My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 499 The Helpless General of the Heavenly Pillar
Duan Shao led the way into the main tent.

Dou Taizheng was writing down the official document he wanted to submit to Gao Yu.

If it weren't for Gao Huan taking advantage of the chaos in the world to rise up and turn his fortunes around, the Lou family's sons-in-law would have been in a very different situation.

Gao Huan was indeed the worst one.

Lou Zhaojun's eldest sister married Duan Rong, and her second sister married Dou Tai. Both Duan Rong and Dou Tai had illustrious ancestors. Dou Tai's ancestor was the garrison commander of Tongwan Town in Xia Prefecture. However, his entire family was destroyed by Po Liu Han Baling.

At that time, the Six Garrisons were in chaos, and Po Liu Han Baling was at the height of his power. In order to avoid the Rouran army mobilized by the Northern Wei court, he moved south.

Following Yu Jin's advice, Guangyang King Yuan Shen instigated the rebellion of Nie Liehe, and then decisively defeated Po Liu Han Baling. The remaining troops fled south to Xiazhou. Dou Tai's father died in battle against the rebels, and Dou Tai later sought refuge with Erzhu Rong, eventually joining forces with Gao Huan.

His ancestors were generals, and Dou Tai was skilled in archery and horsemanship from a young age. He was also well-versed in military strategy and was both brave and resourceful.

Gao Yu did not deliberately suppress Gao Huan's former subordinates.

Dou Tai can be considered a relative of the emperor, and Hou Jing can be considered a childhood friend, but Sun Teng and Sima Ziru, who are not so close to Gao Yu, are now all in high positions.

"Meet the general."

Duan Shao bowed and said.

Dou Tai put down his pen, looked up at Duan Shao, and his eyes flashed with admiration. Duan Shao had a composure far beyond his years. Looking at Huli Guang beside him, he felt a headache coming on. However, he also acknowledged Huli Guang's bravery, especially his superb archery skills at such a young age.

"Mingyue, before we left the camp, I repeatedly ordered you not to pursue the enemy for personal gain. If you dare to do so again, I will punish you according to military law and will not let you off lightly!"

Hulü Guang dared to joke around with Gao Yang and the others, but he dared not laugh and joke with Dou Tai, who was of the same generation as his father. He bowed solemnly and said, "I understand. I will strictly obey the general's orders in the future."

Although Dou Tai had a serious expression, he really couldn't be strict with this nephew.

He had to admit that Gao Yu had a good eye; the young nephews and nieces he sent to the front lines were all quite talented.

The intensity of the conflict with Erzhu Rong within Jianzhou is not currently high.

This allows talented members of the younger generation to gain valuable practical experience in leading troops, without facing too much risk. With both sides using small groups of knights to probe back and forth, as long as they don't get unlucky enough to rush into the encirclement, the other side can't stop them if they are determined to run away. The only problem is that a hasty escape will make them look a bit disheveled.

These proud and arrogant young people might not be able to bring themselves to do it.

therefore……

The personal guards assigned to them were all selected from the most elite Xuanjia Army, with each person assigned ten personal guards. Gao Yu personally gave orders to these guards, and if Hulü Guang and the others got carried away, they would be knocked unconscious and forcibly taken back.

This is an insurance policy that Gao Yu has provided for his nephews and nieces.

It's to prevent young people from being overly concerned with saving face.

He then looked at Duan Shao, who understood and said, "General, this time when I led my troops to scout the vicinity of Ji County, we did not encounter any large-scale enemy resistance. Mingyue even recklessly advanced to the vicinity of Gong County. I speculate..."

"The number of enemy troops stationed in Ji County should not be large, and their main force may have even retreated."

Dou Tai nodded.

Currently, their army is stationed in Chaoge, which is no more than 200 li away from Ji County. Gong County is even further west of Ji County. The fact that they have not encountered any enemy forces coming to surround and intercept them despite being so deep in the region suggests that the enemy may have already retreated as a whole.

This area, due to its proximity to the southern side of the Taihang Mountains, has large tracts of mountainous land that are not suitable for cultivation. The real gems are located in Hanoi County.

With a hint of anticipation in his eyes, Dou Tai pressed on, "Why do you think the enemy would make such an arrangement?"

After a moment's thought, Duan Shao said, "They probably want to extend our supply lines and increase the burden on our logistics and provisions."

Gao Yu did not have complete control over the Yellow River waterway.

The biggest advantage of transporting grain by water is that the cost is extremely low. After all, ships can only carry more grain and fodder, and the ships do not need to carry grain. However, because the ships carry a large amount of grain and fodder, they have a deep draft and are going upstream, so boatmen are needed to pull them along the shore.

The speed could not be too slow. The river channel in this section of the Yellow River is not wide. Erzhu Rong's army could try to shoot ignition materials onto the grain transport ships on the south bank, or simply send oil-soaked ships downstream from the upstream and ignite them halfway.

To prevent this situation, water transport can only be used in the already controlled and safe areas, and then the goods are transported along the Qi River to Chaoge, and then transported by land.

