Chapter 869: The Possibility of Turning the Tide

As Tian Feng thought about the ages of the prominent figures from Taishan, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of amazement. The senior members of Yuan Shao’s leadership were mostly around forty years old, while in Taishan, apart from Jia Xu and the ever-scheming Li You, the youngest among them were barely twenty, and the oldest not yet thirty!

This truly was a group of young elites. Even more terrifying was the fact that this group of youthful talents had managed to hold their own against forces comparable to Yuan Shao’s. It only highlighted the incredible potential of their rivals. These leaders in their twenties still had room to grow in intelligence and experience, while the teenagers among them, in Tian Feng’s mind, could only be described as prodigies.

“We can’t afford to delay any longer. General Jiang is cautious, so we needn’t worry about Ye City. But the supply lines will surely be cut by Fazheng. With that, Qinghe and Bohai will become our critical areas,” Jushou nodded in agreement with Tian Feng, acknowledging Jiang Yiqu’s capability.

“Then let’s first crush Wei Yan’s army in Qinghe,” Shen Pei decisively suggested. They couldn’t allow Wei Yan to continue being a nuisance. It was best to eliminate this trouble before it could grow further.

“However, Xu Shu is a problem. He’s quite famous in Yingchuan,” Guo Tu remarked, pointing out a key concern.

“Gongze, do you know Xu Shu?” Shen Pei’s eyes lit up. This was an opportunity. If Xu Shu could be swayed, they might be able to neutralize the threat without conflict.

“It’s useless,” Guo Tu replied helplessly. “I remember him as something of a vagabond. When Liu Bei passed through Yingchuan years ago, he recruited him, and many people mocked the decision at the time. But now, as we can see, he’s quite remarkable.”

Shen Pei was speechless. A scholar like Xu Shu, who rose from humble beginnings and was personally recruited by Liu Bei, would likely be a staunch loyalist. Attempting to sway such a person would be a fool’s errand. Even if they could, Shen Pei wouldn’t respect him if he switched sides so easily.

“It’s best not to rely on trickery. The biggest problem with Wei Yan and Xu Shu is that they lack sufficient troops, so their impact will mainly be in delaying us,” Feng Ji noted. “However, once Ye City’s supply lines are cut, the importance of Qinghe will significantly increase.”

“The situation in Ye City won’t become too critical. The enemy’s limited numbers will hinder their ability to do serious damage. With Wei Commandery behind us, reinforcements will come when needed. The supply lines will be blocked for about a month at most,” Shen Pei reassured. “That’s why we need to take action in Qinghe early.”

“We should secure the Bohai supply lines ahead of time to prevent any unexpected disruptions,” Xu You interjected. “As for the Anping supply route that passes through Qinghe, we will need to handle it carefully. Let Yuanbo secure the Bohai supply route.”

“Agreed,” Shen Pei nodded after some thought.

“Has anyone noticed that the enemy’s forces have been steadily decreasing?” Dong Zhao, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke up.

Jushou’s eyes flashed with realization before returning to their usual calm. He now exuded a quiet confidence.

“The enemy is spreading their forces to protect their supply lines and strategic positions, reducing their main fighting strength,” Shen Pei added, his eyes gleaming.

“So, do we continue to wait for the right moment, or…” Tian Feng trailed off, sensing a potential opportunity. The greatest weakness of Liu Bei’s forces was that they were surrounded by enemies on all sides.

Of course, despite this vulnerability, few dared to actually strike against them. By this point in the war, Tian Feng had a reasonable estimate of Taishan’s war potential, and it exceeded his expectations.

“No, dragging this out will only lead to mutual destruction, and that’s not worth it unless absolutely necessary,” Jushou shook his head. “Soon, we’ll have a chance to reverse the situation. Liu Bei’s call for a decisive battle is actually an opportunity for us. They’ve noticed the current situation and don’t want the conflict to drag on.”

“Hmph, they’re confident!” Shen Pei grumbled, though he knew that if he were in Liu Bei’s position, he would make the same decision.

“Indeed. If we were in their position, we’d make the same choice. After all, a short, sharp conflict is better than a prolonged one. They’re probably planning to launch a surprise attack once our supply lines from Ye City are cut,” Jushou speculated.

“At the same time, Qinghe will likely see increased pressure, and if we don’t prepare, there could be a timing gap when trying to get supplies from Bohai. If our army faces supply shortages, their attack could be decisive,” Jushou warned, his sharp eyes sweeping across the room.

“So, we need to secure the Bohai supply lines,” Shen Pei sighed.

“No, my suggestion is to bypass Bohai for now and instead divert supplies from Julu. We’ll restrict the supply of food and compress our defensive lines to make Liu Bei’s forces believe we’re running low on provisions. We’ll also limit the movement of our soldiers. Once the enemy shows signs of preparing for a decisive battle…” Jushou trailed off, letting his meaning sink in.

The others’ eyes lit up in understanding, except for Dong Zhao, who quietly added, “Since we won’t be securing the Bohai supply lines, we should consider bringing Gao Lan’s elite forces here. It would both catch the enemy off guard and provide a defense.”

Jushou shot Dong Zhao a meaningful look before turning to Shen Pei, who was still contemplating. After a lengthy discussion, they ultimately decided to bring Gao Lan’s forces to the Bohai defense line ahead of time.

As Shen Pei had mentioned, whether or not Zang Ba could take Bohai within ten days was irrelevant. If Jushou’s plan succeeded, it would allow them to decisively defeat Liu Bei’s forces and achieve victory through a smaller, more strategic gamble.

“For the next few days, everyone should prepare for how to deal with Liu Bei. Let’s combine our strengths and figure out the best way to defeat his army,” Shen Pei, though usually authoritative, wisely sought collective input from his peers.

“Get ready, everyone. Since Liu Bei wants to fight, we’ll give them a battle. Remember, Emperor Gaozu of Han lost many battles but won the one that gave him the empire, while Xiang Yu won many but lost the one that cost him everything,” Tian Feng encouraged the group.

“Placing everything on the outcome of one battle is risky. Gongren, you think about how we’ll respond after the battle. I’ll plan for the worst-case scenario, while you focus on the best-case outcome,” Xu You said, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Dong Zhao.

“Very well. I’ll leave the post-battle considerations to you. It’ll make things easier for me,” Dong Zhao nodded slowly.

Dong Zhao knew it was time to lay low for a while. His communications with Xun Yu, Sima Yi, and Chen Xi needed to be put on hold. This battle would determine the fate of Hebei and Taishan, and both Jushou and Xu You would be watching him closely, allowing no leaks.

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