"Military advisor, are we really going to seize Xiang County?"
Faced with Qin Tian's proposal, Old Liu was the first to lose his composure. Thinking he must have misheard, he hurriedly said:
"Our troops are still too few. If we try to take Xiang County, I fear we'll fail!"
Qin Tian merely smiled at that.
"Come to think of it, I haven't asked yet. How many troops do we currently have?"
At his question, everyone present felt their hearts sink.
Good grief, you're the military advisor, and you don't even know how many troops we have, yet you dare suggest taking a city?
Just how unreliable was this military advisor?
Only Xu Shu, who was on close terms with Qin Tian, knew that Qin Tian never made empty promises. He hurriedly rose to his feet and said:
"Reporting to the military advisor, we currently have a little over eleven thousand troops!"
"Over five thousand are veteran soldiers. The rest are all newly recruited!"
After hearing this, Qin Tian made a rough estimate, then nodded.
"Our forces are still somewhat lacking, but it's nothing serious!"
"Still, to guard against the unexpected, we should recruit several thousand more troops!"
Xu Shu cupped his hands.
"There's no problem with recruiting more soldiers, but I fear we lack the money and provisions!"
Qin Tian turned to the others and asked again:
"But how much money and provisions do we have right now?"
"How long will they last the army?"
At this, everyone shook their heads once more.
He didn't know the size of the army, and now he didn't know its money and provisions either. How was this man a military advisor?
But since Liu Bei backed Qin Tian, no one could simply dismiss him. Mi Zhu rose to his feet and said:
"Reporting to the military advisor, our army now has only seventy or eighty thousand shi of grain and less than three thousand in gold."
"That may keep us going for the time being, but Xiaopei is only a single county. It can't support more than ten thousand troops!"
"If we expand the army any further, I fear we won't last until next spring!"
It was worth mentioning that some of Liu Bei's money and provisions had been sent earlier by Cao Cao, while some came from subsidies provided by his brother-in-law, Mi Zhu.
Though the Mi family was wealthy, Mi Zhu could hardly put his entire fortune on the line.
So Liu Bei's money and provisions were essentially all the reserves they had. Once they were used up, they would truly be gone.
A single county like Xiaopei simply couldn't sustain them.
That was also why Liu Bei spent his days with furrowed brows.
There was no other reason: his pockets were empty!
He had to find a new way forward before the money and provisions ran out.
Otherwise, once they were gone, he would have no choice but to ask Cao Cao or Lu Bu for grain.
Hearing Mi Zhu's complaint, Liu Bei gave a self-deprecating smile.
"We lack money and provisions. What can we do?"
Qin Tian raised a hand and smiled.
"My lord, there's no need to worry about that either!"
"Our money and provisions only need to last us half a year!"
"Based on seventy thousand shi of grain, we can recruit another four thousand troops and bring our total to fifteen thousand."
Seeing how confident he looked, Liu Bei felt a little more sure of himself.
If Qin Tian was confident he could turn things around within half a year, what was there for him to worry about?
After thinking for a moment, Liu Bei looked at Xu Shu.
"Since the military advisor has proposed this, we'll recruit more troops as he says. Make sure they train hard and don't slack off!"
"As for the money and provisions, Zizhong, I'll have to trouble you to do your best. Make sure we quickly raise the amount the military advisor has requested!"
With Liu Bei giving the order himself, Xu Shu had no objections. Mi Zhu could only shake his head inwardly and clasp his hands in agreement.
But just as the two of them sat down, someone rose to his feet.
"I have a question, military advisor. May I ask you to answer it?"
Everyone turned to look. It was Guan Yu, who had stood up to speak.
Qin Tian wasn't surprised to see him rise.
"Since General Guan has a question, ask away."
Guan Yu stroked his long beard, raised his head, and spoke in a deep voice.
"I know full well that you are a man of great ability. Otherwise, elder brother would never have entrusted you with such an important position. Still, empty talk accomplishes nothing. May I ask how you intend to take Xiang County?"
"You must understand that our army is nothing like the wealthy and powerful forces of Cao Cao and Yuan Shu. Though this money and grain may seem little, they are all we have."
"If we can't take Xiang County within half a year, what will become of us when our provisions run out?"
