A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 115 Flying General
Liu Ju stayed overnight at the Northern Army's residence.

The night is not clean.

General Li Guang requests an audience.

May Your Majesty live a thousand years and enjoy endless happiness!

The sound of praise for the emperor rose.

Liu Ju looked this "Flying General" up and down. He didn't have the imposing and domineering air of a great general. On the contrary, he was "as humble as a commoner" and looked very kind, like an old man from the countryside.

"General of the Valiant Cavalry, with the expedition imminent, why do you not go to prepare for battle? What brings you to see me?" Liu Ju asked bluntly.

There was neither closeness nor distance; it was quite ordinary.

"The soldiers have already gone to sleep."

In a word.

He held Liu Ju still for three breaths.

Looking at the moonlight outside the tent, if I'm not mistaken, it was still past midnight. The soldiers, having eaten roasted meat, vegetables, and tea, were still expending their renewed energy. The military lanterns were lit high, and the bugles sounded.

Li Guang's army of 10,000 light cavalrymen were asleep?
No.

The soldiers who remained in the country did not go to sleep. The soldiers who were about to go to war went to sleep first to conserve their energy. Wasn't it a bit too early?
Liu Ju quickly felt relieved.

Li Guang was known throughout the Han Dynasty for not advocating strict military discipline. When leading troops into battle, he only ever did one thing well: "distant scouts," sending out reconnaissance troops from afar to observe the movements of the Xiongnu.

During the reigns of Emperor Xiaowen and Emperor Xiaojing, the Han Dynasty primarily waged defensive wars against the Xiongnu. This strategy was certainly correct. The Xiongnu cavalry were elusive and unpredictable, and it was impossible to know when they would launch an attack. If the entire army maintained a high level of vigilance at all times, how long could that state of high tension be sustained?

One or two months is fine, but over the years, even without the Xiongnu taking action, we would probably collapse. So it's better to let the main force relax a bit, as long as the scouts can detect the enemy's situation in time, giving the main force time to react.

However, times have changed, and the roles of offense and defense have shifted. The war between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu has changed from the original positional and defensive warfare to offensive and mobile warfare. The experience of older Han generals like Li Guang, who grew up during the reigns of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing, has become somewhat outdated.

Liu Ju had no prejudice against these veteran generals and was willing to give them opportunities to reach their full potential, rewarding them with appropriate military merits and honors.

Without veteran players, there would be no Han Chinese team as we know it today.

In this battle of Hexi, the three armies of Li Guang, Li Gan, and Han Shuo were reduced to one, turning from one of the main forces into a detachment. Liu Ju's idea was not to target Li Guang, but rather to hope that Li Guang could "follow" him to become a marquis.

With Huo Qubing around, even if Li Guang did nothing but follow the main army and collect military merits, he could probably accumulate two or three marquis titles by destroying the small tribes on the right wing of the Xiongnu.

As for the possibility of a surprise attack by the main force of the Xiongnu due to lax military discipline, Huo Qubing was there to cover it up. After all, Li Guang's army also numbered 10,000 cavalry, and it would take the main force of the Xiongnu time to swallow them up. They were able to hold out until Huo Qubing came to their rescue.

In other words, the Han Dynasty had prepared a marquisate for Li Guang in advance, and Liu Ju did not want the saying "Li Guang was not granted a title" to be passed down to future generations.

"I request an audience in the dead of night, for I wish to request permission to engage the left flank of the Xiongnu!"

The second sentence.

Liu Ju finally lost his composure. "General of the Valiant Cavalry, which of my Han commanders do you intend to kill this time, that's why you've decided to divide your forces?"

In the Battle of Yanmen in the sixth year of the Yuanguang era, Li Guang was captured by the Xiongnu. He later feigned death, seized a horse, and escaped back to the Han Dynasty, but was dismissed from his post and became a commoner.

During his seclusion in the southern mountains of Lantian, Li Guang went out hunting and drinking one night. On his way back, when he arrived at Baling Pavilion, he was stopped by the drunken Baling Commandant on the grounds of curfew, and had no choice but to spend the night under the pavilion.

When the Xiongnu invaded, Li Guang was appointed as the governor of Youbeiping. Before taking office, he requested to bring the magistrate of Baling to the army and then kill him.

