Chapter 372: Dinghu That Day Forsook the Mortal Realm (7k Combined Chapter)

Spies, internal collaborators, Niu Fu's stupidity, and Li Ru's bookishness gave Gongsun Xun a sudden turn for the better at the most difficult moment. With the key communication hub of Shanxian taken, nearly ten thousand surrendered troops arriving, and the command center outside the pass eliminated, the situation in Hongnong thoroughly improved.

In fact, after receiving Niu Fu's shattered corpse, Hu Zhen and Li Meng behind the Xiaoshan defile immediately assumed a defensive posture — Li Meng held the Xiaoshan defile firmly, while Hu Zhen immediately moved south to reoccupy Yiyang, guarding against a southern breakthrough and linking up with Li Jue, who had arrived at Lushi.

And Li Jue, commanding nearly ten thousand troops, while linking up with Hu Zhen, did not hesitate to send word through Wuguan to Guanzhong requesting reinforcements!

In summary, after this battle, although it remained a stalemate, the offensive and defensive roles had clearly reversed. Dong Zhuo's forces east of Tongguan had fallen entirely into panic and a defensive posture, no longer daring to fight at all, and the previous siege drama had instantly vanished like smoke. At the same time, for Gongsun Xun, if one did not consider the Guanzhong problem, then looking at Hongnong alone, or even the entire region east of Tongguan, the situation already seemed to be clearing up dramatically.

Following normal reasoning, at this moment Gongsun Xun should move south and east, defeating Li Jue, Hu Zhen, Li Meng, and even Duan Wei at Luoyang in succession, then gather troops and population and throw everything into breaking through the more easily attacked Wuguan.

But without a doubt, Gongsun Xun seemed somewhat impatient. He rested and reorganized at Shanxian for over ten days, and after briefly dealing with and reorganizing the surrendered Guanxi troops — specifically, first purging the officers, killing a batch and replacing a batch as the urgency demanded, then breaking up the soldiers and reorganizing the units — in early May he led his forces directly toward Tongguan.

And once there, Gongsun Xun set up camp on the spot and began building siege equipment with full force. Meanwhile, the main camp bustled with activity every day; reinforcing troops were often seen arriving, units on rotation were seen being transferred to the rear for rest, and auxiliary troops frequently came and went transporting provisions — the intention of pinning down Tongguan could not have been more obvious.

"With Shanxian fallen into General Wei's hands, Maojin cannot be held," Jia Xu said, watching the camp movements below the pass with its clearly distinct banners, frowning slightly. "And Maojin is a great harbor and fine crossing, with many boats. Once it is taken, coming and going across the Yellow River becomes far more convenient."

"I knew you would see it too, Sir Jia," Lu Bu said, raising an eyebrow upon hearing this.

"See what?" Jia Xu chuckled dryly. "Please enlighten me, Marquis Wen."

"Why tease me, Sir Jia?" Lu Bu said, pointing at the busy, sprawling military camp below the pass. "If I am not mistaken, while General Wei builds equipment here, troops from Hedong should be streaming continuously through Maojin toward Shanxian. A large army may be massing there, preparing to swallow up Li Jue, Hu Zhen, and the other generals in one gulp, perhaps even taking Luoyang in a single push."

"Does Marquis Wen think this is a feint?" Jia Xu narrowed his eyes and pointed at the encampment below the plateau where the White Horse banners fluttered, questioning him. "General Wei himself acting as the feint here?"

"Exactly!" Lu Bu answered proudly.

"Why so certain?"

