Chapter 567 The Cavalry Goes South

Hearing Yuan Xi's complaints, Tian Feng had no expression on his face and just lowered his head and said: "Feng knows his mistake. Thank you, Second Young Master, for correcting me."

When Yuan Xi saw Tian Feng's expression, he knew that Tian Feng must not have listened. Tian Feng had always been like this, going his own way. Yuan Xi couldn't help but sigh.

Yuan Xi smiled bitterly: "That's all, my father is not here today, but in the future he will be here, Mr. Yuan Hao, please be careful what you say." Yuan Xi suddenly understood in his heart: No wonder his father wanted to send Mr. Yuan Hao by his side to assist in governance. I'm afraid it's not just to help myself, but the most important thing is to keep my ears clean.

Tian Feng nodded and continued: "However, our Youzhou Army is already weak and we absolutely cannot go south with all our strength."

After hearing Tian Feng's words, Yuan Xi suddenly wondered: "But I'm afraid my father is struggling to support himself in Yecheng. Otherwise, how could he ask for reinforcements from Youzhou? Now that my father's letter is here, how can I see him as his son?" Will you die or not?"

The Han Dynasty governed the country with filial piety. Yuan Shao was both Yuan Xi's father and Yuan Xi's monarch. Regardless of loyalty or filial piety, he should send troops to help out of love and reason.

Tian Feng groaned and said: "It is okay to send troops to rescue, but it is absolutely not possible to send out infantry, only cavalry."

"What?" Yuan Xi frowned: "But among our Youzhou army, infantry accounts for the majority. I only sent cavalry, which is probably less than three thousand. It is just a drop in the bucket. How can we solve the problem of Yecheng?" urgent?"

Although Youzhou was one of the three major horse-producing areas in the Han Dynasty and had many horse farms, Yuan Xi had just taken control of Youzhou, and most of the army was from Jizhou, so there were mostly infantry and only a few cavalry, and he was unable to capture Youzhou. Due to popular sentiment, it is naturally impossible to recruit too many Youzhou people who are skilled in riding skills in a short period of time.

Tian Feng explained: "If our army rushes southward, not only will it not be able to solve the emergency in Yecheng, but it may also cause the entire Youzhou army to be annihilated. In this way, the door of Youzhou will be wide open. What if Liu Yuqing divides his troops to attack our Youzhou? How can the Second Young Master resist?"

Yuan Xi looked troubled: "But it would be unavoidable to only send cavalry."

"Let's do this." Tian Feng said seriously: "Send 3,000 fine cavalry and 2,000 infantry, a total of 5,000 infantry, and then recruit 5,000 civilians, and then pretend to be 30,000 troops, and slowly move south in order to add more stoves." How about marching?"

After all, Youzhou's military strength is insufficient, so Tian Feng suggested temporarily recruiting civilians to make up the numbers. As long as they make a big splash, the Liangzhou army will be temporarily wary, which can also alleviate the crisis.

Yuan Xi frowned and said: "Okay, but to attract Liangzhou soldiers with light troops, you have to be a general. Looking at the many generals in Youzhou, I am afraid that only General Gao Lan has this important task."

"Second Young Master, Gao Lan is willing to lead the army on an expedition!"

A firm voice came from outside the meeting hall. Yuan Xi raised his eyes and was immediately overjoyed. He stood up and walked out.

"My master has entrusted an important task to General Gao. I didn't expect that General Gao would come so quickly, haha." Yuan Xi held Gao Lan's hand and said happily.

Gao Lan's face was as solid as a rock, and he said firmly: "Second Young Master, please rest assured that Lan will live up to his trust and do his best to rescue Ye City."

Yuan Xi nodded happily, clapped his hands, and an attendant came out from behind the curtain, holding a brocade box in his hand. Yuan Xi gently opened the brocade box, took out a tiger talisman, held it with both hands and pulled hard, and the copper tiger talisman was divided into two halves.

