Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 472 A Nation Without Great Generals
Yingchuan Commandery, Kunyang.

Chen Jun's main force marched along the official road, with the infantry advancing in three columns and the cavalry advancing along the left and right columns. From a distance, the army appeared boundless and imposing. However, upon closer inspection, it could be seen that beneath the grand marching formation, the infantry moved erratically, the vehicles moved slowly, and the overall marching speed was slowed down.

Seeing this scene, the general was filled with worry, so he spurred his horse and caught up with Yan Xiang's carriage.

"Lord Yan, our army is advancing slowly, while Zhang Yu's army has already reached Yongqiu. If we want to fight the enemy, we must first quickly reach Chenliu and establish a camp in a strategic location."

Yan Xiang looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Han Hao from Hanoi. He said, "Our army has a large number of infantry, 100,000 soldiers, more than 90,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 20,000 chariots. How can we march quickly with such a force?"

Han Hao, courtesy name Yuansi, was a native of Hanoi Commandery. During the campaign against Dong Zhuo, Han Hao was recruited by Wang Kuang as an aide. Yuan Shu, having heard of Han Hao's reputation, poached him from Wang Kuang's ranks and appointed him as a cavalry commandant.

Historically, Yuan Shu was defeated in battle against Cao Cao, and Wang Kuang surrendered to Cao Cao. In the present timeline, due to Yuan Shu's powerful army, Wang Kuang has been following Yuan Shu and is currently holding the official title of General Fubo.

Han Hao said, "It is precisely because we have more infantry than cavalry, while the enemy's cavalry is more numerous and skilled than ours, that our army needs to march quickly and seize key points. If the enemy first occupies the strategic points and then takes advantage of the situation to launch a pincer attack, our army will be at the mercy of the enemy. Moreover, it is difficult to march quickly now, only thirty or forty li a day, while Yongqiu is five hundred li away from us. Wouldn't it take half a month to reach Yongqiu?"

"Half a month later, we arrived at Yongqiu. It was early October, and the enemy's camps were already complete, and their supply lines were in order. If our army were to return to Chenliu, how could we possibly hope to win?"

Traveling 30 to 40 li a day is considered a slow marching speed, while for infantry, traveling 60 li a day is considered fast.

The Tang army was able to reach Yongqiu before the Chen army not only because the Tang army was the attacking force, but also because the Tang army's marching speed was consistently faster.

The Tang army's rapid march was due to three main reasons. First, the Guanzhong Plain was a long and arduous route, and in order to seize the initiative, Zhang Yu forced his troops to travel at a faster pace. Second, the Tang army was based in Hebei, a region known for its cattle and horses, and was able to purchase horses from the Hu people, thus giving the Tang army high mobility.

Thirdly, the Tang army possessed a complete logistics system, with provisions often prepared in various locations before a campaign. For example, Zhang Yu built granaries in Henan and Shangdang to store grain, and later stockpiled provisions in Yecheng. Therefore, when Zhang Yu's troops marched, he did not need civilian laborers to accompany them, but instead relied on the provisions along the way.

Judging from Chen Yuan's words, Yuan Shu lacked a systematic approach and had no capable administrators like Zhong Yao or Du Ji under his command, so he naturally couldn't establish a top-down logistical system. Therefore, for this military campaign, Yuan Shu had the governor of Yu Province supply the provisions, unlike the Tang army which relied on centralized allocation from the central government.

Yan Xiang nodded solemnly and said, "Our army's progress is indeed quite slow. Yuan Si, please come with me to meet His Majesty."

"promise!"

After giving instructions, and upon being informed by his attendants, Yuan Shu's carriage stopped by the roadside, and Yan Xiang, along with Han Hao, paid their respects to Yuan Shu.

"Your subjects Yan Xiang and Han Hao pay their respects to Your Majesty!"

Yuan Shu emerged from the carriage canopy, his round belly protruding. Supported by those on either side, he stepped onto the backs of eunuchs and slowly landed on the ground.

Yuan Shu had a sweet tooth. Since settling in Wancheng, near Jiaozhou, he often ate sugarcane and enjoyed sweets. Lacking exercise and with his advancing age and slowed metabolism, Yuan Shu became overweight, with a large belly and thick waist. He traveled by carriage rather than on horseback. Now, as Yuan Shu embarks on his campaign, early-ripening sugarcane is provided for him, not to mention sweet juice and honey.

"Pooh!"

Yuan Shu spat the sugarcane stick in his mouth onto the ground and asked, "I heard that Yuan Si has an important matter to report. May I ask what it is?"

"Your Majesty, our army is marching slowly, and it will take half a month to reach Yongqiu. The enemy is likely already prepared. I believe Your Majesty should send elite troops to advance quickly and occupy strategic locations. If we are slow to arrive, Zhang Yu's camp will be fully fortified, and our army will be subdued by the Tang bandits," Han Hao said.

"rational!"

Yuan Shu pondered for a long time before asking Kuai Yue, "What do you think?"

Kuai Yue bowed to Yuan Shu and said, “Your Majesty, Zhang Yu’s troops are elite. If I send my elite troops to advance quickly, they will easily be defeated by Zhang Yu. I think it is better to take advantage of the situation and attack Changyi instead of rushing to Yongqiu, and to carry out the strategy of besieging Wei to rescue Zhao, so that Zhang Yu will divide his troops.”

Yuan Shu frowned and said, "Changyi is Lü Bu's capital. If our army besieges Changyi, why would Zhang Yu care?"

