Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 41 Xiaolian
In order to deliver the letter to Zhu Jun, Zhang Yu got up before dawn and prepared to find an opportunity to leave the city.

In fact, before entering the city, Zhang Yu had already considered the issue of leaving the city. So before entering the city, Zhang Yu instructed Li Song to lead his cavalry to bluff outside the Yellow Turban camp at dawn.

Similarly, Zhang Yu emphasized that he would return the same way before entering the city by provoking the Yellow Turban cavalry.

The next morning, just as Zhang Yu had arranged, Li Song led a hundred cavalrymen to create momentum outside the camp; at the same time, the people sent by Huangfu Song also took the opportunity to create momentum inside the camp, pretending to leave the city.

Upon seeing this, the Yellow Turban Army dispatched cavalry from surrounding camps and sent out infantry and cavalry to search in order to prevent Zhang Yu from leaving the city.

Zhang Yu took advantage of the Yellow Turban Army's slack attention and rushed out from the more relaxed camp under the cover of fifty Han cavalry.

Although there were a few Yellow Turban infantry and cavalry blocking the way, it was dawn, the sun had not yet risen, and the weather was dark. Zhang Yu took advantage of the dense grass and trees to urge his horse through.

Although he encountered a dozen Yellow Turban patrolmen blocking his way along the way, Zhang Yu relied on his outstanding riding and archery skills and agile riding skills to shoot and kill two of them and rushed out of the blockade area.

Returning to the periphery, Zhang Yu and his hundred cavalrymen returned along the same route.

Due to the urgent military situation, Huangfu Song intended to launch a general attack tonight, so Zhang Yu did not dare to delay and rode away on his horse.

At about 9:00 p.m., Zhang Yu took advantage of his horse's speed and returned to the Changge military camp ahead of time.

When Zhu Jun heard that Zhang Yu had returned successfully, he immediately summoned his subordinates to his tent.

In the big tent, Zhang Yu stepped into the tent, saluted Zhu Jun, and said in a deep voice: "I have fulfilled my mission and have delivered the general's letter to General Huangfu."

As he spoke, Zhang Yu took out a bamboo slip from his bosom and presented it to him, saying, "General Huangfu has a plan to defeat the enemy. Please review it!"

Zhu Jun stood up on his knees and helped Zhang Yu up himself, saying with emotion: "Yesterday, Ji'an used clay chickens and clay dogs to describe the Yellow Turban bandits. Jun was suspicious and thought that the bandits had surrounded Changsha and it would be difficult for Ji'an to succeed."

As he spoke, Zhu Jun grabbed Zhang Yu's hand and said to his attendants, "I didn't expect Ji'an to be so skilled in military strategy that he could get in and out of a tight encirclement like he was in an empty space. Now thinking about the words of a clay chicken and a clay dog, Jun can only laugh it off, and there is no doubt in his heart!"

"In ancient times, Li Guang shot tigers, which was similar to Ji An's skills today."

Yesterday, Zhang Yu boasted that he regarded the Yellow Turban Army as nothing but chickens and dogs, and Zhu Jun thought that Zhang Yu was just bragging. But today, Zhang Yu fulfilled his words, entered and exited Changsha twice, escaped unscathed, and brought back military intelligence. Zhu Jun had to admire Zhang Yu's bravery.

Moreover, since Zhu Jun grew up in a poor family, entered the government as a scholar, and then switched from civil to military, he was not very strong in martial arts. Zhu Jun especially valued generals with extraordinary martial arts.

"The E bandit is not good at archery or horse riding. Yu used his own strengths to overcome the enemy's weaknesses. He dare not compare himself with Li Guang."

Facing Zhu Jun's praise, Zhang Yu did not make the same bold statements as yesterday, but looked more humble.

"hehe!"

Zhu Jun patted Zhang Yu on the shoulder to show his encouragement and said with a smile: "You are young and promising, Ji An should work hard."

After Zhu Jun sat back on the chair, Zhang Yu bowed to Wang Yun who was sitting next to him and said, "You have fulfilled your mission!"

Wang Yun's face was filled with relief, but due to the occasion, he only nodded to Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu stepped forward and stood behind Wang Yun, holding his sword. Compared to yesterday's obscurity, no one in the tent dared to ignore Zhang Yu now.

"Give me a seat!"

