Chapter 427: Choosing the Commander

Military experts use miracles to break the situation and win.

Ordinary tactics follow the rules and are difficult to achieve extraordinary merits. Only by going against the trend and using the abnormal to control changes can one exceed the enemy's predictions and take advantage of the emptiness.

However, the principles of the world are balanced; where there is profit, there is also harm.

Miraculous strategies deviate from the norm, catching the enemy off guard, but also trapping oneself in an unpredictable place.

Therefore, miraculous strategies since ancient times have often been accompanied by miraculous dangers. Xue Shao and the others still understand this truth.

But understanding is one thing, and being willing and daring to do it is another.

Taking Yongzhou in one fell swoop is naturally good, but what if it cannot be taken? Previously, with Jingzhou as the foundation, the army swept Ying, and it was invincible, but there were still accidents. Now, an isolated army breaks into the Han and Mian rivers, with no foundation in the rear and no support on the side, can it really achieve full success?

The army staying in Ying has its strength cut in half; can it cope with the situation of having strong cities nearby and the Tai army far away? Wang Yang's intention is that if the three cities are not taken and the Tai army comes, then go north to Yongzhou, but what if they are caught up before escaping to Yongzhou? What if the road to Yongzhou has already been defeated?

It would be better if the three cities could be taken in time, but even so, facing the Tai army with half an army is definitely not as confident as having the full army.

Xue Shao and the others are not unaware of the huge benefits this strategy might bring, but psychologically, the more dangerous the situation, the less willing they are to divide the troops. Because dividing power in dangerous times is counterintuitive. Putting all the troops together, no matter what, at least provides more sense of security.

Once the troops are divided, whether they follow the north or stay in Ying, they only have half the army, but the risks they face are doubled.

Now, although they are already on a dead end, they haven't reached the end yet. Instead of dividing the troops to attack Yongzhou, it is better to concentrate their strength to fight the three cities. If there is no grain, isn't there a strategy of raiding the fields? And the grain stored in Pujikou has also been transferred, so maybe it is enough. As long as the three cities are taken, they can collect the grain stored in the city!

Even if the three cities are not taken and the Tai army arrives, they can attack the city from the inside and the Tai army from the outside. If the Tai army is defeated, the city will be cut off from reinforcements, and morale will be lost, so they may surrender directly!

After taking Yingzhou, they can think about what to do next. Can they recruit Ying soldiers and lure the barbarian tribes?

Barbarians value profit and can help Wang Yi, and they can also help us. At that time, inside and outside will respond to each other, and it is not impossible to take back Jingzhou...

Xue Shao and the others are unwilling to divide the troops, but no one dares to speak out against it.

Just kidding, this was proposed by Wang Yang; who dares to oppose it?

They used to dare to argue and question, but now, let alone questioning, they don't even dare to have a friendly discussion.

Not to mention that although they are intuitively unwilling to do so, they rationally believe in Wang Yang.

After all, a person cannot always fall in the same place.

Before, Wang Yang said that Wenyang must be broken first, which was a stable strategy. Everyone didn't believe it, but what was the result?

Later, Wang Yang said he wanted to raid Parrot Island, which was a dangerous strategy. Everyone didn't believe it again, but what was the result?

When Wang Yang was in command, it was like splitting bamboo; once he was removed from office, they were running around with their heads in their hands. The facts are there, and the lessons are not far away!

Perhaps, only by following Wang Yang's words can they turn defeat into victory...

The staff are intuitively against this strategy, but rationally believe in Wang Yang.

But Li Jingxuan is the exact opposite.

He rationally believes in this strategy, but intuitively opposes Wang Yang.

He is not like Xue Shao and the others who hold onto luck, thinking that as long as they hold the army and take Yingzhou, there will be some turning point. He has already clearly realized that even if the three cities are taken, it will only delay the time and wait for death. On the contrary, Wang Yang's strategy is transcendent and extraordinary. In the dead hole, he opens a wall; inside the trapped cage, he flaps his wings to the sky.

Although the situation is trapped in a corner, the momentum is already beyond the three provinces.

The more dangerous the situation, the more heroic the spirit; the more urgent the time, the further the plan.

