aircannonsinc Chapter 817: Make a stable move in advance!
Chapter 817: Make a stable move in advance!
In stark contrast to Xiao He's excitement, Gao Yao stood before the map. With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood tall and straight, his gaze fixed intently on the Xianyang symbol, a symbol of supreme glory. His face betrayed no trace of smugness, but instead a layer of quiet contemplation. Upon hearing Xiao He's words, he slowly turned, a gentle yet warning smile playing on his lips as he gently shook his head.
"Haha, Xiao He, you're at it again." Gao Yao's voice was steady and powerful, like a rock thrown into a torrent. "Capturing Xianyang is undoubtedly a great joy, the most glorious achievement of this campaign. But especially at times like this, we must guard against arrogance and impatience. Things like this can't be rushed."
He walked over to the desk, picked up a copy of the latest rear-line briefing, and tapped on it. "You're right. Taking Xianyang means everything south of the Yellow River will be ours. Adding the three Nanhai counties and part of the Maurya Kingdom, our territory alone may indeed exceed the former heyday of the Qin Dynasty. But, Xiao He..."
Gao Yao's tone suddenly grew serious, and he looked at Xiao He with a sharp gaze: "This is only 'big' on paper! The real gap, as we both know, is far more than a thousand miles."
He walked to the front of the map and pointed his finger at the locations of Nanhai, Guilin and Xiangjun counties: "If it weren't for our army's management, the three counties of Nanhai would be vast and full of malaria. They may seem vast, but in fact their combined population is less than that of a prosperous Nanjun in the Central Plains! This is the reality, the cold and cruel reality!" Gao Yao's voice was filled with a hint of helplessness, but also with the clarity that decision makers must face up to the problem.
"The South," he sighed, as if stating an age-old dilemma, "is vast and sparsely populated, a land riddled with miasma. Development is difficult and won't happen overnight. How much national strength and lives did the First Emperor expend in his southern expedition against the Baiyue? Only then did he manage to establish these three counties. Even when I first arrived in Nanjun, you haven't forgotten what it was like. It still required a large number of immigrants to settle the border, reclaim wasteland, dredge rivers, and appease the natives. It took a full ten years to achieve the current state. Even now, many of the people there have migrated from various counties to the three Nanhai counties."
Gao Yao returned to the main seat and sat down, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table. His gaze once again turned towards Xianyang, but with a deeper consideration: "So, I said that after taking Xianyang, we will temporarily fall into a 'strategic defense' posture. This is not cowardice, but an inevitable choice based on reality."
He paused, his voice deep and powerful, with unquestionable determination: "Ever since Han Xin led his troops across the river, kicking off this battle, we've been fighting intermittently for nearly a year and a half! Our soldiers are human beings, not iron machines!" Gao Yao's eyes seemed to flash before his eyes those tired but resolute faces, "A year and a half of bloody battles, traveling thousands of miles, sleeping in the open air. Even the most elite soldiers have their muscles and bones exhausted, and their spirits are stretched to the limit. If this continues, not only will our combat effectiveness decline sharply, but even more terrifying is..."
Gao Yao's eyes grew grave. "War weariness will spread through the army like a plague! It will initially be homesickness, then lead to doubts about the endless campaigns, ultimately leading to low morale and even uncontrollable mutiny! This is a cardinal sin in military strategy! What we need is a fierce army capable of sustained conquest, not an exhausted army that will eventually collapse under repeated extreme pressure!"
A brief silence fell in the study. The excitement on Xiao He's face gradually faded, replaced by deep thought and recognition. He understood Gao Yao's deeper meaning: the capture of Xianyang was the pinnacle of glory, but it was also the starting point of a new journey. Solidifying the foundation, digesting the results of the battle, allowing the weary soldiers and civilians to recuperate, accumulating strength, and laying a solid foundation for greater goals in the future—this is the true way of a king. Beneath that seemingly "defensive" posture, concealed a more far-reaching strategic offensive.
For Gao Yao, the eight counties he was about to conquer, combined with those he had already acquired, felt like a suddenly expanded territory, vibrant in color yet tinged with a sense of precariousness. Gao Yao's gaze slowly swept over these newly acquired areas, his gaze filled not only with the ambition of expanding territory but also with deep worry and calm calculation.
"Rest and recuperation for the soldiers is only one aspect." Gao Yao's voice broke the silence in the study. He turned to Xiao He and spoke gravely, "It is true that our army has sufficient food and fodder. Our treasury is full, more than enough to support the current army's rest and recuperation. But the key issue is no longer the food and fodder, but whether we can digest this huge supply we have suddenly swallowed!"
He tapped his finger heavily on the map, representing the vast expanse of eight newly conquered counties. "A year and a half! Eight counties! This speed far exceeds our original plan!" Gao Yao's brow furrowed, as if he could sense the heavy pressure being transmitted through the map. "This completely contradicts the 'steady and steady' strategy I've been pursuing since I started my rebellion. What was my original intention? 'Capture a city, stabilize a city, and revitalize a city!' Like meticulous cultivation, taking every step carefully, so that the foundation is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and effective governance."
Gao Yao's tone was filled with a hint of helplessness and urgency. "But what about now? The eight counties are pouring into our pockets like a tide. Our governance structure, our reserve of officials, and the speed of our policy implementation are all unable to keep up! This is our most fatal weakness! It's like a person with a small appetite who forcefully swallows several times their own food. Not only will it not strengthen their body, but it will also risk rupturing their internal organs!"
He walked over to his desk, picked up a rough report from the newly occupied county, and spoke in a graver tone, "Look at the current situation! In order to quickly restore order and prevent further chaos, we have no choice but to retain a large number of existing local officials, even some clerks and powerful officials! This is a temporary solution, seemingly saving time and effort, and it can keep the city calm on the surface, preventing the people from immediately falling into panic."
"However," Gao Yao's voice suddenly rose, carrying a profound warning. "How well do these so-called 'locals' understand our new policies? How loyal are they to us? They're nothing but fence-sitters! Today, they submit to me, Gao Yao, wherever my troops point their spears; tomorrow, if someone else becomes more powerful, who knows if they won't turn against me? Expecting them to sincerely implement my policies and consolidate my foundation is nothing but wishful thinking! They're lucky to be able to keep the area from falling into chaos. They can't provide us with any substantial assistance, let alone integrate resources or channel manpower!"