Goose Three Kingdoms

Chapter 577 Tomorrow's Situation
In Xiangyang City, Liu Qi went up to inspect the city.

Standing on an enemy tower with Wen Pin and Wang Wei to enjoy the fresh air, Liu Qi looked at the flags of the Southern Army scattered across Xian Mountain.

After thinking it over again and again, he said, "The generals on the north bank have concluded that the southern army is going to withdraw and intend to pursue them. What do you two think?"

Wen Pin and Wang Wei looked at each other, and Wang Wei immediately expressed his opinion: "In my opinion, the troops on the north bank want to pursue us, and you should persuade them to stop."

Wen Pin frowned, and Wang Wei continued, "What good will defeating the enemy do to the lord? The lord relies on the trust of the Grand Marshal to establish his rule. Defeating the enemy will do more harm than good. Moreover, the Southern Army has retreated, and our army has already won. If we pursue them, each army will compete for merit and will not be under the command of the other. If the Southern Army sets an ambush and joins forces to counterattack, we will only bring defeat upon ourselves."

Wang Wei went to see Wen Pin and said, "Even if the southern army is defeated, the new city of Jiangling has been built. Who among the armies is willing to attack this city? Are we counting on the armies on the north bank?"

Wen Pin thought about the actual situation of the armies on the north bank and sighed, "We can't count on it unless Gan Xingba goes south to supervise the battle."

The armies on the north bank are still soldiers under the command of their generals. Without extreme pressure or motivation trend, no one is willing to attack.

The solidity of Jiangling City and its proximity to the Yangtze River made it very difficult to besiege the city. If one wanted to encircle Jiangling City, the Jingzhou Navy would have to severely damage the Southern Army Navy.

Not to mention the Jingnan or Jiangdong navy, Huang Zu's Jiangxia navy alone was difficult to deal with.

After Huang Zu was defeated by Sun Ce, he spent a huge amount of money to build two giant warships. These two warships blockaded Hankou, making it difficult for the Jingzhou navy to break through Hankou, and they could only take the tortuous waterway of Xiashui to Jiangling.

Seeing Wen Pin's truthful answer, Wang Wei calmed down his tone: "In the battle at Xiangyang, we have the advantage and it will be difficult to lose; if we chase them to Jiangling, the advantage will be in the south and it will be difficult to win. Therefore, I think we should let the southern army withdraw and relocate the people to Nanyang for cultivation. After the north is pacified, it will not be too late to march south again."

Wang Wei was from Shanyang, Yanzhou, so he did not need to be responsible for considering the overall interests of the scholars in Jingzhou.

Wen Pin was from Nanyang, but Jingzhou was divided into three parts. The Nanyang gentry were those who mixed in the imperial capital circle and looked down on the gentry from northern Jingzhou. This group of gentry was headed by the Huang and Cai families and could also be called the Jianghan gentry.

They despised the barbaric and backward scholars in the four counties of southern Jing. The bottom of this contempt chain was the scholars in southern Jing. This was also the fundamental reason why they rebelled against the scholars in Jianghan after the population and economy of southern Jing grew.

Especially after the economy grew and the population expanded, the alienated mentality of the four counties in southern Jing became increasingly stronger.

In other words, even if Nanjun was divided into two and became the front line for the confrontation between the Northern Army and the Southern Army...it would not affect Wang Wei and Wen Pin's three meals a day, and they had no pressure at all about it.

It’s just that Wen Pin personally aspires to make achievements and doesn’t want to waste time in the city like Liu Qi.

Liu Qi could sense Wen Pin's dissatisfaction, so he advised: "General, please be patient for now. When the situation improves, I will submit a petition to the Grand Marshal to recommend you."

"Don't dare."

Wen Pin said, "The Grand Marshal has wiped out all the barbarians. I have been highly valued by the Grand Marshal. I feel guilty for not being able to kill the bandits and gain merit, and for not being able to protect the territory and the people. It has nothing to do with you, my Lord."

Liu Qi still comforted him, saying, "I know I am not talented enough. Although General Wang's words are for my own good, the various divisions of the Northern Army are currently doing their own thing. If we hold on to the garrison in Xiangyang, we can still resist the enemy. If we pursue them and compete for credit, it is hard to predict what will happen."

