Chapter 155

Chapter 155

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 5: The Two Divisions of Han, Battles in Hexi Chapter 155: First Take Ayang

The quiet propaganda of Huyan Tuoli, perhaps due to Qiao Yan’s excessively high constitution points, did not escape her ears at all.

Her clear eyes also saw that in front of the definition of bone powder made by this person from Bingzhou, the expressions of the Qiang people changed from eager learning to fear.

“…” Qiao Yan really wanted to kick this idiot and throw him into the fertilizer-making area of Bingzhou for a few months of deep study.

No matter what position this guy originally held, whether it was Left Guli Wang or something else, she would make him a skilled farmer before letting him out.

But she suddenly realized something—

Given the relatively primitive and brutal style of the Qiang people in Liangzhou, could some unfounded rumors help her in consolidating her surroundings?

In the case that this matter is indeed just a rumor, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to debunk it.

Thinking of this, she stopped her intention to walk behind Tuoli and shut him up, but instead continued down the mountain with Cheng Yu, discussing the progress of building rafts in Gaoping City.

Tuoli was speaking in a low voice, but she was not.

The moment her voice came over, Tuoli’s originally somewhat mysterious expression froze on the spot.

However, when he turned his head frame by frame, he only saw the backs of Qiao Yan and Cheng Yu going down the mountain.

Seeing that the other party didn’t seem to have heard his random explanation here, but just happened to pass by, he covered his suddenly pounding heart and let out a long breath.

He complained that all his property had been taken by Qiao Yan, saying he was a plucked eagle, but he really didn’t want to experience the feeling of being settled by Qiao Yan in reality.

It would be best if she didn’t hear this nonsense.

But the next day his heart was in suspense again.

Because today, a branch of the Qiang people who came to join Qiao Yan, after kneeling to surrender, the first sentence was: “We are willing to be driven by the lord, please do not make us into bone fertilizer!”

“…” Tuoli stiffened upon hearing this news.

“What’s wrong with you?” Yufuluo patted his shoulder, only to see this somewhat round guy jump up.

Tuoli looked at Yufuluo with a bitter face.

A few days ago, he was still laughing at Yufuluo for being captured by a Qiang woman, which really brought shame to their Southern Xiongnu in Liangzhou.

But now he felt that Yufuluo’s mistake could actually lower people’s guard against him, and in a sense, it was even a self-preservation strategy.

But he, Tuoli, was different!

He might become a dead eagle today.

He spent most of the day with this uneasy feeling, and then received an order from Qiao Yan—

He was to lead the newly surrendered Qiang people to visit the burial place of the Zhong Qiang people’s ashes in Gaoping City, and remember to “personally” dig open the burial area to ensure everyone saw clearly how many remains and ashes were inside.

Qiao Yan was too lazy to really seal his mouth.

Her attention was not on these rumors now.

In the face of the total of fifteen thousand Qiang deaths she caused, even without Tuoli’s nonsense here, someone would always come up with some strange claims.

And these things would not affect her.

Rather than these, she might as well think about her opponents.

As Qiao Yan guessed, when she was building military farms near Gaoping City, brutally suppressing on one hand and gently consolidating on the other, the one who was most restless would definitely not be Han Sui, who still had the strategic terrain of Kuiyuan Gorge as protection.

In the current situation, Han Sui could limit the battle area to a narrow strip, and could retreat to Huangzhong behind Jincheng, or even take a small team over the mountains and withdraw towards the Hexi Corridor.

Moreover, to be fair, he had only offended people within Liangzhou.

With his ability to mix well among the Qiang people and his own military skills, even if he left Liangzhou, he could still find employment elsewhere.

But there was one person who had no such retreat.

That was Dong Zhuo, who was currently in Luoyang.

The news of Qiao Yan’s advance into Gaoping reached Dong Zhuo later than it did Han Sui.

By the time he learned of this, it was almost the deadline for the battle at Fengyi Mountain that Qiao Yan and Han Sui had agreed upon.

The fact that this battle did not take place was not beyond Dong Zhuo’s expectations—Han Sui, as long as he wasn’t a fool, would not choose such a place to engage in battle.

But Qiao Yan did not choose to advance directly, but instead completed a series of actions in Gaoping, which was indeed beyond Dong Zhuo’s expectations.

“Qiao Yeshu is good at winning with surprise attacks, what do you think she is waiting for?”

Thinking of Gaoping, the first city northwest of Chang’an, which quietly changed hands from the Zhong Qiang to the Bingzhou army, Dong Zhuo couldn’t sit still.

He immediately summoned Zhang Ji and Duan Wei, who were guarding key points, to discuss matters.

Most officials in Chang’an were submissive to him in appearance but not in heart, no, like Lu Zhi, who was not submissive even in appearance, so he could only use his own subordinates.

