Tiger Guards

Chapter 231 Zilong Knows Military Affairs
In the living room, Zhao Fan naturally sat in the main seat.

Zhao Yun and Xiahou Lan took their seats, one on each side. Xiahou Lan then addressed Zhao Yun, saying, "Zilong, the defeat at Yishui was due to Yuan Shao's delay in delivering grain, hoping to reap the benefits. Many in the prefectures and counties are dissatisfied and look down on Yuan Shao's ability."

Zhao Yun listened calmly, then waved his hand: "The Battle of Yishui is over, but the county still wants to fight against the Yuan family?"

"Indeed, ever since the Yuan family formed an alliance with the Wuhuan kings, forged an imperial edict to appoint them as Wuhuan Chanyu, and instigated the Wuhuan from the three counties to plunder Youzhou, all the heroes in the army have been dissatisfied with the Yuan family."

Xiahou Lan said this, then bowed to Zhao Fan. "After the defeat at Yishui, the Yuan family lured Ju Yi to his death. Minister Liu was an imperial envoy, and the remnants of Ju Yi's clan escorted Minister Liu out of Yecheng, intending to take Changshan and Zhongshan and enter Youzhou. The Yuan family pursued fiercely, and Minister Liu was killed along with Ju Yi's soldiers on the road before he could reach Changshan."

Zhao Fan understood Xiahou Lan's intention and said, "I know what Zifang means. If Minister Liu enters our Changshan territory, the heroes of the village will help him return to Youzhou."

Xiahou Lan nodded and looked across at Zhao Yun: "Zilong, Your Majesty is personally leading the expedition against the rebels in Shangdang. Why are you hesitating?"

Zhao Yun nodded and looked at Zhao Fan. "I am also dissatisfied with the Yuan family's forced conscription of villagers as soldiers, but I have heard many rumors slandering Lord Zhao Yuanming while in the mountains. I don't know whether they are true or not. I would like Zimao to explain my doubts."

"This is Yuan's trick."

Zhao Fan said seriously, "The emperor moved east, the royal army was defeated, the Baibo generals usurped power, and the Hedong and Taiyuan clan rebels harbored disrespect. Duke Yuanming devised a plan to recruit Hedong's Tiger Guards. His clan grandson, Zhao Yuansi, responded at a young age and led 800 men to slay four Baibo generals. He was truly a pillar of the state and earned the emperor's favor, who appointed him a Minister of the Interior for his meritorious service."

"Zhao Yuansi, while guarding the Wei family's manor, saw the secret chamber of gold bricks but did not take a single piece. Such a pure and honest character is rare in ancient and modern times. Who can match it?"

"After defeating the Xiongnu at Pingyang, we learned that the Taiyuan clan thief had lured the Xiongnu to block the road, disregarding the emperor's safety and killing the imperial envoys, a crime tantamount to treason. The emperor, enraged, raised an army, sent Duke Yuanming and the Empress to guard Hedong, and sent Zhao Yuansi as the vanguard. He was able to intimidate the Chanyu and eliminate the clan thieves in a single battle. Doesn't Zilong think that the Taiyuan clan thief deserves to be killed?"

"Deserves to be killed."

Zhao Yun uttered two words, his expression still calm. He simply pointed outside the door and said, "The imperial court has summoned us. How can we, the men of Yan and Zhao, fear death? But every family is broken, and most of them are the elderly, children, and women. If we, the young and strong, raise an army, who will take care of the women and children?"

"You can move to Taiyuan."

Zhao Fan bowed to the west with a respectful expression, "Zilong, you may not know this. The Marquis of Pingyang has executed almost all the treacherous ministers and clan members, distributed land to the people, and encouraged farming. He has also encouraged the officials and people of Taiyuan and Hedong to catch locusts and fight the disaster. Now Taiyuan has ample grain reserves and can house at least 30,000 men and women!"

Zhao Fan pointed south again and said, "The high-ranking officials of Shangdang are but fish and birds caught in a net, not far from death. If Zilong hesitates, he can wait and see. Within ten days or a month, good news will surely arrive."

Zhao Yun was in no hurry to reply, but Xiahou Lan, anxious as he was, immediately said, "Yuan's army is about to be dispatched. If we can't gather them in one place, they will be defeated one by one, layer upon layer, and reduced to a ditch of dead bones! Zilong, the county has made a decision. Upon seeing the letter from the Marquis of Zhao in Pingyang, relocate the women, children, the elderly, and the weak to Taiyuan, while the able-bodied men will remain behind to prepare for battle!"

In the heart of Jizhou, powerful people occupied land, annexed households, and lived a happy life.

Changshan State was on the front line against Zhang Yan and had not enjoyed any good days in recent years.

The magistrate of Zhending County and the prime minister of Changshan State really had no way to retreat, unless Yuan's army could immediately march north, intercept the Black Mountain Army, and block them in the mountains.

Otherwise, the Black Mountain Army would have repeatedly attacked, and the imperial envoys would have had no obstruction... Any one of them would have had the ability to kill or assassinate the county magistrate or the prime minister.

Obeying the imperial court's orders is the duty of county officials. How can this be considered a betrayal of Yuan Shao?

