I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 265 The White Horse Cavalry!

Hebei Plain.

The area is similar to, or even worse than, the area east of Xuzhou, consisting of large areas of marshland and low-lying land.

The Book of Documents, in the chapter "Yu Gong," records that below Mengjin, the Yellow River joins tributaries such as the Luo River, then flows northeast, passing through northern Yanzhou, before flowing north into Jizhou. There, it joins the Zhang River and flows north into the ancient Dalu Marsh north of Handan and Julu. It then splits into several branches, flowing northeast into the sea following the terrain. This river course is also known as the "Yu Road."

In the fifth year of King Ding of Zhou, a great flood occurred. The floodwaters diverted from the Suxukou River, flowing eastward to Luochuan, where they split again at Changshoujin. The floodwaters then joined the Zhang River to the north and flowed into the sea at Zhangwu. This was the first time the Yellow River changed its course.

In the third year of Emperor Wu of Han's Yuanguang reign, the Yellow River breached its banks at Huzi, southwest of Puyang, and shifted south again. The floodwaters flowed southeast through Juye Marsh and into the Huai River via the Si River. It took several decades for the river to return to its original course. This was the second time the river changed its course.

In the third year of Wang Mang's reign, the Yellow River breached its banks south of Ye City, rushing into the old course of Luochuan, taking over the Ji River and flowing into the sea. This was the third time the river had changed its course.

Each change of course creates new swamps and depressions.

Even though Emperor Xiaoming later employed Wang Jing from Langya to build dikes, manage canals, cut off the water, and establish gates, thus separating the Yellow River from the Ji River, which was the boundary between Liu Miao and Yuan Shao, and pacifying the mother river that had ravaged the Han people for hundreds of years... those large marshes and depressions still appeared on the land of Hebei, making it a muddy and pitted landscape unsuitable for road travel.

The only place that has remained dry is the narrow strip of land to the west, near the foothills of the Taihang Mountains, which is the road from Yecheng to Zhengding to Zhuojun.

Further east, the terrain becomes unpredictable. While crops can be grown to support the population, there is no main road for the army to advance.

The impact of traffic congestion is multifaceted.

Dispatch, combat, logistics...

The last person who didn't believe in superstitions was none other than Gongsun Zan, who wanted to attack from the east to the west.

Then, the three thousand White Horse Cavalry were all defeated by Ju Yi's vanguard crossbowmen, creating a myth of infantry defeating cavalry and completely establishing Yuan Shao's hegemonic position in Hebei.

Yuan Shao would certainly not repeat the mistakes he had already made.

Yuan Shao's military campaign was a gradual process of transferring troops from Hejian and other areas to the south of Hebei. Taking advantage of the troop rotation, he immediately led his elite troops north from Yecheng, heading straight for Youzhou!
The elite troops of You and Bing arrayed themselves like a dark cloud, their mere marching footsteps enough to shake the Taihang Mountains, their gleaming swords and halberds piercing the sky. Archers carried thousands of powerful crossbows, their triggers forming a forest, the arrows gleaming eerily in the cold wind; the central army, surrounding Yuan Shao's banner, surged forward like an iron torrent, their neighing horses raising clouds of dust that blotted out the sun!

This is the military might of Yuan Shao, the invincible overlord of Hebei and the number one warlord who controlled the two provinces of Ji and Bing!
The grain carts and supply wagons stretched endlessly from Ye City northward, the abundant resources of Ji Province becoming the backbone of the war effort! The Fu River, a rare north-south river in Hebei, also became the lifeblood of Yuan Shao's army, transporting nutrients to this giant army continuously heading north under the powerful influence of Ye City!
Seeing this, Pang Ji, who was advancing with the army, couldn't help but sigh, "If only there were a river that could connect Ye City directly to Langya, how wonderful that would be!"

If such a river truly existed, then Yuan Shao might have really fought Liu Miao to the death last time!

