Chapter 257 My Infantry and Cavalry Are Already in Place
“Guo Gongze, you are really a mean person. You saw someone fall into a well but didn’t help. Instead, you threw a stone into the well. You did whatever you wanted.”

Tian Feng’s eyes were almost spitting fire, and he looked at Guo Tu with such anger that his teeth were itching.

He actually used slander in his heart to maliciously defame others with just a few words.

Guo Tu smiled with a fake smile and said, “Yuan Hao, if what I said didn’t come true, why are you so excited?”

“Are you like Feng Yuantu, who only fights for the first credit among his staff and excludes others to hinder Lord Yuan’s important work? Lord Yuan will make the decision.”

“The noble families in Hebei have always been fickle, and now they are being requisitioned with a large amount of money, grain and troops. If they are stuck in Qingzhou, what will they do if there is any movement in the rear?”

Guo Tu said with a smile.

For him, as long as he made the matter clear, it would be enough to make Yuan Gong have concerns about Tian Feng’s advice.

Seeing that Tian Yuanhao is not relied upon is also a win. It would be even better if he could see him go to jail on the spot.

Guo Tu is such a person. He will repay a favor and take revenge for a slight grudge.

Of course, Tian Feng also knew that Guo Tu had already started a conflict with him. Even so, he did not regret standing up and suspected that Guo Gongze had selfish motives.

Not wanting to waste any more words with Guo Tu, he bowed to Yuan Shao and said, “Mr. Yuan, Mr. Guo is extremely narrow-minded. He seeks revenge for the smallest grievances and angers. He harbors jealousy and harms others. His plans are all filled with evil intentions. He should not be promoted to a higher position.”

Yuan Shao looked at Guo Tu, then at Tian Feng, and finally turned his head to Xun Chen who was watching the fun nearby, and asked: “You Ruo, do you have any good plan?”

Xun Chen was shocked. He was not Xun Gongda of the Xun family. How could he be good at military strategies? Wasn’t it too much to ask him to offer advice?

But if he didn’t say it, he was afraid of being looked down upon, and even affecting his position in Yuan Gong’s heart.

Xun Chen bowed his head and thought for a long time, then he clasped his hands and said, “Mr. Yuan, Jizhou currently has many soldiers and generals, and there are countless good generals. Since the two strategies have their own strengths, a wise leader should use people like tools and make the most of their strengths.”

“It would be better to order Zhu Wenbo and Jiang Yiqu to lead their troops to attack Gaotang County to cut off the water transport of Qingzhou River, Gao Yuancai and Xu Ziyuan to attack Pingyuan County, and then order Zhang He, Gao Lan, Dong Zhao and other generals to lead their troops to take one county each.”

“Chun Yuqiong led the cavalry to patrol around Pingyuan County, while Tadun led the Wuhuan cavalry to focus on Ban County, Leling, Yanci and other places.”

“Using these two strategies simultaneously can not only lure the enemy, but also cut off the grain transport, and also make the princes of the world respond.”

As soon as Xun Chen finished speaking, Guo Tu and Tian Feng immediately said in unison, “No!”

Then the two of them reacted and immediately snorted coldly.

Guo Tu took a half step forward, saluted and said, “Mr. Yuan, when using troops, one should use the best troops and strike with lightning speed.”

“Dispersing troops everywhere is a taboo in military strategy. How can Liu Xuande miss such a good opportunity? Don’t lose the big picture for the small one.”

Tian Feng also nodded.

Although he disliked Guo Gongze, he would not bring his personal grudges into his advice at this time.

It would be of no benefit to him if Lord Yuan lost.

“In that case, let’s first march to Ganling, then write a letter to Lord Ju to discuss matters according to the local conditions.”

Yuan Shao couldn’t help but said with a slight headache.

Seeing that Tian Feng and Guo Tu disagreed, he wanted to ask Xun Chen for advice, but he didn’t expect that they would reject his advice. Since the battle against Liu Xuande, the military strategy has changed again and again, and nothing has gone as planned.

Even if there were three Gongsun Zans in Youzhou, there would not be a Liu Bei who could make him feel so difficult.

Even if Emperor Xiaoling had not died, he would have had a splitting headache encountering such a powerful and rising royal family.

……

Just when Yuan Shao was confused by his staff, Liu Bei, who had originally stationed his troops in the northern part of the Qingzhou Plain, had already slowly withdrawn his troops past Ge County.

