In the jurisdiction of Guangwu, Jinxing and Xiping counties in Liangzhou, which is close to the south of Longxi River, there is a tribe of Xianbei people living - bald Xianbei.

During the Cao Wei period, Deng Ai, the general of Zhenxi and the military governor of Longyou, once moved the Xianbei tribes such as Bald Fa to the two states of Longyou and Yongliang in Hexi. Coexist with Han, Qiang and other ethnic groups.

After moving into Yong and Liang, Cao Wei and the rulers of the Western Jin Dynasty set up "Qiang Captains" to supervise them because they were similar to Qiang and Hu, and each ministry still had its own commander. However, Xianbei and others were often conscripted into soldiers, or plundered into slaves or tenants, and at the same time had to pay taxes, making ethnic contradictions increasingly acute.

As a result, at the beginning of the Western Jin Dynasty and in 304 AD, two large-scale rebellions of ethnic minorities in the northwest led by bald Xianbei broke out. Although the rebellion was put down, the rulers of Liangzhou and the local governors of various generations, especially the Taishou of Guangwu, Jinxing, and Xiping, focused on guarding and guarding against these tribes.

These oppressions, guards, and precautions have subtly planted a seed of hatred. When the time comes, it will take root.

In the autumn of the ninth year of Jianxing in Liangzhou, a drought without warning hit the pastures of the bald Xianbei tribe in the territory of Guangwu, Jinxing and Xiping counties. The grass and trees are withered and yellow, and the cattle and horses are not fattened. It can be seen that for this Xianbei tribe, a famine year is coming. In less than two months, winter will come. When winter comes, how will the nomadic tribes who encounter a famine year spend it?

A military newspaper was put on the desk of Guangwu Taishou Xin. He frowned at the military newspaper.

On the seventh day of August in the ninth year of Jianxing, more than 5,000 people from the bald Xianbei tribe, the bald head of the Xianbei tribe, launched a rebellion in Linqiang County, which belongs to Xiping County, and quickly coerced the rest of the Xianbei and Qiang tribes totaling more than 13,000 people, conquered Linqiang County, and plundered in all directions. The two counties of Xiping and Jinxing and their subordinate counties were under martial law and dispatched troops. Strictly prevent baldness from entering the prison.

Tai Shou's expression was solemn. Although the place where the incident occurred is within the two counties of Jinxing and Xiping, no one can guarantee that under the strict defense of the two counties of Jinxing and Xiping, the bald department that has no chance to take advantage will turn north and come to the territory of their own Guangwu County? If the situation comes to that point, how will you decide?

Mobilization of troops to suppress? Under his rule, he did not exceed the three counties of Lingju, Zhiyang, and Yongdeng, and each county garrisoned two battalions with a total of 1,000 people. The garrison of the county town numbered 1,500 men. Even if the defenders of the whole county poured out, it would only be 4,500 people. The other party is several tribes, with a total of more than 13,000 people! In contrast, your own sergeant must have one enemy and three enemies, and there is still a chance of victory. Lord Taishou understands such a balance of power, and it is difficult for him to have a chance to win. I couldn't help but get up and paced back and forth in the county guard mansion repeatedly.

Suddenly, he thought of the young man's proposed system of main and auxiliary soldiers. I couldn't help but sigh under the emotion. It would have been nice to do it sooner, but it's a pity. Now it's time to cram, but it's definitely too late.

After a few moments, he made up his mind. Shouting for the servants to prepare their horses. Went straight to the camp of the Guangwu Army.

At the same time, Chen said that the above table of this matter in Jinxing and Xiping was also sent to Guzang of Liangzhou Zhizhi through a fast horse.

In the big tent of the Chinese army of the Guangwu Army, Taishou Xin Fei sat at the top, and the generals of the Guangwu Army stood in the tent, and everyone looked solemn.

Sun Jianxiong, the captain of the shooting battalion, was the first to go into battle: "The king of the government is above, and the last general thinks that if the bald department goes north, my Guangwu army will not take its edge, and the counties and counties should be ordered to hold on, and at the same time ask Guzang for help." ”

"Sun Duwei made a proposal to destroy his prestige. But my old horse felt that it was resolutely undesirable. Captain Ma took a step forward and bowed down to the Taishou above: "There are only 1,000 soldiers in each county. If the bald hair and other parts fall to the north. He has 13,000 troops, even if half of them take turns to attack the city, and the three counties fall, I am afraid that it will be a matter of time. Therefore, it is important not to divide the army and hold on. The last general thinks that we should gather the county and the soldiers of the three counties and fight a decisive battle with the enemy! ”

