Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 138 Unchangeable

The fifth year of Zhongping, October of winter.

Inside Anli Village, the infantrymen were marching in formation and practicing drill, while the cavalrymen were running and practicing archery. The noise was so loud that it could be heard within miles.

Zhang Yu put on his armor and held his sword, and went up to the stage to watch the infantry training. Meng Ningzhi and Gao Shun stood upright, guarding Zhang Yu on both sides.

The flag ordered to advance to the right, but one of the soldiers in the formation was moving in disorder. Zhang Yu frowned and asked, "Bo'an, what's going on?"

Meng Ningzhi bowed his head and said, "Captain, I failed in my leadership and will punish the soldiers and officers severely later."

Zhang Yu looked serious and said, "The Zuoxiao Camp has been in place for three months. Your Majesty has long intended to use our troops to suppress the rebellion. Now Bo'an's troops are still making mistakes in training. If we encounter a large enemy army, I don't know how we can fight them."

Meng Ningzhi was filled with shame and said, "I have failed to live up to your expectations. I beg you to punish me!"

Zhang Yu looked at Gao Shun and asked, "If Zixun lets you lead this unit, how long will it take for them to reach the level of your troops?"

Gao Shun was serious and said with his hands clasped, "Captain, the training of Marquis Mengqu has been effective, but the command flag is not clear. If I am allowed to supervise the training, in five days at the fastest and ten days at the slowest, they will be as disciplined as our troops."

Previously, Zhang Yu was worried that Gao Shun's troops did not meet his requirements, and he often observed them on the battlefield. After a few days of observation, Zhang Yu had to admit that Gao Shun was good at training troops. After that, Zhang Yu no longer worried about Gao Shun's troops, but often urged Meng Ningzhi and cared about the cavalry training.

Zhang Yu hesitated for a moment and said, "Three months ago, I told you that if you could train the troops well, I would transfer you to be the acting Sima. Now I will fulfill my promise. I will appoint you as the acting Sima and command 500 infantrymen on my behalf."

"Thank you Captain!"

Gao Shun looked calm and said in a deep voice, "Shun has lived up to the captain's expectations!"

Seeing this, Meng Ningzhi became a little depressed. He had only been in charge of the troops for a short time and was more of a novice in training them. He was convinced by Zhang Yu's promotion of Gao Shun.

While they were talking, a palace attendant entered the camp and walked towards Zhang Yu.

"Captain Zhang, His Majesty has ordered the captains from the West Garden to come to the Nangong Palace to discuss matters." The attendant reported.

"Thank you, angel!"

Zhang Yu bowed his hands in thanks and said, "Yu will be there later!"

"Hurry up, don't go past noon!" the servant reminded.

"it is good!"

After dealing with the palace attendants, Zhang Yu said to Gao Shun, "Zixun, go and prepare now, and help Bo Ning train the troops later."

"promise!"

After Gao Shun left, Zhang Yu said to Meng Ningzhi, "Bo'an, you have followed me for several years and are already a senior official, but you have grown too little recently."

"I have disappointed the captain!" Meng Ningzhi said with his head down.

“I’m not disappointed!”

Zhang Yu shook his head and said, "How can I be disappointed since you have been following me for several years? I am actually worried that you will feel uncomfortable in the future because many people around you have been promoted while you are stuck in the position of Qu Hou."

Meng Ningzhi remained silent!
Zhang Yu patted Meng Ningzhi on the shoulder and said, "You have followed me for many years. If I ask you and Zixun, who is more trustworthy, you should be more trustworthy than Zixun. Now do you know why I let Zixun serve as the acting Sima?"

"I am not as good as Gao Shun in training soldiers, so the captain let Gao Shun lead the troops!" said Meng Ningzhi.

“That’s just one of the reasons!”

Zhang Yu spoke earnestly, "I hope you can learn the art of training soldiers from Zixun. I can't command 800 soldiers, and you can't command 200 infantrymen forever. If you can learn the art of training soldiers from Zixun, you will be the next military commander when our army expands."

"If Bo Ning is humble and eager to learn, how can Zi Xun be stingy in teaching him?"

"promise!"

Meng Ningzhi's morale was greatly boosted, and he said, "I will definitely learn the method of training soldiers from Gao Zixun and live up to the captain's expectations."

"good!"

Zhang Yu nodded with satisfaction and waved his hand to let Meng Ningzhi leave.

