Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Li Ji looked at Qi Zhou with a hint of surprise.

He didn't expect that Qi Zhou, who was usually so rigid and inflexible, could have such insight, pointing out the biggest risk and weakness of this plan in one sentence.

To sweep through the Wuhuan settlements and force the Wuhuan to divide their forces to attack, a large number of cavalry would naturally need to be mobilized.

But once that cavalry was surrounded and defeated, it would mean that Youzhou would completely lose its cavalry in the near future.

Without cavalry to protect the flanks, it would be wishful thinking to fight the Wuhuan cavalry head-on with infantry alone, leaving Youzhou completely unable to counterattack and only able to shrink back and defend the city.

In addition, the sweeping and slaughter of the settlements would inevitably arouse the anger of the Wuhuan people, and it was entirely conceivable that the Wuhuan would vent all this anger on the Han people afterwards.

Li Ji was well aware of these things.

However, it was impossible to defeat the strong with the weak without taking any risks.

Li Ji closed his folding fan and said with a smile, "Assistant Qi, do you remember that I asked you to retrieve all the records of Youzhou about the Wuhuan before?"

"I remember," Qi Zhou nodded in response.

"All the settlements of the Wuhuan clan after they moved into Han territory have been remembered by me, and I have deduced and calculated a route to sweep through the settlements based on the terrain of Youzhou."

Li Ji said with a smile.

"Following this route, the cavalry can escape from the encirclement of a large number of Wuhuan cavalry, firmly contain the Wuhuan cavalry without loss."

If Liu Bei were here, he would naturally believe it without a doubt.

But Liu Yu, Gongsun Zan, Qi Zhou and others clearly showed some suspicion and hesitation.

However, Li Ji was not in a hurry, having said all that needed to be said.

Because Liu Yu had no better choice, and Gongsun Zan had no other choice, except to trust Li Ji, there was no other way.

Liu Yu's original intention was just to defend Ji City, but only mobilizing the cavalry would have little impact on Liu Yu's original strategy.

As for Gongsun Zan, he was not the kind of person who hesitated because of risks. When choosing between a surprise attack on the Wuhuan cavalry near Yuyang City and sweeping the Wuhuan settlements, Gongsun Zan naturally understood which choice was better.

"Mr. Zikun, how many cavalry do you need?" Liu Yu asked.

"Twenty thousand," Li Ji replied.

As soon as he said this, everyone present almost thought they had heard wrong.

"Mr. Zikun, even if Youzhou mobilizes all its cavalry, it is far from having 20,000 cavalry."

After a pause, Qi Zhou hurriedly reminded Li Ji, and then quickly said.

"And shouldn't the best way to attack the Wuhuan settlements be with thousands of cavalry? Too many cavalry would be less flexible and easily caught up and surrounded by the Wuhuan cavalry."

"How can three thousand cavalry make the Wuhuan mobilize 80,000 cavalry to encircle and suppress them?"

Li Ji only said this sentence, and Qi Zhou realized that his idea was a bit naive.

The cavalry sent to sweep through the Wuhuan settlements was not intended to cause much damage to the Wuhuan settlements, but to force the Wuhuan cavalry to divide their forces.

Three thousand baits would at most only make the Wuhuan mobilize more than ten thousand cavalry to bite the hook.

If you want to lure away 80,000 Wuhuan cavalry, then the cavalry sent to sweep through the Wuhuan settlements must not be less.

Liu Yu sighed and said, "Mr. Zikun, it's just that Youzhou really doesn't have 20,000 cavalry right now."

"Yes!"

Li Ji shook his head and said instead.

"Didn't I ask Liu Shijun to transfer 8,000 war horses from the horse farms in Dai Commandery and Shanggu Commandery before? As long as that batch of war horses arrives in Ji City, there will naturally be this number."

As Li Ji's voice fell, Xian Yufu almost subconsciously let out a burst of laughter.

"Ah ha ha ha..."

"I thought Mr. Zikun was extremely intelligent, but I didn't expect him to say such naive words."

After a pause, Xian Yufu, with a mocking expression, said.

"I heard that Mr. Zikun also lived in Zhuo County for a long time. Could it be that he has been to the land of Wu and Hui for too long, so that he can't even distinguish the difference between infantry riding war horses and elite cavalry?"

"Even if 8,000 war horses are transferred, cavalry cannot be trained in a day or two..."

However, as Xian Yufu continued to speak, the smile on Li Ji's face became more and more meaningful and full of a kind of tolerance and encouragement.

Until Xian Yufu completely reacted.

If it was just to attack the Wuhuan settlements with only the old, weak, women and children left, thousands of elite cavalry would be enough to sweep through them.

Then what is the strategic difference between the extra 8,000 war horses carrying cavalry or infantry? Even the infantry would be more efficient in cleaning up the swept Wuhuan settlements.

With the folk customs of You and Yan, it is really not difficult to draw out 8,000 infantrymen who know a little horsemanship.

And not only Xian Yufu, but also those who knew a little about military strategy also reacted one after another.

The important thing is the number of cavalry, enough to make the Wuhuan people pay attention and be afraid, and have to send a large number of cavalry to encircle and suppress them.

"Wonderful! Wonderful!!"

Gongsun Zan couldn't help but praise and said.

"Mr. Zikun turned out to be prepared, and even thought of the method of mixing infantry into it to act as cavalry. It is seamless, and those Wuhuan thieves will definitely not be able to see through it."