"First, although General Wei often leads troops personally, he is not one who likes to monopolize all the credit; he is willing to share merit with his subordinates. In other words, he is happy to serve as the feint. Second, those two, Hu Zhen and Li Meng, are just like Niu Fu and Li Ru — all useless, only given important posts because they followed the Grand Master for a long time. So, not to mention Han Dang, Gao Shun, Xu Rong, Zhang Liao, Cheng Lian, Wei Yue, and those men, if there is a grand strategy and sufficient troops, even the junior officers among the White Horse Volunteers beside General Wei — such as Zhao Yun, Taishi Ci, and the two Tians, who have gradually become known recently — would be more than enough to finish those two off. Third, as long as you and I are here, I do not believe Tongguan can be breached by a mere ten or twenty thousand men, nor do I think General Wei fails to understand this principle... What do you think, Sir Jia?"

"Penetrating analysis," Jia Xu said, stroking his beard and nodding. "In that case, Marquis Wen, why not submit a memorial to Chang'an and set forth your thoughts? Whether or not it saves the various generals in Hongnong, at the very least it will let the Grand Master know your strategic insight and loyalty."

"This..." Lu Fengxian hesitated instead. "I heard that after the defeat at Shanxian, when Li Ru's head was delivered to Chang'an, the Grand Master, far from intending to hold Chang'an and meet the attack, turned around and went back to Mei Dock. Is that true?"

"It is."

"Sir Jia, you are a wise man, and a Liang man whom the Grand Master trusts more deeply. Can you tell me what this is about?"

"There is no other meaning," Jia Xu said, folding his hands as he gazed at the White Horse banner below the plateau. "The Grand Master is advanced in years; his eldest son died early, and now both his sons-in-law are suddenly gone too. Even though he recently had another young son, who knows if he can be raised to survive? On the contrary, he still has a ninety-year-old mother at home and a granddaughter not yet of age... Truly, when a man reaches this point, he must first see to his family before the realm, don't you think?"

"Uh... mm."

"I heard that when the Grand Master went to Mei Dock and saw that the outer rammed-earth walls, seven zhang high and seven zhang wide, were already complete, he stood before the wall and sighed, saying, 'If the great enterprise succeeds, I shall dominate all under heaven; if it fails, holding this will be enough to live out my old age.'" Jia Xu finally sighed. "The Grand Master's intent is probably already quite clear. He wants to first secure a place of refuge at Mei Dock for his elderly mother and granddaughter, and only then turn back to deal with the Guandong affairs. It is not that he is ignoring the situation outside."

"So that is how it is," Lu Bu answered slowly. "Then my memorial can be delivered before the Grand Master?"

"Delivered or not, it makes no difference," Jia Xu shook his head again. "Marquis Wen, how do you still not understand? Having you submit a memorial is not for the Grand Master to read its contents, but to let the Grand Master and the General of the Left, Dong Min, who has just returned to Huayin, understand your loyalty in their hearts! Of the three former Northern Army generals, Xu Rong and Zhang Liao both rebelled, and among the army's senior generals, you alone are not of Guanxi origin... This is something I cannot even properly put my name to!"

Lu Bu started in alarm, thanked him repeatedly, and left.

And Jia Wenhe remained on the pass wall atop the plateau. He glanced at Gongsun Xun's bustling camp, then gazed at the sky, then gazed north toward the Yellow River, and finally swung his sleeves and went to inspect the various military affairs within Tongguan.

Following Jia Wenhe's gaze northward, no more than forty or fifty li away, was the place where the Dong River entered the Yellow River. Here there was a natural fine crossing, and during the Former and Later Han periods a pontoon bridge was often erected to link the two banks, renowned throughout the realm... Indeed, this place was the famous Yellow River crossing Pujin, also called Puban Ford, the primary passage linking Hedong and Guanzhong, always a hub of merchants and travelers, with a constant stream of people coming and going.

However, entering the mid-summer season of the first year of Chuping, this place seemed rather oppressive and grim.

After all, at this very moment, there was still no Stork Tower on the eastern bank here, the pontoon bridge had been directly dismantled by Zhang Ji, who was left to guard the area after Guo Si led troops to Huayin, and even the various facilities at the western bank crossing had been swept clean. Only the massive military camps on both banks stood, like two monsters facing off against each other, making one's heart clench.

