Chapter 68: Luring by Pretending to be Weak

  The first year of Yuanping, October.

  Luo Zheng led his army out of Luoyang and marched west through Hangu Pass into Guanzhong.

  It is said that before a large army moves, food and forage go first.

  This is not Kanto, can't continue to fight and plunder everywhere.

  Luoyang is in a state of devastation and needs to be revived, but food and fodder are extremely scarce. It's not an easy task to gather 10,000 dan of military rations.

  Luo Zhen waited for nearly a month before the 10,000 dan of military rations were assembled. It took another seven or eight days to gather the civilians, and then he led his army out of Luoyang. The 8,000-strong army escorted 5,000 civilians, driving over 1,000 large carts, advancing majestically towards Guanzhong.

  Three thousand cavalry and five thousand infantry, this is all the troops Dong Zhuo gave to Lu Zhi.

  The three thousand cavalrymen were old troops who followed Luo Zheng's conquest of the northeast, while the five thousand infantrymen were originally soldiers from the Northern Army.

  This is a truly seasoned and elite force, once with great fame and prestige, shaking the world.

  The Northern Army of Luoyang has always been the most elite central government army of the Great Han, with a brilliant past. Whether it was suppressing foreign tribes or quickly quelling the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Northern Army achieved great military exploits and was the sharpest weapon of the Great Han court.

  Unfortunately, the incompetence of the Han court buried this iron-blooded army.

  When Dong Zhuo entered the capital, the Northern Army became a pawn in his hands again.

  In the battle against the coalition forces of the various lords of Kanto, the Northern Army was sent to fight at the forefront. After several fierce battles, 20,000 of the most elite Northern soldiers were heavily casualties, and now only 5,000 infantrymen are left.

  Dong Zhuo assigned 5,000 northern troops to Lu Bu, but it wasn't out of kindness.

  The composition of the Western Liang Army is very complex. When Dong Zhuo first rose to power, the Longzhou Army was not large. After controlling Luoyang, he successively absorbed the imperial army and Lü Bu's Pingzhou Army, with the central government army being the largest.

  Not only are there 20,000 iron-clad northern troops, but also 80,000 new troops from Xiyuan.

  This situation of a strong minister and a weak lord can be said to be the greatest hidden trouble for the Western Liang military.

  Dong Zhuo had been constantly replacing his troops, and when facing the allied forces of various lords, the first to be sent into battle were the reorganized imperial army and Lü Bu's Bingzhou army, and it was also the Luoyang army and the Bingzhou army that suffered the heaviest casualties.

  The contradictions between the three major military factions can be said to have been a long time coming.

  If it weren't for Xu Rong and other Luoyang military leaders being relatively loyal to Dong Zhuo, they would have been ruthlessly purged long ago.

  Despite this, the vast Luoyang army was still split into two parts, one in the east and one in the west.

  Now another 5,000 northern troops will be allocated to Luo Zheng, which is further weakening the Luoyang military system, but with a milder approach.

  Because of the need to transport grain and fodder, the army's progress was extremely slow.

  The army marched sixty miles a day and walked for more than half a month before arriving at Chen Cang.

  After several days of marching, the three armies' soldiers and the conscripted local civilians and draft animals were all exhausted.

  Luo Zheng immediately ordered the army to set up camp in Chen Cang and rest for three days before continuing their journey.

  The Great Hall of the People

  Xun Yu was reading at night, when the curtain was lifted and Luo Zhen walked in with a bow.

  Xu Zhu poked his head in and took a look, then held up his sword and stood guard outside the tent.

  "Long live the General!"

  Xun Yu stood up, cupped his hands together in a salute, and stepped aside.

  It has been nearly half a year since Xun Yu was dragged into the army, and he has already resigned himself to his fate.

  It seems that I will be heading to Liangzhou soon, and the chance of returning to the Central Plains in this lifetime is likely to be extremely slim.

  Lu Zhen sat on the soft couch, drank a cup of tea, and pondered for half a day before staring intently at Xun Yu, saying: "Dong Zhuo is a traitor to the country! Previously, this general helped him do evil, but it was actually unavoidable. Now that I have left Luoyang, as a Han minister, my duty is to revive the Han dynasty and support the people. I wonder if you can help me, calm the chaos in the world?"

  Xun Yu remained silent, secretly thinking that this fellow had finally revealed his true face.

  Lu Xun gazed at Xun Yu for a long time, then suddenly sighed: "Wen Ruo is a great talent, and I have always respected him. I originally wanted to ask Mr. Wen to help me pacify the bandits and restore the Han dynasty, but unfortunately my methods are not entirely upright, which makes it difficult for Wen Ruo to put his mind at ease. Never mind, a forced melon is not sweet, since Wen Ruo does not want to help me, I will send someone to escort you and your family back to Yingchuan!"

