Zhuge Liang will be Left Strategist, and you, Xiao He, will be Right Strategist.
What do you think?” As soon as he heard this, Xiao He frowned slightly.
To make him feel valued, Liu Bei had even split the strategist post into left and right, which showed how much thought he had put into it.
In the Han court the right side was honored, but in the army the left side held higher rank.
Zhuge Liang had more seniority than he did, so it made sense for him to be Left Strategist.
The real issue was that Xiao He did not actually want to be Right Strategist.
It was not because he minded being half a step below Zhuge Liang, but because he felt the office was too high.
The Right Strategist would be the number two figure among the advisers.
The pressure would be great, the burden heavy, and the amount of thought it would demand in the future was easy to imagine.
Xiao He was used to a steady life, and while he had no intention of slacking off, he also did not want to put too much pressure on himself.
He would have preferred a position with a little more ease.
When Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang saw that Xiao He was not answering and was even frowning, they exchanged a quiet glance.
Could it be that Xiao He thought the post of Right Strategist was too low and felt dissatisfied?
After a brief turn of thought, Zhuge Liang hurriedly cupped his hands toward Liu Bei.
“lord, Xiao He’s talent is ten times mine.
How could he stand on my right side?” “I believe Xiao He should be Left Strategist, and I can be Right Strategist instead.” Zhuge Liang was generous and immediately offered to give up the chief strategist position, willing to stand below Xiao He.
Hearing this, Xiao He quickly waved his hands.
“Zhuge Liang, you misunderstand.
It is not that I think the office is too small.
I think lord is giving me a post that is too high.” Liu Bei was startled.
Zhuge Liang was startled as well.
The advisers and officers on both sides were also stunned.
People had heard of others thinking an office was too small, but never of someone thinking an office was too large.
As expected of a man from beyond the ordinary world, his thinking was completely different from that of common people.
That was what everyone silently thought.
“Xiao He, are you being modest again?
I say your ability is more than enough for the post of Right Strategist, so stop refusing.” Zhang Fei slammed down his cup, jumped to his feet, and shouted.
He clearly thought Xiao He was only speaking politely.
The others came to the same realization and joined Zhang Fei in urging Xiao He not to decline out of modesty.
Xiao He could only complain inwardly, because he was not being modest at all.
He truly did not want this post.
“It is not modesty.
It is only that I have always been unknown, and the position of strategist is far too important.
If Cao Cao were to learn that lord had appointed some idle man from the countryside as strategist, then I fear…” Xiao He tried to explain, but halfway through he no longer knew how to finish and rubbed his forehead with his fingers.
A sharp light flashed in Zhuge Liang’s eyes, as if he had understood something.
“I understand Xiao He’s deeper meaning now.
Xiao He is a hidden recluse who has never been known to the world.” “If lord appoints him as strategist all at once, and the news reaches Cao Cao, it will surely make Cao Cao’s army wary and put them on guard.
Xiao He is a sharp sword for lord to use against Cao Cao, so how can he be shown so easily and allow them to prepare against him?
That is why you do not wish to be Right Strategist.
Am I correct?” Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan and supplied a perfect explanation for Xiao He.
Xiao He was delighted to find that Zhuge Liang’s reasoning was smooth and fully convincing, without a single flaw.
He immediately nodded again and again.
“Yes, yes, yes.
Zhuge Liang is right.
That is exactly what I mean.” Liu Bei suddenly understood and stroked his beard with a slight nod.
“So Xiao He, you truly have thought this through carefully.
You are a sharp sword in my hand, and it is indeed not right to show you to the enemy too soon.” After a brief pause, he changed his wording.
“In that case, Xiao He, you may first serve as an aide.
After we drive back Cao Cao, you can then be promoted to Right Strategist.
What do you think?” This was exactly what Xiao He wanted, and he happily nodded.
“Good, good, good.
Aide is very good.
Many thanks, lord.” With that, the matter of Xiao He’s position and treatment was settled.
Liu Bei also let out a quiet breath of relief.
Then, with everyone gathered, he used the opportunity to discuss plans for resisting Cao Cao.
Everyone offered their own views.
Xiao He had missed breakfast and was now starving, so while the others competed to present plans and strategies, he kept his head down and ate and drank.
After all, Xiangyang had already been taken, and with the natural barrier of the Han River in hand, people like Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu were enough to deal with Cao Cao.
There was no need for him to tire his own mind over it.
“Cao Cao’s troops are all northerners and are not used to fighting on water.
Since they have no navy, that is their greatest weakness.” Zhuge Liang spoke calmly as the discussion continued.
“Our basic strategy is to use the natural barrier of the Han River and rely on our advantage in naval warfare to block Cao Cao’s forces north of the river.
However, the Han River is not the Yangtze.
During the dry season, the water level drops greatly, and Cao Cao’s forces will not need a navy.
They can simply use wooden rafts and bamboo rafts to cross quickly and land on shore, threatening our Xiangyang.” “For that reason, Fancheng absolutely cannot be abandoned, and a great general must hold it.
As long as Fancheng remains in our hands, then even if Cao Cao’s army has a million troops, not a single sail will be able to move downstream, and Xiangyang will stand as steady as a mountain.” Zhuge Liang summarized the discussion and then pointed north with his feather fan.
“The troops we can spare for Fancheng amount to only a little more than ten thousand, yet they will have to resist fierce attacks from more than a hundred thousand Cao Cao troops.
The pressure is easy to imagine.” “That is why I believe the duty of defending Fancheng can belong to no one but General Guan Yu.” Guan Yu lifted his gaze proudly and cupped his hands toward Liu Bei.
“Elder brother, be at ease.
With your foolish younger brother holding Fancheng, even if Cao Cao has a million troops, there is nothing to fear.” Liu Bei nodded slightly.
He trusted Guan Yu’s ability.
Then Zhuge Liang pointed south with his feather fan and continued.
“Once Cao Cao’s forces press against Fancheng, they will surely order Liu Cong to lead troops north from Jiangling and strike our Xiangfan from both north and south.
So the southern direction also needs a great general to hold it.” “Therefore, General Zhang Fei should lead seven thousand men south to seize Yicheng and block Liu Cong’s forces from moving north to retake Xiangyang.