After going through a few routine tasks befitting a celebrated scholar and earning some reputation, Liu Cheng gathered the advisers who had followed him, Dai Shi, Zhu Xian, and the others that evening to discuss their military plans by oil lamp.
One thing was unexpected. Perhaps Dai Shi had some firsthand understanding of Jiang Gan and his lot and knew fighting was unavoidable, or perhaps he had long since thought it through: now that Liu Cheng had arrived with sufficient troops, the greater their military gains here, the better it would be for a man like him, who had little capital left to his name... Whatever the reason, Dai Shi showed no particular inclination to resist Liu Cheng's decision. On the contrary, he was extremely cooperative.
He even took some initiative.
"There was a reason Zhou Cheng was willing to stay in Xingyang back then. What these broken troops and defeated generals from Hebei value most is a military stronghold they can hold for a long time," Dai Shi explained earnestly. "Xingyang itself is a very large city, not an easy one to defend, but it has always been a strategic choke point between Luoyang and the lands east of the passes. During the War of the Eight Princes, who knows how many battles were fought here? Many small towns and fortified manors were built, all surrounding Xingyang and naturally shielding it. If we can quickly take these small towns, leaving Xingyang alone, and then put pressure on them, they may well be willing to turn around and attack Sishui Pass. Even if they refuse, we can contact General Mao and attack Xingyang together."
"Which small towns? How many troops does each have? Will they be difficult to take? Will Yao Xiang send reinforcements?" Liu Cheng asked in turn.
"From