Volume 1: Kyoto Winds and Clouds Chapter 45: Wu Huan Mountain, Liu Zhang Advances His Troops

  Wuhuan Mountain, the old nest of Wuhuan people, so Wuhuan people are also called Wuhuan people, they take the mountain as their number, this mountain is north of Khorchin Grassland.

  Qiu Liju, the king of Wuhuan, has been in power for eight years since the death of the old king. He is very sharp-eyed and sees that the Han Dynasty is already declining, so he changes the policy of the old king to be close to the Great Han on the surface, and his actions become more and more excessive. The previous Wuhuan old king only harassed Youzhou, but he invaded Jizhou, Qingzhou, and even crossed the Yellow River into Xuzhou!

  Just as Quli Ju was feeling triumphant and thought the Han people were weak and couldn't withstand a single blow, a certain unit shattered his illusion. What kind of unit was it? Quli Ju couldn't help but feel a little afraid! He had never seen any unit that could be as quiet and ferocious as that one. Those people weren't human, they were a group of devils from hell. They seemed to fear nothing, and with just one military order, they would immediately turn into killing machines.

  Quliujian was afraid, he heard that the troops were under the command of Youzhou Governor, and generally only active near Jixian County. After knowing this news, he no longer dared to let his own troops approach Jixian County in Youzhou. Every time the Wuhuan people raided Caogu Valley, they started from Puyang and went straight into Qingji.

  It's deep autumn again, and every year at this time, the Wuhuan people come to Da Han to cut grass. Because in the spring, livestock and horses begin to grow, in the summer and autumn, it is a time of lush water grass and strong horses and cattle, only from late autumn to early winter is the most leisurely time for the Wuhuan people, and the livestock and horses are the strongest. Every year at this time, no matter what the relationship between the Wuhuan people and Da Han is like, the King of Wuhuan will lead the Wuhuan iron cavalry to invade Da Han, but this year, Qiu Liju had a bad premonition!

  Every year, the grassland has not started yet, and the Wuhuan is already in an uproar. The common people of Wuhuan are fine, but the nobles of Wuhuan have become addicted to plundering money, grain, and women from the Han Dynasty. In the hearts of the Wuhuan nobles, the bodies of Han women are indispensable. Even if Wuhuan women are more beautiful, they cannot compare to Han women in the eyes of those Wuhuan nobles, at least not in terms of fragrance, because Wuhuan people do not like taking baths!

  Originally, Quli Ju was still able to hold on, but soon he found that some large tribes did not listen to his advice and had secretly sent troops. A large army advancing is generally stronger than a few small teams acting alone. Helpless, Quli Ju could only gather his forces to attack Caoao Valley. Unfortunately, Quli Ju's wise decision was seen by the tribal leaders as a sign of fear and avoidance of battle.

  In an unknown valley outside Youyang City, Liu Zhang was stationed inside, and even the governor of Youyang couldn't think that the army of the Governor of Youzhou was under his eyelids. Now Liu Zhang is sitting in the middle of the military account, listening to a small school report on military affairs. After the small school went down, Liu Zhang knocked on the case with his hand: "What do you think? Any opinions can be spoken directly!"

  Huang Zhong, being one of Liu Zhang's old ministers, was the first to speak out: "Young master, the Wuhuan people are powerful. Although we have often clashed with them before, at that time we had city walls to rely on. Now that we're fighting in the open field, our chances of winning aren't great. Shouldn't we think of a way to nibble away at them?"

  "Silkworms eating away?" Liu Zhang couldn't help but admire Huang Zhong in his heart. In a situation where the enemy is strong and we are weak, silkworms eating away is the best method. It's worth noting that when Peng Yue was unable to defeat Xiang Yu, he used the silkworms eating away method. Later, this method was developed and glorified by our great leader, creating the famous guerrilla warfare, which defeated those invaders and left them in disarray.

  "General Huang Zhong is right!" Zhao Yun stood up immediately after Huang Zhong finished speaking and said, "However, the effect of nibbling away is a bit slow! In my opinion, it's better to send people to nibble away on one side while sending others to launch a surprise attack on Wuhuan Mountain. Didn't Huo Qubing and Wei Qing use this method in the past?"

  Liu Zhang nodded, most of the foreign tribes were restrained in front and ambushed from behind. Of course, those who succeeded in the ambush would become famous generals for generations to come. Like Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and later Su Dingfang, they all became famous because of their surprise attacks on the enemy's rear. However, there were also unlucky ones like Li Guang, who failed in his sneak attack and was punished instead. Therefore, ambushing the enemy from behind is not something that ordinary people can do.

  After Zhao Yun finished speaking, Liu Zhang turned his gaze to Zhang Ren and Huang Xu. As for Zhang Fei, he was not within Liu Zhang's consideration, if asked, he would probably say: "Big brother lets me fight however I want, so that's how I'll fight!"

  Huang Xu and Zhang Ren had similar opinions to Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun. Liu Zhang looked at the crowd and said, "You've all forgotten one thing! It's right to hold back the barbarians and launch a surprise attack from behind, but what if the barbarians scatter and come out to plunder in small groups? What should we do then?"

  Huang Zhong and the others didn't forget what Liu Zhang said, they just couldn't do anything about it. You see, the Wuhuan people had nearly 100,000 troops, but they only had 20,000. The surprise attack and containment had already made their forces stretched thin, if they were to divide their troops again, wouldn't that be the same as sending themselves to death? So, they subconsciously ignored this issue!

  Liu Zhang saw that everyone was silent, knowing they had concerns. So Liu Zhang stood up and ordered: "Listen to the order! Huang Zhong, I command you to lead Zhao Yun, Zhang Ren, and Huang Xu's three divisions in Youzhou to contain the Wuhuan people. Remember, do not hard resist the Wuhuan army. If the Wuhuan army advances collectively, you will harass them; if they act separately, let Zhao Yun's division ambush and kill them. The 16-character guideline is: Enemy advances, I retreat; enemy camps, I harass; enemy tires, I strike; enemy retreats, I pursue!