At this moment, he was carefully reading the letter handed to him by Xun Yu. The common people of Pingyuan County, many relatives of officials, his wife Yin Jun, his eldest son Liu Yong, and other concubines had all crossed the river smoothly.

After two months, hundreds of thousands of people from the seven counties in the northern part of the plain were relocated across the river and settled in Jinan County.

When Liu Bei saw the letter, he was finally relieved. He looked up and smiled at Guo Jia, saying, “You have worked really hard during this period, Wen Ruo, as well as many officials and township officials in Pingyuan and Jinan. After we defeat Yuan Benchu, all those who have made contributions will be rewarded with money and cloth.”

“Then select the dozens of most outstanding subordinates, and promote the township officials to county officials, the county officials to county officials, and the county officials to state officials, starting as clerks and scribes, and then transfer to various government offices after they are familiar with the situation.”

“The officials in charge of the roads and bridges in Pingyuan and Jinan have done a great job in helping the people cross the river. They can be rewarded with 100 gold coins and 10 pieces of cloth to commend their merits.”

As Liu Bei spoke, a dozen or so clerks and recorders beside him immediately took out paper books and began to write official documents.

More than half of the officials around him have been sent to Jinan to help, otherwise the number would be even greater.

Guo Jia glanced at the busy clerk and said, “Sir, Yuan Shao is leading a large army from Xindu. The whole army is mighty, no less than 60,000 or 70,000. In order to reduce the consumption of food and grass, they should march along the Huan River, either to Guangchuan or Xiuxian.”

“How should our army respond? If Yuan’s army comes from the northwest, they will definitely attack Ge County first. Although Zhang Wenyuan’s troops are equipped with rolling logs and rocks, Yuan’s army has a numerical advantage and can dig underground to attack the city. I’m afraid Wenyuan won’t be able to hold out for long.”

Liu Bei smiled and said, “Fengxiao, don’t worry. At this moment, the Huben Light and Heavy Cavalry, Sentinel Cavalry, and Sharp Charge Battalion have already rested. Together with the Xiandeng Battalion, Shesheng Battalion, Tiejia Battalion, and the Hengqiang Battalion transferred from Yanzhou, the total number of soldiers in each battalion is more than 23,000 infantry and cavalry, 46,000 auxiliary soldiers, 875 Wugang chariots, 87 crossbows, and more than ten siege rams.”

“Since we don’t know where Yuan Shao will attack from, I will lead my army to attack the 30,000 Yuan troops in Du County, and besiege the city to attack the reinforcements. Yuan Benchu ​​wants to trade one for one with me, using my 3,000-plus garrison troops in Ge County to exchange for the 30,000 Yuan troops in Du County, his playmate Xu You, and his nephew Gao Gan. I wonder what Yuan Shao thinks.”

The city of Ge County was small but had high walls, and there was a camp made of wooden fences inside. Even if Yuan’s army dug down the walls, the defenders would be able to hold out.

What’s more, there are many wells and stored food and military equipment in the city. With Zhang Liao’s ability, he might get unexpected gains.

Therefore, Liu Bei was very confident that he could defend Ge County.

Guo Jia thought of Yuan Shao’s character, raised his hand and smiled, and said: “If our army really attacks Du County, Yuan Benchu ​​will come to rescue, but he will never come immediately. Maybe he will use the walls of Du County to consume our army, and will only leave when Xu You and Gao Gan are in danger.”

“In this case, you can follow their wishes and make a feint to attack Dian County. I think Xu You and Gao Gan have no intention of sacrificing their lives. Seeing that our army is endless and Yuan’s army is unstable, they will be terrified.”

“We should first rush to break through the two camps in the east and north of the city, tear down the Yuan flag and raise the Han flag, break through the wall and behead more than ten thousand people.”

“Xu You will certainly write several letters to ask for help. One way is to send a messenger to Yuan Shao. Another way is to go to Zhu Ling who is stationed in Ling County. Jia has also heard a little about Zhu Wenbo and knows that he is a loyal person. When he heard that Ling County was in danger and Gao Gan was Yuan Shao’s nephew, if he did not help, he would be punished by Yuan Benchu.”

“Dui County was besieged, and Zhu Ling did not dare to come to rescue with his small army. If he came, he would be afraid that our army would suddenly attack and kill him. Ling County and Du County are a hundred miles apart, so he must move cautiously.”

“Sir, why don’t you devise a plan to capture and kill him, and cut off another arm of Yuan’s army?”

Guo Fengxiao bowed, winked and smiled.

(End of this chapter)