nashuaworldcup Chapter 355 Choosing a Strategic Direction
Chapter 355 Choosing a Strategic Direction
Liu Ye's heart skipped a beat. He'd been so busy traveling south and to Japan that he'd completely forgotten about the concubine he needed to take. Then, hearing Lin Shiyue suddenly mention Dong Mingdang, Liu Ye became alert. What was going on here?
In the past, Liu Ye would likely have answered frankly that taking a concubine was a private matter and no one else needed to concern themselves with it. But today was different. Lin Shiyue's political acumen and strategic vision, along with her connections to her uncle and father, were exactly what Liu Ye needed. This once seemingly proud and willful daughter of an official had suddenly become very important to him. Since he had already decided on a marriage alliance, he couldn't afford to offend her easily, even if this yet-to-be-married concubine was her best friend.
He looked to Mu Tianyan for help, his eyes asking: "Your Excellency, how should I answer? Should I admit it or deny it?"
Mu Tianyan had heard about the untold story between Liu Ye and the female manager of the money exchange. Besides, she knew the whole story of how Duan Mengrou's nominal father, Gao Hongtu, was brought down by him and Liu Ye. Seeing Liu Ye's plea for help, he coughed, giving her a look that said, "You're on your own; I can't help you," before looking up to examine the roof beams.
Helpless, Liu Ye turned to look at Lin Shiyue and hesitated before answering, "This is just a misunderstanding. I never said I would bring Duan Mengrou back to Lingao..." In his view, Lin Shiyue's connections were very important, and Lin Shiyue herself was also exceptionally politically astute. If a marriage alliance was needed to win her over and her father and uncle, then Duan Mengrou could be abandoned—it was just an accident after drinking, and it wasn't like he was determined to marry her. At worst, he could just give her more compensation.
Upon hearing this, Lin Shiyue raised her eyebrows and said with dissatisfaction, "There are rumors all over the place that she is your woman, General Liu. Whether you spread these rumors on purpose or someone else did, she is already unmarriageable. Moreover, she told me herself that you wanted to take her as a concubine and said that she would be married in a few days. Now it has been almost half a year. Are you planning to abandon her after taking advantage of her?"
Liu Ye was dumbfounded. Was this a prelude to forcing him to take a concubine? He carefully observed Lin Shiyue's expression and, to make sure she wasn't being sarcastic or testing him, cautiously said, "Well, I was just saying we won't bring her back to Lingao. She can stay in Guangzhou after she's married. The money shop still needs her right now."
Lin Shiyue's expression changed from anger to joy, "This is acceptable."
Liu Ye couldn't help but ask, "Ms. Lin, if I may ask, when you caught me with Duan Mengrou, your attitude wasn't like this. Why are you acting like this today..."
Lin Shiyue blushed. She naturally wouldn't admit that her 180-degree change in attitude stemmed from her aunt's constant indoctrination with tales of vying for favor in the imperial harem. Her aunt repeatedly warned her that if she married a powerful man, multiple wives and concubines were inevitable. Therefore, she needed to find allies and form a united front; otherwise, even the first wife would be bullied. Since Duan Mengrou was already in this relationship with Liu Ye, and entering the Liu family was a certainty, it was better to support her and prepare for the future by cultivating a future ally—what ally could be more reliable than a best friend?
Thinking of this, Lin Shiyue blushed even more. Liu Ye hadn't made any move, yet she was thinking about how to marry into the Liu family and was considering things so far ahead. It was so embarrassing. Was this still the proud and aloof person she used to be?
Feeling utterly ashamed, she said, "You figure that out yourself," and turned to leave the room.
Liu Ye breathed a sigh of relief; he had finally gotten rid of this young lady. He turned to bid farewell to Mu Tianyan and then left the governor's office.
Back in Lingao, Liu Ye called a meeting with everyone. Heading north was a strategic issue that required careful consideration; he had proposed the general direction, but others needed to refine it.
After everyone arrived, Liu Ye briefly recounted the conversation at the governor's office and concluded: "As long as there is a suitable reason, we should send troops to Shandong. Shandong has the population we need and can also serve as a springboard for our northward advance. This sub-base must be taken."
Originally, it was thought to be a meeting of unity, harmony, and pioneering spirit. No one would question the leader's direction, and everyone would be closely united around the team centered around General Liu, working together to achieve the Qiongzhou Camp's dominance. Liu Ye's original intention was simply to have everyone fill in his gaps and clarify everyone's tasks and duties; he hadn't intended to discuss with everyone whether or not they needed to head north.
Unexpectedly, at the very beginning of the meeting, Liang Xiaoming, the second-in-command who never interfered with the political direction, jumped out and raised his questions: "You told me a long time ago that we should get involved in Shandong, but there are a few things I still don't understand. We have now expelled the Dutch and Spanish, established a customs office in Tainan, and have the foundation to manage Taiwan. Taiwan's resources and land need time to be digested. Why not manage Taiwan properly instead of rushing north? Qiongzhou Prefecture is our base, but we haven't completely controlled it yet. The remote prefectures and counties are beyond our control, and the Wuzhishan hinterland is still dominated by the Li people. Why not completely control this rear area before talking about other things? If it's just because Qiongzhou lacks population, why not find a solution nearby instead of crossing half of China to recruit people from Shandong? Doesn't Guangdong have people? There are also the wolf soldiers from Guangxi, who are a good resource for mountain infantry. If we want to expand the army, the wolf soldiers are also a good choice. Even the local Li people can be incorporated into the mountain infantry. Wouldn't it be a waste not to use them!"
Liang Xiaoming's long-winded speech surprised not only the others, but also Liu Ye. He asked curiously, "Mingzi, are you trying to usurp power, or are you planning to start your own business? I've never seen you express your opinions on these issues before. Why are you criticizing me like this right off the bat?"
Liang Xiaoming waved his hands repeatedly: "I didn't mean that. You are the only leader, but that doesn't mean you're always right. I don't want to be a communist, but I can be Peng Dehuai! I just feel that the rear isn't fully secure yet, and rushing north to open up branch bases is too big a step and will backfire." In his mind, stabilizing the main base and then slowly advancing is the safest approach. Isn't that how you do it in strategy games like Romance of the Three Kingdoms? Jumping from Guangdong to Shandong, with the military flag becoming a game of checkers, he always felt it was a bit too hasty.
Liu Ye didn't answer directly, but instead asked the crowd, "What Master Liang said makes sense, we can't say he's wrong. What are your thoughts?"
Sun Yuanhua pondered for a moment and said, “I think Brother Liang’s words have some merit. Besides, I have served as the governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou. Shandong is not far from the capital, nor is it far from Liaodong. Once the Tartars enter the pass, they can penetrate deep into the heart of Shandong at any time if they want. If we want to choose a place to operate outside of Qiongzhou, Shandong does not seem to be a safe place. Managing Guangdong and Guangxi and Qiongzhou well, and then gradually making plans, is a prudent choice.”