Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 368 Riding

Guanggu, such a fortified city, cannot be taken in a day or two.

Liu Daogui also prepared for a long-term siege.

The grain and fodder were supplied from various counties and prefectures in Qingzhou. Liu Daogui dispatched supervisors to urge the collection of grain and fodder from various places. The grain and fodder from Pengcheng, Xiapi and Jiankang did not need to be transported. Instead, bows, arrows and other military equipment were transported from Chengcheng.

Those who could farm in Qingzhou, even if not Jin people, were Han-assimilated Qiang, Di, Wuhuan, Xianbei, Xiongnu, and other ethnic groups, and had a high degree of identification with the Jin dynasty.

During the Han and Wei periods, large numbers of Wuhuan, Xianbei, and Xiongnu people settled along the banks of the Yellow River, providing not only food and supplies to Cao Wei but also soldiers.

Although the Jin dynasty moved south, its legitimacy remained the highest.

With a single military order from Liu Daogui, provisions were transported from various prefectures.

Another five or six thousand volunteer soldiers and beggars arrived one after another.

Looking at these ragged, emaciated "rebels," Liu Daogui couldn't help but suspect they were there to freeload.

However, since they are all guests, we can still guarantee them two meals of porridge a day, as if it were a relief for refugees.

In any era, for any ethnic group, survival is the most important thing.

In the following days, the captured troops would launch feigned attacks several times a day to deplete the morale of the city, while the elite troops of the Northern and Western armies would recuperate and rest.

Taking advantage of his free time, Liu Daogui assembled a cavalry force of four thousand men.

Selected from the elite troops of the Western and Northern Prefectures, each with two horses, they were called the "Tiger Guard Army." Liu Huaimo and Liu Elang were appointed as cavalry generals, and three hundred men were formed as the "Armored Tiger Cavalry" using captured horses.

They also selected brave warriors from among the prisoners and those who had defected to the army of various ethnic groups to form a volunteer cavalry force of two thousand men, which was incorporated into the Tiger Guard Army as an auxiliary force.

All cavalry were directly under the command of Liu Daogui.

It belongs neither to the Western Prefecture nor the Northern Prefecture.

If horse breeding grounds are available in the future, Liu Daogui plans to equip all the elite troops of the Western and Northern Prefectures with warhorses to make up for the last remaining weakness.

Many of the veterans in the Northern and Western Garrisons were from the north and were skilled horsemen; many were even good at archery on horseback.

The six arts of a gentleman are rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics.

A thousand years ago, horsemanship and archery were the essential skills of Han men. Now, in these chaotic times of war, there are many soldiers who can ride horses.

However, having horses and men does not equate to having cavalry.

A lot of practice, training, and real-world experience are still needed.

Liu Daogui ordered them to go directly into Hebei to plunder, to learn warfare through war, and incidentally to give Tuoba Gui some amusement.

Tuoba Gui's 150,000-strong army has been stationed in Luoyang for more than a month, but has not yet made a move, and it is unknown what he is doing.

"Report! The Yan barbarian minister Yuan Zun and the prefect of Jingzhao, Yuan Miao, have crossed the city walls and surrendered to the general!" a scout reported.

"Oh? Please come quickly!"

Liu Daogui was overjoyed.

This is the first time in all the time that an official of this rank has defected to us after so long of fighting.

Yuan Zun and Yuan Miao were both confidants of Murong Chao. Their willingness to take such a great risk to leave the city and surrender indicates that the situation inside the city was dire.

"This humble subject pays his respects to the General."

"What crime have you two committed? Please rise." Liu Daogui helped the two men up.

"Murong Chao's power is gone. We have repeatedly advised him to surrender, but he has refused. We are all Jin people and cannot bear to fight against our motherland. We have no choice but to leave the city and surrender to the general in order to survive."

The two were extremely frank, which won Liu Daogui's favor.

"Both of you are learned men, and now you have abandoned darkness for light. Do you have any ideas on how to break through the city?"

Northern scholars, having struggled through the chaos of war, often possessed genuine talent and learning.