As soon as Ma Duwei said this, all four were shocked. Infantry Captain Zhao Chengzhi couldn't help but ask: "Dare to ask Captain Madu, the enemy army counts more than 13,000 people. Even if our troops are pouring out, but there are only more than 4,000 people, can Captain Ma Du be completely sure of defeating the enemy army? ”

When Ma Ping heard this, he snorted lightly: "The bald department is wrapped around the rest of the small tribes, and it seems to be surging, but it is just a group of rabble!" Why was it that everyone was so frightened that no one dared to speak of a fight? ”

"Captain Ma Duwei is wrong. Soldiers are the way to take risks, and they are extremely dangerous. Captain Ma Du, think about it, what if he loses the battle? If I die in battle, it is fine, but if I do not die, will I open my eyes and watch the thieves attack my county, plunder my people, and prostitute my wife and daughter? Pang Sima listened to the crowd arguing for a long time, and couldn't help but ask.

Hearing this, Ma Duwei was also shocked, and immediately sighed, and retreated into the army silently.

Pang Sima saw that Ma Duwei, who was the most fierce in the battle, retreated among the generals, and no longer made a sound, and said to the Taishou: "Yufu Jun, the lower officials think that at this time, it should be safe. Please report to Gu Zang immediately. He also ordered the magistrates of all counties under his rule to hoard grain and grass, gather soldiers and horses, prepare equipment, and actively prepare for war! ”

Taishou nodded, and then asked, "Du Jie, is there a good plan?" ”

Du Jie's official residence is the governor of thousands of people, and he is the main general of this Guangwu army. Hearing Taishou's question, Du Minglie clenched his fists and said slowly: "The last general thinks that our troops are insufficient, and we should indeed hold on, but it is also a taboo for soldiers to disperse and stick to the counties, and the enemy is united and we are divided." If the prince of the prefecture ordered the subordinate counties and counties to clear the walls, transfer the population, food, and property to the county seats, and order the county soldiers to move to the county seats. “

"In this way, if the bald department enters my Guangwu County Administration, there will be nothing to plunder. If we want to attack the county town, our defenders will have 4,000 people, and with the high walls and deep fortresses, they will be able to hold on and wait for the arrival of Guzang reinforcements. When the reinforcements arrive, I will join forces with the reinforcements inside and outside, and attack from both sides, and the enemy can be broken! ”

Taishou heard what Du Jie said, and his eyes gradually lit up. After Du Jie finished speaking, he couldn't help but be very excited, and he shot the case: "Let's do it according to this plan!" ”

The generals dispersed, and the Taishou also walked out of the big tent. After thinking about it, he retreated left and right. He walked towards the stables. Before he left the barracks and returned to the county seat, he still wanted to hear the opinion of one person.

A prodigy who in his eyes was not qualified to participate in the military council in the big tent.

It was almost dusk, and the sergeants in the stables were in full swing mixing the horse feed and preparing to feed the horses. Seeing the Taishou in a scarlet robe, Wang Qiang, who was carrying a pot of horse material and preparing to pour it into the manger, was shocked, and hurriedly turned around and ran back to the horse material warehouse, and said to Li Yanzhao, who was still scooping horse material in the big bucket: "What's the chief! The prince is here! ”

Li Yanzhao was holding a wooden basin and scooping it happily, and when he heard Wang Qiang's shout, his hands froze. Noncommittally, he asked again: "What?" ”

"The prince is here!" Wang Qiang repeated it loudly again.

Li Yanzhao heard it accurately at this time, and hurriedly called Liu Jiwu and Cao Jian beside him to continue scooping. He turned around and dressed himself and ran out of the warehouse.

Li Yanzhao ran out of the warehouse, saw the Taishou who was walking over, and hurriedly stepped forward to hug his fists and bow down: "The villain Guangwu Army's cavalry lieutenant's subordinate is the commander of the mule and horse, and the chief Li Yanzhao will meet the prince." ”

Taishou hurriedly helped him up and said, "You don't have to be polite, please get up quickly." ”

Although Taishou attaches more and more importance to Li Yanzhao, Li Yanzhao is never proud. Every time I see Taishou, I am very polite. I was also satisfied with it. A subordinate who is talented and never arrogant, obedient and respectful, isn't it exactly what these superiors are looking forward to?

Li Yanzhao thanked Tai Shou, got up and stood aside with his head slightly down. Taishou looked at him eagerly, and slowly told him about the current situation that made Taishou himself feel like a mess.