If the matter is successful, then today's strategy in the tent will be the Longzhong plan of the future!

If this strategy was not proposed by Wang Yang, Li Jingxuan would definitely support it with both hands! Not only support it, but he would also be excited and happy for it! Because this is a strategy truly worth fighting for! It is a strategy that has the possibility of turning the tide and reversing the situation!

But this is Wang Yang's strategy.

Li Jingxuan doesn't know why, but he just doesn't trust Wang Yang. Perhaps out of jealousy? Perhaps out of fear? Or perhaps because he was the first to propose killing Wang Yang, but has never succeeded?

It may also be that he feels he cannot see through Wang Yang. Because he cannot see through him, it is dangerous...

But no matter how dangerous it is, he cannot stop it.

When he understood Wang Yang's meaning, he knew that the Prince of Badong would definitely adopt this strategy.

Not only because this strategy is Wang Yang's strategy, but also because this strategy is very much to the Prince of Badong's taste!

Of course, it is also very much to his own taste.

Li Jingxuan cannot find a reason to stop it, and even if he found one, he wouldn't dare to stop it, and he couldn't stop it anyway. However, he has already decided that he cannot place all his hopes on Wang Yang's miraculous strategy.

Everyone has a lot of inner drama, but the Prince of Badong only has eyes for Wang Yang and has no intention of asking anyone else. So others don't even have a chance to express their approval, and can only listen to the Prince of Badong constantly asking Wang Yang about his doubts, and Wang Yang constantly answering to release them. The two are chatting more and more happily!

The Prince of Badong has also figured it out. A group of mediocre people under his command, added together, are not worth one of Wang Yang's fingers! Besides being jealous of the talented and holding him back, what is the use of asking them!

He shouldn't have asked when he raised the army! If he had listened to Wang Yang and leveled Wenyang at that time, how could there be today's events?!

The Prince of Badong is excited by Wang Yang's words. He stands up with his arms crossed, pacing back and forth like a demon, then suddenly turns around, stares, and asks Wang Yang:

"Zhiyan, tell me the truth, what are the odds of going north to attack Yongzhou?"

"Seventy percent."

"Is it really seventy percent?"

"Yes."

"That's enough, thirty percent is worth betting on."

The Prince of Badong's expression is surprisingly calm, as if he has suddenly matured a lot.

He stares at Wang Yang and asks:

"Zhiyan, you said going north to take Yongzhou, who is suitable to be the commander?"

Wang Yang bows and replies:

"It must be me."

The Prince of Badong laughs heartily! He steps forward and supports Wang Yang's hand:

"Zhiyan! If we achieve great things in the future, you and I will share the world!"

Everyone is shocked!

Wang Yang frowns, takes a step back, tucks his sleeves and lowers his eyes, and says sternly:

"Although Your Highness and I are close friends, we still have the status of ruler and subject. Some jokes cannot be made. Like what you just said, it may be a joke to Your Highness, but in the future, it is hard to guarantee that villains will not use this to slander—"

The Prince of Badong's expression is extremely serious:

"Zhiyan, don't worry, I will not be slandered by others again. I said before, whoever slanders you and me again, regardless of rank, will be executed! This word is valid forever! And what I just said about sharing the world is not a joke; I really want to share it with you—"

"Your Highness!"

Wang Yang interrupts suddenly, his expression stern.

"If Your Highness makes this kind of joke again, I will not go to Yongzhou. I will stay in Yingzhou and assist Your Highness. As for the army going north, you can use Liu Chaozhi as the commander and Li Jingxuan as the strategist."

Li Jingxuan ponders.

The Prince of Badong waves his hands repeatedly:

"No, no, they won't do. You must go to Yongzhou; I don't trust anyone else. Besides, I am really not joking—"

Wang Yang suddenly gets angry, his voice carrying three parts of slight anger:

"Your Highness, aren't you ruining me? I am preparing to take charge of one side and make achievements! If half a word of what Your Highness said today spreads—yes, Your Highness is broad-minded and will not be slandered! But in the three armies, not everyone is like Your Highness!

