Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 164: Bai Bo goes east and makes an alliance with the Xiongnu

February, inside Huguan City.

In the county government, Zhang Yu asked the officers to gather around him, then pointed to a map of Shangdang hanging on the wall and said, "Xu's city is about 180 miles away from Yang County, and about 200 miles away from our Tunliu city."

"The distance from Yang County to Tunliu is 400 miles, with many hills along the way and through river valleys. Now, according to Bo Dao's report, Bai Bo's bandits with tens of thousands of people have set out from Yang County and will arrive at the city of Yang soon. Do you have any strategies to defeat the enemy?"

Zhang Yang pointed to the Qin River, which flows from north to south on the map, and said, "The Qin River separates the east and the west. We should use the Qin River as a barrier. Our army will station troops on the east bank and use the Yang City to stop the Baibo bandits. When the morale of the Baibo bandits is weakened, we will find an opportunity to fight them."

"The Qinshui River is shallow and narrow, so it may not be dangerous enough!"

Kirby spoke in an unfluent classical language and said, "If our army is stationed on the east bank and the enemy's infantry and cavalry are stationed on the west bank, the enemy can wade across the river on a flat surface. At that time, the enemy's soldiers will be no less than 10,000, while our army has only a few thousand soldiers and horses. The situation may be unfavorable to our army!"

Since Shiyi was left in Yanbei by Zhang Yu, the light cavalry led by Kobe took on the important task of scouting. After learning that the Baibo bandits might threaten Shangdang, Kobe spent more than half a month exploring the geography and water conditions in the Huoda Mountain and Qinhe River Valley.

Zhang Yang frowned slightly and said, "Qinshui is not a dangerous place. Do we need to use Huoshan as a barrier to build a camp and stop the Baibo bandits?"

Zhang Yu looked at Zhong Yao and Guo Tu and asked, "What do you two think?"

Guo Tu bowed slightly to Zhong Yao, indicating that Zhong Yao should give his comments first.

Zhong Yao was not modest and said sternly: "The Baibo bandits are aggressive and are about to invade, intending to plunder Shangdang and join forces with the Black Mountain bandits. Our army is small in number. If we station troops to set up obstacles and concentrate on defending, it will only boost the enemy's morale, which is not a long-term solution. In Yao's opinion, it is better to take advantage of the armor and cavalry and find an opportunity to defeat them."

"It may not be easy to find an opportunity to defeat them!"

Zhang Liao pointed to the map and said, "The distance between Yang County and Tunliu is several hundred miles. There are many mountains and narrow valleys along the way. If we want to use cavalry, we may have to let the Baibo bandits into the county."

Zhong Yao smiled and said, "The Qinshui Valley may be a good place for us to deploy our troops. It is only three or four miles wide. Our several thousand infantry and cavalry can be deployed, but the enemy's large forces will find it difficult to deploy. If we can break the enemy's front line and crush them with armored cavalry, we will be able to defeat the enemy."

Guo Tu nodded slightly and agreed, saying, "The Baibo bandits have repeatedly defeated our troops. Their morale is high now, so they should underestimate our army. It is better to let them cross the river and set up camp. When they are halfway across the river, we can lead our elite infantry and cavalry to attack them, and we will be able to defeat them."

Zhang Yu raised his lips slightly and said, "What you said about defeating the enemy is exactly what I want."

As he spoke, Zhang Yu looked at Guo Tu and asked, "I sent someone to contact Yu Fuluo before. I wonder if he has responded?"

"Have!"

Guo Tu hesitated for a moment and said, "Yu Fuluo wrote to me saying that because the court was in chaos and disorder, our troops were short of money and food. After repeatedly asking for food to no avail, we had no choice but to join forces with Guo Tai. I hope you will understand."

After a pause, he added: "Judging from Yu Fuluo's words, he had no intention of rebelling with the Baibo bandits. His troops rebelled out of necessity. Now that you want to defeat the Baibo bandits, why not write to him and see if you can persuade Yu Fuluo to return to the cause and help our army!"

Zhang Yu said: "Yu Fuluo is the son of the Chanyu of Qiangqu. Now his people have rebelled, leaving him with a country but unable to return home, so he has drifted to Hedong. I think it is not difficult to persuade Yu Fuluo to serve me. All I need to do is send a debater into the Xiongnu camp and offer the position of Chanyu as a condition, saying that after I defeat the Baibo army and take control of Taiyuan, I will send troops to help him restore his country."