Time moved slowly forward, arriving at the seventeenth day of the fifth month. By this day, it had been a full twenty-odd days since Gongsun Xun had smashed Shanxian. In the morning, Lou Gui, Tian Feng, and Han Dang stood atop a three-zhang-high rammed-earth platform within the camp, gazing far across at the opposite bank, though no one knew what they were waiting for. At the same time, from morning until now, the entire camp had been filled with unceasing cooking smoke, and countless soldiers, assisted by auxiliaries, were gathering in formation inside and outside the camp gates, carrying armor and weapons, bearing swords, bows, and arrows on their backs. Even the boats at the crossing were being prepared with intense urgency.

Zhang Ji on the west bank was a veteran general after all. Seeing the three commanders on the opposite bank raising banners and assembling their officers, and countless troops entering combat readiness, and with Guo Si absent and his own forces few, how could he not know the enemy was about to cross the river? Thereupon, while sending fast riders to Huayin to request reinforcements from Dong Min and Guo Si, he also immediately ordered the entire camp to be on alert and prepare for battle.

Of course, although somewhat nervous, and although his clan nephew had died earlier, Zhang Ji in his heart still believed he could hold Pujin... for three reasons:

First, the enemy's absolute superiority in troop numbers was true, but in an actual river-crossing assault, the projection power was limited, and troops would arrive on the beach in fits and starts. So as long as he, Zhang Ji, commanded properly, the enemy would likely form a situation of carrying firewood to put out a fire, ultimately creating a piecemeal feeding tactic... allowing the Western Liang Army to maintain an absolute troop advantage in turn throughout.

Second, although the Youzhou Army on the opposite bank had a reputation for martial prowess, and its officers had become renowned through years of Gongsun Xun's triumphant campaigns, they were mostly known for cavalry and cavalry commanders. But this kind of beachhead landing battle unquestionably depended on whether the infantry could hold their ground in the first breath... yet the only famous infantry commander in the opposing formation, Gao Shun, was not here.

Third, the General of the Left, Dong Min, and the General of the Household, Guo Si, were at Huayin with a full fifteen thousand troops. Traveling at double speed, they could arrive in just a day and a night; even advancing slowly to preserve combat strength, they would arrive in two days and nights at most. No matter how inferior he, Zhang Ji, might be, with five thousand combat troops, over ten thousand able-bodied auxiliaries, both cavalry and infantry, defending a river crossing from the other side — could he not hold out for two days?

In fact, the Youzhou Army on the opposite bank should also understand these principles; otherwise, they would not have repeatedly delayed and refrained from launching an attack.

And with his mind fully at ease, seeing that military preparations were complete, Zhang Ji actually took the initiative to sound the drums and send forth his troops. Nearly all five or six thousand Western Liang combat troops poured out of camp.

Among them, two thousand infantry formed up on both flanks of the camp stockade. They were organized by company, each company of two hundred men forming a square formation — a full ten infantry squares spread out in a single line, arrayed along the river. That was not all; a full five or six thousand auxiliaries and camp followers were issued bows and crossbows and arrayed behind the infantry.

The thousand cavalry were likewise arranged: one company of two hundred cavalry formed one formation, with five cavalry companies arrayed behind the infantry, ready to support at any moment.

Beyond this, Zhang Ji had also kept a thousand of his most elite cavalry and a thousand of his most elite infantry concealed within the camp, ready to be thrown into battle at any time, ensuring that the enemy troops landing on the shore would be crushed in the first moment.

Time ticked forward. Han Dang, Lou Gui, and Tian Feng, the three men in command, were conducting one final debate atop the rammed-earth command platform.

"Should we wait a little longer?" Han Dang was the first to speak and state his position. "The Lord Marquis holds that man in fairly high regard."

"No need to wait," Tian Feng answered with a dark face. "According to what the Lord Marquis said, we are to send troops only after he reports back. Since his messenger arrived yesterday, we should pay no further heed to anything else and dispatch the troops immediately!"

