Chapter 420: Sword Pointing at Yecheng
The shorter the slogan, the more powerful it will appear when the troops are dispatched.
And this goal of pacifying the world is even more powerful than the saying of "certain victory".
When this fully-organized army was heading from the southern suburbs of Chang'an to Tongguan, there were many people watching and seeing them off along both sides of the official road.
Only this time, they were not watching the monarch they supported ascend to the throne, but were watching her embark on the final battle to recover the country!
The fireworks celebrating the change of dynasty in March this year were a scene of prosperity that is difficult to describe, because there were so many colors.
The dispatch of troops in July clearly showed the cold iron color of the soldiers in armor, but it also gave people a feeling that it was a scene that could not be depicted in the scroll.
The sun shines brightly, and the weapons and armor shine.
And their emperor, wearing armor, seemed to be more shocking than the previous emperors in gorgeous clothes.
"After I leave Chang'an temporarily, all matters that require my decision will be sent to Luoyang and then transferred to Henei. After the world is pacified, I originally intended to establish the capital in Luoyang, and now is a transition period."
Qiao Yan rode on his horse and said to Qiao Lan beside him, "The rest of the affairs will be decided by you and Zhongde. If you only entrust the affairs to the three ministers, it will inevitably attract criticism at a time when you have just ascended the throne. It is not considered an overstepping of your authority to supervise from the side with your position as the chief of the clan and your status as a member of the clan."
"Among the three ministers, General Huangfu has helped me. I treat him like an elder and respect him. Zhongde has been guarding the rear for me for many years and has never made any mistakes in general affairs. There is no need to doubt his loyalty. You can trust him. As for Huang Situ... he has been frightened by the incident of the Yanzhou family. If he dares to stir up any more trouble, he really doesn't want to live. Just keep this in mind."
"In addition, Ji and Qing provinces cannot be conquered in one day. After conquering them, you have to stay in the east to wipe out the remaining power of the Han Dynasty. It is difficult to return to Chang'an before October. All important matters related to the autumn harvest in Guanzhong should be carried out according to the usual practice. Don't ask me about it. I have already explained it to the Minister of Agriculture."
Qiao Lan replied: "I understand."
What she understood was not only Qiao Yan's parting instructions, but also that at this time when Chang'an was without a master, she wanted to see if her royal family members could take on the heavy responsibility for her.
There was a gentle firmness in Qiao Lan's eyes when she looked at Qiao Yan, as if she was answering in a silent way.
Why not?
If Qiao Yan had not planned a growth path for the two sisters that was different from others, even if they had given it their all to join Qiao Yan back then, they would never have been able to face such high-level events like they are today, and would most likely still be studying at Leping Academy.
If you don't push yourself, you won't know how far you can go.
If you don't look at the wider world, you won't know that you can also drive changes in the current situation.
And now, since she has become a member of the royal family of Leping Qiao family because of Qiao Yan's appreciation, it is time for him to share her worries at this moment.
The emperor is leading the army in person, and the royal family is assisting in the court. Be careful not to let anyone take advantage of the situation. This is what she should do now.
Seeing that Qiao Lan understood her instructions, Qiao Yan turned her gaze back to the team in front of her.
As there were already quite a lot of military supplies, they had already been transported to Luoyang by special personnel when she gave the order to select soldiers. The majority of the troops in front of her were still combat soldiers, rather than large and small carts. This made them look even more majestic as if they were about to go into battle.
She then gave Qiao Lan another instruction, "I have asked Tian Zitai to help allocate the food and supplies for the subsequent battles. If there are any approval documents, just have someone proofread them. There is no need to ask any more questions. I have also entrusted the matter of escorting to the Weiwei. Although these two are former subordinates of Duke Anyi, there is no harm in using them."
Qiao Lan replied, "Your Majesty's move is intended to demonstrate the legitimacy of the Han-Yong handover when conquering the false dynasty. I know this."
It is true that Tian Chou and Xian Yu Fu were once Liu Yu's former subordinates, but the former served as an official under the Grand Minister of Agriculture for many years and rarely intervened in the affairs of the court. Instead, he focused his energy on military farming in Guanzhong. The latter did not participate in the planning of Wang Yun and others, but should be regarded as a victim. Because he was treated well by Liu Yu after his abdication, he was grateful to Qiao Yan. They were indeed two people who "could be used without any harm".
Placing the two of them at the junction of Chang'an and Luoyang at this time, as Qiao Lan said, is to send a signal before the expedition to Jizhou.
