Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 258 The Han army's full pay is invincible!
March 27th, the first year of the Hanxing era.

Youzhou, Dai Commandery, the northern Great Wall
A long-bearded general held a ten-foot-long lance, followed by five hundred knights in black armor.

Military generals rarely have long beards, and even if they wrap their beards in a pouch, it is still somewhat inconvenient for a military general.

Therefore, anyone familiar with the rising stars in the Han army in recent years would recognize the name of this long-bearded general at a glance.

"Brother, take a rest. The men are all a bit tired."

Upon hearing the address "elder brother," Guan Yu, who was at the very front of the group, suddenly relaxed his stern face and turned to look at the person behind him, as if he had been touched.

Unfortunately, it wasn't his "elder brother" who called him that, but rather his cousin Guan Dingzai.

Yes, he is no longer the Changshui Sima who follows his elder brother, but the Tanhan General of the Great Han!
Last October, when the emperor reorganized the central army and transferred his elder brother Liu Bei to the position of governor of Jiangxia, he also transferred him and his third brother to Youzhou.

According to the emperor, his and Yide's future lay in the army. Considering that the court would surely launch a northern expedition against the Xianbei after accumulating enough national strength, he wanted to set up a standing army directly under the court in Dai County, similar to the four camps in Bingzhou.

He established the Tanhan Camp, appointed the Tanhan General, whose rank was 2,000 shi (a unit of grain), and had one military supervisor, two colonels, one chief clerk, one registrar, and one military advisor under his command, along with 5,000 soldiers.

The one who tumbles sweat is Tanhan Mountain!

Tanhan Mountain was once Han territory, but with the rise of the Xianbei in recent years, Tanshihuai unified the Xianbei, occupied the lands of the Wuhuan and Northern Xiongnu, and also defeated the three routes of the Han army that were launching a northern expedition.

The land north of the Great Wall was seized by Tanshihuai, and Tanhan Mountain even became the site of the Xianbei royal court, which was an immense humiliation for the Han people.

Therefore, the emperor appointed him as General Tanhan, the meaning and expectations of which are self-evident!

The third brother, Zhang Fei, was appointed as the General of Yuyang and expanded the original Yuyang Camp, commanding 5,000 men.

Although he was very reluctant to part with his elder brother, it was also his and Yide's dream to emulate Wei Qing and Huo Qubing in pacifying the barbarians, or rather, the dream of every passionate Han Chinese.

Moreover, the imperial court has mobilized too many people to Bingzhou and Youzhou in preparation for the future Northern Expedition.

Leaving aside the four battalions of Bingzhou and the new prefectural and county leadership of Bingzhou, the newly appointed governor of Youzhou is also an old acquaintance of theirs.

Cao Cao, the former governor of Qingzhou and general in charge of suppressing bandits, is now the governor of Youzhou and general in charge of pacifying the north. He has been granted the right to establish his own government and is also allowed to bring his former Qingzhou staff directly to Youzhou.

According to Cao Cao, he had just built several new irrigation canals in Qingzhou and dredged and repaired several old ones. Under his rule, many fields in Qingzhou became fertile land, a lot of wasteland was reclaimed, and many refugees were resettled, thus increasing the population.

He also took the opportunity to suppress local powerful figures. The emperor was virtuous, and all the memorials impeaching him were kept in the palace and not issued.

Today, Qingzhou is a place brimming with vitality, where everything thrives.

In less than two years of governance, just as the seeds he had planted in Qingzhou were beginning to blossom and bear fruit, he was transferred by imperial decree to become the governor of Youzhou and the general in charge of the Northern Expedition.

Although he had been promoted, he was really reluctant to leave. He longed to stay in Qingzhou and see the fruits of the seeds he had planted.

However, Guan Yu knew that Cao Mengde was absolutely talking nonsense.

It's not that his achievements are fake; Cao Cao's current performance is the most outstanding among the former officials of the emperor's former residence, apart from old ministers like Lu Zhi!

He only saw the smile in Cao Cao's eyes, which was clearly a heartfelt joy at being transferred to the north to face the barbarians who frequently raided the border, just like he and Yide.

However, he and Yide were still quite sad, and they both cried bitterly on the day they parted from their elder brother.

Before parting, the elder brother said that he believed he and Yide would definitely achieve outstanding military exploits, but he hoped they would take good care of their health.

The Han Dynasty could lose famous generals named Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, but Liu Bei could not lose brothers named Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

Now, nearly half a year has passed since he parted from his elder brother. How could he not miss his elder brother who is far away in Jiangxia? However, his busy schedule has allowed him to suppress this deep longing for the time being.