In the extreme shortage of personnel, Dong Zhuo even gave Li Jue’s nephew Hu Feng the position of Cavalry Commandant.

But to be fair, he still relied more on Zhang Ji and Duan Wei.

These two also had some insight, realizing that after Dong Zhuo’s question, he was pacing the room with his hands clasped, and there was more to say, so they didn’t speak at this time.

Sure enough, they heard Dong Zhuo ask again: “Is it possible that she is ostensibly making an appointment with Han Sui, but actually wants to directly attack Guanzhong?”

Dong Zhuo couldn’t help but come to this conclusion.

Relatively speaking, the route from Gaoping towards Chang’an is easier than the route from Gaoping to the hinterland of Liangzhou, Jincheng.

This is also a route that has been chosen by the Qiang people in recent years to invade the three auxiliary regions.

Dong Zhuo continued: “In the battle at the Mengjin crossing of the Yellow River, she ostensibly built boats to cross Mengjin, but in fact relied on sheepskin bags to cross the river.”

After Luoyang was breached, this special crossing tool could not be hidden from others, and in the face of the victory created by Qiao Yan, it also became a beautiful tale in the capital area.

“In the battle of Gaoping City, she ostensibly had the Southern Xiongnu people cultivate fields in Ziwuling, but in fact, she boldly sent troops to attack and break the city.”

“With these two battles, both using deception to defeat the enemy, it is not impossible now.”

Dong Zhuo stood still, his gaze falling on the map in the room.

In his early days of making a fortune, he also had a period without Li Ru planning for him.

But perhaps it was too long, and now he felt his brain was a bit rusty when he tried to think hard.

But it could also be because the situation he was facing now was too troublesome, making him feel a faint pain in half of his head.

“Han Sui did not go to the appointment at Fengyi Mountain, preparing for battle in the area of Jincheng and Yuzhong, with Ma Teng responding in Longxi, ready to support via the Tao River at any time. But if their troops do not move, and Qiao Yan turns to directly attack the three auxiliary regions, what should we do?”

“Do you think we should weaken the defense of other positions and fully defend the line west of Chang’an?”

Dong Zhuo’s original plan was very loud, with Ma Teng and Han Sui as aid in Liangzhou, even if Qiao Yan chose to attack Chang’an first, he could mobilize the Qiang…








The scattered tribes and those two Liangzhou warlords attacked from behind, creating a pincer situation.

But now, his reinforcements, the scattered Qiang tribes, lost their courage to sneak attack her due to Qiao Yan’s military expansion and violent plundering.

Ma Teng and Han Sui stubbornly held onto their own territories, needing time to gather and deploy their forces, which would inevitably cause delays.

With this time difference, considering the strength shown by Qiao Yan’s troops in the battle at Gaoping City, could she really not break into the Sanfu region?

The Maiwu fortress blocking the west of Chang’an, no matter how fortified according to Dong Zhuo’s wishes and guarded by Li Jue, still couldn’t match the depth and strength of Gaoping’s river and city.

This defensive line might not be effective.

“I don’t recommend the Prime Minister withdrawing the defense from Huayin,” Duan Wei replied after hearing Dong Zhuo’s analysis.

“The Bingzhou army has three routes to attack Chang’an. Among them, the path through Gaoling is the narrowest, easiest to monitor, and relatively easier to defend. But Huayin needs to guard against the Bingzhou forces directly entering the Guanzhong Plain via the Yellow River or the North Luo River. The pass itself is too wide, so it must still be heavily guarded.”

Dong Zhuo nodded, agreeing with Duan Wei’s judgment.

Duan Wei continued, “Another route is currently coming from the direction of Gaoping, which is also difficult to defend…”

He hesitated, unsure whether to continue, but seeing Dong Zhuo’s approving look, he went on, “My suggestion is, although changing generals mid-battle is often inappropriate, for the sake of a full defense of Chang’an, it must be done.”

“Please order General Zhang to station at Huayin. The military farms I set up there have shown initial success, and successors can follow the established procedures. General Zhang’s cavalry is excellent and can also deploy in Luochuan.”

“Order General Li to station at Gaoling, where the strategic pass is less prone to mistakes. As for me—”

“I will guard against the Liangzhou forces attacking from the rear for the Prime Minister!”

Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo clapped his hands and laughed, “With Zhongming’s words, I am no longer worried.”

Dong Zhuo would never doubt Duan Wei’s loyalty, as Duan Wei, being Duan Jiong’s cousin, knew better than anyone that in the current situation where Liangzhou people couldn’t rise through normal channels, only by placing Dong Zhuo, who was from Liangzhou, in a high position could Duan Wei avoid the same fate as Duan Jiong.

