Chapter 039: Bowen, what kind of military strategy is this? It is absolutely unheard of!

Burn Deng County!

Xiao He’s single remark opened a new window for everyone present; their eyes lit up instantly.

"Boliang’s words make perfect sense. Since Cao Cao has two grain supply depots, why must we fixate on Zhaoyang? We can burn the grain depot at Deng County just as well!" Liu Bei slapped his table hard, as if he had been struck with sudden enlightenment.

"A surprise attack on Deng County is certainly not impossible." Guan Yu stroked his magnificent beard and nodded slightly, yet he questioned, "However, Deng County is too close to Fancheng; it is practically right under Cao Cao’s nose. How could Cao Cao have no defenses there?"

Liu Bei, suddenly reminded, hurriedly turned his gaze toward Xiao He.

Xiao He smiled and countered with a question: "General Yunchang, have you ever heard of the 'darkness under the lamp'?"

"Darkness under the lamp?" Guan Yu’s eyes were blank, and he shook his head.

Xiao He picked up an oil lamp, placed it on the map right where Cao Cao’s camp at Fancheng was located, and swept a meaningful glance at Guan Yu and the others.

Guan Yu stared at the oil lamp, his expression still puzzled. He looked up at Liu Bei, and as their eyes met, Liu Bei looked equally bewildered.

"I understand!" A flash of brilliance crossed Xu Shu’s eyes. He pointed his finger and said, "With this lamp placed on Cao’s camp, the further away from the camp—such as the cities of Zhaoyang, Zhuyang, and Xindu—the more clearly they are illuminated."

"Conversely, the closer a place is to Cao’s camp, such as Deng County or Yanjü, the more they are shrouded in the shadow of the lamp, remaining in complete darkness."

Having said this, Xu Shu looked up at Xiao He with eyes full of admiration. "So, Boliang’s meaning is that precisely because Deng County is close to Cao’s camp, Cao Cao assumes we would never dare to launch a surprise attack there. Thus, the vigilance and defenses at Deng County are far inferior to those at Zhaoyang."

"Is that what 'darkness under the lamp' means? Boliang, am I guessing correctly?"

Xiao He felt a sense of secret admiration. He had only placed the lamp without saying a word, yet they were able to deduce the implication. "Yuanzhi is truly worthy of being a disciple of Master Water Mirror. Indeed, that is exactly what I meant."

Xiao He moved the oil lamp away and lightly tapped the location of Deng County. "The Art of War says: the safest place is often the most dangerous, and vice versa."

The others suddenly realized the truth, and their gazes toward Xiao He grew even more filled with reverence.

"So that is what 'darkness under the lamp' means! Boliang, this strategy of yours is truly a masterstroke of winning through the unexpected!" Liu Bei nodded repeatedly, his eyes burning with excitement once more.

Xu Shu, however, looked curious and bowed, asking, "Brother Boliang, that phrase you just mentioned—'the safest place is often the most dangerous'—is truly profound and mysterious. Forgive my ignorance, but which classic of military strategy does it come from?"

Xiao He was momentarily stunned. He had only been showing off a bit on a whim and never expected to be pinned down by Xu Shu. The thirst for knowledge in top scholars is truly formidable...

"I haven't actually studied military strategy much. That phrase was something my teacher mentioned during a casual conversation, and I just recalled it and said it on the spur of the moment. Please don't laugh at me, Brother Yuanzhi." After this self-deprecating remark, Xiao He followed his usual practice of attributing everything he couldn't explain to his fictional teacher.

Upon hearing this, Xu Shu’s expression became subtle. "Every word he speaks is filled with the brilliance of military strategy; how could he have not studied it? This Xiao Boliang is truly too modest... And that teacher of his—it seems his grasp of strategy is even superior to Master Water Mirror. I wonder what kind of reclusive immortal he might be?"

As Xu Shu’s thoughts raced, his face revealed a sense of speculation and longing.

Liu Bei’s gaze swept across the room, and he asked happily, "Gentlemen, what do you think of Boliang’s plan for a surprise attack on Deng County?"

Who among those present hadn't witnessed Xiao He’s capabilities? Who wasn't already won over by his brilliance? With Xiao He proposing another ingenious plan, there was little dissent.

"My Lord, the strategy from Assistant Xiao is indeed a brilliant plan that could decide the outcome of the war in one stroke."

"However, I humbly believe that before implementing this plan, there is one prerequisite that must be confirmed."

Amidst the chorus of agreement, a different voice suddenly rang out. The speaker was Ma Liang.

