Early February, Yan Province.
Jibei State, Lu City.
This place had once been the main base of the Qihuo Army.
It was now garrisoned by the general Sui Gu and was also the final stop on Zhang Jing’s inspection tour.
On a city wall tower.
“Sui Gu.”
Looking at the newly rebuilt battlements and the rows of trebuchets, Zhang Jing nodded in satisfaction.
“Along this entire journey, I’ve inspected more than a dozen defensive positions. Among them all, only Lu City under your command can truly be called impregnable. Even an army of a hundred thousand would find it extremely difficult to take.”
“You flatter me, my lord!” Sui Gu hurriedly replied.
“In truth, much of this city’s defensive construction was completed by General Wang Du. Since arriving here, I have merely carried out some repairs. I am unworthy of such praise.”
“No need to be so modest.” Walking ahead, Zhang Jing waved his hand.
“I am quite familiar with Lu City myself. Its present state is indeed due to Minister Wang’s contributions, but your efforts are no less significant.”
“According to reports from our messengers, General Zhang of the Heishan Army intends to form an alliance with Gongsun Zan to resist Yuan Shao together.”
“Unless something unexpected happens, when the Han forces advance into Yan Province, the Han troops stationed in Qing Province will likely not be among them.”
“With Lu City’s strong defenses and Ren County and Zhu’a County serving as shields, there will probably be very little fighting here.”
“You can devote more attention to training the troops and supporting Linyi and Dong’e.”
Linyi Ford was less than a hundred li from Lu County.
Dong’e was only about two hundred li away.
Even if the Heishan Army allied with Gongsun Zan, they would still remain at a disadvantage against Yuan Shao.
One major reason was Gongsun Zan’s two disastrous defeats.
Another was that Gongsun Zan was constrained by Liu Yu.
Under such circumstances, the troops Gongsun Zan had stationed in Qing Province had no spare strength to launch an offensive into Yan Province.
Ever since receiving this intelligence, Zhang Jing’s attention had shifted to Tao Qian, who was stationed at Fagan.
After all, Tao Qian was Yuan Shu’s ally.
“I understand, General!” After a moment of thought, Sui Gu respectfully cupped his fists.
“Please rest assured, my lord. With a single command from you, I can lead five thousand brothers and reach Linyi within half a day.”
“I believe you.” Zhang Jing patted Sui Gu on the shoulder.
Marching a hundred li in a single day was by no means common.
Among the generals of this era, Xiahou Yuan was certainly one of the most renowned for rapid marches.
Historical records noted that he once covered five hundred li in three days and a thousand li in six days.
Such marching speeds were astonishing even by the standards of the entire pre-modern era.
Thus, Sui Gu’s claim of covering a hundred li in half a day was not impossible.
“Report!” Just as Sui Gu was feeling moved, a soldier hurried forward and respectfully saluted.
“My lord, the military adviser has sent urgent intelligence!”
With that, he removed a bamboo tube from his back and presented it with both hands.
“You’ve worked hard.” Taking the tube, Zhang Jing patted the messenger’s shoulder.
“Go get some rest.”
“It was nothing, my lord. This subordinate takes his leave!”
The messenger’s face flushed with excitement.
Somewhat tongue-tied, he bowed respectfully before withdrawing.
“Yuan Shu has moved his troops?” Zhang Jing pulled the letter from the bamboo tube.
After reading it, he fell into thought.
A moment later, he shook his head and laughed.
“Yuan Shu certainly has quite the appetite. Isn’t he afraid of choking himself?”
Even Zhang Jing had not expected it.
Yuan Shu had actually dispatched troops into Chenliu, planning to advance through Dong Commandery and Jiyin, forming a semi-encirclement and striking directly at Zhang Jing’s heartland.
The move completely caught him off guard.
At that moment, Zhang Jing could not help but wonder:
Is Yuan Shu going through some kind of rebellious phase?
Is his whole strategy just doing the unexpected?
Then again, this was Yuan Shu.
The famed “Skeleton King of the Eastern Han” and the “Forklift Emperor of the Late Han.”
“My lord,” Sui Gu asked curiously, “does the strategist’s letter say that Yuan Shu has launched an offensive?”