Han Dang then looked toward Lou Gui.

Lou Zibo shook his head: "Yigong, do not overthink it. At this point, with or without him, we must cross the river. Right now, the enemy on the opposite bank is at its fewest, and our forces are at their strongest. How can we delay further? Delay until the enemy reinforcements arrive?"

Han Dang suddenly saw the light. He immediately clasped his hands in farewell and personally descended the command platform, going to the crossing to relay the orders.

War drums rumbled, and the soldiers on both banks grew tense. As the Youzhou Army's first wave of crossing boats hastily set sail, Zhang Ji, sitting steadily in the central command atop the rammed-earth platform in the west bank camp, could not help but narrow his eyes — he saw clearly that most of this first wave of vanguard troops carried large shields, which inevitably reminded him of that unit already renowned throughout the realm and commanded by Gao Shun, making his heart pound with fear!

Of course, to guard against arrows and to first gain a foothold on the beachhead, large shields were the natural equipment for a vanguard unit. Zhang Ji soon mocked himself; it seemed he was being a bit oversensitive.

And as he watched this wave of boats, just as expected, avoid the areas where formations were complete and pick a spot downstream far from the Western Liang Army's main camp as a landing point, the now-composed Zhang Ji had no time to think further. He immediately ordered the troops arrayed outside the camp not to move without authorization, then summoned the messenger officers and, gritting his teeth, dispatched the reserve force at the first moment, seeking to suppress this wave of enemies directly before him and boost the entire army's morale.

However, just after the messenger officer had left, at that very moment, several riders came galloping from upstream to the north. The leader held a command token and passed directly through the camp gate, only tumbling from his horse under the guards' coercion when he reached the front of the command platform, his face still pale and unable to compose himself.

Seeing who had come, Zhang Ji's heart first tightened, but then suddenly relaxed again.

It turned out this man was an officer Zhang Ji had stationed in Heyang County, sixty li upstream, to assist in defending the city. Since this man had arrived, it meant the Youzhou Army must have split its forces, attempting to strike both upstream and downstream simultaneously... However, this seemed laughable to Zhang Ji, even a blunder.

First, there was a city at Heyang, and over a thousand defending troops within. Even if the enemy crossed the river there, they could barely gain a foothold but could not take the city — futile and unprofitable.

Second, and most importantly, boats were limited in number. If they had these boats, why not send them downstream to use here at Pujin, allowing a greater commitment of forces in one place? And precisely because boats were limited, it meant the river-crossing force at Heyang, which inherently lacked a good crossing, could not be very large.

And if they could not take the city upstream, to put it bluntly, he could simply let them cross. Let them cross for two or three days, piling up three or four thousand men, even five or six thousand — it would not matter. Then, once the main army from Huayin arrived, he could detach all his cavalry and turn that isolated army, lacking city-wall support and logistics, into military achievements.

With this thought, Zhang Ji could not help but show impatience: "Could it be that the rebel army on the opposite bank has divided its forces at Heyang, attempting a covert crossing there, and so you have come to request reinforcements? Look for yourself — with this formation before me, how can I give you reinforcements? Go back and hold the city firmly. In two days, when the General of the Left's main army arrives from Huayin, I will send cavalry to help you succeed!"

"That is not it!" The officer gasped for breath, sweat plastering his face, unable even to support his body while kneeling on the ground. "It is not that someone is making a covert crossing near Heyang, but that Xiayang, seventy li further upstream, has fallen!"

Zhang Ji rose in shock, at a complete loss: "Xiayang also has a city wall. Even if there was a covert crossing, it would only be a minor harassing detachment. How could it fall so easily?"

"Reporting to the General, according to the defending troops who fled back from Xiayang, the enemy did not cross the river from there either, but came from Caisang Ford even further upstream. Caisang Ford is a full hundred li from Xiayang, and we had no defenses there." The officer explained helplessly. "And according to the remnants who fled back from Xiayang, the Youzhou Army numbered a full five or six thousand. Xiayang was caught completely off guard!"

