"Expand our territory?" Lü Bu wasn't the only one who was puzzled. Liu Mang was also puzzled. Chen Gong's letter to Liu Mang contained the possibility that Liu Mang would dissuade Lü Bu from pursuing Sun Ce, or directly lead the troops to start a war with the Jiangdong Army. Liu Biao from Jingzhou was already fighting in Jiang Xia. It was difficult for him to run over and join in the fun!
The only thing left was to fight Lao Cao! Liu Mang really wanted to go up and touch Chen Gong's head to see if he was dizzy. There were only two possibilities for fighting Cao Cao now. One was to anger Lao Cao, and the other was to anger Lao Cao. In order to prepare for the decisive battle with Yuan Shao, Lao Cao had personally led two campaigns. First, he drove out Liu Mang's cheap father-in-law, Lü Bu, and the second was to drive out Big Eared Liu. Now that Lü Bu was commanding his troops to attack Cao Cao, it was possible that Cao Cao would abandon Guandu and Yanzhou. In a fit of anger, he would directly fight with Lü Bu again. At that time, Liu Mang believed that Sun Ce, who was in Jiangdong, would definitely not mind stabbing the Lvbu's Army in the ass. At that time, he would really be facing enemies from two sides.
"To expand our territory, we must fight!" Chen Gong smiled and asked. How could he not know what Lü Bu and Liu Mang were thinking? Now was not the time to fight anyone. What the Lvbu's Army needed now was to expand and not to fight again. Although Sun Ce's 100,000 troops were defeated in the battle of Wancheng City, don't forget that the Lvbu's Army also suffered heavy casualties. The City Guard was almost eliminated. The Black Flag Army now only had 1000 people left. Many of the Wancheng City's defenders also died. The Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry also lost 1000 people. Similarly, in Shucheng City, because of the Zhou Family's sudden rebellion, Chen Deng's 15,000 troops were left with less than 5,000 people, which was just enough to form a battalion. From start to finish, he had lost nearly 20,000 people.
The Lvbu's Army only had tens of thousands of people? What he needed now was to rest and reorganize, and not to fight directly. Now, these tens of thousands of troops could only protect themselves. Fighting a war still required food and fodder. The early rice needed to be harvested. If they went to war now, they would not be able to eat next year.
"Then Gongtai, what do you mean?" Lü Bu also wanted to expand his territory. Lujiang could not support tens of thousands of troops and could not do much.
"My lord, look!" Chen Gong took out a big map. Although the map was crudely made, it could still be seen clearly. "We now occupy Lujiang in name, but in fact, we only have half of Lujiang's territory. The remaining half is not under our control!" On the map, the Lvbu's Army only had Shishucheng, Qianshan, Shiting, Wuwei, and the current Wancheng Cheng. Lujiang included Lujiang County, Hefei, Gushi, and Anfeng. Chen Gong did not mention this before because he could not divide his troops. Their Lvbu's Army had just taken half of Lujiang from Wancheng Cheng. They needed to wait for the anger of the original owner of Lujiang. At that time, it would be very troublesome to divide their troops. Now that Sun Ce had been beaten back, he would not have the opportunity to attack again. Now, it was time to take back the entire Lujiang.
After taking back these four cities, the entire Lujiang would be in the hands of Lü Bu. Their territory would also be doubled.
"These four cities, let Wen Yuan and Xuan Gao send troops to take them back!" Now, Zhang Liao and Zheng Ba had 3,000 Taishan Army, 5,000 local troops left behind by Chen Deng, and 15,000 surrendered troops. It can be said that there were 23,000 troops in Shucheng Cheng, which was more than the current Wancheng Cheng. In Wancheng Cheng, in addition to 1,500 Black Flag Army, 500 City Guard, 4,000 Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, 5,000 Formation Breaker, 7,000 Gan Ning Navy, and more than 10,000 Sun Cejun's captives, including more than 2,000 Danyang soldiers.
