Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 390 Nephew

A few days later, Jiankang responded.

He agreed to Liu Daogui's proposal to attack Shu, but appointed Liu Yizhen as the military supervisor for the campaign against Shu and the governor of Yizhou.

Sima Rongqi suffered a crushing defeat, rendering his position as governor of Yizhou unnecessary.

The meat was already divided up before it was even cooked.

Accompanying Liu Yizhen were two thousand elite troops from the Zhu Chaoshi and Zhu Lingshi brothers, and seventeen hundred elite troops from Shen Tianzi and Shen Linzi.

It can be said that all the best and brightest were deployed.

Liu Daogui finally understood that the last campaign against Shu was just paving the way for Liu Yizhen. If Liu Yizhen were to lead the army directly, there would definitely be a lot of discussion in the court and among the people. Now that Liu Jingxuan had been defeated, sending Liu Yizhen would be less opposed. If Qiao Shu were captured, Liu Yizhen's prestige would be even greater.

Gao Xun was furious. "Liu Yizhen is only thirteen years old this year. How can he be qualified to be the governor of a prefecture? Yizhou has been under the control of the barbarians for too long. Only a person of great talent and ambition can pacify it!"

Liu Huaijing said, "We sent troops to attack Shu, but the fruits of our labor have been picked by others."

Liu Daogui had always disliked this kind of coalition, as it had too many internal problems.

However, along with the imperial edict came a private letter from Liu Yu, saying that Liu Yizhen was a promising talent and that Liu Daogui should give his nephew more guidance. In the future, Liu Yizhen would be under the command of the Grand General's Mansion.

The funds and provisions for this campaign against Shu will all come from Jiankang. If Liu Daogui encounters any difficulties, he will personally lead the army...

Having said that, Liu Daogui had no choice but to agree.

Essentially, it's a transaction.

They exchanged money and grain for Liu Yizhen's position as governor of Yizhou.

Liu Daogui sighed inwardly. The older his elder brother got, the more indulgent and impatient he became with his children, which was completely forcing them to grow too fast.

Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them. Liu Daogui also raised his son, but he started from the beginning, arranging reliable people for him, rather than entrusting him with important responsibilities right away.

More than ten days later, the Jiankang army went up the river and entered Jiangling.

Liu Daogui also rushed to Jiangling to oversee the rear.

Without his own restraint, this campaign against Shu might very well repeat the mistakes of Liu Jingxuan.

Liu Yizhen was no pushover, and the brothers Shen Tianzi and Shen Linzi were no saints either.

Three thousand seven hundred Northern Army soldiers, all clad in armor, their silver armor gleaming, their banners and long spears forming a dense forest, stood on the harbor, a faint but palpable killing intent rising with the wind.

Compared to the forces of Liu Jingxuan and Liu Fan, they were worlds apart.
"Nephew greets Uncle!" Liu Yizhen bowed respectfully.

"This humble general pays his respects to the Great General!" The Zhu Lingshi brothers and the Shen Tianzi brothers stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

"No need for formalities, Che Shi; no need for formalities, generals." Liu Daogui helped each of the generals up and looked his nephew up and down. He had a face like white jade, wore a crane cloak, a purple-gold crown, and a white jade belt.

After not seeing him for several years, he has grown up to be a handsome and refined man with a refined and elegant demeanor. His every move exudes the air of a master teacher.

However, he was completely out of place with the murderous aura emanating from the soldiers around him.

The Shen brothers were old acquaintances, and even after several years apart, they were still as sharp and ambitious as ever. The Zhu brothers, Ling Shi and Chao Shi, were meeting for the first time. They were also from the Western Prefecture, but they switched allegiance to Liu Yu during the Battle of Fuzhou Mountain.

The two men had honest and kind appearances, reserved demeanor, and an air of refined elegance.

"Before setting off, my father repeatedly instructed me to heed my uncle's teachings, and I hope my uncle will give me much guidance." Liu Yizhen bowed respectfully.

"When it comes to military campaigns, who in the world can compare to your father?"

"Uncle, you flatter me. Today, let us drink to our hearts' content!"

Before he could even finish two sentences, his true colors were revealed.

