Chapter 465

For the Jiangdong aristocratic families,

there was a reason they had to fight Gu Yi to the last drop of blood in the lands of Jiangdong.

But for Liu Bei,

he did not want to die!

To put it bluntly,

even if the Jiangdong aristocratic families were all wiped out, as long as Liu Bei was still around, he could continue to stir up trouble.

But if he himself were to die, then everything would be over!

Thinking of this, Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang before him, as if he had grasped a straw to save his life.

He hurriedly asked him for advice:

"Kongming, I beg you to save me!"

"What method can be used to keep my life in this war?"

Liu Bei was truly afraid.

As the lord supported by the Jiangdong aristocratic families, if they were truly defeated, Gu Yi would one hundred percent behead Liu Bei as a sacrifice to the heavens.

Liu Bei did not want to die here.

But he could not defeat Gu Yi in battle.

Then the only remaining option was the method of "fleeing this place immediately."

A flash of conflict crossed Zhuge Liang's face.

Subsequently, he was heard sighing:

"My lord, the current plan is to quickly recall the two generals, Guan and Zhang."

"By their side, they possess an army of thirty thousand."

"You, together with the two generals Guan and Zhang, take this army of thirty thousand and rush toward Yuzhang."

"As long as you head south before Gu Linzhi completely captures Yuzhang, you will certainly be able to escape with your life!"

Yes.

Zhuge Liang was advising Liu Bei to abandon the Jiangdong aristocratic families and flee with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and the thirty thousand troops.

Although others did not understand,

Zhuge Liang knew profoundly in his heart.

This group of rabble that made up the Jiangdong aristocratic families, even if bundled together, could not be Gu Yi's match.

Their previous blind confidence was mainly because they did not understand the true combat effectiveness of the army under Gu Yi's command.

They thought that by relying on mass-producing soldiers, they could defeat Gu Yi.

Little did they know,

the gap in quality, at times, really cannot be made up for by quantity.

After hearing Zhuge Liang's suggestion,

Liu Bei nodded in a daze.

Immediately, a flash of determination crossed his eyes.

He intended to adopt Zhuge Liang's suggestion, recall the two generals Guan and Zhang along with the thirty thousand troops, and immediately break through toward the direction of Yuzhang.

Even if it meant fleeing south of Jiaozhou, he had to keep his life!

However,

Liu Bei suddenly thought of something.

He turned his head to look at Zhuge Liang and asked:

"Kongming, are you not coming with us?"

Zhuge Liang shook his head and sighed:

"My lord, I will remain here to stabilize the Jiangdong aristocratic families."

"Otherwise, once they learn the news that you have taken the two generals Guan and Zhang and fled south, I fear they will immediately go insane!"

Liu Bei fell silent.

He understood that what Zhuge Liang said was correct.

Although this group of Jiangdong aristocratic families was arrogant and conceited,

strictly speaking, they were not foolish people.

If they were to learn the news that Liu Bei had abandoned the others and fled south alone with Guan and Zhang and the thirty thousand troops, the consequences would be unimaginable.

And to stabilize those people,

besides Liu Bei,

only Zhuge Liang had this ability.

Do not look at Zhuge Liang as being young;

his ability to bluff people was quite good.

It was just that...

if Zhuge Liang remained here,

Liu Bei understood that he likely would never have the chance to see Zhuge Liang again in this lifetime.

Regarding this, Liu Bei truly did not want to lose Zhuge Liang.

But Zhuge Liang saw through what Liu Bei was thinking and waved his hand, saying:

"My lord, do not worry about me."

"Even if I am unfortunately captured by Gu Linzhi, I have the means to preserve my life."

"But if you, my lord, are captured by Gu Linzhi,"

"it is absolutely impossible to keep your life."

After hearing this, Liu Bei still wanted to persuade Zhuge Liang further.

But the latter clearly had his mind made up.

In the end,

with extreme reluctance,

Liu Bei decided to adopt Zhuge Liang's strategy.

And he dispatched trusted scouts to rush to Wu Jun.

To recall the two generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, as well as the thirty thousand troops in their hands.

In order to deceive everyone,

Liu Bei claimed to the Jiangdong aristocratic families that having Guan Yu and Zhang Fei bring the troops back was to defend Chaisang.

In any case, Wu Jun had the Jiangdong aristocratic families constantly mass-producing soldiers, which was enough.

But Chaisang's defenses were empty, so having the two generals Guan and Zhang bring the troops back was still considered reasonable.

Regarding this, the Jiangdong aristocratic families did not have too much suspicion for the time being.

But if they were to know the truth that Liu Bei wanted to take Guan Yu and Zhang Fei and run away,

I fear the Jiangdong aristocratic families would be driven mad with rage on the spot!

However,

could the strategy Zhuge Liang provided to Liu Bei truly allow Liu Bei to escape smoothly?

The answer is, of course impossible!

Although Zhuge Liang was very capable, he had mistaken a very important point.

Gu Yi did not want to split his forces into two paths, one to attack Wu Jun and one to attack Yuzhang.

His goal, from beginning to end, was to concentrate his forces to blockade Yuzhang!

Never allowing Liu Bei to possess any chance to escape with his life!

Dispatching the naval forces south

was merely to rush to Yuzhang first to scout the path.

Very soon, the remaining portion of the army would also head to Yuzhang under Gu Yi's personal leadership.

As for Wu Jun,

Gu Yi had never even thought about "conquering it by force."

The Jiangdong aristocratic families' mass-production of soldiers was, in his eyes, like clay chickens and pottery dogs.

They were completely unable to withstand a single blow.