Feigning anger, Lu Xiong said, "Your Majesty is so intent on pleasure that you would disregard the bigger picture? Dividing our forces is advice that would ruin the state. Great Shang has mustered hundreds of thousands of troops for the Western Expedition precisely to finish the task in a single campaign. As the saying goes, even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit. To reign over all under heaven, we must bring our army down upon the enemy and crush Xiqi in one stroke, like Mount Tai bearing down on an egg. Only then can we cow the feudal lords. Xiqi is not Great Shang's only enemy."
"If we rashly divide our forces and lose our numerical advantage, we will undoubtedly give the Zhou Army a chance to defeat us piecemeal..."
Lu Xiong paused, then continued, "Besides, dividing our forces sounds easy, but in practice, every aspect must be considered. If we split into three columns, our provisions must also be divided three ways, making transport exceedingly troublesome. Furthermore, the generals commanding those columns would have no authority over one another. Who would take precedence? Would my position as grand marshal of the Western Expedition not become an empty title? How would I direct the army then? Has Your Majesty considered any of this?"
Lu Xiong's words left Zi Shou utterly bewildered. He had, after all, specifically asked Grand Tutor Wen to give him a few lessons during the Southern Campaign. How was his military ability still so abysmal?
Hadn't Sima Yi also proposed splitting the troops into five columns when he urged Cao Pi to attack Shu?
Still, this was good. It amply demonstrated his limited ability to command troops in battle. His earlier victory in the Southern Campaign had merely been an accident. This would