Putting aside the fact that there is a war going on now, a thirteen-year-old boy who keeps getting drunk is not proper.

This also shows that their mother and brother have spoiled them too much over the years.

Liu Daogui said solemnly, "You are so young, you must not indulge in wine and women. The war to conquer Shu is no small matter. As the supervisor of all military affairs for the war to conquer Shu, you should set an example!"

Liu Yizhen's eyes darted around, and he quickly cupped his hands in apology, "It was my fault, Uncle is wise."

Although he still maintained a very polite demeanor, his words were overly diplomatic.

Liu Daogui didn't want to blame them, so he changed the subject, "Let's get some rest early tonight. Men, slaughter the pigs and sheep we brought to reward the brothers."

"Hahaha, the General is truly straightforward. These past few days, being stuck on the ship, my mouth has been so bland." Shen Tianzi laughed heartily.

"Thank you, General!" Zhu Lingshi led his men to thank Liu Daogui.

Liu Daogui glanced at Shen Tianzi and said, "Then let's eat more tonight, and after we conquer Shu, we can drink together."

"A word is settled!"

With their fill of food and drink, the soldiers' morale soared even higher.

Three thousand seven hundred Northern Army soldiers and five thousand Tiger Guard soldiers sailed westward.

With verdant mountains on both sides of the river and beautiful scenery, Liu Daogui was in a good mood and was admiring the scenery when a series of "bang bang bang" sounds came from the deck.

Then came Liu Yizhen's impassioned voice: "If I, Yizhen, cannot conquer Bashu and cross the river again, then I am as helpless as the great river itself!"

Immediately, a chorus of flattery arose from the side, "Young master, you have lofty ambitions; you are no ordinary man!"

"With your talent, young master, you will surely be able to sweep across the north and south and restore the nation." "Even Zu Ti back then did not have such ambition as you, young master!" Even Shen Linzi flattered him.

Liu Daogui got goosebumps listening to this. This nephew had many faults. Of all the things to learn, he had to learn from those so-called "famous scholars".

Looking at the group of well-dressed "celebrities" surrounding him, he understood immediately.

Spending all your time with these people will make you like those you associate with.

However, the brothers Zhu Lingshi and Zhu Chaoshi stood far away and did not participate in the flattery.

Liu Yu asked him to teach his nephew, but the boy was already thirteen or fourteen years old, and his personality was already set in stone. There was no way to start him. People of this age are the most rebellious, and the more you try to discipline them, the more counterproductive it will be.

Besides, I'm not familiar with him at all; no matter how you look at it, he's just an uncle.

Liu Daogui could only restrain him from drinking alcohol, taking Wushi San (a type of drug), and getting close to women; he couldn't control anything else.

When the fleet arrived at Yong'an, Wang Zhongde, Liu Zhong, Duan Hong, Mao Xiuzhi and other Tiger Guard generals, along with Liu Yixing, came to greet them.

Half a year had passed since they last met, and Liu Yixing had changed a lot. The frivolous air on his face had disappeared. He had lost weight and was more energetic. His words and actions were much more composed, and he took the initiative to bow to Liu Yizhen.

Liu Daogui felt a surge of relief. Fortunately, Cao Sifei was a virtuous wife who did not spoil her sons. She disciplined them strictly from a young age, and regardless of their talents, they all had relatively calm personalities.

Before Liu Daogui could speak at the military council, Liu Yizhen preemptively said, "I have studied military strategy for many years and have often listened to my father's teachings. In this campaign, Uncle, please stay in Yong'an and watch me defeat the enemy!"

The atmosphere gradually became somewhat awkward, and the generals in the hall remained silent.

Shen Tianzi's gaze swept quickly across Liu Daogui's face.

The generals of the Tiger Guard Army had grim expressions. According to Liu Yizhen, this meant that he wanted to seize all military power.

Although he was appointed as the military supervisor of the campaign against Shu, he did not hold an imperial insignia and had no authority to command the various armies.

The soldiers revered his father, Liu Yu, not a mere child.

