The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 516 Xu You Reappears
Qin Shou, who had already led the army to set off, actually did not make smooth progress. After the army entered Bingzhou, news came from Yanmen Pass that Kebinen and other grassland tribes had actually retreated.

"Your Majesty, I, Hao Shao, respectfully welcome you."

At Yanmen Pass, Hao Shao led his officers to welcome Qin Shou's arrival.

"No gift."

Qin Shou's face was not good. Ke Bineng's retreat meant that this army's attack might be in vain, which was not what Qin Shou wanted to see.

Qin Shou frowned, looking at the vast grassland in the distance, and said in a deep voice: "Ke Bineng is cunning and changeable. There must be something strange about his sudden retreat. Bo Dao, have you found out his movements?"

Hao Shao stepped forward and clasped his fists, saying, "Your Majesty, the scouts reported that Kebineng's troops retreated to the north of Yinshan Mountain, abandoning their baggage along the way, and seemed to be in a state of panic. But I found that their retreat route was quite methodical, and it didn't seem like a rout, but rather a strategy to lure the enemy."

Qin Shou sneered when he heard this: "As expected. These barbarians want to lead our army deep into the grassland, cut off our food supply, and then surround and annihilate them."

"That's what I thought. That's why I sent people deep into the grassland to find where Kebineng's main force is." Hao Shao said hurriedly.

He felt very aggrieved. This time, Kebineng led his army south, and the cities north of Bingzhou all suffered disasters. Countless people were killed and injured, and the Tang Dynasty lost a lot of money.

When he was preparing to cooperate with Qin Shou's army to encircle Ke Bineng, Ke Bineng actually withdrew his troops, catching him off guard.

"Bo Dao, if we can't find any trace of Ke Bineng, should I withdraw my troops?"

Qin Shou didn't think that the scouts could find where Kebineng's main force was.

"I think we cannot withdraw our troops. Once Your Majesty withdraws, Kebineng's troops will attack again. This will cost us countless money and will be a blow to the morale of the army." Hao Shao said hurriedly.

Qin Shou nodded.
He was also worried that Ke Bineng would use guerrilla warfare against him. When the enemy advanced, he would retreat, and when the enemy retreated, he would advance. The enemy was afraid of his main force, but once he withdrew his troops, the enemy would press forward again.

"There is someone behind Ke Bineng!" Qin Shou chuckled.

The situation now faced him was that he could not advance because the enemy was luring him deep into the grassland, cutting off his food supply and trapping him to death on the grassland.

And they could not retreat. Once they withdrew, the enemy's troops would attack them, harass Bingzhou again, and massacre the people in the northern border.

What made Qin Shou sick was that he couldn't even defend the city, so he had to lead an army of tens of thousands in person, spending countless money and food. Could it be that the first time that Emperor Zhaowu of the Tang Dynasty led an army in person, he returned empty-handed?

"Your Majesty, no matter who the opponent is, the gap in strength between the two sides is too great. We will be the ones who win in the end. Your Majesty leads a large army here, and the enemy flees. Isn't it because they are afraid of your Majesty's military force?" Xun You persuaded.

"What you said makes sense, sir. However, if we cannot defeat the enemy's main force, it means that the safety of the northern border cannot be guaranteed." Qin Shou shook his head.

What's the use of being afraid? Kebi can be afraid of himself, but the enemy's troops will still harass the border and slaughter the people on the border. The only way is to solve the problem of the northern border once and for all.

"Your Majesty, I have city walls and passes in Bingzhou, and we have countless brave warriors. Even if Your Majesty does not lead the army in person this time, it will be difficult for the other side to gain any advantage. In this case, why does Your Majesty need to choose another battlefield?" Xun You suddenly smiled and said, "The battlefield before us was chosen by the enemy. I think Your Majesty should choose another battlefield." "Choose another battlefield?" Qin Shou was stunned when he heard this, but quickly nodded. Being led by the enemy by the nose was obviously not the result Qin Shou wanted.

When it comes to marching and fighting, Qin Shou always takes the initiative.

Since the battlefield in front of him was chosen by the enemy, he would open up another battlefield and lead the enemy instead of following the enemy.

"Your Majesty, we have Yanmen Pass and other city walls to block the way. It is very difficult for the enemy to break into Bingzhou's hinterland, but our cavalry can easily break into the grassland hinterland and attack where they are rescued. This will definitely mobilize the enemy, and we can annihilate the enemy in the movement." Xun You explained.

"If the enemy can go, I can go too." Qin Shou's eyes lit up and he laughed loudly, "Since the enemy can invade our Central Plains, why can't we invade the grasslands?"

"Your Majesty is wise." Xun You chuckled and said, "The Xianbei army invaded this time, but there are still conflicts between the Xianbei tribes, such as the Duan tribe, the Murong tribe, etc. If we attack just one tribe, I don't believe that the Xianbei can still maintain unity. By that time, Kebi Neng will not be able to change all this."

Why is the Central Plains so powerful? Because it is a unified dynasty, while the various forces on the grassland are divided and cannot form a unified command and are not a whole.

Therefore, at certain times, although the other side can gain the upper hand for a short period of time, the final victory will definitely be won by the Central Plains. Unless the grassland tribes have established a new dynasty, they can guarantee the suppression of the Central Plains.

Under the current situation, Kebi Neng is unable to unify the grassland, which gives Qin Shou the opportunity to defeat him one by one.

"Send someone to investigate. I have a feeling that Ke Bineng has capable people around him. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so cunning as to retreat into the grassland so early, and stay on the outskirts of the grassland. It's clear at a glance that the other party wants to wait until I lead the army to leave before attacking us."

There was a hint of hesitation in Qin Shou's eyes.

Xun You also suddenly realized what was going on and said, "The enemy seems to know us very well and is well versed in our military tactics."

Xun You glanced at Qin Shou. He not only had a deep understanding of the Central Plains army's tactics, but was also very sensitive to the news from the Central Plains.

"Send someone to investigate. I want to see which guy actually betrayed his ancestors and defected to the Xianbei people." Qin Shou heard the meaning and murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

On the grassland, in the big tent, Kebineng and other leaders gathered together. What was different from before was that now there was a scholar in the big tent, with a thin face, a goatee, and a cunning look in his eyes.

If Xun You were here, he would definitely recognize the other person. This person is Xu You, Yuan Shao's former adviser and Cao Cao's good friend. After being ordered to lobby Ma Chao and Han Sui, he did not return to Yuan Shao's camp, but fled into the world and has been missing since then.

This man was a smart man after all. He knew that Yuan Shao would lose, so he did not follow Yuan Shao. At this time, the new dynasty was established. Xu You was worried that he would be discovered by Qin Shou, so he went into seclusion in the mountains of Bingzhou. Unexpectedly, he was unlucky and was discovered by the Xianbei cavalry. He simply joined Kebi Neng's camp and gave advice to the other side.

"Mr. Xu, the Tang Emperor's army is now gathering at Yanmen Pass. What should we do next? Please give me some advice, Mr. Xu."

Ke Bineng was very respectful to Xu You and always called him "Sir".

(End of this chapter)