Chapter 203 The worst plan

In Jinyang City, Linghu Chao came quickly to see Qian Zhao holding a scroll of silk book.

As Hei Xiong speculated, Qian Zhao had lost control of the army.

Without Wuhuan servants and newly recruited troops, it was impossible to suppress the Taiyuan County soldiers and the coalition forces of powerful families relying solely on a guard force of more than a hundred people.

Therefore, Qian Zhao didn't give any good expression and sat at the top without saying a word.

In a sense, Yuan Shang would be very happy when the news that the Guanzhong troops had exterminated Wang Yun's three clans reached Yecheng.

As the leading family of Bingzhou scholars, Wang Ling served Cao Cao and also went to Youzhou to join forces with Xianyu Fu to fight against Yuan Xi.

From a standpoint, the Wang family was rebelling against the Yuan family.

The Guanzhong soldiers' strike shattered the core leader of the Taiyuan Big Family Alliance, allowing Wang family's sons-in-law Linghu Shao and Guo Huai to become leaders when the alliance took collective revenge.

But Linghu Shao and Guo Huai were waiting, waiting for Wang Ling to arrive.

When Wang Ling arrived, he was the well-deserved commander of the revenge coalition.

Linghu Chao first handed Guo Huai a silk letter: "Guo Daxian reported secretly that Zhang Yan has sent orders to all parts of Shangdang to recruit the Black Mountain Army again."

Guo Huai took it and read it, then passed it to Qian Zhao: "Now the remnants of the Yellow Turban Army are colluding with each other, you cannot sit idly by."

Qian Zhao also looked through the secret report in the silk book. The first wave to intervene in the Taiyuan battlefield was Zhang Yan's headquarters of more than 3,000 people, the second wave was Guo Xian's troops of more than 10,000 people, and the third wave was the Black Mountain Army of Yu Digen in the north. The second and third waves of the Black Mountain Army were spontaneously assembled to participate in the war. Now the fourth wave is organized by Zhang Yan and Yang Feng, and it is very difficult to bribe them.

After making a rough estimate in his mind, Qian Zhao said, "If Yang Feng sends out troops, it will be around 20,000. The vanguard can reach Qi County within seven or eight days, and the entire army can arrive to join the battle half a month later."

Then he handed the silk book back to Guo Huai and said, "You guys fight as you please. I can't interfere now."

Guo Huai didn't care. Linghu Chao had already broken the rules for officials by placing Qian Zhao under house arrest as a subordinate.

Now he was inviting and waiting for Wang Ling to arrive, which was equivalent to taking Taiyuan to surrender to the Xudu court.

In this situation, it is impossible for Qian Zhao to offer any help or advice.

As soon as Wang Ling arrived, Qian Zhao would be a prisoner. He was the governor of Bingzhou falsely appointed by the Hebei rebels. His head should be chopped off and sent to Xudu to show his merit.

But people from Taiyuan would not make things so ugly, and most likely they would be sent out of the country with courtesy.

After all, when the Guanzhong troops exterminated the three clans of the Wang family, Qian Zhao also strongly opposed it, and later led his troops back north to Jinyang.

If Qian Zhao had not left and had cooperated with the Guanzhong troops at that time, it is possible that Linghu Chao, Guo Huai and others would have surrendered.

There is nothing to regret now. Seeing Linghu Chao lowering his head in shame, Qian Zhao said, "When Yang Feng's vanguard arrives in Qi County, it will be difficult for Guo Xian to start a rebellion. You don't have much time left. From now on, there are only seven days. Within seven days, if Guo Xian is exposed, the Black Mountain Army in Qi County will definitely turn back."

The Black Mountain Army is neither Zhang Yan’s Black Mountain Army nor Guo Xian’s Black Mountain Army.

Zhang Yan brought a group of more than 3,000 people, and Guo Xian's group of more than 10,000 people was even more complex.

He could take advantage of the situation and watch from the sidelines with more than 10,000 people at the critical moment; once exposed, Guo Xian would be immediately killed or expelled by other leaders.

After Qian Zhao finished speaking, he stood up, turned around and walked out from the side door of the back hall without participating in the meeting.

Can Wang Ling reach the battlefield within seven days?
Without Wang Ling, the coalition of powerful families in Taiyuan would lack the necessary justice.

When war is imminent, it is also difficult to integrate and mobilize efficiently.

Seeing Qian Zhao leave, Guo Huai asked, "My Lord, what is Liu Bao's reply?"

The person in charge of liaison and coordination with the Xiongnu was Wang Rou, a member of the Jinyang Wang family and the former General of the Xiongnu. Wang Rou was nearly sixty years old and sat there looking up at Guo Huai: "Liu Bao agrees. He will lead his troops north soon."

