20demayo Chapter 28 Winning Hearts and Minds is Paramount
Chapter 28 Winning Hearts and Minds is Paramount
"The strategist just said that winning hearts and minds is the best strategy. But how do we win hearts and minds?"
Xu Shu laughed and said, "In order to amass wealth, he sold grain to Guan Hai of the Yellow Turban Army at high prices. He did this in a secret, and most of the garrison and civilians in Linzi were kept in the dark."
"Now that Guan Hai has been defeated, Tian Kai, in order to prepare for war, will inevitably tighten his belt and cut back on the rations of the soldiers and civilians in the city. On one hand, they are defending the city on empty stomachs, and on the other hand, their lord is using the food they depend on for survival to enrich the enemy. Imagine, if the soldiers and civilians of Linzi knew the truth, what would they do?"
Zhang Fei glared, then slapped his thigh: "Need I say more? They're definitely in an uproar, wishing they could devour that bastard Tian Kai alive!"
"That's exactly right." Xu Shu looked at Li Zhao. "My lord, we don't need to attack cities and seize strongholds. We just need to use a soft knife to slowly cut Tian Kai's flesh, so that he bleeds to death on his own."
Li Zhao understood immediately, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "Yuanzhi means, we're going to reward the troops?"
"Our lord is wise."
Xu Shu laughed and said, "We will not only go to comfort the troops, but we will also go in a grand manner. We want the whole of Qingzhou to know that Li Zhaoren, the Prefect of Pingyuan, is kind and righteous, and cannot bear to see the soldiers of Linzi suffering from cold and hunger, so he specially sent money, grain, wine and meat to comfort them."
Liu Bei, listening from the side, gasped in shock. This was no act of rewarding the troops; it was a blatant attempt to destroy their spirit! This "open conspiracy" was far more vicious than any other intrigue or trickery.
"Ziyi, listen to my command!" Li Zhao suddenly shouted.
Taishi Ci's spirits lifted, and he stepped forward, clasping his hands in a fist salute: "Your subordinate is here!"
"I hereby order you to lead five hundred of the White Horse Cavalry, don new armor, and raise the brightest banner of my Plains Army."
"Go to the warehouse and fetch 500 shi of fine rice, 50 fat pigs, and 100 jars of good wine, then load them onto the carts and follow."
Li Zhao walked up to Taishi Ci, patted him on the shoulder, and spoke in a meaningful tone.
"You will go to Linzi without engaging in warfare."
Your only task is to slaughter these pigs, cook this rice, and open this wine outside Linzi City.
The aroma of meat must waft into Tian Kai's governor's mansion, and the fragrance of wine must fill the nostrils of the soldiers guarding the city!
Taishi Ci was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He had never fought a battle like this in his life; just hearing about it made his blood boil!
"Yes, sir! This humble general will certainly put on a full performance of this troop-rewarding act!"
……
Three days later, at the gates of Linzi.
Tian Kai stood atop the city wall, his hand trembling slightly as he gripped the battlements. Dust billowed outside the city, and a cavalry unit was slowly approaching.
"How many people came?" Tian Kai's voice was dry.
"Reporting to Your Excellency, there are approximately five hundred cavalrymen, carrying the banner of the Plains."
"Behind...it seems there's a long convoy following behind. Judging from the tracks, they're probably carrying a heavy load."
The garrison commander swallowed hard and answered.
Tian Kai was filled with suspicion and uncertainty. Five hundred cavalry dared to attack Linzi? Had Li Zhao gone mad, or was he plotting something?
Soon, the team stopped about two arrow-lengths away from the city wall.
Tian Kai squinted and looked over. He saw a general at the head of the group, carrying two halberds on his back, looking very imposing. It was none other than Taishi Ci, who had displayed great power under the walls of Duchang City that day.
The convoy behind them also revealed its true form.
Instead of siege equipment, there were cartloads of grain sacks, and you could even hear the squeals of pigs and sheep.
"What are they trying to do?" Tian Kai was completely baffled.
