Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 322 Tired

"We are willing to surrender to the former general!" Seven or eight hundred veterans of the Northern Army knelt before Liu Daogui.

They were all former subordinates of Tong Houzhi.

A large number of people fled the city during the recent battle, leaving only this small number of people.

Although their numbers were small, each of them exuded a fierce and capable aura, clearly veterans of countless battles.

"Please rise, everyone. From now on, we are brothers, so there is no need for formalities!" Liu Daogui helped up the first few people.

After Huan Shisheng was killed, the entire Western Army in the city surrendered, numbering nearly 7,000 men.

Liu Daogui did not make things difficult for them and let them go directly.

Firstly, it saves food; secondly, it allows them to carry their fear back to Jiankang and even Xifu, as anyone who has suffered a defeat will be left with psychological trauma.

With limited troops at hand, these men had to be kept in Shouchun, and people had to be assigned to watch over them.

The treasury was opened, and inside, grain was piled up like mountains.

Shouchun had always been regarded by Huan Xuan as a shield for the Jianghuai region, and a large amount of grain and military equipment were stored there. Unfortunately, Huan Shisheng was mediocre and could not control his soldiers or defend the city.

With so much grain, Liu Daogui felt a weight lifted from his heart.

Although there is the important town of Hefei to the south, the army can bypass this route and head directly west into Guangling County.

To the north, Murong De's 30,000 infantry and cavalry failed to breach Pengcheng. They barely even attacked the city. They made a token shout at the city walls, but seeing that the city was fortified and the soldiers were unmoved, they could only set up camp, blocking Liu Daogui's supply lines while burning, killing, and looting everywhere.

Their methods were extremely cruel, and more than four thousand civilians died at the hands of the Yan army.

This has caused widespread panic within the country.

Ordinary Wutuo Army and Yicong Army were no match for the elite Xianbei cavalry.

Gao Xun suggested, "Murong De is a great threat. If we ignore him, the years of hard work in Huaisi will be destroyed in an instant."

"After the soldiers have rested for four days, I will lead the army north and wipe out that old dog Murong De!" Liu Daogui gritted his teeth.

The Yan army's aim in the territory was to wipe out the population. Every time they raided a place, they killed the old, weak, women and children, leaving only the able-bodied men, and even destroyed the fields and irrigation ditches.

This shows the hatred Murong De harbored for himself.

The soldiers fell asleep immediately. Liu Daogui, exhausted from marching for days, also fell asleep in the camp.

When I woke up, it was already daylight.

The soldiers had assembled, but all of them looked exhausted, like a dull knife that had lost its sharpness.

Since late spring last year, there have been continuous battles, and many people have not been home for more than half a year.

Although there was no shortage of meat, soldiers are still human, and they also experience psychological fatigue.

Now, we must rush back to Pengcheng to fight the Yan army. Even if we win, we will have to march south again to fight the Chu army in a bloody battle...

Not to mention the soldiers, even Liu Daogui felt utterly exhausted.

Even elite soldiers cannot withstand such torment.

By the fourth day, the soldiers' fatigue had lessened slightly. Just as Liu Daogui was preparing to head north, Meng Ganzhi came to report: "Commander, Chu general Huangfu Fu is leading 20,000 elite troops from the Western Prefecture northward!"

Gao Xun asked in surprise, "Isn't he besieging Jingkou?"

Murong De is to the north, and now Huangfu Fu is coming from the south.

Huangfu Fu was not Huan Shisheng, but one of the Four Tiger Generals of the Western Army. He was not so easy to deal with. He led 20,000 troops north, and the situation in the Jianghuai region changed dramatically.

Meng Gan said: "Shouchun fell, and the Jiangzuo region was shaken. Huan Xuan urgently dispatched Huangfu Fu northward and ordered Huan Qian, Diao Kui, Wang Yu and other armies to continue the siege of Jingkou."

Jingkou was the stronghold of the Northern Army, and its people were most determined to rebel, making it a tough nut to crack.

However, as long as Liu Daogui and Liu Yu do not return to Jingkou, the threat is not significant.

Huan Xuan's strategy was sound; he knew the crux of the problem.