“Indeed.” Zhang Jing looked completely relaxed.
“Unless something unexpected occurs, Yuan Shu’s army will assemble at Chenliu by the middle of the month and begin its siege by month’s end.”
“My lord, I request permission to fight!” Sui Gu’s expression turned solemn as he respectfully saluted.
“Calm down. What battle are you asking for?” Zhang Jing shot him a glance and replied calmly, “The war in Yan Province has only just begun. The situation is still unclear.”
“If Yuan Shu comes to attack, Guan Hai and the central army will deal with him.”
“You only need to focus on training the troops.”
“If reinforcements are required, a messenger will naturally arrive with orders.”
“There is no need to be so impatient. There will be plenty of battles in the future.”
“Rest assured, my lord!” Upon hearing this, Sui Gu visibly relaxed and respectfully replied, “This subordinate will remember your teachings well. The brothers have never slackened in their training, not even for a single day.”
“Good.” Zhang Jing smiled and nodded.
“On the battlefield, only a strong body allows a man to kill the enemy more effectively and protect himself more reliably.”
“As the saying goes: sweat more in training, bleed less in battle.”
“Training is indeed hard, but compared to losing your life on the battlefield, causing your comrades grief and bringing tears to your family’s eyes…”
“The difference between the two is obvious.”
“If you haven’t gone to the battlefield, don’t feel regret. Instead, make sure the brothers cherish this hard-earned time to strengthen themselves, accumulating strength for future success. Do you understand?”
“This subordinate understands!” Sui Gu took a deep breath.
His face was filled with determination as he respectfully cupped his fists and shouted.
He felt that his lord’s words made perfect sense.
He immediately resolved to increase training time in the future.
As long as they don’t train to death, train them like they’re about to die.
“Good that you understand.” Zhang Jing nodded slightly.
“Let’s leave it at that. Yuan Shu has already sent proclamations throughout the land, declaring his intention to campaign against Yan Province. I won’t be staying in Lu City any longer.”
With that, Zhang Jing turned and strode away.
Dian Wei led a group of soldiers closely behind him.
“This subordinate respectfully sees my lord off!”
Facing Zhang Jing’s departing figure, Sui Gu cupped his fists and shouted loudly.
“We respectfully bid farewell to our lord!”
The soldiers guarding the city walls echoed the cry in unison.
……………..
Meanwhile, in Ji Province.
Wei Commandery, Neihuang County.
By the banks of the former Yellow River, in the Cao Army’s camp.
Inside Cao Cao’s command tent, the gathered generals wore grave expressions and remained silent.
Lying on his couch, Cao Cao stared at the proclamation in his hand.
His face was frighteningly gloomy.
“What a Yuan Gonglu!” His face pale, Cao Cao gritted his teeth.
“What a son of the Yuan clan of Four Generations and Three Excellencies. I always knew he was shortsighted. I always knew he was foolish.”
“But what I never imagined…was that he could be foolish to this extent!”
“He nearly drove me to death with his stupidity!”
“And what sort of thing is Jin Shang supposed to be?”
“Does he really think that by acting under Jin Shang’s name, he can easily take Yan Province for himself?”
At this moment, Cao Cao was close to losing his mind.
After Yuan Shu’s proclamation was issued, not only had Zhang Jing seen through his intentions, but Cao Cao had as well.
However, Yuan Shu’s route through Chenliu and then Dong Commandery made his target abundantly clear.
He was coming for Cao Cao.
Even if Cao Cao was no longer the Governor of Yan Province, he was still the court-appointed Administrator of Dong Commandery.
Yuan Shu’s actions were tantamount to not taking Cao Cao seriously at all.
In fact, it seemed Yuan Shu did not even intend to let him remain Administrator of Dong Commandery.
The crucial point was that Cao Cao did not currently wish to contend with Yuan Shu.
It was not merely a matter of strength.
The two of them shared a common enemy.
“My lord!” With a heavy expression, Cao Ren asked, “What should we do now?”
“My lord!” Xiahou Dun said angrily, “Give this general three thousand troops, and I will retake Dong Commandery and stop Yuan Shu outside its borders!”
— The end of the Chapter–
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