Chapter 222: Arrogance And Conservatism
After the large meeting ended, the military sandbox was still placed on the conference table.
Xuan Chong kept Wu Lu, Wu Rui, and Wu Juwang behind for a small meeting. These three were the core personnel of his group in the future. Xuan Chong called Wu Ling to the adjacent canteen to get four portions of barbecue meals.
“All sit down, this is an internal meeting.” Xuan Chong gestured for the three not to be reserved, but, well, that was impossible.
At this time, Xuan Chong was in his prime, his mental acuity had not yet declined from its peak, but his experience in handling affairs was the highest in the entire system. The ability levels, personalities, and characteristics of everyone inside and outside, above and below, were all crystal clear to Xuan Chong.
It was precisely because Xuan Chong possessed this “clarity of a superior.” From top to bottom in the Wu Family Army, and even the officials and merchants of various sizes in Chong Land, Lingnan, Longyou, and other prefectures, unable to deceive due to their own small actions, were all deterred by Xuan Chong’s authority and followed the rules obediently.
Even though Wu Juwang now had the talent of a prime minister, when facing Xuan Chong, he was just like the little thief caught red-handed back then.
As for Wu Lu, after being kicked during military training a few days ago, he was like a son who dared not breathe heavily in front of his father.
On the contrary, Wu Rui, having fought south with Xuan Chong for the past few years, had figured out the Lord’s temperament and knew that Xuan Chong rarely reprimanded outside of military law regulations. So he was the first to sit down.
Xuan Chong looked at the three and would not say nonsense like “you three must sincerely cooperate in the future.”
Because the more “sincere” one appeared in politics, the more hypocritical it actually was. True “sincere cooperation” was built on mutual understanding of each other’s personalities; only when each confirmed they could not hide from one another would they align their interests as much as possible into the big picture.
Xuan Chong pointed to the map and said to Wu Lu: “If you took over my position now, facing an enemy like Zhao Cheng, what would you do?”
Wu Lu paused slightly, while Wu Juwang beside him was in a dazed state. — As a Yao Capital native, Wu Juwang had deeply reflected on Yao Capital matters and knew that the relationship between successor and incumbent involved complex contradictions. He was being very careful now.
Wu Lu opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
Xuan Chong looked at him and said: “Take over with two postures. One is arrogant, show your most arrogant and mad daily state, and make decisions!”
Wu Lu thought for a moment, took the military token and moved toward the water and Zhu Prefecture areas, first breaking Ji Prefecture, then taking the military token on the northern route to capture Yongzhou, with the army advancing on two routes, one south and one north.
Xuan Chong looked at his military token, which still left fully half the troops at home as reserves, clearly Wu Lu had not shown enough arrogance.
Xuan Chong encouraged: “Since the attack direction is already set, why not go really wild.”
Xuan Chong pointed to the “army corps” in his deduction that obviously wanted to push to the frontline but was ultimately placed midway on standby, telling him not to hold back, treat all corps as his own, and boldly go all out.
Narration: It was also fortunate that the wooden ox and flowing horse train lines could now support the logistics line; otherwise, with Wu Lu just now piling troops at nodes and idling food and grass, it would have been enough to make those second-rate vassal lord forces under heaven collapse without fighting.
Wu Lu gritted his teeth, then readjusted the deployment, advancing the corps; his performance quickly resembled Xuan Chong’s previous life p player, pulling internal production efficiency to the maximum, tension to the strongest. Extreme exploitation in occupied areas, “enslaved” if not completed. Pulled out over twenty war kui, increasing troops by 150,000.
After gritting his teeth and doing all this, Wu Lu looked at Xuan Chong with apprehensive eyes and said weakly: “You told me to be arrogant.”
Xuan Chong watched his deployment with great interest. He nodded very satisfied, then put himself in Zhao Cheng’s place, systematically breaking down Wu Lu’s moves.
