My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 384 Pre-war reconnaissance
Back in the military camp.

Heba Yun couldn't help but scrutinize Liu Taozhi carefully.

"No wonder Moheduo values ​​you so much."

"You flatter me. Without my husband, I would not exist. I am where I am today because of his nurturing."

Heba Yun didn't dwell on it any longer, but instead asked, "What should we do next?"

"Simply spread the word that the army will not hold the city but will take the initiative to attack. Then we can proceed as normal. If you have any further instructions, sir, you will send someone to deliver them."

Hebayun nodded.

Sending messages out wasn't difficult; with so many scouts and rangers out every day, a few trusted men could easily be assigned to relay the messages.

Heba Yun's main force, along with the people brought by Ashina Tumen, totaled approximately five thousand men.

Although the number is small, if he leads his men to defect during a battle between two armies, it would be enough to determine the outcome of the battle.

........................

After Gao Yu led his army north, he first captured Chengping County.

Chengping is located on the north bank of the Hutuo River. If it is not captured, the garrison in Chengping can come out and harass the water transport route. It is also necessary to have a city along the Hutuo River as a stronghold to station troops.

During the siege, the garrison in Chengping was small and their will to resist was not strong. Faced with the renowned General Tian Ce, they chose to surrender.

Using Chengping as a base, Gao Yu led his army westward.

Hou Yuan's guess was correct; the meeting place that Gao Yu agreed upon with Mulan and Peng Le was Lecheng.

Throughout the journey, Gao Yu maintained strict military discipline, ordering that no one be allowed to harass the local people.

The Hebei Plain is indeed a fertile land.

The damage Ge Rong did to him a few years ago has been almost completely reversed in just two or three years.

The terrain is flat and there are no natural defenses, making it easy to be ambushed.

But the recovery is also quick.

"General, news from the scouts ahead indicates that Lecheng has been captured, and Generals Mulan and Peng Le are resting there."

Gao Yu nodded and ordered the entire army to quicken their pace.

at last.

The army set off from Shandong and finally arrived in Lecheng in mid-April.

"Meet the General!"

Mulan and Peng Le, along with their generals and guards, came to welcome Gao Yu.

"You've all worked hard. Was the capture of Le City successful?"

"Thanks to the general's reputation, we did not encounter much resistance."

"Yes, the list of meritorious soldiers must be carefully recorded, and the list of those who died in battle must also be compiled. We must not be careless."

"General, please rest assured."

Gao Yu nodded.

This was the first large-scale expedition by the local militia; their previous efforts to quell the refugees in Shandong were merely minor skirmishes.

This is our first large-scale battle, and we must fight it beautifully.

Those who have rendered meritorious service should be richly rewarded, and the affairs of those who die in battle should also be guaranteed. This is a process of "spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones." The soldiers should see tangible benefits to fully motivate them and eliminate any worries about the future, so that they can unleash their maximum fighting power.

Gao Yu followed the group into Le City. Mulan and the others had already prepared a mansion for Gao Yu, which was borrowed from the city's 'wealthy merchants'.

After entering the mansion, Gao Yu had a banquet prepared and summoned all the prominent people in the city.

He had never been to Yingzhou before, and the "Commentary on the Waterways Classic" only marked mountains and rivers, not a specific map.

He had few cavalry but many infantry, while Liu Taozhi's letter had specifically emphasized that Hou Yuan had a large number of cavalry, especially the Youzhou Iron Cavalry.

The terrain in Hebei is flat and level, making it ideal for cavalry to operate.

If he doesn't want to suffer losses in this regard, he must personally survey the terrain and choose terrain that is advantageous to his side in order to engage the enemy.

To influence others without being influenced by them.

Gathering prominent figures is a way to appease the people and can also be considered a form of united front work.

These local bullies have excellent access to information in the area, and we can rely on them to provide us with some useful information.

Gao Yu then went to see the prisoners who had captured Le City. "Is there anyone familiar with the surrounding terrain who can take me to survey it? There will be a great reward!"

The people assigned to guard Lecheng must be locals from Yingzhou.

Gao Yu did not rely on the common people...

To put it bluntly.

In ancient times, many ordinary people could not even leave their villages from birth to death unless there was a large-scale migration. It was unrealistic to expect ordinary people to guide them.

Only soldiers or bandits who ruled the mountains would have a general understanding of the terrain.

At first, no one spoke; the prisoners just looked at each other.

"How dare you! My general is asking you a question; answer him immediately!"

Liu Yi wanted to whip him directly, but Gao Yu stopped him.

"General... are you General Tian Ce?"

"it's me."

"It really is General Tian Ce!"

These people's eyes widened in surprise. "General! I... I know the surrounding terrain well!"

"Nonsense, General, it was me. I also served as a scout in the army before."

"........."

After learning Gao Yu's identity, everyone's enthusiasm was actually aroused.

This is the treatment for those with a good reputation.

Everyone knew that Gao Yu was a good man. When the people learned that the general Gao Erlang was coming, they were not afraid at all. Some even dared to come and see what the famous General Tian Ce looked like.

"it is good."

Gao Yu nodded happily and said, "Those who have served as scouts and transported provisions will be given priority. Others need not panic. Tell us everything you know, and you will all be rewarded. I will not harm you."

The scouts and those who transported provisions were the most important.

The scouts were extremely familiar with the terrain.

Those who transported the grain knew exactly where the supply routes were.

Hou Yuan's army could not rely on water transport for its supplies; they always had to be transported ashore, and the supply routes on land were almost always fixed.

Knowing the location of the grain supply routes allows for targeted measures.

After gathering dozens of people.

Gao Yu ordered Liu Yi and others to find the few soldiers in the Xuanjia Army who had the best individual combat skills.

Several unfamiliar faces were brought over.

During the self-introductions, one of the names caught Gao Yu's attention.

"Old Master Dongfang?"

The young soldier whose name was called stood tall and proudly declared, "It is I."

"Dongfang Shuo, the Grand Master of the Palace under Emperor Wu..."

"Reporting to the general, this is an ancestor of my clan."

"Oh?"

Gao Yu was taken aback.

The main problem is that compound surnames like this are quite rare.

The only person he could recall with the surname Dongfang was Dongfang Su.

As for whether he was truly a descendant of Dongfang Shuo, Gao Yu was too lazy to delve into it, as pursuing such a matter was meaningless.

So what if it isn't?
He rendered great service under Gao Yu and rose to a high position; even the true descendants of Dongfang Shuo would actively curry favor with him.

"Great name, I'll remember it."

Gao Yu smiled and patted him on the shoulder before mounting his horse.

"Let's go! Follow me to survey the terrain!"

(End of this chapter)