When Wang Rou served as the General of the Guards against the Xiongnu, his younger brother served as the prefect of Dai and Yanmen. The next prefect of Yanmen was Guo Huai's father.

Guo Huai has lived in Yangqu for generations, which is adjacent to Yanmen. The treatment given to a native of the state as a county magistrate in a neighboring county is the treatment only given to the top powerful families.

If these people did not want to circumvent legal restrictions, they would dare to serve as county magistrates.

The Wang family of Jinyang and the Wang family of Qixian are of the same lineage, so it is the duty of the Wang family of Jinyang to take revenge.

Guo Huai heard this and said, "The battle is urgent. Please send another letter to urge us."

Wang Rou just nodded without saying anything.

Guo Huai looked at the man standing nearby and asked, "Why is the Yanmen Army advancing so slowly?"

The envoy from Yanmen Prefecture bowed and replied: "The Wuhuan and Yanmen are passing through our borders, and the officials and soldiers of our prefecture do not want to leave their homeland easily."

The current governor of Yanmen County is called Shentu Bei, who has previously agreed to send troops.

After seven days, Shentu Bei's Yanmen soldiers had difficulty reaching the battlefield.

Guo Huai just nodded, without showing any expression, and said: "Please urge us again and again. If we fail to inflict heavy damage on the White Goose Bandits, the Yellow Turban Army will rise again, endangering the country, and our hometown will be reduced to ruins."

"Yes."

The Yanmen envoy bowed and returned to the train.

Guo Huai asked another messenger, "Where is my brother?"

Wang Ling's messenger stepped out and said, "I said goodbye to you last night in Pingcheng. You are now at most 200 miles away and can reach Jinyang the day after tomorrow."

Guo Huai nodded, and Wang Ling led his troops through Zijing Pass and entered Feihu Trail, and their speed was already very fast.

The Wuhuan and Xiongnu along the way, those who belonged to the Yuan family were recruited by Qian Zhao, and those who belonged to Xianyu Fu were recruited by Wang Ling.

When Wang Ling arrives, there will definitely be a large-scale armed force of servants.

As long as we give them money, people and weapons, these Hu people won't care about so many things when they arrive at the front line.

The larger the army, the greater the logistical pressure.

Attacking and seizing the fodder and grain of the Right Army Court became the key to victory in this battle. Another key hub was the fodder and grain of the Chanyu Court. As a result, Cui Yan had sent people to burn most of the fodder, using this clear attitude to express the position of the Hedong people.

Now, as long as we seize the fodder on the right side, we can consume the soldiers in Guanzhong to death.

The worst case scenario is that the enemy also burns the fodder on the right, and then a decisive battle breaks out.

If Cui Yan could burn the fodder stored in the Chanyu's court, then when his own coalition forces advanced, the movement of more than 100,000 people could not be concealed at all.

If Guo Xian and Yu Digen failed in their attack on the right royal court, then the royal court defenders would most likely burn all the fodder during their retreat.

Neither side has sufficient supplies, so whoever retreats will be in trouble, and a decisive battle is inevitable.

If you can get the fodder from the right royal court, you can grasp victory.

Even if they cannot capture it, they can still make the Guanzhong soldiers lose their fodder supplies on the right, forcing them to accept a decisive battle.

The decisive battle must be fought, no matter how high the cost and risk are!

No matter for the Taiyuan big families or the Huns, this trend brought about by black bears must be curbed and severely killed!

This is the difference between a dog and a wolf. If a dog shows any signs of turning into a wolf, it must be killed!

This is related to the continuation and development of clans and tribes, and everyone has reasons to fight hard.

In the conference hall, Guo Huai and others did not dare to waste time. After filling their stomachs, they continued to discuss military matters.

Everyone was preparing for the worst, and Guo Huai lacked confidence in seizing fodder from the right side from the beginning to the end.

Letters or messengers kept arriving, and a secret letter was opened and soon fell into Guo Huai's hands.

Guo Huai was a little bit unbelievable and asked Linghu Chao: "Is this true or false?"

Linghu Chao picked it up and examined it, and saw that it was a secret report from Yecheng, 800 miles away, in which Sun Qian, on behalf of Black Bear, asked Yuan Shang to borrow troops.

It took Sun Qian three days and two nights to reach Yecheng, and it took another two days and two nights to deliver the secret letter to Jinyang, which was even farther away.

Linghu Chao was also in disbelief holding the secret letter, and immediately shook his head: "This must be the black bandits deliberately showing weakness. Gan Ning's garrison at Tongguan has not been mobilized. When the crisis really comes, Gan Ning's troops will take the boats and come up the Fen River."

