“Greetings, my lord.”
“We greet the Lord Governor.”
Hearing Zhang Jing’s words, Xun You, Guo Jia, and the others finally came back to their senses and bowed in succession.
“There is no need for such formalities.”
Zhang Jing waved his hand and said calmly to the three men:
“This is a military camp. The fact that you two have come here today is not only a sign of your trust in Gongda, but also of your confidence in Taiping Prefecture.”
“From this day forward, we are one family.”
“I am merely a commoner from Beihai. I do not place much importance on empty formalities.”
On his way here, he had been guessing their identities.
But after seeing them, he realized they were not difficult to identify.
“Guo Jia of Yingchuan.”
Upon hearing this, Guo Jia immediately understood.
Stepping forward, he respectfully bowed.
“Guo Fengxiao greets my lord.”
“Xi Zhong of Yingchuan.”
Following suit, Xi Zhicai stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
“Xi Zhicai greets my lord.”
“The arrival of you two brings me great joy.”
Zhang Jing stepped forward and personally helped them up.
“Though I have not previously heard your names, I trust Gongda. With your assistance, Taiping Prefecture will surely pacify this troubled age and restore peace to the common people.”
In truth, he had never expected Xun You to bring him such an enormous surprise.
The man had practically delivered a gift package of top-tier strategists, stripping Cao Cao of two of his most valuable advisors in one stroke.
How could he not have heard of their reputations?
He had heard plenty.
Xi Zhicai had been one of Cao Cao’s most important strategists in his previous life.
As for Guo Jia, he was famed as a peerless genius strategist.
Later generations even spread the saying:
“Had Guo Jia not died young, Zhuge Liang would never have emerged.”
Of course, that statement was somewhat exaggerated.
Zhang Jing knew that even if Guo Jia had lived, Zhuge Liang would still have entered the world stage.
But if Guo Jia truly had not died…
Then perhaps figures such as Yang Jian, Yang Guang, Li Yuan, Li Shimin, Wu Zetian, and the rest would never have had the chance to appear at all.
“Thank you for your favor, my lord.”
Hearing this, Xun You’s lips twitched slightly, though he still cooperated with Zhang Jing’s display.
He naturally understood what was hidden within the phrase:
“I trust Gongda.”
The arrival of Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai accounted for most of that trust.
“You flatter us, my lord.”
Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai both hurriedly expressed their modesty.
“My lord.”
Xun You respectfully said, “Fengxiao and Zhicai are both distinguished disciples of Master Shuijing. Their talents surpass mine a hundredfold.”
“Oh?”
Zhang Jing feigned surprise.
“Is that truly the case?”
Before Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai could protest, Xun You spoke first.
“It is indeed true.”
“The situation in Ji Province is becoming increasingly tense. Moreover, the Han general Lu Bu is leading troops southward. Though I have no good solution at the moment, I firmly believe Fengxiao and Zhicai possess strategies capable of easing Your Lordship’s concerns.”
“Fengxiao, Zhicai.”
Zhang Jing looked at the two men, whose faces had turned slightly red.
“The current situation in Ji Province is critical and cannot tolerate even the slightest mistake.”
“I intend to take military action against Lu Bu. However, Yuan Shao is certainly supporting him from behind, making it difficult to find an opening.”
“What advice do you have for me?”
Did Zhang Jing want to fight Lu Bu?
Absolutely.
The problem was how.
If he launched an offensive, he would be fighting away from home.
For Zhang Jing, even the northern bank of Dong Commandery counted as enemy territory.
Lu Bu still commanded four thousand troops.
Moreover, they were all elite soldiers.
If the two sides met in open battle, the Forlorn Hope Battalion’s chances of defeat were not insignificant.
Even if they won, it would likely be a costly victory.
A siege was not a realistic option either.
Because Lu Bu was unlikely to stay behind city walls.
The moment you began besieging a city, he would simply charge out and attack.
At present, Zhang Jing had not thought of any particularly good solution.
Of course, he could also choose to ignore Lu Bu altogether.
“My lord.”
Guo Jia respectfully said, “May I ask whether there are still any civilians living in the northern territories of Dong Commandery across the Yellow River?”
To Guo Jia, this question was extremely important.
Xun You and Xi Zhicai looked at him in confusion, unable to understand why he was asking it.
“There are none.”
Zhang Jing shook his head.
“After Tao Qian withdrew his forces from Fagan, I sent troops across the river and relocated all the civilians from the northern part of Dong Commandery.”