Without Liu Daogui and Liu Yu, the Northern Army would not be the Northern Army.

"Send a letter to Guangling, ordering Liu Yi and Meng Chang to hold off Huangfu Fu until I defeat Murong De and join forces with the armies of Shen Qingzhi, Mao Dezhu, and Liu Guangzhi. Then we will march south together to besiege Huangfu Fu!"

Liu Daogui's gaze fell on Guangling on the map.

While war raged in the south and north, Guangling remained unattended...

After Liu Yi and Meng Chang joined forces to lure and kill Huan Hong, they took control of all the more than 10,000 troops in Guangling City. Together with the troops of the refugee leaders such as Lu Zongzhi and Zhao Hui under their command, they had at least 15,000 troops.

He was a local strongman in Guangling; if he were willing to put in the effort, it shouldn't be difficult for him to hold off Huangfu Fu.

The prosperity of the Northern Prefecture is shared by all, and the loss of one is shared by all.

Liu Yi's elder brother, Liu Mai, was killed by Huan Xuan, and the two sides became irreconcilable enemies.

Meng Gan immediately sent scouts south to seek help from Liu Yi.

Liu Daogui led his troops north, leaving Gao Xun with 1,300 men to guard Shouchun.

"Report! The Yan cavalry has split into two groups. One group has entered Lu County, and the other has entered Gaoping!" The scout brought the worst news.

Liu Daogui wanted to fight Murong De, but Murong De refused.

He has cavalry, which he can come and go as he pleases, giving him priority in the war effort.

Having fought battles his entire life, Murong De naturally knew what Liu Daogui cared about most. He didn't need a decisive battle at all; as long as he dragged things out like this, allowing Huan Xuan time to make his preparations, he could win.

"Order a state of martial law to be declared throughout Yanzhou, and a scorched earth policy!" Liu Daogui also adjusted his mindset.

It's precisely in times like these that we mustn't panic. This method may be a bit clumsy, but as long as we save lives, we can always try again later.

Fortunately, when they fought against the Later Yan, Gaoping and Lu County built a large number of fortified villages and various fortifications to resist cavalry. The Zhechongfu also played a key role in barely holding back the Yan cavalry.

Just when things had stabilized in the north, trouble arose in the south.

Liu Yi did send troops, but he was no match for Huangfu Fu at all. He was defeated in one encounter and retreated to Guangling.

Liu Daogui even suspected that he was just going through the motions, not afraid of god-like opponents, but afraid of pig-like teammates who couldn't even hold others back...

Liu Yi has always been cunning and arrogant, relying on his status as a fallen aristocratic family, he looked down on Liu Daogui.

He even sent a letter by express horse to apologize, saying that his men were not loyal and unwilling to contribute, and were no match for Huangfu Fu. He asked Liu Daogui to "understand him a little," and said that the affairs of the north could only be handled by him and his brother, and that he would go back to look after Jingkou...

The surrendered troops in Guangling City might not be of much use, but his own retainers, the refugee army of Lu Zongzhi and Zhao Hui, numbered four or five thousand. As long as they followed Huangfu Fu, he wouldn't dare to act recklessly...

With Liu Yi gone, Huangfu Fu was no longer restrained and continued northward.

Meanwhile, Murong De's cavalry in the north could not gain any advantage in Lu County and Gaoping, so they joined forces to defeat Tan Daoji's troops and fled into Taishan County.

Liu Guangzhi, Mao Dezhu, Shen Qingzhi, and Xiao Chengzhi followed behind, running around in a frantic manner.

The various armies consisted of varying numbers of troops, ranging from a few thousand infantrymen to a few thousand men.

Murong De had a full 20,000 elite cavalry, but they couldn't stop him at all.

Liu Daogui led his army north and entered Pengcheng to join forces with the three armies of Wang Yuande, Liu Zun, and Liu Zhong.

Wang Yuande said, "Murong De has no intention of fighting to the death; he only wants to hold off our army and exhaust it!"

Liu Zun cursed, "If this old dog falls into my hands, I'll skin him alive and tear him apart!"