At his words, everyone nodded.
To them, this military advisor was a remarkable man who had appeared out of nowhere.
They didn't know him, to begin with. And if his plans failed, he might simply walk off with his bags on his back.
But they had entrusted their lives and fortunes to Liu Bei. If nothing was settled in half a year, the military advisor could leave if he wished, but they would be left to clean up the mess.
With no money and no grain, were they supposed to disband on the spot?
So everyone nodded in agreement.
Seeing their reaction, Qin Tian smiled and nodded.
"General Guan's words are truly cautious and far-sighted!"
"But why would taking a single Xiang County require half a year?"
"At most, it'll take three months for our army to seize all of Pei Commandery!"
"Once we've taken Xiang County, we'll have troops and provisions to replenish our supplies. There's no need to worry!"
"As for how we'll take Xiang County, the time isn't right to discuss it yet!"
"Will that answer satisfy you, General Guan?"
Hearing this, Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes and raised his brows.
Though Qin Tian had spoken with great confidence and given them a deadline, he still hadn't explained how he meant to do it. That wouldn't fool him.
But he knew Qin Tian's standing and assumed he wouldn't make empty promises. For a moment, he had nothing more to say.
Zhang Fei, however, still resented Qin Tian for having been reprimanded earlier because of him. He gave a mocking laugh.
"Military advisor, that's ridiculous. If the time isn't right to discuss it, why hold a military council today? If every meeting is like this, what's the point of holding them at all?"
Seeing Zhang Fei pick a fight, Liu Bei frowned.
"Yide!"
But before he could rebuke him, Qin Tian stopped him.
"My lord, wait!"
Then he smiled at Zhang Fei.
"General Zhang's words aren't without reason!"
"But besides allowing everyone to speak their minds, military councils also serve to convey orders!"
"Today, I presided over this meeting because you all asked me to."
"Now, first, I've learned the state of our provisions and troops. Second, I've let everyone know what our army's next move will be!"
"Now that you know we're going to take Xiang County, you'll surely prepare for war: ready the troops, train them every day, and make preparations for provisions, horses, and everything else. How can you say this meeting was pointless?"
Faced with Qin Tian's fluent reasoning, Zhang Fei was momentarily at a loss.
"Military advisor, you sure have a sharp tongue. I'm no match for you."
"But I, Old Zhang, don't like people relying on the strength of their tongues!"
"So I'll ask you just one thing: if you can't take Xiang County within three months, what then?"
Qin Tian gave an unhurried smile.
"I'm willing to pledge myself to a military order!"
"If I can't take Xiang County within three months, I'll accept punishment, resign as military advisor, and submit to my lord's judgment!"
"How can the military advisor do such a thing?"
Before he had even finished speaking, Liu Bei's expression changed.
But Qin Tian raised a hand to signal that Liu Bei needn't worry, then looked at Zhang Fei.
"Would that satisfy you, General Zhang?"
Zhang Fei stared hard at Qin Tian.
"Do you mean what you say, military advisor? There's no joking around with military orders!"
Seeing Qin Tian dare to pledge himself to a military order, Zhang Fei secretly admired his courage.
But if Qin Tian really failed, he shouldn't blame Old Zhang for showing him no mercy.
Facing Zhang Fei's gaze, Qin Tian remained calm.
"As military advisor, I naturally understand that!"
"But let me make one thing clear first. Since I'm the military advisor, all of you generals must obey my orders for these three months. Not one of you may slack off!"
Then his tone abruptly changed, his voice turning stern.
"Anyone who dares to disobey my orders will answer to the merciless laws of the army!"
His words revealed the imposing authority of a man long accustomed to commanding troops. Everyone felt a chill in their hearts.
They thought to themselves, this military advisor certainly had a fearsome air of authority!
He could never have carried himself like this without years spent in a position of command!
Zhang Fei had nothing more to say.
Seeing this, Guan Yu knew that Qin Tian was strict in governing the army, and immediately made his position clear.
"We will naturally obey your orders!"
With that, he returned to his seat.
Once Guan Yu sat down, Liu Bei, afraid that another dispute might break out, simply waved his hand.
