binnovel Chapter 1102 Year-End Discussion and Planning for the Coming Year
Chapter 1102 Year-End Discussion and Planning for the Coming Year
Li Ru gazed at the deep sorrow etched on Ma Chao's brow, his fingers slowly stroking his beard before pausing, and finally fell silent. He knew perfectly well that this was no opportune moment to declare himself emperor. Though the Central Plains were embroiled in fierce warfare, Yuan Shao's iron cavalry from Hebei, Cao Cao's elite troops from Yanzhou, Lü Bu's formidable forces from Xuzhou, and even Sun Quan's navy from Jiangdong—each faction held its trump cards. They still possessed sufficient manpower, supplies, and territory; they were not yet at their wits' end. To act rashly now would be tantamount to playing with fire.
We must wait until they tear each other apart, empty their coffers, wear down their spirits, and erode public support. Only then can we raise our banners in a natural and orderly manner.
His startling advice today, seemingly abrupt, actually had another purpose—to plant a seed in everyone's hearts. To make the generals talk about "the merit of following the emperor," to make the strategists plan "the strategy to establish the dynasty," and more importantly, to give their lord Ma Chao an opportunity to touch that hidden ambition in his heart, and to weigh the insurmountable gap between "the princes" and "the emperor."
Seeing Ma Chao's somber silence, and the others in the hall either lost in thought or on high alert, they knew their objective had been achieved. Li Ru then stepped forward, bowed, and said humbly, "This old minister misspoke just now; I apologize for my rudeness, my lord."
Ma Chao looked up at him, his eyes filled with complex emotions, a mixture of relief and understanding. He finally waved his hand and said, "Alright, you were thinking of Xiliang. Let's not talk about this for now."
Li Ru bowed in agreement and returned to his original position. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the exchanged glances between Xu Shu, Jia Xu, and the others, a subtle smile playing on his lips. Some things don't need to be said outright; some seeds, once planted, will eventually sprout. In chaotic times, when the time isn't right, one must conceal one's strength; only when the time is right can one unleash a thunderous force. And what he had done today was merely to fertilize the soil of waiting.
Ma Chao took a deep breath, his tone calm and steady, with an undeniable certainty: "Gentlemen, then it's settled—let's give Xiliang a chance to recuperate."
His gaze swept across the hall, his expression earnest: "This time, when I returned to Chang'an from the grasslands, I specifically invited Mr. Zao Zhi here. Yongzhou, where Chang'an is located, has suffered from war in recent years, and many fertile fields have become barren hills. It would be perfect for him to implement the policy of military-agricultural settlements, attracting refugees to cultivate the land and gradually restore the region's vitality. As for taxes, let's first lower them so that people can store their grain in their own granaries. When they have something to look forward to, they will have the mind to tend their fields and increase their population."
No sooner had he said this than Xu Huang couldn’t contain himself and stepped forward, clasping his hands in a fist and saying, “Your Majesty, recuperation is the right thing to do, but the fighting in the Central Plains is fierce, with Yuan Shao, Lü Bu, and Cao Cao’s forces locked in a fierce battle. Are we really going to sit idly by? What if they decide a victor and then free up their energy to deal with Xiliang? Wouldn’t that be missing a golden opportunity?”
Ma Chao smiled upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes: "Now that I've returned, I naturally won't turn a blind eye to the war in the Central Plains. Just now, I heard Mr. Yuanzhi and Mr. Zijing offer their strategies, both mentioning the need to take Luoyang, and I think that makes sense."
He walked to the map and pointed his finger heavily at the location of Luoyang: "Luoyang is the old capital, with a strategic location that guards the throat of the Central Plains. We don't need to intervene with a large force in the chaos, but we can send an elite force to take Luoyang first—this way, we won't be actively provoking the war, and we can hold this key position. We can advance to spy on the Central Plains or retreat to protect Guanzhong."
Xu Shu's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands, saying, "My lord, this plan is brilliant! Taking Luoyang is like driving a nail into the heart of the Central Plains. It can both intimidate the various warlords and avoid getting bogged down in war. It is just right to take into account both recuperation and strategic planning."
