Chapter 30: What Standing Does Liu Bei Have to Dream of Seizing Nanyang?

"Food shortages!"

Xiao Fang slowly uttered those two words.

This was Zhang Ji's Achilles' heel. In fact, this was not just the weakness of Zhang Ji, but the weakness of most warlords in these chaotic times. During the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao almost starved to death because of a lack of grain. Whenever Zhuge Liang launched his Northern Expeditions, he would start with a brilliant opening, but the ending was always the same: retreating due to a lack of provisions. The Yellow Turban remnants in Runan, Liu Pi and Gong Du, submitted to Liu Bei largely because he could fill their stomachs. In the original timeline, had Zhang Ji not been desperate for grain, he would not have invaded Nanyang, and thus would not have died by Liu Biao's arrows. Therefore, grain and fodder were matters of life and death—the very jugular of most warlords.

Fortunately, while Liu Bei’s strength was currently weak, he happened to have plenty of grain. Conversely, while Zhang Ji’s Xiliang army was formidable, they were severely lacking in provisions.

"I understand," Liu Bei said. "The strategist means that we should make a grand show of transporting grain to Biyang City, letting Zhang Ji know that our supplies are abundant. In doing so, because his own army is starved, he will be compelled to take the initiative and attack Biyang? Is my guess correct?"

As a warlord in his own right, Liu Bei was not without insight into the importance of supplies; he grasped the profound meaning behind Xiao Fang’s words instantly.

"That is exactly the point," Xiao Fang nodded with a smile, then continued, "My lord should not only flaunt this wealth to Zhang Ji but also draft a letter as an ultimatum, ordering him to withdraw from Nanyang and crawl back to Guanzhong within ten days. Otherwise, you will lead your army in person to Wancheng and annihilate him and his forces. The Xiliang men are notoriously arrogant; how could Zhang Ji not be enraged to the point of erupting, deciding to attack Biyang in a fit of fury? This will provide us with the opportunity to strike a heavy blow and secure a swift victory."

Liu Bei suddenly realized the full scope of Xiao Fang’s plan. However, sending an ultimatum to Zhang Ji, ordering him to "crawl back," seemed a bit too aggressive.

"These Xiliang ruffians have turned the Great Han upside down, bringing disgrace to the Emperor and the imperial court; half the chaos in the world is their doing. After entering Nanyang, this scoundrel has allowed his troops to pillage at will, treating the people of Nanyang like dirt. My lord, why bother with logic when dealing with such a brutal traitor? Ordering him to crawl back is already being polite."

Seeing Liu Bei’s hesitation, Xiao Fang enumerated Zhang Ji’s crimes to console and enlighten him. Liu Bei’s concerns were immediately dispelled, his heart ignited with indignation, and a solemn, stern expression appeared on his face.

"The strategist is right. There is no need for reason when dealing with a brutal traitor like Zhang Ji! Xianhe, follow the strategist's advice and draft an ultimatum to be sent to Wancheng immediately!"

Liu Bei was no pedant; once reminded by Xiao Fang, he quickly changed his mindset. Jian Yong accepted the order and began drafting the letter at once.

***

"The strategist’s use of a 'goading tactic,' combined with grain as bait to lure Zhang Ji into attacking, is indeed a brilliant move," Guan Yu said. "However, I must reiterate: I do not fear that scoundrel Zhang Ji, but the disparity in our military strength is a fact. Since you wish to lure him to Biyang, do you already have a foolproof plan to overcome the strong with the weak?"

Guan Yu shifted the conversation back to the comparison of military strength. Liu Bei, suddenly reminded, looked intently at Xiao Fang. Ultimately, all this plotting had to come down to how to defeat Zhang Ji. Military victory was the key.

"General Yunchang, do not worry. The gap between Zhang Ji and my lord is not as insurmountable as it seems. We can bridge that difference with a little strategy. We can..." Xiao Fang toyed with his wine cup, calmly and unhurriedly explaining his plan.

Guan Yu’s tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed. A glimmer of joy appeared in Liu Bei’s eyes, and the faces of Mi Zhu, Wei Yan, and the other advisors and generals were filled with pleasant surprise.