Zhao Yun glanced at Xiahou Lan with dissatisfaction, then at Zhao Fan. "Since the imperial court has already provided a plan to relocate the women and children of Changshan, we will step forward and confront the traitorous officials! However, we must swiftly relocate the people. Given the swiftness of Yuan's military operations, any hesitation could block the Jingxing Pass."

"Very good!"

Zhao Fan's face lit up with joy, and he said, "The General for Suppressing Rebellions has divided his forces to besiege Baodu Village, and the Jingxing Pass is now under the control of the imperial court. If Zilong trusts me, he can immediately organize the people and lead the migration. From what I know about the Marquis of Pingyang, although he is currently deploying troops in Shangdang, he has already begun to move elsewhere."

Jingxingkou is very important. If we control it, the Black Mountain Army...the Pingnan Army can come and go freely, and Zhao Ji's reinforcements can also go through here.

The other two exits are inconvenient. Fukou in the south leads directly to Weijun, which is a key pass where Yuan’s army is stationed. It is difficult to open it in an emergency.

The Feihukou in the north leads to Zhongshan State, which requires Zhao Ji to take a detour, wasting time, delaying supply, and making his soldiers lose weight.

As for why Yuan didn't station a large force at Jingxingkou... having too few troops would be ineffective, while having too many would have disrupted Yuan's overall strategy if they were surrounded by Zhang Yan and had to be rescued. Previously, during the Battle of Changshan, Yuan's army, with fewer troops, defeated Zhang Yan's main force. Leveraging this victory, they penetrated deep into the valley, sweeping away the Black Mountain troops and creating a wide no-man's land.

Therefore, Yuan Jun had a psychological advantage over Zhang Yan and did not think that Zhang Yan would dare to fight a second Battle of Changshan.

Even if Zhang Yan wanted to fight back to his hometown, the various units of the Black Mountain Army might not be willing to cooperate.

Normally, Yuan Jun's judgment would be fine, but this year the court controlled by Zhao Ji gave Zhang Yan the righteousness to send troops, and at the same time, the disaster forced the various units of the Black Mountain Army to take action.

The imperial court gained a lot from killing the clan bandits in Taiyuan. This action greatly encouraged the various units of the Black Mountain Army, and gave rise to a strong desire to cooperate with the imperial court to kill the clan bandits in Jizhou for revenge and to rob food.

Zhao Yun was well aware of the importance of Jingxingkou in defeating Yuan's army, and Yuan's army would definitely send urgent troops to seize Jingxingkou!
But looking at Zhao Fan's expression, he seemed to naively believe that Zhang Yan could capture Baodu Village.

As long as you are from Zhending and have been to Baodu Village, you will not have the idea of attacking Baodu Village.

But they were absolutely confident that they could blockade Baodu Village. The road up the mountain was dangerous and it was difficult to attack from the bottom up. If they blocked the intersection, it would be difficult for the defenders of Baodu Village to break through.

Therefore, the Black Mountain Army was destined to be unable to capture and eliminate the Yuan Army in Baoduzhai.

This Yuan army cannot interfere with anything, but as long as it exists, it can play many roles.

Zhao Yun had no way to deal with Baodu Village unless he used false information to lure the defenders out and kill them.

In the short term, that is, within ten days, it is really impossible to deal with this defending army.

But within ten days, the elite Yuan army will definitely attack Zhending!

Zhao Yun made this judgment because he had fought with Yuan's army several times. He was also aware of the weaknesses of the Black Mountain Army. When facing the elite Yuan army's strong attack and the seizure of Jingxingkou, who among the Black Mountain Army would be willing to fight to the death?

At that time, how many people in Changshan would be willing to fight to the death with Yuan's army?
If you don't try hard, you will lose everything!
Looking at Zhao Fan, who was filled with a sense of relaxation and mysterious confidence, Zhao Yun felt a sense of powerlessness.

Opposing Yuan Shao was his personal stance, as well as the stance of his relatives and fellow villagers.

Yuan's army forced the people of Changshan to go to the Yishui battlefield to die... It was almost a murder. They were suspected of deliberately cutting off food supplies and using brutal means to lure Ju Yi to death. These methods were very unpopular with the people of Yan and Zhao.

So Zhao Yun had no choice. If he refused now, the elders in his family who had lost their husbands and sons would gather at his door and scold him.

Besides, Zhao Yun didn't want to refuse.

Revenge must be taken.

But in the eyes of Zhao Yun, who was a strict person, Zhao Fan looked really unreliable.

With a little hope, Zhao Yun said, "I want to pay a visit to the General of the Central Army who pacifies the rebellion. Can the angel arrange it?"

Zhao Fan looked troubled, but he nodded reluctantly: "I will do my best to make this happen. What else does Zilong want?"

Zhao Yun bowed solemnly, "Please send an angel to report to the court immediately. Tell them that Yuan is a swift and resourceful warrior, always planning his moves and striking after the enemy is defeated. They will use a light and powerful force to seize Jingxing. We must be on guard. The Black Mountain troops are disorganized and cannot be relied upon."

"Zilong has written the letter. I will send someone on horseback to deliver it to Minister Zhao's army!"

Zhao Fan was extremely happy, for he was afraid that Zhao Ji would kick him out after the war.

Seeing that Zhao Yun seemed to be knowledgeable about military affairs, Zhao Fan wanted to run to Zhao Ji in person and recommend Zhao Yun with confidence.

(End of this chapter)