Tiger Guards

Chapter 617 Lack of Order
In Chenliu, Zhang Yang, as usual, patrolled the city walls.

There were actually not many ordinary people left in this city; the city was mainly inhabited by the garrison and their relatives.

It can be said that all the men and women in the city were under Zhang Yang's control, and there were no powerful figures or private armies independent of Zhang Yang's command.

Unless a high-ranking general plots a rebellion, Zhang Yang can hold out until May of next year, given the city's defenses and reserves.

Therefore, Zhang Yang himself was quite resistant to the arrangement of abandoning Chenliu and retreating to Luoyang.

Migration and relocation are not only tiring and arduous, but also result in the loss of a lot of material wealth; if it is a breakout from the battlefield, the loss of people and resources is even more difficult to count.

Not only did Zhang Yang himself resist the order to break out, but his troops were also unwilling to break out. They preferred to rely on the fortified city to fight the rebels.

Therefore, when the messenger sent by Gao Shun swam across the chasm at night, climbed up by rope, and presented the token for breaking through the siege, Zhang Yang hesitated.

Seeing that Zhang Yang had no intention of withdrawing, Chief Clerk Xue Hong asked Zhang Yang when Zhang Yang was inspecting the city walls without any important attendants by his side: "Does Your Excellency intend to rely on the fortified city of Chenliu to fight the rebels for several months and make a name for yourself in front of Grand Tutor Zhao?"

With no one else around, Zhang Yang no longer hid his intentions from Xue Hong: "Although I have this intention, I am also worried about Lu Taibao."

Xue Hong remained silent, so Zhang Yang had no choice but to continue: "The Grand Tutor has always been arrogant. If I join forces with him, he will inevitably develop delusions. Now that he has switched allegiance to the Grand Tutor, although it will dampen his spirits, it will save him from being imprisoned in the future."

Zhang Yang gazed at Liu Bei's camp in the east of the city, squinting: "Grand Tutor Zhao's methods of conquering the various Hu tribes are so effective now in conquering these rebellious ministers. How could he possibly fail? If I abandon Chenliu in such a sure-fire victory, Yanzhou will fall into the hands of these rebellious ministers. Not only will I have to submit to them, but the officials and people of Yanzhou will also suffer repeated turmoil from war."

As long as he stays and holds Chenliu, the officials of some counties in Yanzhou can continue to exist in a neutral manner.

Even if they try to please both sides, after the war, the people of Yanzhou, even if they don't reap the benefits of the war, can still escape the reckoning from the victors.

It wasn't that Zhang Yang particularly cared for the people of Yanzhou; it was simply that his position as governor was extremely important.

With each additional year he served as the governor of Yanzhou, Zhang Yang's influence over Yanzhou increased.

Whether it was recruiting local officials or recommending virtuous and filial individuals, it made it easy for him to recruit and select outstanding talents from Yanzhou to serve as his protégés and former subordinates.

The more people like this there are, the greater the feedback and help they will provide to the Zhang Yang family in the future.

If they withdraw from Chenliu, it would be tantamount to abandoning Yanzhou, and Zhang Yang's hard-earned base would be finished.

He doesn't care how many counties he can actually control now; what he wants is the opportunity to recruit and recommend officials from the state, as well as a fixed number of candidates for the "filial piety and incorruptibility" position each year.

Regardless of dynastic changes, as long as his disciples and former officials still exist, these things will continuously exert influence on his family.

Zhang Yang, who came from a neighboring prefecture, knew all too well the significance of Zhao Ji's sweeping victory over the various Hu tribes!
Therefore, he was not afraid of being trapped in Chenliu. Zang Hong did not make any preparations and was able to hold Dongwuyang for nearly a year by resorting to cannibalism.

He has made ample preparations here, and when the spring floods rise next year, the upstream fleets will set off from Ha Lac and Hanoi, and will be able to provide him with food and supplies.

Therefore, Zhang Yang decided to leave alone, abandoning his agreement with Lü Bu and ignoring Gao Shun's signal to evacuate and break through.

For the sake of his family, the safety of his followers' lives and property, and to give his followers a future through fighting, Zhang Yang was prepared to fight to the death.

Listening to Zhang Yang's account, Xue Hong said, "The villains have not yet joined forces. There are only about 20,000 troops under Liu Bei outside Chenliu City. Once the armies from Jizhou, Qingzhou, Yangzhou, and Qingzhou arrive, they will be able to surround us layer by layer. At that time, the Honggou Canal will be an insurmountable barrier. Our army will be without food and reinforcements. How can we cross the Honggou Canal and head west?"

