Tiger Guards

Chapter 755 The Decisive Victory

Outside Yiyin City, Yan Liang led a group of knights to patrol the shore and observe the changes on the north bank.

Accompanying Yan Liang was Xiahou Yuan. The two cities on the north bank were guarded by Cao Ren and Cao Ang respectively.

Xiahou Yuan was the garrison commander of Yiyin City on the south bank, while Yan Liang was responsible for guerrilla warfare and harassment in the Yi River basin.

Xiahou Yuan also led a group of knights to scout the north bank along the riverbank, and met up with Yan Liang at the south end of the pontoon bridge.

The two pontoon bridges have been dismantled, and the wooden boats and planks used to build them have been towed to the south bank and piled up.

One of the pontoon bridge sections has been set on fire, and firewood has begun to be piled up at this section.

Only by piling up enough firewood can these planks and boats submerged in water be burned to ashes in one fell swoop.

Xiahou Yuan dismounted to greet Yan Liang. Although Yan Liang was arrogant and conceited, he treated Xiahou Yuan with great politeness.

Seeing Xiahou Yuan dismount thirty paces away, Yan Liang also dismounted and quickly walked towards Xiahou Yuan.

Xiahou Yuan could only take a faster pace, walking twelve or thirteen steps before bowing deeply with his hands clasped: "This humble general greets General Xiaoji."

"General Xiahou, there's no need for such formalities."

Yan Liang also bowed in greeting, and without stopping, he stepped closer and placed his hands on Xiahou Yuan's shoulders to help him stand up straight. He then stretched out his arms to the north and asked, "General Xiahou has fought many battles with the enemy, so perhaps you can discern their intentions?"

"Don't dare."

Xiahou Yuan bowed slightly before looking up to carefully observe the figures of the Hebei righteous followers appearing in various places on the north bank. He said, "The bandit general Xu Gongming is regarded as a kinsman by the Zhao bandits, who regard him as a brother and an assistant. He can be considered the number one general under their command."

Yan Liang listened patiently, only saying, "Rumor has it that this person is the leader of the Five Tigers of Xizhou, and there are also rumors that he is not good at fighting. Compared with Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao and Gan Ning, his battle record is mediocre and there is nothing outstanding about him. He was able to rise to a high position entirely because of the support of Zhao Yan and Zhao Ji."

How could Xu Gongming not be a skilled warrior?

Xiahou Yuan spoke sincerely and patiently, explaining, "This man was originally a county official in Hedong. When the White Wave rebels rose up, many officials and civilians were coerced into becoming bandits. Later, General Zhao Hou was ordered to suppress the White Wave rebels in Hedong, breaking their momentum and forcing the White Wave armies to surrender. Later, when Li and Guo fought, the White Wave armies were also drawn into the conflict. The armies fought back and forth, and Xu Gongming was able to stand out from the crowd. After the emperor moved east, he was posthumously honored for his merits, and he was one of the thirteen marquises. This shows his ability."

Yan Liang nodded slowly and asked, "Since you are so powerful, why haven't you achieved any notable feats since joining Zhao's forces?"

"This is the reason why a good warrior does not have many glorious achievements. Whatever Zhao entrusted to him, Xu Gongming led an army and took charge of the affairs of the region. He never made Zhao worry or have to divide his troops. Furthermore, although Zhao is fickle and has no integrity, this man is quite good at recognizing and using people."

As Xiahou Yuan spoke, his emotions were slightly turbulent, perhaps due to his reminiscence of Cao Cao's luring and killing.

He then calmed himself down and, in short, asked Yan Liang, "Given Zhao's military prowess, why would he send an incompetent general to oversee the Han and Hu troops in Youzhou?"

"understood."

Yan Liang sighed, raised his hand to loosen the helmet strap, and lifted the heavy helmet into his hand. He squinted and looked at the north bank: "At this moment, the enemy army is coming with its momentum. The troops on the north bank burned their camps and retreated into the city. The enemy army is bound to be arrogant and complacent. This is also an opportunity for battle. I heard what General Xiahou said. This night raid should be abandoned."

Xiahou Yuan declined to comment on this.

As a seasoned defeated opponent of Zhao Ji, Xiahou Yuan knew he didn't have much say in military matters.