The next moment, the actions taken below the city left all the defenders on the walls of Linzi dumbfounded.
The five hundred cavalrymen dismounted and began cooking on the spot!
Large cooking pots were set up, and white rice was poured into them, while clear well water was poured in.
Immediately afterwards, dozens of fat pigs were slaughtered on the spot, and bright red chunks of meat were piled up like a small mountain on the cutting board.
Soon, wisps of smoke began to rise from the chimney.
The spring wind, quite inconsiderately, blows into the city.
The rich aroma of rice mixed with the savory scent of meat and oil forcefully penetrated the nostrils of every soldier guarding the city walls, tempting the long-dormant cravings in their stomachs.
"Gurgle—"
Someone's stomach growled first, its sound particularly clear in the silent, tense atmosphere of the city wall. Then, a chorus of rumbling stomachs followed.
The garrison commander clutched his stomach, his eyes fixed on the steaming cauldrons outside the city.
His Adam's apple bobbed laboriously.
They haven't had a proper meal in a long time.
In preparation for war, Tian Kai strictly controlled the city's food supplies, repeatedly reducing the daily rations.
Nowadays, all we can drink at each meal is thin porridge so watery you can see your reflection in it.
As for meat? That's a luxury that only high-ranking generals can enjoy occasionally.
And now, the "enemy" outside the city is actually feasting right under their noses!
This is pure torture!
"Taishi Ci! What do you intend to do? If you want war, then fight! Stop playing tricks here!"
Tian Kai could no longer contain himself and, leaning against the battlements, roared angrily at the foot of the city wall.
Below the city walls, Taishi Ci was eating a large piece of freshly cooked pork belly, his mouth dripping with oil, with a dagger stuck in his throat. Hearing Tian Kai's shout, he slowly swallowed the meat in his mouth and laughed loudly:
"Why do you say that, Lord Tian? My lord, Prime Minister Li, heard that the soldiers of Linzi are working hard to defend their territory, and he specially ordered us to bring them wine, meat, and provisions to reward them!"
"My Prime Minister said that Qingzhou is one family, why resort to war? As long as Magistrate Tian is willing to submit to the court, the brothers in Linzi will be able to eat such good food every day!"
His voice echoed throughout the city walls.
For a moment, the expressions of some soldiers on the city wall changed when they looked at him.
"Nonsense! You traitor's lackey!"
Enraged, Tian Kai shouted, "Fire! Fire arrows and kill them!"
However, the archers on the city wall, holding their bows and arrows, hesitated to make a move.
Looking at the steaming pot of meat outside the city, and then at the dry bread in their hands, they unconsciously swallowed.
Seeing this, Taishi Ci sneered, pulled out an account book from his robes, held it high, and shouted:
"Tian Kai! Are you still going to be so stubborn? In order to make money, you secretly sold the military rations in the warehouse to the Yellow Turban rebel Guan Hai at a high price, causing the garrison of Linzi to suffer from hunger!"
The ledger is filled with clear, black and white writing, all bearing Guan Hai's personal signature!
"You have colluded with bandits and aided the enemy, betraying the imperial court. How can you face the elders and villagers of this city, and the soldiers who defend it?!"
These words resounded like a thunderclap on the walls of Linzi.
All the guards looked at Tian Kai in disbelief.
They were tightening their belts and fighting desperately here because their governor had sold grain to bandits.
An anger spread through the soldiers' hearts.
It turns out that they were starving because of their governor.
Tian Kai's face turned deathly pale. He pointed at Taishi Ci, his fingers trembling as he said, "You...you're slandering me! This is a divisive tactic! Don't believe him!"
But clearly, no one listens to him anymore.
Taishi Ci ignored him and turned to the soldiers behind him, ordering, "Brothers, eat and drink well! After you're done eating, leave half for the brothers on the city wall! We're all from Qingzhou; we don't eat alone!"
The soldiers of the Pingyuan Army outside the city cheered in unison.
They ate meat and drank wine heartily on the city wall, having a wonderful time.