But Guan Ding's call of "elder brother" brought back this feeling of longing to his heart.

Of course, Guan Ding's calling him "elder brother" was not to deliberately stir up his longing, but because Guan Ding was his cousin and his uncle's son.

Although his talents were mediocre, he never compromised on orders and was willing to risk his life, which earned him Guan Yu's high regard.

Although the Guan family of Jieliang was not a prominent or wealthy family, they were not impoverished either. Rather, they were a minor powerful clan in Jieliang County. Otherwise, they would not have had the opportunity to learn to read and write, let alone possess a copy of the Zuo Zhuan.

After being appointed as the Commander of Changshui by the Crown Prince and having his crime of fleeing for him forgiven, Guan Yu did not return home. Instead, he sent a letter to his father, Guan Yi, to let him know that he was safe.

After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Guan Yu was appointed Marquis of Guannei, and he returned to his hometown, where several young and strong members of his clan joined his ranks.

After the Qiang rebellion in Liangzhou was quelled, the emperor, as a reward, bestowed upon Dongting, north of his hometown Jieliang County, the title of Marquis, with a fief of two hundred households. Guan Yu finally returned to his hometown in great fanfare, and many good men from his clan joined his ranks.

However, Guan Yu was extremely strict with his clansmen, even more so than with ordinary soldiers.

He would visit every sick or wounded soldier and personally comfort the families of fallen soldiers. The soldiers were all willing to die for Guan Yu.

Guan Yu usually granted leniency to soldiers who made minor mistakes, but he would not grant leniency to his own clansmen; they would be dealt with according to military law.

Anyone who harms civilians or bullies others in the army using Guan Yu's name will be severely reprimanded by him and punished according to military law.
Previously, a member of Guan Yu's clansmen had raped a woman in Dai County. Enraged, Guan Yu had him tied up and hung at the door of that family's house. In front of the family, he whipped the clansman thirty times and then personally beheaded him, displaying his head at the gate.

Guan Ding did not notice the fleeting look of disappointment in Guan Yu's phoenix eyes, because Guan Yu rebuked him sternly.

"What do you mean, 'brother'? How many times have I told you? In the military, you should be addressed by your rank!"

"Yes, General Guan!"

After reprimanding Guan Ding, Guan Yu looked at a small mound not far away and ordered the soldiers to go to the mound to rest and prepare to cook a meal on the spot.

The Han army is now truly well-off. As a border army directly under the imperial court, although it cannot compare with the central army in terms of treatment, even in the desolate areas near the Great Wall where there are no external supplies, the border army carries a wide variety of military rations that can be stored for a long time.

Since it was only an inspection mission rather than a combat mission, Guan Yu's five hundred cavalrymen were only equipped with one rider and two horses, with all the cooking utensils and military rations placed on the back of the secondary horse.

In terms of cooking utensils alone, there were essential fire strikers and tinder for the wild, copper pots that were lighter but more expensive than iron pots, a watchtower that could be used to cook rice and porridge and also to be used as a warning at night, and even a small portable hand mill less than a foot long, which could be used to prepare dry food or paste, that is, dehydrated grain powder.

As for the military rations carried by the soldiers, the staple food consisted of wheat grains that had been hulled, dried, and stored in waterproof cowhide bags for at least six months, as well as dried meat, pickled turnips, and sunflowers as main dishes. Roasted tea, which was stored in earthenware jars and dried, was served as a drink after meals and to supplement nutrition.

Alcohol was a drink reserved for courage before battle and was not to be consumed at other times. Every day, the sergeants would check everyone's liquor bags.

Of course, what the border soldiers considered indispensable was fermented soybean paste, a condiment made from cooked soybeans.

However, although the emperor intended to improve the soldiers' food standards, the amount of dried meat and pickled vegetables was limited by financial constraints and would not be much.

The Han army was not enough to make the border soldiers indulge in dried meat and pickled vegetables, but for the border troops in Youzhou, the abundant fishing resources made fish extremely cheap.

This led to the creation of salted dried fish, a local specialty in Youzhou, which became a cheap alternative to dried meat.

Although the specific military ration supply capacity and types varied slightly from place to place, the nutritional aspects were definitely greatly improved, and the soldiers visibly became more robust, while the enthusiasm of the people to join the army also soared.