"No, no!" Chen Gong shook his head. If it was only about subduing these cities, why would he need to bring them out directly? These cities could be casually garrisoned with troops. Even if he subdued all of them, it would only be a complete Lujiang! How could one Lujiang compete with the world? Sun Cejun had the entire Jiangdong, which was half of Yangzhou plus Jiaozhou. Cao Cao had half of Yuzhou plus Yanzhou and Xuzhou. Liu Biao also had Jingzhou plus half of Yuzhou.
Lü Bu relied on Lujiang and would be swallowed up sooner or later. When these people recovered, the Lvbu's Army would have a hard time. Sun Cejun had to go through Lujiang to enter the Central Plains, and Cao Cao also had to go through Lujiang to enter Jiangdong. Lü Bu relied on the entire Xuzhou to defeat Cao Cao. Xuzhou had ten counties including Donghai, Xiapi, Langye, Dong 'an, Licheng, Dongcheng, Pengcheng, Guangling, Dongguan, and Chengyang.
"Milord, do you see it?" Chen Gong pointed his finger towards Lujiang and said, "We don't only want to take over Lujiang, we also want to take over Shouchun and Chengde. This way, the entire Huainan will be in our hands. We will also have the capital to compete with our neighbors!" Taking over Shouchun and Chengde would be equivalent to taking over half of Yangzhou. This way, they could develop and grow stronger. When the time comes, they would be able to conquer the world.
"Shouchun!" When Lü Bu and the others came to Lujiang, they went through Shouchun. There, they met Yuan Shu and fought Chen Lan and Lei Bo on Bagong Mountain. However, Shouchun was now a dilapidated city. What was the use of having it? It had been defeated by Yuan Shu, and many of its people had run away.
"Shouchun is dilapidated, and many of its people have left. However, Milord, don't forget that the land of Shouchun still exists!" Chen Gong continued to explain to Lu Bu and the others. "Shouchun is the administrative center of Yangzhou. It is also the center of Huainan. The reason why we chose this place is because it is close to the Huai River and Yingshui River. To the east is Pengzehu. This place is a fertile land. Everything within a thousand li radius is fertile soil. If we plant food there, our army will have no problems with food! Shouchun was the capital of Chu State during the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period. The reason why Chu State chose such a place was because of Shouchun's good terrain and fertile land. It could be said that most of Chu State's provisions came from Shouchun.
As for the people! As long as Shouchun was restored, the people who left their homes would naturally return! With Shouchun, the Lvbu's Army would be able to support the army. With enough provisions, they would be able to recruit soldiers and buy horses. The territory would also more than double!
"Moreover, Milord, you can also raise a navy in Shouchun!" Lü Bu's navy was a weak point. Although he was able to destroy Sun Cejun's 30,000 navy outside of Wancheng City, once Sun Cejun's entire army came, it would be hard to say. What could 7,000 navy do?
"Wen Yuan and Zang Ba are not enough!" Lü Bu also frowned. If Shouchun was really so important, then Wen Yuan and Zang Ba would not be enough. This was because Shouchun was almost equivalent to Lü Bu's territory. It also accounted for half of its importance. It was not enough to just station an army there. This person must not only know how to lead an army, but also know how to govern. In the Lvbu's Army, only Zang Ba could do this. Zang Ba had been a warlord for a period of time. It could be said that he could govern and command a region.
However, there was an important problem. If Zang Ba was released, who would be sent to assist Zang Ba? Send Zhang Liao? Zhang Liao's position in the Lvbu's Army was higher than Zang Ba. You can't let Zhang Liao be under Zang Ba! Gao Shun could be, but Gao Shun only knew how to fight and nothing else.
Huang Zhong and Gan Ning were originally unruly characters. Would they be willing to be under Zang Ba? It would be good if they did not fight. What about the newly recruited Liu Kai? His hometown was in Wancheng City. How could he be willing to go to Shouchun? Chen Gong? Gongtai's injury in Wancheng City had not been cured yet! Lü Bu could not do without Chen Gong's advice.
Lü Bu looked at Liu Mang. At this time, Chen Gong also looked at Liu Mang.
