Sun Ce read the two documents and handed them back.

Pang Tong came over, handed Sun Ce a cup of fruit pulp, then sat down aside, and formed a circle with Sun Ce and Guo Jia. Sun Yi and Lu Yi carried the sand table, spread the sand table on the ground, and inserted the small flags representing different forces in the corresponding position.

Sun Ce stared at the sand table and remained silent.

The emperor was in charge of Guanzhong, Cao Cao entered Yizhou, and seized Hanzhong. Liu Yu was beheaded by Gongsun Zan, and Youzhou was in fierce battle. The emperor sent Zhang Ze to Youzhou. If he could get what he wanted, the strength of the court would be expanded. After surviving this famine, the court would have a chance to turn the tables.

At least that seems to them.

There is money and food in the southeast, but no horses. This is the fatal weakness of the southern regime. In the time of cold weapons, there is no sufficient resources for war horses, which means that they are inherently insufficient. The reason why the Northern Song Dynasty was rich but not strong was that it was first abused by Liao and Western Xia, and then abused by Jin, until the Jingkang shame was that there was a problem with the national policy of using culture to control military affairs, and it was also the loss of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun that caused the Northern Song Dynasty to control the horse resources in the hands of the enemy and could not take the initiative on the battlefield.

"Whose suggestions are this? I'm very impressed." Sun Ce sighed deeply.

"The emperor was digging wild vegetables in Nanshan for summer and most of the officials stayed in Chang'an. We could not get detailed information and only knew the results. However, before this edict came out, the minister Liu Ye went to Situ's Mansion, and later rushed to Nanshan. Youzhou was engaged in Tianchou and walked with him. Judging from various signs, Liu Ye played a role in it. Shi Sun Rui's attitude changed. He rushed to Lantian to receive food and avoided Wang Yun."

When it comes to Liu Ye, Sun Ce has a headache. There is no doubt that Liu Ye was one of the most outstanding strategists in the Three Kingdoms era. In history books, he was a synonym with Guo Jia and Cheng Yu, and he always won the tricks. However, he was a member of the Liu clan, Cao Cao and Cao Pi trusted him far less than Guo Jia, which led to Liu Ye's strategy being often not implemented. If Cao Cao trusted Liu Ye like Guo Jia, Liu Bei would probably not be able to separatist Yizhou. He left a comment in history that he had no reputation for his talent because he did not hand over with people at the time, but even those who did not like him could not deny his talent.

Now, Liu Ye has become the confidant of the emperor, and is even more like a fish in water than following Cao Cao.

Does this count as shooting himself in the foot? Even if he is mentally prepared, Sun Ce often feels depressed. Liu Ye, Liu Ba, you hurt me. One ran away from my territory, and the other ignored his father's friendship and insisted on going to Chang'an, just because you are both surnamed Liu?

"Can Zhang Ze stabilize Youzhou?"

"It's very likely." Guo Jia smiled. "In the long run, this is not good for us. However, from the current situation, the most uncomfortable thing is Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao is determined to take Youzhou and control the source of war horses. Now that the court sends Zhang Ze to Youzhou, he will definitely not give up. Therefore, we must consider the possibility of Yuan Shao temporarily giving up going south and fighting for Youzhou." Guo Jia planted a small flag representing the court in Youzhou, and moved the small flag representing Yuan Shao north. "Youzhou will usher in a melee, and we may be able to start in advance and arrange people to participate."

Sun Ce stared at the sand table without saying a word. He had originally planned to arrange Taishi Ci to enter Youzhou, but the time was not yet ripe. Qing Xu had not obtained it yet. He hurriedly arranged Taishi Ci to enter Youzhou and could only rely on sea transportation to provide supplies. This was equivalent to going deep into the army and placing his hopes on Taishi Ci alone. This was too difficult. If he could decide the outcome in a short time, he could take a risk, and a long-term stalemate, and there was almost no possibility of success in taking the risk.

