The flowing text on the light screen drifted past like boats on water.
There was a lot of information, yet strangely, most of it was already expected.
Liu Bei and Kongming exchanged a glance.
As expected.
On the map displayed by the light screen, it was clear that in this very year, both Cao Cao and Liu Bei had been concentrating their forces toward Hanzhong.
At this moment, Sun Quan commanded a force of one hundred thousand. With such strength, there was nowhere under Heaven he could not go.
This should have been the perfect time to expand his foundation.
And yet...
Liu Bei suddenly laughed to himself.
"Jiangdong's ten-thousand-generation foundation… broken by eight hundred men?"
The generals, meanwhile, were all staring intently at the light screen, discussing in low voices.
They had no choice but to take this seriously.
This was Zhang Liao.
The same Zhang Liao later ranked among the famed four great generals of the Han as evaluated in the Tang dynasty.
And the feat of eight hundred defeating one hundred thousand was simply too unreal.
For generals, the most reliable form of warfare had always been superiority in numbers, the strong crushing the weak.
Which was exactly why victories where the weak overcame the strong shone so brilliantly.
Mi Zhu frowned in curiosity.
"From the way it sounds, Sun Quan didn't attack Hefei just once? Why is he so fixated on that place?"
The generals all understood the reasoning.
Huang Zhong spoke:
"He attacked once last year already. At that time, riding on the momentum of victory at Chibi, Sun Quan advanced on Hefei and besieged it for over three months. But for some reason, he eventually withdrew, burning his camps as he left."
"As for Hefei itself…"
He paused, then continued:
"Jiangdong's strength lies in naval forces, not infantry or cavalry. Transporting supplies by water is far superior to land routes."
The implication was obvious.
March over land, and you get beaten.
Huang Zhong continued, now clearly shifting his perspective toward grand strategy.
"In order to advance from Jiangdong into the Central Plains, there are only a few viable routes."
He pointed at the map.
"One route is north along the Han River, passing Xiangfan, then advancing through Nan Commandery into the Central Plains. But this requires holding Xiangfan and fighting Cao forces at Wancheng. This is the worst option."
This was the route Huang Zhong knew best.
Zhang Fei pointed at another path.
"There's another one. From Jiangdu, follow the Zhongdu waterway straight north and you can reach Xuzhou. I think that direction could work too."
Guan Yu, who had long studied naval warfare, spoke last.
"The final route is Hefei."
"From Ruxu, moving north to Chaohu, you have a base for naval deployment close to Hefei. Once Hefei is taken, you can follow the Fei River north and threaten Shouchun."
"And if Shouchun falls, you control the Huai River. From there, you can move freely across the Central Plains."
"From Shouchun, following the Ying River leads directly to Xudu. Using the Huai and turning into the Guo River, you can enter the Yellow River and threaten Ye."
He concluded calmly:
"Of the three routes, Nan Commandery is only half a water route and heavily defended beyond Xiangfan. It is the worst option."
"The Zhongdu waterway is unstable and often silted. Even after reaching Xuzhou, you must still fight in open terrain."
"Only Hefei offers the best path. Take Hefei, threaten Shouchun."
"Hold Shouchun, control the Huai, and you can contend for all under Heaven."
Kongming clapped his hands and laughed.
"Well said!"
His admiration for Guan Yu deepened further.
Just from this understanding of naval warfare, it was clear how much effort Guan Yu had invested into it.
"As expected of my second brother!" Zhang Fei grinned proudly.
"As expected of my second brother," Liu Bei echoed, equally pleased.
In his heart, Liu Bei could not help but think:
If Sun Quan had the talent of my second brother, how could he possibly be defeated by eight hundred men and become a laughingstock for future generations?
The mocking tone within the text on the light screen was unmistakable.
Even Liu Bei could see it clearly.
For a brief moment, an absurd thought crossed his mind.
What if Zhou Yu and Sun Quan were dragged here to read this?
Zhou Gongjin might cough blood on the spot from sheer humiliation.
Sun Quan might wish for death out of shame and go plead in the underworld for his elder brother Sun Ce to return.
The mention of "high-speed rail" once again made Liu Bei itch with curiosity.
He really wanted it.
But how?
As for the evaluation from Li Shimin, Liu Bei understood it well.
It came from the Zuo Zhuan, later cited by Sima Xiangru, criticizing both sides as being at fault.
Liu Bei scoffed inwardly.
The fault lay in neither side considering the other's interests.
But that was absurd.
He and Sun Quan were not brothers. Even their so-called marriage alliance had ulterior motives.
Why should they consider each other?
---
[Lightscreen]
[In the eighth month, Sun Quan personally led his army north along the Ruxu waterway, claiming a force of one hundred thousand, passing Chaohu and arriving beneath the walls of Hefei.
