Sun Ce read the two documents and handed them back.

Pang Tong walked over, handed Sun Ce a cup of fruit syrup, and then sat down on the side and formed a circle with Sun Ce and Guo Jia. Sun Yi and Lu Yi walked over with the sand table, spread the sand table on the ground, and planted the small flags representing different forces in the corresponding positions.

Sun Ce stared at the sand table and was silent.

The Son of Heaven sat in Guanzhong, Cao Cao entered Yizhou, and seized Hanzhong. Liu Yu was beheaded by Gongsun Zhan, Youzhou was fighting fiercely, and the Son of Heaven sent Zhang Ze into Youzhou, if he could get his wish, the strength of the imperial court would be expanded. After surviving this famine, the imperial court has a chance to turn the tables.

At least in their opinion.

There is money and food in the southeast, but there are no horses. This is the fatal weakness of the regime in the South. In the time of cold weapons, not having sufficient war horse resources is congenitally insufficient. The reason why the Northern Song Dynasty was rich but not strong was that it was first abused by Liao and Western Xia, and then by Jin, until the shame of Jingkang, which was not only a problem with the national policy of using literature to control military force, but also the loss of the sixteen states of Yanyun caused the Northern Song Dynasty's war horse resources to be controlled by the enemy, and they could not take the initiative on the battlefield.

"Whose advice is this? It's a big mind. Sun Ce sighed with emotion.

"The Son of Heaven dug wild vegetables in Nanshan for the summer, and most of the Lang officials stayed in Chang'an, we can't get the detailed situation, only the results. However, before this edict came out, Liu Ye went to Situ Mansion, and later rushed to Nanshan, Youzhou engaged in Tianchou to walk with him, judging from various signs, Liu Ye played a role in it. Shi Sun Rui's attitude changed, and he rushed to Lantian to receive grain, avoiding Wang Yun. ”

When it came to Liu Ye, Sun Ce had a headache. There is no doubt that Liu Ye was one of the most outstanding strategists of the Three Kingdoms era. In the history books, he and Guo Jia and Cheng Yu are co-interpreted, and they must succeed in their plans, but he is the Liu clan, and Cao Cao and Cao Pi's trust in him is far less than that of Guo Jia, resulting in Liu Ye's strategies often not being implemented. If Cao Cao trusted Liu Ye as much as Guo Jia, Liu Bei would most likely not be able to take Yizhou. He left an evaluation of his high talent in history because he did not communicate with the people of the time, but even those who did not like him could not deny his high talent.

Now, Liu Ye has become a confidant of the Son of Heaven, and he is even more comfortable than following Cao Cao.

Does this count as lifting a stone and shooting yourself in the foot? Even if he was mentally prepared, Sun Ce often felt depressed. Liu Ye and Liu Ba, you hurt me, one ran away from my territory, and the other ignored the friendship of his fathers and had to run to Chang'an, just because you are all surnamed Liu?

"Can Zhang stabilize Youzhou?"

"Quite possibly." Guo Jia smiled. "It's not good for us in the long run. However, judging from the current situation, the most uncomfortable is Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao was bent on taking Youzhou and controlling the source of war horses, and now that the imperial court sent Zhang Ze to Youzhou, he would definitely not give up. Therefore, we must consider the possibility of Yuan Shao temporarily giving up going south and fighting for Youzhou with all his might. "Guo Jia planted a small flag representing the imperial court in Youzhou, and moved the small flag representing Yuan Shao to the north." Youzhou will usher in a scuffle, and we may be able to start in advance and arrange for people to participate in it. ”

Sun Ce stared at the sand table silently. He originally had a plan to arrange for Tai Shi Ci to enter Youzhou, but the time was not yet ripe, Qingxu had not yet arrived, and he hastily arranged for Tai Shi Ci to enter Youzhou, and could only rely on sea transportation to provide supplies, which was equivalent to going deep alone, pinning his hopes on Tai Shi Ci alone, which was too difficult. If you can decide the winner in a short time, you can take a risk, and there is almost no chance of success in taking a long-term stalemate.

"Let the military planners deduce it and see if we can afford it."