Wu Lu watched his troops being lured one by one to extend lines, then segmented and disappear; at first he endured, later unconvinced, he protested in a low voice: “How could it be like this?”
Of course Xuan Chong was not annoyed, nor did he reprimand, but calmly presented Zhao Cheng’s battlefield cases to explain to him.
Finally Wu Lu deflated, Xuan Chong patted his shoulder and said: “Don’t be discouraged, I told you to be arrogant; arrogance to the extreme leads to mistakes, and these mistakes of yours were just forced by me.”
After feeling Xuan Chong actively taking the “mistake” responsibility off him, Wu Lu quickly emerged from dejection! — As a son, what Wu Lu feared most was his father attributing all mistakes to him. San Gu raised her child that way.
Wu Lu immediately felt his father’s reliability and understood why so many were convinced by his father.
Xuan Chong looked up at Wu Lu, Wu Juwang, and Wu Rui together and said: “When people do things, there will always be others urging and pressuring; after pressure, as newcomers you will want to rush things. Rushing leads to mistakes. When I’m here, no one dares pressure you, only flatter you, and flattering you is to better pressure you after I leave.”
Note: Xuan Chong has always been summarizing the inheritance lessons between Emperor Shu and Prince Zhou. Xuan Chong’s understanding was that under Emperor Shu’s high pressure, Prince Zhou never had a chance to expose his flaws, only showing the image of a wise prince that fit Emperor Shu’s senses and maximum comfort. In the end, it was like a crystal glass bottle filled with corrosive liquid, smooth and gem-colored from outside, but shattering at the slightest bump after Emperor Shu left.
So Xuan Chong’s training requirement for Wu Lu was to withstand pressure, have chances to show personality, and more opportunities to understand the pros and cons of his personality in handling affairs.
After finishing, Xuan Chong said to Wu Lu: “Next, use a conservative mindset to describe your strategy.”
Wu Lu was stunned; he had just been in an open, mad, arrogant state, and suddenly conservative threw him off.
He looked at Xuan Chong indicating “I don’t know how,” only to see Xuan Chong’s face stern as if saying “do it wrong and I’ll hit you,” Wu Lu immediately sat straight, entered the state, and carefully deployed troops.
In conservative state, Xuan Chong this time did not play Zhao Cheng, but the people, army, merchants of Chong Land, playing multiple roles. Showing elements like “unwilling to pay grain,” “weak combat will,” “and merchants speculating.”
Wu Lu, feeling constrained, wanted to suppress angrily, but glanced at Xuan Chong and ultimately dared not slap the suppression order on his father’s face.
Wu Juwang and Wu Rui beside were very serious in this deduction; clearly Xuan Chong was simulating the extreme situations when their future Lord deviated from correct decisions.
Note: In the 21st century, maintenance department onboarding training focuses not on daily maintenance but on handling that 1% probability accidents. Setting aside “deifying leaders,” leaders are actually machines needing constant supervision from all sides to correct potential errors.
In the old era, superiors to maintain dignity rarely exposed their performance in extreme situations, emphasizing they were always right, and subordinates mistakenly believing “superiors always right” realized “major course error” too late.
The talents Prince Zhou wanted to use were far less understanding of him than the eunuchs by his side, hence communication problems.
Now Xuan Chong used “I command you” to let Wu Lu “role-play” without losing face his imagined selves: “careless” and “losing edge in dilemma.”
When Wu Lu “played” how to make mistakes, Wu Juwang and Wu Rui observed. When Xuan Chong explained “Wu Lu’s error situations as superior,” his two students roughly understood how to promptly remind when Wu Lu as Lord showed certain signs in the future, rather than forcing turns at the last moment causing lord-minister conflict. — After giving them the function of preventative measures, Xuan Chong foreshadowed they would be key ministers.
…One bottle of sparkling water opened, poured into four cups…
After Wu Lu described his many strategies, Xuan Chong finally gave his own strategic deployment.
