Chapter 248: What if a person dies and is praised for eternity? Disgusted Old Liu? The shackles are just removed, and Shouchun is broken quickly!

are you crazy?
Lu Bu looked at Gao Shun in horror, and these three words popped into his mind at the first moment.

It was humiliating enough for me, the best general in the world, to have to go to Xuzhou and seek refuge with Liu Bei.

Now you want me to go back to the palace and join Liu Bei for the second time?
No, it’s not surrendering, but surrendering!

A hundred times more humiliating!
"Gao Boping, what kind of bad idea is this?"

"Who am I to make you surrender to that big-eared thief?"

"Do you want me to be laughed at by the world?"

Lu Bu was furious and roared and questioned Gao Shun.

Gao Shun was sprayed with spit all over his face, so he could only say with a bitter face:

"Didn't Marquis Wen endure humiliation and surrender to Yuan Shu in order to make a comeback?"

"A real man can bend and stretch. Shun believes that since Wen Hou can surrender to Yuan Shu, why can't he surrender to Liu——"

Before Gao Shun could finish, Lu Bu interrupted him with a wave of his hand and said sternly:

"The Yuan family has three dukes in four generations. Yuan Shu is the eldest son of the Yuan family. What a status and position this person holds. Let alone surrendering to Yuan Shu, even if I acknowledge Yuan Shu as my adoptive father, it would not be considered a disgrace!"

"Who is that big-eared thief? He is just a weaver and shoe seller. Is he worthy of me to bow my head and kneel before him and humbly beg for surrender?"

Gao Shun was speechless and was rendered speechless.

What Lu Bu said has been clear enough. There is no shame in surrendering. The key is to whom you surrender.

Only someone with a higher status than Lu Bu is worthy of his surrender.

Even though Yuan Shu is denounced as a traitor to the Han Dynasty by the people of the world, his identity as the legitimate son of the Yuan family is there, and it is not shameful for me, Lu Bu, to surrender to him.

You, Liu Bei, are just a straw sandal seller, and your starting point is even lower than mine, Lu Bu. Are you worthy enough for me to surrender?
As for those years, I only brought my troops to join you, and was attached to you, Liu Bei, as a guest official, not surrendering to you.

In the current situation, there is no chance for him to be a guest official. Naturally, he can only face Liu Bei as a surrendered minister.

I can't afford to lose this person.

"Marquis Wen is right. Bo Ping, this plan of yours is indeed a very bad one."

"With a status like Marquis Wen, if he were to beg Liu Bei for surrender, he would be laughed at by the world and become a laughing stock in history books for all eternity."

Chen Gong also stood up and rejected Gao Shun's suggestion, saying meaningfully:
"Moreover, the Liu Bei of today is no longer the Liu Bei who abused his benevolence and justice and was immature in political schemes when he was in Xuzhou."

"This person now possesses both the kingly way and the tyrannical way. He can practice benevolence and justice, and can kill decisively."

"Sun Ce, Yuan Shu, and Sun Quan are all living examples!"

"If Wen Hou surrenders to Liu Bei now, he will never show mercy and will definitely kill Wen Hou and eliminate his roots to prevent future troubles."

"At that time, the army of Wen Hou had already been handed over. If I go to meet Liu Bei alone, even if I have the best martial arts in the world, it will be useless. I can only be like a fish on a chopping board, allowing Liu Bei to slaughter me!"

The more Lu Bu listened, the more horrified he became. He shuddered violently and glared at Gao Shun again with an angry look.

Gao Shun shuddered, realizing that he was indeed wishful thinking and had given Lu Bu a bad idea. He could only lower his head in shame and dared not say another word.

"Gongtai, do you have a good idea to turn this situation around?"

Lu Bu put away the anger on his face, and when he turned his gaze to Chen Gong, his eyes showed that he was humbly seeking advice.

Chen Gong sighed softly and said with a hint of bitterness:
"At this point, there is no good way to turn the situation around, but Gong has come up with three strategies, the best, the middle and the worst. I still need to ask Lord Wen for his decision."

Lu Bu was overjoyed and asked Chen Gong what three strategies he had.

"The worst option is to do as Gao Boping said, to beg for surrender to Liu Bei, hoping that Liu Bei will show mercy and spare Marquis Wen's life."

"The middle strategy is to continue to defend Shouchun, hoping to wait until Yuan Shao defeats Cao Cao and leads his troops south to rescue us."

