Tiger Guards

Chapter 529 Hidden Dangers in Junior High School
It is located more than 20 li southeast of Wuyuan County, on the north bank of the Yellow River.

This is Linwo City. Based on the name and location, one can easily imagine how bountiful the grain harvest must be here.

While Zhang Liao was seizing Wuyuan County and setting off a riot of yellow smoke, Zhao Jishi led his main army to cross the river northward from Huze.

The so-called crossing of the river was merely to cover the wounded troops as they headed to Chouyang City, which was the first city to be captured.

The main cavalry force moved westward along the north bank of the Yellow River, while the sled troops, carrying supplies and equipment, galloped swiftly across the icy riverbank close to the north bank.

The sled's lightness and speed on the ice actually require braking.

Zhao Ji's heavy chariot was no exception; in order to slow down, he had to use his hook halberd to strike the ice.

As for the sled and ice sled troops that arrived later, they traveled more than 40 li and were the first to reach Linwo City, officially cutting off the transportation between Linwo City and Heyin City on the south bank.

As dusk fell, Zhao Ji's cavalry and troops converged in the southwest of Linwo City, completely sealing off the city.

As night fell, most of the army rested in their newly established camp, while a small number of the more energetic soldiers went out to plunder the villages surrounding Linwo City.

These villages are more like small military outposts, scattered among each other in a well-organized manner.

Long ago, soldiers from the Qin and Han dynasties lived in these military settlements and fortresses, drawing water from the Yellow River to irrigate the fields, resulting in bountiful harvests year after year. As a result, Wuyuan and Shuofang became large prefectures with populations comparable to those in the interior.

After military decline, the well-constructed defenses, built layer by layer, collapsed almost overnight once they lost sufficient manpower to reinforce and reinforce them.

Later, this place fell to the Xianbei people. Although the Xianbei people relied on fishing, hunting, and herding, they did not resist farming and grain production.

The same applies to the Xiongnu people; agriculture effectively supplemented the shortcomings of nomadic life.

Therefore, the military settlements outside Linwo City cultivated crops in the summer and stored up sufficient fields and grains in the winter to supply the Xianbei people and livestock to withstand the cold winter.

Naturally, these areas had a large number of Han border people, Xiongnu people, or Qiang people engaged in farming. Most of them were slaves, and those who mastered technology and management skills might be able to improve their status and become Xianbei sons-in-law.

The tribes that developed from the descendants of these people may have been the Xiongnu or Xianbei.

Small fortresses could withstand the incursions of small groups of nomads, but they could never stop the heavily armed Han infantry who dared to set fires and had superior arson skills.

That night, Zhao Ji was reviewing military merits in the newly established camp. An abacus was beside him, and he would occasionally move the beads. His finger strength was extremely strong, and with the amplification of his skills, each time he moved the beads, the beads would clink and shatter loudly.

For some reason, Zhao Ji discovered that the more battles they fought, the more money they made.

I really can't bear to wipe out the Xianbei all at once. I wish I could give them a decade or so to recover before I come back to plunder them.

He never imagined that he would one day get tired of eating beef tenderloin.

The tender and juicy pork tenderloin... tasted bland and tasteless, even less appealing than a burnt, wheat-flavored flatbread.

Seeing that the current spoils are enough to reward military merits, and that there is still land under the control of the three inner counties and four outer counties... even the biggest internal conflicts can be quelled through this reward for military achievements.

Even if someone like Xu Chu moved his entire clan to these seven prefectures and they were scattered and resettled, given enough land to sustain them for generations, and with appropriate military service quotas, the Xu clan could still be torn apart.

By then, even if Xu Chu was dissatisfied, he wouldn't be able to turn against his clansmen and fellow villagers; his fellow villagers and relatives could also have a better life, as these people were not destined to follow Xu Chu.

Since the warlords launched their campaign against Dong Zhuo, how many years has the Guandong region been in chaos?

Many of them were Xu Chu's partners, and there was no strong personal dependence between them.

Besides, what kind of family did Xu Chu come from?
If the chaotic order were to subside and the world were to be at peace, and if Xu Chu did not hold any unique or prominent position, then the Xu clan's armed forces would disintegrate.

I am not Cao Cao, so there is no need for me to support Xu Chu separately.

