Tiger Guards

Chapter 170 Zhang Yang's Ambition
Dong Zhao has been in Hanoi for three years, so Zhang Yang should ask for clarification.

Because of the Dong Zhao incident, Liu Xie and Fu Wan also had to question Zhang Yang again in order to understand the specific situation in Guandong.

The envoy sent to Yuan Shao and Cao Cao was Zhao Qi, who gave very good feedback; while the envoy sent to Yuan Shu was Ma Riti, who has lost contact to this day.

When Zhang Yang paid a visit to the emperor, Liu Xie did not dare to ask in person, so he asked Fu Wan to ask during the reception and introduction.

What is the specific situation in Kanto?

There are still various theories to this day. Even Zhao Ji, who came from the mountains, was able to make a summary based on hearsay from various Kanto scholars.

Fu Wan certainly did not believe Zhao Ji's negative views.

But Fu Wan did not dare to believe that Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were virtuous and capable ministers.

One thing is very clear, if the court stays in Hedong now, then neither the Yuan nor the Cao families will be able to interfere with the court, allowing the court to enjoy the most precious freedom.

No matter how Zhao Yan and Zhao Ji looked at it, the danger they posed was far less than that posed by Yuan and Cao.

Zhang Yang, basing his understanding on this, said, "Now that the imperial court has been relocated to Luodu, it's like a human body with its trunk and limbs regaining its heart. However, Luodu has long been abandoned, and Henei and Henan are exhausted and unable to supply the imperial court's needs. Yanzhou Governor Cao Cao, after repeatedly attacking Xuzhou, has run out of military provisions and is seeking food in Xuzhou. This spring, he also attacked Runan with the intention of seeking food."

It is recognized by all parties that Cao Cao also has no food.

Fu Wan asked, "Hebei is rich, does it have surplus grain?"

Zhang Yang shook his head. "The Yuan clan's siege of the Gongsun clan is becoming increasingly urgent. Why would they allocate troops and grain to the imperial court? Only after the Gongsun clan is destroyed and the armies in Hebei return to farming will there be a surplus of grain. Currently, of all the provinces in the country, only Jingzhou can supply Luodu's needs."

Fu Wan asked again, "I heard that Cao Mengde sent his brother Cao Hong to attack the area around Wankou. Will this hinder the transportation of grain and fodder to Jingzhou?"

There are two types of obstruction: one is to deny passage, and the other is to rob.

If the spoils of war from Cao Cao's attack on Runan are not enough for military use, he will most likely attack Nanyang and raid Jingzhou, either by robbing or extorting, to get military rations.

Zhang Yang was Lu Bu's good friend and had no good feelings towards either Yuan or Cao.

After a moment's thought, he said, "Based on my understanding of Cao Cao, if the court sends an envoy to persuade him, they can use Cao Cao's prestige to force Liu Biao to send soldiers and food to garrison Luodu."

Zhang Yang looked up at Fu Wan and said bluntly, "If Marquis Lü Wen is appointed governor of Yuzhou, commanding the people of Yuzhou, and allied with Zhang Xiu in Nanyang, as well as the vassal states of Liu Biao, Liu Yao, and Liu Bei, they can form a barrier to the southern part of the imperial court and thus counterbalance Cao Cao."

Dong Zhao was already dead, and there was no one to continue to instill in Zhang Yang the idea that there would inevitably be a war between Yuan and Cao.

Previously, under the view that there would be a war between Yuan and Cao, the imperial court should have allied with the weak Cao Cao to curb Yuan Shao's expansion.

If Gongsun Zan had not imprisoned the angels, killed Liu Yu, and appointed himself as governor and county magistrate, which were too rebellious, he could have been won over to form an anti-Yuan Shao alliance.

Now Zhao Ji and the imperial court have opened up the situation in Hedong. Once they have actual control over the land west of Taihang Mountain, they will suppress the two thieves Li and Guo.