"Let the military advisers deduce it and see if we can support it."

Guo Jia blinked and wanted to speak but stopped. Sun Ce said this, which was equivalent to rejecting his opinion. Missing this opportunity for melee, it would be difficult for Zhang Ze or Yuan Shao to gain a foothold in Youzhou.

Pang Tong said slowly: "Sacrifice, I don't agree with your opinion."

"Why?"

"Youzhou is indeed very important to us, but the weaknesses of Youzhou itself are also very obvious. Without sufficient food support, Youzhou cannot be self-sufficient. Liu Yu was able to stabilize Youzhou because he had achieved success in military farming, and secondly, he stopped the province and stationed troops, increased revenue and reduced expenditure, and worked together with a two-pronged approach. Now that wars are on the rise, the military farming will be damaged, but the number of troops raised has increased greatly. Without external support, Youzhou cannot last long. Even if Zhang Ze can stabilize Youzhou, can the court provide him with money and food support? In my opinion, instead of crossing the sea to fight for Youzhou, it is better to take advantage of Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao's time to fight for Qingzhou."

Sun Ce thought for a while and chuckled: "Shi Yuan, you are a strategy of fighting far and near."

Pang Tong also smiled. "General, I think Youzhou is difficult to swallow, but Qingzhou can be eaten. In the past, the imperial court had to cut 200 million yuan from Qingzhou and Jizhou to replenish Youzhou every year. If we could occupy Qingzhou, even if Yuan Shao defeated Zhang Ze and occupied Youzhou, Jizhou would independently bear the 200 million yuan expenditure. It would be difficult to sustain over time. For us, occupying Qingzhou, we could establish a port in Qingzhou, and the navy had a supply point, which would be more effective."

Sun Ce felt it was reasonable, but he did not immediately express his attitude. "Shi Yuan, you also lead some military plans to deduce it to see which plan is more secure. Then, we should combine everyone's opinions and choose good and follow them. We should pay filial piety, what do you think?"

Guo Jia smiled and said, "Okay, I also think that Shi Yuan's plan has a certain reason to consider from an economic perspective and focus on the long term." He looked at Pang Tong. "Have you met your fellow brother? This plan sounds like a little bit of his shadow."

Pang Tong smiled and bowed, "The sacrificial wine is so wise that I can't hide anything from you. This time I went to Nanyang and passed by Yingchuan. I met my fellow brother and talked a lot. He was writing a book called "Explanation of Salt and Iron Theory". I read it and I have gained some of it."

"He has been writing this book for almost three or four years, and he has finally finished it?"

"I just completed the first draft and amended it." Pang Tong smiled and said, "I have to thank Jijiu for his help if I can write the first draft so quickly. If it weren't for the scholars of Yingchuan to take office one after another and share his pressure, he would not have finished writing this book for another ten years. Especially the county magistrate Zao Zhi, who is very knowledgeable about military farming and has helped a lot. Some of the contents of this "Salt and Iron Theory" were written by him personally. My colleague said that he must be listed as the author when printing in the future, and share honor and disgrace."

Guo Jia smiled. "So, your elder brother, the prefect of Yingchuan, has been stable. If you go further in the future, you can consider Henan Yin in the next step. It is more than enough to be a senior manager in the future."

"Thank you Ji Yan for the sake of Ji Ji. If there is really one day, I will thank you again."

The two looked at each other and laughed. Sun Ce also laughed. The fact that Pang Shanmin was able to stabilize Yingchuan and absorb Yingchuan scholars into the officialdom shows that his talent policy has begun to show results. As a major center of the Ru Yingshen Group, some scholars are willing to cooperate with him, at least not reject him. This is a good progress.

Pang Tong turned around and said to Sun Ce: "General, in addition to Guo Jijiu, there is another person who has helped a lot. I hope the general can respond."

"who?"
Chapter completed!