Volume 5: Overlord of the Sea Chapter 537: Inevitable
Wei, Qi and Yan, the three states in the Bohai Sea, kept "rolling" in front of the State of Chu from time to time. Naturally, the State of Chu would not fail to notice it.
But for the State of Chu, the later the war started, the better. Especially since the sixth year of the Chu calendar was almost over and Gan Ning had not yet returned, and no news had been sent back, which made the morale of the Chu navy not very high.
Due to mutual concerns, the current scene occurred - Wei State did not admit that it had anything to do with the pirates, the Marquis of Yan did not admit that he was the one who ordered the robbery of minerals, and the princes who assisted the Han Dynasty did not really send troops, but were more of a "posture".
As for the State of Chu... since you don't admit it, I won't hammer you for now. I will just hold up the important transaction and vent my anger on the Marquis of Shu so that the people don't feel too aggrieved and maintain the "personality" of a strong Chu.
During the Liaodong New Year Festival, Gongsun Kang also hosted a banquet for his ministers in the Yanhou Mansion. Originally, the "New Year" in the late Eastern Han Dynasty was not so popular. However, since Yangzhou began to "celebrate the New Year" under the leadership of the then General's Mansion, and many times on the first day of the first month, the princes from all sides had important events that were "all informed", making the "New Year" more and more ritualistic among the people.
Although most of the people under the rule of other princes, except Chu, had little surplus grain, Chu was still the "engine". After the commodity economy recovered, a large amount of grain was exported from Chu, alleviating the needs of other princes and making the lives of the people not too miserable.
Maybe you can't have big fish and meat, but most people can afford to have a small meat dish during the Chinese New Year and buy a few pounds of meat filling.
"Although the 'Chu Learning' of the Chu State has many biases in terms of moral governance, it is indeed commendable in practical production..." Liu Yi looked at the somewhat bustling streets of Xiangping, as if talking to himself, or as if talking to Liang Mao beside him.
At this time, the banquet of the Marquis of Yan had ended. When leaving the house, Liu Yi deliberately held Liang Mao and did not let him get on the carriage. Instead, he walked with him. He even asked the servants and guards to step back a few steps, and he walked in front holding a lantern.
Regardless of whether Liu Yi was asking him or not, Liang Mao just thought he was talking to himself and did not answer.
"Bofang's two sons are studying at Jinling University, right?" Liu Yi asked after a moment's silence.
"I also have a daughter studying in Chu." Liang Mao responded indirectly and added.
Liu Yi was choked for a moment, then said with emotion: "It seems... Bofang likes Chuxue very much."
Indeed, Liang Mao deliberately mentioned his daughter, who was subconsciously ignored by Liu Yi, obviously wanting to remind him of something, which was to indirectly refute Liu Yi's criticism of Chu Xue just now.
"However, this time, Bofang actually strongly advised the lord to join forces with the King of Wei and the Marquis of Qi to attack the powerful Chu. This is really beyond my expectation. Brother Bofang, are you willing to explain my doubts to me?" Liu Yi said without stopping, as if he was just chatting.
"First of all, I didn't make a strong remonstrance. Secondly, I just mentioned something that you didn't notice." Liang Mao spoke briefly and to the point, as if he wanted to say that the decision to join forces with the State of Chu had nothing to do with him.
And...I, Liang Mao, am not from the Chu camp, so don’t talk nonsense!
However, these words obviously did not satisfy Liu Yi.
Liu Yi gradually slowed down his pace and finally stopped at an alley not far from his home. The guards behind him also tacitly stayed twenty steps away. Liang Mao's followers... naturally did not dare to go beyond.
Unlike Liu Yi, Liang Mao had a name but no power in Xiangping, and he had no personal guards in his mansion, only some ordinary servants.
"With Brother Bofang's talent, if he is truly devoted to giving advice to our lord, I can guarantee that we can broker a peace and make sure our lord and Brother Bofang put aside their past grudges. In the future, Brother Bofang will have a lot to do in the State of Yan." Liu Yi turned his head and said seriously to Liang Mao.
Liang Mao, however, continued to look ahead, and said without any emotion: "Lord Liu, you are joking. Marquis Yan is in charge of Youzhou, and I am his subject. What is the grudge between us? Or... Lord Liu, do you think that I have ever framed or misled anyone with bad intentions?" After saying this, Liang Mao turned his head to look at Liu Yi.
Liu Yi's expression softened again after hearing this, and he even said kindly, "Of course I didn't mean that. Bo Fang is overthinking."
"Lord Liu is home." Liang Mao reminded.
"Well, when you are free tomorrow, please ask Brother Bofang to come to your house to have a chat." After Liu Yi finished speaking, he took his people home.
Liang Mao was finally able to get in the car and relax...
It's still very cold in Xiangping during the New Year, and there are no cotton clothes now.
Liu Yi did not say much about Liang Mao's two sons and one daughter. After all, in name, they went to the State of Chu to study - among the people, this was not prohibited and was even encouraged.
The State of Yan also sent some young students to study, including one of Liu Yi's illegitimate sons.
Although Wei, Qi and Yan have formed a secret alliance, they are still in the stage of gradually eliminating the influence of Chu in Bohai and continuing to expand their strength.
If a war really breaks out, it will be at least by the end of this year or even next year!
Given the climate in the Bohai Sea, if a war breaks out at the end of the year, it will definitely be mainly a land battle to clear out the ports of Chu.