Then the imperial court could form an alliance to encircle and suppress the Yuan-Cao group, and Henei, where Zhang Yang was located, was exactly the center of the formation.

If Lu Bu could obtain the post of governor of Yuzhou and gain the support of the people of Yuzhou under the advocacy of the imperial court, he would be able to hold back Cao Cao.

A larger strategic vision gradually took shape in Zhang Yang's mind, and the leader was naturally his good friend, Marquis Wen Lu Bu.

For example, Liu Bei, the governor of Xuzhou, Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou, Liu Chong, the King of Chen, and Liu Yao, the governor of Yangzhou, can all be considered as members of this alliance.

With them around, they can certainly hold Yuan Shu back.

Given the hatred between Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, Yuan Shu would not take the initiative to rescue Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.

This plan was too grand, so he planned to inform Zhao Ji first.

Without Zhao Ji's support, many things would not be accomplished.

For example, the most crucial thing was to restore the crippled Lu Bu's legs.

Without a large enough cavalry, Lu Bu would not be able to soar across the vast Central Plains.

It doesn't take much, Zhao Ji can support Lu Bu with two thousand horses... Don't think that Cao Cao is having a great time now besieging the big families and powerful people in Runan. In the end, he will have to spit out as much as he takes in.

There are millions of households in Runan, how could there be so many Yellow Turban bandits?
Now if Cao Cao attacks the Yellow Turban bandits, the Yellow Turban bandits will naturally resist Cao Cao, and those who resist Cao Cao will naturally be the Yellow Turban bandits.

According to this logic, all the powerful and valuable Ru'nan tyrants and big families who can be conquered are basically Yellow Turban bandits.

Besides, when it comes to the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which powerful family doesn’t have a few Taiping Dao followers?
His Cao family has been worshipping Taoism for generations, and his family has had unclear ties with the Taiping Dao.

Taking a million surrendered Yellow Turban troops from Qingxu to suppress the Yellow Turbans in Runan is hilarious in itself.

For Cao Cao, attacking the powerful people in Runan was a deliberate act of killing the chicken to scare the monkey.

In addition to eliminating the powerful people in Runan and replenishing military supplies, it can also effectively deter the powerful people in Yanyu and stabilize the rear.

Don’t the other powerful people in Yan and Yu know this truth?
Everyone understands that what is lacking is a hero who will take the lead in resisting.

Even Prince Chen Liu Chong was just watching.

As long as Lu Bu takes action, the two states of Yan and Yu will immediately fall apart, and each county will close its doors and wait and see the outcome.

At that time, the imperial court will appoint county governors and county magistrates, who will be able to quickly take over large areas.

It is much easier to dismantle Cao Cao than Yuan Shao. Cao Cao has done too much dirty work, his hands are bloody, and there are too many people who want to kill him.

After all, Zhang Yang was one of the core figures who participated in the Luoyang coup, and he had all the necessary knowledge and courage.

But there are many things that cannot be told to someone like Fu Wan.

Don't underestimate this guy because he is the father-in-law of the emperor, the son-in-law of Emperor Huan, and a duke for generations; he has no experience or prestige in local governance, let alone military prestige.

When it comes to staging a coup, Zhang Yang looks down on Fu Wan.

On the contrary, it was Zhao Yan and Zhao Ji who won in the chaos and swallowed up Hedong... Although Hedong was not big, the Zhao family was even smaller. They took advantage of every opportunity and completed the swallowing by deceiving their superiors and subordinates and taking advantage of the power of others.

Only by cooperating with Zhao Yan and Zhao Ji can there be hope of success.

As for Fu Wan... he should just be a close minister to the emperor. Worrying about other things will only hurt others and yourself.

Zhang Yang had already shown his hostility towards Cao Cao, and Fu Wan even felt that this was a good thing.

After asking Zhang Yang about his attitude in person, Fu Wan led Zhang Yang to pay a visit to the emperor.