"It's alright. The South has its advantages, and the North has its benefits."

Guo Tu, who was accompanying the army, came to Pang Ji's side and asked, "How is the lord's health today?"

Why does Gongze ask such a question?

"It was Zheng Nan who told me to keep an eye on whether the lord was acting strangely before I left."

After thinking for a while, Pang Ji immediately shook his head at Guo Tu.

"Our lord can eat a pound of meat, a pound of millet, and a pound of wine every day. It seems there's nothing seriously wrong with him!"

As long as you can eat and drink, there must be nothing wrong with your body!

With such simple thoughts, Pang Ji did not believe that Yuan Shao's health would be in any way.

Guo Tu laughed upon hearing this: "Our lord is indeed as vigorous as he was in his youth!"

Putting aside his concerns about Yuan Shao, Guo Tu then asked Pang Ji, "Are you absolutely certain of victory in this battle?"

"Not a perfect 10, but a 7 or 8 is definitely possible."

Pang Ji stopped his horse and let Guo Tu take a look.

Yuan's army was as powerful as a snake in the Bashan Mountains, with no head in front and no tail behind. All that could be seen was its thick body moving forward across the land of Hebei.

"Gongsun Zan's military prowess lies in his flexibility and adaptability, as well as his courage and fearlessness, which is why he was able to gain such momentum before!"

"But now that Gongsun Zan has voluntarily abandoned his strengths and is not launching an attack with his cavalry, but instead hiding in that Hundred-Foot Tower like a turtle, what does he have to fear?"

Pang Ji and Guo Tu were both respected by Yuan Shao as strategists, and were among the best in the world at that time.

They could immediately see the symptoms of Gongsun Zan's problem.

If Gongsun Zan continues to harass Yuan Shao with his massive cavalry force, emulating the tactics of the Xiongnu and Xianbei, and frequently resorting to decapitation strikes, this Northern Expedition might indeed be a tough battle.

But now that Gongsun Zan has lost his most reliable weapon and instead donned armor to engage in hand-to-hand combat with Yuan Shao, how could Gongsun Zan possibly have any chance of winning?

Pang Ji dared not speak too definitively because he was worried that Gongsun Zan would eventually change tactics and attack with cavalry.

Otherwise, how could that hundred-foot tower possibly withstand Yuan Shao's elite troops?
Guo Tu clearly understood what Pang Ji meant.

But he laughed and said, "Yuan Tu is still too conservative."

"Even if Gongsun Zan leads his cavalry to attack, what can he do?"

Guo Tu gestured for Pang Ji to look towards the back of the line.

The soldiers there marched in a way that was distinctly different from others.

They were supposed to be cavalry, but they were mixed in with heavy supply wagons.

They were supposed to be heavily armored infantry, but they were also accompanied by warhorses, making them a complete hybrid.

"Those heavily armored cavalrymen were built by Lord Yuan using up all his family's wealth!"

"If Gongsun Zan thinks he can still outmaneuver us in cavalry, he is sorely mistaken!"

When Pang Ji glanced at the heavily armored cavalry force of just over three hundred men, a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes. "Back then, when Zhang He and Gao Lan saw Liu Miao's soldiers in Langya, all clad in armor and wielding those so-called Su Tie Mo Dao swords, they were quite envious."

"But I wonder, if they were to see such an elite force, what would they think?"

This force of three hundred heavily armored cavalrymen represents the courage of the entire Yuan army leadership!

At this moment, no military formation can stop this invincible cavalry from charging across the battlefield!

Cao Cao was no good.

Lü Bu is no good.

Liu Miao's so-called "Su Tie Mo Dao" is even worse!
When these three hundred men appear on the battlefield, everyone will know what true divine might is!

Pang Ji and Guo Tu were much more relaxed, and even the gloom brought on by "The Alliance of Langya" had lessened considerably.

Yuan Shao was in his prime and in good health.

Yuan's army was invincible and unrivaled.