Especially the supply of roasted tea. No one dared to imagine that the emperor would actually include roasted tea, which costs at least 500 coins per catty in Luoyang City and even 5,000 coins per catty in the distant Youzhou, a precious commodity equivalent to half a catty of gold, in the military rations of the border soldiers.

However, this has also bred corruption problems. Recently, there have been cases of corruption in the military involving embezzlement and reselling of tea. But once it is discovered that someone has embezzled and resold tea from the military, they will be beheaded, their entire family property will be confiscated, and men will be enslaved and women will be made maids.

The harsh punishment system has, to some extent, curbed the problem. Liu Bian knew that his approach might have its flaws and shortcomings, but he would only improve the oversight system and would not choose to reduce the army's food rations.

He doesn't understand much about military strategy, such as the principles of yin and yang, the situation, and tactics. He only understands the most basic military skills!
He provided his soldiers with the sharpest weapons, the strongest armor, the most nutritious food, and the best treatment, while they were commanded by the most skilled generals of the Han Dynasty. This was the emperor's way of waging war!

Before long, wisps of smoke rose from the temporary campsite on the small hill, and after a while, the aroma of wheat porridge filled the air.

Guan Yu liked this aroma very much because it meant that the Han army had plenty of food.

If the soldiers and horses are not moving, the grain and grass will go first.

Only when there are no logistical problems can the true fighting power of the brave men of the Han Dynasty be brought into play.

Just as the aroma of wheat porridge was overshadowed by another mixed fragrance, several guards brought Guan Yu the midday meal.

Today's lunch is wheat rice, with a piece of dried meat, two grilled salted dried fish, a small dish of pickled turnips, and a bowl of soup.

The soup was made by simmering fermented black beans and served with a little chopped green onion. For the soldiers, eating rice with the fermented black bean soup was quite a treat.

In particular, the emperor required soldiers in various regions not to drink raw water except in emergencies, but to boil it in pots and pans before drinking it.

At the same time, the strips of cloth used to wrap the wound must be boiled in boiling water before they can be used.

In an emergency, wounds from knives and swords can be treated by cauterizing them with a red-hot iron, which can stop the bleeding and also disinfect the wounds to some extent.

There are also astonishing customs, such as covering wounds with garlic juice and chopped garlic.

In many ways, military rules were modified at the emperor's insistence. There was resistance, but they were ultimately enforced.

Unexpectedly, after these rules were implemented in the military, the number of sick soldiers decreased significantly, and the survival rate of wounded soldiers also increased greatly.

The emperor's wisdom is truly admirable.

With a peeled garlic clove, Guan Yu quickly finished his lunch and ordered his guards to take dried dates from his personal bag and give one to each of his knights.

That was prepared for him by his wife, Lady Hu. Guan Yu loved to eat fresh dates, and if there were no fresh dates, he would have someone buy a lot of dried dates. Lady Hu not only prepared dried dates for Guan Yu, but also paid out of her own pocket to prepare them for the soldiers of the border army who accompanied him.

Dried dates are very inexpensive. Even in a border county like Dai County, they cost only 6 qian per jin (250g in the Han Dynasty), and there are about 200 dried dates in one jin.

From Macheng, a fortress within the Great Wall in the eastern part of Dai County, to Gaoliu, a fortress in the western part of Dai County, the total distance is 240 li. Although the patrols only allow for a daily journey of 30 li, a round trip takes only half a month.

Five hundred men eat one dried date a day, which is less than 40 catties of dried dates. 240 coins is nothing to Guan Yu, the Marquis of Dongting with a rank of 2,000 shi and a fief of 200 households. But for the soldiers, it is a sign of respect and care.

After each person finished drinking a bowl of fried tea and rested for a while, the knights used the specially dug pits to urinate and defecate, and then filled them in before preparing to head towards Ma City, which was more than ten miles away.

Once Guan Yu signs and affixes his seal on the patrol sign-in sheet at Macheng, the Great Wall patrol mission will be over, and the soldiers will be able to enjoy a four-day holiday.

Soldiers from the local area of ​​Dai Commandery could return home to be with their families after registration. Soldiers from outside the local area could enter the new county seat of Dai Commandery, Dong'anyang County, and eat well in the restaurants with their pay, but they were not allowed to drink alcohol or harass the people. Otherwise, they would be punished according to military law.

"Do not be careless. Before I took up my post, the Emperor held my hand and told me, 'He who travels a hundred li is only halfway there at ninety.' You must not be careless before you complete your mission, and you must not let your guard down before returning to Dong'anyang!"

