Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 265: I am the most powerful person in Longshan

The first month of the year 194 AD.

Emperor Liu Xie of the Han Dynasty came of age and changed the era name to Xingping. He made Dong the empress and issued a general amnesty for all criminals except Li Jue and Gongsun Zan.

Liu Xie selected more than ten wise men as officials and sent envoys to appease the princes, hoping that the prefectures and counties would pay taxes. Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Cao Cao, Tao Qian and other princes either evaded with words, or sent soldiers to rob and kill, or blocked the roads. They were all unwilling to pay taxes and ignored the court's orders.

Luoyang was in decline, the court had too many soldiers and officials, tax expenditures were insufficient, and tribute was difficult to deliver. Liu Xie had no choice but to order salary cuts, and let Liu Bei and Dong Cheng lead troops to reclaim wasteland, hoping to make a living by military settlement.

In order to restore the vitality of Luoyang, Liu Xie ordered the recruitment of refugees to the capital and offered them the condition of tax exemption. After a few months, Luoyang was populated by a lot of people.

As the situation in the court gradually improved, Zhang Yu, who was about to go to Youzhou, received the first good news of the new year.

In the warm lobby, maps of Youzhou and Bingzhou were spread out on the floor. Zhang Yu held a thin pole horizontally, and stood on the fur map with other civil and military officials in socks to discuss the details of the military expedition.

"Our army set out from Hedong and headed north to Yanmen, a distance of more than a thousand miles. We can travel on the main road, and we will be supplied with food along the way from Taiyuan."

Zhang Yu pointed to Pingcheng on the map and said to everyone, "The army will first go to Pingcheng, and then go east to Dai. Military supplies and baggage can be transported to Banshi City for transit. Because there are few rivers and broken gullies along the way, it is not easy to transport food and grass, and tens of thousands of civilians will need to be conscripted to transport baggage."

"Yao has discussed the baggage transportation route with Xin Taiyuan and Yang Yanmen!"

Zhong Yao said: "This time, we will dispatch food and grass from Taiyuan and Yanmen first. If the two counties are short of food and grass, we will dispatch food and grass from Shangdang and Hedong counties. Therefore, I have discussed with the officials of the two counties. If there is water, we will use rivers for transportation. If there is no water, we will use livestock for transportation. Post stations and granaries will be built in places where waterways meet. County officials will be responsible for them, and the officials in the government will supervise them."

"The Ban family is located in the middle reaches of the Luoshui River. To the west, it goes to Yinguan at Yanmen and to the east, it goes to Sanggan at Daidi. These are all places that can be reached by water transport. When you reach Sanggan City, if you go east, you can enter Shanggu and go to Junduxing to Guangyang; if you go south, you can cross Yanshan and go to Puyinxing to Zhuojun."

Compared with the southern expedition to Guanzhong, the biggest problem with the northern expedition to Youzhou was not the long journey, but the lack of a large river running through the north and south in Bingzhou. The Fen River could transport grain from Hedong to Taiyuan, but it could not transport grain and grass to Yanmen.

Land transportation was required between Yanmen and Taiyuan. After reaching Yanmen Yinguan, the Luoshui River originated from Yinguan and flowed into Daijun, so the Luoshui River could be used to transport food and grass. After that, when fighting in the south of Yan, it was probably not necessary to rely on livestock and manpower for transportation.

Therefore, 20,000 elite soldiers were sent out, and at least 20,000 to 30,000 corvée laborers were recruited in Bingzhou. If the Han and Hu volunteers recruited by Liu He and Yan Rou were included, at least 50,000 corvée laborers would be required.

After a pause, Zhong Yao said, "I have ordered the Taiyuan baggage to be transported to Yinguan first. Later, when the ice and snow melt, the grain in Yinguan will be transported east to Banshi. The transportation of grain and grass will depend on the route chosen by you, the Lord!"

It is true that food and fodder must be transported before troops move. Especially in areas where water transportation is not possible, food and fodder must be transported to the front before the army sets out. After that, the army will enter the country with food and fodder first, and the subsequent food and fodder will be transported by farmers. This is the characteristic of using troops in the north.

If troops are deployed in the south, due to convenient water transportation conditions, the army and food supplies can even be dispatched together, and there is no need to worry about storing food.

"good!"

