Chapter 123: The Hidden Dangers of the Battle of Guandu

Cao Cao’s confrontation with Yuan Shao at Guandu had already become common knowledge throughout the realm, and Zhuge Liang naturally knew of it as well.

What he had not expected was that this had originally been a matter solely between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao.

And yet they actually intended to involve themselves?

“Your Majesty, you should know that Cao Cao’s and Yuan Shao’s territories are both a great distance from us.”

“Even if we truly managed to do something, it would be very difficult for us to gain any benefit from it.”

Zhuge Liang understood the situation perfectly.

Indeed, the great battle at Guandu was already being prepared. Before long, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao would surely clash.

However, Guandu was still a great distance from Jingzhou, where they currently were.

If they wished to intervene, they would have to travel to Guandu. Yet Guandu lay far away, and reaching it would require them to pass through Cao Cao’s territory.

That would be extremely dangerous.

Even taking a step back, supposing they could cross Cao Cao’s lands and reach Guandu, what could they actually accomplish there?

Even if they managed to do something, their great distance from Guandu would make it difficult for them to gain any advantage.

This was unlike Hanzhong or Yizhou. After sending troops to conquer those regions, they could occupy the cities there and claim the territory for themselves.

But Guandu was simply too far away. It was impossible for them to occupy that land, and so Zhuge Liang felt that it would be best for them not to take part in the matter.

“孔明, there is something you have yet to understand.”

“Think carefully. Who do you believe will win this battle at Guandu—Yuan Shao or Cao Cao?”

Hearing this, Zhuge Liang fell into deep thought. After a long while, he slowly replied, “Although Yuan Shao commands powerful troops and sturdy horses, he has already occupied the four provinces of Ji, You, Bing, and Qing. His soldiers, provisions, and wealth are all abundant.”

“As for Cao Cao, though his strength is not insignificant, he is still far weaker than Yuan Shao.”

“However, there is one point to consider. Yuan Shao’s natural disposition is inferior to Cao Cao’s. Therefore, if the two truly go to war, the outcome will be difficult to predict.”

“In my humble opinion, Cao Cao has the greater chance of victory.”

Zhuge Liang truly deserved to be regarded as one of the great scholars of his age. With a single glance, he had seen through the heart of the matter.

“Exactly. Yuan Shao is no match for Cao Cao. Once this battle is over, Cao Cao will certainly emerge victorious. At that time, all the resources under Yuan Shao’s command will fall into Cao Cao’s hands.”

“Then Ji, You, Qing, Bing, Yan, Yu, and Si Provinces—in other words, nearly half the realm—will belong to him.”

“When that happens, Cao Cao’s power will surpass even ours.”

“More importantly, Cao Cao is an extremely ambitious man. His aspirations encompass the entire realm.”

“Imagine this: if Cao Cao possessed such strength, what would he do next?”

After Liu Xie finished speaking, Zhuge Liang gradually sank into contemplation.

His expression slowly grew solemn.

“Your Majesty is right. If Cao Cao gains control of most of the realm, he will certainly seek to conquer the remainder.”

“Our Jingzhou and Yizhou, Sun Ce’s Jiangdong, and Ma Teng and Han Sui’s Xiliang will all become his targets.”

Zhuge Liang finally understood Liu Xie’s intentions.

“Exactly. What we must do this time is ensure that Cao Cao and Yuan Shao exhaust as much of their strength as possible during the battle of Guandu.”

“Even if Cao Cao obtains Yuan Shao’s territory afterward, he will still need a long time to stabilize and develop it.”

“And their efforts to rebuild will give us more opportunities. During that period, we can make even more thorough preparations.”

“In that way, when we eventually face Cao Cao, the pressure upon us will be somewhat lighter.”

By the end, Liu Xie’s voice had also become grave and solemn.

Zhuge Liang’s face was filled with admiration. “I truly never imagined that Your Majesty’s foresight would extend so far.”

“Indeed. If Cao Cao’s strength can be greatly depleted this time, then even after acquiring Yuan Shao’s resources, he will still require a long period of recovery.”

“In that case, the pressure upon us in the future may be reduced.”

“But Your Majesty, if we wish to accomplish this, we must send troops there.”

“Whom should we assist? If we help Cao Cao, not only will we fail to achieve what we hope for, we may even make him stronger.”

“Yet helping Yuan Shao would not lead to a favorable outcome either.”

“More importantly, any troops we send would have to pass through Cao Cao’s territory.”

“If that is the case, how could our army possibly advance?”

Once again, Zhuge Liang raised an entirely practical concern.

Liu Xie drew a deep breath. After thinking for a moment, he said, “There is no need to rush. If it truly becomes necessary, I shall personally lead the Wolf Shadow Guards there.”

The Wolf Shadow Guards were few in number, but every one of them possessed extraordinary abilities. Passing through Cao Cao’s territory would not be particularly difficult for them.

“Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven! How could you personally lead troops into danger?”

Zhuge Liang was deeply agitated, his concern for Liu Xie evident.

“Enough. We can discuss these matters later. After all, the battle of Guandu has yet to begin.”

“Let us return to Xiangyang first. Before heading to Guandu, we still have other matters to attend to.”

Having settled the matter, Liu Xie wasted no more time. He immediately spurred his horse toward Jingzhou.

Now that Jiaozhou had been conquered and made part of his domain, Liu Xie no longer needed to travel in secret on the journey home. Naturally, they encountered no obstruction.

Thus, after little more than ten days, Liu Xie and Zhuge Liang returned to the imperial court.

“Lord Jia, General Hu, send men to Jiaozhou as soon as possible and put our policies into effect.”

“And General Hu, select fifty thousand troops to garrison Jiaozhou. As for the local soldiers recruited there, let them remain in Jiaozhou.”

“In our future campaigns, we will not use them.”

His return to court completed, Liu Xie arranged all the necessary affairs.

However, his final statement left everyone puzzled.

“Your Majesty, why should Jiaozhou’s soldiers not take part in future battles?” Hu Che’er asked in confusion.

“Because the situation in Jiaozhou is rather special.”

“There have always been few wars in Jiaozhou. If, after taking possession of the region, we brought its people into our campaigns…”

“Others would say that our conquest of Jiaozhou had brought its people no benefits, only the turmoil of war.”

“That would be highly disadvantageous to us.”

Through this visit to Jiaozhou, Liu Xie had come to understand many things.

In the future, Jiaozhou could become a reserve base for his troops, provisions, and wealth. However, it could not be expected to provide him with a large number of additional soldiers.

For many years, Jiaozhou had rarely suffered from warfare.

Even during the era of the Three Kingdoms, when the lords of the realm fought among themselves, Jiaozhou had remained largely untouched.

If his actions brought war to Jiaozhou, he would lose the support of its people.

Therefore, he had no intention of involving Jiaozhou in the great wars among the various warlords.

It would be more than enough for it to remain a stable part of his domain.