The two men exchanged a glance, and the elder, Yuan Zun, cupped his hands and said, "Murong Chao is cruel by nature. He is easily torn apart by chariots for even the slightest offense. No one in the city dares to rebel. General, your plan to win hearts and minds will surely fail."

Liu Daogui felt depressed.

Shi Hu was even more brutal back then, but the Later Zhao remained as stable as Mount Tai. Yao Yizhong, Fu Hong, Duan Kan, Zhai Bin and others were obedient under his rule, and the Jin people in the north were driven around by him like cattle and horses.

An army of 400,000 attacked the Former Yan, but was defeated by Murong Ke's 2,000 elite cavalry. They returned to Ye City, but still no one dared to rebel.

In this day and age, cruelty is not a flaw of a monarch; sometimes it is even a virtue.

Fu Jian was indeed merciful. After conquering a kingdom, he did not kill a single member of the enemy's royal family. Instead, he bestowed high-ranking official positions and generous rewards upon them. Despite the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Fei River, the foundation of the kingdom remained, and Lü Guang still had 100,000 troops in the Western Regions. However, rebellions broke out everywhere, and everyone turned against him...

Yuan Miao said, "To break through Guanggu, we must find someone to help us!"

"Who is it?" Liu Daogui seemed to see a glimmer of hope.

If the strategy of winning hearts and minds doesn't work, it will take at least six months to conquer Guanggu.

Fu Jian's 170,000-strong army endured more than a year of hardship at the gates of Xiangyang before finally breaching the city due to a traitor.

Yuan Miao said, "Zhang Gang, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, is skilled in building siege weapons, comparable to Lu Ban. He was the one who reinforced Guanggu City and built Murong Chao's palace."

"Is this person not in the city?" Since the two brothers mentioned this person, there must be a chance.

"Two months ago, before the siege was even started, the general was sent to seek help from the Qin state. Judging by the time, he should be returning soon. The general can order scouts and cavalry to search the Licheng and Liangzou areas; they will surely find something."

"Great!"

Liu Daogui immediately ordered Meng Ganzhi to search for this person with all his might.

Yuan Miao also drew a portrait, noting its physical features: long face, an arrow scar under the left eye, five feet seven inches tall, and an accent from the Xingyang area...

Luoyang.

Tuoba Gui wasn't unwilling to act, but he was held back by the forces of Mao Dezhu, Shen Qingzhi, Xiao Chengzhi, and Xin Gongjing.

Although Luoyang was in his hands, the Xiaohan Pass to the west, Yique Pass to the south, and Xuanyuan Pass and Hulao Pass to the east were all controlled by the Jin army.

Beyond these passes lie fortified cities such as Shancheng, Wancheng, Xuchang, Xingyang, and Huatai.

The Wei army was not good at attacking cities to begin with, and was at a loss for what to do.

Xin Gongjing alone was enough to give Tuoba Gui a headache. When he besieged Luoyang, this man held off his 100,000-strong army for half a year with only a few thousand soldiers.

"Are we just going to sit idly by and watch Liu Daogui destroy Southern Yan?" Tuoba Gui had a headache.

In the past, every time he marched south, the banks of the Yellow River would be flooded with surrenderers, but this time everything was calm, as if no one knew that he had led an army of 150,000 south.

"The only way forward is to launch a fierce attack on Hulao Pass. The forces at Hulao Pass number less than two thousand, and the garrison commander, Xiao Chengzhi, is an unknown subordinate. After breaking through Hulao Pass, we can take Xuchang directly, then Wancheng, occupy Yuzhou, and then march straight down to conquer Pengcheng, destroy Liu Daogui's foundation. The elite troops of the Jin Dynasty are all gathered in this man's hands. If we destroy this man, we can destroy the Jin Dynasty!" General Wang Jian, the Southern Expeditionary General, was beaming with pride.

It was as if the Central Plains were already within easy reach.

Tuoba Gui readily agreed: "I'll give you 50,000 troops, and you have ten days to take Hulao Pass, how about it?"