Liu Zhong's eyes flashed, "Now that Murong De has entered Taishan County, the Commander-in-Chief should quickly head south, cross the river to Jingkou, and take charge of the overall situation in the Northern Prefecture!"

Whoever enters Jingkou first will be the rightful master of the Northern Army and will be credited with the greatest achievement in this battle.

"If I make a move, Murong De will surely come back and harass Pengcheng, cut off the supply lines. Moreover, Huan Xuan still has a trump card in his hand: the Western Prefecture Navy. Our navy is no match for them!"

Although Liu Daogui also had a navy, it was incomparable to the Xifu navy.

After so many years of operation, they only have five large ships and more than two hundred warships of various sizes.

The Western Prefecture navy was already strong, and Huan Xuan took control of Jiankang without bloodshed, annexing the navy under Sima Huizhi and the Sima family's ships, making him even stronger.

The generals were disheartened.

Liu Daogui pondered the map, realizing that it was practically a fantasy to think that two-legged infantrymen could catch four-legged cavalrymen.

Exhausted, they are also vulnerable to a surprise attack from Murong De, who is waiting in ambush.

Liu Daogui shifted his gaze to Qingzhou.

To attack where they must defend and defend where they must attack, the only way to truly defeat Murong De is through Qingzhou. However, the army is currently exhausted, and Qingzhou is surrounded by mountains and rivers, leaving them with no energy to advance.

Licheng, the western gateway to Qingzhou, is gone, while Muling Pass, the southern gateway, is impregnable.

Liu Daogui's gaze moved upwards from Qingzhou, landing on Hebei, when a thought flashed through his mind: "Wei Kingdom!"

Wang Yuande immediately understood, "Does the Commander mean to ask the State of Wei for help?"

“That’s right. Wei and Yan are sworn enemies. Qingzhou is vulnerable, which is a good opportunity for the Wei army.” The more Liu Daogui thought about it, the more he felt that the chances of success were increasing.

As long as the Wei army makes a move, Murong De will have no choice but to return to Qingzhou.

While they fought like dogs, Liu Daogui was able to move south without any trouble.

Wang Yuande said, "But Tuoba Gui is implementing reforms and allowing the country to recuperate. Why would he send troops? Besides, the governor has a grudge against him..."

The Battle of Fangtou severely weakened the Wei army.

Tuoba Gui is currently busy with the reform of the national middle school system.

Liu Daogui said, "Tuoba Gui is a powerful ruler who does not concern himself with trivial matters. The Yan state is growing stronger and poses a greater threat to him. If I cede Ye City to him, he will definitely send troops!"

Be willing to give and give, only by giving can you gain.

I never intended to defend Yecheng to the death. With our current strength and situation, we can't really hold it anyway. It will fall sooner or later.

With Xiao Chengzhi, Shen Qingzhi, and Liu Zhong's troops transferred to Jibei, Ye City was left vulnerable. Tuoba Gui could easily capture Ye City with a flick of his finger.

Rather than waiting for Tuoba Gui to come and rob us, we might as well give it to him as a favor.

"How can such a large city as Ye City be given away so easily?" Liu Zun couldn't forget about Ye City.

Liu Daogui glanced at him sideways, "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with the gains or losses of a single city or territory. Ye City cannot be defended or managed; it is like a chicken rib in our hands, and it will only increase the pressure on our defenses. We might as well cede it to Tuoba Gui."

Ye City is located in the heart of Hebei Province, surrounded by flat terrain, but it is situated east of the Taihang Mountains. It is much larger than ordinary cities, and without strong national power, it simply cannot remain in power.

Wang Yuande cupped his hands and said, "General, your plan is brilliant! I am willing to ride swiftly to Pingcheng!"

“Okay!” Liu Daogui nodded in agreement.

This matter concerns the life and death of the Northern Army, and a capable person must be sent north.

Wang Yuande was both brave and resourceful. He was a member of the orthodox Taiyuan Wang clan, and his father had served as an official in the Di-Qin region, so he was familiar with the situation in the north.

Liu Daogui selected fifty riders, three horses for each rider, and followed them north.

"Please wait a few days, Commander. I will certainly not fail in my mission!" Wang Yuande mounted his warhorse and galloped northward.

(End of this chapter)