Chapter 51: You're in my hands, and you still want to run away? [Read more]

Jin Mao started from the beginning of the story of the Jiao family and told her everything that had happened.

"At first, I just wanted to grow good crops to feed more people, but the Jiao family in Taimo County..."

Xi Zhicai took the pen knife and bamboo slips, listening, asking and writing what was being written.

"Taimu County is west of Wushang County?"

"That's right." Jin Mao continued to talk about his great achievements: "That night, I defeated the Yao tribe and captured Pan Lin..."

"The Yao people are in the south of Wushang County?"

"Not all of them." Jin Mao added: "They are all in the south of Taimo County and Wushang County."

Xi Zhicai nodded and added to the records.

"The Jiao family in Taimu County was destroyed, and Jiao Laogou fled to Shangyu. I don't know where Jiao Laogou is hiding, so I'll start with the Zhuji County branch..."

"Zhuji is to the north of Wushang?"

"That's right." Jin Mao didn't know what Xizhi wanted to know, so he continued speaking.

Zhang'an County, Yongning County, Shan County, Juzhang County, Shangyu County, Shanyin County, and Yuyao County.

For every place name, Xi Zhicai would ask for the direction.

Soon, bamboo slips were scattered all over the ground.

Jin Mao also told the whole story and looked at Xi Zhicai expectantly.

With the example of Yu Fan, Jin Mao believed that Xi Zhicai had such a sharp insight into problems that he would definitely be able to come up with a strategy as soon as he opened his mouth.

Unexpectedly, Xi Zhicai was not in a hurry and sorted the bamboo slips into different categories.

He kept muttering something and closed his eyes for a while before picking up his pen knife again.

However, this time, the place where Xi Zhicai wrote became the floor.

Then, Jin Mao's eyes widened suddenly and he looked at Xi Zhicai in disbelief.

“This is Wushang, this is Zhuji, this is Shangyu…”

That’s right, Xi Zhicai carved a map on the ground!

The location of each county is correct. The most outrageous thing is that the distance between each county is very close to the map scale!

Xi Zhicai reproduced most of the map of Kuaiji County that Jin Mao had seen in later generations!
"There really are such outrageous people in this world!"

Jin Mao looked at Xi Zhicai as if he was looking at a rare treasure: "If I let such a great talent go..."

"No! I will never let him go in this life!"

Xi Zhicai didn't know this, and was still analyzing seriously: "The Southern Commander of Kuaiji County is stationed in Yongning County."

"I heard that this Southern Commander was once a subordinate of Zhu Cheqi, and Yongning County is south of Zhang'an County."

Xi Zhicai drew a line on the map and then drew three scissors, all pointing to Wushang County.

"In other words, except for Shan County, which was taken away by you, all the roads from north to south have been blocked."

"If Zhu Cheqizi joins forces with the Southern Commander of Kuaiji County to attack you together..."

Xi Zhicai threw down his pen knife and sighed, "You only have two options left, either surrender or go into the mountains."

Hearing this, Jin Mao's hair stood on end. He thought it was difficult enough, but he didn't expect it to be such a deadly situation!

Now he had no confidence that he could defeat the 2,000 regular troops of the Southern Commander, so what Xi Zhicai said was absolutely right.

"Sir! Please save me!"

"Cough cough." Xi Zhicai coughed twice and was about to speak when he was interrupted by Jin Mao.

"Someone, come here! Hurry up and serve the gentleman some tea!"

A quarter of an hour later.

Xi Zhicai sipped the tea in a relaxed manner, praising: "Your utensil is really convenient. I don't even need to swallow a single tea leaf."

Jin Mao was in no mood to listen to this, and said eagerly: "Sir, you have drunk your tea, isn't it time to..."

"No hurry." Xi Zhicai waved his hand calmly, making Jin Mao so anxious that he almost jumped up.

"Jinwushang, I have a question that I would like you to answer."

Jin Mao said anxiously: "Don't mention one, even a hundred will be no problem!"

Xi Zhicai nodded, his expression suddenly serious: "Jin Wu was injured, do you know how strong the Southern Commander is now?" "This..." Jin Mao recalled: "I heard that there are 2,000 elite soldiers."

Xi Zhicai shook his head: "That was the strength when it was reset in the sixth year of Yonghe (141 AD). It was years ago and cannot be counted."

