Tiger Guards

Chapter 496 The Ambition to Rise to Hegemony
At the southern end of the Yellow River Qin-Jin Grand Canyon, at the ferry crossing connecting Xihe County and Shang County.

On October 27th, Xu Huang led his troops to cross the river.

The Yellow River was not yet frozen, so Xu Huang's troops crossed the river slowly. After the pontoon bridge was built, a large number of vehicles needed to be transferred to the other side.

In addition to vehicles, there were even more light sleds.

Two soldiers can be assigned to each sled to transport the armor, living and combat supplies they need.

The extent of its effectiveness can only be determined in actual combat.

In fact, whether or not there was a sled was not important to Xu Huang. He was all too aware of how different the current treatment and morale of the army were from before.

Since the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, only a small number of troops have been able to receive their full pay.

The reason why famous generals at the end of the Han Dynasty were famous was that, in addition to their ability to fight and win battles, they generally had an elite army.

They can guarantee the treatment of their troops, which is why the army dares to fight desperately.

Now, with military ranks, military land, and annual stipends, those who are wounded and recover can be appointed as minor local officials, and those who die in battle can benefit their families.

As long as the commanding general performs his duties effectively, the soldiers will naturally carry out his orders.

Given the current equipment and morale of the Tiger Step Army, they dare to carry out military orders and charge into battle, which is enough to withstand the elite Xianbei cavalry, not to mention the chaotic Hu tribes of the three commanderies.

After the Anyi remonstrance and the purge of powerful clans in Taiyuan, the army was freed from various obstacles, and the military system was rebuilt.

Therefore, Xu Huang considered Zhao Ji's hunting-style military strategy to be too conservative.

Xu Huang considered himself a steady and reliable strategist, but his own Grand Marshal was young and incredibly conservative.

Now Xu Huang simply cannot wait for the heavy snow to block the roads, nor can he wait for the Yellow River to freeze over.

Having secured the authority to wage war on the front lines, Xu Huang crossed the river ahead of schedule.

After crossing the river, Xu Huang built a forward transfer base upstream of the ferry crossing on the west bank. It was called Mengmen because legend has it that this was the first water gate opened by Yu the Great to release floodwaters.

The Mengmen camp was quickly established, and Xu Huang began to report to Zhao Ji.

Xu Huang's messenger left the stone official road and sped across the Lüliang Mountains toward Jinyang.

Zhang Liao, leading over a hundred personal cavalry, finished visiting his relatives and headed south from Mayi, passing through Jinyang, and heading straight for Zishi in Taiyuan.

His army has marched north from Pingyang, passed through Queshu Valley and arrived at Zishi, where it will meet with Zhang Liao. Then it will head west along the Shiguan Road and head straight for Mengmen Ferry.

Zhao Ji was still waiting, but instead received news from Xu Huang that the war was being started ahead of schedule.

It was at least five days ahead of schedule, but there was nothing to be angry about. The morale of the troops at the front was high, and the officers and soldiers were eager to fight, so there was nothing to criticize.

If Xu Huang was given the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Vanguard, then he should also be given the power commensurate with that title.

Zhao Ji held Xu Huang's military letter and pondered for a moment: "Order General Zilong to advance westward on his own. After entering the Mengmen camp, he will be under the command of Xu Gongming."

"Here."

Wei Ji composed himself and agreed, then asked, "Your Majesty, when will our army set off?"

"Wait three more days. Order Pei Xiu and Jia Kui to each lead their troops toward Mengmen and construct the transport pavilion according to plan."

Zhao Ji thought for a moment and then said, "I will go to see Duke Wenhe later. I will have Guan Shang select three hundred chariots and cavalry to escort Duke Wenhe to Mengmen. You go and prepare the supplies for the journey, and make sure they are plentiful."

"Here."

Mengmen Ferry is only now becoming more important. Once more troops have crossed the river, the forward transit camp must advance westward.

Zhao Ji originally planned to choose Suide, but Suide is not there now. This place is located at the confluence of the Sheyan River, Zouma River and Dali River, which can be considered the confluence of three rivers.

In such places, even without counties or towns, sizable villages and settlements will spontaneously form.

Therefore, this area is currently the living and grazing area of ​​the Tu Ge Xiongnu. The Beidi Hu and Lushui Hu are just miscellaneous Hu that have risen in this generation, occupying the western part of Shangjun, Andingjun and the southern part of Beidijun.

The northern counties of Beidi Commandery were also the heartland of the Hetao region, the area where the Xianbei people were active.

The three commanderies of Hu people were essentially Qiang people, who were not tolerated by the Xiongnu and Xianbei, yet could barely be considered a force.

They were able to live in the three commanderies during the conflict between the Xianbei and the Xiongnu. Otherwise, how could the expansionist nature of the Xiongnu and Xianbei have allowed them to ignore the nearby mixed barbarians?
Xu Huang's early crossing of the river didn't actually have any impact; their actions would alert the Tu Ge Xiongnu, rather than the various Hu tribes of the three commanderies.

Logically speaking, now is a relatively appropriate time to take action against the Xiongnu.

Zhao Ji watched Wei Ji leave, pondered for a moment, and then went alone to the hanging map.

Once a move is made, there's no going back. It sounds simple, but how can one remain calm when witnessing the fates of hundreds of thousands of people collide? Zhao Ji stared at the map. He didn't even expect Xu Huang, Zhang Liao, or Zhao Yun to achieve any famous victories; he just hoped they would perform consistently.

