Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 173: Sending generals to fight the enemy, will you help Han now?
"It's daybreak now, don't bother!"

Alahai slowed down his breathing, stood up and said angrily.

As the daughter of the Xiongnu Chanyu, Alahai was no longer as pretty as before, with her hair disheveled, her fair body looming, and her face flushed. The ground was now littered with fallen clothes and a half-embroidered mandarin duck pattern.

Zhang Yu lazily stood up and said, "Instead of embroidering mandarin ducks, it is better to try the joy of mandarin ducks!"

When he woke up this morning, he saw Alahai embroidering mandarin ducks. Zhang Yu was so excited that he naturally took Alahai to the bed and played with her.

A Lahai blushed, threw Zhang Yu's clothes on the couch, and said, "Get up quickly, I have something else to do today."

With Alahai's help, Zhang Yu put on his robe and said, "I want to drink mutton soup today!"

A Lahai helped Zhang Yu put on his outer robe and said, "I'll tell Cook Ding about it later!"

"it is good!"

The family still cannot be without women. Before, Zhang Yu lived a comfortable life without wives and concubines, but he could not take care of many things. Since Alahai married into the family, although the daughter of the Chanyu had a bit of a spoiled temper, she was quite considerate.

After a long time of contact, Zhang Yu was satisfied with Alahai, who was a political marriage. She was beautiful, had good skin, was not as rough as a grassland girl, had long legs, and was very caring. The only problem was that she had a bad temper and would get angry if she was not satisfied.

But it was a great pleasure for Zhang Yu, as there was nothing more interesting than teaching his bad-tempered wives and concubines a lesson. Li Suyi was too close to him to teach her a lesson, but Zhang Yu was still able to teach Alahai, who was married to him for political reasons.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yu missed Wang Ji, Li Suyi, Hongniang and Hu Yanyu who were in Chanhewu more and more. When he took Taiyuan and swallowed Yanmen, he could bring his wives, concubines and family members to Jinyang.

After breakfast, Zhang Yu went to the county government to review official documents.

The military and political affairs of Shangdang were centralized in the county government, with about thirty people working there, including the old staff of the previous governor Liu. As Zhang Yu recruited the sons of the great families in the county and screened the original officials, the people he could keep were almost all those he thought were useful.

The current work in Shangdang mainly focuses on two aspects: selecting soldiers and reclaiming wasteland in Shangdang.

As soon as he arrived at the county government, Guo Tu came to Zhang Yu with the official document and said, "Sir, the Liao army has 6,000 infantry and cavalry. Gao Shun and Xu Chu will lead the left and right camps of Xianzhen respectively. Meng Ningzhi, Zhang Jun and Xu Huang will lead the left, middle and right camps of Gushan respectively. Zhang Liao, Ke Bi and Hao Zhao will lead 1,000 cavalrymen in Yunzhong."

"Now that our army is increasing, your Excellency is still organizing them into separate divisions of infantry and cavalry, which may not be conducive to the command of the troops by each school. Moreover, according to the report from the county magistrate Zhan, the Black Mountain bandits have plundered the surrounding countryside and looted more than a hundred households. I wonder who your Excellency is going to send out to fight them?"

Zhang Yu first took the military report from Zhan County, then walked to the map of Shangdang and said, "To the northeast of Zhan County (now Yang County) is Shangai County of Changshan Commandery, which is the key point of Jingxing Road connecting Shangdang and Changshan."

The starting point of Jingxing Road is Changshan County. After entering Taihang Mountain to the west, Jingxing Road is divided into two roads. Going west through the mountains, you can go directly to Jinyang; while going south through the Shangbaili Mountain Road, you can reach Shangdang County.

The Battle of Yanyu, in which the famous Warring States general Zhao She defeated the Qin army, took place in Zhan County, and in a township under the jurisdiction of Zhan County, which shows the importance of Zhan County's geographical location.

Guo Tu pointed at the map and said, "Shangdang and Youzhou have to go through Jingxing Road to communicate. If the Jingxing Road is blocked by the Black Mountain bandits, our army will be cut off from Youzhou. We need to send soldiers to fight against them to ensure the smooth flow of Jingxing Road."

"Do you know the exact number of enemy troops?" Zhang Yu asked.

"There are about several thousand people. The leader of the bandits is named Wang Dang. The specific situation is still unknown!" Guo Tu said.