Chen Gong nodded at Lü Bu. Yes! It was Liu Mang! Only Liu Mang met this requirement. His ability to command troops could not be said to be good or bad. Sun Ce's 100,000 troops could not take advantage of Liu Mang. In terms of political governance, Liu Mang could also put forward a lot of useful opinions. For example, in terms of recruitment and reputation! Gan Ning, Huang Zhong, and Xu Sheng admired Liu Mang. Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, and Zang Ba had also seen Liu Mang's magic. They were also very respectful to Liu Mang. Another important point was that Liu Mang was Lü Bu's son-in-law. The foundation that Lü Bu built was Liu Mang's! Liu Mang was the young lord of the Lvbu's Army. This was recognized by everyone. He had an advantage that others did not have. That was, he was Lü Bu's close relative! Lü Bu could almost trust him unconditionally! If it was someone else, Lü Bu would still be suspicious. This was because according to Chen Gong's plan, Shouchun was almost independent from Lujiang. It would not be good if there was a little disloyalty!
However, Lü Bu was also reluctant to let Liu Mang go! If Liu Mang went out, Lü Bu would feel a little empty. Lü Bu did not have a son. He almost treated Liu Mang as his own child.
"My lord, have you decided?" Chen Gong could see Lü Bu's hesitation. He stepped forward and strengthened Lü Bu's confidence. "If a jade is not cut, it will not become useful. No matter what, he needs to be independent! Otherwise, my lord, who will govern the country that you have built? "
"En!" Lü Bu nodded heavily. He had made a decision and was waiting for Liu Mang to accept his fate.
"Well, the question is over! My lord, in this battle of Lujiang, we should also reward the meritorious officials! " Chen Gong reminded. In this battle of Lujiang, if it were not for these people, the Lvbu's Army would have to leave.
"Good!" Lü Bu stood up. "Gan Ning, Gan Xingba!"
"This general is here!" Gan Ning knelt on one knee and cupped his fist towards Lü Bu as he spoke.
"Gan Ning, Gan Xingba, in this battle of Wan Cheng, if your navy did not destroy the Jiangdong Navy, Wan Cheng might have been lost! Today, we might have to retreat to Shucheng and wait for Sun Cejun's counterattack! Therefore, in the battle of Wan Cheng, you should be credited! " If Gan Ning did not destroy the 30,000 Jiangdong Navy, Sun Cejun would have been stationed in Wan Cheng. After the disaster, the Jiangdong Army would have used Wan Cheng as a springboard to enter Lujiang and the Lvbu's Army would have had to retreat due to the lack of food! Therefore, Gan Ning's contribution is great! "
"Reporting to my lord, this general does not dare to be greedy. Without my lord's weapon, this general would not have been able to do this!" Gan Ning also knew that without Liu Mang's ballista, it would have been impossible to defeat the enemy!
"Hanyang?" Lü Bu also knew about Liu Mang's contribution. Protecting Wan Cheng and protecting Lü Bu's family was Liu Mang's contribution. However, Lü Bu could not reward him! Liu Mang was already the King Of Shu. His title of General of the Southern Expedition was one level higher than Lü Bu. How could Lü Bu reward him? Fortunately, Liu Mang was Lü Bu's son-in-law, so Lü Bu did not need to reward him. In the end, it would all belong to Liu Mang!
"General Xingba, do you think my lord still needs these rewards?" Chen Gong said with a smile.
"Yes! Why not! " Liu Mang shouted in his heart. He did not want anything else. He just wanted Lü Bu to give him a concubine position and give He Yu a status. However, he did not dare to say it now. If he angered his father-in-law, he would not be able to avoid a beating!
Gan Ning understood, but he was still unwilling to accept the merit. He shook his head and said, "My lord, this general still cannot accept this merit! This general wants to ask for a reward for someone! "
"Ask for a reward for someone!" Lü Bu knew who Gan Ning was talking about, but that person was already dead! Do you really want to give the merit to a dead person?
Looking at Gan Ning's firm eyes, Lü Bu could only nod his head!
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