Emperor Zhaolie of the late Han Dynasty: Rising to power in Liaoxi

Liu Bei was puzzled, wondering what he had done to offend his classmate.

He only gave a brief explanation of the defensive matters!

The text describes how to dispose of the warhorses, leather armor, weapons, and other supplies obtained in the battle, as well as how to bury the corpses and prevent disease.

He hurriedly spurred his horse back to Yangle City.

As dusk deepened, the north wind once again whipped up snowflakes.

Liu Bei did not stop along the way, hurrying as fast as he could, and finally caught up with Gongsun Zan halfway.

No matter what Liu Bei said, Gongsun Zan ignored him.

The thought of two thousand Xianbei soldiers scattered throughout western Liaoning, burning, killing, and looting, meant that the border defenses of western Liaoning were facing an unprecedented test.

Liu Bei didn't bother to pay attention to Gongsun Zan's emotions and pondered a solution on his own.

The two dared not march too fast on a snowy night!

By the time they arrived at the main hall of the prefectural government, it was already dawn.

When Hou Chong heard that the Xianbei had invaded and that Xiping Fort was in danger, he was both shocked and anxious. Upon seeing that the two men were covered in frost and snow and their clothes were stained with blood, he immediately got up and asked about the battle situation.

Liu Bei first reported in detail the situation of the Xianbei troops who had invaded, numbering about two thousand, and who had scattered and plundered more than twenty forts in Yangle and Linyu counties.

Finally, he said, "Xiping is just a small group of Xianbei cavalry; the main force is still roaming within the two counties. If not handled properly, it could lead to a major disaster."

Gongsun Zan, with his fiery temperament, stepped forward and shouted in a booming voice, "My lord! These Xianbei dogs and sheep dare to invade my borders and kill my officials and people!"

"Zan requests permission to send troops to battle, directly attack their main force, and annihilate them all, as a warning to others!"

He was full of vigor and fighting spirit, eager to win a battle and wash away the frustration of his past failures.

Hou Chong frowned slightly, about to speak, but Liu Bei stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Brother Bo Gui is brave and fierce, and I admire him greatly."

"However, given the current situation in western Liaoning, a bloody battle is not advisable."

Gongsun Zan glared at him, ready to retort.

At this moment, Yan Gang, Zou Dan, Shan Jing, and others who had heard the news arrived.

Hou Chong repeated the message.

All eyes turned to Liu Bei.

He remained calm and slowly said, "The two thousand Xianbei were scattered and plundering. They did not seek to conquer cities and territories, but only to seize grain and people. Once they had enough, they would leave."

"Our army can only muster less than two thousand troops, the local militia are still in training, and our weapons are insufficient."

"If we take the initiative to go out of the city to fight in the open and confront them head-on, we may attract the main force of the Xianbei to gather. If that happens, the casualties will be heavy, and we will damage the foundation of Liaoxi."

Hou Chong frowned: "According to Xuande's intention?"

Liu Bei's voice was calm and steady, each word clear: "My strategy is to rely on the fortified positions to defend ourselves, and to pursue without annihilating the enemy."

"Based on the beacon towers and fortresses that have been repaired in various places, the local militia should first defend themselves and wait for reinforcements."

"Send elite troops to reinforce from different directions, driving them away without killing them, prioritizing the protection of the people and the security of the fortress, without seeking to kill many heads."

"Now that the Liaoxi region has sufficient funds and grain, and the people's strength is gradually recovering, we only need to steadily support the people, train the troops, and strengthen defenses."

"Within a year, our army will be able to crush the Xianbei head-on."

"The worst thing to do at this moment is to be impatient; trying to fight a stronger opponent with a weaker one will only result in more losses than gains."

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

Prefect Shan Jing was the first to stand up and express his support.

Subsequently, both Zou Dan, the commander of the fortified position, and Yan Gang, the commander of the capital, expressed their agreement with Liu Bei's opinion.

Although Gongsun Zan was unwilling, he knew that these bigwigs had already spoken, and he had no say in the matter. His desire for power grew even stronger.

As for the fact that western Liaoning is too weak to withstand a Pyrrhic victory, haha, what an outdated view!

Hou Chong stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then slammed his hand on the table and declared, "Xuande is a wise and experienced strategist; what he says is absolutely right!"