Records from the Wu side are vague due to their defeat, but a rough reconstruction gives the following lineup:
Sun Quan personally commanded, with Lü Meng, Gan Ning, He Qi, Jiang Qin, Xu Sheng, Chen Wu, Ling Tong, Pan Zhang, Song Qian, and Ding Feng under him.
Defending Hefei were Xue Ti as Protector, and the generals Zhang Liao, Yue Jin, and Li Dian. Though not formally ranked, Zhang Liao was effectively in command.
The defenders numbered only seven thousand, all personally selected by Cao Cao as bold, first-to-charge warriors.
Strategically, Hefei was not the ultimate objective. Shouchun was the real key to controlling the Huai River.
Hefei served as a forward defense line, buying time and depth for Shouchun, allowing Cao Cao to avoid stationing heavy forces there and conserve resources.
Sun Quan, meanwhile, saw that Cao Cao's main army was tied up in Hanzhong dealing with Zhang Lu, leaving no time or capacity to reinforce Hefei or Shouchun.
Before departing, Cao Cao left Xue Ti a sealed order labeled: "Open when the enemy arrives."
When Sun Quan's forces appeared, Xue Ti opened it.
Inside was written:
"If Sun Quan arrives, Generals Zhang and Li shall engage. General Yue Jin shall defend. The Protector must not fight."]
---
Jiang Wan, who had been copying everything down, looked up in confusion.
"They're… going to fight?"
"Facing one hundred thousand with only seven thousand, shouldn't they hold the city and wait for reinforcements?"
Zhang Fei laughed.
"Reinforcements? Didn't you hear? Cao Cao's already in Hanzhong. Where would reinforcements come from?"
"And Jiangdong's troops are led by aristocrats. Why wouldn't they dare fight them?"
After everything the light screen had revealed, everyone had come to a clear understanding of Jiangdong's forces.
On water, their navy was elite.
But on land, in close combat, they were far inferior.
Guan Yu nodded.
"With a force of one hundred thousand made up of mixed troops and lax discipline, the key is to strike before they fully deploy."
"Just like attacking mid-crossing."
"Lead elite troops into their formation before it stabilizes."
"Disrupt their morale, break their ranks, shatter their spirit."
"Only then can the city be held."
History proved them right.
---
[Lightscreen]
[Faced with Cao Cao's order to engage, Zhang Liao, Yue Jin, and Li Dian looked at one another.
Finally, Zhang Liao made the decision.
"Strike before they fully assemble. Break their momentum and steady our men. Victory or defeat rests on this battle. Why hesitate?"
That very night, he selected volunteers.
Eight hundred men answered the call.
They slaughtered cattle and feasted the troops.
Zhang Liao made his decision.
Eight hundred men—follow me to claim merit.]
[Server Chat Log]
[ One_Blade_One_Jar : "The hype train is leaving the station! Eight hundred vs. 100k? This is some cinematic masterpiece energy right here." ]
[ Drifting_Cloud_Swordsman : "Imagine being one of those 800 guys. Boss Zhang just kills a cow, hands you a steak, and says 'We're jumping the 100,000 guys next door.' I'd be shaking." ]
[ Old_Man_At_The_Tavern : "Sun Quan really thought he was doing something. Bro, you have ten generals and 100k men, just walk around the city? Why are you like this?" ]
[ Hidden_Dragon_Scholar : "Zhang Liao being listed first in the records is basically Cao Cao's way of saying: 'Zhang Liao is the carry, everyone else please support.'" ]
[ Third_Junior_Brother : "POV: You're Sun Quan and you see one guy and 800 friends charging at you while you're still trying to find your shoes." ]
[ Ox_In_The_Underworld : "The cow being slaughtered for the feast: 'Wait, why am I the only one losing in this strategy?'" ]
[ Gold_Coin_Gambler : "Zhang Liao going all in on an 800-man stack. This is the ultimate high-risk, high-reward play. Diamond hands only." ]
[ Nameless_Sect_Leader : "Sun Quan has ten generals but Zhang Liao has 'Main Character' armor. It's over." ]
[ The_Hermit_Beneath_The_Pine : "Cao Cao's order 'Open when the rebels arrive' is the ultimate 'In case of emergency, break glass' meme." ]
[One_Slashsword: "Zhang Liao: Hold my wine." ]
[Drive_between grass: "Nanjing to Hefei by high-speed rail: 60 minutes. Sun Quan spent ten years trying to get there and earned lifelong PTSD instead." ]
[Li Shimin: "After the Xiang River Pact, Liu Bei lost—and Sun Quan gained nothing." ]
[The_Failed_Scholar: "Imagine being King of Wu and your primary historical legacy is: 'The guy Zhang Liao bullied.'"