Zhu Jun was reading the letter when he caught a glimpse of Zhang Yu and said with a smile, "How can a tiger warrior not sit?"

"Thank you, General Zhu!"

After a while, Zhu Jun finished reading the bamboo slips and was overjoyed. He said with a smile, "General Huangfu's strategy is amazing. Now he has a plan to defeat the enemy. Let our army attack in coordination with him and attack the majority of Bo Cai from both sides."

Zhang Chao was quite excited and asked, "What's the plan?"

Looking at the generals in the tent who were eager to fight, Zhu Jun smiled and said, "General Huangfu thinks that although the Yellow Turbans have a large number of troops, they use grass and trees to set up camp. If we can set fire to them, it will surely scare the soldiers. If the two armies attack from both inside and outside, we should be able to defeat Bo Cai and save Yuzhou from a critical situation."

"The Yellow Turbans have little experience in military affairs. Now we will set them on fire to scare their troops and use our elite troops to break through their camp. The enemy will surely be defeated!"

As he spoke, Sun Jian suddenly stood up, clasped his hands and said, "General, if you give me orders, I am willing to be the vanguard!"

"The last general is willing to be a pioneer!"

Seeing the military achievements ahead, the generals in the camp stood up one after another.

"it is good!"

Zhu Jun nodded with satisfaction and said, "According to General Huangfu's military order, tonight the northwest wind will rise strongly, and his troops will take thatched grass, burn the Yellow Turban camps in the west and south of Changsha, and attack Bo Cai's camp. And our army will attack the Yellow Turban camps in the east and north, and go straight to Peng Tuo's troops."

"Sun Jian, Zhang Chao, listen to my orders!"

"I am here!" The two of them bowed and stepped out.

"I order the two of you to lead troops as the vanguard, carrying sulfur, kerosene, and straw, and burn the east and north camps respectively." Zhu Jun ordered.

"The last general takes command!"

Zhu Jun looked around at the generals in the tent and said, "Tonight I will personally lead the army, and the rest of the officers will follow me."

"Also send a message to Cao Cao, ordering him to lead his troops to Changsha."

"No!" Everyone responded.

Then, Zhu Jun looked at Wang Yun and said, "Please ask Wang Yuzhou to lead the old and weak to guard the camp. If the night attack fails, we will need Yuzhou to send troops to support us."

"Please rest assured, General Zhu, I will take charge of the Changge camp." Wang Yun promised.

Without mentioning that everyone had retreated to prepare for tonight's battle, Zhang Yu followed Wang Yun back to the tent.

Inside the tent, Wang Yun invited Zhang Yu to sit down.

"Jian!"

Wang Yun was in high spirits because he had a plan to defeat the enemy. He said with a smile, "Ji'an rode alone and acted like a hero, treating an army of more than 100,000 as nothing. He is truly a young hero."

Zhang Yu looked respectful and said, "You killed eunuchs, humiliated incompetent officials, and did things that ordinary people dared not do. When I was studying at Dalu Mountain, I always admired what you did."

"Ha ha!"

Talking about Wang Yun’s great deeds in his youth, Wang Yun became much happier.

"To be honest, in terms of courage and bravery, I am far inferior to what Ji'an is doing now." Wang Yun sighed.

Wang Yun said with a smile: "When I first heard that Ji'an was my son-in-law, I was afraid that Ji'an would be brave but not wise. But after this letter, I am no longer worried!"

On the surface, Zhang Yu's success in delivering the letter seemed to be due to his martial arts, but in fact, the core of his success was Zhang Yu's strategy of confusing the Yellow Turbans. After all, if he only relied on his bravery, even if Zhang Yu had three heads and six arms, he would still be shot into a sieve by the Yellow Turbans.

"Thank you for your appreciation, Your Majesty!" Zhang Yu replied.

Wang Yun pondered for a moment and asked, "How old is Ji'an now?"

"This year is eighteen!"

"Eighteen years old?"

Wang Yun thought for a long time and asked, "How many people are there in Yunzhong County?"

Zhang Yu said truthfully: "My Lord, in the past, the Hu people were prosperous and the northern border of Yunzhong was often invaded, so the Yunzhong County was temporarily moved to Nansha. The population was very few, probably only a few thousand households. My Zhang family was recruited by Zhang Bingzhou and moved to Chanhekou, under the jurisdiction of the Dingxiang prefect."

“I wonder why the prince asked about this?”

