Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 343 Zhang Yuan's Comparison

Selling horses to Jingchu at a high price and then buying horses from Xianbei at a low price was considered a new source of income for Zhong Yao.

Yuan Shu was ambitious about the Central Plains, so he attached great importance to cavalry. After Zhang Yu conquered Guanzhong, Yuan Shu had a source of horses and often bought horses from Zhang Yu.

In order to make a profit, Zhong Yao sold it to Yuan Shu at twice the normal market price. However, Yuan Shu, who controlled Yuzhou and Jingzhou, straddled the Jiangzuo area, had a full treasury and was very wealthy, so he didn't care about Zhong Yao's offer.

In this way, Zhong Yao took advantage of the regional advantage to achieve the goal of getting something for nothing. He used Yuan Shu's money and food to buy horses from the Xianbei, and then sold the inferior horses to Yuan Shu.

While Zhang Yu and Zhong Yao were discussing state affairs, Guo Tu stepped into the hall.

Guo Tu saluted first, then presented the list to Zhang Yu and said, "Sir, here is the list of the lieutenants and officers above the rank of commander in each army!"

Since Zhang Yu returned from pacifying Longyou, he ordered the reorganization of his armies in preparation for the expedition to Hebei.

The original strength of the National Defense Army was 10,000 people. Zhang Yu took the opportunity to expand it to 15,000 people by borrowing Ma Chao's troops to join the army. Gao Shun, Xu Chu, and Zhao Yun each led 5,000 people, and were all promoted by Zhang Yu to generals and marquises. Among them, Gao Shun was given a fief of 800 households due to his seniority and merit in killing generals, while Zhao Yun and Xu Chu were given 500 households.

In addition to the National Protection Army, the troops of all the other divisions were still 5,000 men each, not to mention the three armies of Hao Zhao, Li Song, and Zhang Yang who stayed in Shanxi. Because of his meritorious service in conquering Longyou, Man Chong was appointed as General Pinglong by Zhang Yu. His Pinglong Army had a total of 5,000 men, with Yan Xing as the deputy general, stationed in Hongnong.

The newly established Tianshui Army was headed by Meng Ningzhi, with Ma Dai and Pang De as his assistant generals. They temporarily stationed troops in Ji County for reorganization.

Shi Yi originally led the Xianyang Army, but now he was appointed as the Protector of the Qiang, leading 1,500 infantry and cavalry to garrison in Jincheng. The rest of the troops were transferred to Ke Bi, who succeeded him as the commander-in-chief of the Xianyang Army.

The number of troops in Hezhong led by Xu Huang remained unchanged, but because of his meritorious service in the expedition to Longyou, he was stripped of the title of "General Zhengxi" and was promoted from a temporary position to a regular position.

Although Yang Qiu was captured for attacking Qingshui, Zhang Yu still kept Yang Qiu stationed in Anding County because it was adjacent to Qiang and Hu. However, Zhang Yu appointed officials in Anding County and took the administrative power into his hands, with Wang Ji as the prefect.

Apart from this, there were no changes in the other departments. The officers and soldiers of each department were promoted according to their merits. Those with less merits were rewarded with money and houses, while those with more merits were rewarded with fiefs. Zhang Yu was particularly generous.

After some reorganization, Zhang Yu had 15000 National Protection Army soldiers under his command, with 5000 soldiers each from Xi'an, Xihe, Heyang, Gaoping, Yunzhong, Hezhong, Xianyang, Pinglong, Datong, Tianshui and Fengxiang, for a total of 70000 infantry and cavalry.

If we add the several thousand men led by Duan Wei and Yang Qiu, as well as the volunteers from the three Hu tribes of Xiongnu, Xianbei and Qiang and Di who could be recruited, the number of troops under Zhang Yu's command would be no less than 90,000, or even 100,000.

Before, not counting the population of the two counties in the north of Yan and the counties in Longyou, Zhang Yu had 1.8 million people under his rule. Now, based on the 200,000 people in the seven counties in Longyou, Zhang Yu could control a population of 2 million.

Two million people were distributed in the two states of Shanxi, which was a vast area with few people. If Zhang Yu wanted to mobilize 100,000 people to attack Yuan Shao, he could not afford it. When attacking Yuan Shao, Zhang Yu could probably only mobilize 60,000 or 70,000 people.

"Sixty or seventy thousand people?"

Zhang Yu hesitated for a moment, then looked at Zhong Yao and Guo Tu and said, "How many people are there under Yuan Shao's rule? How many are willing to serve in the army?"

Zhong Yao frowned and thought, then said, "Jizhou has the most registered households among all the states. During the Yonghe period, the population was 6 million, and the registered households were as many as 900,000. Qingzhou had a population of about 3.7 million, and the registered households were about 110,000."