"I will not say more about the rest." The changes in official positions, the optimization of the imperial examination system, and the further development of production should all be considered after there is only one voice issuing orders in the world. There is no need to rush to give an answer when she is personally leading the expedition against Yuan Shao.
Let’s wait and see the outcome when the thirteen states are united!
When she finished speaking, she whipped her horse and urged it forward. The Tongguan Pass, which had been reinforced during the Jian'an period, was opened in front of this column of more than ten thousand elite soldiers. The Qiaohan Road behind them raised a cloud of dust under the scorching sun above their heads, but this column of troops was like the Wei River which was about to merge with the Yellow River, rushing forward with a resolute momentum.
After several days of marching, Cao Cao in Henei County met the army led by Qiao Yan.
Including the Luoyang defenders, those responsible for escorting food and grass, the troops stationed in Henei, and the personnel transferred here via Hedong, the total number is about 50,000. The people of Luoyang who had previously faced Yuan Shao's invasion of Mengjin are not afraid to participate in this war again!
And don’t forget, this is just one of the ways.
Amidst the mighty sound of waving flags, Qiao Yan looked towards the east towards Wei County of Jizhou. Following the direction Cao Cao pointed, he could see the high-ranking officials and Hebei troops who had recently arrived there.
"Gao Yuancai is known for his great talent and outstanding literary and military skills. He is very different from Yuan Xianfu who was captured by Meng De before."
Cao Cao replied: "It's a pity that the soldiers he dispatched may not obey his orders. In this situation where the outcome is already determined, relying on his high talent alone will not be able to change the situation of Yuan Benchu's defeat."
Qiao Yan smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Meng De to win this victory for me in half a month."
This joint operation after an absence of many years has certainly gone through some changes in personnel and things have changed. Even though there have been some changes in identities and priorities, it can still be considered a blessing after the chaos and war.
However, she did not intend to fire the first shot of the August War on the border between Hanoi and Weijun.
There is another, more suitable place.
But she only stationed troops here and did not take any unnecessary actions. Just the four words "Qiao Yan sent troops" were enough to cast a dark cloud over the court in Yecheng.
Who can remain calm and not feel nervous at this moment?
After negotiations with Liu Bian, the Hebei noble families did reach a temporary agreement to defend the city to the death, but this did not mean that all officials in Yecheng were aware of the need to live and die with the Han Dynasty.
Fearing that some of them might defect to the enemy and interfere with their plan, Liu Bian and Yuan Shao had no intention of informing anyone of their intention to assassinate Qiao Yan.
Even at this moment, there are a few people missing in the court.
A typical representative is Yang Biao, who should have stood at the head of the team as one of the three highest officials in the country.
Liu Bian did not dare to offend the Hongnong Yang family, who also had many disciples all over the world, at this critical juncture, so naturally he would not execute him like Guo Tu and Feng Ji. However, he was also afraid that Yang Biao's usual indifference would turn into an inside job and outside collusion with Yang Xiu at such a critical juncture, so it would be better to let him be detained temporarily by "taking sick leave".
If their plan succeeds, Yang Biao will be their bridge to the imperial court in Chang'an.
He should know what is the right choice.
If their plan failed, perhaps Yang Biao could still plead for them as an old minister of the Han Dynasty.
After all, if it weren't for the grace of the Han Dynasty, how could Yang Biao have such a background of three generations of officials!
But when he thought about it, he realized that he had the means to advance and retreat, and that the Han Dynasty had been able to turn danger into safety during the ups and downs of hundreds of years. When he heard the news that the emperor would lead the army in person as stated in the letter, Liu Bian could not help but shiver.
He resisted the urge to bring up the idea of moving the capital again, and asked Yuan Shao, "General, do you think we should send more troops to Liyang?"
Gao Gan was indeed a talented person, and a rare person among Yuan Shao’s nephews and nephews who was capable of taking on responsibilities, but who was he facing?
It’s Qiao Yan!
In more than ten years, she has never suffered a defeat in commanding a war. On the other hand, the only military achievements that Gao Gan could talk about were achieved in cooperation with Ju Shou.
Even if they still have the rivers to intercept, Dong Zhuo, who was in Luoyang at that time, could not stop her attack with the help of the dangerous pass of Luoyang. Will Gao Gan's existence only help the other side gain another general to boost their momentum?
If this is true, they won't be able to slow down Qiao Yan at all. How are they going to fight with him and find an opportunity to assassinate him?
Yuan Shao's eyes were heavy, and he replied: "There is no need to send more troops. Without a strong city to defend, facing this army of more than 50,000, Yuan Cai would not be able to change the outcome even if he sent 10,000 more troops."