“Excellent.”
Guo Jia’s eyes brightened.
“In that case, I have a plan.”
“It may even allow us to capture Lu Bu alive.”
“Fengxiao, please explain at once!”
Zhang Jing was eager to hear the famed prodigy’s strategy.
“My lord…”
Facing the expectant gazes of the others, Guo Jia spoke with confidence and enthusiasm:
“This strategy is called ‘Beat the Grass to Startle the Snake, and Wait by the Tree Stump for the Rabbit.'”
“Lu Bu’s forces are few in number.”
“After entering Dong Commandery, he will certainly send scouts ahead to reconnoiter the route.”
“Our targets are precisely those scouts.”
“As long as we eliminate several groups of scouts, Lu Bu will become increasingly cautious.”
“However, he commands four thousand men, has supplies and baggage trains, and it is said that his family members are traveling with him as well.”
“After arriving in Dong Commandery, his first choice for establishing a camp will certainly be a city.”
“And since he lacks the capability to cross the river, his only option will be to continue westward.”
At this point, Guo Jia bowed and continued:
“We need only three thousand troops to set an ambush in a county seat along Lu Bu’s route.”
“When Lu Bu enters the city to rest and his men have fallen asleep, our forces can launch a surprise night attack.”
“Lu Bu will surely be defeated.”
“Excellent!”
Zhang Jing’s face lit up with delight as he praised him.
“What a brilliant strategy—Beat the Grass to Startle the Snake, and Wait by the Tree Stump for the Rabbit!”
“Fengxiao is truly a man of great talent!”
“If this plan succeeds, our army will be able to defeat Lu Bu and escort the prisoners back to camp before Yuan Shao’s forces can react.”
After saying this, Zhang Jing found himself thinking:
This Guo Jia seems to possess a bit of Zhongde’s style.
Quite cunning and devious.
Just like in the previous life, when Lu Bu was trapped, it was Guo Jia who advised Cao Cao to flood the city.
Could it be that Guo Jia is Lu Bu’s natural nemesis?
“Fengxiao’s strategy is truly ingenious.”
Xun You added:
“Our army is already in an unassailable position south of the Yellow River.”
“As long as we maintain a standoff with Lu Bu, he will inevitably move westward.”
“Our scouts are stationed throughout the region.”
“It will not be difficult to determine where Lu Bu intends to rest.”
“We need only lull him into complacency a few times.”
“Then, when he enters a city again, he will naturally lower his guard.”
“At that moment, we strike unexpectedly while fully prepared.”
“With the advantage of preparation against an unsuspecting enemy, and fresh troops against weary ones, we will surely capture Lu Bu in a single blow.”
Even after finishing, Xun You could not help but sigh inwardly.
The strategy seemed so simple.
Why had he never thought of it before?
“What Gongda says is absolutely correct.”
Xi Zhicai smiled and said:
“Fengxiao’s plan is indeed brilliant.”
“Even I must admit my inferiority and willingly concede defeat.”
Among everyone present, only Xi Zhicai knew one thing.
This strategy had been devised by Guo Jia within less than an hour of learning that Lu Bu had chosen the Julu Road.
Because before that, Guo Jia had assumed Lu Bu would travel through Wei Commandery, with Yuan Shu becoming his first target.
Naturally, his original plans had been completely different.
“Excellent!”
Zhang Jing said, his face glowing with satisfaction.
“Effective immediately, Taiping Prefecture shall establish one new bureau and one new department.”
“The department shall be called the Ministry of War.”
“It shall oversee military registers, weapons production, supply distribution, the recording of military merits, and related affairs.”
“Gongda shall be responsible for it.”
“This subordinate accepts the command!”
Xun You hurriedly bowed in acknowledgment.
His heart was deeply moved.
After all this time, he had finally become fully integrated into the structure of Taiping Prefecture.
“The bureau shall be called the Military Intelligence Bureau.”
Zhang Jing continued solemnly:
“The Military Intelligence Bureau shall be responsible for military councils and strategic planning within Taiping Prefecture.”
“It shall formulate campaign strategies, train officers, and, when necessary, act as supervisory command over the armies, with authority to direct military operations.”
“Its chief shall be Cheng Yu.”
“Gongda, Fengxiao, and Zhicai shall enter the Military Intelligence Bureau as military advisers, participating in strategic deliberations and military affairs.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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