Tiger Guards

Chapter 463 Wen Chou walks alone
On the third day of the ninth month, Zhao Ji led the rearguard troops across the Honggou Canal.

At the pontoon bridge, Han Dang's more than 3,000 troops joined up with Jiang Qin's more than 1,000 troops heading north.

Han Dang also began packing his bags and sent men to burn down the camp to prevent it from being used by Yuan's army.

Jiang Qin then began dismantling the pontoon bridge and collecting timber to build more makeshift rafts.

They naturally couldn't cross Yanzhou directly. The easiest way was to prepare various boats and then go down the Honggou River, heading east along the Ji River. It would take them four or five days to reach Dongping Kingdom and Jibei Kingdom in Yanzhou; or they could go directly along the Ji River to Jinan Kingdom and Le'an Kingdom in Qingzhou.

If Sun Ce wanted to contend with Yuan Shao and seize Qingzhou from the jaws of defeat, then the Ji River defense line would be his lifeline.

On the west bank of the Honggou Canal, Zhao Ji boarded a chariot and led the chariot and cavalry troops to continue to hold the rear and cover the enemy lines.

At the front of the procession, more than two thousand newly arrived women from the Jianghuai region walked in groups, many of them holding onto their carts.

In an empty grain cart, Zhao Jian huddled in the semi-sealed compartment and fell asleep.

The war was nearing its end, and Zhao Jian was already exhausted.

Even now, in his half-asleep state, streams of grain consumption data and various confusing dispatch orders continue to churn in his mind.

On the surface of the carriage, Zhang Hong sat at the back, looking relaxed as he watched the procession of vehicles and the women walking alongside them.

These women were all dressed in coarse cloth, and their faces were generally dirty, making it impossible to discern their features.

But they gave Zhang Hong a familiar Xu Yang aura, which made him feel at peace.

For the Jin army, this year's war is more than half over.

The rest depends on whether Yuan Shao is willing to let them pass. If Yuan Shao sends troops to Hanoi to intercept them, then another battle will have to be fought.

Like Zhao Jian, Zhang Hong is not currently thinking about anything long-term.

After committing suicide against Cao Cao, he spent his days anticipating various changes and adjusting his contingency plans based on feedback.

Fortunately, Zhao Ji maintained control over the intensity of the war, and the nature of the war changed from protecting the country and opposing Yuan Shikai.

After Cao Cao was killed, the "Protect the Nation and Oppose Yuan" campaign was no longer viable, and the focus shifted to a struggle for supremacy.

Whoever becomes the hegemon will govern the central government and assist the emperor in restoring the Han dynasty.

Lü Bu's military probing of Zhao Ji was essentially a test of Lü Bu's ambition to establish hegemony in the Central Plains after Cao Cao's death.

As long as Zhao Ji refuses to fight, then Lu Bu's test will be considered a success.

The Zhao family's control of Xizhou was not about seeking hegemony; it was precisely because they had a longer-term plan and ambition that they avoided competing with Lü Bu for hegemony in the Central Plains.

Zhang Hong didn't want to think about these things, but the information he usually pondered still collided in his mind. His subconscious was calculating these things, and then they would form his fixed cognition.

The warlord conflicts that followed the campaign against Dong Zhuo, after Yuan Shu's power waned and Cao Cao died, evolved into a struggle for supremacy among warlords, marking the beginning of a new phase.

Referencing the changes during the Western and Eastern Zhou dynasties, as well as the development during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

The only curious variable now is the issue of the emperor assuming personal rule. Scholars, both old and new, generally hold sympathy for the current emperor and have even greater expectations for him.

Since the emperor never held power, the various chaotic periods and policies that did not align with the interests of scholars during the reigns of Dong Zhuo, Li Guo, and Lü Zhao cannot be attributed to the emperor.

As long as the emperor never takes personal control of the government, this beautiful expectation will not be shattered.

The last emperor to have suffered so much hardship was Emperor Xuan. Not to mention the scholars of the land, even Zhang Hong had high hopes for the current emperor.

However, Lü Bu had already realized that in the struggle for hegemony in the Central Plains, the conflict between the emperor and Lü Bu would become irreconcilable and lead to a violent clash.

Zhang Hong's expression was solemn, but his gaze kept glancing at the Jianghuai women who were walking with their carriages in his line of sight... Their hometowns included not only Xuzhou and Yangzhou, but also women from Yanzhou and Yuzhou who had fled to Jianghuai to escape the war.