"As for the best strategy, it is to take advantage of the fact that the army's morale has not yet collapsed, and Marquis Wen will lead us to break out with all our strength and go north to surrender to Yuan Shao."

"Then I will rely on Yuan Shao's strength and hope to make a comeback in the future."

Chen Gong stated his so-called three strategies in a solemn tone.

However, the more Lu Bu listened, the darker his expression became. His original anticipation and expectation gradually turned into disappointment.

Just as Chen Gong said, these so-called three strategies of upper, middle and lower are not at all brilliant strategies to reverse the predicament, they are just the tallest among the short ones.

"We have just discussed the worst plan. How can I kneel down and beg for surrender to that big-eared thief? I can't be a fish on his chopping board and let him slaughter me!"

"As for the best strategy, let alone the fact that breaking out is a life-threatening situation, even if we do break out, I will still be like a stray dog ​​and rely on Yuan Shao."

"Even if Yuan Shao doesn't kill me, he will definitely keep me under surveillance and control, and will never give me another chance to rise again."

"This is not the best strategy at all. It is just like surrendering to the big-eared thief. Both are bad strategies."

After Lu Bu decisively rejected both strategies, his expression softened and he said:

"As for the middle strategy you mentioned, I think it is the best strategy."

"I have 10,000 elite soldiers under my command, and I have Shouchun as a strong city to rely on. I can completely resist the attack of the big-eared thieves. I have a chance to hold out until Yuan Shao defeats Cao Cao and moves south."

"By then, I will have both soldiers and territory, so I won't have to rely on Yuan Shao anymore, and I will have room to bargain with that old man!"

The more Lu Bu spoke, the more confident he became, and his gloomy face gradually showed some light.

As soon as he finished speaking, Gao Shun couldn't help but say:

"Marquis Wen, in my opinion, Liu Bei had no intention of attacking Shouchun. He calculated that I was short of food and grass, and planned to besiege us until the day when our food and grass ran out."

"Even if we change from a large-scale to a small-scale one, our food and grass will only be enough to support us for a month at most. In just one month, can we really wait for Yuan Shao to defeat Cao Cao and lead his troops south to rescue us?"

Lu Bu was suddenly awakened and shuddered. The confidence that had just appeared on his face was shattered in an instant.

"You are right to remind us that food and fodder are of vital importance!"

"How hateful! I can only blame that fool Yuan Shu for exhausting all resources in Huainan. When I became the ruler of Huainan, I was unable to collect much food and grass!"

"Yuan Shu, you stupid old thief~~"

Lu Bu paced in the hall, muttering to himself that he blamed Yuan Shu.

"Ahem, if Marquis Wen is determined to hold on to Shouchun, Gong does have a plan. Perhaps we can raise some more food and fodder so that we can survive for a few more months."

Chen Gong suddenly stroked his thin beard and said in a playful tone.

Lu Bu was shocked, and instantly overjoyed, and asked hurriedly:
"What clever plan did Gongtai have to raise food for several more months?"

Chen Gong stood up, slowly walked to the door of the hall, raised his hand and pointed outside:
"Although there is not much food left in our treasury, Lord Wen, don't forget that there are still tens of thousands of people in Shouchun." "It is not difficult to raise two or three months of food and grass by making the people suffer."

Lu Bu looked outside the hall door, stunned at first, then he suddenly realized.

Chen Gong was teaching him to rob the stored grain of the people of Shouchun.

There are tens of thousands of people in this city, and every family has a few stones of rice hidden away. It is common for wealthy families to have dozens of stones of rice hidden away, and it is not uncommon for powerful families to have hundreds of stones of rice hidden away.

If all of it were forcibly collected, adding hundreds of thousands of shi of grain to the granary should not be a problem.

"Okay, okay, Gongtai, this is a brilliant plan."

"I have defended Shouchun for the people of the city and protected them from the butcher knife of the big-eared bandits. At this critical moment, it is time for them to shed some blood and repay me."

Lu Bu suddenly understood and readily accepted Chen Gong's suggestion.

Gao Shun frowned and reminded:
"Marquis Wen, although Mr. Gongtai's plan can alleviate the food and grass needs of our army, if the people's food and grass are forcibly requisitioned, what will they eat?"

"If the siege lasts for several months, won't all the people in the city starve to death?"

"Even if Marquis Wen holds on to Shouchun, he will lose the support of the people of Shouchun and Huainan."

Lu Bu waved his hand and snorted disdainfully:
"People's hearts mean nothing. If I die, what good will it do even if I am praised for eternity?"