After all, given the weather conditions at that time of year, the only ice-free port in the north was the Liaodong Port built by the Chu State at the original location of Dajin in Liaodong.
Only Liaodong Port can accommodate large warships in and out without being affected even in the depths of winter.
This is also the key to Chu's dominance in Bohai!
Fighting in winter is not cost-effective in itself, but if it is just to clean up the ports of Chu, it can be "tried"...
After all, the Chu State was located around the Bohai Sea, and these hated ports were all under the noses of the three states of Wei, Qi and Yan. On the contrary, they were enclaves for the Chu State, and there was no "transportation cost" for the other states, which solved the big problem of fighting in winter.
At most, it was just a month or two when it was too cold to hold weapons, and we certainly couldn't launch an offensive.
And if we talk about the impact of weather on combat effectiveness, the Chu army's soldiers are not very resistant to cold...
Even though the Chu State had conducted special training for this and tried to use the migrating northerners as a separate source of soldiers for training, it did play a compensatory role to some extent. However... the Chu Army's land combat capability in the cold season in the north is definitely one of its biggest weaknesses!
If a land battle for the port were to take place in winter, it would be a good opportunity for the three parties to have the best timing, location and people.
As for directly competing with the State of Chu for Bohai Sea in the middle of the year?
Regardless of whether we can win the war, at least... it would be more advantageous to take away a few ports around Bohai Sea from the Chu State first, right?
And you have to know that in the trade with Chu, they also felt pain and joy - while being taken advantage of by Chu, they also had a lot of Chu goods that they coveted, not to mention the Chu University...
It is just a "contradiction" now. If we can really distinguish between the enemy and us, even if the State of Chu respects its status and will not take any drastic measures, it will definitely expel the students they sent.
You know, judging from the feedback from these students, they have gained important benefits every moment in Jinling.
Of course, when it comes to Chu University, each company also has alternative plans.
Although the later the better, we will not be completely "held hostage" by this matter and dare not go to war.
For example... students from all over the country who went to Chu were actually some in public and some in secret. The latter were mixed with private students. Unless Chu State completely followed the "territorial" principle, if it only expelled those students with official representative titles, there would still be some "fish that slipped through the net".
And if the State of Chu really used territorial jurisdiction as a criterion, for example, "all students from the State of Wei will be expelled", then it would also be a blow to the reputation of the State of Chu. After all, many students who spontaneously went to the State of Chu truly recognized and admired the State of Chu and Chu learning.
If these people were also expelled, it would actually mean that the State of Chu was expelling its own potential talents. Moreover, if the State of Chu expelled those children from poor families or aristocratic families who were not sent by the princes, it would definitely lose some people's hearts.
There is even a situation like Youzhou Liangmao...
You can't expel everyone else and only keep Liang Mao, a descendant of a noble family who is secretly "cooperating" with the State of Chu, right?
Then it’s not considered secret!
Therefore, Wei, Qi, and Yan all believed that Chu would expel the official students, and would also increase the scrutiny of private students and isolate them from core subjects, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
After all, Chu's popularity among "enemy countries" is also one of its greatest advantages...
At this time in Pengcheng, Xuzhou, Liu Bei, who was not summoned to Chang'an this year, was also discussing... or rather lamenting about the affairs of the State of Chu with a young man with a feather fan and a green turban.
It is more obvious than in Xiangping. From the towering city wall of Pengcheng, one can see the bustle of the streets this year.
After all, if "conditions permit", Liu Bei would not be willing to treat the people too harshly.
Looking at this scene, Liu Bei felt a little ashamed. After all, he knew clearly that the "grand scene" before him was not created by him, but only borrowed the light from Bai Tu.
"My lord, are you sighing about the State of Chu?" The young man... who was none other than Zhuge Liang, who had missed the chance to obtain Bai Tu, asked while gently waving his feather fan.
Although Liu Bei specially lit the stove just for Zhuge Liang, he still had to fan himself with the feather fan!
"Yes, I remember that I had a very pleasant conversation with Bai Gong in the past. Now, eight out of ten of the welfare of the Han people should be attributed to Bai Gong. What can I do, what can I do?" Liu Bei said, shaking his head helplessly.
"Since you have this intention, instead of sighing, you might as well make preparations. After the world is unified, you can contribute 90%, 100% , or even more to serve the world." Zhuge Liang said half in a comforting and encouraging tone.
Zhuge Liang recognized the technology of the Chu State, and he also had at least 70% respect for Bai Tu himself. The other 30% was not contempt, but simple disapproval.
Mainly regarding Chuxue...Zhuge Liang felt that it should be viewed dialectically and critically!
Neither Liu Bei nor Zhuge Liang thought of killing Bai Tu directly, but wanted to do their best to bring the world back to the main theme - the orthodox main theme of the Han Dynasty.
On this basis, creating more welfare is also their expectation and vision.
For them, what they need to do now is more like the several times of reducing the power of the feudal lords during the early Han Dynasty...
Liu Bei did not dwell on this sigh. After all, he was now a powerful leader. He was not someone who would easily lose his goal or need others to enlighten him. Instead, he asked, "In the various disputes in Bohai, Chu has been very 'modest' towards Wei and Yan, and even some of my second brother's actions. Is the battle in Bohai... really unavoidable?"
"If we only take back a few ports, as long as we give Chu enough 'stepping stones' and deterrence, we may be able to temporarily postpone the entry into a state of full-scale war, but it is only a temporary delay . And no matter what, our goal and the King of Wei's goal is not just a few ports..."