"We will follow your plan, adopting a defensive strategy and prioritizing the protection of the people!"

He immediately ordered the mobilization of troops:

Yan Gang led 800 soldiers from the prefecture to rush to the aid of Yangle County.

Zou Dan led 400 soldiers from the border fortress and local militia to guard the beacon towers along the Linyu County line and rush to the aid.

Gongsun Zan led two hundred of his new recruits on raids and provided mobile support.

The three armies totaled 1,400 men, with no main offensive force, their sole mission being to expel the enemy and protect the people.

Upon receiving the order, the three generals immediately mustered their troops and marched out of the city.

As for the remaining counties such as Lingzhi and Feiru, they are located on the west side of Yanshan Mountain and do not face the threat of Xianbei attacks.

And this battle unfolded exactly as Liu Bei had predicted.

The two thousand Xianbei cavalrymen, who were originally there to hunt for supplies, were immediately disheartened when they saw the strong fortresses, the beacon fires, and the swift arrival of the Han army to reinforce them.

In Yangle and Linyu counties, there were more than 20 forts. Because Liu Bei had previously repaired the fort walls, maintained the beacon towers, and trained local militia, most of them were able to defend themselves by closing their doors. Once the beacon fire was lit, reinforcements would arrive within half a day.

Furthermore, a local militia, relying on its strategic location, single-handedly drove away a small group of invading Xianbei, a feat that became a widely praised story.

Throughout the entire invasion, only the two most remote fortresses were looted before rescue could be provided; the rest were all preserved, with very few casualties among officials and civilians.

The news sent shockwaves through western Liaoning.

The people spread the word: if it weren't for Liu Bingcao's earlier leadership in repairing the fort, training the soldiers, and setting up the beacon towers, countless families would have been ruined and killed that winter.

Everywhere, people are grateful for Liu Bei's kindness.

The saying, "Liu Junshi is a second father to western Liaoning!" gradually spread throughout the five counties.

Inside Yangle City, Hou Chong, after hearing the reports from all sides, clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Xuande's strategy is better than a thousand troops!"

"If it weren't for your prior arrangements, Liaoxi would have suffered a great calamity during this Xianbei invasion!"

Liu Bei bowed slightly and said humbly, "This is the result of Your Excellency's decisiveness, the generals' hard work, and the people's unity. I dare not claim credit for it all."

"I only wish to maintain steady operations from now on, so that the barbarian cavalry will never again easily trample on an inch of my western Liaoning territory."

After this battle, Liu Bei firmly established his reputation among the people, officials, and the military in Liaoxi.

Yan Gang, Zou Dan, Shan Jing, and others became increasingly impressed.

Prefect Hou Chong regarded him as a trusted confidant.

After the Xianbei invasion subsided, the five counties in western Liaoning gradually returned to their former order.

Liu Bei continued his previous work: rebuilding beacon towers, repairing garrison fortresses, training local militia, and reclaiming wasteland.

After this battle, Liu Bei's prestige in Liaoxi soared, and the people were grateful for his kindness.

Everyone in the prefecture and the border army respected this young but far-sighted military clerk.

On this day, Liu Bei had just returned from inspecting the beacon towers in Linyu County when Hou Chong summoned him to the main hall of the prefect's mansion.

Hou Chong, seeing his travel-worn appearance, first smiled and asked him to sit down, then instructed his servants to serve him hot tea.

Then he spoke up, saying, "Xuande, your recent inspections of the border defenses in various counties, often venturing hundreds of miles into the wilderness, with only two or three clerks by your side, are really inappropriate."

"Although Liaoxi is temporarily at peace, Xianbei cavalry and mountain bandits still roam around. If something goes wrong, it will be a huge loss for Liaoxi."

Liu Bei put down his teacup, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your concern, Lord. I am cautious in my actions and also possess some martial skills, so there is nothing to worry about."

"That won't do!"

Hou Chong waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument, "You now command the entire prefecture's military affairs, including relief and local militia matters. You are the pillar of Liaoxi. How can you not have personal guards by your side?"

"After some thought, I have decided to assign you ten personal guards to protect your safety on a daily basis and to serve you at your beck and call."

Liu Bei felt a warmth in his heart and was somewhat moved. It seemed that it was time to start cultivating his own team.