Chapter 537: Seeking Saint Zhang Liang

Guilin County, Bushan City.

Bushan City is located in the middle of Guilin County and is the largest city in the county. Outside the city is the world-famous Lijiang River, all the way down the river, the scenery of Guilin is too beautiful to behold.

The headquarters of the coalition forces was located in Bushan City.

As the sweeping operation in the county came to an end, all the lords moved to Bushan City together.

During the first battle in Zhaoqing County, the lords of the [Southern Alliance] went out with the army collectively, but each of them ended up committing suicide and returning to the city. Since then, the lords have been very cautious about going out with the army.

[Shunan city-state] Only Caiyun Zhinan, the lord of Caiyun City, and another lord named Guhenxiao were the only ones who went out with the army this time.

Gu Hen Xiao is the lord of the famous general Li Mu.

As for the Northern Sichuan Province, because the city-state has not yet been formed. Therefore, only a dozen lords from the southern part of the province were on the expedition this time. One of the representative figures is named Ximen Daguanren.

As the name suggests, Ximen official is rumored to be a well-known playboy in reality. Entering the game, relying on the support of the family, but also breaking into a huge world.

In the Northern Sichuan Province, Ximen Daguanren can be regarded as the number one figure.

The lords gathered in Bushan City this time, in addition to sitting in command, the most important thing was to discuss the distribution of benefits after the war. The huge Guilin County is a piece of fat no matter how you look at it.

After winning, how to distribute the cake is too particular.

In addition, how to arrange the garrison in Guilin County after the war is also an important issue. Now that Guilin County has been won, no matter who it is, they will not leave just thinking about getting a vote.

But to run Guilin County, it is natural to need to station a large army.

Although the coalition forces caught Shanhai City by surprise this time, their fear of Shanhai City has not weakened at all. Instead, they will guard against this fierce tiger more closely.

It is reported that Northern Sichuan Province is already starting to form a city-state in order to fight against Shanhai City more effectively.

That's why the coalition forces wanted to take the two passes immediately.

As long as Xuanwu Pass and Guiping Pass are guarded, Guilin County will be foolproof. On the contrary, if the two major passes are lost, it will be half the effort to defend Guilin County.

On the morning of the 24th, the battle reports of the two major passes were transmitted to the headquarters one after another.

Xuanwu Pass was successfully captured, but Guiping Pass was guarded by Shanhai City.

When the lords got the news, they didn't know how to feel. It was as if they were suddenly stuck in mid-air. It was uncomfortable.

The defeat at Guiping Pass made some lords tremble with fear. They were worried that when they woke up, the mighty army from Shanhai City would enter Guilin County and fight them to the death.

There is only one person, calm in his heart, and he is the Lord of Caiyun City—Caiyun Zhinan.

***********

City Lord's Mansion, West Cross Courtyard.

The courtyard here is exactly where Caiyun Zhinan stayed, and the inside and outside of the courtyard are heavily guarded.

Above the main hall, Caiyun Zhinan sits in the middle.

Sitting next to him was a middle-aged scribe, with a white face and beardless, sword eyebrows and starry eyes, which was very impressive. This scribe is exactly what Li Mu called a military advisor, and he is also a remarkable person.

The scribe is none other than Zhang Liang, who is known as a holy man.

Zhang Liang, courtesy name Zifang, was an outstanding counselor in the late Qin Dynasty and early Han Dynasty. Together with Han Xin and Xiao He, he was called the "Three Heroes in the Early Han Dynasty". Born in an aristocratic family, his grandfather, father and other ancestors served as the prime minister of the Korean king for five generations in Yangzhai, the capital of South Korea.

Because South Korea was destroyed by Qin, Zhang Liang decided to oppose Qin.

He once persuaded Liu Bang to make peace at the Hongmen Banquet, preserve his strength, and dredged up Xiang Yu's uncle Xiang Bo, so that Liu Bang could escape. Later, with outstanding resourcefulness, he assisted Liu Bang to finally win the world in the Chu-Han War, and assisted Empress Lu to support Liu Ying to ascend to the position of prince, and was named Liuhou.

Zhang Liang was proficient in the ways of Huang Lao and did not miss power. In his later years, it is said that he traveled with Chisongzi.

Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, commented on him and said: "A husband's planning and planning wins a victory thousands of miles away. I am not as good as Zifang." It shows Zhang Liang's witty planning, literary and military strategies.

People in later generations respected his outstanding strategy and called him "the Holy Seeker".

It is precisely because of being known as "seeking saints" that Zhang Liang's rating is one level higher than that of Bai Qi, Han Xin, and Xiao He, and he is a serious historical figure of the holy level.

Caiyunzhinan was able to get Zhang Liang's assistance, and just based on this point, it can be seen that it is extraordinary.

You must know that although there are many saint-level figures such as Jiang Shang, Sun Wu, Mencius, and Mozi who have settled in Shanhai City, they are not considered to be officials in the true sense, and they are different from Zhang Liang.

Caiyun Zhinan is probably the first lord who has truly been served by a saint-level figure.