Even if the various Hu tribes discover this in advance and unite, as long as the vanguard can stabilize the front line, they can take advantage of the situation once they arrive.

Zhao Ji's face remained calm, without the slightest emotional fluctuation in his eyes.

In Pingyang, Gan Ning stood outside the gate, watching the boats coming and going at the ferry crossings on both sides of the river, transferring conscripts from the east bank to the west bank, and couldn't help but sigh.

He also wanted to participate in the ongoing war against the various Hu tribes in the three prefectures; he didn't want to be a naval commander for the rest of his life.

His reward came before Zhang Liao's: he was appointed General of the Warships and Marquis of Yunqiu with a fief of five hundred households.

At the same time, Zhao Ji designated a county-level fiefdom of thirty square miles in the hilly area thirty miles northwest of Pingyang for Gan Ning.

With this relatively small fiefdom, Gan Ning was able to settle his followers and fellow villagers, and also earn extra income by herding horses and making charcoal.

As for Zhang Liao's enfeoffment, Lü Bu delayed it and it will take some time before it is implemented.

The title of "General of the Warships" made Gan Ning feel a sense of crisis.

He must demonstrate the ability to command infantry and cavalry. If he continues to be in charge of the navy, he will inevitably become an auxiliary force in regions like Liangzhou and Bingzhou where cavalry are active.

However, his troops were mostly from the south and needed to gradually adapt to the northern winter.

Unless he can relinquish control over his old troops and take command of the Tiger Infantry temporarily assigned to him.

Zhang Liao cooperated readily, leading seven battalions of five thousand men to join Zhao Ji's forces, reducing the force to four battalions of three thousand men in this battle.

Although these three thousand men were better equipped, the extra two thousand naval horses they were given could easily offset the loss of the two thousand men.

If Zhang Liao were to take his current 3,000 men to the Central Plains, they could instantly transform into a full cavalry force, becoming a formidable deterrent across the Central Plains.

However, in Zhao Ji's case, on the battlefields of Xizhou and the border counties where all sides had ample cavalry, Zhang Liao's cavalry were cavalry and his infantry were infantry.

For professional cavalry, the difference between a casually assembled mounted infantryman and a professionally trained cavalryman on the battlefield is a matter of life and death.

Only in the Central Plains battlefield could cavalry and infantry be used to intimidate people. In the Western Regions, a land fertile for cavalry, cavalry and infantry could easily kill themselves.

Zhang Liao also wanted to train more cavalry, but his soldiers were mainly from the Central Plains, and the vast majority needed riding training. Only the veterans had mastered horsemanship and were converted into knights on the spot.

Zhang Liao's troops needed to adapt, but Gan Ning's troops needed to adapt even more.

Give Zhang Liao a year, and with so many cavalrymen in his army, he could train the infantry into cavalry.

They didn't even need extra training. After the army was disbanded, the soldiers would take the horses they were rewarded with back to their hometowns. They would use the horses for transportation on a daily basis, and over time they would naturally master riding skills and various basic tactics.

Gan Ning looked at the volunteer knights who were gathering in the camp and couldn't help but sigh again.

It will take him at least six months to adjust to life here.

He didn't feel any remorse for having wasted so much time under Liu Biao's command.

However, under Zhao Ji's command, Zhang Liao's rapid development alone put immense pressure on Gan Ning.

This year, when they raided western Yanzhou, he was still able to serve as Zhang Liao's deputy general; when Zhao Ji commanded the Battle of Baima, he was even able to keep pace with Zhang Liao.

But if we wait another six months, how easy will it be to catch up with Zhang Liao?

Perhaps after the battles against the various barbarian tribes in the three commanderies are over, Zhang Liao will be able to accumulate merit and be promoted to the rank of Marquis of a Township.

The imperial court has always been quite generous in granting fiefs to those who have achieved military merit in campaigns against the various barbarian tribes.

In the Central Plains, where people fought each other to the death, it would be somewhat distasteful to grant such achievements the title of marquis.

Seeing Gan Ning's deep emotions, Xiahou Lan, who had been promoted to military supervisor, came out of the camp and comforted him, saying, "General, do not be discouraged. When the three counties are recovered, and when we compete with the Xianbei for Shuofang in the future, you will have a chance to prove your worth."

Gan Ning understood that Xiahou Lan was referring to the canal transport on the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

The Qin-Jin Grand Canyon upstream from Mengmen has relatively calm water during the high-water season, making it suitable for navigation and water transport.

During the Qin and Han dynasties, cattle and sheep from Shuofang could be transported down the canal, while weapons and reinforcements from Xihe and Shangjun could be transported up the canal.

Furthermore, this waterway could even extend upstream, directly reaching Jincheng and Yuzhong.

Therefore, the restoration of the three prefectures was of great significance. It meant that after building up the navy, not only could they rely on the navy to compete with the Xianbei for Shuofang, but they could also directly deploy troops and supplies to central Liangzhou, effectively awakening the loyalty of the local powerful clans.

Xiahou Lan's words made a lot of sense, but Gan Ning couldn't help but sigh again. He simply said frankly, "Although I come from the south, what I love is not commanding ships, but leading infantry and cavalry across the border, emulating the ambitions of Changping and Guanjun."

(End of this chapter)