Can I get to the other side?.

Chapter 143: New Year's Eve Banquet for Ministers, Liu Zhang of Yizhou Asks for Help
In Runan County, ten miles outside the city, an army of 10,000 was stationed.

Since the campaign against Yuan Shu, Lu Bu's territory has become increasingly larger, and his troops have also increased.

He now has 30,000 men under his command.

Except for the 10,000 troops guarding Xuzhou, the remaining 20,000 troops were distributed in the five counties of Yangzhou.

Among them, Runan has as many as 10,000 elite troops.

On the one hand, it was to guard against Cao Cao's comeback, and on the other hand, it was to deal with Sun Ce.

At this time, in the huge training ground in the military camp, Lu Bu was riding on Red Hare and experiencing the double stirrups brought by Zhen.

The Red Hare galloped at a great speed, and Lu Bu performed various difficult moves at will.

Some were drawing their bows and drawing arrows, some were charging sideways, some were hanging upside down from the belly of a horse...

After a long time, until Red Hare was exhausted from running, Lu Bu finally stopped.

"General, what's going on?" Chen Gong stepped forward and asked anxiously.

If the double stirrups really had the effect that Zhen described, the strength of the Bingzhou cavalry would undoubtedly be improved by several levels.

"Good stuff, good stuff!"

"This is a cavalry weapon!"

Lu Bu laughed loudly, his face full of excitement. "Gongtai, with this pair of stirrups, I can greatly make up for my own inconvenience in archery and horse riding. In the past, it took several months or even longer to train a cavalryman. Now, this general can quickly train a group of elite cavalrymen!"

"This little thing can greatly improve the balance of cavalry on horseback, without having to use energy to control the horse. In this way, not only can the accuracy of mounted archery be improved, but also different weapons can be carried in combat, and more complex cavalry tactics can be used."

After Lu Bu experienced it once, he deeply realized that double stirrups had many benefits for cavalry.

Without double stirrups, cavalrymen had to keep their legs clamped against the horse's belly at all times during combat to keep their bodies balanced and avoid falling off the horse.

In battle, bows and arrows are the main weapons.

Weapons such as spears and lances are only used when charging.

If you don't have excellent riding skills, you can't swing your weapon too much, otherwise you will easily be knocked off your horse by the enemy.

Now with double stirrups, a variety of weapons such as spears, swords and even meteor hammers can be used.

There is no risk of falling off the horse due to excessive chopping movements with the long sword.

“So many benefits?!”

After Chen Gong got a definite answer from Lu Bu, he instantly became excited, "I'll try it too!"

After saying this, he led out a horse with double stirrups, flipped over and rode on the horse's back, and while riding the horse at a gallop, he drew the sword at his waist and performed various chopping and stabbing movements.

A quarter of an hour later, Chen Gong returned.

His face flushed with excitement, and he said with deep emotion: "With such a sharp weapon in hand, the General's Bingzhou cavalry will be the best cavalry in the world!"

After experiencing it himself, he realized that what Lu Bu said was true.

The double stirrup is a groundbreaking equipment for cavalry.

In addition to greatly improving the combat effectiveness of the cavalry, it can also significantly reduce the training time of the cavalry.

"It's a pity that this general doesn't have that many war horses!"

Lu Bu sighed, his face full of regret, and missed his hometown Bingzhou. "If there were enough war horses, this general would definitely form an iron cavalry of ten thousand people!"

Ten thousand cavalry!

Chen Gong felt his scalp tingling just thinking about it.

If there are 10,000 cavalrymen, when two armies are facing each other, they can just charge directly, without looking for opportunities to attack from the flank.

Unless the enemy has cavalry of equal size, or a large number of elite infantry like the Xianzhen Camp.

Otherwise, there would have been a one-sided massacre on the battlefield.

"General, the double stirrups must be kept strictly confidential. They are easy to imitate, so they must not be leaked before they are officially unveiled. Also, the horseshoes can greatly reduce the loss of war horses, so we need to arrange for someone to nail them into the horseshoes as soon as possible."

Chen Gong planned in his mind that in a crucial battle, he would use the double stirrups to catch the enemy off guard.

Before that, keep it as confidential as possible.