"The world has been in turmoil for many years. Qingzhou suffered greatly from the Yellow Turbans, and Jizhou has been through many wars. There should be only 300,000 or 400,000 registered households, and the number of civilians should be 2 million. Perhaps because of Jizhou, the population is slightly higher. As for those who can serve in the military, there should be no less than our army!"

Guo Tu added: "According to the spies, Yuan Shao claims to have 100,000 soldiers and tens of thousands of knights. I wonder if this is an exaggeration." "Of course it is an exaggeration!"

Zhang Yu sneered and said, "Before I went to Longyou, I had 60,000 soldiers and horses under my command. The people in Shanxi were not enough to support them, so I had to rely on the salt pond in Hedong. Although Yuan Shao occupied Qingzhou and Jizhou, his population was only slightly larger than ours. If he could support 100,000 infantry and tens of thousands of knights, how could he convince people?"

"If it turns out as I expected, Yuan Shao can only use a hundred thousand soldiers at most. Although our army is not as strong as him, in terms of bravery, it is definitely not as good as ours!"

"Sir, if our army attacks Jizhou, the grain route will be diverted to the mountain roads, but Yuan Shao has Jizhou at his back, and the transportation of grain and grass depends on water transportation. I am afraid it will not be as convenient as Yuan Shao's." Zhong Yao reminded.

Zhang Yu nodded and said, "Shanxi is a poor country with less resources than Hebei. Before we go out to fight, we need to prepare food and grass properly. Otherwise, even if we have elite troops, without food and grass, the people will be in a state of panic."

When it comes to the fighting power of his soldiers, Zhang Yu was very confident and dared to say that the troops of all the princes in the world were inferior to his.

Of course, the troops under Cao Cao and Lu Bu were trained by Gu, so their fighting power could be compared with Zhang Yu's Shanxi Army. However, the troops under Yuan Shao had hardly fought any tough battles, so they were naturally inferior to Zhang Yu's Shanxi Army.

Compared with history, Yuan Shao's strength was greatly weakened. For example, without Youzhou and Bingzhou in his hands, Yuan Shao had almost no advantage in cavalry. In the duel with Zhang Yu, Zhang Yu was superior to Yuan Shao in cavalry.

Therefore, in terms of strength comparison, Zhang Yu and Yuan Shao each have their own advantages. Yuan Shao wins in the number of soldiers and food, while Zhang Yu wins in the quality of soldiers and cavalry.

"Sir, the Zhengbaiqu in Guanzhong is a fertile land. This year, we need to order the soldiers to cultivate it to provide food for the expedition to Hebei." Zhong Yao said, "Not only that, we need to purchase food and grass from Bashu, Youzhou, and Jingchu. Although the journey to these three places is far, they can be used as a reserve in case of emergency."

"According to Yuan Chang's words!"

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment and said, "I will take advantage of the situation and issue an order to urge the counties in Longyou to convert this year's taxes into food rations. Moreover, the Di people are good at farming, and each tribe has a lot of grain. Now we can exchange it for salt to supplement military supplies. This year's spring plowing, I will lead you to register the land to encourage the people to farm."

In order to raise military rations, Zhang Yu and Zhong Yao tried every possible means. If they could get 30,000 soldiers to work, they could easily get hundreds of thousands of shi of grain a year. And if they bought grain and grass from the Di tribe, they could get at least tens of thousands of shi. By raising grain through various channels, it would not be a problem to get enough food for the 60,000 troops for several months.

"Your Excellency is wise!"

Guo Tu flattered him and said, "Since you are determined to take Hebei, we need to send someone to contact Liu He and Lu Bu to see if they are willing to help our army."

"Can!"

Zhang Yu nodded slightly and said, "Liu Yu was killed by Gongsun Zan. I led the army to recapture Youzhou for Liu He. How dare he not help me? Although Lu Bu has few soldiers and horses under his command now, he can still harass Heji!"

"Yuan Shu welcomed the emperor, crossed three states, and planned to attack Yizhou. If you want to attack Yuan Shao, don't ignore Yuan Shu." Zhong Yao frowned and said, "Although Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao are enemies, they are still brothers."

Zhang Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, tapped the table with his fingers, and after a while, he said: "Yuan Shu will be happy to see me and Yuan Shao attack. If our army defeats Yuan Shao, there will be signs that we can seize Hebei, and Yuan Shao will ask Yuan Shu for help, and Yuan Shu may help Yuan Shao. And if Yuan Shao defeats me, Yuan Shu will not mind Yuan Shao becoming more powerful, and will definitely send troops to attack Yuan Shao."

After a pause, Zhang Yu said, "Sun Jian has great ambitions. He is attacking Bashu in order to establish himself. If Sun Jian can conquer Bashu, he will surely attack Yuan Shu. Therefore, we should not only send an envoy to Yuan Shu, but also contact Sun Jian in case of emergency."

ps: I am feeling better now, I will resume 6k tomorrow!

(End of this chapter)