Tiger Guards

Chapter 738 Repeatedly Pulled
At lunchtime.

Tiger Fang General Xianyu Fu, a military advisor in the Grand Marshal's office, arrived at the dining hall with a plate.

His gaze was fixed on the void, and he would stop from time to time as he walked, concentrating on the possible changes and trends in the military situation in Youzhou.

The response Yuan Jun will take will directly determine how the battle between Yi Jing and Fan Yang will be fought.

Xianyu Fu found Yuan Jun's current behavior too abnormal, not like someone who was fighting desperately to the death.

Normally, the people of Hebei must show a do-or-die spirit, which is determined by the habits of the people and scholars in Hebei.

If you want the people of Hebei to do something big, you have to go all out.

Therefore, the Hebei army's current lukewarm response does not resemble a desperate fight against their own side.

At the very least, troops should be sent to seize the military fortresses of Dai and Shanggu counties, but Yuan's army only stationed several thousand troops at Feihu Pass between Zhongshan and Dai counties to observe the situation... These several thousand men could not even stop Zhang Yan, let alone resist the vanguard remotely controlled by Zhao Ji.

Xianyu Fu served as the military advisor to the Shogunate under the command of Tiger Fang General. He was the highest-ranking military advisor in the Shogunate system, with a rank of 2,000 koku. The difference between 2,000 koku and 100 koku was sometimes greater than the difference between 1,000 koku and 100 koku.

In the perception of his contemporaries, General Huya was a general of the rank of minister, a general of miscellaneous titles who was slightly removed from the rank of sub-minister. He could be considered a general of regular titles, hence he was a general of the rank of minister, lower than the generals of the guard, front, back, left and right who were senior ministers.

Therefore, in terms of lunch standards alone, Xianyu Fu was second only to Grand Tutor Zhao and even higher than Chief Secretary Zhang Hong.

Although Xianyu Fu was born in a remote border region of Youzhou, he came from a prominent family during the Spring and Autumn Period, and was quite particular about his personal dietary habits.

But this is Zhao Ji's residence, not Xianyu Fu's. It's impossible for Xianyu Fu's family chef to be brought into Zhao Ji's residence to cook.

Here, one can only eat the meals prescribed by Zhao Ji, according to the standards set by Xian Yu Fu. Lunch consists of nothing more than dried meat pilaf, a winter lamb foreleg, a pot of wine, and unlimited meat soup, rice, and ordinary seasonal cold dishes.

Zhao Ji was not interested in the so-called delicacies of the time, so the food he oversaw for the shogunate consisted of common ingredients, with the highest standards being large portions, filling meals, and balanced nutrition.

Xianyu Fu actually quite liked the pilaf invented and made by Grand Tutor Zhao, but he disliked Grand Tutor Zhao's habit of forcing his staff to eat it with him.

Therefore, he had no expectations or resistance when getting food.

Just as he carefully turned around with his tray, Zhang Wei strode over and said, "General Xianyu, the Grand Tutor has sent me to invite you to dine with us."

"Please lead the way, Gongyou."

Xianyu Fu carefully carried the plate and followed Zhang Wei up the heavy wooden steps, so heavy that there was no decent sound when he stepped on them.

In a side hall on the second floor of the West Pavilion, Zhao Ji sat by the window eating, occasionally taking a sip of tea while looking out at the scenery of Longshan Mountain.

The windows here are backlit, so even the breeze blowing in feels much cooler.

"This humble general, Xianyu Fu, pays his respects to the Grand Tutor."

"No need for formalities during the meal, please come and take your seat."

Zhao Ji pushed the empty plate aside, and Cheng He, a guard next to him, took out another warm serving of dried meat pilaf from a wooden box that looked like a food cart and carefully placed it on the table. This was the fourth serving that Zhao Ji wanted to eat.

Cheng He also served Zhao Ji some cold dishes to cleanse his palate, and Zhao Ji said, "You should go and have your meal too."

"Yes." Cheng He agreed, and before leaving, he cupped his hands in greeting to Xianyu Fu, who had just sat down. Xianyu Fu nodded in acknowledgment.

Even if he looked down on Cheng He, a Tiger Guard who served Zhao Ji's daily life, he still had to show due respect to Cheng He's Tiger Guard rank insignia.