"Nonsense!" Zhang Ji flew into a great rage. "How dare you falsely report military intelligence? Five or six thousand men crossing at Caisang Ford — once they leave the crossing and begin a forced march, they can carry at most three days' dry rations. A forced march of over a hundred li in three days, and then they can take a tightly defended city in a single battle?"

The officer could do nothing about it and dared not speak further, but the anxiety on his face was absolutely genuine.

Zhang Ji, having calmed down, also realized that the officer before him was trustworthy, so he tensely asked again, "Has Xiayang truly fallen?"

"That is what the defeated soldiers said," the officer replied helplessly. "I heard there were five or six thousand of them. I was also worried they would continue downstream toward Heyang, so I hurried here in person to request reinforcements... I never expected that battle had already begun here!"

"Enough, let us set that aside for now. Do we know who is leading those troops?" Zhang Ji glanced at the Youzhou Army's ferries drawing ever closer downstream, then looked puzzled again. "Someone who can lead five thousand troops on a hundred-li forced march in three days and take a city in one battle—it should be one of those few men... But right now, Gao Shun, Xu Rong, Zhang Liao, Wei Yue, Cheng Lian, as well as Tian Chou, Tian Yu, and Zhao Yun from the White Horse Volunteers, and even that Taishi Ci, should all be at Tongguan with the White Horse Volunteers and the General of the Guard. As for Han Dang and those two Army Supervisor Colonels, they are right across from us. Where could some figure capable of leading an independent army have come from?"

"The enemy commander is Xu Huang of Hedong, a surrendered general from the Bobo Bandits, and his troops are mostly surrendered Hedong soldiers," the officer answered solemnly. "Xiayang is separated from Hedong only by a river. Many people recognize him and the men in his unit."

Zhang Ji finally laughed in extreme fury: "So, by your account, the main force of the Youzhou Army right in front of us, and even the General of the Guard at Tongguan—over forty thousand troops in total—have all joined hands to act as bait for a surrendered general?!"

The officer was at last left with nothing to say.

But just then, a tremendous noise suddenly came from the south of the main camp, far downstream. Zhang Ji, that officer, and countless soldiers and officers on both banks all rose involuntarily to watch the battle. Sure enough, that thousand-strong vanguard unit of the Youzhou Army had successfully crossed the river. On a firm shoal, they disembarked, raised their shields, shouted, and charged, colliding head-on with the Liangzhou Army that had long been waiting on the riverbank, stirring up wave after wave of battle cries.

Seeing the enemy advance so composedly even from the water, Zhang Ji could only shake his head helplessly—this was precisely why Puban Crossing required such heavy defense. The river mouths on both banks here were naturally firm and stable, making it extremely convenient for crossing. Otherwise, it would not have been a place contested by armies for centuries.

Back on the battlefield, this Youzhou Army unit chosen as the vanguard was indeed exceptionally elite. The first several hundred men charged with raised shields and actually formed a shield wall right on the beachhead, facing an enemy several times their number without the slightest fear, even faintly holding their own. And the last batch of soldiers disembarking actually knew to turn around, raise their shields, and protect the civilian boatmen, allowing the civilians and support troops to enter the water and push the boats back before turning to join the battle.

Such superb training truly alarmed Zhang Ji. And what left him even more speechless was that, at that very moment, someone among this first wave of disembarked troops raised a great banner bearing the character "Gao" in the water!

Could it be that Gongsun Xun knew the river crossing required elite infantry, so he secretly had Gao Shun's unit and his infantry slip back to Hedong? With Mao Crossing in hand and several dozen days' time, it did not seem impossible... At this thought, Zhang Ji's mouth went dry.