Guan Yu looked very serious. He naturally exuded an air of authority when leading troops, and he was exceptionally kind to the lower-ranking soldiers. Therefore, although the soldiers were given a little instruction by Guan Yu, they did not become impatient. Instead, they responded in unison.

Well, what Guan Yu didn't say was that the emperor also required him not to merely be virtuous to his inferiors while being arrogant to his superiors in the army.

The emperor earnestly instructed him that everyone has strengths, and even deserters have expertise in how to escape the enemy's encirclement and survive. Therefore, he should never underestimate others and should patiently listen to the opinions of his subordinates.

In fact, Guan Yu didn't understand why the emperor knew his temperament so well and taught him in such detail, as if he had made similar mistakes himself.

However, compared to his third brother Yide, the emperor's teachings were nothing.

Yi De was fond of drinking. During the suppression of the Qiang rebellion in Liangzhou, there were previous incidents where he drank alcohol in the army and whipped soldiers, and even whipped his personal guards.

In the end, his merits outweighed his demerits, thus offsetting the crime, and he even compensated the soldiers who had been whipped for their medical expenses. However, upon hearing this, the emperor declared that Yide's merits and demerits could not be offset.

The emperor asked the soldiers who had been whipped by Yide, and they said that in total, they had been whipped 34 times.

So the emperor took the horsewhip and lashed it across Yide's back. Although the emperor's strength was certainly not as great as Yide's, the 34 lashes still left Yide's back a bloody mess.

The emperor wept as he whipped Yide, expressing his deep sorrow that although the whipping was on Yide's body, the pain was truly in his heart.

But he had to teach Yide a profound lesson, so that he would never again dare to disregard the dignity and lives of his soldiers, or wantonly humiliate and whip them.

After whipping Yide, the emperor personally applied medicine to him, served him the medicine, and held his hand while giving him heartfelt instructions.

Yide held the emperor's hand and wept, saying that he would remember the emperor's teachings and would never make such a mistake again. He said that if he made the mistake again, the emperor should hang him outside the palace gate and whip him to death.

However, both he and Yide believed that the emperor's teachings were actually correct.

The teachings given to Yide, in particular, demonstrated deep love and strict discipline, leaving a profound impression on them.

Feeling moved by the emperor's wisdom and benevolence, Guan Yu led his five hundred cavalrymen to a place about ten miles away from Macheng City when he suddenly saw a black smoke rising straight into the sky.

Guan Ding pointed at the black smoke in the distance and roared, "General, it's a signal fire!"

Guan Yu frowned slightly. In the past six months, he had experienced more than one attack by the Xianbei. He made a decision in an instant and shouted, "Everyone, untie your horses!"

"Military Commander Guan Ding!"

Guan Ding clasped his hands in response and said, "Your subordinate is here!"

"You lead a hundred men to guard the deputy horse here, and the rest of you will follow me to reinforce Gaoliu City!"

As soon as Guan Yu finished speaking, he wanted to lead his troops to the rescue, but Guan Ding hesitated and even resisted, crying out, "Does the general think I'm useless?"

Guan Yu glared at him and angrily rebuked him: "Fool! If the enemy's numbers are vastly different from ours, your hundred men will be the fresh force to help me retreat!"

Guan Ding was still somewhat dissatisfied, but how could the army allow him to question the commander's orders again and again?

If he weren't Guan Yu's trusted cousin, Guan Yu would never have answered his question, and even if he were executed, Guan Yu would have no reason to complain.

"The general will obey the order!"

Although he was unwilling, Guan Ding still clasped his hands in a gesture of respect to Guan Yu and accepted his arrangement.

He wasn't unaware of the importance of the mission to provide reinforcements for Guan Yu's retreat. In such battles, it was necessary to leave some people behind to guard the auxiliary horses carrying cooking utensils and military rations, which also served as a reserve force that could be mobilized in critical moments.

He just wanted to ask Guan Yu exactly how many Han and Hu people were considered to be a significant disparity in numbers between the two sides!
Brother, that's what you said to me when you led four hundred cavalry to charge four thousand Xianbei barbarians!
(5207 words)
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P.S.: Hehe, I ate McDonald's tonight, so I'm in a particularly good mood. I'll add a short update of 1200 words.

Dear readers, please give me some extra monthly votes in recognition of the extra 1200 words I've added!
PPS: As usual, the lists of officials under the Governor of Youzhou, officials under the General of Anbei, prefects of various counties in Youzhou (not entirely based on history), the staff of General Tanhan, and the staff of General Yuyang are all published in the free chapters. Readers can take them for themselves.

(End of this chapter)