Chapter 417 Xiangyang’s Hidden Strategists – Part One (1/2)
Chapter 417 – Xiangyang's Hidden Strategists – Part One
Sun Jian did not miss telling his sons about Tong and Cao Cao's agreement.
Sun Ce: ”Why the hell is Zhang Tong helping Cao Cao!? They're supposed to fight each other! Is he a retard? He should have formed a distant ally and attack the neighbors.”
Zhou Yu: ”From the details of the trade, Cao Cao's loss is huge. Jibei will be Zhang Tong's foothold to invade the central plain. I think this move is logical.”
Sun Jian: ”Cao Cao also tried to trade the Imperial Seal's info to get Jibei back, but Zhang Tong refused.”
Zhou Yu: ”I think Cao Cao made a mistake for offering Jibei as collateral before he offered the info to salvage the situation. I believe Cao Cao somehow already got the hands on the jade seal, but he didn't want to lose it.”
Sun Fang: ”Let's save your analysis for now. We know that Cao Cao is gathering funds, and my Guangling is going to get hit. Can you guys help me?”
Zhou Yu: ”Impossible. We haven't taken Yuzheng and Chaisang yet. You will have to withstand their attack with your immortal skills.”
Sun Fang: ”For some reason, I think you're overworking me. I have to gather lifespans to pay for the clan leader transfer fee, too, remember? I don't have enough time to run the commandery!”
Zhou Yu: ”Bofu and I will collect the lifespans in your stead. Concentrate on protecting and developing Guangling.”
Sun Fang: ”Fine.”
Despite the bad news, Zhou Yu disregarded Cao Cao's movement and focused on conquering Jiangdong.
It took time to use the 300,000 gold and 300,000 provision that Cao Cao obtained from Ye. Cao Cao's forces had to conscript troops, train them, and gear them with proper weaponry. Also, his empire's economy was weak, which required time and investment to strengthen their domestic growth.
In summary, Cao Cao would not be able to attack Guangling this year. They had a bit more time to digest the southeast province and prepare for the future war.
Zhou Yu: ”By the way, senior Sun, do you have the accurate intel about Zhang Tong's total forces?”
Sun Jian: ”I have, but you don't wanna know.”
Zhou Yu: ”Try me.”
Sun Jian: ”Over 500,000. Each year, they produce 30,000 to 50,000 soldiers from Julu and Ye. Then, they send these men to guard other commanderies.”
Zhou Yu: ”That's lower than what I estimated. I thought he would have conscripted about 100,000 to 200,000 people a year.”
Sun Jian: ”Then, your estimation might be accurate. Zhang Tong never conscripts soldiers. All of his new soldiers were volunteers that were willing to pay to get into the military academy. None of them are farmer militias without training.”
Sun Ce's heart sunk when he learned about the difference in their military power. Right now, they only had about 20,000 elites and 10,000 conscripted militias.
Each year, Tong produced at least 30,000 elites, which could overwhelm their army with ease.
Sun Ce turned toward his sworn brother, ”Do we even have a chance?”
Zhou Yu chuckled, ”Number isn't everything. Zhang Tong may have a million elites when we finish reinforcing our foundation, but he can't possibly send everybody. At best, he can just send two legions with 200,000 soldiers at us. Even if he has men, I don't believe that he can produce enough weaponry to support his troops.”
”But 30,000 can't beat 200,000!”
”Who said anything that we will get stuck at 30,000 men forever? By that time, we should have about 100,000 to 150,000 soldiers to defend the Yangtze River. Also …”
Zhou Yu glanced at the west, looking at the direction of Xiangyang.
”I know a few monsters that can help us.”
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Hongnong City
The banners on top of Hongnong city walls were not [Yuan] but [Liu] and [Cao].
Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei surrendered to Cao Cao last year, and they were entrusted with a task, protecting the city from the western Xiongnu.
As for the former governor, Yuan Yin was captured and killed by Zhang Fei. Although the governor pledged for his life and told them that he never mistreated them, Zhang Fei killed him anyway.
Liu Bei also witnessed the execution. When he saw Yuan Yin's head rolling on the ground, he found it ironic.
Had it been the alternate world in his dream, he would have cried or stopped Zhang Fei from killing the kind governor. However, the experience from Liu Ping's fragmented memories taught him that these people were preys that should be devoured whenever they had a chance.
Moreover, he had the experience of himself in another world, who was once the Shu Han emperor.
Liu Bei combined his visions from both worlds together, which strengthened his mentality and the thickness of his face. Now, he would not shy away from killing his benefactors for his own gain.
When Guan Yu returned and found out that the kind Yuan Yin was dead, he grimaced, ”Is this even necessary? We could have spared him and turn him into our ally.”
Liu Bei snorted, ”He's a relative to the traitor Yuan. For the sake of our Han Dynasty, all nine generations of the Yuan has to be killed. No exception!”
”He was our benefactor! He's also an honest governor! Just because he's a relative of a bad guy, why did you have to kill him!?”
Guan Yu did not like this version of Liu Bei. Although his loyalty toward his sworn brother did not change, he did not approve of Liu Bei's surviving method.
”I did what I could to allow us to fight again. You should have dreamed about the alternate world without the immortals, right? We were so closed to unify the country, but we messed up because of the Sun Clan.”