"Get back to defending your city!" The Colonel Zhang, whose temper had been foul ever since his nephew died, came to his senses and was about to dispatch a battle-supervision squad downstream. When he glanced back and saw that officer, his anger flared. "Whether it's Xu Huang or Xu Rong, four thousand or eight thousand, just hold for three days. General of the Left Dong Zhuo at Huayin has twenty thousand troops and can arrive at any time!"

The officer hastily nodded, then immediately set off and fled in disarray.

However, the moment the man moved, Zhang Ji on the command platform suddenly shuddered, a chill running through his entire body: "Come back here!"

The officer, baffled, could only turn back and kowtow on the steps of the command platform.

"Just now we said that Xu Huang must have led five thousand troops from Caisang Crossing on a three-day, hundred-li forced march to Xiayang and took the city in one battle, correct?" Zhang Ji hurried over to him, his face pale as he questioned him.

"Yes..."

"Did the defeated soldiers say how many days ago Xiayang, seventy li from your Heyang, was lost?" Zhang Ji's expression grew increasingly unreadable. "Counting from today."

"Four, four... three and a half days ago?" The officer seemed to be catching on as well.

"How long did it take you to come here and report?" Zhang Ji's face finally turned grim.

"I received the news last night, only slept for two double-hours in between..." The officer finally understood what his general meant.

"How do you have the nerve to sleep?" Zhang Ji flew into a towering rage, drew his blade, and cut the man down on the steps of the command platform. Then, gripping his bloodstained sword as the man wailed, he sternly issued orders: "Take his head and hang it on the camp gate! Send messengers to Huayin—tell the General of the Left and Colonel Guo Si that Xiayang and Heyang are both lost. If they do not want the greater situation in Guanzhong to collapse, they must come to my rescue by double-time night march. Send cavalry first through the night, then infantry through the night! Also, the battle-supervision squad is to go downstream. Whether it is Gao Shun or the Formation-Breaking Camp, drive them all back into the river at once!"

Those around him dared not delay. Some finished off the officer, some severed his head, some went to request reinforcements, and those leading the battle-supervision squad hurried away in panic. The Western Liang Army's main camp was thrown into chaos for a time.

Yet, after everything had finally settled down and Zhang Ji forced himself to sit calmly, he was once again stunned on the spot.

It turned out that as the ferries returned, another wave of over a thousand troops on the opposite bank began boarding. That was nothing special, but the key was that a great banner bearing the character "Zhao" had been raised on the boats, making Zhang Ji's eyes bloodshot. At the same time, at the place where the Youzhou Army rested their spears and awaited crossing by the river, they seemed to have abandoned all pretense and raised their banners simultaneously. Looking closely, Han, Wei, Cheng, Tian, Zhao, Taishi... not a single one was missing!

Faced with this sight, Zhang Ji, panting heavily, sat back down, and his mind gradually cleared:

All the Youzhou Army generals were here? All the Youzhou Army's elite troops were here?!

But if so, what was going on with Gongsun Xun at Tongguan? Was he merely bait? If all the elite troops had secretly crossed back via Mao Crossing, then how was that General of the Guard so bold as to be certain no one would probe Tongguan? And how could he be so at ease, handing all his combat troops to his subordinates?

No, on second thought, doing this seemed correct. Concentrating superior forces to break through at one point was the very essence of military strategy... Now, all the Youzhou Army's combat troops were concentrated on the opposite bank, and a flanking force had crossed early to achieve surprise success. Here, because Gongsun Xun was making a show of force outside Tongguan, Guo Si's five thousand men still could not return. As one side waned and the other waxed, if not now, when? In fact, in terms of difficulty alone, was his position here not easier to break through than Tongguan?

As for dividing troops among subordinates, on further thought, his own Grand Tutor Dong had likewise divided all combat troops among his subordinates to lead separately... But Grand Tutor Dong resided in the comfort and safety of Mei Fort, far in the rear, while Gongsun Xun had placed himself directly under the enemy's blades. And at the same time, he likely had with him only two groups of surrendered troops that had just finished reorganization.