Li Ji humbly cupped his hands and replied.

"Before going to sweep through, they may be 8,000 infantrymen, but with the foundation of the You and Yan soldiers, maybe after sweeping around and training, they may really be 20,000 cavalrymen."

"That's right!"

Gongsun Zan nodded and said with some pride.

"If we talk about cavalry, You and Yan should be the best in the world. As long as I am given enough time and money, let alone 8,000, even 80,000 cavalrymen can be trained."

"Just right, those old, weak, women and children left by the Wuhuan thieves in the settlements should become my training materials."

Liu Yu was a little dissatisfied with Gongsun Zan's reaction that he was not ashamed of killing the old, weak, women and children, but full of expectation, but after some discussion.

Liu Yu also had to admit that Li Ji's plan was indeed a good medicine for treating the Wuhuan's troubles at the moment, and looking at Youzhou, the only one who had the ability and prestige to lead 20,000 cavalry to sweep through the Wuhuan settlements was Gongsun Zan.

In this way, even if there was still an irreconcilable ideological contradiction between Liu Yu and Gongsun Zan, they quickly cooperated with each other under the current situation where the strategy had been determined.

Gongsun Zan and Li Ji respectively began to transfer troops into Ji City, and then integrated all the cavalry under Gongsun Zan's command, and all the infantry were used to defend Ji City.

And under Li Ji's reminder, as the defending forces became sufficient, Liu Yu also additionally transferred 3,000 infantrymen to the two small cities closest to Ji City to assist in garrisoning.

In this way, the two small cities could not only form a mutual support with Ji City, but also prevent the Wuhuan people from easily capturing the two small cities as a base to threaten Ji City.

In addition, Liu Yu, in order to show respect for Li Ji, specially allowed the army under the jurisdiction of Wu Commandery to still be directly controlled by Li Ji.

Even if Liu Yu himself wanted to command the Wu Commandery troops, he had to go through Li Ji first.

Moreover, even the cavalry that Gongsun Zan was preparing to lead to sweep through the Wuhuan settlements, in order to avoid damage to the Wu Commandery troops, Liu Yu and Gongsun Zan were not prepared to let the Wu Commandery cavalry join in.

It's just that Li Ji knows very well that real elite cavalry needs to be tempered and killed enough.

No real iron cavalry can be trained south of the Yangtze River.

The current Wu Commandery cavalry can only bully the Jiangdong people. Compared with the real Youzhou elite cavalry, even Li Ji can clearly feel the difference.

In addition, Li Ji had enough confidence in his plan, so he directly ordered Zhao Yun to temporarily join Gongsun Zan's command and listen to his orders.

It's just that Zhao Yun frowned and refused this order.

"Mr. Zikun, please forgive Yun for not being able to obey."

"Why?" Li Ji asked.

Zhao Yun cupped his hands and said.

"Before leaving Wu Commandery, the Lord once gave Yun a secret order, requiring Yun to make protecting Mr. Zikun the top priority no matter what happens. If Yun temporarily goes to suppress the bandits with General Gongsun, if Mr. Zikun encounters any danger, Yun will have no face to face the Lord's entrustment."

"Ji City is in a defensive position, and I will only stay in the city, and I have Yide by my side, how can there be any danger?" Li Ji asked back.

This made Zhao Yun a little tempted, but he still shook his head and suggested. "Since this is the case, why not let the Third General lead the cavalry to go, and let Yun protect you on the left and right."

...

Li Ji.

Li Ji was probably crazy to let Zhang Fei go with Gongsun Zan. It was not because he was worried about throwing meat buns to feed the dog, but because of Zhang Fei's recklessness and violent temper, coupled with Gongsun Zan's strong temper.

If these two people get together, I'm afraid they will fight fiercely first and cause some irreconcilable contradictions.

Only Zhao Yun's all-purpose gentle personality is the most suitable choice.

"Zilong ah..."

Li Ji said earnestly. "Looking at the generals under the Lord's command, do you know who I value most?"

"Yun, I don't know," Zhao Yun replied.

"It's you Zhao Zilong without a doubt."

Li Ji said with a face full of appreciation and commendation.

"It's just that Zilong is still young and lacks a lot of experience in commanding troops, so whether it is the Lord or I, we are still trying to entrust Zilong with heavy responsibilities, but we can only suppress our impulses for now."

"And now, this is nothing more than the best opportunity for training!"

"Brother Bogui is a veteran of Youzhou and is proficient in the way of cavalry. I need Zilong to temporarily listen to Brother Bogui's orders, and ask Brother Bogui for advice, to truly train an iron cavalry for Wu Commandery, and I also hope that Zilong can quickly grow into a cavalry commander comparable to Brother Bogui."

These words made Zhao Yun, who already respected Li Ji, feel both excited and moved.

Although Zhao Yun's status in Liu Bei's group was not low, he hadn't demonstrated strong leadership or troop training abilities, and he was still under twenty years old.

As a result, Zhao Yun usually led the only three thousand cavalrymen from Wu Commandery, but mostly he did work similar to that of a bodyguard.

But now, Li Ji saw this as an extremely good opportunity.

After hesitating again and again, Zhao Yun finally agreed and bowed.

“Thank you for your high regard, Mr. Zikun. Yun is willing to obey orders, but when Yun is unable to protect you, I hope you will be careful in all matters.” (End of Chapter)