After a moment of reflection, Yan Liang had no choice but to reluctantly abandon his plan to launch a surprise attack on the Jin army on the north bank.

Xiahou Yuan remained silent, his posture respectful but also showing a hint of scorn and indifference.

Cao's army was repeatedly defeated by Zhao Ji, so how much better could Yuan's army have fared at the same time?
They never gained any advantage from Zhao Ji. Zhao Ji was able to abandon the advantageous terrain of Shangdang and give up suppressing the upstream terrain of Jizhou. How many people in the world could have such decisiveness?

Most ruthlessly, Zhao Ji relocated and emptied the population of Shangdang as much as possible, making Yuan's army's entry into Shangdang a losing proposition. Since Yuan's army refused to seize and manage such a no-man's-land as Shangdang, they naturally couldn't make close contact with the Jin army, and therefore couldn't constantly harass or disrupt Zhao Ji's actions in a sustained confrontation.

Is it that Yuan Jun and his subordinates are unwilling to bear the costs of operating the Shangdang no-man's-land?

Or was it because Yuan's army had been so frightened by Zhao Ji that they were so restrained and did not go to border Zhao Ji?

It was precisely Yuan Jun's avoidance of war mentality that prevented Zhao Ji's subsequent actions from being strongly interfered with by Hebei.

Yuan Jun's desire to avoid war also received positive feedback from Zhao Ji.

That is, when Gongsun Zan rallied Han and Hu tribes from Youzhou to invade southward, Zhao Ji did not come to harass Yuan Shao's rear.

This long-distance standoff between the two sides across the Taihang Mountains... seems to be advantageous for both sides, but Zhao Ji has the greater advantage!

During his time living in Hebei, Xiahou Yuan had enough free time to review the past wars.

He could also observe and study the current war situation from a relatively neutral perspective... Therefore, he was very clear about Yan Liang's mentality and also knew that Yan Liang valued Xu Huang very much.

Anyway, what's done is done, and Xiahou Yuan couldn't possibly hold Yuan Shao and his troops responsible for Cao Cao's defeat.

At this moment, Xiahou Yuan remained calm, observing the Hebei militia moving in groups on the north bank.

A moment later, Yan Liang sighed and said, "After Xu Gongming passed Jundu Fortress, he marched no more than fifteen or twenty li a day, which can be described as taking light tasks as heavy ones. After his vanguard occupied Ji County and received the support of various counties in Youzhou, his army swept in like a mountain torrent. If our army had not been prepared in advance, we would have been in a passive position at this moment."

Just because Yi Jing came to the rescue, Xu Huang destroyed more than 10,000 Hebei Righteous Knights.

The main battlefield is Fanyang, so how many troops will Xu Huang send down?
Yan Liang could understand Xu Huang's tactics: the slow advance in the early stages was to accumulate the strength and morale of the army and its soldiers.

What we're seeing now is just a normal outbreak.

It's unimaginable now. If Yuan Shao hadn't listened to Ju Shou and instead mobilized his entire army to the maximum extent, focusing all his forces on the Fanyang and Yijing line, he would surely be in a chaotic mess under Xu Huang's command.

With the army assembled, they were naturally not afraid of the charge and raid of more than 10,000 cavalry, but they would more or less lose small outposts on the outskirts, and their morale would be disturbed and suppressed by Xu Huang.

After Yan Liang finished his reflections, he straightened his plain turban, put his helmet back on, and fastened the helmet strap. He then looked at Xiahou Yuan and said, "General Xiahou, you fought fiercely in the four provinces of the Central Plains. I imagine you have some insights into this battle. I wonder if we could exchange some thoughts?"

Xiahou Yuan turned to look at Yan Liang: "The outcome of this battle does not lie here."

"I feel the same way."

Yan Liang smiled, a very happy smile. He naturally knew that the real battlefield was not here, nor in Langya, but further north.

The fact that Xiahou Yuan could understand the battle situation meant that Cao Ren and Cao Ang on the north bank could also understand it.

If you can understand it, you won't be so foolish as to beg for surrender.

Yan Liang felt much relieved and bowed to Xiahou Yuan, saying, "Farewell."

"General of the Valiant Cavalry, please proceed with caution."

Xiahou Yuan stood still, cupped his hands in a deep bow to Yan Liang's back, and did not look up at Yan Liang's back.

(End of this chapter)