69novels Chapter 781: Make plans for Nanjun and prepare to become king!
Chapter 781: Make plans for Nanjun and prepare to become king!
He held up two fingers and analyzed clearly, "First, it is for negotiation. Wu Shen knows that the Prime Minister is determined to obtain the three counties, but he also knows that the Prime Minister needs to be on guard against Wei Bao, Liu Bang, Xiang Yu and other tigers and wolves all around him, and the pressure in the rear is huge. He may want to use this tough attitude to show that he still has the power to resist, force the Prime Minister to make concessions at the negotiation table, and obtain more favorable conditions for himself and his remaining forces. This is to wait for the price to promote peace through war."
Zhang Liang's voice lowered slightly, with a hint of solemnity: "The second one..." He paused for a moment, his eyes swept across the crowd, and finally spoke frankly, "It cannot be ruled out that Wu Can has gone mad and wants to be crazy for the last time. In recent days, there are many former generals of Wu Rui who have secretly contacted us and wanted to surrender. If Wu Can is really as short-sighted and violent as the intelligence shows, he strengthened the city defense and put on a desperate posture, perhaps he wanted to make a desperate struggle. He can hold on as long as he can. If he surrenders when he is really at his wit's end, he may still have a glimmer of luck. After all..."
Zhang Liang's voice was chilling as he quoted key intelligence: "According to Lord Wu She's spy, this Master Wu Can is a man who can kill even his own brother! The reason? Simply because his brother's talent threatens his future succession. One can imagine what kind of person a man who is so cruel to his closest relatives has. At this moment, he may be immersed in his illusory 'throne', hoping for a short and bloody end to his 'glory'."
Zhang Liang's words fell, and the study fell into a deeper silence. The flickering candlelight reflected Gao Yao's increasingly gloomy face, and also illuminated the light of wisdom flashing in the eyes of the three counselors.
Gao Yao took a deep breath, and the rage in his chest gradually subsided, replaced by a cold sobriety that belonged to a commander. His bony fingers tapped lightly on the rosewood table, making a dull and regular sound.
The penetrating analysis of Zhang Liang, Xiao He, and Han Xin was like an ice stone thrown into boiling water, instantly extinguishing his rising irritation due to Wu Can's "ignorance". He was angry before, because he subconsciously regarded Wu Can's resistance as another delaying tactic with human lives, and the other party tried to use the blood of soldiers to consume his time and patience. But at this moment, peeling off the surface, the calculation, fear and even possible madness behind Wu Can's move, on the contrary, did not seem so devastatingly threatening.
"Well," Gao Yao's voice returned to its usual calmness, and his eyes slowly swept across the three loyal ministers in front of him, "So what do you think?" This was not a question, but a search for final confirmation, a preparation for decision-making based on the consensus of the think tank.
Xiao He took the lead and took another step forward. His voice was clear and firm, with a kind of confidence in control of the overall situation: "Prime Minister, I think everything can proceed steadily according to the original plan. The most urgent task is to hold the ceremony of proclaiming the king as scheduled, choose an auspicious day to announce it to the world and declare the orthodoxy. At the same time, announce the grand plan of moving the capital to Xianyang and establishing the capital in Guanzhong! This move is of great significance - the more calm we act and the more we "turn a blind eye" to the chaos in the three counties, the more anxious Wu Can and his followers will become. The more they speculate on our intentions and try to find opportunities in our panic, the easier it will be for them to reveal their flaws. The best strategy is to remain unchanged in the face of ever-changing situations. Time is on our side."
After hearing this, Gao Yao turned his eyes like a hawk towards Zhang Liang and Han Xin. Without saying anything, both of them nodded solemnly. Zhang Liang's eyes flashed with the wisdom of seeing through people's hearts, and Han Xin showed the unique decisiveness of a soldier. Their movements were uniform, silently expressing their complete approval of Xiao He's strategy - stabilize the foundation and wait for the enemy to change. As long as Gao Yao, the pillar of the sky, remained unmoved, the only one struggling in the quagmire and eager to find a way out would be Wu Can, who was trapped in the city.
"Well," Gao Yao finally decided, his voice was not loud, but it was full of unquestionable majesty, "Let's act according to this plan. However -" he changed the subject, his eyes flashing, "The military pressure on Nanjun must not be relaxed! Order: The Fourth Corps, let Erniu be the commander, quickly dispatch 30,000 elite soldiers, secretly advance eastward from Bashu, and head straight for the flank of Nanjun; the Third Corps, still from the direction of Hanzhong, maintain frontal pressure on Nanjun; the Second Corps, from the direction of Jiujiang County, set up a strong offensive posture!"
He paused for a moment and emphasized, "Except for the Second Corps, which must make a big move to create momentum for the main attack, the Fourth and Third Corps must move in secret and camouflage their marching routes to give Wu Can the illusion that our main force is attracted to Jiujiang and that other directions are short of troops! Only by showing weakness to the enemy can we lure them into making light moves or force them to reveal fatal flaws."
"Yes!" The three of them responded in unison, their voices echoing in the study room, carrying a solemn and murderous aura. Once the order was given, it was as unshakable as a mountain.
Gao Yao then issued a more core order: "The ceremony of conferring the title of king will be held at an auspicious time seven days from now! The proposal to move the capital to Xianyang will also be announced to the world on the same day. This is the foundation of the country and cannot be lost!"
Gao Yao's eyes suddenly became as sharp as a knife, and he turned to the more distant threat, "Black Armor Division, the entire army will be secretly mobilized immediately, and we will march day and night to deploy defenses at the key passes outside Xianyang! Especially in the direction of Hangu Pass and Wuguan, send more scouts to closely monitor the movements in the north!"
There was always a string hanging in his heart - Xiang Yu! This former overlord now occupies the north, with his cavalry coming and going like the wind, and he holds the strategic initiative. Gao Yao knew that Xiang Yu would never sit idly by and watch such a major event that would shake the world's situation, such as his claiming to the throne and moving the capital.
A surprise attack on the new capital Xianyang to strike at his own prestige with thunder and lightning was a tactic that Xiang Yu was very likely to adopt. Although Gao Yao had absolute confidence in his defense system based on the geographical advantages of the pass, and had a secret weapon that could change the form of war - black gunpowder, he still did not dare to be careless.
Thinking of this, Gao Yao's mouth curled up a cold arc, with absolute confidence and a little bit of contempt. The mysterious Yi Xiaochuan might be able to make black gunpowder, but Gao Yao would never believe that Xiang Yu, with his background in the frontier and his style of advocating personal bravery, could master and mass-produce such a magical weapon. The technological gap was a trump card in his hand that had not yet been fully revealed.
"Go, do your own thing and make sure everything is safe!" Gao Yao waved his hand, and the air in the study seemed to freeze a little because of these intensive and crucial instructions.
"Yes." After hearing Gao Yao's words, Xiao He and others immediately adjusted their attitude and began to prepare for various follow-up matters.