Chapter 257 Mao Jie's Speculation
"Looking at Tian Ze's style of doing things, he has a strong desire for control and is good at creating momentum. He has always won by being steady."
"He would rather be the enemy of the aristocratic families in the world than promote public ownership of land. Such courage is rare in history."
"However, when they clearly have an absolute advantage, they are willing to give up the Northeast Plain and develop it together with the noble families under their rule, which are clearly under their complete control. This move is definitely not to ease the relationship with the noble families and powerful people in the world."
"Given his overbearing style, it is impossible that he wants to disintegrate the powerful families from within, and it is even more impossible that he wants to give up everything he has done before and continue to rule the world together with the aristocratic families."
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao nodded slightly.
The population, land, and property under Tian Ze's command are now greater than those of all other princes and aristocratic families combined. When he started out, he dared to confront the aristocratic families. With such a huge advantage, Tian Ze would definitely not seek trouble for himself.
"In the battle of Hebei, Lü Fengxian was defeated. According to common sense, it would not be surprising for him to deal with Lü Fengxian, whether by killing him or using him."
"However, Tian Ze left them in the northern part of Bingzhou, and did not move his civil and military forces at all, and even left a lot of civilians behind."
"This behavior is extremely unreasonable for him. Unless..."
"Unless he wants to implement the feudal system and let Lu Fengxian go to a place that he can hardly take care of to establish a fiefdom." Cao Cao said in a deep voice.
As a lord, he knew best that there must be only this reason why a lord would do such a thing.
"This is the only reasonable explanation." Mao Jie, whose talent was activated, rarely showed a solemn expression.
"In Tian Chengshou's eyes, this world is probably too small. His vision goes beyond this."
"A person with such ambitions must consider the world from a holistic perspective. In his eyes, the world we see may only be a part of what he will get sooner or later, and it is the basic foundation."
"The foundation for conquering the real world."
"That's why he was so determined to preserve the vitality of the Central Plains and provided us with a large amount of food and fodder."
"He is not afraid of playing with fire and getting burned." Cao Cao said with a hint of bitterness.
"If Tian Ze stood at this angle, where do you think his next target would be, lord?"
"Shouldn't it be the Central Plains?" Cao Cao frowned.
Mao Jie shook his head gently: "My Lord, Tian Chengshou attaches extraordinary importance to population, and even does not let go of people of other races."
"As far as Jie knows, not all of these foreigners are used by Tian Chengshou for labor and service. Many of them are being educated by him, and he intends to convert them into Han people."
"It takes a lot of time to educate the foreign races. So from Tian Chengshou's perspective, pacifying and absorbing the foreign races is a higher priority than us. Otherwise, he would not have chosen to spend nearly two years of his golden period to attack the Northeast Plain."
"Compared to us, Tian Chengshou probably pays more attention to the Xianbei people outside the Great Wall."
"But the area beyond the Great Wall is not as vast as the Northeast Plain. The Han Dynasty was so powerful, but it still failed to bring it under its rule after hundreds of years of war. How could Tian Chengshou easily conquer it?" Cao Cao questioned.
"No, it's very likely." Mao Jie sighed.
"Before Tian Chengshou conquered the Northeast Plain, could anyone in the world imagine that the Northeast Plain could also be brought under the rule of the Han people?"
"Although the area outside the Great Wall is several times wider than the Northeast Plain, it still has boundaries. According to historical records, there are continuous and towering mountains in the north and west of the Great Wall."
"Referring to the Northeast Plain, it is possible that Tian Chengshou would use these mountains as the border to station troops and bring all the areas outside the Great Wall under his rule."
"The Northeast Plain is a fertile land, but the land outside the Great Wall is all grassland! How can such a place develop?" Cao Cao said. The Han Dynasty was not short of smart people. After the Northeast Plain was developed, many princes and powerful families on the border explored the surrounding area again, hoping to find another "Northeast Plain".
However, they all returned disappointed. Even though places like southwest Yizhou had certain potential, they did not have the conditions to develop them.
"My lord, Tian Chengshou's rule is not short of food, but there is a big gap in meat. Moreover, Tian Chengshou also invented sweaters, blankets and other items. Although the economic value of the grassland is low, it is probably worth developing now."
"And Tian Chengshou has already piloted this in the Northeast Plain, obviously in preparation for future promotion."
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao nodded slightly, but still felt that what Mao Jie said was not entirely reasonable.
Mao Jie naturally knew that his speculation would not convince Cao Cao, so he changed his angle.
"My Lord, how will you and Yuan Benchu respond to Tian Chengshou's all-out attack on the Central Plains?"
"Unite Liu Bei, Sun Ce, Gongsun Zan, Li Jue, Guo Si and even Liu Yan, and attack him together. Stretch the battle line and lure the enemy deep into our territory. Even if we have to destroy the Central Plains, we must kill Tian Chengshou." Cao Cao said gritting his teeth.
When the strength reaches Tian Ze's level, it is no longer possible to destroy them in one or two battles. Moreover, a battle of this scale no longer relies on tactics, but more on strategy and foundation.
Although he and Yuan Shao may be relatively weaker, they have the advantage of geographical location and home field, and they can focus on defense and fight with Tian Ze for two years.
"Compared with you and Yuan Benchu, and the princes of the world, who is stronger?"
"Benchu and I are stronger." Cao Cao said confidently.
"If the war goes badly, do you think Tian Chengshou has the ability to trap and kill you and Yuan Benchu?"
"Impossible." Cao Cao said without hesitation.
Just kidding, with their strength, who doesn't have some backup plans? Especially in a large-scale battle, it is not difficult to evacuate.
Although the battles at the end of the Han Dynasty were so brutal, there was not a single prince who was actually besieged and died.
"If the Central Plains is lost, what will you and Lord Yuan do? Surrender to Tian Chengshou?"
"Impossible. I will lead my troops westward and fight in Sili, or lead them southward to join forces with Liu Bei and Sun Ce. I will never surrender no matter what."
"In this case, isn't the situation obvious?" Mao Jie said.
"Xiaoxian, what do you mean?" After listening to Mao Jie's words, Cao Cao suddenly understood something.
"When Qin conquered the six kingdoms, it first took Korea, which was remote and weak. Tian Ze's best choice is naturally the same, starting with the weak and then the strong."
"Attacking the Central Plains is, firstly, too difficult. Secondly, the destruction of the Central Plains is not worth the loss for Tian Ze. Thirdly, after the lord and Yuan Benchu are defeated, they cannot be eliminated. They will only retreat to the south to strengthen the strength of Liu Bei and others."
"If I were Tian Chengshou, I would first take over Sili, then capture Xiliang and Yizhou, cut off the space for you, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, and Sun Ce to develop, form a huge encirclement, and then unify them."
"Besides, the importance of Yizhou's natural defenses, the unpredictable relationship between Gongsun Zan and Tian Ze in Liangzhou, and the good opportunity for internal strife between Li Jue and Guo Si in Sili, these are all things that Tian Chengshou needs to consider."
"The best option is to take over these three states first and put them in safe hands."
Cao Cao was suddenly enlightened when he heard this, and could not help but sigh: "Xiaoxian is really a great talent! Your words are like a cloud of fog has been cleared, and my eyes are suddenly opened!"
(End of this chapter)
