69novels Chapter 1097 Chen Ping and Kuai Tong's answers were different!
Chapter 1097 Chen Ping and Kuai Tong's answers were different!
Cold sweat instantly soaked through Kuai Tong's inner shirt. For the first time, he felt that his understanding of this emperor was probably only the tip of the iceberg.
But he was, after all, a descendant of the strategists, and his mental fortitude far surpassed that of ordinary people. In a mere instant, he steadied himself, pondered briefly, and replied in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, if I had been the persuader at the time, I would have... refused."
"Oh?" Gao Yao raised an eyebrow slightly. "Why? Wouldn't dividing the world into three parts be the best strategy?"
Kuai Tong shook his head: "It seems like the best strategy, but it's actually the worst. There are three reasons for this."
He stood up and began pacing around the hall, a habit of the strategists during debates, which Gao Yao did not stop him from doing.
"First, the times cannot be defied. Although Xiang Yu was strong at the time, he was already showing signs of fatigue; although Liu Bang was weak, the people were loyal to him. The people had suffered under Qin for a long time, and after several years of war, they longed for stability. If they were to split again at this time, it would go against the general trend, and even if they succeeded, it would be difficult to last."
"Secondly, Han Xin himself. Han Xin was good at commanding troops, but not at commanding generals; he was good at attacking but not at defending. He could be a regional lord, but to make him compete with Liu Bang and Xiang Yu for the world? That was beyond his capabilities. Moreover, he valued loyalty and remembered past favors. Liu Bang had promised him the title of King of Qi and treated him well, but he had long been hesitant. If he were to force a division into three kingdoms, his heart would not be firm, and his efforts would be difficult to accomplish."
"Thirdly," Kuai Tong stopped and looked directly at Gao Yao, "most importantly, Han Xin did not have anyone who could truly assist him in achieving hegemony. If someone could have assisted Liu Bang like Zhang Liang did, or Xiang Yu like Fan Zeng did, there might have been a chance. But at that time, he only had me by his side—and I was ultimately just a persuader, not a prime minister."
His words analyzed the situation, dissected human nature, and subtly pointed out his own limitations, making them both frank and profound. The last point, in particular, clearly defined his role—he could devise ingenious strategies and discern advantages and disadvantages, but he lacked the ability to coordinate the overall situation and govern the country.
Gao Yao listened quietly, his face still expressionless, only tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne a few times.
"Then," he continued, "if it had been someone who could devise ingenious strategies, manage state affairs, and reassure the people instead of you who advised Han Xin, would Han Xin have listened?"
Kuai Tong pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "I'm afraid it still won't happen."
"Why?"
"Because Han Xin's essence was ultimately that of a general, not a monarch," Kuai Tong said, emphasizing each word. "A general thinks about how to win the next battle, while a monarch thinks about how to manage the entire world. Their ways of thinking are different, and so are the landscapes they see. Han Xin could see the tactical advantage of the Three Kingdoms, but he couldn't see the historical inevitability of unification. This wasn't a matter of whether he had anyone to assist him; it was simply that he wasn't cut out for it."
This assertion, sharp and ruthless, hit the nail on the head. A hint of approval finally flashed in Gao Yao's eyes.
“Well said.” He nodded. “Then, the second question is for Mr. Chen Ping.”
Chen Ping rose and bowed, saying, "Your subject is here."
"Still within the same context," Gao Yao's question was equally unexpected: "Liu Bang was trapped on Baideng Mountain for seven days and seven nights, surrounded by 400,000 Xiongnu cavalry, with no food or supplies, freezing cold, and his army's morale on the verge of collapse. At this time, how would you break the siege?"
Yet another historical challenge!
Chen Ping naturally didn't know much about the original history and could only consider things based on the present situation, rather than overthinking things. Compared to Kuai Tong, Chen Ping was noticeably calmer.
Chen Ping remained calm, pondered for a moment, and replied, "Your Majesty, if I were Liu Bang at that time, I would implement three strategies."
Which three strategies?
“The best strategy is no good,” Chen Ping said. “The truly best strategy is to never underestimate the enemy and advance recklessly into the heart of the Xiongnu territory. Now that we have fallen into their trap and are surrounded, it means that the decision-makers have made a grave mistake. At this point, it is impossible to find a perfect way out.”
A hint of interest flashed in Gao Yao's eyes: "Continue."
"Therefore, only the middle and the worst strategies remain," Chen Ping said calmly. "The middle strategy is negotiation. But not with the Chanyu himself, but with those around him. Although the Xiongnu are strong, they are not a monolithic entity. The tribal leaders each have their own agendas, and the Chanyu's wives, concubines, and close ministers also have their own demands. Find the most greedy, the most fearless, or the most ambitious among them, offer them great benefits, and explain the advantages and disadvantages, so that they may undermine the Xiongnu's will to besiege them from within."
This is almost a replica of the strategy he used in history! Only he described it more subtly and did not mention the specifics of how it was carried out.
"What's the worst option?" Gao Yao pressed.
"The worst option is to fight to the death." Chen Ping's voice turned cold. "Select the most daring soldiers in the army to launch a night raid on the Chanyu's tent. They don't seek to survive, but to perish together with the Chanyu. The Xiongnu revere the Chanyu. If the Chanyu dies suddenly, their army will surely fall into chaos. At that time, they may be able to break out in the chaos—although the hope of survival is slim, it is still better than sitting and waiting to die."
"Which option will you choose?" Gao Yao stared intently at Chen Ping.
Chen Ping replied without hesitation: "The middle option."
"Why? Although the inferior strategy is risky, wouldn't it show more courage and determination?"
“Because a ruler should not act rashly.” Chen Ping raised his head, his eyes clear. “Liu Bang was not just one person; he had the entire Han Dynasty behind him. If he died, the world would be in chaos, and countless lives would be lost. Therefore, he could not die, or at least he could not die easily. The middle strategy, though it required bribery and espionage, and seemed less than honorable, could best preserve his life and the state. For a ruler, living is the greatest responsibility to the world.”
He paused, then added, "Moreover, using spies for bribery may seem like a minor tactic, but it is actually a grand strategy. Being able to accurately pinpoint the cracks within the Xiongnu and leverage the greatest benefits with the least cost is itself a capability that a ruler should possess—just as Your Majesty was able to navigate the various factions within the Qin Palace from the position of a cook, ultimately achieving great things."
This last sentence cleverly steers the conversation back to Gao Yao himself, both flattering the emperor and implying that he understands the emperor's rise to power—a truly masterful move.
Gao Yao smiled. This was the first time he had smiled all day.
"Chen Ping, oh Chen Ping, you are truly astonishing! Indeed, truly remarkable!" Gao Yao shook his head and sighed, inwardly marveling at how Liu Bang, in history, had said of Chen Ping's intelligence, yet deemed him unsuitable for sole responsibility, while also praising him as "unparalleled in wisdom and strategy." Chen Ping's words succinctly articulated the responsibilities of a ruler, the choice of methods, and the weighing of life and death. More importantly, he understood when to use which method—a quality far more valuable than mere intelligence.
Chen Ping bowed and said, "Your Majesty flatters me."
Gao Yao rose from the dragon throne and slowly descended the jade steps. The hem of his dark imperial robe trailed on the smooth ground, making a soft rustling sound. He walked up to the two men, his gaze sweeping over their faces.
"You answered both questions very well," he said slowly. "It's not the answers themselves that are good, but rather that your self-positioning, your understanding of the times, and your insight into human nature have all met my expectations."