My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 401 We Scholars Should Help the General Advance
After a major battle.

There are many follow-up matters to be dealt with.

The casualty statistics were only processed in the simplest way; the more complicated matters were left to Mulan for further handling.

June has arrived, and the weather has inevitably become hot.

To prevent the outbreak of disease in the military, corpses, which are a source of infection, must be disposed of quickly.

If it is not possible to properly take the body back, then the ashes, as well as the armor and weapons left behind, should be carefully taken back and handed over to the family of the garrison soldiers.

These were all personal belongings of the soldiers, and can also be seen as a kind of spiritual inheritance.

As for rewards, after the statistics are compiled, they must be reported to the Tian Ce Mansion and submitted to scholars such as Cui Xian for final review and confirmation before they are distributed.

Gao Yu simply doesn't have that much time to deal with all of this.

As his territory and power grew, he needed to step back and let others handle things. Otherwise, what was the point of recruiting all these civil and military officials?

"Liu Taozhi, how's the matter I asked you to handle going?"

"Please rest assured, my lord, I have already sent the message back."

"Ah."

Gao Yu nodded.

Several years ago, he had Liu Taozhi adopt many orphans in Qingzhou. Some of them had already been planted and infiltrated in various corners of the country. These people were Gao Yu's 'eyes'.

This time, he went to support Gao Huan, and he didn't know when he would be able to return to Qingzhou.

However, those who died or were wounded in the battle with Hou Yuan would return to Qingzhou ahead of time.

Logically speaking.

In the early stages, one's subordinates are less likely to become corrupt or embezzle. A team that is building an empire usually doesn't have many problems in the early stages.

But who can guarantee that?
This is the first time the garrison has suffered such large-scale casualties. If not handled properly, it will severely damage the garrison's morale and thus affect their combat effectiveness.

Someone has to keep an eye on things for me.

"If you discover any clues, be sure to gather evidence and wait for me to return to Qingzhou..."

Gao Yu turned his head and looked east.

The marching army stretched out like a long dragon along the road, seemingly endless and extending into the distance.

"It seems I won't be able to give birth in time for Zhifan. I wonder if she'll give birth to a boy or a girl..."

Cui Zhifan confirmed her pregnancy last November and estimated that she would give birth in about two months.

He never had such concerns when he led troops into battle before.

Men do change after having women and children.

………………

Qingzhou, Dongyang City, inside the Tian Ce Mansion.

Cui Jie, Cui Xian, Cui You, Yang Yin and others gathered together. In the Tian Ce Mansion's leadership, the Cui family was still the head.

Smiles were on everyone's faces. The battle report from the Battle of Yingzhou had been delivered to them at breakneck speed, and they had naturally learned of Gao Yu's great victory.

"General, you are indeed a brilliant strategist. In just three months, you have managed to quell Hou Yuan's army of hundreds of thousands!"

Wen Zisheng, who was originally in Qinghe County, also resigned after Gao Yu met with Yuan Xiu in Qinghe County.

He claimed he wanted to retire to the mountains, but in reality he just looked down on Yuan Xiu and decided to come to Qingzhou on his own.

He was the most famous of the "Three Talents of the North," extremely renowned in the literary world, and a close advisor to the late Emperor Yuan Ziyou.

Upon arriving in Qingzhou, he was treated as an honored guest by Cui Xian and others.

"When the late emperor was still alive, he often told us that the general's bravery was like that of the ancient overlord reborn."

Wen Zisheng felt a little downcast when he thought of his close friend Yuan Ziyou, but he was also more determined: "The only one who can avenge the late emperor is General Tian Ce!"

"As the saying goes, those who follow the righteous path receive much help, while those who stray from it receive little. General, you are acting with righteousness, punishing the disobedient, comforting the people and punishing the guilty. You will surely be able to conquer Luoyang and kill that traitor Erzhu Rong!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Cui Jie suddenly asked, "Have General Yang and General Erzhu sent any letters from Xuzhou...?"

"Is it a bit ill-considered to appoint General Erzhu to guard Pengcheng?"

"General Erzhu is the general's father-in-law. I think he can figure out which is more important."

Upon seeing that the people of Tian Ce Mansion were about to discuss other matters, Wen Zisheng also tactfully stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Since you all have important military matters to discuss, I will take my leave first."

He hasn't pledged allegiance to Gao Yu, so he's not one of our own.

No one tried to stop them.

After Wen Zisheng left, Cui Jie and the others came to the map.

"There is no need to worry too much about the logistics and food supplies of the general's army. After all, the enemy was defeated in one battle, and the large amount of food supplies that the enemy has stockpiled can be used by us. General Mulan and General Hebayun, who has surrendered, should be able to quickly take control of the three prefectures."

Cui You then spoke up, "Pingzhou, Yingzhou, and Anzhou are far from the Central Plains. They had not submitted to Erzhu Rong before, nor did they send troops south to assist him this time. It seems they are observing the situation."

"The governor of Yingzhou comes from the Lu family of Fanyang and is called Lu Cao. Perhaps... we can go and persuade him. I have long heard that he is born with superhuman strength and is a rare and valiant general."

"Why don't I go north as an envoy to persuade them on behalf of the general?"

After a moment's thought, Cui Jie nodded.

"If we can control the three prefectures of Ping, Ying, and An, the entire northeastern part of the northern border will be under our control, and the general will now possess 'half the country'!"

