wei Ba was probably seduced by her beauty.
But I forgot that the word "sex" has a knife on its head." He thought for a while and suddenly said: "Youchang, rush to Fangling and have a good talk with Wei Ba and don't let him indulge in it anymore. The first female leader
Focusing on virtue and being obsessed with beauty is not what a man should do."
Ma Su was stunned for a moment and accepted the offer.
"After this matter is resolved, you stay in Fangling, assist Wu Yi with Wei Ba, and make good preparations. If the time is right, the Battle of Xiangyang may be an opportunity."
Fei Yi asked: "Prime Minister, do you really want to attract Wu and Wei to Xiangyang?"
"Why not?" Zhuge Liang asked back: "If we can contain Wei and Wu with 30,000 soldiers, for me, this is the best result. What I worry about is that I will be self-defeating and fail to defeat the tiger, but I will be injured by the tiger."
After all, Wei Ba is too young. Cao Rui and Sun Quan are not easy to deal with, and the good advisers and generals around them cannot be underestimated. Which one of Lu Xun and Sima Yi is not an outstanding person? It is not that easy to manipulate them. But
, Wu Yi is steady, Meng Da is good at using troops even though he is repetitive, Wei Ba is young and full of wit, coupled with You Chang's foresight and careful operation, he may not be able to control the heavy with light."
He looked into Ma Su's eyes: "Youchang, the burden on your shoulders is very heavy."
Ma Su bowed and accepted the order: "Here."
Fei Yi looked at Zhuge Liang and then at Ma Su, feeling a little uneasy. He could see from this short time together that although Zhuge Liang had changed, it was insignificant compared to Ma Su's change. Ma Su was such a flamboyant person before.
But now he has become taciturn. What worries Fei Yi even more is that the tacit understanding between him and Zhuge Liang has disappeared. The two of them treat each other with respect as guests, without the feeling of being trusted as a confidant in the past.
He glanced at Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang's eyes were helpless, but he didn't say anything.
…
Ma Di and Zhang Wen went down the river together, and then parted ways in Zigui. Zhang Wen naturally happily returned to Jiangling with Zhuge Liang's conditions to report the good news to Sun Quan, but Ma Di turned back to Anqiao and went straight to Fangling. After learning that Wei
Ba and others were in Zhuyang and rushed to Zhuyang without stopping.
As soon as he arrived at Zhuyang, Ma Su was a little surprised. The flags of the Zhuyang camp were fluttering, and the shouts of the soldiers in training could be heard in the distance. The uniform roars revealed the desire to fight and the eagerness to perform meritorious service.
This desire made Ma Su suddenly moved, as if he remembered something again.
When Ma Di saw Wu Yi, Wu Yi was watching Meng Da command the siege. Next to the Han River, a city wall was built, about twenty steps wide and two feet high. Although it was only a section, it was fully equipped.
The defensive soldiers guarded carefully, while the attacking soldiers attacked fiercely. The almost hoarse roar made it difficult to imagine that this was just a simulated battle. The figures falling from the top of the city had nothing to do with the real siege battle.
.
The war drums sounded and the siege stopped. Meng Da's face was livid, his beard and hair were swollen, he took off his helmet, ran over and kicked Deng Xian to the ground, who was accusing him before the battle, and swung his riding whip, causing Deng Xian to scream in agony.
"Are you a pig? How many times have I told you, we have to work hard at one go. If someone comes to the city, why don't you attack with all your strength?" Meng Da whipped twice and cursed breathlessly. It seemed more difficult than going into battle to attack the city in person.
Deng Xian was even more tired. He pointed his whip at the top of the city and yelled: "You are like this, and you still want to attack Xiangyang and Fancheng? You can just go home and have your children. Don't embarrass me."
Ma Su was stunned. He knew that Deng Xian was Meng Da's nephew. Meng Da treated him like his own son. If he whipped him in front of so many people, how could Deng Xian's face be saved? It was just an exercise. Why was he so enthusiastic?
Just as Ma Su was thinking, Wu Yi and Wei Ba walked over quickly. From far away, Wu Yi's old face smiled like a flower: "Hahaha, You Chang, You Chang, you are here."
Ma Su was puzzled and thought, "Do you know I'm coming?"
Wu Yi walked up to Ma Su and grabbed Ma Su's hand, as if he were an old friend he hadn't seen for many years. Wei Ba followed, smiled and bowed to Ma Su. Wu Yi held Ma Su's hand with one hand, and Wei Ba with the other.
Ba, looked up to the sky and laughed: "Hahaha, the Prime Minister is really interesting. Two generations of heroes from the Prime Minister's Palace have come to help me. If I don't capture Xiangyang and teach Cao Rui a lesson, how can I live up to the Prime Minister's kindness?"
Ma Di understood and asked Wei Ba with his eyes. Wei Ba shrugged helplessly and gave Ma Di a wink. Ma Di smiled slightly: "The general is joking. With Ziyu by his side, the general can accomplish extraordinary feats. I am just
I came here to fill in the gaps and learn from the general."
Wu Yi laughed. Without waiting for Ma Di to speak, he insisted that Zhuge Liang had high hopes for him. Ma Di was very sensible and did not refute him face to face. This was enough. He took Ma Di's hand and said with a smile as he walked: "Come on,
Youchang, take a look at our military training and make some suggestions."
Ma Di pointed at Meng Da: "What...is going on? General Meng seems really angry?"
"Just to make him angry." Wu Yi deliberately leaned into Ma Su's ear and whispered: "If you don't arouse his anger, how will he be willing to work hard? You Chang, don't you think so? Hahaha..."
Ma Su closed his mouth tightly and did not say another word. (To be continued. Please search Piao Tian Literature, the novel will be better and updated faster!)