After considering for a while, Yuan Shu said, "Order Zhang Xun to lead 10,000 elite troops from Danyang to advance and occupy strategically important locations." "Yes, sir!"

Seeing that Yuan Shu did not adopt his plan, Kuai Yue's expression remained unchanged.

After Yuan Shu boarded the carriage, Kuai Liang stepped forward and asked, "Changyi is Lü Bu's territory; attacking it would be pointless. Why do you advise against it, brother?"

Kuai Yue sighed and said, "If Zhang Yu doesn't come to the rescue of Changyi, Lü Bu will definitely withdraw his troops to reinforce it. At that time, both Zhang and Lü will have doubts. If Zhang Yu does come to the rescue, then we will have to divide the troops under Zhang Yu's command. According to the military report, Zhang Yu has sent 100,000 troops, 20,000 troops to attack Yuan Shang, and more than 10,000 troops to attack Yuan Xi. Now, if we divide the troops to guard the grain and rescue Changyi, we will only have 40,000 to 50,000 troops available. Our army has twice that number, so we have a good chance of winning."

"what?"

Kuai Liang exclaimed in surprise and asked doubtfully, "Brother, since you have such a good plan, why don't you explain it to His Majesty?"

Kuai Yue shook his head and said, "That is true. If Zhang Yu's army does not fight and sends generals back to rescue Changyi, the other armies will be defeated while the main army achieves nothing, which will damage morale. The country has no generals who can match him. I can think of a strategy to defend against the enemy, but I dare not say that victory is certain. Moreover, Han Hao's strategy is not without reason. Sending troops to seize strategic locations is a good idea."

With that, Kuai Yue sighed and said, "Sun Jian's betrayal in Bashu has greatly damaged the morale of our army!"

Kuai Liang remained silent, worried about whether the campaign would be successful.

While Yuan Shu was waging war, turbulent waves were brewing on the coast thousands of miles away.

Leling, Yuan Tan's main tent.

“Man Chong has sent a letter ordering our army to cross the river at Pingchang and attack Yuan Shang’s forces. What do you all think?” Yuan Tan asked, looking at his civil and military officials.

“Now that Man Chong’s letter has arrived, if the general does not send troops, he will be violating military orders. Moreover, Yuan Shang is a formidable enemy, and we should attack him now,” Su You said.

Wang Xiu earnestly advised, "General, you are a member of the Yuan family. How can you disregard your blood relatives? Now that Man Chong has defeated Yuan Shang, it will be the time for you to perish."

Seeing that their opinions differed, Yuan Tan looked at Meng Dai and asked, "What insightful opinion do you have?"

Meng Dai stroked his beard and pondered, then said, “What you all say is not without reason. If we attack Yuan Shang with Man Chong's help, the moment the coastal areas submit will be the moment of your defeat and death. But if we follow Yuan Shang's lead, we will offend Zhang Yu, and when Yuan Shang retreats from the enemy, he will surely turn around and attack you again, thus cutting yourself off from Zhang Yu. You will then be isolated and helpless!”

"What is your opinion, sir?" Yuan Tan asked humbly.

Meng Dai pondered for a long time, then cupped his hands and said, “General, your country is small, your army is few, your food supplies are scarce, and your strength is weak. You are relying on the Tang army to hold off Yuan Shang. In my humble opinion, you should sit and watch the two men succeed or fail, so that both of their troops suffer losses. Then we can discuss the matter of sending troops. When Man Chong attacks Yuan Shang, Yuan Shang will suffer more defeats than victories. At that time, you can lead your troops south and take over the area north of Linzi. You can also observe the situation in southern Qi.”

"Yuan Shang's army was defeated, and his soldiers fled. General, you can gather them to strengthen your forces and resist Man Chong. Man Chong has come from afar. If the situation in the Central Plains changes and His Majesty (Yuan Shu) can repel Zhang Yu, Man Chong will surely withdraw his troops. At this point, the coastal lands will be back in your hands. You will be connected to Gao Gan in the south and Yuan Xi in the west. With His Majesty as your ally, you will be able to hold out against Hebei."

Meng Dai's strategy was simple and clear: first, let Man Chong and Yuan Shang fight each other, wearing each other down for a while. When Qingzhou was vulnerable, Yuan Tan would lead his troops into Qingzhou, seize the area north of Linzi, and then gather Yuan Shang's defeated army to resist Man Chong, who had defeated Yuan Shang.

If Yuan Shu forces Zhang Yu to retreat, then Man Chong will inevitably withdraw his troops due to Zhang Yu's withdrawal. Yuan Tan will then be able to gain a foothold in Qingzhou and gradually recover the two commanderies of Beihai and Donglai. Subsequently, Yuan Tan will contact Gao Gan and Yuan Xi, and with the support of Yuan Shu, he can achieve his goal of establishing a separatist regime along the coast.

"What Lord Meng said is exactly what I think!"

Yuan Tan said, "The reason Zhang Yu accepted me was simply to see brothers kill each other and then take over the coastal counties. Therefore, I pretended to submit, first taking over Yuan Shang's defeated troops and conquering the three northern counties of Qi, so that I could rise again on the coast."

As he spoke, Yuan Tan instructed his men, saying, "Draft a letter for me, stating that our army is willing to cross the river at Pingchang, but we are short of food and supplies. Please ask Man Chong to help us with the expenses."

"promise!"

(End of this chapter)