As soon as these words came out.

Everyone's expression changed.

Gao Yu now indeed controls half of the country, except that his control over the Northeast is slightly weaker.

But Erzhu Rong was stronger. Of the two prefectures that Erzhu Rong had ruled for generations, Sizhou and Bingzhou were now lost, leaving only Bingzhou.

Although Erzhu Tianguang was left to manage affairs in Guanzhong, the area he could actually control was probably only around Yongzhou. Continuing towards Longxi, it was likely that he would only be superficially subjugated and not truly under the control of the Erzhu clan.

Hou Yuan's defeat in Yingzhou was practically a death sentence for Erzhu Rong.

Losing territory is nothing.

The main impact was on Erzhu Rong's personal prestige.

Cui Jishu chuckled, "After pacifying Erzhu Rong, General, you will truly possess the 'world'..."

This time, Cui Jie's expression changed drastically. He looked at Cui Jishu and, after several changes in expression, said, "Uncle, be careful with your words."

Gao Yu didn't have many true "Wei ministers" under his command. Almost everyone joined him because of his title of General of Heavenly Strategy, and they didn't really have much loyalty to the Great Wei.

Not to mention that the throne of Great Wei has been deposed and reinstated several times, especially after Yuan Ziyou's desperate gamble failed, everyone knows...

The fate of the Great Wei Dynasty has run its course; it is time for a change of dynasty.

Cui Jie is different.

He had previously served as an official under Cui Guang in the central government of Luoyang, and thus still had some affection for the Great Wei.

He is very clear.

The true thoughts of Cui Xian, Yang Yin, and others.

"Does the Southern Dynasty army actually intend to invade Xuzhou?"

"Hey, we'll have to wait for Zishan's reply. If this works out, the Southern Dynasty can also become an aid to the general, which would be a wonderful thing."

"Thanks to the magnanimity of the mistress, who possesses the qualities of a mother to the world."

"Be careful what you say! Be careful what you say!!"

After realizing he couldn't stop it, Cui Jie simply gave up. "I'm going to allocate provisions for General Yang of Jizhou. You all need to prepare the rewards for the soldiers who died or were wounded in this battle. This matter cannot be taken lightly."

"Please go, Lord Cui."

Cui Jie left in a hurry.

After Cui Jie left.

Yang Yin then spoke, “With the general absent, everything should be done according to the mistress’s wishes, and the mistress is indeed very magnanimous.”

Back in April, when Gao Yu met Yuan Xiu in Qinghe County.

Liu Taozhi, who was stationed in the Southern Dynasty, sent a message saying that the Southern Dynasty had learned of the turmoil in the north and seemed to have the intention to invade again. They were gathering a large army and urged the Tian Ce Mansion to make preparations as soon as possible.

It was Yang Yin who suggested sending an envoy to the Southern Dynasty to propose marriage to Emperor Xiao Yan, thus adding another marriage opportunity for Gao Yu.

However, this matter...

They couldn't make the decision for Gao Yu, so they eventually consulted Yang Changchu, since Yang Changchu was Gao Yu's legal wife and the mother of his eldest son, Gao Ze.

Yang Changchu immediately approved Yang Yin's proposal.

And they even increased the stakes.

If the marriage goes through, the woman from the Southern Dynasty who marries into the country can be a secondary wife.

Yang Changchu had already backed down on the matter of Erzhu Yuechan, and now, in order to appease the Southern Dynasty and prevent them from invading Xuzhou, she has once again chosen to back down.

This is why Cui Xian and others say she is magnanimous and has the qualities of an 'empress'.

"I entrust these matters to Brother Ji Lun and Brother Shu Zheng. I need to go to Qinghe County on behalf of the General to meet with His Majesty."

Cui Xian was taken aback.

He seemed to have guessed something, "You're going there this time..."

Yang Yin smiled and said, "There are some things that are inconvenient for the general to do, and the general is a kind person. He has been deeply appreciated and treated with great kindness by the late emperor."

"How can we let the general bear such a bad reputation? Our purpose in serving in the Tian Ce Mansion is to help the general solve his problems."

"Let me bear this infamy!"

"We scholars have also received the general's favor in promoting us, and we should help the general advance even further!"

Cui Xian and Cui Jishu exchanged a glance and then smiled and said, "Then we'll have to trouble Zunyan."

Yes.

Gao Yu was a respectable man. As a subject, how could he allow his lord to bear some bad reputation?
They should also start preparing for Gao Yu to take things a step further.

after all……

They had been beaten to it by Gao Huan before, so how could they afford to be a step behind again this time?
Yang Yin is indeed suitable.

Erzhu Rong almost completely wiped out the Yang family in Luoyang.

Yang Yin harbored an overwhelming hatred for the Erzhu clan.

Even if Yang Yin hadn't said it...

Cui Xian also planned to take this battle report to Qinghe County to claim 'merit' for Gao Yu!
He was praised and worshipped without naming his name, and he wore a sword and shoes in the palace and did not have to bow when entering the court.

He was granted the title of King and bestowed with the Nine Bestowments.

First, help Gao Yu get all these titles.

After Pingdierzhurong.

By following the will of Heaven and inspiring the hearts of the people, it would be only natural for him to take over.

This would also serve to intimidate the Yuan cultivators.

This new 'emperor' wasn't so obedient after Gao Yu took Wang Sizheng away...

(End of this chapter)