"As long as I am alive and I defend Shouchun, I will still be the lord of Huainan!"

"No matter how much they hate me, they still have to serve me as their Lord and be my subjects!"

Gao Shun was left speechless by Lu Bu's domineering answer.

After a while, Gao Shun had no choice but to say:

"But what if the tens of thousands of people in this city can't stand the hunger and rise up in rebellion?"

Lu Bu was shocked, and the domineering look on his face immediately turned into a bit of fear.

There are tens of thousands of people here. If they start to riot, Shouchun will surely be in chaos.

If Liu Bei took advantage of the situation to attack the city again at that time, even though he had no shortage of food and grass, Shouchun would still be at risk of being captured.

"Gongtai, Bo Ping's concerns are not without reason."

Lu Bu was at his wits' end and could only look at Chen Gong again.

Chen Gong smiled coldly and said disapprovingly:
"Don't worry, Lord Wen. Gong has his own way to raise food and grass, and solve the hidden danger of the people in the city causing chaos."

Lu Bu was overjoyed and waited with wide eyes for Chen Gong's brilliant plan.

Chen Gong raised his hand and pointed outside the city again:
"Doesn't Liu Bei claim to be kind and righteous? Then we can just dump these tens of thousands of bags on Liu Bei..."

Lu Bu looked blank.

...

Two days later, Liuying, south of the city.

Inside the Chinese army's tent.

Liu Bei was riding side by side with Xiao Fang, inspecting the camps and personally checking the progress of the construction of the encircled camps.

The sound of horse hooves rang out, and Jiang Qin came galloping over, shouting:
"My lord, there is something going on at Shouchun South Gate. Please go up to the watchtower immediately!"

There was a gleam in Liu Bei's eyes.

Is there something going on at the South Gate?
Could it be that Lu Bu couldn't stand the siege anymore and wanted to lead his troops to break out?
That’s great, it’s exactly what I want.

Liu Bei immediately mounted his horse and climbed up a nearby watchtower.

Xiao Fang, Guan Yu and other generals also followed.

Old Liu climbed up the watchtower and looked down from a high vantage point. The surprise on his face turned into confusion.

There was indeed a large group of people pouring out of the south gate of Shouchun, but they were not soldiers of Lu's army, but thousands of civilians.

There were men and women, old and young, women and children, all coming out crying with their families.

There were still soldiers of Lu's army on the top of the city wall, who shouted at them loudly and threatened them with bows and crossbows, and forced them out.

"Jinglue, what do you think Lu Bu is doing?"

Liu Bei looked back at Xiao Fang with surprise and confusion.

Xiao Fang looked at it for a moment and sneered:

"If Fang's guess is correct, this must be that Lu Bu robbed the people of Shouchun of their stored food to use as his military supplies."

"He robbed the people of their food reserves, and fearing that they would starve and rebel, he simply drove these tens of thousands of people out of the city, leaving these tens of thousands of mouths to feed the lord."

Liu Bei suddenly realized what Lu Bu meant and couldn't help but frown, with a look of disgust on his face.

"These four slaves are really vicious wolves. Not only did they rob the people of their own food and grass, but they also drove them out of their homes. They are really despicable and hateful~~"

Zhang Fei clenched his fists and cursed through gritted teeth.

Guan Yu's face turned pale and he said in a deep voice:
"These four servants drove the people out of the city. If you don't take them back, it will damage your reputation as a benevolent and righteous man."

"If you accept it, you will have to feed tens of thousands of mouths, consume our own military supplies and fodder, and increase the burden on our army."

"Lu Bu's plan is really vicious!"

Liu Bei suppressed his disgust and sighed softly:

"Although Lu Bu's plan is vicious, after I conquer Shouchun, these tens of thousands of people will eventually be my subjects. How can I stand by and watch them die?"

"Send the order to gather the refugees on the spot and allocate food and fodder to help the people."

"Send a message to Kong Ming and Zi Jing and others to transport more food and fodder from Jiangdong and Jingzhou to Shouchun."

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had no choice but to follow orders.

At this time, Xiao Fang's mouth corners slightly raised, and he sneered:
"I guess this plan must be the work of Chen Gong. Although this plan is disgusting, it may not be a bad thing for the lord."

"I originally had a plan to quickly capture Shouchun, but I was worried that the lord might not adopt it because he was afraid of the lives of the people in the city."

"Now that Lu Bu has driven all the people out of Shouchun, my strategy can be put to good use."

(End of this chapter)