Lu Su nodded in agreement: "Luoyang has suffered from war for a long time, and its people have been displaced. After our army takes it, we can follow the example of Yongzhou, reduce taxes and levies, and pacify the displaced people. In a few years, this place can become the base for our army's eastward advance. At that time, no matter how the situation in the Central Plains changes, we will be able to deal with it calmly."
Ma Chao looked at Xu Huang and smiled, "Gongming's concern about 'remaining inactive' doesn't mean truly not moving. It just means that this 'movement' must be skillful and steady. Taking Luoyang will not only prevent the people of Xiliang from shedding blood in vain, but also pave the way for the future. What do you think?"
Xu Huang's anxiety vanished, and he clasped his hands in a fist and said loudly, "My lord is wise! This humble general is willing to lead the army there and will surely hold Luoyang firmly in our hands!"
Ma Chao waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "No, I have other plans." His gaze swept over everyone and landed on Zhang Liao, his tone leaving no room for doubt, "Wen Yuan will lead this matter, along with Gao Shun and Zhang Yan. Next spring, I will give you 20,000 Xiliang Iron Cavalry and 20,000 Black Mountain Army soldiers. While taking Luoyang, you must also capture Sishui Pass and Hulao Pass. These three cities will form a unified whole, supporting each other, and only then will Chang'an be truly as solid as a rock."
Xu Huang was about to open his mouth to argue when Ma Chao's sharp gaze swept over him, and he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He sullenly pouted and could only bow and step aside.
Zhang Liao stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said loudly, "This humble general obeys! I will certainly not fail in my mission. I will lead the army to set off in the spring and ensure that all three cities are in my hands!"
Ma Chao nodded: "Wen Yuan is steady, Gao Shun is rigorous in training troops, and Zhang Yan is skilled in mountain warfare. With the three of you working together, this matter is promising. I will have Xun Yu prepare enough food and weapons in advance, so there is no need to worry."
Seeing that their lord had a plan and that it was perfectly arranged, no one in the hall said anything more.
Ma Chao changed the subject, looking southwest at the map: "As for Liu Zhang of Yizhou, since Zhang Ren has already sent troops to besiege the city, let him continue to hold the line. We'll also transfer Fa Zheng to Hanzhong to oversee the overall situation there." He paused, then explained, "Both Fa Zheng and Zhang Ren have served in Yizhou and are very familiar with the local customs, defenses, and weaknesses. With their cooperation, we can put pressure on Liu Zhang and stabilize Hanzhong. We can make further plans after the situation in Luoyang is settled."
Those listening quietly in the council chamber all felt that the arrangement was sound—using familiar people to handle familiar territory was indeed the best strategy.
"As for the Central Plains..." Ma Chao changed the subject, his gaze falling on Jiangdong, his tone becoming more serious, "Gentlemen, I intend to personally make a trip to Jiangdong next spring."
He counted on his fingers and said, "First, we need to bring Ma Yue back. That child has been fostered in Jiangdong for many years and is now five or six years old. He has never been to Chang'an. Letting him wander outside all the time is not a long-term solution."
“Secondly,” a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, “we need to go and meet Gongjin. There must be a reason for Brother Bofu’s death. If it’s an injustice, it must be redressed; if it’s a grudge, it must be settled. This matter cannot be left like this.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Huang immediately perked up, stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and his eyes shone like burning torches: "Your Majesty! This time, on the eastern expedition to Jiangdong, this humble general should at least be allowed to accompany you, shouldn't he?"
Seeing his impatient look, Ma Chao smiled and said, "Of course you'll be there this time. In some situations, it's inconvenient to use flowery language, so we need your straightforward personality to say what needs to be said."
Xu Huang immediately beamed with joy, turning to look at Zhang Liao and Zhang Xiu with a smug expression, his chin slightly raised, like a child who had just received candy, causing everyone in the hall to chuckle softly.
Zhang Liao shook his head helplessly, while Zhang Xiu cupped his hands and said, "My lord, you must bring many elite guards when you go to Jiangdong. Although Sun Quan is young, he has veteran generals such as Huang Gai and Cheng Pu under his command. The two Zhangs of Jiangdong are also cunning and must be guarded against."