Liu Daogui immediately felt a headache coming on. Before they even started, he tore open the window paper on both sides and said, "Military campaigns are no child's play. All of you generals are veterans of countless battles. You and I will stay in Yong'an and strategize from behind the scenes!"

Liu Daogui subtly raised his hand, and the generals' expressions improved somewhat.

Liu Yizhen waved his long sleeves, about to speak, but Liu Yixing spoke first: "A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. Second brother, you are extraordinary and born with wealth and honor. One day you will command an army of thousands. Why bother with the bravery of a common man?"

As the saying goes, "A scholar should be looked at with new eyes after three days of separation," and Liu Yixing has indeed grown a lot since joining the army on this expedition.

Liu Yizhen, flattered by his praise, became smug. "Ah Xing is absolutely right. Then let's stay in Yong'an, strategizing and winning battles from afar!"

"All generals, listen to my command!" Liu Daogui's voice was stern.

"Here!" The generals stood at attention, but Liu Yizhen trembled with fear.

"Order Shen Tianzi and Shen Linzi to lead their troops as the vanguard to attack Huanghu and Pingmo from the outer waterway, making a big show of force to attract the main force of the Shu army. Zhu Lingshi and Zhu Chaoshi will lead the central army to advance from the inner waterway, driving straight in and heading straight for Chengdu. Wang Zhongde and Mao Xiuzhi will lead 5,000 elite Tiger Guard troops to attack Guanghan from the middle waterway!"

Liu Daogui pointed to the leather map and issued orders.

During the Warring States period, Qin conquered Ba and Shu and sent Li Bing to build the Dujiangyan Irrigation System. The floods in the Chengdu Plain were eliminated, turning a disaster into a benefit, and Shu became the land of abundance.

Chengdu is surrounded by a network of waterways that rivals those of the Jiangnan region. Rivers such as the Minjiang, Tuojiang, and Dujiang flow around the city. The outer waterway is the Minjiang, the middle waterway is the Tuojiang, and the inner waterway is the Dujiang.

After flowing through Chengdu, it joins the Yangtze River in Fuling, Ziyang and other places.

With rivers and canals leading to Chengdu and a well-developed water network, Chengdu was well-suited for naval attacks.

And the navy is precisely one of the Tiger Guard's strengths.

In reality, these three forces were all feints, used to draw away the main force of the Shu army. However, if any one of them was breached, Liu Zhong's navy could advance unimpeded and storm into the city of Chengdu.

What is virtual is real, what is real is virtual.

With the rear granaries empty and the grain supplies difficult to transport upstream from Jiankang, Liu Daogui was not prepared to fight them for every city or territory.

Qiao Zong's scorched-earth policy alone would be enough to give Liu Daogui a hard time.

Moreover, the Liao and Shu people in the mountains are hostile to the Jin dynasty. If the conflict drags on, these people will come out and attack the supply lines, which will also be a big problem.

Even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake. From Yong'an to Fuling, the terrain is complex, and Liu Daogui's 30,000 to 40,000 troops cannot protect so many people.

Therefore, this battle must be won quickly, using speed to defeat slowness, and we cannot allow Qiao Zong to mobilize the manpower and resources of Shu.

"Did you all hear me clearly?" Liu Daogui's voice grew increasingly authoritative.

"Understood!" the generals bowed.

However, both sides seemed to be at odds, staring at each other with expressions of dissatisfaction.

The Western Prefecture is gone, replaced by the Tiger Guard Army. Now it's a struggle between the Northern Prefecture and the Tiger Guard Army.

Regional disputes are everywhere. Fortunately, Wang Zhen'e was not around, otherwise the two sides would have become even more tense.

Wang Zhen'e was also a man who showed off his talents. Putting him together with the Shen brothers, Shen Tianzi and Shen Linzi, would be quite a spectacle.

"I've already stated that the Northern Army and the Tiger Guard Army are of the same lineage. Anyone who dares to secretly sabotage us, harm their colleagues, or ruin my important plans will face the ruthlessness of military law!" Liu Daogui scanned the crowd, his gaze settling on the brothers Shen Tianzi and Shen Linzi.

"The general will not dare."

The generals all looked away, and the atmosphere eased considerably.

(End of this chapter)