Xuan Chong mobilized fourteen army corps (each 3,000 to 6,000 men) on the frontline, piled on upper, middle, lower three battle lines; behind each line, total reserve labor reached 600,000; and first placed chess pieces in the North.
Then on the sandbox, Zhao Cheng’s side began seeking active decisive battle.
Xuan Chong: Now in the eyes of those noble families under heaven, Wu Hengyu’s “Bo Kingdom” force and Zhao Cheng-led “Hao State” force divide the world. But their current situations: one is forced into urgency, the other in complacent conservatism, unaware of subordinate heart crisis.
In other words, the role Wu Lu just played not only acted his own future mistakes, but also Zhao Cheng and Wu Hengyu’s current states! Zhao Cheng pressured by those around, Wu Hengyu conservative and stubborn.
Zhao Cheng legally has not completed “state transfer” procedures. Now consecutively taking fourteen prefectures, half the world, highly inflated, subordinates pressuring him to go aggressive.
Wu Hengyu has gained enough prestige, carrying strong power to watch from sidelines. But his glory, he has not realized “glory cannot be monopolized.” Wu Hengyu has not arranged his subordinates well; his group’s factions will drag his legs next.
Xuan Chong to his son and students: “Strategy must leverage strengths avoid weaknesses, play our advantages and enemy weaknesses.”
Xuan Chong pointed to the silk book map, “Our advantage is, outsiders now, whether Wu Hengyu or Zhao Cheng, their advisor groups are traditional elites. These scholar-officials from great clans carry fixed mindsets, thinking we are now ‘cornered remnant’; but now—”
Xuan Chong looked at Wu Rui, his most favored military strategist student, and said: “I know very well you all have strong enterprising spirit. ‘Under heaven does not know the lord’ is your advantage. And Zhao Cheng’s side, his advisors now overly despise you; utilize this round of contempt well, maximize information error.”
Wu Lu said: “Dad, when you just simulated Zhao Cheng, there was no ‘contempt’ at all.”
Clearly Wu Lu was annoyed by the wise and mighty “Zhao Cheng” Xuan Chong played.
Xuan Chong: “Zhao Cheng is Zhao Cheng, his ministers another wave; what ministers think differs from the monarch.” Then tapped his forehead: “Ministers’ wishes like floods, monarch can guide but not block!”
Wu Lu thought and understood, slowly said: “So we let Zhao Cheng’s fools ‘flood’?”
Xuan Chong nodded. — The four by this room’s sandbox plotted a scheme against Zhao Cheng.
This scene like the opening of modern history in Xuan Chong’s previous life books, Bismarck dining with chief of general staff Moltke and army minister Roon, choosing to provoke France.
…Steamed buns already grilled…
Thus, Wu Fei pondered at the table, called Wu Lu to ghostwrite an order! This order was massive “rank selling.”
Wu Lu obediently finished writing, looked up surprised at Wu Fei. Because the concept he always heard was father most fair, blood reward only from blood labor. This order pure “selling ranks,” allowing rich households nationwide to buy ranks.
Wu Lu: “Father, isn’t this breaking rules?”
Xuan Chong: “Not breaking rules, because war coming, wartime large donations can exchange for ranks.”
Wu Lu: “This, why? Um, got it.” Wu Lu very curious why not say clearly.
Xuan Chong arranged this for strategic surprise.
If Xuan Chong issued this order himself, Zhao Cheng’s side would know clearly he would act west.
But Wu Lu issuing, Zhao Cheng’s subordinates remain uncertain! Zhao Cheng’s advisors would hopefully think if Xuan Chong’s internals had “heir and incumbent lord power seizure” issue. Tend to send spies to spread rumors, doing useless work.
For a state, any slightest hope in ruling group births 30% speculators, dragging 70% strategic resources from timely investment.
But for Xuan Chong’s group, whether Xuan Chong or Wu Lu issues, no difference, group’s war bonds all obtained.