"This..." Wang Jian's animated expression froze on his face, but he quickly replaced it with a fawning smile. "Your Majesty is so powerful, wouldn't a mere Hulao Pass be a piece of cake?"

"Pah!" Tuoba Gui spat a mouthful of phlegm in his face.

Tuoba Gui knew all too well what Hulao Pass was. It was the place where Emperor Gaozu of Han and Xiang Yu fought for control of Chenggao Pass, resulting in seventy major battles and forty minor ones.

Knowing full well that Luoyang would be the forward base for Wei's future conquest of the Central Plains, the Jin army could not possibly fail to make preparations.

In recent years, thanks to Xiao Chengzhi's reinforcements, the situation has become even more perilous.

Located at the northern foot of Mount Song and on the banks of the Yellow River, bordering Mount Song to the south and the Yellow River to the north, the area is characterized by its intersecting mountains, forming a natural barrier that makes it virtually impregnable.

Tuoba Gui's cavalry was completely useless.

Yu Lidi, who was stationed in Luoyang, tried several times, but the Jin army's defenses were impenetrable.

At this moment, Changsun Fei cupped his hands and said, “In fact, Your Majesty need not be anxious. Guanggu City is well-fortified and cannot be taken in ten days. Yao Xing and Qiao Zong have joined forces and are poised to send troops to Jingzhou and Xiangyang. Our army can simply stand by and watch. If the battle begins in the west, we can march out of Xiaohan Road and take Nanyang. If the battle begins in the south, we can attack Yique and take Wancheng and Xuchang. Liu Daogui’s army will be isolated and surrounded by enemies on all sides. We will surely exhaust him and wait for him to lead his army back to reinforce. Then we can lead our elite cavalry to intercept and kill him halfway!”

Older gingers are more spicy.

Given the current situation, there is absolutely no need for the State of Wei to be in a hurry.

Southern Yan is small but strong, and Murong Chao is no ordinary person either. It is still unknown who will win this great battle.

Tuoba Gui nodded. "Your words are wise and insightful. Given the current situation, we should weaken the Northern Army by attacking Southern Yan. Order Changsun Song to send troops out of Ye City to intimidate Huatai and Puyang. Daxi Jin should send troops out of Bohai and lead his cavalry south to Qingzhou. We cannot allow Liu Daogui to easily break through Guanggu."

After Yu Yue was killed, Changsun Song became the governor of Yecheng and the General Who Guards the South.

Like Changsun Fei, he was a veteran official of three reigns. He took command of the army in place of his father at the age of fourteen and accumulated military merits. During the reign of Tuoba Shiyijian, he was granted the title of Southern Lord and became a founding hero.

This person was one of the few members of the Xianbei royal family who was skilled in governance.

During his three years guarding Ye City, he gathered refugees, encouraged farming and sericulture, and revitalized Ji Province.

He enjoys extremely high prestige in Hebei.

With Changsun Song and Daxi Jin launching attacks from two sides, the pressure on the Central Plains has increased even more.

After all, most of the elite troops of the Northern Army were transferred to Qingzhou.

After discussing military affairs for a while, Tuoba Gui felt even more exhausted. He took a few pills of Wushi San and ended the military meeting. Just as he was about to go to sleep, his son Tuoba Shao brought in a bowl of medicine. "Father, it's time to drink your medicine."

Tuoba Gui stared at his son, feeling that he was somewhat different from before. He was naturally suspicious, and seeing the medicine made him even more suspicious. However, with armored guards around him, he didn't pay too much attention to it. "You drink it first."

Tuoba Shao said, "Father, are you perhaps suspicious of me?"

"Just drink it when I tell you to, why say anything more?" Tuoba Gui's temper flared up as well.

Tuoba Shao picked up the bowl, took a sip, and calmly looked at Tuoba Gui.

Tuoba Gui also stared at him with wide eyes. The father and son stared at each other strangely for half an incense stick's time, and nothing happened.

"Go." Tuoba Gui waved his hand.

Tuoba Shao bowed and left, glancing back at the medicine as he went out.

Tuoba Gui, however, remained unmoved...

(End of this chapter)