Lu Bu naturally understood this logic and nodded in agreement.

He had a premonition that with the appearance of double stirrups, the battlefield of the future would most likely be dominated by cavalry.

He wanted to train a group of cavalry reserves during the winter so that he could expand the cavalry system when there were more war horses in the future.

Chen Gong said, "General, the Zhen clan will send a batch of weapons and armor next month. You may ask if they can provide some war horses then."

Lu Bu glanced at Chen Gong and shook his head vigorously: "I won't ask. If you want to ask, you can ask."

Chen Gong avoided his gaze and coughed lightly, saying, "Gong thinks it would be better for the general to ask."

"You ask."

the general asked.

"You ask, you are eloquent."

the general asked. The general was thick-skinned.

The two pushed and shoved each other, and finally Lu Bu couldn't hold back and spoke.

"Zhen gave us a batch of money and food not long ago, and now she has sent us a thousand pairs of stirrups and four thousand horseshoes. She will send weapons and armor next month. How can this general ask for this?"

If you want money, we will give you money; if you want food, we will give you food; if you want weapons and equipment, we will give you weapons and equipment.

Lu Bu had never enjoyed such treatment.

He really didn't have the face to ask Zhen for a war horse again. He felt embarrassed just thinking about it.

"General, this is where you are wrong."

Chen Gong said righteously: "Both the general and Zhen are training the army for your majesty and fighting against the rebels for your majesty. They are close colleagues. Since they need each other, why should they be so coy?"

"Don't you want to have a cavalry army of 10,000 people?"

"General, don't you want to lead these 10,000 cavalrymen to conquer Jiangdong and sweep across the world? This is laying the foundation for your majesty and is related to your majesty's future revival plan!"

Chen Gong's words were full of bewitching power.

This also hit Lu Bu's soft spot.

Because it has always been his dream to form an iron cavalry of 10,000 people.

Whenever Lu Bu imagined himself leading the cavalry across the battlefield and being invincible, he couldn't help but feel his blood boiling and was fascinated.

I'm so greedy.

Moreover, if he had such an iron cavalry, who in the world could be his opponent?

His grandson's kingdom will also be as solid as a rock!

After hesitating and struggling in his heart, Lu Bu finally couldn't resist the temptation and gritted his teeth and said, "Forget it! For the sake of your majesty's great cause, this general will risk his reputation!"

"I won't wait until next month. I'll go find the manager of Zhen's Chamber of Commerce right now!"

For the sake of His Majesty and his grandson, he has lost all shame!
Chen Gong smiled when he heard this. "That's right. I will wait for good news from the general."

"Wait for good news from me?" Lu Bu glanced at Chen Gong, stretched out his hand and grabbed him and put him on his shoulder, then grinned at Chen Gong's shocked eyes and said, "Gongtai, you should go with me!"

Want to embarrass him alone?

How can it be!

So, Lu Bu carried the struggling Chen Gong and swaggered out of the military camp.

……

Xu County, Cao Prefecture.

Upon learning the news of Yuan Shao's defeat in Youzhou, Cao Cao was not happy but furious.

Because Gongsun Zan paid homage to the emperor of Yecheng in public!
"Yuan Shao, Lu Bu, Liu Bei, and now Gongsun Zan has been added to the list. If this continues, all the princes in the world will have to recognize the fake emperor in Yecheng!"

Cao Cao threw the intelligence into the brazier and cursed harshly.

Gongsun Zan is also a well-known prince in the world today. He dominates Youzhou and has both good reputation and strength.

Now that he was paying homage to the Emperor of Yecheng in front of the two armies, this undoubtedly further elevated the authenticity of the fake emperor!
The real emperor in his hands looks more and more like a fake!
Xun Yu sighed and said, "Although Gongsun Zan had to pay homage to the false emperor in front of the battlefield to resolve his own crisis and to stabilize the army's morale under the name of clearing the court of evil officials, it did benefit Yuan Shao." Cao Cao still had a gloomy face and said, "Whether Gongsun Zan was sincere or not, the world only knows that he paid homage to the false emperor in Yecheng! It will make people more convinced that the false emperor is the true dragon emperor!"