  Having said that, he stood up and left the tent with big strides.

  Before long, hundreds of cavalrymen escorted a horse-drawn carriage out of the military camp and back along the way they came.

  In the carriage, Xun Yu's wife, Madame Chen, was on tenterhooks.

  It wasn't until the carriage had traveled several miles that he finally put his mind at ease and let out a long sigh of relief.

  Chen smiled slightly and said, "I can finally return to Yingchuan!"

  Xun Yu sighed and said, "You're rejoicing too early, madam."

  "Chen's wife was astonished and said: 'What do you mean by these words, husband?'"

  Xun Yu sighed and said, "Luo Zhen has the ambition of a hero, for such a person, in order to achieve his goal, he will stop at nothing, if he has the ability but cannot be used by him, he must kill him to eliminate future troubles, how can he let his husband leave safely?"

  "This..."

  Mr. Chen's face suddenly changed, and he trembled with voice: "Husband, you are not speaking alarmist words, are you?"

  Xun Yu did not lower his voice, and said calmly: "It's not an exaggeration. At most, we'll go out for ten miles. If he doesn't turn back, these Western Liang cavalrymen who are escorting us should take his head back to report."

  "This..."

  Mr. Chen was so frightened that his face turned pale and he didn't know what to do.

  Outside the carriage.

  Several Western Liang military officers also heard Xun Yu's words and immediately exchanged suspicious glances.

  Xun Yu was indeed not wrong, early on when they came out, they received a secret order from Luo Zheng, if Xun Yu did not turn back within ten miles, they would behead him on the spot and bring his head back to report.

  But how did Xun Yu know this?

  The military schools looked at me with a gaze, all of them didn't know what to do.

  "Halt!"

  Just then, Xun Yu finally spoke up from inside the carriage.

  The Western Liang soldiers hastily reined in their horses and looked at a young Western Liang officer standing beside them.

  The little school urged the horse forward and asked loudly: "I don't know what instructions the master has?"

  Xun Yu didn't show his face, and instead said lightly: "Let's go back!"

  The little schoolmaster muttered to himself and didn't ask much, hastily ordering them to turn back.

  Chen Cang, Central Army's large camp.

  Ruo Zheng had just returned from inspecting the military camp when a personal guard came to report, "General, Xun Yu has come back again!"

  "Are you back?"

  Luo Zheng's mouth corner revealed a hint of a smile, "That's good, General Ben will go ask Hou then."

  Xun Yu had just been led into a tent when Luo Zhen entered.

  "Why did the teacher go and come back?"

  Luo Zheng pretended to be puzzled and asked: "But isn't the road not peaceful, with bandits causing trouble?"

  Xun Yu was speechless at this guy's blatant lies, with 80,000 troops nearby, even if there were bandits, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble at this time! He cupped his hands and replied: "Without the general's order, I don't dare leave on my own!"

  "Lu Zheng said with a foolish expression: 'What does this mean? Didn't I already send someone to escort you back to Luoyang?'"

  Xun Yu smiled faintly and did not expose Luo Zhen's hypocritical face. He spoke directly, "Yu has been worried for several months, thinking of the words of the former sage. Since ancient times, it has been difficult to be both loyal and righteous. Although I have a heart that is willing to be loyal to the Han dynasty, the country is in chaos, the vassals are standing together, the imperial power is not recovering, and there is no way to report to the country. General, at the critical moment of life and death, you gave up your life to save your young son, and your kindness and righteousness cover the sky. If I were to leave now, I would be accused of being ungrateful and disloyal. Therefore, I can only sacrifice myself to protect my reputation. It's just that my talent and virtue are shallow, and I'm afraid I will disappoint General's high expectations."

  "Great, too good!"

  Luo Zheng was overjoyed and beyond expectation, clapping his hands excitedly again and again.

  Since he came to this chaotic world, in order to live a better life, he can only rely on himself step by step. After returning to Luoyang, in order to cope with the complex situation of the imperial court and intrigue with others, it can be said that he exhausted his efforts.

  Xu Chu and Zhao Yun were indeed brave, but they were not good at strategy and tactics.

  Li Meng and Wang Fang are also hopeless, when something happens, there is no one to discuss it with.

  The situation in Liangzhou is even more critical than in Luoyang, and it's harder to deal with.

  To stand firm in Liangzhou is not just a matter of having military strength; it's not that simple.

  Besides, Ma Teng and Han Sui are both stronger than him. If he uses force to solve the problem, things will only get worse.

  At this time, what is most needed is a mastermind who can make plans for oneself.

  Although Luo Zheng has extraordinary insight and a deep understanding of human nature, he is not a god after all, and there are still things that he cannot consider.

  Now with Xun Yu, a king-assisting talent, he can make up for the lack of personnel under his account.