The current rich spoils are enough to dismantle most people's retainers! If we leave this unattended, as these people's official positions become secure and their personal networks overlap, the longer time goes on, the more difficult it will be to dismantle their retainers in the face of the established facts.

Not only Xu Chu, but Zhang Xiu also needs to be dismantled. If they are not dismantled, these people will almost certainly be able to rebel and cause chaos with a single call.

We must prevent these people from colluding with the imperial court and rebelling against us.

After settling his thoughts, Zhao Ji picked up his pen to record the calculation data, then shook the abacus and placed it on the corner of the table. He then stood up and stretched his arms: "I don't know if Qianman wants to hold out against me or if she wants to win in one decisive battle."

Zhang Hong sat cross-legged in front of the fire pit, fiddling with cow dung to boil tea. He sat on a straw mat he had brought from Xuzhou, which was made of two layers of dried cowhide... Underneath these two layers of dried cowhide was the still-unshoveled snow and frozen soil.

The heat from burning cow dung was enough to boil the silver-plated copper kettle, allowing Zhang Hong's exposed hands and face to feel a little warmth.

Standing at a distance, Zhao Ji's breath seemed to turn white.

This was true in every camp; even cow dung was precious, transported from Huze.

Now, we must divide our forces to plunder, and after the victory, we must not only escort the prisoners back, but also repeatedly transport various kinds of fodder, cow dung, or timber.

Tonight, hay is precious and will be mixed with grain to feed the livestock.

It is likely that more hay will be collected tomorrow, allowing thick layers of dry grass to be piled up in the tents, so that the soldiers can sleep in a relatively warm environment.

However, there are also some special tents with ample heating, where officers and soldiers suffering from frostbite can recover quickly without affecting their combat performance; if the frostbite is severe, they are given priority to be sent to Chouyang to avoid the cold and recuperate.

Zhang Hong never imagined that he would one day lead his troops beyond the Great Wall and achieve the legendary feat of conquering the Xiongnu.

After slaying Kui Tou and annihilating the elite Xianbei royal court, Zhang Hong became somewhat eccentric, as if he had already made his mark on history.

Zhang Hong, no longer bothered by the dried cow dung, didn't even hear what Zhao Ji was saying.

He sat in front of the fire pit, gazing at the steaming spout of the kettle and grinning foolishly, looking completely content.

Zhao Ji approached and sat down to one side. Only then did Zhang Hong speak: "Grand Marshal."

"Sir, why is your face so flushed? Have you been drinking?"

"I dare not drink alcohol, perhaps because of the cold wind."

Zhang Hong quickly replied, and Zhao Ji said, "I just roughly calculated that my total army numbers only over 60,000. Now, we have beheaded no less than 50,000, and if we include subsequent beheadings and the loss of horses on both sides, and at the same time, our army also needs to transfer the captured people to the rear, which means that even if we are locked in a stalemate with Qianman, our army can sustain itself through war and hold out until spring."

The Xianbei people could be nomadic... so could our side.

Zhang Hong composed himself: "Does the Grand Marshal intend to achieve victory in one battle?"

"I would never dream of such a greedy dream."

Zhao Ji calmly replied, "What I mean is that our army is already in an invincible position. Qianman can continue to rally the troops in the distance, and I can wait for reinforcements. What I am worried about now is the possibility of trouble in the court. If a treacherous minister issues a false edict to disrupt the country, and trouble arises in my rear, all our efforts will be in vain."

Zhang Hong became serious: "Does the Grand Marshal intend to quickly defeat Qian Man in order to deter treacherous officials and rebels?"

"Yes, this minimizes the potential risks."

Zhao Ji gazed at the faint flames on the pile of dried cow dung: "We cannot rush to withdraw the troops. If we suddenly withdraw, morale will collapse, and only one in ten officers and soldiers will survive. Therefore, we must prepare for the worst. If there is a major upheaval in the country, I will not leave and will lead the troops into the border after the spring."

At that time, the Xiongnu Chanyu, the Xianbei ruler, and Zhao Ji, the Han Grand Marshal, raised an army to quell the rebellion.

Zhang Hong's expression turned grim as he slowly nodded, his eyes hardening.

If anyone doesn't let him achieve eternal fame by sealing the wolf's lair, he can exterminate their entire clan, even three or nine generations, without needing the Grand Marshal!
(End of this chapter)