To conquer the world, one cannot rely solely on the occasional general who leaves his name in history; one still needs a large number of generals to support a huge army.

Meng Ningzhi's qualifications are acceptable and worth cultivating. However, his mentality is unstable and he still needs to be disciplined and urged. Now that Gao Shun is his superior, it is enough to arouse Meng Ningzhi's competitive spirit.

After urging Meng Ning to do the right thing, Zhang Yu did not dare to forget Liu Hong's summons. He gave instructions on some matters and rode his horse to Luoyang Palace.

It was almost noon when Zhang Yu arrived at the Nangong Palace. Led by his attendants, he walked into the Xuande Hall.

Now, including Zhang Yu, five of the Eight Commandants of Xiyuan have arrived in the palace. Excluding Yuan Shao who went east to recruit soldiers, only Chunyu Qiong and Zhao Rong have not arrived yet.

After a while, Chunyu Qiong and Zhao Rong finally arrived. Zhang Yu took the opportunity to look at the two of them and saw that Chunyu Qiong's face was slightly red. He immediately understood that Chunyu Qiong was probably drinking again.

Fortunately, the Battle of Guandu has not taken place yet, otherwise Chunyu Qiong would have lost his nose.

"Jian!"

Feng Fang came over and asked in a low voice, "Have you been to the general's banquet often recently?"

Zhang Yu raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "It is difficult for me to refuse the general's cordial invitation. I would like to ask Mr. Feng, is there something wrong with this?"

When Feng Fang was first in the Secretariat, he served as the Secretary of State, and he and Liu Yu appointed him as the magistrate of Zheng County, which was considered a favor to promote him. Before that, they exchanged Gao Shun with him and sold him a good one. Therefore, although Feng Fang was Cao Jie's son-in-law and was attached to the eunuchs, Zhang Yu had a good relationship with him.

Feng Fang hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "There is nothing wrong with that. I just wonder if you can introduce the general to me next time I attend the banquet."

"Why?"

Feng Fang leaned over and whispered, "Ji'an already knows that I am the son-in-law of the former General of Chariots and Cavalry (Cao Jie), so it is difficult for me to please the general. The situation is very different now. In order to make a living in the future, I still need to..."

Zhang Yu roughly understood what Feng Fang meant and said with a smile: "To be honest, Yu and the general do not have a close relationship. Instead, Yuan Huben (Yuan Shu) has more contacts with the general. If Mr. Feng wants to meet the general, you can ask Yuan Huben to introduce you!" Yuan Shu was the Lieutenant General of Huben, and he had more than 1,200 soldiers under his command. There were almost no people in Luoyang City who had more soldiers than Yuan Shu.

Now, Zhang Yu introduced Feng Fang to Yuan Shu purely because he did not want to have too much contact with He Jin. Moreover, Zhang Yu was very clear about his position. If he did not want to displease Yuan Shu, the contact with He Jin had to be handled by Yuan Shu.

Hearing this, Feng Fang nodded and said gratefully: "Thank you Ji'an for your guidance!"

Zhang Yu smiled back. He already knew that Feng Fang wanted to visit He Jin just to see Liu Hong and ask Huangfu Song to go to war. The He family in Luoyang City was becoming more and more powerful. Seeing that the situation was gradually unfavorable to the eunuchs, they wanted to contact He Jin in advance to prepare for a rainy day.

Amid the whispers of the crowd, Liu Hong walked in wearing armor, followed closely by his confidant Gai Xun.

"I pay my respects to the Supreme General!"

Because Liu Hong often emphasized his status as a general in front of the soldiers and officers of the Xiyuan Army, everyone in the army called Liu Hong the "Supreme General".

"Everyone, please take a seat!"

Liu Hong pressed his hands down, motioning everyone to sit down and talk.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Liu Hong coughed a few times and asked, "The Xiyuan soldiers have been in formation for several months. I wonder if they can be used now?"

"Return to your majesty!"

Jian Shuo stood up and answered, "Because we have drawn the best warriors from all over the country to form an army, after a few months of training, the troops are ready to be used."

"good!"

Liu Hong nodded slightly and said with emotion: "The world is in turmoil. The troops of Xiyuan are where my blood and sweat are. Now I need you to fight the enemy for the country!"

"The Yellow Turbans are rampant in Gepi, Runan, and it is difficult for the state and county troops to suppress them. I wonder who is willing to share my worries?" Liu Hong asked.

"I am willing to go!"

