One day later.
With Gongsun Zan eliminated as a potential threat, Liu Wei can now launch a counterattack against the 200,000 foreign tribes entrenched in Guangyang County.
However, the snow fell heavier and heavier, turning the north bank of the Yi River into a vast expanse of white.
The mountains dance like silver snakes, and the plains gallop like wax elephants.
I never expected that such a heavy snow would fall in the Yan and Zhao region in early spring.
Liu Wei was trapped in Yi County.
Fortunately, he had no shortage of food supplies. The system's equipment store also had items such as winter cloaks and boots, and they were only of white quality, so they were cheap and didn't cost Liu Wei much of his population.
At this time, his population had reached 30 million, which was a big step closer to the gold coins needed by Yue Fei's army and Qi Ji's army, and was close to one-third!
There are currently 2,300 cavalry and 2,000 infantry in Yi County.
Of these two thousand men, one thousand were appointed by Liu Wei to replace Gongsun Zan as the Commandant of the Surrendered Barbarians. One thousand infantrymen were specially assigned to guard Yi County, assisted by Shan Jing and Zou Dan.
After all, the area north of the Yi River on the other side was controlled by the rebels, namely Yuyang County and Youbeiping County!
Once Liu Wei begins his advance towards Youbeiping, this area will need to be guarded to prevent the rebels from launching a surprise attack on the Jizhou territory south of the Yi River.
Liu Wei ordered Gongsun Fan to lead Shan Jing and Zou Dan with a thousand men to guard the city. As long as they did not leave the city, even if the rebels came, they would not be a problem.
In addition, one thousand able-bodied men selected from the surrendered soldiers were placed under the command of Tian Yu as the chief general and Qian Zhao as the deputy general.
As for their official positions, Liu Wei will not bestow any rewards upon them for the time being, and will continue to treat them as staff members of the General of the North's Office.
The five hundred soldiers of Zhuo County were led by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei themselves.
Zhang Liao naturally still led his 1,700 Beiwei soldiers.
To ensure effective command and facilitate subsequent operations, Tian Yu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhang Liao were placed under the direct management and control of Liu Wei.
"My lord, five days have passed since we set off from Fanyang."
"We only have half a month left until our agreed-upon full-scale counterattack!"
A meeting hall in the county government office in Yi County became Liu Wei's temporary residence and office.
A charcoal fire was burning in the hall, and Liu Wei stroked his chin.
Zhang Liao, Guan Yu, Tian Yu, and Qian Zhao casually sat around two sides of a small table.
On the table was a map, a geomantic map of the entire Youzhou region.
An ordinary-looking man, who would be easily forgotten if thrown into a crowd, was reporting the latest information to everyone while looking at a map.
This man was none other than Lu Jianxing, a centurion of the Imperial Guard in the northeast.
Although the land of Yan and Zhao was covered in snow, the intelligence gathering work was not delayed because of the weather.
Over the past five days, the movements of both sides in Youzhou have been continuously gathered by Lu Jianxing through the intelligence network established by the Embroidered Uniform Guard over the past six months.
He traveled day and night, rain or shine, to deliver it to Liu Wei as soon as possible.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard was Liu Wei's eyes and ears in winning battles; accurate intelligence allowed him to strategize and win battles from afar.
"Zhao Yun and Wang Fangyi's two units, each with two horses, entered Dai County and Shanggu County from the upper reaches of the Juma River and Feihu Pass respectively before the heavy snow arrived. They should be taking shelter from the wind and snow somewhere at this moment."
"The three cities of Liangxiang, Yangxiang and Linxiang, which Zhang Yan, Zhang Baiqi and Du Chang defended, have been attacked by the rebels from Ji County in the past five days, resulting in several small-scale battles."
"The Zhen family of Wuji County, Zhongshan State, sent the first batch of grain, 50,000 shi, and 3 million coins. Governor Liu and Liu, the chief clerk of the land, recruited another 2,000 soldiers in Fanyang, bringing the total to 5,000, and their equipment was brand new."
"The 30,000 people from the Black Mountain Army who were migrating to Youzhou were stranded in the Taihang Mountains due to heavy snow!"
"Prefect Gao Lan has captured two strongholds in Heishan, and approximately 50,000 Heishan soldiers have fled to Bingzhou!"
"......"
As Lu Jianxing spoke, Tian Yu placed bamboo strips on the map to indicate the location of each army unit.
Surrounding Ji County, to the north lies the majestic and precipitous Yanshan Mountains, while to the northwest, southwest, and south, our troops are already stationed.
Only the area north of Yi County and east of Ji County remains undeveloped.
"The enemy's movements haven't changed much for the time being!"
"Youbeiping is garrisoned by Qiao Wang, a 20,000-strong cavalry under the command of Qiuliju, the leader of the Wuhuan, and Yuyang is also garrisoned by 20,000 men under the command of Zhang Ju."
"Shanggu and Daijun each have 10,000 Murong Xianbei troops."
"The combined forces of the rebels, Wuhuan, and Xianbei still number 200,000, both outside Ji County and within Guangyang Prefecture."
"In the past few days, we have seen an increase in Wuhuan scouts on the north bank of the Yi River. They are probably aware of the movements in the direction of Yi County."
"However, all these scouts were wiped out by our Embroidered Uniform Guard; not one of them was able to return to Youbeiping!"
When Lu Jianxing spoke of the brave warriors under his command, a hint of pride appeared on his face.
After listening to Lu Jianxing's report on enemy and friendly intelligence, Zhang Liao was used to it, but Guan Yu, Tian Yu, and Qian Zhao were extremely shocked.
Countless spies and scouts paid a price to obtain this intelligence.
What kind of fierce battles are taking place on this invisible front?
"The trap we've set up for the 200,000 rebels in Ji County is gradually being opened up; only the eastern side remains unsealed!"
"This sudden heavy snowfall has disrupted our plans, but what are your thoughts on ensuring a successful counter-offensive in twenty days?"
The intelligence provided by the Embroidered Uniform Guard made Liu Wei frown.
The heavy snow is unlikely to stop for a long time, which is definitely affecting the overall schedule.
If an army fails to reach its designated position on time, the 200,000 rebels in Guangyang may very well be unable to be trapped in Guangyang County due to delays caused by heavy snow.
If the more than 100,000 Wuhuan cavalrymen here see that the situation is not good, they will travel from Lulong Pass along the Rushui River Valley, cross the Yanshan Mountains, and return north to the place below the Wuhuan Mountains that is now called Xilingol Grassland.
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