For the sake of stability in the border region, the emperor did not punish Li Guang.

Some people saw this action as a way to settle scores, but in Liu Ju's eyes, it was narrow-minded, a way to settle personal scores, and childish behavior.

If Li Guang's request is granted, this expedition will involve simultaneous battles on both the eastern and western fronts. In terms of troop strength, there will be no problem. Huo Qubing's 30,000 light cavalry will continue the western front, and Li Guang's 10,000 light cavalry will also be fine as long as they do not encounter the main force of the Xiongnu Left Wise King.

But Liu Ju couldn't understand Li Guang's actions of creating trouble out of nothing and splitting his troops east and west. He could only assume that Li Guang had someone he wanted to kill and wanted to take that person to Youbeiping County to kill.

Li Guang felt an indescribable shame and embarrassment. He gritted his teeth and replied, "I have no one I wish to kill."

"Then what do you think?"

"Your Majesty, the Xiongnu are divided into left, center, and right, namely the Left Wise King, the Chanyu, and the Right Wise King. If war breaks out and the left and right sides are attacked, the Xiongnu Chanyu will take the center position to support the left and right sides. If the Xiongnu royal court is attacked, the Left and Right Wise Kings will jointly support Longcheng."

Li Guang recounted the distribution and tactics of the Xiongnu to Liu Ju, and continued, "The Marquis of Champion has marched his troops west of the Yellow River, directly targeting the Right Wise King of the Xiongnu. If we do not increase the threat or attack on the Xiongnu Chanyu's and Left Wise King's forces, the Xiongnu Chanyu's main force will inevitably come to the aid of the Right Wise King's forces, threatening the army and horses led by the Marquis of Champion from the flank. Therefore, I think we should launch an attack on the Left Wise King's forces, putting the Xiongnu into a two-front offensive, and making it difficult for the Xiongnu Chanyu to choose between supporting the west or aiding the east. If everything goes smoothly, our dynasty may be able to cut off both arms of the Xiongnu."

"Li Guang, are you trying to fool me?" Liu Ju said coldly, naming him directly.

This Li Guang is treating him like an ignorant child. The Xiongnu respect the left, and the Xiongnu king, who is the crown prince of the Xiongnu Chanyu, is the Left Wise King. The strength of the Left Wise King's main force is greater than that of the Right Wise King's main force.

Using 40,000 light cavalry to deal with the main force of the Right Wise King of the Xiongnu was definitely a waste of resources, but Li Guang's idea of ​​annihilating the main force of the Left Wise King of the Xiongnu with only 10,000 light cavalry was simply ridiculous.

Li Guang immediately knelt down and said, “Your Majesty, I have no such intention. To attack in the west while pointing east is the way of military strategy. Although I am not talented, it is not difficult for me to lead 10,000 cavalry out of Youbeiping, even if I do not cut off the left arm of the Xiongnu, to achieve something.”

His pride is getting in the way.

Being able to serve under the second-generation Han general Wei Qing as a subordinate general was already the limit for Li Guang. However, Li Guang took special care of his old acquaintances such as Gongsun Ao, which prevented him from "capturing the first enemy" on several occasions, and he was not granted the title of Marquis.

Even though he knew he could achieve military merit and possibly be ennobled, Li Guang could not accept the opportunity to serve under Huo Qubing, a general of three generations of the Han Dynasty.

Besides, Huo Qubing was fiery and could not tolerate anyone who opposed the emperor or himself. If he followed Huo Qubing, he was afraid he would never be able to return to the Han Dynasty.

To this day, he only believes that the powerful bow in his hand can carve out a new world.

Moreover, compared to the Hexi region, he served as the governor of several Han commanderies, including Longxi, Beijun, Yanmen, Daijun, Yunzhong, and Youbeiping. This area was generally located in the east, making him more familiar with the left flank of the Xiongnu territory and less likely to get lost.

Even the most unlucky person has a chance to turn their luck around. Besides, with 10,000 light cavalry as a base, unless they encounter the main force of the Xiongnu Left Wise King or get lost again, it won't be difficult to achieve great things.

Li Guang firmly believed that this battle would be the one that would earn him a title!

(End of this chapter)