"On the seventh day of the eighth month, the bald hair of the Xianbei bald hair department led 5,000 people, rebelled on the bank of the Huangshui, and soon engulfed several small tribes of the Xianbei and Qiang people, gathered more than 13,000 people, and quickly captured Linqiang County, a subordinate of Xiping County, and plundered the troops. The two counties of Xiping and Jinxing were panicked and ordered their subordinate counties to strictly defend them. and asked for help from Gu Zang. ”

When Li Yanzhao heard this, he was secretly frightened. asked: "Fu Jun is worried that the rebels will move north next and enter the territory of my Guangwu County?" ”

"Exactly!" Taishou was surprised, Li Yanzhao was so smart that he had already guessed what he was worried about. "The thief army is strong, and my subordinate soldiers are few and far between, so I am afraid it will be difficult to resist the enemy."

Li Yanzhao asked a digression: "Since the prince of the palace has come to the Guangwu army, he must have had a military discussion with all the captains in the big tent of the Chinese army. There must be a strategy. But the villain did not dare to trespass. ”

"Although I already have a strategy, I just want to listen to your countermeasures." Taishou raised his eyes and looked at Li Yanzhaodao, as if the person standing in front of him was not a "chief of mules and horses" who was almost dispensable in the army, but a general who had been in battle for a long time and won every battle!

When Li Yanzhao heard this, he couldn't help but be even more moved, and hurriedly clenched his fists and bowed down: "The villain is loved by the prince, and he will do his best to repay him." Even if you are crushed, you will not refuse! ”

This is the first time that Li Yanzhao has expressed his desire to serve the Taishou in front of him with such a posture. This means that from then on, Li Yanzhao has officially regarded Taishou as the object of his orders. When Tai Shou heard this, he was also excited, and helped Li Yanzhao up again and again, and bent down to help him pat the soil on his lap. The stables are in the middle of nowhere. In this way, he was not afraid of being seen by the rest of the sergeants.

Li Yanzhao was grateful for Taishou's appreciation. As the old saying goes, a man dies for a confidant, and a woman is a person who pleases herself. Coming to this world, Li Yanzhao really felt that as an insignificant and insignificant individual, the role he could play in this world was too small and too small.

Even if he is full of martial arts, even if he is full of strategy. However, if no one realizes his value, his greatest possibility is undoubtedly to be a pawn, an insignificant cannon fodder, buried in this troubled world where no matter who is in danger.

His body full of ambition will be buried in the flying loess, and his head full of strategy will be cut off by the enemy and taken to invite merit. I will be completely buried in this world. Even their own post-war statistics will erase their own existence as a fraction. If that is the case, he will only be unwilling. Unwilling but powerless to change. This is the most unbearable pain for Li Yanzhao.

However, Taishou recognized his value and gradually gave Li Yanzhao help and support in his own way. asked again and again, which all showed Taishou's preference and attention to him. Li Yanzhao began to firmly believe that Guangwu was too shou Xin, and he was his Bole.

Li Yanzhao sorted out his thoughts, and said to Taishou: "The villain's countermeasures are nothing more than the following: 'First, when the thieves come, the first thing they want is to rob. Looting the food population and looting so that the tribe could survive the harsh winter. We can only deal with it, but the strong wall is clear. “

"Second, the thieves are nomadic people, and all the tribesmen are on their horses for soldiers and dismount for the people. There are more than 13,000 people in the unity of several tribes, but it is by no means an exaggeration. And the garrisons of our counties and counties, together, are less than 5,000 people. The only way to deal with it is to treat the enemy exclusively. “

"Third, the thieves have no fixed place to live, and the incident is nameless, and the governor of the state hears that there is an urgency here, and it is inevitable to send troops to help. The prince must have asked for help on the table. In this way, our county must issue a strict order, and quickly move all the grain, people, and county soldiers of the counties under its rule into the county seat within a day or two, and join the soldiers of the county and hold the county seat. As soon as the bald department came, they plundered the wilderness, or wandered elsewhere, or stormed the county town, and they were all down. “

"The prince of the palace sent another team of cavalry out of the city, and surveilled, harassed, and tired the thief army, so that the thief army was tired and the army had no heart to fight. At this time, the prince of the prefecture can find a scribe who is proficient in the Hu language, tie the surrender letter to the arrows, and throw more arrow books into the enemy camp, emphasizing that only the first evil will be done, and the county government will send rations to those who come to surrender, and help them survive the harsh winter. “

"Then there will be chaos among the thieves, either going away or surrendering. If the thief's heart is scattered, there is no need to worry. Whether it is a thunderous blow when our army goes out of the city, or when reinforcements arrive, the enemy will be defeated by combining the inside and outside. In this way, the rebellion can be assured! ’”

Li Yanzhao's countermeasures were roughly the same as those of Du Jie, the commander of the Guangwu Army. However, Li Yanzhao proposed to send cavalry out of the city to harass the rebels and fatigue the soldiers. In order to cooperate with the strategy of defending the city by the armies of the county. But Taishou also praised it.

"Wonderful! So do it! ”