It was previously said that there were only 500,000 to 600,000 registered households in Shangdang, Taiyuan, and Yanmen, which was less than the population of a county in Hebei. Even if a large number of refugees poured in, it would still be difficult to provide the 50,000 soldiers mentioned by Zhong Yao.

In fact, in addition to the three core counties, Bingzhou actually has another hidden county, namely the Southern Xiongnu tribes. The population of the Xiongnu tribes is no less than 200,000 to 300,000 people. The people are brave and both men and women are good at riding and shooting.

Therefore, according to Zhang Yu's idea, it was not enough to control Bingzhou. After unifying the three counties of Bingzhou, he would also control the Xiongnu tribes. After integrating the Han and Hu forces within Bingzhou and annexing Hedong, although 50,000 armored soldiers was exaggerated, 50,000 infantry and cavalry were no problem.

Now, helping Yu Fuluo to restore his country is not only Yu Fuluo's dream, but also part of Zhang Yu's strategy to consolidate the state. Therefore, as Zhang Yu said, both sides have needs, and sending a debater to meet Yu Fuluo, the probability of reaching a cooperation is very high.

After saying that, Zhang Yu took the opportunity to glance at the crowd and saw that most of the people in the hall were Han people. Even if there were Hu people, they were all military generals who could understand Hu customs and were not good at speaking.

"With Bosong not by my side, there is no one who can go to Fuluo on my behalf." Zhang Yu couldn't help but sigh.

Li Song was not as good as Zhong Yao, Zhang Liao and others in military and political affairs, but Li Song was better in understanding the customs of the Hu people and having Xiongnu blood. Zhong Yao, Man Chong, Lu Fan and others could help him solve Han affairs, but he had to rely on Li Song to solve Hu affairs.

Before he finished speaking, he heard the attendant quickly walk in, bowed and said: "My Lord, Shi Yi, Hu Yanle, and Yan Zhi are leading 500 elite cavalrymen and 1,500 horses to the outside of the city."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu's worried expression turned into a happy one, and he said with a smile: "Now is the time to use the army, and five hundred cavalry will greatly strengthen our army. And I know who is the envoy to Fuluo."

There are not many cavalrymen in the army, with a hundred armored cavalrymen and eight or nine hundred light cavalrymen, totaling about a thousand cavalrymen. Now that five hundred elite cavalrymen have been transferred from the south, Zhang Yu's cavalrymen will reach one thousand five hundred cavalrymen. If Yu Fuluo can be persuaded to defect, the situation will be reversed.

Soon, under Zhang Yu's instructions, Shi Yi, Hu Yanle and Yan Zhi walked into the hall.

"Your servant greets you, my lord!" The three of them bowed and said.

Zhang Yu stepped forward enthusiastically, shook Shi Yi's hand, looked at the other two, and said in Xianbei: "You three have worked hard after traveling two thousand miles."

Shi Yi was very excited because he had not seen Zhang Yu for a long time. He said, "The Han and Hu people in Yanbei are all looking forward to your return to the north. Now Li Changshi is worried that your horses are insufficient, so he ordered me to send an additional 1,500 good horses south."

Then, Shi Yi pointed to Yan Zhi and said, "Five hundred of these horses were given by Brother Ziyuan to help you raise an army to fight the enemy."

"it is good!"

Zhang Yu looked at Yan Zhi with a smile and said, "When I return north in the future, I will thank Zirun (Yan Rou) greatly." "This is a small gift from your servant. I hope you can help me defeat the Baibo bandits." Yan Zhi said with a bow.

Holding Yan Zhi's hand, Zhang Yu said, "Speaking of the Baibo bandits, I need Ziyuan's help with something now!"

"Please give your orders, sir!" Yan Zhi said humbly.

Zhang Yu said, "Yufuluo, the Left Wise King of the Xiongnu, has joined forces with the Baibo bandits. Now the Baibo bandits are marching eastward in large numbers. I want to make friends with Yufuluo and use him for my own benefit. I wonder if Ziyuan can serve as an envoy for me?"

Yan Zhi pondered for a long time and said, "Although I have not had much contact with the Xiongnu, I know that Yu Fuluo is the son of the former Qiangqu Chanyu. Because of the rebellion of his countrymen, Yu Fuluo could not return to his country. He asked the court for troops to restore his country, but the capital was in chaos. If you can promise to restore the country, Yu Fuluo may be able to serve you."