Cheng He's arms are adorned with two bars and three stars on his armbands. Even if he were to be transferred to a post outside the capital and condescend to serve as a battalion commander, it would still have to be a large, strong, or well-known battalion.

Zhang Wei also stepped aside and continued eating the food on his plate.

Zhao Ji picked up his chopsticks and stirred his cold dishes, then said, "Guan Hai and the other twelve battalions are about to be added to the vanguard. I only have one thing on my mind, does the general know?"

"Since it is the Grand Tutor's concern, and Yuan Shao is a powerful figure of our time, he is naturally wise and decisive, and there is no shortage of wise and resourceful people."

Xianyu Fu defined himself as Grand Tutor Zhao's partner, grabbed the wine pot to pour himself a drink, and continued, "Therefore, in my humble opinion, what the Grand Tutor is worried about is the people Yuan Shao has appointed."

"Yes, that's just how people are; nine times out of ten, things don't go as planned."

Zhao Ji picked up a piece of dried meat, chewed it, swallowed it, and said, "Is there any way to lure Yuan Shao into coming out with all his forces? That way, I can fight him on the banks of the Yi River and decide who will rule the world?"

If a decisive battle were to break out now, annihilating and severely damaging Yuan Shao's main force, then after Hebei were annexed, the resistance momentum of the four provinces in the Central Plains would naturally disintegrate.

The world is never short of wise men who know how to seek advantage and avoid harm. When they reach that point, many places can be pacified simply by issuing a proclamation. There are also many powerful figures who dare to attack Sun Ce and offer his head as a reward, springing up like mushrooms after rain.

Although Zhao Ji said this, Xianyu Fu did not see any expectation on Zhao Ji's face.

Xianyu Fu controlled his thoughts, refraining from considering the contrast, and instead followed Zhao Ji's request: "If we want to lure the Hebei troops out in full force, in my humble opinion, we must offer them a substantial bait."

“I’m afraid this bait is too big and will scare Yuan Shao away.”

As Zhao Ji spoke, he picked up an official document from the left side of the table with his left hand and pushed it to Xianyu Fu: "This is Wang Song's letter requesting military merit. This man is quick to act. His messenger Liu Fang set off from Yongnu twelve days ago. Eight days ago, Wang Song attacked Yuan Shao's fleet, seizing all his ships and sailors, as well as more than two thousand fine horses."

Xianyu Fu put down his chopsticks, reached out his hands to take Wang Song's official document and began to read it, but he didn't see anything wrong with it.

Zhao Ji continued, "The best part is that his messenger set off first, and the messenger reporting the victory caught up with the messenger Liu Fang at Yanmen Pass. Now this eloquent and persuasive man is waiting for my summons in the guesthouse."

Xianyu Fu vaguely grasped a clue, then looked at Zhao Ji with a puzzled expression and said, "This humble general is puzzled, please enlighten me, Grand Tutor."

"Two thousand fine horses and this fleet from Bohai are enough to anger Yuan Shao. If he is angry but does not send troops to attack Wang Song, what does that say?"

Zhao Ji countered, watching Xianyu Fu's vivid and lifelike acting as he watched the changes in his expression. Zhao Ji didn't hold back his smile: "General Xianyu, do you now understand my doubts?"

Xianyu Fu nodded solemnly: "This subordinate understands. Yuan Shao intends to avoid war."

"Yes, that's what I'm worried about right now. If we wait a few more days and there's no sign of Yuan Shao mobilizing his troops, and Wang Song doesn't send any messengers to request reinforcements, then it means Yuan Shao is going to gather his forces and hold his ground."

Zhao Ji looked at Xianyu Fu and said, "If Yuan Shao avoids battle, I cannot afford to launch a long and arduous campaign to confront him from a thousand miles away. I hope General Xianyu can make preparations as soon as possible. If Yuan Shao avoids battle, the people of Youzhou will still need General Xianyu to manage things for me in the future."

Seeing Xianyu Fu's still questioning look, Zhao Ji explained, "After I defeated the various Hu tribes in Liaodong, I withdrew my troops. Yuan Shao is poised to strike. When our army withdraws, it will be the same time he offends Youzhou. The affairs of Youzhou cannot be entirely entrusted to Gongsun Bogui, nor can they be entrusted to Xu Gongming alone. We still need General Xianyu."

"Yes, I will understand!"

(End of this chapter)