Yuan Xi solemnly handed half of the bronze tiger talisman to Gao Lan: "Five thousand cavalry will be entrusted to the general's hands."

Gao Lan also solemnly took the tiger talisman: "Promise."

On the seventh day of the fifth lunar month, Gao Lan led 5,000 infantry and cavalry, and recruited 5,000 civilians. To the outside world, he was known as a 30,000-strong army. He led the troops southward with great momentum. His intention was self-evident, just to rescue Yecheng.

Outside Yecheng, in the Liangzhou Army camp.

Jia Xu looked slightly excited, holding a letter in his hand and walking hurriedly.

"Mr. Wenhe?" When Guan Hai saw Jia Xu, he hurriedly greeted him: "Why is Mr. Wenhe so happy?"

Jia Xu smiled and said: "If there is an urgent military situation, go and report it to the general."

Guan Hai did not dare to delay, and hurriedly went inside to report, and then came out: "Mr. Wenhe, the general has invited you."

Jia Xu nodded, straightened his clothes, and then walked in.

"Wenhe, is there any movement from Yuan Shaojun in the direction of Youzhou?" Liu Ye asked with a smile.

"That's right." Jia Xu said seriously: "The Youzhou Army set out from Youbeiping, passed through Yuyang County, and is now heading towards Zhuo County."

"Oh?" Liu Ye asked curiously: "Who is the leader of the Youzhou Army? How many troops did he use?"

"The leading general of the Youzhou Army is Gao Lan. The Youzhou Army is said to have 30,000 soldiers." Jia Xu said with a smile.

"Gao Lan? He can be considered a famous general, capable of fighting." Liu Ye sneered: "With an army of only 30,000, Gao Lan really dares to talk nonsense."

Jia Xu also smiled and said: "Yes, not to mention Gao Lan's command. Yuan Xi has just obtained Youzhou from Gongsun Zan. The main force of Yuan Shao's army is still in Jizhou. It is hard to say whether there are 30,000 troops in Youzhou. These 30,000 troops It must be a false claim, but I don’t know how much water it contains.”

"It's easy to tell." Liu Ye ordered: "Send a sentry to find out how many enemy troops there are, but even if the Youzhou army comes out in full force, it will only be around 10,000 people at most."

Jia Xu asked: "So how is the general going to deal with Gao Lan?"

"Well" Liu Ye pondered for a while and said: "Although Gao Lan, together with Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Han Meng and others, are known as the Four Court Pillars of Hebei, he is completely different from the other three. Yan Liang and the others are brave, but they are only as brave as ordinary men. , and Gao Lan is both brave and resourceful, so it is a bit difficult to induce him to fall into the trap."

Jia Xu said bluntly: "Then, how about setting an ambush on the only road to Gao Lan? When the Youzhou army arrives, the whole army will attack. With the combat power of our Liangzhou army, we should not be able to defeat the Youzhou army." That’s it.”

Liu Ye nodded: "That's fine. In that case, let's order Meng Qi to lead 5,000 cavalry, and Gongming to lead 7,000 infantry to set up an ambush in Guqiu, Zhuojun County, and catch Gao Lan by surprise!"

Guqiu is the southernmost part of Zhuo County. Once past Guqiu, Gao Lan's troops will enter the territory of Jizhou. The Youzhou army will definitely relax temporarily. At this time, the Liangzhou army suddenly attacks, which will definitely scare the Youzhou army. Terrified.

Jia Xu was a little surprised: "To deal with Gao Lan, we have to send two powerful generals of our army. Xu is really curious. Who is this Gao Lan and deserves the general's attention?"

Liu Ye smiled and said: "It takes a lion to fight a rabbit with all his strength, let alone a famous general like Gao Lan? At this moment, our army is besieging Yecheng but not attacking it. Meng Qi and Gongming probably both have itchy hands at this moment and are eager to go out." Woolen cloth."