Seeing Yan Zhi grasp the key point so quickly, Zhang Yu nodded in satisfaction and said, "In this case, I'm afraid I'll have to ask Yu Ziyuan to take care of the mission."

Yan Zhi looked embarrassed and said, "It is not difficult to send an envoy to Yu Fuluo, but if you want Yu Fuluo to serve you just by talking about restoring the country, I am afraid it will be hard to convince him."

"Then I wonder what Ziyuan thinks?" Zhang Yu asked.

Yan Zhi thought for a while and said, "In ancient times, alliances between two countries were often based on marriage. Qiangqu Chanyu has two sons and one daughter. The eldest son is Yufuluo, the second son is Huchuquan, and the youngest daughter is Alahai. If you don't abandon Xiongnu women, you can marry Yufuluo."

Zhang Yu said without hesitation: "If I can get Yu Fuluo to turn against me and help me, then marriage with him won't be a problem."

Seeing Zhang Yu compromise, Yan Zhi cupped his hands and said, "For your majesty's great ambition, I am willing to go as an envoy to Fuluo."

Not to mention that Zhang Yu was actively preparing for war, but now Yan Zhi, following Zhang Yu's orders, marched westward and met Yu Furuo in a river valley sixty miles west of the city of Lu.

At dusk, the sun sets and the Hun camp stands in the valley.

Inside the tent of Zuo Xian Wang, Yu Fuluo was sitting on a chair, discussing military affairs with his younger brother Huchuquan.

At this time, the Xiongnu soldier stepped inside, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have captured a man outside the camp. He said he is your friend and he has something important to discuss with you!"

"Friends?"

Yu Fuluo was puzzled at first, then he ordered, "Bring him into the tent."

"promise!"

Soon, Yan Zhi, dressed simply, was brought into the tent. When he saw Yu Fuluo, he bowed and said, "Zhi greets the Left Wise King!"

"Who are you?" Yu Furuo looked at Yan Zhi and asked.

Yan Zhi said, "My name is Yan Zhi. I am now a doorman under General Du Liao. I have been ordered to come and pay a visit to the king."

"Why did Mr. Zhang ask you to come here?" Yu Furuo asked.

"Your Majesty, General Du Liao heard that your Majesty was wandering in Hedong and had difficulty returning to his country. Now he is willing to help your Majesty restore his country!" Yan Zhi said.

"Help me restore my country!"

Yu Fuluo sneered and said, "Mr. Zhang has only 5,000 soldiers and horses, and there is still a risk of being defeated by Guo Tai. I don't know how Mr. Zhang can restore my country for me!"

Yan Zhi said, neither servile nor arrogant, "Then may I ask, Your Majesty, can Guo Tai help you restore your country?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Furuo's face darkened. What Yan Zhi said hit the nail on the head.

He was not enthusiastic about the eastward march. The reason he was going east was largely out of helplessness. He was now a lost dog. The Han people in Hedong were unwilling to accept him, and his countrymen did not want him to return to the country. He had almost no choice but to follow Guo Tai on the eastward expedition.

Seeing that Yu Fuluo was silent, Yan Zhi continued, "General Du Liao has the right to rule the Xiongnu and Xianbei. Although my lord has only 6,000 infantry and cavalry, Your Majesty, please remember that my lord has only been in Shangdang for a few months. Moreover, my lord has several thousand cavalrymen in Yanbei, and they have now moved south one after another, with nearly 10,000 victorious soldiers."

"Ten thousand soldiers are not many, but when my lord takes Taiyuan again, the number of soldiers under his command will be doubled. At that time, there will be 20,000 infantry and cavalry, and they will be led by my lord. I wonder if they can help the Zuo Xian King restore his country."

"So my master has said that now the Left Wise King will help our army to defeat Baibo, and when my master takes Taiyuan and prepares his troops, he will help the Wise King to succeed the Chanyu."

Huochuquan narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Are you taking advantage of my brother as a three-year-old child? You want our army to help you now, but you can only help me in the future. If you give up your promise because of the difficulty of restoring the country, our army will suffer!"

Yan Zhi pondered for a moment and said, "In order to maintain the alliance between the two countries, my lord is willing to marry the king's sister and make the two families become one. After defeating the Baibo bandits, my lord will submit a petition to the court to appoint the king as Chanyu and give him money and food."

"Of course, my lord has another condition. After the king restores his country, according to the custom, the Xiongnu tribes must send troops to serve Bingzhou."

Yu Yu Luo's expression was moved. He already believed in the alliance proposed by Zhang Yu.

(End of this chapter)