Wen Pin also hurriedly explained: "Ming Gong is worried, I am just unhappy for a moment. It is not nonsense that the Southern Army is infected with the epidemic. If we stay indoors now, we can avoid unnecessary losses."

Seeing this, Liu Qi nodded slightly and said to Wang Wei: "Convey our intention to defend the city to the troops on the north bank and warn them that if they are ambushed during pursuit, don't blame us for closing the gates. I was trusted by the Grand Marshal to give me this city, and my mission is to return it intact."

"Yes, the general will take your orders."

Wang Wei responded loudly that their position was fundamentally different from that of the armies on the north bank.

As long as they hold Xiangyang City, and wait for the Grand Marshal to sort out the north, they will never be treated unfairly in the future.

As for the armies on the north bank of the Han River, after all, if they want to survive, they can only rely on the city of Xiangyang. Only with the city of Xiangyang can they resist the invasion of the southern army.

If Xiangyang City was lost, the Southern Army, relying on the speed of mobilizing troops by boats, could consume and kill the northern bank troops relying on Nanyang.

Liu Qi had been deceived once before by Fu Xun and some scholars from Jingzhou and the north, so he would never believe the promises of the northern bank armies again.

Even Duan Wei, the governor of Nanyang County, and Pei Qian, the governor of Jingzhou, who were appointed by the Grand Marshal, were not trustworthy. Unless Gan Xingba arrived, they could rely on Xiangyang City to hold on for a long time.

For Liu Qi, killing enemies and gaining meritorious service really lacked meaning.

Wouldn't it be nice to occasionally exchange letters with Da Sima and be friends?
No matter how hard you work, can you compete with those heroes who rise up in troubled times?
There is no need to use your own weaknesses to compete with those people in their expertise. Da Sima has no shortage of good generals under his command.

Guarding Xiangyang City and leading an ordinary life, you might wake up to find an envoy who will promote you to a higher position and title to visit you.

People cannot be compared.

After the tour of the city was over, before parting, Liu Qi took Wen Pin's arm and gave him detailed instructions: "The Southern Army is about to retreat, and I am worried that they will use all means. General, you must strictly guard each gate and do not let the internal thieves succeed."

For Liu Qi, the outcome of the battle between the two armies outside the city had nothing to do with him.

To hold Xiangyang is the only way to settle down and survive.

Wen Pin also understood Liu Qi's position and immediately agreed: "To keep the peace, I will send more soldiers to patrol."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, General. I will report your merits to the Grand Marshal after the battle."

Liu Qi said nice things and grabbed Wen Pin's arm hard.

Wen Pin nodded solemnly and hugged Liu Qi's thigh tightly. Given the deep friendship between the Grand Marshal and Liu Qi, it was no different from hugging the Grand Marshal's leg.

He was well aware of the strength of the Northern Army, and the successive suppressions and exterminations of the various northern Hu tribes were clear evidence of this.

In other words, the Grand Marshal was not prepared to take over the world, otherwise, how could there be any emperor of the southeast?

If Xiangyang was lost, Liu Qi could break out and run back, and at most he could become a leisurely minister.

But how should Wen Pin deal with it?

As for staying to serve in the Southern Army... How foolish is it to implicate the clan when someone dies tomorrow?

He could also understand that as the day of unification of the world drew closer, the number of seats in the court would be limited, and the punishment for rebels would only be increased.

And if the rebels put up a desperate resistance, the punishment will be intensified.

Under this cycle, there is no room for negotiation and the rebels will inevitably be crushed into powder.

By that time, it would no longer be something that could be controlled by the will of the Grand Marshal.

The Grand Marshal can severely punish Wang Yun's three clans, and can also take the initiative to severely punish rebellious people in various places.

But when the future war of unification comes, everyone in the Northern Army knows very well that if they accept the surrender of the Southern Army, it will affect everyone's future.

By then, there will be no chance to surrender, and even if you step down, your descendants and relatives will be implicated.

After defeating the coalition forces of You and Ji states, Zhong Yao understood the changes in his situation.

And now Wen Pin can see clearly the road ahead.

This is also the case when the situation in the world becomes clearer, and people with a little insight will gradually understand all this, it is just a matter of sooner or later.

(End of this chapter)