Chapter 5: The Best Strategy is to Win Hearts

Moreover, with great power in one's hands, if one truly desires a certain official position, one can simply ask for it directly; can the Son of Heaven refuse?

What is the situation?

In that case, what is the need for a military merit book

He had been waiting at the foot of the slope, and although he was unclear about what the Son of Heaven and Yang Feng had discussed, he clearly observed Yang Feng's haughty arrival and his discreet departure.

The initial battle was victorious, but the real fight has just begun

Yang Feng's simplicity of mind does not imply that others are similarly simple. If he merely uses some ethereal fantasies to deceive Yang Feng, he will eventually be seen through, and at that point, Yang Feng will no longer believe him

The people of Liangzhou are fickle; if Yang Ding were to surrender to Li Jue and Guo Si, and then turn around to attack us, it would be disastrous

The emperor indeed has a far-reaching vision; such dangers do not merely exist, but are highly probable

Yang Feng was determined to curry favor with the Yang family of Hongnong, yet he did not realize that he could, just like his ancestor Yang Xi from the Yang family of Hongnong, establish his own household through military achievements

By what means did the Son of Heaven effortlessly subdue such a rebellious warrior?

Previously, during the battle against Guo Si, he felt that Yang Ding was inadequate and that it was entirely due to his own efforts in combat that Guo Si was repelled. If Yang Ding were to lead troops alone to intercept Li Jue and Guo Si, how much confidence could he possibly have

Yang Feng, who is brave but lacks strategy, is easily deceived, while the ministers who believe they hold the truth are not so easy to deal with

Following this line of thought, Yang Feng pondered carefully and could not help but feel a deep sense of fear

Yang Feng had no time to think much and laid out the battle plan one by one

Deng Quan pondered for a moment. "There are more than 130 elite soldiers in the valley, and over 200 in the guard."

If he hadn't mentioned it, I would not have known that I had such a good opportunity

For instance, Liu Xie originally focused solely on returning to Luoyang, completely overlooking the value of Hedong and Bingzhou

Liu Xie finally returned to the main topic, and Yang Feng immediately became spirited. "Your Majesty, I have made all the necessary preparations. I await Your Majesty's decree, and I will personally lead the troops to eliminate the treacherous minister Duan Wei, to restore justice and clarity."

Yang Feng felt a wave of regret, sensing that he had missed out on a fortune of 100 million.

After a moment of silence, Liu Xie slowly turned around and quietly looked at Deng Quan. "Deng Qing, how many Tiger Ben soldiers are there at the foot of the hill, and how many are in the guard?"

He was once a former subordinate of Li Jue and had recently betrayed him. If Li Jue were to come to battle, it would undoubtedly be a fierce fight, and given that Li Jue holds grudges, he would likely target him specifically, disregarding Yang Ding and Dong Cheng.

Having courage without strategy is the label of Yang Feng, and it is no secret

Considering Yang Feng's background, this seems to be his usual practice

Your Majesty

Yang Feng hesitated for a moment, flexing his fingers, contemplating whether to be bold and raise five fingers, or to be modest and raise three fingers

Inspired by Liu Xie, Yang Feng became immersed in the fantasies of securing a wife and raising children, as well as bringing glory to his ancestors, to the point of being unable to extricate himself, feeling as happy as a fool, and it took him quite a while to regain his composure

"Your Majesty, is this plan... not appropriate?" Yang Feng asked cautiously

"There is no need for excessive formalities, General." Liu Xie said calmly, gesturing for Yang Feng to forgo the formalities. "A mountain that rises a thousand fathoms begins with a single grain of soil. A river that flows for ten thousand miles starts from a single drop. If the General wishes to achieve great accomplishments, he must begin with the small and the immediate, and must not act recklessly, lest he waste his future prospects."

In the past, upon seeing Liu Xie’s expression, Yang Feng would merely spit and say, "Your Majesty, what do you understand?" However, having received guidance from Liu Xie, he now hopes to open doors and establish a household, even placing his hopes of achieving immortality on Liu Xie, and naturally, he does not dare to be so presumptuous.

With a hint of curiosity, Deng Quanden ascended the plateau and approached Liu Xie, clasping his hands in salute.

In warfare, it is a matter of life and death, and one must think thrice before acting. You should reconsider, there is no need to rush into a decision. Liu Xie did not intend to give Yang Feng an answer immediately, but rather urged him to reflect further and recognize the situation. In the Battle of Xinfeng, the general has made contributions; which brave warriors under your command have achieved merit and are to be rewarded? Has the military merit book been prepared?