"Since that's settled, everyone may withdraw for now. I'll host a banquet at the county office tonight at dusk to welcome the military advisor. I hope you'll all arrive on time!"
Everyone reacted in their own way, then clasped their hands and took their leave.
Only Xu Shu stayed behind, taking advantage of the moment.
As soon as the others had left, Liu Bei sighed to Qin Tian.
"Military advisor, why are you in such a hurry? We can take Xiang County slowly. Why go so far as to pledge yourself to a military order?"
In his heart, even if Qin Tian failed to fulfill his promise, Liu Bei still wouldn't want him to leave.
But now that he had pledged himself to a military order, once the deadline came, Qin Tian would be out!
What was Liu Bei supposed to do then?
After Liu Bei said this, Xu Shu sighed as well.
"Zixuan, you really were too quick to take offense today. You came here under an assumed name, and the others don't know your reputation, so naturally they felt some resentment."
"Even if they spoke somewhat rudely, that was only to be expected. Why take it so personally?"
Listening to them, Qin Tian grinned.
"Do you both think what I said just now was nothing but an impulsive remark?"
The two were taken aback, and Liu Bei hurriedly asked:
"Zixuan, do you have another reason?"
"Exactly! I used this opportunity to establish my authority!"
Qin Tian smiled at them.
"Because I came here under an assumed name and suddenly rose to a high position, the others don't know who I am. Of course they'd be unwilling to obey me."
"So I used today's meeting to establish my authority!"
"Now I've pledged myself to a military order, but the generals understand what I intended. They won't dare obey me in public while defying me in private!"
"So that was it!"
Learning that Qin Tian had another purpose, Xu Shu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Come to think of it, after what happened today, Qin Tian had indeed gained a measure of authority in the others' eyes.
Compared to slowly earning everyone's approval through his work, this method had certainly gotten results right away!
Liu Bei had been listening from the side. Now, curious, he asked:
"What about your plan to take Xiang County?"
"That was serious too!"
Qin Tian nodded to Liu Bei.
"Our army holds only one county right now, which makes it hard to accomplish anything. We must first take Pei Commandery before we can set our sights elsewhere!"
Liu Bei frowned.
"But even if we recruit more troops, we still won't have as many as Mei Gan's forces in Xiang County. How are we supposed to take it?"
Seeing Liu Bei's doubt, Qin Tian smiled.
"Has my lord forgotten what we discussed at home earlier—the plan of reaping chestnuts from the fire?"
"Our forces aren't strong enough, but someone else can lend us a hand!"
Liu Bei's eyes lit up as he heard this, and he suddenly remembered the broad plan Qin Tian had laid out earlier.
Xu Shu went a step further, narrowing his eyes with a smile.
"Zixuan, are you thinking of borrowing Lu Bu's strength?"
"Who else could it be?"
Qin Tian smiled smugly.
"Lu Bu will surely fall out with Yuan Shu this time. If we want to take Pei Commandery, we must borrow Lu Bu's strength!"
Xu Shu laughed as soon as he heard this.
"No wonder Zixuan set the deadline at three months. If we can truly borrow Lu Bu's strength, we may not even need three months!"
Liu Bei listened to the two strategists from the side, but their words left him completely at sea. He could only smile wryly.
"Since Zixuan already has a plan, I won't ask for details!"
"Just tell me what I should do now, Zixuan."
"Simple. There are only two things!"
Qin Tian held up two fingers.
"First, my lord should immediately send a letter to Lu Bu, inviting him to join us in attacking Yuan Shu and help our army seize Xiang County!"
Liu Bei was stunned, confused.
"Master Strategist, what do you mean? Do you think Lu Bu will send troops to help us as soon as we write to him?"
"Of course not!"
Qin Tian shook his head.
"That's not the point. The point is to let Lu Bu know where we stand!"
Xu Shu smiled at this.
"If we mean to take the chestnuts, we should let the cat know!"
Liu Bei still didn't quite understand, but he nodded anyway.
"That can be done!"
"Then what is the second thing?"
"For the second thing, my lord will have to take the lead!"
Qin Tian turned to Liu Bei with a grave expression.
"Our army must stockpile grain in vast quantities! The more, the better!"
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