"Kong Rong, you are such a jerk, you really messed up my plan!"

Cao Cao said this and slammed his fist on the table.

He hated Gongsun Zan for paying homage to the false emperor in front of the two armies, but he also understood that Gongsun Zan had no choice at the time.

But the old man Kong Rong is different.

If it weren't for Kong Rong, why would he be bothered by this?

Xun You shook his head and said, "Kong Wenju's reputation has been completely ruined. He has been abused by scholars and writers all over the world. It is really lamentable."

"I heard that he is now staying indoors and not seeing any visitors. He is just diligently governing Beihai County."

Cao Cao sneered, "For not being able to distinguish between the emperor and the emperor, this is what the old man deserves!"

After scolding Kong Rong harshly again, Cao Cao felt a little better.

But when I thought about my current situation, I felt a little bored.

The defeat at Runan caused him to lose a large number of elite troops, and even Xiahou Dun was seriously injured and dying.

Yuan Tan of Qingzhou was eyeing him covetously. In the short term, he would not be able to send troops to compete with Lu Bu for Yangzhou.

You can only slowly recuperate and recover your strength.

In addition, there were signs that Liu Biao of Jingzhou was planning to send troops to retake Nanyang County and Wancheng from him.

At present, Liu Biao has deployed troops on the border. There is constant friction between the two sides and they are ready to make a move. It is unknown when a war will break out.

The most crucial thing is that with Gongsun Zan's bow and his slogan of clearing the court, the authority of the emperor of Xu County further declined.

Nowadays, more and more people believe that the fake emperor in Yecheng is the real emperor.

If this continues, Yuan Shao might really succeed in confusing the real with the fake, and Cao Mengde would completely become a traitor who pretends to be the emperor.

Bad things keep coming one after another, making people worried and distressed.

The only good news is that Yuan Shao was pinned down by Gongsun Zan and suffered a defeat in the battle, with even his general Wen Chou killed. He will not send troops south to attack Xu County for the time being.

"Sikong, we are no longer able to fight for Yangzhou. Our current biggest enemy is still Yuan Shao." Xun Yu reminded with a serious look.

"If Gongsun Zan is defeated and Youzhou falls, then Yuan Shao will be completely invincible; after taking Youzhou, he will no longer have to worry about being attacked from all sides, and his next target will definitely be Sikong."

Yuan Shao was originally the strongest among all the princes.

If he had not been restrained by Gongsun Zan of Youzhou, he would have led his troops south and seized the Central Plains long ago. No one could have stopped him.

The first to be hit was Xu County.

Cao Cao and Yuan Shao both had the emperor in their hands, and the two had long been enemies and could not tolerate each other.

"Wen Ruo means that I should help Gongsun Zan fight against Yuan Shao?" Cao Cao said with a frown.

Xun Yu nodded and said, "That's right. Although Yuan Shao was defeated temporarily, it doesn't mean he can't capture Youzhou. Although Gongsun Zan is strong, he can't stop Yuan Shao. Defeat is only a matter of time."

"By the beginning of next spring, Yuan Shao will gather his troops and march into Youzhou again. I'm afraid Gongsun Zan won't be able to stop him."

"Sikong and Gongsun Zan are inseparable. We cannot sit idly by and watch Gongsun Zan be destroyed by Yuan Shao."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao fell into hesitation.

Although he understood what Xun Yu said, Gongsun Zan had just paid homage to the emperor of Yecheng. How could he not be annoyed when he took the initiative to help?

Xun You saw Cao Cao's concerns and continued to persuade him, "Gongsun Zan was forced to pay homage to the false emperor. If the prime minister shows goodwill to him at this time, he may turn to recognize Your Majesty."

"In this way, Sikong will not only gain the support of Gongsun Zan, but also be able to unite with him to restrain Yuan Shao's hands and feet, which is very beneficial to the current situation."

If Yuan Shao fights Gongsun Zan, then they will help Gongsun Zan.

When Yuan Shao attacked them, Gongsun Zan stabbed them in the back!

Although Yuan Shao was strong, he was not strong enough to fight on two fronts at the same time and win, otherwise he would not have been defeated in Youzhou this time.

