Tiger Guards

Chapter 540 The Only Chance
The situation on the battlefield in Hejian is similar to that of last year.

However, this year Yuan Shao had the legacy of Cao Cao, such as Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan, which he used very well.

Even though he disliked the short stature of Yue Jin, Yue Jin's troops possessed remarkable resilience.

In particular, the old Cao army troops were skilled in anti-cavalry tactics. After a few minor clashes with Gongsun Zan, the old Cao army troops, who were good at anti-cavalry tactics, were often able to take the initiative to defeat Gongsun Zan's other cavalry units with their infantry. The same was true for the other Hu cavalry and strong cavalry of Youzhou who were hired by Gongsun Zan. When they took the initiative to attack, they were often defeated by the old Cao army troops with their infantry formations and tactics.

After suffering repeated losses, Gongsun Zan's fighting style became more composed. He stopped randomly dividing his troops to plunder in all directions and began to gather cavalry in an attempt to cut off Yuan Shao's supply lines.

With an army of over 70,000, Yuan Shao could not rely on Hejian, Julu, Zhongshan, and Bohai counties for food supplies; Wei County was Yuan Shao's main logistical base.

Since the start of the war, Yuan Shao had stockpiled a lot of military rations and hay at the front line... but Hejian was barren and close to the Youzhou front line, so despite his best efforts to stockpile, the quantity was really limited.

Currently, the water systems in central and southern Hebei, mainly the Hutuo River, are frozen, making river transport impossible, and Yuan Shao's labor force is under constant pressure.

However, Yuan Shao had a countermeasure: he withdrew from Guangzong and instead seized the grain stored in Guangzong City, a secondary supply hub. At the same time, he stretched Gongsun Zan's supply lines, forcing Gongsun Zan to divide his troops to guard the supply routes and exhaust his army.

After five large-scale battles, Gongsun Zan naturally wouldn't let Yuan Shao retreat easily. Therefore, he divided his forces to attack, cutting off the supply lines if possible, and even if he couldn't, he would still interfere with and compress Yuan Shao's room for maneuver in his retreat.

As long as Yuan Shao makes a mistake, Gongsun Zan can react quickly and catch Yuan Shao off guard.

Just as Yuan Shao was considering how to stabilize the retreat, Xin Pi and his entourage arrived at the Hejian battlefield, weary from their journey and carrying the cold winds of Shuofang.

Inside the inner hall, as Yuan Shao and Xu You were discussing tactics, Guo Tu quickly entered and said, "My lord, Zuo Zhi has returned."

Yuan Shao and Xu You were both surprised. After looking at each other, they were both puzzled. Then they looked at Guo Tu. Yuan Shao stood up and asked, "Gongze, how did you manage to govern so quickly?"

"I do not know."

Guo Tu paused briefly, then said, "Judging from Zuo Zhi's words and demeanor, he is very tired. He refuses to speak, and I do not know the details."

"Please come quickly."

"Here."

Guo Tu agreed, took a few steps back, turned around the screen, and strode away.

Inside the hall, Yuan Shao traced the map with his index finger, contemplating Gongsun Zan's various reactions.

Although he was discussing with Xu You how to safely withdraw his troops, he was thinking about how to use the withdrawal as an opportunity to lure Gongsun Zan's army into pursuit, and then defeat them in open battle.

The Hu people were very pragmatic. As long as they could defeat Gongsun Zan's main force in open battle, they would rather join forces with them to plunder Gongsun Zan than follow him for a little food or war plunder.

How can we lure Gongsun Zan's pursuing army into a layered formation to facilitate a full-scale counterattack?
Countering cavalry with infantry in the Hejian region is extremely difficult.

Now, the Hejian area, like Shuofang and Wuyuan, has frozen over its swampy and rotten lands, offering a wide field of vision and making it almost impossible to set up an ambush.

Most importantly, Cao Cao's old troops had mastered mature infantry anti-cavalry tactics, but they needed to rely on necessary fortifications... at least they needed to be able to dig trenches.

However, in such a harsh winter, it was difficult for Cao Cao's former troops to dig the trenches they wanted.

Unless we prepare in advance next year, dig various hidden fortifications, and then lure Gongsun Zan to the designated battlefield in winter to start the war.

With this terrain advantage, they will surely be able to catch Gongsun Zan off guard.

While Yuan Shao was pondering, Guo Tu brought Xin Pi to see him. At this moment, Xin Pi was almost frozen stiff.

Seeing him like this, Yuan Shao quickly stepped forward to help him up: "Why don't you rest for a while, Zuo Zhi?" "My lord, the military situation is urgent, and I dare not abandon your great cause for the sake of my own selfish interests."

With his arms supported, Xin Pi managed to sit down before saying, "My lord, do you know the battle report from the Grand Marshal's side?"