"Since we are meeting in Yecheng, we will place all the manpower we can mobilize here!"
Rather than wanting both and ending up with a weird result, it is better to go all out and place your bet on this decisive place right now.
"If Your Majesty insists on increasing the troops, I suggest sending them north."
Add this part of the troops to Ju Shou and Shen Pei, so that they can intercept the Youzhou troops heading south!
But is it really only the team from Youzhou that can arrive at Wei County in Jizhou from the north and form a pincer attack on Yecheng with Qiao Yan from the north and south?
While Zhang Liao entrusted the important affairs of Youzhou to Zhuge Liang and others, and led his troops south to coordinate the forces of Lü Bu and Lü Lingju and Taishi Ci and Gan Ning, another team also took action at this time.
Zhao Yun did not follow Qiao Yan on the march from Chang'an to Henei at this moment, but before the selection of the Guanzhong garrison, he had returned to Bingzhou from the Qinzhi Road and met with the General of the Eastern Expedition Qu Yi. While Xi Zhicai was in charge of Bingzhou, he supervised the battle situation in the direction of Fukouxing and Jingxing to prevent Yuan Shao from making any desperate move to invade Bingzhou. Zhao Yun and Qu Yi sent troops from Baixingkou of Niuyin Mountain, north of Jingxing and south of Feihuxing.
This place is the source of the Zishui River that flows into Jizhou. Although it is still a place with high mountains and deep valleys in the Taihang Mountains, there is a road to go. More importantly, when you cross the Taihang Mountains and reach Jizhou via this road, you will arrive at Changshan!
Zhao Yun’s hometown——Changshan!
This team that suddenly appeared out of nowhere was going down the Zishui River at the beginning of August, crossing Fangshan and heading straight for Lingshou County.
Yuan Shao's second son, Yuan Xi, was in Changshan at this time, but he was stationed in Shangai, which is connected to Jingxing. Even Yuan Shao did not pay attention to the northwest corner of Jizhou, so Yuan Xi could not help but ignore it.
As a result, the fall of Lingshou came extremely unexpectedly.
Although Qu Yi and Zhao Yun did not have many soldiers under their command, they both had strict military discipline when leading their troops. They were not inferior to Gao Shun even when compared with him. At this time when the morale of the Jizhou army was unstable, they could display combat effectiveness far superior to ordinary ones.
The team did not even stay in Lingshou County. Instead, they sent people to Zhongshan State to report to Lu Bu while quickly capturing the next county.
After replenishing their armaments and rations and taking a rest here, this elite cavalry continued to advance eastward, aiming at Changshan and Zhending.
When Zhao Yun approached Qiao Yan, it was to protect the elders of Zhending and even Changshan from being harassed by bandits from Taihang Mountains. Before officially serving under Qiao Yan, he returned to his hometown to inform him of the situation.
For the people of Changshan, they did not care whether Zhao Yun's action was a rebellion against the Han Dynasty. They only knew that when the people could not survive, they fled to the Taihang Mountains and became bandits, which almost caused them to be robbed. This chance of survival was given by Qiao Yan after Zhao Yun found the right person.
Today, the troops of Dayong entered the country and are about to arrive in Zhending. Zhao Yun also told them that he would restrain the army and prevent them from harming anyone. Why should they make a desperate resistance for the so-called Han Emperor Liu Bian?
The news of Bingzhou had been continuously transmitted to Changshan through the mountain passes for several years, making it easy for them to make this decision when they changed camps.
The change of ownership of Zhending was much easier than Zhao Yun and Qu Yi had imagined. On the other hand, it was not difficult for Lu Bu, who was supported by wealthy merchants from Zhongshan, to go south from Beiping County to Wuji County of Zhongshan Kingdom.
The two armies, one coming from the west and the other from the north, had the same destination, Xiaquyang, the place where they met. It was also—
Shen Pei was currently stationing his troops.
"Xiaquyang... this is not an auspicious place."
Qiao Yan sat in the military tent of Henei County, planning the speed and time of mobilizing troops from various places, while sketching out the attack trajectories on paper.
Although it was not so convenient to get military reports from various places to her at this time, she had enough confidence in Zhao Yun, Qu Yi and Zhang Liao, and believed that they would never slack off or make mistakes in their efforts to win merits for themselves and for Dayong.
Even if any trouble really arises, this kind of coordinated march from both sides will surely make up for each other.
At this moment, Shen Pei, who was in Xiaquyang, had probably received the news of the impending war.
Xiaquyang is indeed not so auspicious.
That was the place where Zhang Bao, the general of the Yellow Turban Army, was captured during the Yellow Turban Rebellion!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