It has to be said that this man's city is extremely deep, and his hiding is also very deep. No wonder he can stand out in the battle of Julu and become the most dazzling dark horse.

In fact, during the Battle of Julu, Caiyunzhinan triggered the task of conquering the holy Zhang Liang, and until the end of the Battle of Julu, Caiyunzhinan experienced a lot of twists and turns in the wilderness. After a difficult test, Zhang Liang was truly favored.

The hardships involved were not something a lord like Ouyang Shuo, who easily subdued historical talents, could understand. After all, no matter whether it was on the battle map or in the wilderness, all the talents that Ouyang Shuo liked basically didn't take much trouble, and they were all relatively smooth.

The only exception is probably Jiang Shang.

This old man made Ouyang Shuo think hard before agreeing to be the principal of Southwest University.

In addition, there is the recent Fan Li.

I don't know if the Black Snake Guard found Fan Li or not.

...

"Zifang, this time Guipingguan was not successfully taken, what remedies do you have?" It is precisely because it is hard-won that Caiyun Zhinan obeys Zhang Liang's words and trusts him almost unconditionally.

Hearing this, Zhang Liang smiled slightly, and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry. It's not a surprise that Guiping Pass was not won, and I expected it. After all, our opponent is not an ordinary person."

"So, Zifang already has a countermeasure?" Caiyun Zhinan asked.

"That's right. The Guiping Pass was not taken, so it's not difficult. We just need to build another large pass at the entrance of the mountain road in Guilin County. In this way, we can also achieve the goal of keeping the enemy out."

"Brilliant plan!" Caiyun Zhinan was overjoyed.

"As for Xuanwu Pass, my lord must not take it lightly." Zhang Liang changed the subject, "Xuanwu Pass is not considered dangerous in the first place. We can take it easily, and the army of Shanhai City can easily take it back. Therefore, the most urgent task is to Strengthen the garrison at Xuanwu Pass."

"It makes sense, I'll arrange it later." Caiyun Zhinan nodded and said, "The army responsible for mopping up Guilin County has completed their task at this time, and we can arrange for them to be stationed at Xuanwu Pass."

"Increasing the garrison is only a palliative measure. If we want to truly defend Xuanwu Pass, we must transform Xuanwu Pass into a strong fortress, so that we will be safe." Zhang Liang added.

"Building two fortresses at the same time, I'm afraid it will cost a lot of money."

When Caiyun Zhinan heard the words, there was a look of embarrassment on his face, obviously there was an unspeakable secret.

Zhang Liang is so smart. Seeing this, his expression moved, he already guessed something, and asked: "But what other lords have different ideas about Guilin County's post-war planning?"

According to Zhang Liang's plan before the war, Northern Sichuan Province and [Shunan City-State] joined hands to take Guilin County while Shanhai City was unprepared. , to obtain a strategic buffer zone.

After all, for the lords of the two major provinces, except for Caiyun City, the rest of the territories are still in the county stage, and there is no problem of insufficient land at all for the time being.

There is enough territory within the province alone, enough for them to toss about.

Therefore, if it is only for occupying the territory, there is really no need for such a big fanfare.

The most fundamental thing to capture Guilin County is to consider it from a strategic point of view. After all, if Shanhai City successfully takes over Guilin County, then the territory of Shanhai City will directly border on the two major provinces.

On the side of the couch, how can you allow others to snore and sleep. Thinking of such a fierce tiger sleeping next to them, none of the lords of the two major provinces dared to sleep in peace.

That's why this war happened.

If the coalition forces take Guilin County, the situation will be completely different.

If Shanhai City wants to go north to attack the two major provinces, it will not be able to cross the barrier of Guilin County. In this way, the two major provinces have enough time to react, and then deal with it calmly.

In addition, fighting in Guilin County can also achieve the strategic goal of defending against the enemy outside the territory, so as not to burn the flames of war to the mainland of the two major provinces.

This move can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Therefore, within the pre-war coalition forces, there was a clear plan for Guilin County after the capture of Guilin County. That is to divide Guilin County as a whole into a military condominium area, and all the fiscal revenue generated by Guilin County itself will be invested in supporting the coalition forces stationed in Guilin County.

In this way, a huge coalition army can be supported without causing additional financial burdens on the territories. It is equivalent to spending other people's money to supply one's own army.

It can be said that whether it is the layout before the war or the arrangement after the war, the whole plan is interlocking and has strong operability and forward-looking.

And the maker of this plan is Zhang Liang, the holy man.

It was this set of plans that moved the lords of the [Shunan City-State], and also the lords of the Northern Sichuan Province represented by Ximen officials.

It's just that what Zhang Liang didn't expect was to wait until the actual battle results were obtained and the fruits of victory were picked. In the face of huge benefits, some lords couldn't sit still.

In other words, in this matter, the lords had selfishness.

In fact, before Caiyun Zhinan came to see Zhang Liang, he met with other lords once. The meaning of the lords is to divide the property looted in this campaign directly, and each person will share a portion first.

That's exactly the case. It is said that Caiyunzhinan will be in trouble if two fortresses are to be built at once.