"We haven't found anything, but messengers from Xuchang and Luodu have reported that Zhao Yuansi has decisively defeated the Qiang tribes of the three prefectures and tens of thousands of Xianbei cavalry at Fushi in Shangjun?"

As Yuan Shao spoke, he stood up, shaking his head involuntarily, his expression full of distrust.

He handed Xin Pi a cup of warm wine and said, "The Qiang people of the three prefectures are indeed fierce and brave, and the Xianbei soldiers and horses are strong and powerful. Their combined army has no less than 200,000 archers. How can Zhao Yuansi possibly defeat them?"

Yuan Shao truly didn't believe it, and first waved his hand to signal Xin Pi to drink.

Xinpi had no choice but to drink half a cup of wine before saying, "It is absolutely true. The Xianbei king, Kui Tou, has been killed in battle by the Grand Marshal, and most of his 30,000 elite cavalry have been wiped out. In the battle of Fushi alone, the Grand Marshal has killed no less than 60,000 enemies."

Captured people and animals, while still considered a gain... sometimes, the number of heads taken has special significance.

For the Xianbei and Qiang people, who lived by nomadic herding, fishing, hunting, and farming, the death of a young adult would reduce the productivity of the entire family.

Even in Han areas where material life is relatively abundant, the death of the breadwinner of a family would greatly reduce the efficiency of the production group formed by the family unit.

Therefore, the number of prisoners captured has limited deterrent effect.

Decapitation data, on the other hand, is much more vivid and can effectively boost morale internally and deter external forces.

Yuan Shao still didn't believe it: "Seventy thousand beheaded? Zuo Zhi, do you know that Zhao Yuansi only has seventy or eighty thousand veteran soldiers under his command? How could he have beheaded seventy thousand of the allied forces of the various Hu tribes?"

Xin Pi did not argue with Yuan Shao about this matter, but only said: "Later, the Grand Marshal led his troops along the Qin Straight Road out of Yulin Pass and directly to Wuyuan. At that time, after Kui Tou died, the royal court nobles supported Qian Man, the son of the former king He Lian, while Kui Tou's brother Bu Dugen led his troops to flee to Yunzhong.

When Yuan Shao saw him pause, he waved his hand to signal him to continue.

Xin Pi continued, “At that time, Qian Man’s army at Heyin numbered over 50,000. I and Budugen were at Huze, 170 li away from Heyin. Grand Marshal Zhang Liao’s vanguard was positioned between Huze and Heyin. However, when the Grand Marshal arrived with his troops, he and Zhang Liao abandoned their camp and launched a night raid on Huze, inflicting a major defeat on Budugen and killing no less than 20,000. Budugen’s situation was weak, and he seemed to be relying on the Grand Marshal. Therefore, we fled overnight and were almost outmaneuvered by Budugen.”

Yuan Shao listened with narrowed eyes, his right index fingernail lightly tapping the smooth, lacquered low table: "So, Zuo Zhi concludes that this new ruler is no match for Zhao Yuansi?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I fear that the Grand Marshal will unite the Qiang people of the three commanderies, the Xianbei people of the four commanderies, and the Xiongnu, and then cross the border into Dai Commandery to reap the benefits."

Xin Pi finished his drink and stood up stiffly, but still knelt before Yuan Shao and bowed his head: "If he leads his troops into the pass, Gongsun Zan will be a bully, and his power will be rampant. How could he easily retreat?"

Gongsun Zan's army had many problems. For example, before the ice and snow melted and the rivers thawed, the Han and Hu armed forces that responded to Gongsun Zan's call had to withdraw.

If they remain in Ji Province and plunder everywhere, just one disruption of spring planting will ignite and explode public opinion within Ji Province.

Fortunately, the swampy and rotten lands of Hejian restricted and forced Gongsun Zan to disband his army before spring.

However, if Zhao Ji, with his extraordinary achievements in recovering the three inner and four outer commanderies, comes to watch the battle with the army of the Hu tribes who have annexed both the old and new ones, then Gongsun Zan will grit his teeth and fight to the death to hold out until spring!

This is no longer just Gongsun Zan's business. With the examples of the Qiang tribes in the three commanderies and the Xianbei tribes in the four commanderies, who among the Han and Hu armed forces in Youzhou would dare to offend Zhao Ji?

Yuan Shao understood Xin Pi's meaning; the situation was now extremely critical.

We must defeat and severely damage Gongsun Zan before he becomes aware of the situation, and before the various armies and powerful clans of Ji Province become aware of it!

Otherwise, if Zhao Jiteng takes action, Yuan Shao and Ru Ying's men will be trapped and die in a corner of Ji Province!
(End of this chapter)