"Oh! I understand!" Jin Mao was overjoyed: "Sir, you mean that the Southern Commander is vulnerable now."

Xi Zhicai laughed and waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no, no."

"The Southern Commander has been fighting the Shanyue for many years, so he must be quite powerful."

Xi Zhicai picked up the tea bowl and took another sip before saying, "What I mean is, suppose the Southern Commander is not as strong as before, and the Shanyue people happen to be causing trouble near his jurisdiction, then, will he still have the energy to take care of you?"

Jin Mao felt that this sentence was a ray of light in the darkness, instantly piercing through the darkness.

“I understand again!”

"When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy is stationed, we harass; when the enemy is tired, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue."

"Sir, you are so talented!" Jin Mao exclaimed sincerely, "I didn't expect you to know the tactics of travelogue!"

Xi Zhicai was stunned for a moment, picked up the tea bowl, drank the tea to cover up his embarrassment, and remembered the sixteen words Jin Mao said deeply in his heart.

This is a military strategy that I have never heard of!

However, dealing with the Southern Commander was only the first step in Xi Zhicai's plan. If he wanted to go home early, he also had to deal with Zhu Fu, the source of the trouble.

"Now that Jinwu is no longer worried, we can fight the enemy in the north."

Jin Mao also realized the point. He became much more respectful and bowed before saying, "Please teach me, sir."

Xi Zhicai nodded with satisfaction. It felt really good to be valued.

"A dragon gives birth to nine sons, each one is different."

"Don't let the injury to Jinwu blind you. Young Master Zhu Fu does want to be your enemy, but there is more than one young master in Zhu Cheqi."

Xi Zhicai said slowly: "I heard that the second son Zhu Hao hates evil and is a gentleman."

"What do you think would happen if the Second Young Master knew what the First Young Master did?"

Now, Jin Mao's eyes can really be described as shining. All the celebrities should step aside. No one can compare to Mr. Xi Zhicai.

Just one word, awesome!
In fact, Xi Zhicai had not yet mentioned the final step of his plan, because there was no need to do so. This step was enough for him to return safely.

"Please stay for a few more days, sir." Jin Mao said enthusiastically, "Let me finish these trivial matters, and then we'll drink together!"

Xi Zhicai sat firmly on the Diaoyutai and nodded calmly.

"Somebody come!"

"I will provide you with good food and wine every day. As long as you don't do anything illegal, all your requests will be met!"

After finishing the superficial work, Jin Mao pulled Jin Yang to a distance and whispered: "You have to keep a close eye on the master!"

"Even if the master goes to the toilet, he cannot leave your sight!"

"If I come back and can't find you, don't follow me!"

"Yes!" Jin Yang assured: "Uncle, just wait and see, even if the gentleman enters..."

"Watch your words!" Jin Mao was serious for a moment, then said softly, "If you can keep an eye on the master, I will allow you to call me uncle in front of others, and you will also get some benefits!"

Golden Goat was shaking with excitement; he had finally waited for this day.

Putting aside his excitement, Jin Mao convened a high-level military meeting in Wushang County.

Soon, except Lanzhi who was unable to come to Yao village, the other six main leaders all arrived.

In addition to Bai Shi, Pan Lin, Gong Lei and Liu Mu, two newcomers were promoted to leader and political commissar of the third team due to their merits.

Huang Xing, one of the early personal soldiers, was promoted to the leader of the third team by Huang Li's cousin in Wushang County: Yang Lin, one of the personal soldiers, was promoted to the political commissar of the third team.

The weapons brought back from Shan County were distributed to the three teams. Currently, only the more than 260 people in the first and second teams are wearing armor. The first and second teams have all the weapons, but the third team only has the newly issued 100 iron weapons, and the others are still using wooden spears with sharpened tips.

"Pan Lin, Gong Lei." Jin Mao began to arrange the tasks: "From now on, you two will lead the second team to the vicinity of Yongning County to contain the southern commander."

"Remember, your primary goal is to contain and harass the enemy, not to kill them."

Jin Mao then taught the two men the sixteen words of guerrilla warfare: "As long as you prevent the Southern Commander's troops from leaving Yongning County, you will have done a great deed!"

Still worried, Jin Mao ordered: "For this mission, Gong Lei is the leader and Pan Lin is the deputy. If you encounter any indecisive matters, listen to Gong Lei!"

(End of this chapter)