Because not from Xuan Chong, those doubting are purely loyal merit factions to Xuan Chong. — Xuan Chong uninterested in this practical faction’s money, wants neutral and speculator factions lending money.
Earlier Wu Family imperial clan and other Lingnan key ministers actively speculating on Wu Lu! Xuan Chong rebuked this “speculation.” But as “Grasping Sparrow” nicknamed Xuan Chong realized, this “speculation” opportunity was internals willing to pay cost for.
Not wasting a penny opportunity, let Wu Lu correctly use “being speculatable” condition, scrape money for national war!
Thus, Wu Lu also used his resources on correct path.
…Wartime economy…
Tong Zheng Calendar year 4 month 11, with “rank bond” issuance, Lingnan’s major merchants who rose with Wu Fei began meetings.
These great clans now earned much from north-south trade; but security zero. Bought much land, but bought land lacks people for farming; to prevent abandonment, must hire from public labor market, hire costs far exceed grain sales income, not worth it.
Because Southern Border grain transport especially abundant, grain prices low in market. Villagers gather at big city factories for work; yearly silver money enough for family food.
Lingnan’s major merchants now took over batch land, resulting in taking the blame. As for abandonment? General’s Mansion has reporting mechanism.
If let land abandon, locals report, then forcibly low-price redeem, redistribute to local village elder councils.
Southern Merchants cannot handle this local reporting system, their money buys land but not servants. No servants means cannot build “local tyrant” system in villages.
Lingnan’s multiple great clans, money piled in “ticket offices,” immobile; like other Southern Merchants with connections, perhaps speculate at Da Yao other vassals. But who can these Lingnan merchants speculate on?
After meeting, great clans confirmed bonds tied to ranks real, hurriedly returned home to burn incense.
Soon each family held clan meetings, counting small money earned past years from Southern Border trade.
Lingnan families decided to endure hard days temporarily, prepare large money for this round “rank bond” sales from south Chong Land, achieve class leap.
Clan leader to some educated promising clan members: “All these years, you studied, did things, but no official posts; now clan prepared path for you, grasp it.”
…Hide wealth among people…
Three months later, Tong Zheng Calendar year 5 month 2, Wu Lu delivered his account bills to Xuan Chong.
When tiny Donghua Commandery donations exceeded 100,000 silver leaves, he felt selling ranks though losing face but worth; after over a million, quite shocked; but now nearly ten million, he felt fear. Wu Lu stayed in Ling River Four Commanderies, knew silver leaf purchasing power. Knew goods consumption for ten households buying.
He saw records: Xuan Chong early entrepreneurship conquering Ling River Four Commanderies, destroying Li Huo Sect, total only 1.27 million silver leaves. Now, Donghua Commandery sales money enough for seven-eight Southern Border campaigns.
Wu Lu now not joyful “made money,” but horrified below rich households had such terrifying wealth, he atop unaware.
However Xuan Chong glanced data smiled. Seeing panicked Wu Lu, gave him another more severe archive info, Security Bureau on southern front Xiang Prefecture, i.e. Donghua Commandery line, arranged “agents” intercepting various letters.
Security Bureau third group sorted detailed evidence of Donghua Commandery some persons secretly colluding outside.
Wu Lu jumped up, then pressed down by Xuan Chong: “See, rushing again.”
Xuan Chong: “Three years silent, three years wingless; these self-proclaimed talented young sages naturally indignant, want to switch allegiance.”
Wu Lu: “Father, we?”
Xuan Chong: “Record, record.”
…Xuan Chong: Let them have a good, um, Qingming…
Xuan Chong kept these letters naturally to collect another big sum later; if Donghua Commandery great noble families cannot pay, their bought ranks for hometown villagers all canceled!
As saying goes “a measure of rice is a favor, a dou of rice is enmity”.
These great noble families want to buy batch clansmen as local backbone, Xuan Chong lets them know, giving subordinates ranks but cannot protect, what end.
For handling local strongmen, Xuan Chong’s consistent method: instigate their internal fighting.
