Chapter 1111

Chen Wuji held a wine jug and watched the lively atmosphere below, his mood pleasant but slightly disappointed; in the short term, lower- and mid-level officials should no longer be lacking.

But strategists, truly hard to find!

Looking at the current situation, among these people, not even an ordinary strategist can be singled out, let alone those top-tier masterminds.

Although after reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chen Wuji could very well understand the present situation, disappointment remained unavoidable.

Look at Liu Imperial Uncle, to find a true mastermind to assist him, how much hardship he endured, how much effort he exerted, all his efforts turned out what way.

Compared to that, his starting point can already be considered quite high.

But people, who would ever be truly satisfied?

Who would again say enough?

At this moment, Chu Xiu walked over, "My lord, I have discovered a person; his views are unique, his learning vast, but... he just has a slight tendency to favor unorthodox swordsmanship."

Chen Wuji instantly energized, "First, tell me your assessment."

"He is a talent, but also a dangerous talent." Chu Xiu carefully pondered, then gave his evaluation.

"To have you use the words 'dangerous' to describe him, this person, I instantly became more interested." Chen Wuji said, "Mr. Xu's nickname is Poisonist; do you think I would mind a dangerous strategist? Tell me, just how dangerous is he!"

"I asked him about the situation between Jiannan Commandery and Shangfang Commandery, and he answered with two words: slaughter the city!"

Chen Wuji's face suddenly lost its smile, "Just that straightforward?"

Against foreign tribes, he has never been stingy with his thunderous methods; it can be said he is as ruthless as one wishes, truly putting cart wheels flat, kicking heads while counting able-bodied men.

But toward the Dayu commoners, he has always only employed appeasement.

"Indeed, just that straightforward." Chu Xiu also felt somewhat helpless.

"Later I asked again, and he then explained to me: he said my lord's envoy is already traveling in Shangfang Commandery, this is currently the best stratagem; what follows needs only a few battles, to rush to the envoy's aid."

"That brat's advice to me was: transmit proclamations to Jiannan and Shangfang's various warlord factions, tell them the consequences of not surrendering, then the main army marches north to Shangfang Commandery, slaughter a few cities and that will suffice."

"He said, for the warlord factions of Jiannan and Shangfang Commandery, my lord, who sweeps across Qiang Land and wins every battle, is a colossal being; they have no capital to negotiate terms, no room for bargaining, only surrender, or else be annihilated!"

"If my lord is willing, without spending a single soldier, choosing to besiege without fighting to exhaust them could also wear them down to death."

Chen Wuji slightly nodded, "This suggestion is far more reliable than Zhao Chen's just brought, though radical indeed is radical somewhat. Does he have any other stratagems to say?"

"Indeed there is!" Chu Xiu said, "He said if my lord wishes to swiftly pacify the Uyghurs, yet does not want to use large military strength in the north, he can choose to induce defection."

"The warlord factions of Jiannan and Shangfang Erjun have mostly just risen to power; facing this current situation, most likely will have unstable hearts; if emissaries are sent now to induce defection, eight or nine out of ten should succeed."

Chen Wuji raised his eyebrows slightly, "He said, I am for swiftly pacifying the Uyghurs, rather than guarding against the Uyghurs?"

"It is pacification!"

Chen Wuji's mouth corner instantly showed a smile, "Although his idea is indeed somewhat dangerous and extreme, but his insight is without problem, his view hits the key point. Tell me your view, do you think he can enter my retinue?"

This person is stronger than Jin Shangjie by who knows how much.

What he said has almost no empty content, all grounded.

Radical is not excessively radical,

"Yes, but this person is just somewhat arrogant." Chu Xiu said.

Chen Wuji did not worry at all about this one point; capable people mostly have their own tempers.

This matter is too ordinary, not even worth mentioning.

"Bring him over, I will chat with him a few sentences, drink two cups!" Chen Wuji said, "Also, have someone call Mr. Xu, Zhao Chen, and Guo Shuhan."

"Yes!"

Chu Xiu first called out Xu Zengyi, Zhao Chen, and Guo Shuhan one by one, then brought the scholar he mentioned over.

That person wore a single white robe, young to an excessive degree, with clear eyebrows and beautiful eyes; standing there, he had the feeling of a model walking the runway, handsome to the point that Qin Feng, who always boasted of his looks, would surely feel ashamed upon seeing him.

"I am your subordinate Cui Jiuzi, I have seen the Marquis, greetings to all the adults!"

Chen Wuji was stunned for a moment, "Does your name have some meaning?"

He usually does not take interest in such matters face to face, but such a handsome Cui Jiuzi, yet having such a very special name, truly made him somewhat curious.

"Replying to the Marquis, my father hopes I can have nine children!" Cui Jiuzi said.

This is a rather embarrassing question, but he answered it upright and proper, extremely serious, not showing the slightest bit of minding his own name.

Chen Wuji laughed and asked, "Then have you completed it now?"

"Not yet, I am still young, I wish first to establish a career, then discuss marriage and marriage. Or, after I stabilize, I might consider starting a family."

"You should have many young ladies who like you?"

"There are indeed not a few, but those who actively like me are all vulgar fat and powder, not worthy of the eye. The wife I desire must at least be well-read in poetry and books, with poetry and books in her belly, her aura naturally splendid, not that kind who only cares what I look like."

Chen Wuji glanced at Zhao Chen.

Doomed, tonight Zhao the Elder will suffer two rounds of harm.

Will he not become reclusive because of these things?

Zhao Chen's appearance is not exactly good-looking, and he has always been somewhat bothered by it.

People like Wang Ce do not mention such things in passing, but he often has to mutter a couple of sentences.

"Your view on Jiannan and Shangfang Erjun, I have already heard from Chu Xiu just now." Chen Wuji said, "The matter of slaughtering cities need not be mentioned again; for the Dayu commoners I will not use such methods, but for foreign tribes, however harmful your schemes, I do not mind."

"Yes!"

Cui Jiuzi's expression remained calm, merely responding with a faint sound.

"Besides slaughtering cities, do you have other views?" Chen Wuji asked.

Cui Jiuzi asked, "My lord, are you planning to use troops toward the north?"

"If your stratagem is good, I can use troops toward the north." Chen Wuji said.

"If my lord is willing to use troops toward the north, my suggestion is still to slaughter cities, only slaughter the army not the civilians, the main army entirely marches north, divides troops into multiple routes, simultaneously attacks several cities. Next spring, cross the northern part of Buzhou Mountain to attack the Uyghurs, strike their unpreparedness." Cui Jiuzi said.

"The Uyghurs currently have heavy defenses on the western part of Buzhou Mountain and their western region; the troops originally used to guard the royal court in the north, perhaps have all been drawn away."

"When they think my lord has shifted direction, next will focus on Jiannan and Shangfang Commandery, that is my lord's opportunity to dispatch troops. As for Shangfang Commandery and Jiannan Commandery, the two commanderies, the main army will swiftly crush them, after slaughtering a few cities, only then needs a force of ten thousand cavalry to control the situation."