Guo Jia blinked, and stopped talking. Sun Ce said this, which was tantamount to vetoing his opinion. Miss this opportunity to fight, wait for Zhang Ze or Yuan Shao to gain a firm foothold in Youzhou, and it will be difficult to send Tai Shici into Youzhou in the future.

Pang Tong said slowly: "Sacrificial wine, I don't agree with your opinion. ”

"Why?"

"Youzhou is indeed important to us, but the weaknesses of Youzhou itself are also very obvious. Without sufficient food support, Youzhou cannot be self-sufficient. Liu Yu was able to stabilize Youzhou, firstly because he was successful in tuntian, and secondly, he dismissed the provincial troops, opened up sources and reduced expenditure, and took a two-pronged approach. Now that the war is raging, Tuntian will be damaged, but the number of soldiers raised has increased greatly, and without external support, Youzhou will not be able to hold out for long. Even if Zhang Ze can stabilize Youzhou, can the imperial court provide him with money and food support? In my opinion, instead of crossing the sea to fight for Youzhou, it is better to take advantage of Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao to take care of themselves and fight for Qingzhou. ”

Sun Ce thought for a moment and chuckled: "Shi Yuan, you are planning a long-distance and close-range attack." ”

Pang Tong also smiled. "General, I think Youzhou is difficult to swallow, but Qingzhou can be eaten. In the past, the imperial court had to cut 200 million yuan from Qingzhou and Jizhou every year to supplement Youzhou, if we can occupy Qingzhou, even if Yuan Shao defeats Zhang Ze and occupies Youzhou, Jizhou will independently bear the expenditure of 200 million, and it will be difficult to continue for a long time. For us, by occupying Qingzhou, we can establish a port in Qingzhou, and the sailors will have a supply point and be more able to play a role. ”

Sun Ce felt reasonable, but he didn't immediately express his attitude. "Shi Yuan, you also lead a part of the military strategy to deduce, see which plan is more secure, and then synthesize everyone's opinions and choose the good one. Bonghyo, what do you see? ”

Guo Jia said with a smile: "Okay, I also think that Shiyuan's plan is considered from an economic perspective and focuses on the long-term, which does make some sense." "He looked at Pang Tong." Have you met your brother? This scheme sounds a bit of his shadow. ”

Pang Tong smiled and arched his hand: "The sacrificial wine is really as wise as a torch, and I can't hide anything from you." This time I went to Nanyang, passing through Yingchuan, and met with my brother and talked a lot. He recently published a book called "Commentary on Salt and Iron", which I read and gained a little from. ”

"He's been writing this book for almost three or four years, right?"

"I've just finished the first draft, and it's still being revised." Pang Tong said with a smile: "To be able to write the first draft so quickly, thanks to the help of the sacrificial wine, if it weren't for the Yingchuan scholars coming out one after another, sharing his pressure, and giving him another ten years, he wouldn't have been able to finish writing this book." In particular, Jun Cheng Zao, he is very researched in Tuntian, and has helped a lot, and part of the content of this "Commentary on Salt and Iron" is written by him personally, and I said from my brother that he must be listed as the author when it is printed in the future, and he will share honor and disgrace. ”

Guo Jia smiled. "In this way, you are too stable from your brother, Yingchuan Taishou, and you will go further in the future, you can consider Henan Yin in the next step, and it is more than enough to be a big Si Nong in the future."

"Thank you for the auspicious words of the wine. If there is a day, I will be grateful for the sacrificial wine. ”

The two looked at each other and smiled. Sun Ce also smiled. Pang Shanmin's ability to stabilize Yingchuan and absorb Yingchuan scholars into the ranks shows that his talent policy has achieved initial results, and Yingchuan, as an important town of the Ruying Shiren Group, already has scholars who are willing to cooperate with him, at least they will not reject him. That's a nice step forward.

Pang Tong turned around and said to Sun Ce: "General, in addition to Guo Saijiu, there is another person who has helped a lot, and I hope the general can respond." ”

"Who?"

"Li Yuanli's son, Li Zan and Li Yuanqi, he asked me to invite my brother and wanted to see Yuan Xiansi."