After a pause, Xue Hong continued, "Now the Grand Tutor and the Grand Protector both support the Empress as regent, while the villains in Guandong are holding the Emperor hostage. Those prefectural and county officials who do not comply are all dismissed and harmed. If the Grand Tutor wins in the future, your reputation and position will be enough to lead a large prefecture. Why worry about not establishing your family business?"

Seeing that Zhang Yang remained silent, Xue Hong pointed to the various temporary wooden sheds erected on the city wall and said, "The food supply has run out, and the families of the officials and soldiers are all in this city. How many officials and soldiers can sit idly by and watch their wives and children starve to death? My lord, you must not be greedy for short-term gains."

Zhang Yang remained silent, as if the soldiers could bear the mental pressure of their families starving to death after the food shortage.

Xue Hongtai knew Zhang Yang's weakness, so he said, "May I ask, Your Excellency, if the battle goes against you, and there is no food in the city and no reinforcements outside, and the officials and soldiers in the city have accumulated a lot of resentment and want to betray you, would you be able to take the initiative and kill the rebellious officials and soldiers in the city?"

"According to military orders, it is not difficult." Zhang Yang answered as calmly as possible, as if it were a trivial matter that he could do easily.

Xue Hong listened speechlessly, raised his hand to cover his face with his sleeve, closed his eyes and asked, "At that time, will the magistrate execute accomplices and those who knew but did not report?"

After much hesitation, Zhang Yang finally spoke: "He should be executed."

"Eh~!"

Xue Hong sighed, pointing at Zhang Yang's face, unable to utter a sound, truly not knowing how to describe Zhang Yang's current lack of energy.

After expressing his regret, Xue Hong said, "I urge Your Excellency to reconsider. In my opinion, if Your Excellency insists on holding Chenliu, it will surely ruin the plans of the Grand Protector and the Grand Tutor. You must not lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of a small matter, lest you incur the displeasure of the Grand Protector and the Grand Tutor."

"Hmm, let me think about it."

Zhang Yang didn't deny it, but his gaze remained fixed on the vast, desolate autumn fields outside the city.

If he withdraws now, some people who are attached to their hometown will not follow him to relocate; those officials who care about the development of their hometown will stay in Yanzhou, and they will serve whoever comes to Yanzhou.

Zhang Yang did not conduct any forced mobilization in Yanzhou, so he relied on the more than 10,000 reliable veterans in Chenliu City, which is the source of his confidence to hold out until next year.

If he abandons Chenliu and leaves Yanzhou, then the new governor or prefect sent by the Xudu court can reasonably sweep through the prefectures and forcibly mobilize the counties, squeezing out at least 20,000 soldiers.

Although Zhang Yang didn't think these 20,000 soldiers would have a good ending, they would ultimately become an obstacle in the final battle.

He was reluctant to mobilize these people to their deaths, but Xu Du mobilized them and used them up... He was somewhat reluctant to do so.

Xue Hong didn't try to persuade him any further, but secretly made up his mind that if Zhang Yang didn't leave, he would lead the officials and soldiers from Hanoi and Shangdang to break through the siege.

Although it will have a very negative impact on Zhang Yang, it can also force and motivate him to break through the current situation.

As dusk fell, Xue Hong waited in vain for Zhang Yang's order to break out. Feeling pessimistic and angry, he sought out his aide, Miao Shang, and secretly discussed opening the city gates and retreating first.

As long as they retreat first, Liu Bei, who is besieging the city, will definitely not be able to catch up with them by the time he reacts.

At night, the Milky Way is nowhere to be seen, but the crescent moon and some bright stars occasionally peek out from the thin clouds.

After the curfew, Liu Bei personally inspected his camp.

He firmly believed that it would take time for all sides to mobilize their armies, and that as long as he captured or continued to besiege Chenliu, all sides' armies would join the battle one after another, relieving him of the military pressure brought by Lü Zhao.

Back in the central command tent, Liu Bei had just taken off his stuffy boots when Mi Fang rushed in and bowed: "My lord! The west gate of Chenliu is wide open, and Zhang Yang is trying to break through with his troops!"

"Oh?"

Liu Bei, surprised, stood up, supporting himself on the table with both hands: "Who broke through first?"

"His chief clerk, Xue Hong, did not have many vehicles or supplies. His men and horses were simply dressed and used only vehicles to transport small boats. His vanguard had already set up a pontoon bridge across the Honggou Canal!"

Mi Fang's voice was excited as she looked expectantly at Liu Bei, but Liu Bei turned his head and glanced up at the night sky outside the tent, where he saw no stars or moon.

After a moment's hesitation, Liu Bei said, "Beat the drums and raise the tent!"

"Here!"

(End of this chapter)