Now, the greatest threat comes from Liangzhou, and only by having Duan Wei guard that direction could Dong Zhuo feel at ease.

After vaguely seeing the court’s delight at Qiao Yan’s attack on Chang’an, Dong Zhuo decisively completed this personnel adjustment.

Having fled from Luoyang to Chang’an once, he had no intention of running a second time, so he must defend this place to the death!

West of Chang’an, Duan Wei.

North of Chang’an, Li Jue.

East of Chang’an, Zhang Ji.

This was the layout after this adjustment.

Dong Zhuo’s proactive attitude in preparing for war was clearly conveyed to his generals, and the troop movements proceeded exceptionally quickly. Perhaps the only one somewhat dissatisfied with this was Li Jue.

He complained to his wife, “What does the Prime Minister mean by this? Gaoling is easier to defend than Maiwu and Huayin, anyone with eyes can see that. Isn’t this clearly ranking us into different tiers?”

Li Jue knew he couldn’t compare to Duan Wei, but he was on par with Zhang Ji. Why was Zhang Ji taking over Duan Wei’s military farms while he was stuck at Gaoling?

The Prime Minister’s implication was that his strength was inferior to those two!

This subtle disdain was unacceptable!

Li Jue’s dissatisfaction was evident.

But his wife said, “What’s the big deal? The Prime Minister also said you need to station part of your troops at the former Ganquan Palace, forming two lines of defense, and gave you this task because you have a nephew to assign.”

“Gaoling is at the mouth of the Jing River, a crucial location, and Chunhua is the endpoint of the straight road, also a vital place, even the former Han’s secondary capital. If I were to choose, I’d rather live there. If it weren’t for Shi’er being young, this good assignment wouldn’t have gone to Hu Feng.”

Li Jue thought about it and realized she had a point, temporarily suppressing his dissatisfaction.

But whether he truly didn’t mind or was just putting on a front, only he knew.

Dong Zhuo’s adjustments to Chang’an’s defenses, with many informants inside Chang’an, weren’t hard to reach Qiao Yan’s ears.

But these adjustments didn’t affect her military plans.

From the beginning, she never intended to directly attack Chang’an.

By late April and early May of the second year of Guangxi, Gaoping had received provisions from Bingzhou, completing the city’s stockpiles, and the Huo Shizhai military farms had finished sowing and building farmhouses.

This made the stronghold Qiao Yan established in Liangzhou an undeniable base.

What surprised her most was Yao Chang’s performance.

She indeed had sharper judgment than other Qiang tribes. After Qiao Yan gave her some authority over the military farms, she quickly formed a group of Qiang willing to fight for Qiao Yan while farming.

Her suggestion that Qiao Yan choose her over Yufuluo and the Southern Xiongnu wasn’t just an exaggerated claim for her tribe’s survival.

After reporting the origins, family compositions, and skills of these Qiang, Qiao Yan could confirm from Yao Chang’s determined gaze that—

These people’s loyalty to Qiao Yan wasn’t a casual judgment.

Yao Chang was seeking an opportunity to prove her greater usefulness.

Qiao Yan beckoned her closer and pointed to the map, asking, “If I need you to capture Ayang for me, how confident are you?”

Ayang?

Yao Chang, living locally, naturally knew about Ayang.

It was the source of the Qingshui River used by the Huo Shizhai military farms.

In the fourth year of Yanxi, the Shenchi Qiang and Laojie Qiang from Shangjun joined forces to attack Bingzhou, Liangzhou, and Sanfu. After being defeated, they fled to Ayang.

Ayang, on the other side of the Liupan Mountains, with mountains to the east and the Deer Horn Pass to the west leading to Hanyang Commandery, was a crucial defensive point.

Thus, despite the commotion Qiao Yan caused around Gaoping, the Shenchi Qiang in Ayang remained unmoved.

They had the confidence to hold their ground.

But Yao Chang sensed that Qiao Yan’s intention wasn’t just due to their disobedience.

She tentatively asked, “My Lord, are you planning to attack Ma Teng first?”

Qiao Yan replied, “Is that not possible?”

Yao Chang quickly responded, “No, of course it is!”

With Qiao Yan challenging Han Sui, seemingly intent on attacking, and controlling a key route into Guanzhong, ready to strike Dong Zhuo at any moment, it was easy to overlook her third option—

With informants in Hanyang, it was a smooth path for her. Therefore, entering Hanyang Commandery from Anding Commandery and directly taking Longxi to deal with Ma Teng first was entirely feasible!

The only trouble along the way was Ayang.

So, just remove this thorn!

This wasn’t a task that had to be given to the Qiang; on the contrary, it was the Qiang who needed to prove their worth under Qiao Yan’s command through this battle.

This was their true test of loyalty!