"What prerequisite? Speak, Jichang, let us hear it." Liu Bei and the others turned their attention to the "most virtuous" of the "Five Constants of the Ma family," known for his white eyebrows.

"As everyone knows, Cao Cao’s greatest advantage is his vast number of troops and generals."

"Although the Cao army claims to have eight hundred thousand, in reality, they have at least one hundred and fifty thousand, which is more than three times our total strength."

"The force we can currently spare for a surprise attack is at most fifteen thousand. Even if Cao Cao falls for our ruse and sets an ambush at Zhaoyang, fifty thousand troops would be more than enough for him to commit."

"This means that on the Fancheng front, Cao Cao still retains nearly one hundred thousand troops. With such massive strength, he could easily station about twenty thousand troops to guard the grain depot line at Deng County."

"If that is the case, even if we launch a surprise attack on the Deng County grain depot, using a feint to attack there, can our fifteen thousand troops break through the enemy camp in a swift, decisive strike?"

Ma Liang voiced his concerns and bowed. "Therefore, I believe that before launching the surprise attack, we must first ensure that Cao Cao moves the bulk of his forces to Zhaoyang for the ambush, leaving no more than ten thousand troops at Deng County. Only then can we have a sure path to victory!"

The hall erupted in discussion again. Liu Bei, who had been on the verge of approving the plan, felt his resolve waver. He looked at Xiao He. "Boliang, Jichang is right. Cao Cao’s abundance of troops and our lack thereof is indeed the greatest stumbling block for this battle."

Xiao He felt a slight headache. Being a strategist was truly a laborious task; no sooner had he neutralized one landmine than another appeared.

However, thinking about it, Ma Liang was truly worthy of being a peer to Zhuge Liang; his style of thinking was similarly meticulous and thorough.

"How can I lure Cao Cao’s main force to Zhaoyang and create enough of a gap at Deng County..." Xiao He rubbed his forehead, his eyes scanning the map once again.

Fancheng, Zhaoyang, Deng County, Xiangyang... The names of the cities flowed past his eyes. His gaze landed on the two words: Xiakou.

Suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashed!

"Since we have few troops, why don't we ask Young Master Gongwei to mobilize the troops of Jiangxia to move north and assist in the battle?"

"Young Master Gongwei has nearly twenty thousand troops. If we could mobilize fifteen thousand to move north, our combined force would be thirty thousand strong."

"If Cao Cao wants to ensure a complete victory in his ambush, he must move at least ninety thousand troops to Zhaoyang. Excluding the troops left to guard his main camp at Fancheng, he cannot possibly leave twenty thousand to guard Deng County; he would have to pull at least ten thousand away."

"By this calculation, the guards at the Deng County grain depot would be reduced to at most ten thousand. At that moment, my Lord, we gather our thirty thousand troops and launch a surprise attack. With a three-to-one numerical advantage and the element of surprise, how could we fail to break the enemy camp!"

Xiao He pointed firmly at the location of Xiakou.

The hall was in an uproar. Liu Bei felt the clouds part once again, and he said with delight, "Boliang is absolutely right! How could I have forgotten that we have our nephew Gongwei as a source of reinforcements!"

"Now that Sun Zhongmou has formed an alliance with me, there is no immediate threat at Xiakou. These troops can be spared to move north and help us strike and destroy the Deng County grain depot in one blow!"

Xu Shu nodded slightly and added, "My Lord, haven't you kept Yu Jin captured? We can put on a show and use Yu Jin’s own mouth to 'leak' the information to Cao Cao, making him firmly believe that we are going to mobilize the Jiangxia army to move north and launch a surprise attack on Zhaoyang!"

Immediately, Xu Shu laid out the plan for how to use Yu Jin.

A look of mockery flickered across Liu Bei’s face, and he sneered, "Yuanzhi’s plan suits me perfectly. Since Cao Cao wants to use you to plot against me, I shall pay him back in his own coin and use Yu Jin to plot against him!"

The strategy for the surprise attack on Deng County was thus settled.

The welcome banquet returned to its spirited and enthusiastic atmosphere. Liu Bei laughed heartily, raised his wine cup, and prepared to announce the deployment.

Zhao Yun, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke up as a reminder, "My Lord, I remember Boliang once said that Sun Quan is an opportunist."

"I am worried: if he sees us mobilizing the troops from Xiakou, providing him with an opening, he might break the alliance, abandon his integrity, and send troops to take advantage of the situation and capture Xiakou. What should we do then?"