The Black Mountain Army, which refuses to be controlled, will be used to wear them down.
Moreover, Lu Ming told Mi Heng that Bingzhou is harsh and impoverished…
And it's also vulnerable to invasion by foreign tribes.
The population is needed to fill the void in Bingzhou…
At the same time, troops must be sent out to persistently suppress these foreign tribes. Passive defense is always passive; the focus must be on turning the tide.
Pacifying the north is no easy task. It requires not only stability but also continuous development, preventing it from becoming a burden.
At least in terms of food, money, and manpower, self-sufficiency must be achieved.
Mi Heng is a shrewd man. He immediately understood that Lu Ming intended to develop Bingzhou, so he was very concerned about the integration of the Black Mountain Army.
There's a high probability he'll be put in charge of Bingzhou in the future; it's a place in dire need of rebuilding, and his presence is crucial.
Leaving a good reputation in history is more important than romantic escapades.
Zhang Yan's expression was one of surprise and uncertainty upon hearing this.
Because the Yellow Turbans' fighting strength was incomparable to that of a regular army, he couldn't possibly encircle and annihilate them.
Don't be fooled by the Black Mountain Army's claim of a million strong; that's just a bluff. Only about 100,000 are truly combat-ready. The rest are only capable in favorable circumstances; they collapse and flee in the face of adversity, making them insignificant.
"Fortune favors the bold. This journey is dangerous, but it also holds rewards.
The pacification of the north is now a certainty. If you all desire a bright future, you should consider this.
If you want to be wealthy and enjoy your later years, then you don't need to struggle anymore. But if you desire even greater riches and honor, now is your golden opportunity."
Mi Heng described the risks as minimal but the rewards as enormous, all to entice them.
The crowd looked at each other, undecided.
Finally, they all looked at Zhang Yan, wanting to see what she would choose; whatever Zhang Yan chose, they would choose.
"Since they're all seeking refuge, we definitely need to send suitable people to join them."
"Alright, sir, please explain your plan more clearly. I, Zhang Yan, am willing to lend you a hand."
Zhang Yan wasn't actually willing to take the risk, but if it was just a trial, it wouldn't hurt. It wasn't an offensive move, so the risk wasn't great.
"I'm also willing to lend you a hand, sir."
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
Many hands make light work, so Mi Heng struck while the iron was hot and explained everything.
His plan was actually quite simple: to create the illusion of internal strife…
At the same time, he would have Yu Du's men contact Yuan Shao, getting Yuan Shao to send someone to take over Black Mountain. To convince Yuan Shao, he would need to propose outrageous conditions, which would further enhance credibility.
Once Yuan Shao sent his men, they could wipe them out in one fell swoop!
A few days later.
Nanpi County, Prefectural Governor's Mansion.
Yuan Shao had already been granted the title of King of Nanpi, but his territory was actually quite small.
It was far from enough to support his large population. He had always coveted the rich lands of Ji Province, but had never been able to obtain them.
This infuriated Yuan Shao. If he could take Ji Province, his efforts to pacify the four northern provinces would be much faster.
"Father, Yu Du from Heishan has sent men, but they are Sui Gu's men.
Yu Du has been killed, and Sui Gu is furious. He wants us to cooperate from within and without to take Heishan."
Yuan Tan presented the envelope to Yuan Shao, his head bowed, avoiding eye contact.
Yuan Shao had been acting erratically lately…
Moreover, he had lost interest in women and preferred younger men, as if this was the only way to vent his pent-up frustration from being sodomized in Wuji County.
He took the envelope, glancing at his eldest son with some disgust. This son had suffered alongside him, sharing his misfortune, but he just couldn't bring himself to like him.
He opened the letter, glanced at it, and then handed it to Ju Shou beside him, saying, "You all take a look."
Yuan Shao had many strategists under his command: Ju Shou, Xu You, Guo Tu, Feng Ji, Xin Ping, Xin Pi, and others; and military generals like Zhang He, Gao Lan, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou. His army was undeniably strong.
However, his territory was too small, limiting his strategic options. He had been constantly seeking ways to conquer and seize land.
At this time, he was already planning an attack on Ji Province. If he could capture Ji Province, he could sit back and relax.
Attacking Ji Province could be divided into two methods: strategy and direct assault. The former would certainly result in minimal casualties…
The latter, however, could potentially cripple him.
Although Han Fu didn't have many capable warriors under his command, his fortified cities were more than sufficient for defense.
Therefore, Yuan Shao preferred to devise a plan, hoping Han Fu would voluntarily relinquish the position, rather than launch a direct attack.
Otherwise, even if they captured it, it would be a devastating blow, potentially requiring several years of recovery—a huge waste of time.
The advice was circulated among the officials, who all understood the situation.
"What do you all think?" Yuan Shao hesitated…
He was more inclined to send troops.
"My lord, we must not attack Heishan.
The current situation is unclear, and attacking Heishan risks being attacked from both sides.
We must concentrate our forces and take Ji Province.
Once we take Ji Province, Heishan will fall without a fight.
We only need to send a small force to garrison the pass; no matter how large the Heishan army is, they won't be able to maneuver effectively."
Ju Shou was the first to offer his opinion, demonstrating his selfless dedication to the public good.
Furthermore, he believed that the heir to the throne should be chosen from among the legitimate sons, not those of concubines—a rigid view, but undeniably loyal…
And a very capable strategist.
This greatly displeased Guo Tu and Feng Ji. Yuan Shao had three sons, now enfeoffed as kings, yet no heir had been appointed. What if Yuan Shao were to die?
Then, to whom should the throne be passed?
Moreover, investing in the heir was investing in the future.
Even though Yuan Shao's current territory wasn't large, the legacy of four generations of high-ranking officials was undeniable; he could easily take over local areas—a convenient natural resource!
They were all protégés of the Yuan family; now that the head of the Yuan family had arrived, they would certainly pledge their loyalty.
As for Lu Ming, he only occupied Guanzhong. Even if he had crossed the pass, Emperor Xian of Han would be there to stop him; what was there to fear?
"That's not quite right. If we can take Black Mountain, we'll gain access to its resources.
With numerical superiority, we can force Han Fu to relinquish his position to our lord.
This is subduing the enemy without a fight. Han Fu is inherently timid. I've heard that even his chief secretary, the renowned scholar Tian Feng from Hebei, resigned and returned home, unable to tolerate his cowardice.
What is there to fear from a mere Han Fu?"
Guo Tu is nothing but a troublemaker; none of his ideas are reliable.