In such times, how could a family with the foresight and ability to seek refuge in the Jianghuai region be an ordinary citizen?
However, when the Jianghuai region descended into chaos, they still couldn't escape it. They either died or were captured and turned into forced laborers and slaves. Their wives and daughters were also turned into human currency, becoming bargaining chips for Sun Ce.

Soon, Zhang Hong found a kind-looking woman among the women around him. She was walking and would occasionally steal glances at Zhang Hong. Their eyes met a few times, and each time the seventeen or eighteen-year-old woman would blush.

Zhang Hong remembered the other party's formation and even showed a gentle smile. During his time in the military, Zhang Hong's appearance became more dignified, exuding the charm of a middle-aged man.

As their eyes met, two mounted messengers came from the west, one after the other, galloping towards Zhao Ji's location in the east.

The cavalryman ahead had three feathers stuck in his back; this was top-level military intelligence indicating that even if someone was killed in a collision, their family would be severely punished.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Hong reacted immediately. Without waiting for the carriage to stop, he jumped down, steadied himself, adjusted his sword, and said to the guards who had reined in their horses and surrounded him, "Come with me to see the Grand Marshal."

"Here."

Zhang Hong also mounted his horse and led the cavalry in the direction the main force was heading, heading to the rear of the column to meet up with Zhao Ji.

When they arrived, the infantry and cavalry units that brought up the rear marched in an orderly fashion, while Zhao Ji's chariot was parked by the roadside.

When Zhao Ji saw Zhang Hong riding over, he hurriedly handed him the military intelligence report: "Zilong reports that Yuan Shao's vanguard, Wen Chou, has advanced to the south of Shanyang County in Henan and is stationed at Shequan Township. Behind him are the armies of Ma Yan and Jiao Chu."

Zhang Hong read quickly: "Does the Grand Marshal suspect that Yuan Shao intends to intercept our army?"

"This shouldn't be his idea. Since he let me withdraw and I gave him face by not attacking Yan County, why would he create unnecessary trouble?"

Zhao Ji was slightly puzzled, as he couldn't plant spies among Yuan Shao's people.

Zhang Hong pondered for a moment and then said, "Perhaps the generals in Hebei are greedy for our spoils, and this is a test?" "Whether it's a test or not, we must not let Yuan's army cross the Huai County line. If they dare to come, our army must counterattack and drive them away."

Huai County was the seat of Hanoi Prefecture, located in the central part of Hanoi; Shanyang County was located northwest of Huai County, and there was a road connecting Ji County and Ye City.

The current governor of Hanoi is Miao Shang, a former subordinate of Zhang Yang. Zhao Ji is also worried that Miao Shang will not be able to withstand the pressure and will abandon the prefecture like Xue Hong, the governor of Shangdang.

Having just fallen out with Zhang Yang, Miao Shang is unlikely to fully cooperate with his side's military operations.

Miao Shang was even coerced and persuaded by the scholars of Hanoi to defect to Yuan Shao's camp.

After Zhao Ji made a strong statement, he even had the impulse to leave the army and rush to Xingyang to join Zhao Yun, cross the river, and catch Wen Chou off guard.

In the battle of Changshan last year, Wen Chou was clearly very dissatisfied, and he rushed forward so quickly to garrison Shequan... Although Shequan belonged to Shanyang County, it was actually an outer stronghold of Huai County.

In other words, either Wen Chou quickly defeated the Shequan garrison, or even if the garrison consisted of only two or three hundred men, it wouldn't have been defeated so easily. Wen Chou would have needed time to prepare siege equipment.

Therefore, the most likely truth is that the Shequan garrison collapsed, or defected from Miao Shang's command, or even that the Hanoi literati persuaded and led the retreat, and Miao Shang was suspected of being neutral and permissive.

Otherwise, such important military intelligence should have been delivered by Miao Shang, not discovered by Zhao Yun.

Miao Shang's passive attitude was most likely an attempt to support the former Zhang Yang and General Lü Bu.

Zhao Ji deduced this information from the brief military intelligence report and wished he could strangle Miao Shang.

He believed he had treated Zhang Yang and Xue Hong well, and had not mistreated Miao Shang either.

That's normal, though. This is a clash between two groups. The favors and kindnesses of the past are just petty gains and not worth mentioning.