Zhang Yu hesitated for a moment and said, "Let Zhang Liao lead the two generals Hao Zhao and Meng Ning, and command 1,500 infantry and cavalry to attack Wang Dang. If the troops are insufficient, let Zhang Liao report to the higher authorities."

"Zhang Liao is only in his early twenties. Should we send Zhang Liao there?" Guo Tu hesitated.

Zhang Yu disagreed and said, "If fighting depends on age, I would have been defeated by Guo Tai long ago. Although Zhang Liao is young, he has rich military experience. I know his ability very well. Let him lead the troops to fight the enemy now."

Are you kidding? If fighting a war depends on seniority and age, not only Zhang Liao would not be successful, but Zhang Yu should have given up the fight for supremacy a long time ago!

General Zhang Yu put the report aside and said, "Although we have a lot of troops now, we are only in one county. If we lead the infantry and cavalry separately, we can still deploy them in time. When we annex Taiyuan in the west, we can discuss the issue of mixing infantry and cavalry."

"promise!"

Guo Tu bowed and said, "I will go to visit Captain Zhang and convey your majesty's military order to him."

"Can!"

After Guo Tu said goodbye and left, Zhong Yao, after announcing the matter, stepped into the hall and said, "Sir, there is a scholar who has passed the examination. I have talked with him and felt that he is very talented, so I would like to recommend him to you."

The examination content set by Zhang Yu was not difficult, it was nothing more than an examination of Confucian classics. Those who passed the examination had to answer questions with Zhong Yao first, and then be selected by Zhong Yao before being recommended to Zhang Yu.

Generally speaking, those who passed the examination could serve as clerks in the county or the army even if they did not satisfy Zhong Yao. Those who could be recommended by Zhong Yao to Zhang Yu could at least serve as clerks in the county, and the highest position they could hold was county magistrate, or a staff member of Zhang Yu.

"who?"

"Chang Lin, whose courtesy name is Bohuai, is from Wen County, Henei. To avoid persecution by Wang Kuang, he and his clansmen moved to Shangdang and temporarily settled in Gaodu. His family is very poor and they still make a living by farming. He is a talented and resourceful person." Zhong Yao handed over the documents related to Chang Lin and said.

"Chang Bohuai?"

Zhang Yu showed a playful look. On his way to visit the people, he met Chang Lin by chance. After Zhang Yu and Chang Lin arrived at Huguan, he said he had something to do and said goodbye to Chang Lin. Now Chang Lin passed the examination and Zhong Yao's interview as Zhang Yu expected.

"Let him in!"

"promise!"

After a while, Chang Lin walked into the hall. When he looked up to greet Zhang Yu, he saw a familiar face sitting on the couch and was stunned.

"Mr. Yu?" Chang Lin asked in a lost voice. Zhang Yu motioned Chang Lin to sit down, and said with a smile: "When an old friend meets, how can Bo Huai not greet him?"

Hearing this, Chang Lin quickly reacted, bowed and said, "I pay my respects to you, my lord. I didn't know your identity before, so please forgive me if I have offended you!"

Zhang Yu smiled and said, "What's so strange about that? It's just that Yu failed to reveal his identity in advance."

In the process of interacting with Zhang Yu, Chang Lin actually guessed that Zhang Yu's identity was not ordinary. The reason why he did not guess that "Yu Zhang" was Zhang Yu was that he felt that Zhang Yu was too young and did not look like the real General Du Liao.

When Chang Lin saw Zhang Yu, he felt incredible. Zhang Yu, who was only over 20 years old, had already occupied Shangdang and had an army of 5,000 infantry and cavalry. He was indeed a young and promising man.

Chang Lin showed admiration on his face and said, "Your Excellency has gone to the countryside to find out about the people's livelihood. I admire you very much."

Zhang Yu laughed a few times and said, "Bo Huai once said that if I let you be the county magistrate, you would help me govern the people. Is that true?"

Chang Lin looked embarrassed and said, "Lin was just proud of what he said at the moment. I dare not ask for anything from the county magistrate now."

"Why don't you dare?"

Then Zhang Yu looked at Zhong Yao and asked, "If I remember correctly, the mayor of Lu County has been slack in his work. Now, let's recommend Bo Huai to be the mayor of Lu County."

Seeing that Zhang Yu said without hesitation that he was the county magistrate, Chang Lin hesitated for a moment and asked, "Your Excellency, don't you want to meet in person?"

