Chapter 1463

Xubuguduhou, who had always followed Chanyu Qiangqu's side on this journey, did not stay too close to Yu Fuluo this time.

Instead, he ordered the three thousand cavalry of his tribe to set off last, choosing the rear position.

As for Xubuguduhou himself, he never left the range of his tribal army.

A few days later, Jinyang County, Taiyuan Commandery.

After Zhang Yang was captured and Liu Wei opened the gates of Jinyang County, the Liangzhou troops entered Jinyang County without wasting a single soldier.

After Zhang Yang was captured, Liu Wei issued orders as the Administrator of Taiyuan Commandery, and within just a few days, the flags on the city walls of the entire Taiyuan Commandery changed, turning it into Duan Yu's sphere of influence.

But after occupying Taiyuan Commandery, the Liangzhou army did not continue north.

Because according to the previous plan, the Southern Xiongnu would send troops south to cross the Yinshan Mountains and then move south to occupy the other commanderies and counties.

As for the Liangzhou army, it was to turn from the direction of Taiyuan Commandery and take the road the million Yellow Turbans of Jizhou had taken during their migration to conquer Jizhou.

Then, after the Southern Xiongnu occupied the other few commanderies and counties, they would turn their troops from the direction of Yanmen Commandery and head to Youzhou.

This was the strategic direction previously formulated by Xun You.

First take the four provinces of Hebei, then return the army south, using the north to attack the south, using the high to strike the low, cutting off the three horse pastures of the Han in Bingzhou, Liangzhou, and Youzhou, as well as Jizhou, the huge granary, and then form a pincer movement on Luoyang to cross the Yellow River.

Therefore, after occupying Taiyuan Commandery, the Liangzhou army rested in Jinyang and prepared to advance into Jizhou.

Jizhou was not Bingzhou; it was adjacent to the Sili Colonel Department.

Although the Liangzhou army had set foot in Jizhou, Jizhou did not have the ability to obtain supplies and transport grain from anywhere like Bingzhou.

To attack Jizhou, one really had to take it city by city, fighting hard.

Making preparations before the war was also necessary.

Originally, the army should have been able to set off today.

But just last night, a secret intelligence report from the Military Intelligence Department was delivered to Jia Xu and Li Ru.

Not only last night, but half a day after receiving the first secret letter from the Military Intelligence Department last night—that is, after this morning—the second secret letter from the Military Intelligence Department had also been delivered to Jia Xu.

Inside the official residence in Jinyang City.

Jia Xu, Li Ru, and Cheng Yu were gathered together at this time.

And the expressions of all three were extremely grave.

A secret intelligence report from the Military Intelligence Department regarding the Xiongnu army in Yunzhong Commandery was being passed among the three.

After the first report was delivered last night, the three had already urgently sat together to discuss it.

Just when the three had not yet reached a conclusion, the second secret letter was delivered after the morning.

The three, who had not closed their eyes all night, began to discuss again after eating a simple breakfast.

On the table in front of Jia Xu was a cup of strong tea that had just been brewed to refresh him; he had his hands tucked into his sleeves and his brows tightly locked.

"Wenhe, according to your speculation, what is Chanyu Qiangqu's current situation?" Li Ru put down the secret intelligence report passed back from the Military Intelligence Department.

Jia Xu, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, raised his hands and rubbed his nose.

"According to my speculation, there is roughly a seventy percent probability that Chanyu Qiangqu is controlled by Yu Fuluo, and the remaining thirty percent... it is very likely that he is already dead," Jia Xu said slowly.

The tall Cheng Yu shook his head, expressing a different opinion: "In my view, Yu Fuluo has ninety percent likely already committed patricide."

Li Ru took a deep breath.

Patricide.

This term was not a rare one.

From ancient times to the present, not to mention the barbaric lands of the northern grasslands, even in the Central Plains, things like killing brothers and fathers to seize power were not uncommon.

It was just that at this critical juncture, the fact that Yu Fuluo might have killed Chanyu Qiangqu and controlled the Xiongnu army was clearly a dangerous signal.

This dangerous move would likely affect the Liangzhou army's subsequent plans.

No, not likely, it would definitely affect them.

"Let's not talk about Chanyu Qiangqu's situation for now, but it is already a fact that Yu Fuluo controls the Xiongnu army," Li Ru said slowly: "The report says that Yu Fuluo came with the excuse that he had already repelled the Xianbei army. I think if Yu Fuluo has already imprisoned or killed Chanyu Qiangqu, then it is very likely that he has already reached some kind of agreement with the Xianbei's Budugen."

"Back then, the Prince of Liang burned down Tanhanshan and had already formed a blood feud with the Xianbei. If these two join forces, I'm afraid..."

Li Ru shook his head while speaking: "The Xiongnu army is now heading east toward Yanmen Commandery; it is very likely that they want to open Pingcheng Pass and let the Xianbei army in."

"If that is really the case, then the problem is serious."

Yu Fuluo previously had twenty thousand Xiongnu troops under his command, and adding the twenty thousand troops controlled by Chanyu Qiangqu, that made forty thousand.

The Xianbei there, roughly estimated, also had tens of thousands of troops.

Gathering one hundred thousand would not be a problem.

Of course, this was not to say how powerful the one hundred thousand Xiongnu and Xianbei troops were.

If they really fought, talking about conquering cities and seizing land, this one hundred thousand-strong coalition of Xiongnu and Xianbei was just so-so.

It would not be very difficult for the Liangzhou army to rout them.

The weapons and armor of the Xiongnu and Xianbei were inferior to those of the Liangzhou army.

Let alone in a situation of attacking a city.

But war is not fought like that.

The enemy would not stand there waiting for the Liangzhou army to come and fight.

Of course, they would not actively deliver themselves to their door either.

If the Liangzhou army were the Liangzhou army from the beginning, the one that was not famous four years ago, then that possibility would exist.

If Yu Fuluo joined forces with Budugen, relying on the number of one hundred thousand troops, they would really dare to fight head-on.

But now, everyone in the world knows the combat effectiveness of the Liangzhou army, and everyone knows that Duan Yu has never been defeated.

Just look at the strategic policy of the Luoyang court now, and you will know.

It is completely defensive, holding firm, and absolutely not coming out of the city for a decisive battle.

If the one hundred thousand-strong coalition of Xiongnu and Xianbei really crossed the Great Wall and entered Bingzhou, it would be an endless disaster.

The Xiongnu and Xianbei were both cavalry, and their speed was extremely fast, something even the Liangzhou army could not compare to.

Because the Liangzhou army's cavalry only accounted for a portion, and the majority were still infantry.

As long as the Xiongnu and Xianbei coalition forces scattered in Bingzhou, dividing into a dozen or more groups to plunder and kill.

Then the entire Bingzhou would be plunged into misery.

Not only Bingzhou, but after passing Pingcheng Pass today, the Xiongnu and Xianbei could also head toward Youzhou and Jizhou.

As long as the Xiongnu and Xianbei armies wanted to go, there was no way to intercept them.

And even if they could defeat them, wanting to completely drive so many Xiongnu and Xianbei troops out of Bingzhou would not be a simple matter.

I am afraid that if the Xiongnu and Xianbei coalition forces burned, killed, and looted everywhere, turning the entire Bingzhou into scorched earth, then it would be troublesome.

When attacking Liangzhou back then, Duan Yu's order was very clear.

Try not to disturb the people, and obtain an intact Bingzhou.

But with these two secret reports, it seems that the changes are going to increase.

"I think we should immediately report this matter to the Prince of Liang," Cheng Yu suggested.