It was just a ceremonial visit. Zhang Yang presented various objects. The emperor asked about the affairs of Henei and Luoyang and gave him some encouragement.

Even if the audience was over, Liu Xie would not participate in the discussion of any key issues.

Zhao Ji would not obey unconditionally. Even if Zhao Ji released the ministers, these ministers had their own positions and would not listen to Liu Xie in everything.

The more critical the moment of the decision, the less likely Liu Xie would express his attitude and inclination.

This way, if things fail in the end, it won't be his fault.

Even if Li Jue and Guo Si took him back again, they would continue to serve him and would not make things difficult for him... unless he gave birth to a new prince.

Therefore, in the past two years, Liu Xie has always been very restrained, for fear of having a substitute.

Giving birth to a prince is not the empire's hope, but his death.

After Zhang Yang completed his audience with the emperor, he wore a crimson military officer's robe and a military cap, and rode out of Jiangyi in a carriage.

Xue Hong was also waiting at the city gate. After getting on his carriage, he said to Zhang Yang, "Mingshang, Minister Zhao has already prepared a banquet in the fields of the western suburbs. We are waiting for you to attend."

Zhang Yang observed Xue Hong's expression and asked, "Is Minister Zhao satisfied with the gift?"

"From my humble opinion, Minister Zhao is not pleased with material things. He is a remarkable man who regards the century-old treasure of the Wei family as dirt."

Xue Hong praised Zhao Ji in a tone and with an emotional expression. Zhao Ji left a deep and good impression on him.

It was the first time in Xue Hong's life that he had ever seen a man as handsome and heroic as Zhao Ji.

Seeing Xue Hong's uncontrollable smile, Zhang Yang asked, "In your opinion, what kind of person is Minister Zhao?"

"He is truly a celestial being of the time, no less than Marquis Wen."

Xue Hong gave what he thought was the highest evaluation. Being able to be on par with Lu Bu was the highest evaluation in Zhang Yang's eyes.

Zhang Yang smiled upon hearing this. "He was able to rally half of Hedong's forces, gather a motley crowd, and force the Xiongnu to surrender in a single battle. Compared to Marquis Wen, he's more than on par. Judging from Fengxian's youth, he was far inferior to Minister Zhao."

What were he and Lu Bu doing when they were young?
Of course, it was horse riding and archery, gathering brave young men from all over the country, forming partnerships, traveling between Han and Hu, and making friends with heroes.

Occasionally, he would escort caravans to earn some money, or he would suppress bandits and make a name for himself.

It was also after the coming-of-age ceremony that he was valued by Dong Zhuo and Ding Yuan and was able to take up an official position.

Then he was involved in the Luoyang coup. Most of his former companions died, and those who survived became the backbone of their respective forces.

When I recall the beautiful and brilliant moments of my youth, I always think of Lu Bu.

Only by following Lu Bu's side did Zhang Yang feel full of strength.

But now even he himself is not satisfied with himself.

He couldn't destroy any of the powerful families in Hanoi.

Even when his subordinates rebelled, he was reluctant to kill them or fight with them. Instead, he knelt down and cried while reviewing his mistakes. The rebellious subordinates felt guilty and took the initiative to admit their mistakes to him.

He has been in this muddle until now and is still the governor of Hanoi County without making any progress.

Look at Lu Bu, his career had ups and downs and he was famous all over the world.

If he could successfully merge with the imperial court this time, the imperial court, which had suffered a great loss at the hands of Wang Yun, would naturally strongly support Lu Bu.

What Cao Cao... Only Yuan Shao is qualified to be the enemy!
Zhang Yang was full of confidence and determined to convince Zhao Ji.

Even if it means handing over hostages to Zhao Ji, he would be happy to do so!
Zhao Ji also held the newly drawn cowhide map, thinking about how to convince Zhang Yang.

If possible, one of my eldest brother's good nephews could be sent to Zhang Yang to be his son-in-law.

(End of this chapter)