"My lord, what do you think of this plan?" Xiao Fang set down his cup and looked at Liu Bei with a smile.

"Wonderful!" Liu Bei stood up, slapping the table, and exclaimed, "This plan of yours seizes upon Zhang Ji’s lack of grain and the predatory nature of the Xiliang soldiers with perfect precision. It is an excellent strategy; it will surely succeed!"

With that, Liu Bei proceeded according to the plan.

***

Xinye.

Tens of thousands of Jingzhou troops were marching majestically from the south into this critical town north of Xiangyang. Inside the main hall, the lord of Jingzhou, with his half-white beard and the scholarly air of a great Confucian, sat in the seat of honor, examining Liu Bei’s handwritten letter.

Just that day, Sun Qian had arrived as an envoy, presented the letter, and expressed Liu Bei’s intention to join forces and launch a pincer attack on Zhang Ji. After dismissing Sun Qian, Liu Biao summoned his advisors and generals to discuss a countermeasure.

"I did not expect that my clansman, having lost Xuzhou, would travel thousands of miles to my Jingzhou!" Liu Biao said, a hint of barely perceptible displeasure in his voice. "It seems he has his eyes on Nanyang, intending to make it his own foothold."

Although Nanyang had never truly been under his control since he took over Jingzhou—first held by Yuan Shu and now by Zhang Ji—it technically belonged to Jingzhou and was nominally under his jurisdiction as the Governor of Jingzhou. Now that Liu Bei had suddenly appeared, declaring his intent to drive out Zhang Ji and take Nanyang for himself, Liu Biao was naturally uncomfortable.

"Nanyang belongs to Jingzhou and should rightfully be yours, my lord; it is merely being usurped by Zhang Ji," said the middle-aged general at the left seat. "That Liu Bei, a mere peddler of mats and sandals, is mediocre in reputation and talent. Having lost Xuzhou to Lu Bu, he fled thousands of miles to our Jingzhou to claim Nanyang—he is truly overestimating himself! My lord, I believe we should flatly refuse him!"

The general was Cai Mao. As the head of a top-tier noble family like the Cai clan and the second-in-command of Jingzhou, Cai Mao was clearly filled with contempt and hostility toward the grassroots outsider Liu Bei.

"De-gui, one cannot put it that way," Liu Biao stroked his thin, grey-streaked beard, affirming Liu Bei first before looking regretful. "It is a pity that Liu Xuande has never resided in the imperial court and has not seen the malice of the human heart. To think he would dare harbor a wolfish character like Lu Bu—it is truly a bit over-ambitious..."

Liu Biao did not finish his sentence, pulling back his words without explicitly showing his disdain. However, the famous scholars of Jingzhou present understood his implication: it was a veiled critique that Liu Bei’s humble origins left him unaccustomed to the power struggles of the court and the great storms of the world, making his loss of Xuzhou inevitable.

"Although Liu Xuande lost Xuzhou, it is rumored that he defeated Yuan Shu and Lu Bu twice at Xuyi and Rudo," said another middle-aged scholar, whose evaluation was slightly more balanced. "Yuan Shu’s eldest son, Yuan Yao, and Lu Bu’s father-in-law, Cao Bao, both died at his hands. Looking at it this way, he does possess some military talent and is no mere mediocrity."

The speaker was the head of the Kuai family and the chief civil official of Jingzhou, Kuai Yue.

"Is that so?" Liu Biao’s half-closed eyes suddenly opened, a hint of surprise flashing through them.

Before Kuai Yue could continue, Cai Mao spoke up with a dismissive snort, "Those are just rumors, not yet confirmed. I believe these are rumors deliberately spread by Liu Bei to bluff us. If he truly had such ability, why would he lose Xuzhou and flee to our Jingzhou like a stray dog?"

The flash of surprise in Liu Biao’s eyes vanished, and he let them drift half-closed once more.

"In that case, I shall follow De-gui’s advice and reject Liu Xuande’s proposal. Yidu, what is your opinion?" Liu Biao asked, looking at Kuai Yue while stroking his beard.

A cunning look appeared at the corners of Kuai Yue’s mouth as he sneered, "My lord, my opinion differs from De-gui’s. I suggest we play along, and use the strategy of 'borrowing a knife to kill!'"