Out of suspicion of the old bureaucrats, scholars and powerful families, Zhao Ji immediately changed his tune, saying, "Huai County is fickle and has the suspicion of secretly colluding with Hebei. If I send troops to Huai County immediately, the Hebei troops will surely come to kill me before I can establish a firm foothold."

Huai County is the seat of Hanoi, and Miao Shang has more than 3,000 men under his command. This is Miao Shang's base of operations, and Zhao Ji has never sent troops to garrison it before.

Even during several military campaigns, they took the Zhiguan Pass directly to Mengjin, without ever managing the area surrounding Huai County.

It's not that we don't want to, it's just that we don't have enough reliable officials and manpower.

The five prefectures of Hedong, Taiyuan, and Sanfu lacked reliable officials to manage them, so where would they find the manpower to extend their influence and gradually encroach upon Hanoi?
Zhang Hong found Zhao Ji's judgment unsurprising.

During his time following Zhao Ji, he also figured out Zhao Ji's personality. He was like Sun Ce, but even more cunning.

Sun Ce also had a confident side, and he wasn't afraid of being betrayed by others.

Zhao Ji also never relied on Miao Shang, the governor of Hanoi, from beginning to end. Since he felt that Miao Shang was problematic, he decided to attack Miao Shang as well.

Zhang Hong immediately suggested, "Since something is about to happen in Hanoi, why doesn't the Grand Marshal use this as a pretext?"

"Sir, are you referring to the attack by You Wenchou?"

Zhao Ji felt it was feasible, so he nodded and said, "It's feasible. I will immediately order Zilong to cross the river at night."

From Xingyang and Aocang, crossing the river to the north bank is about 20 li from Huai County. There is also a main road at the north bank ferry that leads straight north to Shequan, which is only about 50 li away.

Even if Miao Shang had a higher bottom line and did not leak the information to the Hebei soldiers, and instead dealt with Sima Fang's misdeeds on his own, the scholars of Hanoi would still find a way to inform the Hebei soldiers.

For a powerful vanguard general like Wen Chou, who was renowned for his bravery and skill in rapid attacks, fifty li was not a distance and was within his normal striking range.

Compared to the grueling siege warfare, field battles are much more enjoyable.

However, Zhang Hong noticed the murderous intent on Zhao Ji's face and felt something was amiss: "Does the Grand Marshal intend to personally cross the river to join the battle?"

Why do you ask that, sir?

“I have no other intention than that Yuan Shao has allowed the generals of Hebei to provoke the Grand Marshal. If the Grand Marshal were to personally attack, although he could defeat Wen Chou, it would not benefit the overall situation. On the contrary, it would make Yuan Shao think that our army is in dire straits, so that the Grand Marshal would have to take the risk himself.”

Seeing that Zhao Ji was listening, Zhang Hong continued, "Because of Yuan Shao's misjudgment, the seventy or eighty thousand officials and soldiers of those two families are entangled in Hanoi, making it difficult to separate them or escape."

"Let him misjudge. This time we've given Wen Chou a small setback, but he'll dare to come again next time."

Zhao Ji smiled as he spoke: "If we hurt the Hebei soldiers, I think Yuan Shao will want to fight, and the generals of Hebei will also strongly urge Yuan Shao to stop the war and make peace with me."

Seeing this, Zhang Hong stopped trying to persuade him and simply cupped his hands, saying, "Although I know that the Grand Marshal is incredibly brave, I still hope that the Grand Marshal can take care of his health."

“I understand your concern and worries, but I also have my own concerns.”

Zhao Ji looked at the advancing chariots and cavalry: "Only through personal combat can the troops remain loyal and dare not act rashly."

When Zhang Liao and Gan Ning plundered eastern Yanzhou, they sent more than 50,000 people. When they were ordered to raid Puyang, they brought in as many as 120,000 people.

This made Zhao Ji feel gratified and satisfied, but also put a lot of pressure on him.

For people like Gan Ning and Zhang Liao, simply showing them favor and promoting them may earn them gratitude, but such gratitude is difficult to sustain.

Given the right opportunity, such a person can make up for their shortcomings and develop into someone like Lü Bu or Gongsun Zan.

Given my background, I still have to fight hard when necessary.

Otherwise, they would be unable to control these fierce and valiant generals below them. While enjoying the positive aspects of Gan Ning and Zhang Liao, they would also have to bear the corresponding negative pressure.

(End of this chapter)