Or perhaps, Gongsun Xun had also come here? Was Tongguan just Xu Rong and Zhang Liao leading a bunch of surrendered soldiers putting on an act?

At this thought, Zhang Ji finally felt a trace of genuine fear from the depths of his heart—because no matter which scenario it was, he was now in grave danger, and the enemy was simply too terrifying!

Outside Tongguan, within the banner-filled main camp of the Youzhou Army, it was laughable to say, but aside from Gongsun Xun and a few advisors, there were hardly any Youzhou men here... And at this moment, the master of the camp seemed utterly unaware that a bloody battle had already begun to the north. He was actually fishing for amusement by the Yellow River north of the camp.

"My lord!" After standing in attendance for a long time, Xu Rong finally could not hold back and spoke up. "In my view, with this stratagem of openly repairing the gallery roads while secretly crossing through Chencang, you could have gone to Pujin yourself. Because if it is merely a matter of planting flags everywhere and using support troops to pose as combat troops, making a show of force to serve as bait for Pujin, I alone could do it."

"You do not understand," Gongsun Xun, holding his fishing rod, replied without raising his head, clearly dismissive. "Of my three columns, not one is truly a feint... At Pujin, all the elite troops are concentrated—that goes without saying. But here, as long as I am present, it may well produce unexpected results. And at Caisang Crossing, with Xu Gongming there, he too may achieve something of strategic significance!"

Xu Rong could not help but scoff: "If you say your presence here will have unexpected results, though I do not understand how, I presume it must be correct. But as for that Xu Huang, a mere surrendered general leading five or six thousand surrendered Bobo bandits, how could he possibly achieve anything of strategic significance? Entrusting the fate of victory or defeat to him will surely make you a laughingstock."

Gongsun Xun, unhurried, merely glanced at him and smiled without speaking.

Xu Rong was stunned for a moment, then suddenly knelt in alarm by the riverbank to beg forgiveness.

—————I am the dividing line where feint and real are not combined—————

"Xu Huang, styled Gongming, was a man of Yang County in Hedong. In his youth, he served as a commandery clerk and was close friends with Guan Yu of the same commandery. When the Bobo Bandits rose, all of Hedong revolted. For the sake of his clan, he followed the powerful leader Yang Feng as a Cavalry Superintendent. Later, when the Bobo Bandits surrendered, he submitted to the Grand Ancestor. The Grand Ancestor, impressed by his valor, martial skill, and honest sincerity, was quite fond of him and permitted him to take five thousand surrendered troops and form his own independent unit. Those around him were all resentful. When war came with Dong Zhuo, the Grand Ancestor was about to go to Hongnong, and all military affairs in Hedong were entrusted to Lou Gui, Tian Feng, and Han Dang. Only Xu Huang was personally directed to divide his forces and head north. Those around him all said: 'Xu Huang is a surrendered general, without fame or strength, and will surely accomplish nothing.' The Grand Ancestor said: 'You are all mistaken. Gongming may indeed lack fame, but he is not without strength. On this campaign, if he cannot drive straight through, he will at least cut through like splitting bamboo. For the responsibility of the northern front, to whom else should I entrust it?' Those around him remained resentful. When crossing the river to Hongnong, the Grand Ancestor took Shan County, seized Mao Crossing, and using the old stratagem of openly repairing the gallery roads while secretly crossing through Chencang, made a show of force with support troops at Tongguan while secretly sending the elite troops through Mao Crossing. He also sent word to Lou, Tian, and the other generals, saying: 'The army will make its own way toward Pujin. You are there with the authority to act independently and may handle matters at your discretion. Only when Gongming sends back word shall the general offensive be launched; only then can a great victory be achieved.' Those around him grew even more resentful." — Old Book of Yan, Volume 71, Biographies, Chapter 21

PS: New book group, everyone can join 931557287... Old classmates and childhood friends who ruin my persona are not allowed to join!

(End of Chapter)