Hearing Liu Hong's words, Zhang Yu was afraid of being left behind, so he asked for the order, saying, "I led the cavalry to suppress the Yellow Turbans in Runan several years ago. Now the Yellow Turbans in Runan are rising again. I am willing to help Your Majesty to completely suppress the bandits."

Seeing that it was Zhang Yu who asked for orders, Liu Hong smiled and said, "You have a hundred armored cavalrymen under your command. It should not be difficult to conquer the Yellow Turbans in Runan. Now I will ask you to suppress the bandits for the country."

Zhang Yu pretended to be silent for a moment, and then said, "Your Majesty, although my troops are elite, I only have 800 infantry and cavalry under my command, and the moth bandits are numerous. I am afraid that a few hundred people will not be enough to defeat them, so I would like to go to Yuzhou to recruit soldiers."

Liu Hong thought for a long time and said, "I allow you to recruit another 400 soldiers and horses, and the rest of the auxiliary troops can be deployed from the various counties in Yuzhou."

Zhang Yu wanted to get more troops, but seeing Liu Hong's firm tone, he was worried that he would have to change his troops to suppress the rebellion, so he responded readily: "Your Majesty, I will definitely live up to your expectations!"

The combat effectiveness of the Yellow Turban soldiers in the Central Plains was the weakest. Zhang Yu led more than a thousand elite infantry and cavalry to fight against them. If he could not win the battle, he might as well find a piece of tofu and kill himself.

"good!"

Liu Hong thought for a moment and said, "The Yellow Turbans of Yizhou have joined forces with the Bandun Barbarians to rebel. Who can help me fight them?"

"I beg your pardon!"

In order to win favor, Jian Shuo stood up and said, "I am willing to lead the troops to fight!"

"General Jian is in charge of all the troops on my behalf. If I go to war now, I will be left without a supporter!"

Liu Hong frowned and said, "You don't have to go to war. You can send your trusted followers to fight against the Yizhou rebels."

"promise!"

Then, thinking of the westward expedition against the rebels in the northwest, Liu Hong selected his generals and said, "Mr. Bao and Mr. Zhao are familiar with the military affairs in Guanzhong. You two will lead your troops to the expedition and obey General Zuo. Don't let me down."

"I will obey the military order!"

Zhao Rong and Bao Hong groaned in their hearts, hating themselves for not being able to grab the task of conquering the Yellow Turbans earlier, but now that His Majesty had named them, they had no choice but to obey.

"good!"

Liu Hong's eyes were full of expectation, and he said with emotion: "I hope you can go to the battle and return victorious!"

After a pause, Liu Hong looked at Gai Xun and asked, "Now that all the troops have gone out to fight and annihilate the bandits, I wonder if the world can be at peace?"

Gai Xun shook his head and said in a deep voice: "The world is toiling, although we can destroy the bandits now, we cannot eliminate them now."

"Why has it come to this?" Liu Hong asked with a frustrated look.

Gai Xun glanced at Jian Shuo and said, "Your Majesty, if the sons of your ministers disturb the people and corrupt officials cannot be stopped, the people will naturally rebel because of their suffering!"

Liu Hong took the opportunity to look at Jian Shuo, who suddenly felt like a thorn in his back, and just lowered his head and dared not look at Liu Hong. Although Jian Shuo was loyal to Liu Hong, he, like all eunuchs, promoted a large number of his own children to official positions, many of whom were naughty and made the people miserable.

Seeing this, Zhang Yu curled his lips. Although Gai Xun's answer was not accurate, it at least touched upon the suffering of the people.

"I will spend all my money to support the soldiers, what do you think?" Liu Hong asked again.

Gai Xun's expression remained unchanged, and he asked, "Your Majesty, I have heard that peace in the world depends on good governance rather than heavy troops. Today's troops are resolute and resolute, but they cannot bring peace to the world. What use is there for Your Majesty?"

Liu Hongru was impressed and said, "Although what you said was harsh, it really hits the mark."

Then Liu Hong said to Zhang Yu, Gai Xun and others, "I hope you can follow what Gai has done."

"promise!"

Everyone said they agreed, but they had different opinions in their hearts. For example, Jian Shuo's eyes revealed resentment, as if he was dissatisfied with Gai Xun's hint to Liu Hong that he was behaving improperly.

But Zhang Yu didn't care. If Liu Hong could really listen to him, he probably wouldn't have brought the Han Dynasty to this extent.

(End of this chapter)