Zhang Yu raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "I have been communicating with you all the way. I already know that Bo Huai has talent. Why should I doubt it? Now I am letting you be the county magistrate because I want to see what you can do and whether you can help me govern Lu County."

Chang Lin was suddenly filled with emotion. Although Zhang Yu was young, he was swift and resolute in his actions and was decisive in employing people without hesitation. He was indeed a lord and an extraordinary person!

Chang Lin bowed his hands and said gratefully: "Lin Mo will never forget your appreciation. From now on, I will work hard to improve Lu County."

"good!"

In the morning, Zhang Yu discussed the governance of Lu County with Zhong Yao and Chang Lin, and had lunch with them at noon. In the afternoon, when he was discussing matters, Zhang Yu received a letter from Yuan Shao, so he invited his close associates to discuss the matter.

"My lord, it seems that Yuan Shao is afraid of our army and has taken the initiative to write a letter to show his goodwill." Lu Fan smiled as he read the official letter.

"Your Excellency has defeated the Baibo bandits and shocked the Jin Dynasty. Yuan Shao is under my control. How dare he not make friends with our army?" Guo Tu said with a smile.

Before joining Zhang Yu, Guo Tu was persuaded by Xun Chen to join Yuan Shao. From now on, Guo Tu thought he made the right choice. After all, although Yuan Shao was famous, he was stationed in Henei. He was unsuccessful in fighting the enemy and was restricted by Zhang Yu and Han Fu. His actual situation was not very good.

Zhang Yu read the secret letter written by Yuan Shao and said, "In the letter, Yuan Shao wanted to invite our army to help him conquer Han Fu in Jizhou. He said that after the matter is accomplished, he will let our army enter Hanoi."

"Conquer Han Fu?"

Xu Shu looked shocked and said, "Yuan Shao and Han Fu are allies now, why would Yuan Shao send a letter to invite our army to attack Han Fu?"

Zhong Yao sneered and said, "Jizhou is strong, but Han Fu is incompetent. Wouldn't that attract Yuan Shao's attention?"

Then Zhong Yao looked at Zhang Yu and said, "Sir, the heroes in Guandong have hidden ulterior motives. Judging from Yuan Shao's letter, the coalition will soon collapse on its own."

"Then will you help Yuan now?" Xu Shu asked.

"I thought I could help Han Fu today!"

Lü Fan stroked his beard and thought, and said, "Yuan Shao has great ambitions and a great reputation. For you, Yuan Shao's occupation of Hebei is like a tiger lying beside your bed. It would be better to forward Yuan Shao's letter to Han Fu so that Han Fu will be on guard."

Zhang Yu pondered for a while, looked at Zhong Yao and Guo Tu, and said, "Yuan Chang, Gong Ze, what do you think?"

Guo Tu didn't know how to answer and fell into deep thought.

Zhong Yao analyzed and said, "Han Fu is a former official of the Yuan family. Now Yuan Shao dares to plot against Han Fu. Han Fu must have people who are friendly to the Yuan family around him. If you pass the letter to Han Fu, Yuan Shao will know what you have done and will definitely have a grudge against you!"

"But if Han Fu can check and balance Yuan Shao, it would be a good idea to give the letter to Han Fu now!"

Xu Shu understood the key point and said, "Mr. Zhong is right. The key is whether Han Fu can check and balance Yuan Shao. If he can check and balance Yuan Shao, you can give the letter to Han Fu. If he can't check and balance Yuan Shao, it's useless to help Han Fu!"

Zhang Yu tapped the table with his fingers and said, "If my guess is correct, Yuan Shao not only contacted our army, but also contacted others."

"What do you think, Your Excellency?" Lu Fan asked.

Zhang Yu said meaningfully, "God helps those who save themselves. Han Fu is cowardly and timid. If our army gives the letter to Han Fu, it will probably be useless. Why should we save him now?"

Would Han Fu not know that Yuan Shao was plotting against him?

How could Han Fu not know what Yuan Shao was thinking? Otherwise, he would not have withheld Yuan Shao's food supplies.

Now that you know why, why doesn't Han Fu take action?

Han Fu was just a person of a relaxed disposition, and he would not lead his troops to attack and kill Yuan Shao. Such a cowardly person would sooner or later be eaten to the bone in troubled times. Even if Zhang Yu wanted to save him, he had no idea where to start.

Whenever there were separatist princes like Liu Zhang and Liu Biao, Zhang Yu would hand over letters to them without hesitation so that they could control Yuan Shao.

(End of this chapter)