Chapter 882: Imperial Palace’s Response

Ji Ling's approach seemed to have given up Xuzhou and lost a large number of cities, but it allowed Yuan Shu's army to shrink its forces, making the defense line more stable. Moreover, Ji Ling's idea was to block Cao Cao's army and Sun Ce's army on the eastern front, and then he could concentrate all his efforts to deal with the coalition forces of the Andong Army and the Yuzhou Army, and even drive them out of Huainan completely.

It was not that Ji Ling was self-righteous or something, but because he also knew the situation of the Yuzhou Army. Although he had been reorganized and trained by the Andong Army for half a year, Ji Ling knew that the real elite soldiers were not trained but fought. The Yuzhou Army's combat power was not good, and the Andong Army had less than 50,000 troops, so Ji Ling was still confident about the war in the west.

After his strategy was agreed by Yuan Shu, Ji Ling led 20,000 of the most elite heavy infantry he had trained and rushed to Shouchun.

When Ji Ling arrived in Shouchun, the Andong Army had already launched an attack on the two cities of Geyang and Xiyang. As soon as Ji Ling returned to Shouchun, he was immediately recruited into the palace by Yuan Shu.

"I bow to the emperor, long live the emperor!"

"My dear minister, please stand up!"

"Thank you!"

Standing at the jade steps, Ji Ling looked up at his lord. In less than a year, his face looked haggard. He could not help but feel sad. He bowed again and cried, "I am incompetent and cannot resist the army of Cao and Sun. I lost the two counties of Xuzhou and frightened your majesty!"

Yuan Shu felt warm in his heart and said, "I am relieved that you are back!"

As he said that, Yuan Shu actually walked down in person and helped Ji Ling up. This move moved Ji Ling to tears. It can be said that although Yuan Shu was arrogant, he was very sincere and trusted Ji Ling and other confidants. Now that Ji Ling has returned to Shouchun, Yuan Shu really feels relieved.

Thinking about how he was when he just proclaimed himself emperor, he was full of vigor and vitality. Now that it has been less than two years, he has lost the two counties of Xuzhou. In addition to Danyang County in Jiangdong, it can be said that more than 60% of the five counties when he proclaimed himself emperor have been lost. The two couldn't help but sigh again.

After a long time, Yuan Shu calmed down a little, looked at Ji Ling and said: "I have already issued an edict to arrange the strategy you reported when you were in Xuzhou, but now the Andong Army and the Yuzhou Army have already invaded Huainan. According to the news sent back by Li Feng, the two armies have already captured three cities including the State of Wei. Today, I have received news from the county magistrates of Geyang and Xiyang and Shouban that the Andong Army has already started to attack the two cities today. Now, what do you think should be done?"

Ji Ling also calmed down and said: "On the return ship, I carefully thought about the matter I reported to Your Majesty and found a gap in defense."

As he spoke, Ji Ling walked to the map that Yuan Shu was hanging, picked up the wooden pole next to him, pointed to the city where the Woshui River flows into the Huaishui River, and said: "Yicheng's defense is too weak. If Cao's thieves attack Huainan from Yu County, Yicheng must be here. Once Yicheng is lost, Cao's army can cross the Huaishui River from Yicheng and enter the territory of Huainan."

At this point, Ji Ling paused for a moment and said: "So in my opinion, Your Majesty can order Zhang Xun to lead 10,000 imperial guards to move to Yicheng, so that the defense of the eastern line will not be a problem."

Yuan Shu looked in the direction of Ji Ling and agreed, so he ordered Zhang Xun to lead 10,000 imperial guards to move to Yicheng on the spot. After the imperial edict was issued, Yuan Shu asked again: "How many troops are you going to lead to fight against the Andong Army and the Yuzhou Army?"

Faced with Yuan Shu's question, Ji Ling did not answer immediately. Although he had decided to defend the eastern line with all his strength and do his best to drive the Andong Army and the Yuzhou Army out of Huainan on the western line. But he also knew that this was the most ideal situation at present, but he himself did not have much confidence in really driving the Andong Army and the Yuzhou Army to the north of the Huai River.

Although the Yuzhou Army was not strong, there were still the 50,000 troops of the Andong Army, which included the personal guard camp and the combat camp of General Huangfu Chaobo of Andong. Moreover, although they were divided into two routes, the two armies were not too far apart, only less than a hundred miles apart, and there was also an elite force of tens of thousands of people coordinating between the two armies.

The general in charge of coordination was Huang Zhong, the chief general of the Andong Army.

Although Shouchun now had 160,000 troops, plus the troops of the surrounding cities, there were more than 200,000 troops, but Ji Ling had not yet made up his mind how many troops to dispatch to stop the Andong Army and the Yuzhou Army.

Thinking of this, Ji Ling said: "According to my opinion, the number of troops going to fight against the Andong Army and the Yuzhou Army this time cannot be less than 100,000."

"A hundred thousand troops?" Hearing Ji Ling's words, Yuan Shu was also shocked. You know, Shouchun only has 150,000 or 160,000 troops in total. Ji Ling is going to transfer 100,000 troops at once, which means that Shouchun Qi will only have 50,000 or 60,000 people left. If Cao Cao or Sun Ce breaks through the eastern defense line and kills Shouchun City, Yuan Shu has no confidence to hold on with only these 50,000 or 60,000 people.

Seeing Yuan Shu's expression, Ji Ling immediately said: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I am not going to use Your Majesty's Imperial Guards for these 50,000 or 60,000 people. In addition, Shouchun will send 60,000 to 80,000 troops, and the rest will be transferred from other cities."

"Moreover, I also suggest that one thousand veterans can be transferred from the troops in each county, leaving two thousand veterans, and three thousand new soldiers are enough to guard the county."

In fact, Ji Ling was complaining in his heart, Your Majesty, I actually want 150,000 to 200,000 troops. I don't know if this force will scare you. 100,000 troops are only enough to stop the offensive of the Anton Army. If the Yuzhou Army is not weak and the Anton Army has few troops, I will definitely ask for 150,000 troops.

However, seeing that Ji Ling was unusually cautious in his words, and that although Yuan Shu was a member of a noble family, he could barely be considered a military expert, and knew that the combined forces of the Anton Army and the Yuzhou Army numbered 150,000, he asked Ji Ling : "In my opinion, can I defeat the combined forces of the Anton Army and the Yuzhou Army?"

Ji Ling was shocked. His lord actually asked him to use a hundred thousand troops to defeat the opposing coalition's 150,000 troops. He quickly knelt down and replied: "I don't dare to deceive Your Majesty. A hundred thousand troops can only block the coalition's offensive. I want to To defeat the coalition forces, we must have an army of 150,000. If we can send 200,000 troops, and then make some good plans with Lord Shu, Lord Yan and others, we can possibly drive them back to the north of the Huai River. "

When Yuan Shu heard this, he couldn't help but frown, thought for a while and said, "Then according to Aiqing's suggestion, Shu Aiqing, Yan Aiqing and other beloved ministers will be summoned to the palace to discuss matters."

With that said, Yuan Shu ordered the eunuchs to pass the order and summon Shu Shao, Yang Hong, Yan Xiang and other military advisors into the palace to discuss matters.