Who can defeat such a force? Who dares to face it?
Guo Tu hummed a folk song from his hometown of Yingchuan, while subtly probing Pang Ji: "It's a pity that the Third Young Master Yuan Shang is currently in charge of Ye City. If the Eldest Young Master hadn't been sent to Bingzhou, the marching speed could probably be even faster, right?"

Pang Ji, however, disagreed.

"Although the lord left the Third Prince to guard Ye City, Zheng Nan is handling all the military supplies and logistics. In fact, it doesn't matter who stays..."

Pang Ji initially did not notice Guo Tu's probing, but only realized something was wrong after he finished speaking, and looked at Guo Tu with suspicion.

"Gongze! Our lord is in the prime of his life, why are you saying these things?"

"The reason why I was humiliated by Liu Miao and signed the Langya Alliance was because Xu You and Shen Pei fought too fiercely, which led to all the subsequent events."

"What we must do now is to fight with all our might to win and wash away the humiliation of Langya for our lord! Do you understand?"

Pang Ji kindly advised, "I know that you, Gongze, are close to the eldest son. You even went to Jiangdong with him to visit relatives before."

"But now is not the time! Do you understand what I mean?"

"It was just a casual chat with Yuan Tu."

Guo Tu was testing the waters, and he nodded slightly after hearing Pang Ji's remarks.

Right now, the right thing to do is to quell the resentment of Gongsun and wash away the humiliation that Liu Miao brought to Yuan Shao. Some things really can't be rushed!
After arriving in Anxin, Yuan Jun set up camp there.

Following the Zhongyi River northward, one can reach Yi County, where Gongsun Zan is located.

Yan Liang and Wen Chou, who had been confronting each other here long before, as well as Zhang He and Gao Lan, who were transferred here after the "Langya Alliance", all came to welcome Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao immediately hosted a banquet for the three armies, and during the banquet, he asked with a smile, "Generals, how many days will it take to defeat Gongsun Zan?"

Having lost face in Langya, Gao Lan immediately said, "Two months is enough!"

To subdue a once-powerful ruler who dominated Hebei in just two months is truly remarkable.

But Wen Chou laughed and said, "Why would we need two months? Now that our lord has brought so many troops here, attacking day and night, one month will be enough!"

At this moment, Zhang He couldn't care less about offending Wen Chou.

The Battle of Langya severely damaged his reputation.

Thus, even a capable general like Zhang He made a pledge to Yuan Shao—

"In half a month! We captured Yijing! We will present Gongsun Zan's head to Lord Yuan!"

Yuan Shao smiled and was about to speak when a voice made all the soldiers present tremble!
"Ten days!"

Yan Liang spoke.

"Lord Yuan! Give me ten days!"

"If you cannot hand over Gongsun Zan's head to Lord Yuan, then please take my head and punish me for my incompetence!"

"..."

Zhang He and Gao Lan both looked at Yan Liang speechlessly.

What the hell is this?
Is it worth risking your life for a military achievement?
He had originally intended to ask Yan Liang and Wen Chou to do him a favor and entrust him with the task of attacking Gongsun Zan. But now it seemed that these two foolish generals didn't even care about their own lives, let alone any favors from their colleagues!
Upon hearing Yan Liang's boastful declaration that he would capture Yijing in ten days, Yuan Shao laughed heartily: "General, you are mighty!"

"In that case, we'll all have to rely on the general!"

The other generals, seeing that they couldn't outmaneuver Yan Liang, this madman, could only shake their heads helplessly.

But just as the drinks were flowing freely, a strange thing happened!
Suddenly, billowing smoke rose from the northwest, startling everyone in Yuan's camp.

The next moment, a scout rushed up in a panic and uttered the name that had terrified all the northern lords a few years ago—

"Lord Yuan! Lord Yuan!"

"Appeared!"

"Yes, it's the White Horse Cavalry under Gongsun Zan's command!!!"

(End of this chapter)