I am a weak scholar, leading troops outside. Once my subordinates hear this and have different intentions, or cling to me to force their way up to seek glory; or pretend to be loyal to usurp power, how can I convince them? How can I command them?

At that time, loyal and indignant people will think they are planning for Your Highness and secretly hold me back; or they will despise me and refuse to use their lives. Even worse, they might just mutiny! Didn't Song Yi get his head cut off by Xiang Yu?"

"At that time, I will be working hard for Your Highness, attacking cities and land, and as a result, I will be chopped by my subordinates without paying attention! Then I will be wronged to death?!"

"Warfare is all about working together. If the top and bottom are of one heart, even an isolated army can win; if gaps are created, even a heavy army will be defeated!"

"If the hearts are not aligned, the orders will not be focused! If the orders are not focused, the battle and defense will be lost! If the battle and defense are lost, I will be captured!"

"What's more, the world is the world of the Xiao family!"

"If my surname was Xiao, what Your Highness said might have a little basis, but my surname is not Xiao. Even if you share the world with me, I can't sit on it!"

"If Your Highness really wants to reward my merit, then reward me with something practical. If practical things are not convenient, a verbal promise is fine! Nothing at all, just half the world, this is going to kill me!"

Everyone is stunned and their spirits are taken away!

The only one who dares to talk to the Prince like this is Wang Yang...

And the Prince is not even angry!

Who can compare to this?!

The Prince of Badong is not angry now; he is overjoyed! Truly overjoyed!

He had been testing him since he asked Wang Yang about the commander.

Now that they are dividing troops to take Yong, Wang Yang is the best candidate for commander! There is no one else!

Not to mention the current situation, his royal flag cannot move. Even if it could, if he didn't have Wang Yang's assistance, he couldn't take Yongzhou!

If Wang Yang is truly loyal, in this dangerous situation, he should be duty-bound! But if Wang Yang has different intentions, he might pretend to be modest, or advance by retreating, deliberately reporting other candidates to induce him to reject them. Then the intention of Wang Yang's plan to raid Yongzhou would be hard to measure.

Fortunately, Wang Yang answered frankly. But the Prince of Badong was not completely at ease. He tested him several more times, but if Wang Yang had shown any sign of having different thoughts, he would not have let Wang Yang go to Yongzhou!

The results of the test proved that Wang Yang had no different intentions!

So even if he was scolded again, he was happy!

The Prince of Badong was scolded until he was happy:

"Zhiyan, you are right! It was my fault just now! I was wrong! I will never say such things again! Zhiyan, tell me, what reward do you want? As long as I can give it, you just speak! Even if you want the Princess! I will wash her clean and send her to you!"

Wang Yang frowns:

"Your Highness, can you be sincere!"

"Where do you have a Princess to send out?!"

"Even if you did, I wouldn't dare to want her!"

"How about this, I will say something I dare to want."

"Titles and rewards, wait until we discuss merit, now just talk about after taking Yongzhou."

"Previously, Liu Yu recovered Luoyang and ordered Mao Xiuzhi to garrison and repair the city walls. He rewarded his merit with clothes and treasures, worth twenty million coins."

"I don't dare to want that much, just ten million—"

The Prince of Badong is in a great mood! He waves his hand and stares:

"No! It must be twenty million!"

Li Jingxuan's eyes turn red when he hears this! Twenty million, Wang Yang just got twenty million like that!!! He is a noble son of the Langya Wang family, already rich and noble, and he asks for millions, while he hesitates for a long time just to buy a slightly better piece of clothing—

Born in the same world, yet the glory and decline are like clouds and mud. Is it possible that heaven has its own partiality? Why is the disparity so great?

Wang Yang seems not to believe it:

"Really twenty million?"

The Prince of Badong says heroically:

"Would I say something fake?! Twenty million, not a single coin less! If you are short one coin, I will be anxious with you!"

Wang Yang says happily:

"Thank you, Your Highness! Twenty million for taking Yongzhou, what about recovering Jingzhou?"

The Prince of Badong's smile stiffens, he thinks for a while and says:

"Let's talk about sending the Princess..." ===== CHAPTER 428 =====