Linghu Chao gestured with his arms, and Guo Huai followed him out the side door and into the restroom together.

Linghu Chao took out Linghu Shao's letter and handed it to Guo Huai: "Bo Ji, the black bandits have great plans for this war. Cui Yan burned the hay in the royal court because he suspected that the black bandits intended to induce Hedong to raise troops to attack him. It seems that he wants to destroy the big families in Hedong and Taiyuan in one battle."

Guo Huai nodded and flipped through the secret letter: "Brother, do you mean that the black thieves have an insider?"

He frowned and thought and analyzed that the Wuhuan people would never turn against the Xiongnu, as they would feel the same way as the Xiongnu did.

Could it be other big families in Taiyuan... It shouldn't be a big family, because the big families are intermarrying with each other and have become one. Probably only those people who are outside the marriage circle, who are very powerful but are excluded, could become Black Bear's accomplices.

As for the 10,000 men under Guo Xian’s command, they cannot be pulled onto the battlefield, otherwise they will disrupt the combat order and have a negative effect.

For a moment, Guo Huai felt that there was a high probability that Shang Yao was Black Bear's accomplice.

He is very powerful, not in the marriage circle, and actively responds to the revenge coalition. No matter how you look at it, he is highly suspicious.

Linghu Chao said, "I don't know what the inside story is. My brother led the Hongnong soldiers to help the black bandits. If our army wins, my brother and the Hongnong soldiers will block the Fenshui River. At that time, the people of Hedong will come after hearing the news and try to kill them. If our army is unfortunately defeated, my brother can also devise a plan to save the situation. At worst, he can continue the family line."

Looking at Guo Huai, Linghu Chao lowered his voice and said, "Once we send troops south, Boji and his brothers must not go with us. You should send your sons and daughters to escort the women and children to take refuge in Yanmen."

Guo Huai had many brothers, and dozens of cousins. Most of them led troops in the army and served as middle-level military officers.

The in-law network built by these brothers allowed the Guo family to get a lot of support and to gather a coalition force of five to six thousand troops in just a few days.

Guo Huai nodded slowly after hearing this: "This is as it should be. I am now concerned about Shang Yao. If this person is an insider, why not leave him in Jinyang?"

They cannot be brought to the front line. Whether it is leaking secrets or turning against one's side during the battle, it will be troublesome.

Anyway, after Wang Ling arrives, he will immediately expel Qian Zhao, so there is no possibility for Shang Yao to rescue Qian Zhao.

"That's fine. We can let him collect food and fodder in the rear."

Linghu Chao gave a suggestion and whispered, "I heard that Taishi Wengong is Lü Wenhou. If it is really Lü Wenhou who commands and controls the troops in Guanzhong, it is natural that we can have such a good record."

"This is absurd talk, brother, you can't believe it. Even if Lü Wenhou were to be resurrected, he is nearly forty years old and his strength is exhausted. How can he be as brave as Taishi Wengong?"

Guo Huai refuted, and then he heard Linghu Chao say: "Whether Taishi Wengong is Lü Wenhou or not, in short, this man rides a magnificent horse, and is also very brave. I just hope that Boji can have more good horses with him, so that if there is a big chaos in the army, he can still escape and not be wiped out in one battle."

"I will never forget the care and concern of my brother."

Guo Huai responded in a low voice that even if he was defeated, the worst that could happen was that he could take the Feihu Trail out of Zijing Pass and go to Zhongshan or Youzhou.

Black Bear's behavior makes him the second Gongsun Zan.

If Hedong and Hongnong were not too close to Guanzhong, do you think the scholars in these two counties would dare to rebel?
If Black Bear dares to go on an expedition in the future, the scholars in Guanzhong will dare to rebel.

With the example of Gongsun Zan, Guo Huai was full of hope for the final victory.

If it was Linghu Chao's prudent suggestion, he would naturally accept it.

Immediately after hearing footsteps, Linghu Chao said to his brother-in-law Guo Huai, "The black bandits' request for help in Hebei should be notified to Liu Bao immediately. With such urging, Liu Bao will not dare to neglect it."

"Yes, if it snows heavily, the Xiongnu and Wuhuan will be in trouble."

The two men turned around and returned while talking, and saw Sun Zi walking towards them. He bowed to them, and they returned the greeting. Sun Zi turned into the toilet and started to flush the toilet.

Neither of them would doubt Sun Zi. Sun Zi's name was Yanlong, and Wang Ling's name was Yanyun. They were not only old friends, but also good friends.

It is Sun Zi's duty to avenge Wang.

If I can't do this well, how can I have the face to meet the heroes of the world?

(End of this chapter)