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment and said, "According to the news reported from Yanmen, Liu He led his troops to Dai County and received help from the righteous men in the county. He has killed the county governor sent by Gongsun Zan. Liu He and Yan Rou entered Dai County together and sent people to pacify the Wuhuan in Dai County. Xianyu Fu and Qi Zhou raised troops in Shanggu. If all goes well, our army will be able to take Shanggu when it goes out."

After a pause, Zhang Yu looked at Gao Shun, Lu Fan, Xu Huang and other generals and asked, "How are the soldiers of the three armies doing now?"

"My Lord!"

Xu Huang bowed and said, "The soldiers and officers of the Hezhong Army have gradually returned to the camp. After a few days of training, we can go out to attack the bandits."

Lu Fan said: "Most of the families of the soldiers and officers of the National Defense Army are in Jinyang. Now I have asked Xu Chu to gather troops in Jinyang. When the army goes north, they will be able to join the army. The rest of the soldiers and officers are in a similar situation to the Hezhong Army. The soldiers and officers will gradually return to the camp to gather."

Zhang Yu nodded and said in a deep voice: "In this case, the army will set out in half a month, and let the Yunzhong Army meet up at Yinguan!"

"Yes, sir!" Lu Fan replied.

When Zhang Yu was discussing the details of the military expedition with everyone, he saw the attendant walk into the hall and report happily.

"My Lord, good news from Fufeng!"

Zhang Yu raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "But is there any result from the campaign against Li Jue?"

"Exactly!"

The attendant took off his shoes and presented the military report written by Zhang Liao, saying excitedly: "Zhang Dang led his troops to raid Anding City on the first day of the first lunar month. Now he has killed Li Jue, surrendered Yang Qiu, and captured more than 3,000 households."

"Oh?" Seeing Zhang Liao's remarkable achievements in the battle, Zhang Yu could not help but speed up the process of opening the military report and then read it carefully.

Zhang Liao's right to attack Li Jue was granted by Zhang Yu himself. So after Zhang Yu left Chang'an, Zhang Liao left Cheng Pu in charge of Jingzhao Yin, and led his troops back to Fufeng. Before the deep winter, he and Zhang Xiu first conquered Yumi and Weidi counties, recovered the entire territory of Fufeng, and opened up the Long Road from Guanzhong to Anding.

The purpose of setting up Anding County in the Han Dynasty was similar to that of setting up Guizhou in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the core was to open up traffic between the two places. Therefore, the city of Anding County was built along the road, and this road was Xiaoguan Road.

After Zhang Liao occupied the two counties of Yumi and Weidi, he stationed his troops in Yumi, which was bordering Anding County and was only 600 miles away from Li Jue and Yang Qiu.

Seeing Zhang Liao stationed his troops in Yumi, Li Jue was very frightened and often sent people to investigate Zhang Liao's movements. Zhang Liao did show an attitude of attacking Li Jue. In more than a month, Zhang Liao spread rumors of attacking Li Jue four times and led his cavalry to Xiaoguan Road for hunting many times, which made Li Jue nervous.

However, with Zhang Liao's frequent operations, Li Jue gradually became lazy from his tense state of preparation for war, thinking that Zhang Liao would not send troops in the short term.

On the eve of the New Year, Zhang Liao guessed that Li Jue would hold a big banquet, so he decided to attack Anding. So on the 29th day, Zhang Liao and Zhang Xiu led 2,000 elite cavalry, and Zhang Ji led the army behind. They traveled 600 miles in two days and one night, and attacked Anding City where Li Jue was on the first day of the first lunar month.

Because of the New Year's banquet that day, Li Jue and his soldiers were all busy. Suddenly, they saw Zhang Liao raiding Anding. Li Jue thought that Zhang Liao was leading a large army to kill them. In panic, he led his confidants to escape over the city wall and prepared to join Han Sui in Jincheng.

Zhang Liao pursued Li Jue to Baima Mountain and defeated him and his entourage. Li Jue was killed on the spot in the fight and Zhang Liao took his head.

Yang Qiu was celebrating the festival with his clansmen in Yuezhi City when he suddenly heard that Zhang Liao had arrived in Anding. Not knowing Zhang Liao's attitude, he gathered his troops to defend the city.