Moreover, if an all-out war really breaks out, the other princes will certainly not sit idly by, because no one wants to see Yuan Shao dominate the world.

"Wen Ruo and Gong Da have a point."

After learning the pros and cons, Cao Cao's slight unhappiness also dissipated. "Tomorrow I will write a letter and send it to Youzhou to give to Gongsun Zan. I just don't know what he has in mind, and whether he will sincerely join forces with me?"

Xun You laughed and said, "Gongsun Zan is in Youzhou, isolated and helpless. If he doesn't unite with Sikong, he will be annexed. How could he be so stupid as not to understand this?"

No matter from which angle you analyze it, Gongsun Zan had no reason to refuse.

He and Cao Cao have a relationship where they depend on each other for survival.

And he is the lips and Cao Cao is the teeth.

After confirming this, Cao Cao asked again: "How is Yuan Rang doing? I heard that he has been drinking at home since he came back from the battlefield. What's going on?"

He has been too busy recently and has not had time to care about Xiahou Dun.

Xiahou Dun was not only his brother, but also his most trusted general. He was deeply saddened when he was shot in the left eye in a battle with Lu Bu.

Xun Yu sighed and said, "Since Yuan Rang lost his left eye, he has been depressed and gets furious whenever he sees a bronze mirror. Now the only person who can persuade Yuan Rang is Sikong. If Sikong is free, you should go and visit him."

Cao Cao nodded, and a great hatred for Lu Bu grew in his heart. He said in a hateful voice: "When I have rested my army, I will definitely march into Yangzhou again and take the head of Lu Bu's three-surnamed servant to avenge Yuan Rang!"

Not only did Lu Bu cause him to lose many soldiers and flee from Yangzhou, but he also took in Zhang Xiu, whom he hated to the core.

For both moral and logical reasons, and for both public and private reasons, he longed to kill Lu Bu to vent his hatred.

……

The 30th day of the twelfth lunar month.

Yecheng, Imperial Palace.

It is New Year's Eve again, and the Tai'an Hall is brightly lit.

Yuan Shao, who had already withdrawn his troops from Youzhou and returned to Yecheng, hosted a banquet for his ministers in Tai'an Hall in the name of the emperor.

At the banquet, in addition to Yuan Shao's advisers and generals, Lu Bu and Liu Bei were also present.

Even Liu Zhang, the governor of Yizhou and a relative of the Han Dynasty, came from afar.

Yuan Shao was surprised and delighted that a relative of the Han royal family came to celebrate the New Year with the emperor.

What was surprising was Liu Zhang's sudden arrival.

The good news is that the emperor’s authenticity has been raised to a higher level.

After the ministers entered the venue one after another, Liu Xie arrived at Tai'an Palace accompanied by Zhen Mi and Lu Lingqi.

When Liu Xie sat on the main seat, an eunuch shouted loudly:
"bye!"

Everyone, including Yuan Shao, paid homage to Liu Xie.

"Everyone loves you."

Liu Xie sat upright, his face solemn and dignified, full of the majesty of an emperor.

Over a period of more than a year, nearly two years, he had gradually developed an aura of authority that came from his lack of anger.

At this moment, he is no longer the minion he was last year.

Lu Bu and Liu Bei were at the banquet, and Yuan Shao could only be respectful to him.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Everyone stood up and sat down one by one.

"Your Majesty, I am in great pain!" Liu Zhang, who was sitting below Yuan Shao, said with a sad face as soon as he sat down: "Zhang Lu in Hanzhong is arrogant and does not obey my orders. I have sent people to attack him many times, but each time I was defeated. I ask Your Majesty to send troops to conquer Zhang Lu."

When Liu Xie heard this, his heart started beating wildly.

Could it be... Could it be that Yizhou still cannot escape the fate of falling into Liu Bei's hands?

If Liu Bei took Yizhou, and Lu Bu seized Yuzhang and Lujiang counties from Sun Ce, he could attack Jingzhou from both sides.

By then, even if Yuan Shao was powerful, in the worst case scenario we could divide the world with him.

Suppressing his excitement, Liu Xie said in a deep voice: "What happened in Yizhou? How did Zhang Lu become so arrogant? Please tell me slowly, my dear."

(End of this chapter)