Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

The order from Xiapi City was quickly delivered to Sun Ce, who was stationed in Langya Commandery, by fast horse.

“Hahaha, just as Gongjin predicted, the intelligence that Yuan Shao had begun his southward march reached the lord's hands, and he allowed us to advance.”

Before Sun Ce arrived, his voice entered Zhou Yu's tent.

Without waiting for Zhou Yu to speak, Sun Ce rushed into Zhou Yu's tent and stuffed the order into Zhou Yu's arms, who was still sitting on the couch, not fully awake.

Zhou Yu, however, was accustomed to this attitude and naturally took the order, reading it quickly.

“Bo Fu, the opportunity to make a contribution has arrived.”

A fiery glint appeared in Zhou Yu's eyes.

Now, Liu Bei had initially shown signs of dominating the world, taking Xuzhou in the Northern Expedition of the Central Plains, while Marquis Li Ji of the State was leading a large army to attack Yuzhou.

Of the four states in the Central Plains—Yu, Xu, Qing, and Yan—only Yan and Qing remained.

Among them, Qingzhou might be poor, but it was still a state.

If he could lead a detachment to capture Qingzhou on his own, it would be a great achievement worthy of a marquis.

Not to say that he could be on par with Marquis Li Ji of the State, but it would be enough to completely establish their position under Liu Bei.

Immediately, Zhou Yu, disregarding that he was wearing only his inner garments, got up and walked to a map hanging in the tent.

Sun Ce had been stationed in Langya Commandery, near Qingzhou, for nearly half a month, and Zhou Yu had naturally made a series of preparations for attacking Qingzhou in advance.

Moreover, Zhou Yu had sent a large number of scouts or spies to Qingzhou, and had generally figured out the situation in Qingzhou.

In order to plot for Jizhou, Cao Cao had transferred almost all of the available troops in his hands to Jizhou to resist Yuan Shao. The garrison troops remaining in Qingzhou were quite limited, mostly newly recruited peasant soldiers.

And the people left behind by Cao Cao to guard the rear in Qingzhou were Xun Yu in the main role, and Cao Ren, Cheng Yu, Liu Ye, and others in supporting roles, deploying a lot of troops on the border near Xuzhou.

Of course, those were just miscellaneous soldiers temporarily conscripted from the fields. Zhou Yu easily saw through their weakness, and had no intention of wasting time with those miscellaneous soldiers who stubbornly defended the cities.

At this moment, on the map, Zhou Yu had already prepared three different routes for attacking Qingzhou.

Communicating with Sun Ce, Zhou Yu had no intention of mystifying things. He pointed directly to a route going north to Qingzhou and said.

“The lord made the decision much faster than expected. In this case, our army only needs to go straight in.”

“Instead of entering Qingzhou, we should first enter Mount Tai Commandery, bypass the state of Qi, which has a lot of troops deployed by Xun Yu to defend it, and march straight into Jinan Commandery.”

Sun Ce was slightly stunned and asked in confusion. “But in this case, the supply line will also have to pass through Mount Tai Commandery. Isn't it too dangerous?”

Although there are no major lords in Yanzhou today, they are all occupying one side of the county, or even some county magistrates are doing their best in the local area.

However, Mount Tai Commandery is not their own sphere of influence after all, and even if they bypass the state of Qi in Qingzhou, they cannot avoid the problem of being too close to the state of Qi, which undoubtedly has the risk of being attacked on the supply line.

“It doesn’t matter!”

Zhou Yu smiled confidently and said. “Marquis has transported grain in advance by water to wait for support in the Huai and Guo Rivers, which has given me no small inspiration.”

Immediately, Zhou Yu pointed to Jinan Commandery on the map and said.

“Now Qingzhou simply does not have enough troops to fight our army in the field. Xun Yu is just planning to rely on strong cities to delay time.”

“After all, our army has only 20,000 troops. It is indeed a fantasy to occupy the entire territory of Qingzhou. After attacking city after city, the troops will be dispersed, and gradually they will not form any threat.”

“Although the lord’s order is to harass Cao Cao’s rear and force Cao Cao to return to aid, Cao Cao may not return to his army with his ruthless decision.”

“But…”

Zhou Yu's finger entered Mount Tai Commandery from the north of Langya Commandery, bypassed the state of Qi, went straight into Jinan Commandery, and then went straight north.

“Crossing Jinan Commandery from south to north will reach the Yellow River, which is also the location of Dongchao Ford, the port where Cao's army crosses the river from Qingzhou to Jizhou, and it is also the channel through which Qingzhou continuously transports money and food to Jizhou.”

“Take Dongchao Ford directly. As long as Dongchao Ford is occupied, it is equivalent to cutting off the connection between Cao Cao in Jizhou and Qingzhou.”

“At that time, Cao Cao will either continue to stay in Jizhou to compete with Yuan Shao, or be forced to abandon Jizhou and retreat to Qingzhou for support.”

Speaking of this, Zhou Yu smiled confidently and said.

“However, Cao Cao actually has no choice to retreat to Qingzhou. Cao Cao, who has already offended the lord and Yuan Benchu at the same time, will be waiting to die once he retreats to the poor Qingzhou.”

“At that time, our army only needs to use Dongchao Ford as a stronghold and gradually block the lower reaches of the Yellow River. There is time to gradually erode the entire Qingzhou.”

Sun Ce nodded repeatedly, only feeling that Zhou Yu already had some of his teacher's demeanor, which was really admirable.

However, Sun Ce still did not forget his original intention and continued to ask.

“But how to solve the problem of food and grass?”

This question almost made the high-spirited Zhou Yu cough.

He had been talking for so long, and it was already so straightforward, but Sun Ce still couldn't figure out how to solve the food and grass problem.

“Bo Fu, if Marquis can solve the problem of food and grass deep behind enemy lines by walking through the Huai and Guo Rivers, why can't we?”

“You must know that there is also our navy in the vast sea, and the rumored route to Yingzhou should not be far from the mouth of the Yellow River.”

“And Dongchao Ford is also not far from the mouth of the Yellow River. It is possible to transport grain and grass directly to Dongchao Ford through sea transportation.”

After hearing this, Sun Ce's eyes lit up.

Zhou Yu had only heard a little about the rumored route to Yingzhou.

But Sun Ce knew the direction and position of that route very well. He quickly estimated it in his mind and found that it was not difficult for Zhou Yu to do what Zhou Yu said.

Zhou Yu then explained more directly.

“As I said just now, there are very few troops in Qingzhou now. Even if Xun Yu intends to stop our army, a clever woman cannot cook without rice.”

“Moreover, the people's hearts in Qingzhou are also extremely depressed now. It is said that there are even righteous soldiers rebelling against Cao in several places in Qingzhou. How can Xun Yu have any spare power to stop our army from advancing?”

“After our army enters Jinan Commandery from Mount Tai Commandery, the rear supply line will be cut off, which is enough for our army to cross Jinan Commandery and reach Dongchao Ford.”

At this point, Sun Ce finally completely understood Zhou Yu's plan.

Borrow the way through Mount Tai Commandery, take Dongchao Ford directly, block the lower reaches of the Yellow River, and cut off the connection between Cao Cao and Qingzhou.

Moreover, Zhou Yu also expected that Cao Cao would not be willing to abandon Jizhou and retreat to Qingzhou. After occupying the lower reaches of the Yellow River, he would echo Xuzhou from afar, forming an encirclement and cannibalization trend towards Qingzhou.

“Gongjin, you already have the majesty of a teacher!”

Sun Ce praised loudly without hesitation, causing Zhou Yu's expression to freeze suddenly.

(End of this chapter)