Zhang Liao led his troops to the city and saw that Yang Qiu had no intention of defending the city, so he took off his armor and entered the city to explain the pros and cons to Yang Qiu. Yang Qiu considered the situation and Zhang Liao's sincere attitude, so he surrendered to Zhang Liao. After Yang Qiu surrendered, Zhang Liao met Yang Qiu's mother and presented a New Year gift to win over Yang Qiu.

Zhang Liao set out to attack from the 29th to the third day of the first lunar month, a total of five days, for him to kill Li Jue for Zhang Yu and subdue the Anding commander Yang Qiu, so it can be said that the operation was extremely fast.

"Ha ha!"

Zhang Yu couldn't help laughing as he read the military report and said, "Wen Yuan is so brave that he dared to run 600 miles in two days and attack Li Jue at the New Year's banquet."

As he spoke, Zhang Yu handed the letter to his attendants and boasted, "When I first selected Wenyuan as the general, I was still skeptical about whether he could handle the task with his talent and strategy. But now, seeing how he conducts military operations, I think he has the style of a famous general. It will be easy for him to command Guanzhong!"

Zhang Liao's campaign against Anding was a brilliant one even in Zhang Yu's eyes. He first used bluffing to gradually tire Li Jue, then launched the most swift attack at a time when it was impossible to use troops, broke into Li Jue's lair, and captured and killed him.

The subsequent operation of subduing Yang Qiu not only tested Zhang Liao's courage, but also fully demonstrated his wisdom. After all, the situation in Guanxi was complicated. If Zhang Liao besieged Yang Qiu, the troops in Guanzhong were empty and Han Sui's attitude was unpredictable. Therefore, Zhang Liao's persuasion of Yang Qiu to surrender was the best option.

As for the value of the battle, although Li Jue is no longer as powerful as he used to be, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse, and he is still a general who should not be underestimated.

Therefore, Zhang Liao's outstanding performance against Li Jue was enough to prove his ability. Zhang Yu could not help but sigh that Zhang Liao was indeed a famous general who could shock the enemy at Xiaoyaojin!

Guo Tu smiled and said, "Your Excellency has a keen eye for talent. I congratulate you on pacifying and settling the county. On the eve of the expedition to Youzhou, Li Jue surrendered and died. This is a good omen."

Zhang Yu leaned on the ground with a thin pole and sighed, "I am not happy about the Anding County, but I am happy about Wenyuan's outstanding military skills. Since I started my army on the frontier, I have been responsible for most of the expeditions myself. Therefore, I have been in control of Yongzhou and Bingzhou, so I have been looking for famous generals."

"Wenyuan has the strategy of a general and is good at using troops swiftly and fiercely, but I don't know if he can really understand the strategy of the real and the fake. Sun Tzu said: 'In every battle, use the normal to attack and the unusual to win. Therefore, those who are good at using the unusual are as infinite as the heaven and earth, and as inexhaustible as the rivers and seas.' Wenyuan understands the strategy of the real and the fake, so he can be a great general!"

Zhang Liao's style of deploying troops has not changed, and he still seizes the opportunity to attack fiercely. What has changed now is that Zhang Liao knows how to use the strategy of virtual reality to create opportunities for battle, and continues to use the style of fierce attack and then kills the enemy with one blow. The difference between the two is the difference between a general and a commander.

"Somebody come!"

Zhang Yu was enlightened and ordered: "Recommend Zhang Liao to the court as Marquis of Duxiang and General of Zhengxi; Yang Qiu led his troops to surrender and was promoted to General of Anyi, stationing his troops in Yuezhi City under the command of Zhang Liao; Zhang Ji, who had made great contributions in suppressing the rebels, was also appointed as the governor of Anding."

"As ordered!"

Seeing the envy on everyone's faces, Zhang Yu smiled and said to the generals, "You all have the talent for military strategy. This time when you are deployed in Youzhou, I will observe your abilities."

"promise!"

The morale of the generals was high, and they all wanted to perform well in the battle of Youzhou in order to be promoted to higher positions.

In order to reward Zhang Liao, Zhang Yu not only recommended Zhang Liao an official title, but also wrote a letter to Zhang Liao after the military meeting. In the letter, he praised Zhang Liao's brilliant use of troops, saying that he had the same strategy as Geng Yan. He also advised Zhang Liao not to persuade the enemy to surrender alone next time, saying that this was not what a great general should do.

(End of this chapter)