"Don't worry." Ma Chao nodded. "I have my own arrangements. This trip is ostensibly a meeting, but in reality, it's also to probe the strength of Jiangdong. As for the guards..." He looked at Xu Huang, "With a roughneck like you around, ordinary villains probably won't be able to get close."
Xu Huang patted his chest and laughed loudly: "Of course! With me here, I guarantee that my lord will be safe and sound!"
Li Ru stroked his beard and slowly said, "Since my lord is going to Jiangdong, why not take a detour to Qiao County? After all, the eldest young lady is still in Qiao County, and now she is with Cao Ang. Her marriage is still uncertain, and as her elder brother, you should personally take care of it." After saying that, he looked up at Ma Chao, his eyes filled with an obvious deep meaning.
Ma Chao had known him for many years, so how could he not understand this meaning? The trip to Qiao County was ostensibly to visit his sister, but in reality, it was also a pretext to probe Cao Ang's background. After all, Xuzhou had already fallen under Cao Ang's control. This man was not only Cao Cao's eldest son, but also connected to his younger sister. They would inevitably have to deal with him in the future, so it was always good to find out his temperament and ambition in person.
“You’re right.” Ma Chao nodded, his tone tinged with helplessness, yet also with the solemnity of an elder brother. “In that case, let’s take this detour.” He turned to the crowd and announced loudly, “We’ll muster another ten thousand troops. Mr. Xu Shu and Mr. Lu Su will accompany me; Xu Huang and Zhang Xiu will be the left and right army commanders, responsible for scouting ahead and covering the rear; and we’ll also call upon Dian Wei to be my personal bodyguard. With this arrangement, we’ll head to Qiao County first, and then we can talk to my little sister.”
He sighed, a mix of amusement and exasperation in his voice: "Sigh, daughters really are hard to keep at home once they grow up. But no matter what, as her older brother, I have to personally oversee her choices; I can't let her make a decision without knowing what she's doing."
Zhang Xiu had thought that Xu Huang would be the only one to shine in this eastern expedition, but upon hearing this, his eyes lit up. He quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, "This humble general obeys! I will protect my lord and all the gentlemen!" Being able to accompany his lord on a personal expedition, especially in such a situation concerning family and diplomacy, was both a sign of trust and a valuable experience for him. He couldn't help but show a hint of excitement on his face.
Xu Shu cupped his hands and replied, "My lord, rest assured. During my trip to Qiao County, I will keep an eye on the local situation and also investigate Cao Ang's governance in Xuzhou, so as to make some preparations for subsequent responses."
Lu Su nodded in agreement: "Cao Ang was able to stabilize Xuzhou in such a short time, so he must have some extraordinary abilities. Taking the opportunity of visiting the young lady, we can observe his manner of dealing with people and see whether he is a trustworthy person or a potential threat."
Ma Chao grunted in agreement, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "This trip must be both safe and discreet. Going to Qiao County is a private matter, so there's no need to make a big fuss. But if we encounter any unforeseen circumstances, we must have the confidence to deal with them. Dian Wei, you will be my personal bodyguard, so be on your best."
"Your humble servant obeys!" A loud reply came from outside the tent, and then a towering figure lifted the curtain and entered. It was Dian Wei. He clasped his hands and bowed, his face solemn. "With your humble servant here, I will ensure that my lord is unharmed!"
Xu Huang, standing to the side, rubbed his hands together, saying, "My lord, rest assured. With Wenxiu and I protecting you from the front and back, plus the guards, even a thousand troops wouldn't be able to get close to you!"
The atmosphere in the hall lightened considerably after these few words of conversation. The previous tension from the strategic discussion dissipated, replaced by a sense of swiftness as action was about to commence. Everyone understood that their lord's personal trip to Jiangdong was both for personal reasons and for the greater good—bringing back his child was out of filial piety, inquiring about Sun Ce's death was out of consideration for past relationships, and behind all this lay a probing and strategic maneuvering of the situation in Jiangdong.