  "We will obey the order!" Huang Zhong and others immediately stood up to receive orders, they were all wise generals, after hearing Liu Zhang's 16-word guideline, their eyes lit up instantly, and their gaze at Liu Zhang also became more fervent.

  "Big brother, what should I do!" Zhang Fei was anxious, he was the most warlike element, but Liu Zhang didn't arrange any work for him, which made Zhang Fei's heart feel like it was being scratched by a cat's paw!

  "What's the hurry, I haven't finished yet!" Liu Zhang glared at Zhang Fei, and Zhang Fei didn't dare to speak again. It's funny to say that Zhang Fei, this fierce man, whether in history or now, is very afraid of his so-called "big brother". Liu Zhang shook his head and said: "Han Sheng, you all remember, no matter what means are used, the most important thing is to defeat the Wuhuan people with the smallest number of casualties. Don't have any scruples, the more despicable the means, the better! I'll see your skills!"

  "Gentlemen, rest assured that I will not disappoint your expectations!" Huang Zhong glanced at Zhao Yun and the others, discovering that these children in their early teens had unexpectedly resolute faces. The less-than-thirty-year-old Huang Zhong couldn't help but shake his head, thinking to himself: It seems I've grown old!

  "Yi De, Shi Ah!" Liu Zhang ordered Huang Zhong again and said: "You two lead the troops and follow me to Wu Huan Mountain!"

  "Yes!" Zhang Fei's face was filled with excitement, but Shi Ah remained expressionless. Unlike Zhang Fei, Shi Ah's mission was to protect Liu Zhang!

  "Are you going to Wuhuan Mountain, young master?" Huang Zhong was startled in his heart. The battle against the Wuhuan in Youzhou was already perilous enough; Wuhuan Mountain was the lair of the Wuhuan people. Liu Zhang only brought Zhang Fei and Shi Aluo, two generals, with less than 8,000 men. If anything unexpected happened, Huang Zhong would not be able to escape punishment. Therefore, Huang Zhong said: "I'll go to Wuhuan Mountain instead!"

  "Han Sheng, I know you're worried that it's dangerous for me to go this time, but think about it carefully, Wuhuan Mountain is safer than Youzhou!" Liu Zhang smiled and said: "When Qiu Liji comes to attack Cao Valley, he will naturally bring out all the strong men from his tribe. At most, some people will be left to guard the old nest, but how many people can he leave? Most of Wuhuan Mountain are the elderly, weak, sick, women and children! The more you defeat Qiu Liji in Youzhou, the safer I am on Wuhuan Mountain. This is an opportunity to make a name for ourselves, aren't you trying to compete with me?"

  "I won't dare!" Huang Zhong heard Liu Zhang say this, he thought carefully and indeed it was this reason. The Wuhuan people were a tribal system, the Wuhuan Mountain dwellers were all the main forces of Qiu Li Ju's clan. Now that Qiu Li Ju had brought 100,000 troops to come, even if there were still troops in Wuhuan Mountain, they would be limited in number, and other tribes did not dare to approach Wuhuan Mountain, even if they had troops, it would be like trying to put out a fire with water from afar. If Liu Zhang was fast enough, he could take down the Wuhuan people's lair before those tribes reacted! In comparison, launching a surprise attack on Wuhuan Mountain was indeed safer than blocking the Wuhuan people in Youzhou. But what Huang Zhong did not expect was that Liu Zhang had no intention of quickly taking down Wuhuan Mountain, but rather planned to take down one small tribe at a time!

  After the order was given, Liu Zhang and Huang Zhong parted ways. Although Huang Zhong and others were worried about Liu Zhang, no one said a word more. Because Liu Zhang had already given the order, whether to win or lose, soldiers must obey orders. They could only secretly instruct Zhang Fei and Shi Ah to take good care of Liu Zhang, even if all the soldiers lost their light, Liu Zhang would still return safely. However, Shi Ah and Zhang Fei were very disdainful of Huang Zhong and others, in Shi Ah and Zhang Fei's heart, Liu Zhang was invincible!

  From Yuyang, exit Pinggu and then pass through Chifeng to enter the Khorchin Grassland. As soon as they left the Great Wall, Liu Zhang immediately sent out a large number of scouts. Outside the Great Wall, there were not many Wuhuan people, but more Han civilians. Of course, that's no longer the case now. In the few years when Qiu Li Ju was in Chashen Valley, the Han civilians outside the Great Wall were either taken away by Qiu Li Ju or hid inside the pass, and some even escaped to Jiangdong.

  "Report!" A scout came running from a distance, reining in his horse before Liu Zhang and said: "I report to the general, ahead we've discovered a small tribe of Wuhuan people, about a thousand men!"

  "This is the first tribe encountered by the great army after entering the prairie. Liu Zhang smiled and said, 'Yi De, you like to fight, so this small tribe will be handed over to you! Remember, no matter old or weak, women or children, do not let anyone go, only leave cattle, sheep and horses!'"

  "Don't worry, big brother!" Zhang Fei swung his long spear and led his troops away.

  Looking at the long spear in Zhang Fei's hand, Liu Zhong was a bit entangled. Why did Liu Bei have someone send horses and money when he started his army, even sending good iron, but he couldn't find a good blacksmith? Liu Zhong decided that when he returned, he would first find Su Shuang and Zhang Shi Ping to buy the good iron and horses from them, so as not to let Liu Bei, that big-eared thief, take advantage of him!

  (Today's second update, thank you for the reward from Dance Dynamic Miracle!)