Wang Yun scratched his beard and said with a smile: "It would be a pity if he didn't become a filial and honest official at a young age."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu was overjoyed and said, "My reputation is still unknown and I am still young. I am afraid it will be difficult for me to be called a filial and honest official."

Wang Yun disagreed and sneered, "With Ji'an's talent, if he cannot be recommended as an incorruptible official, I'm afraid there will be few incorruptible officials in the world!"

"The Han Dynasty system ordered that every county with a population of 200,000 or more should select one filial and honest official every year, and every county with a population of less than 200,000 should select one every two years, and every county with a population of less than 100,000 should select one every three years."

"However, the border counties have a small population. If the population is over 100,000, one person can be elected every year. If the population is less than 100,000, one person can be elected every two years. If the population is less than 50,000, one person can be elected every three years."

Wang Yun stroked his beard and said, "Two years ago, Dingxiang County selected a filial and honest official. If we go by the timeline, Dingxiang County can select another filial and honest official this year."

"If you can defeat the Yellow Turbans, then Ji'an will have made great achievements. I would like to write a letter and ask Guo Yu to recommend you as a filial and honest official. At the end of the year, you can enter the Shangshutai as a Lang, understand the affairs of governance, and then be appointed as a magistrate outside the capital."

Wang Hong and his younger brother Wang Yun had communicated with their capable son-in-law Zhang Yu, and tried their best to let Zhang Yu go to the battlefield to make merit, and then not to use military merit to enter the officialdom, but to take the convenient way of being selected as a filial and honest official, to gain experience in the Secretariat, and then to be sent out to serve as a county-level magistrate.

Previously, Wang Yun was hesitant about Wang Hong's training plan because he did not know Zhang Yu's abilities. Now that Zhang Yu has shown abilities that match and are worthy of training, Wang Yun is ready to follow Wang Hong's plan.

As for not allowing Zhang Yu to enter the officialdom based on his military achievements, the reason is actually not difficult to understand.

There were too few officers in the Eastern Han army who had risen from the bottom, and most of those who became generals of the army were not officers who had risen from the bottom, but officials who were familiar with Confucianism.

Take Gongsun Zan’s promotion as an example. Although Gongsun Zan seemed to have made great contributions on the border, in fact, Gongsun Zan was not promoted based on his military merits, but on his filial piety and integrity.

Before he was selected as a filial and honest official, Gongsun Zan was only a senior accountant; after he was selected as a filial and honest official, Gongsun Zan became the chief of Liaodong. His promotion was so fast that those who entered the government with military merit would cry. Even during Zhang Chun's rebellion and the early war, Gongsun Zan became the military leader.

Although one could be granted a title of nobility for military merit in the Eastern Han Dynasty, if one wanted to be promoted quickly, one had to abide by the unspoken rules of the Eastern Han officialdom.

In fact, once Zhang Yu was selected as a filial and honest official, his military career background would have achieved the effect of 1+1>2. If he had entered the government solely based on military merit, Zhang Yu would have stayed in the army and would not have been as far ahead in promotion as officials with a filial and honest background.

After talking about Zhang Yu's future plans, Wang Yun smiled and asked, "Is Ji'an still unhappy now?"

"Unhappy?"

Zhang Yu was stunned for a moment, then reacted instantly.

He was a little upset because Zhu Jun did not arrange a chance for him to make meritorious deeds, but Wang Yun saw it. In order to comfort him, Wang Yun told him about his training plan.

"Yu thanks you for your teachings, my Lord!"

Zhang Yu bowed and said sincerely: "Without your guidance, I am afraid it would be difficult for me to realize it."

At that moment, Zhang Yu was really glad that he and Wang Jili had an engagement, and that he was valued by Wang Hong and Wang Yun through his own efforts. Otherwise, even if he worked hard, it would be difficult for him to achieve anything.

Don't you see that Gongsun Zan was promoted to the magistrate of Zhuo just because he killed dozens of Hu people? On the contrary, Zhang Ji spent half his life in the frontier and was only a Sima of another department.

The power of speech now lies in the hands of those who write memorials, not in the hands of warriors with swords!
Wang Yun helped Zhang Yu up and said with a smile, "Since I have been entrusted with the task of commanding the main camp, Ji'an needs to share my worries. He will lead the cavalry to patrol the camp tonight."

"promise!"

(End of this chapter)