Before deciding to use Yang Feng as a breakthrough point, he made thorough preparations to ensure that no flaws could be found.

Liu Xie let out a light sigh

Yang Feng, believing himself to be exceptionally brave and having rendered service in rescuing the emperor, when has he ever been so humble and courteous?

Your Majesty, please take care. I shall return to the camp to reflect and consider matters thoroughly before coming to see you again

If Yang Feng leads a hundred riders to attack the imperial carriage, can the Tiger Ben and Feather Forest troops stop him

What if Guo Si and Li Jue arrive?

When the emperor falls into misfortune, with no wealth to spare, relying on Duan Wei's contributions even for meals, what rewards can be given

He does not use his own brain; Liu Xie does not mind sharing a little burden for him, envisioning a path that has never been considered before

Deng Quan stood at the foot of the plateau, watching Yang Feng bow to the emperor on the plateau, his mouth agape, nearly dropping his jaw to the ground

I have long heard that although the Son of Heaven is young, he is exceptionally gifted; today I have finally witnessed it.

Liu Xie slightly nodded his head and waved his hand lightly, as if the clouds were thin and the wind was gentle

This is my benefactor, and I must serve him well and protect him thoroughly

Thanks to Your Majesty's reminder, otherwise defeat would have been inevitable, and a bright future would have been entirely cast into the Yellow River

Yang Feng's eyebrows twitched, revealing an unmistakable tension in his eyes. He immediately clenched his hand into a fist, not daring to expose even a single finger.

Even if he currently considers himself a general holding significant military power, indispensable to the court.

He felt an overwhelming sense of shame and reluctantly descended. Once he mounted the horse at the foot of the hill, he steadied himself and glanced once more at the majestic figure of the emperor on the slope, raising his hands in reverence and bowing respectfully.

Yang Feng felt delighted in his heart, turned the horse's head, and galloped towards the main camp, leaving a trail of dust behind.

"Your Majesty speaks truly, Your Majesty speaks truly," Yang Feng quickly replied. "Your Majesty, whatever you say should be done, I shall obey your command."

General, according to this plan, what are your chances of success?

Your Majesty, what should I do?" Yang Feng's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat

Especially the bow he made before leaving, which nearly caused him to bite his tongue off

Yang Feng's back broke out in a layer of cold sweat, a chill surged straight to the back of his head, and his fists clenched tightly, making a cracking sound.

Yang Feng scratched his head; he truly had not considered these matters

In the event that, I say in the event that, Yang Ding's military operations are unsuccessful, how will the general cope when faced with enemies on both fronts?

Of course, if he truly possessed that level of intelligence, Liu Xie would not have listed him as the first target of deception

Liu Xie stood motionless, watching Yang Feng's receding figure

The vast majority of people have cognitive blind spots

Liu Xie did not express his opinion and asked Yang Feng to repeat the battle plan

Trust is like a mirror; once broken, it is difficult to restore to its original form

"Your Majesty is wise." Yang Feng once again clasped his hands in gratitude and performed a deep bow of ninety degrees. Although his demeanor was still somewhat presumptuous, it was accompanied by a greater sense of heartfelt respect

"In military affairs, rewards and punishments must be clear. General, please report promptly." Liu Xie waved his sleeve, signaling to Yang Feng that he could leave. Between his slightly furrowed brows, there was a hint of subtle disappointment.

There is not a shred of tactical arrangement in this; it is a standard bandit style, rushing in all at once and striking chaotically

Liu Xie felt delighted in his heart, yet he did not dare to be careless

Liu Xie listened in silence, his brow slightly furrowed.

Thinking that I might continue the unfinished business of the great virtuous teacher and become the leader of a million Yellow Turbans, I felt even more elated, unaware of the implications.

Even if he is merely a keyboard military strategist, and even if the real Liu Xie has never commanded a battle, he can still recognize that Yang Feng's battle plan is a pile of rubbish. No wonder they historically ended up bruised and battered in front of Duan Wei, ultimately being taken away by Li Jue and Guo Si.

The first step of the plan is to prevent Yang Feng from being reckless, at least until he establishes contact with the Baibo Army.

At this very moment, however, he did not dare to be so reckless and could only force a smile

"The general just mentioned plans to attack Duan Wei?" Liu Xie said leisurely