This is also why Gao Yu ordered that Chaoge be taken first; taking Chaoge would give control of the Qi River.

However, the cost of transporting grain and supplies increases exponentially once it goes on land.

The livestock pulling the wagons need to eat, and the soldiers escorting the grain also need to eat, so the amount transported will decrease.

Throughout history, a qualified commander-in-chief will always prioritize his own logistical supply routes, and targeting the enemy's logistical supply lines is the most effective approach.

Why was Gao Huan trapped in front of the jade disc his entire life?
Because Yu Bi was blocking his supply line, if he didn't capture Yu Bi and rashly led his troops westward, the garrison at Yu Bi could cut off his supply lines at any time.

Even the bravest and most morale-boosting army will immediately turn into a mob once its supply lines are cut off.

Were the Zhao soldiers not brave enough during the Qin-Zhao War?
After being cut off from supplies, they had no choice but to discard their weapons and armor and give up resistance.

"good."

Dou Tai was very satisfied. "An army cannot move until its supplies are ready. A general must pay attention to logistics and supplies."

"You two may leave now."

"Yes!" After the two left, Dou Tai came to the map again and looked at it carefully. "Is this just a delaying tactic by Erzhu Rong? No, I must report to the Prime Minister immediately."

………………

Luoyang.

The bleak autumn wind swept away the remaining withered leaves on the branches. The yellowed leaves swirled in the air for a moment before finally falling to the ground.

A trace of melancholy flashed in Erzhu Rong's eyes, as if he were thinking of his own experience.

Like a withered leaf, though it may swirl in the air, it will eventually fall to the ground.

A series of footsteps startled him awake.

Erzhu Rong turned around and a smile immediately appeared on his face. "Lingchuo, you've finally arrived."

"Greetings, Prime Minister."

Su Chuo bowed and said.

Erzhu Rong smiled and stepped forward, taking his hand and leading him into the pavilion. The servants had already prepared tea, which was steaming hot.

After he went to Guanzhong and met Su Chuo in person, he knew that this man had extraordinary talent.

He directly transferred Su Chuo from Guanzhong to Luoyang, promoted him to the position of Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office, and kept him by his side to advise him.

“Lingchuo, last month Moheduo ordered Dou Tai to lead a large army to besiege Chaoge. Chaoge has already fallen, and his army is now plotting to capture Ji County.”

Su Chuo nodded. "Didn't the Prime Minister already have a plan? He ordered the army to retreat to the Shanyang-Gaodu line and strictly guard the Hanoi Commandery."

"It was just a last resort."

Erzhu Rong sighed.

Gao Yu chose his timing perfectly.

Autumn is a season of withering and decay, but it is also the best season for military operations and an important time for the autumn harvest.

Gao Yu chose to advance at this time to prevent Erzhu Rong from having time for the autumn harvest. At least north of the Yellow River, within Jianzhou territory, there was no hope for a peaceful autumn harvest.

Unfortunately, Erzhu Rong was unable to retaliate.

If he were at his peak, with the entire Shanxi province under his control and in a commanding position, he could indeed send troops from Sizhou and Bingzhou to the east simultaneously, wreaking havoc in Hebei, disrupting Gao Yu's rear, causing him to suffer from crop failure, food shortages, and an inability to sustain a large-scale military campaign.

But right now.

Sizhou is lost.

The Fushui River, which flows eastward from Bingzhou, is also under Gao Yu's control.

On the south bank of the Yellow River, the land in Sizhou occupied by Gao Yu was indeed cultivated, but it was mostly in the rear. The areas near the front were not cultivated at all, and the population was even moved away. Erzhu Rong's army had to go deep into the rear to wreak havoc, but this would easily cut off their retreat.

He had the elite Qihu cavalry, and Gao Yu also had no shortage of elite cavalry.

Left with no other choice.

Erzhu Rong could only abandon some land to slow down Gao Yu's advance, trading space for time, allowing places like Hanoi County to be snapped up earlier, at least stabilizing this year's harvest and relieving himself of too much pressure on food supplies.

Ultimately, it's because he doesn't have many fertile lands, and there aren't many places suitable for cultivation.

and……

On a political level, there's also a score to be settled.

In the battle of Hebei, he was defeated by Gao Yu and had to cut off his beard and abandon his robe, fleeing in a sorry state. His personal prestige suffered a heavy blow!
This time.

Retreating and showing weakness before even engaging in battle will only further undermine his prestige among his subordinates.

Being tactically correct doesn't necessarily mean being completely 'correct'.

After all, his subordinates wouldn't consider the overall situation like he did; they only knew that Erzhu Rong was 'cowardly before the battle even started,' and had already backed down before the fight even began.

But Erzhu Rong had no choice.

Even at such a risk, he had to do it.

The repeated failures not only damaged Erzhu Rong's prestige, but also dealt a huge blow to his self-confidence.

In the past, if it were...

Erzhu Rong would never have such worries, nor would he be bothered by such trivial matters.

He suffered a complete and utter defeat in the battle in Hebei.

·
(End of this chapter)