Chapter 78

If it weren't for Li Jue and Guo Si arriving in time with troops.

I am afraid Niu Fu and his fifty thousand troops would all be buried in Jieting!

But even so.

The loss of Niu Fu’s army was not a small number.

Afterward, Han Sui borrowed many cavalry from the Qiang and Di tribes.

And launched round after round of strikes against Niu Fu, Li Jue, and Guo Si!

Due to Niu Fu’s miserable defeat, the morale of the Dong Zhuo army dropped significantly.

Facing Han Sui’s attack, the Dong Zhuo army suffered many losses.

Niu Fu, Li Jue, and Guo Si had no choice but to temporarily retreat to Chencang.

And reported the front-line battle report to Dong Zhuo with fast horses.

Hoping to get reinforcements.

And on the other side.

The three generals Xu Rong, Zhao Yun, and Zhang He, who were responsible for going to Fufeng to rescue Ma Teng, had excellently completed the task.

But under the disaster of Niu Fu, the pit-maker!

The Fufeng Commandery where the three generals were now.

Was in the encirclement of Han Sui and various small warlords in Liangzhou.

A clever woman cannot cook without rice.

Xu Rong had only twenty thousand people under his command, and even adding Ma Teng’s few thousand people, it was not enough to reach thirty thousand.

And Han Sui and the various small warlords in Liangzhou, plus the reinforcements of the Qiang and Di tribes, the total number had infinitely approached one hundred and fifty thousand!

In other words.

Under the disaster of Niu Fu, the pig teammate.

The three generals Xu Rong, Zhao Yun, and Zhang He.

The situation they were facing now could be called unprecedentedly severe!

...

"My lord, the situation is critical."

"If the twenty thousand troops under Xu Rong are wiped out by Han Sui, I am afraid this Liangzhou will be further and further away from our army."

Li Ru said, wanting to speak but stopping.

In fact, the anger in his heart was no less than Dong Zhuo’s!

As the housekeeper of the Xiliang Army.

Li Ru’s contribution was also indispensable for the Xiliang Army to grow to this day.

This time, the reason why old Dong let his second son-in-law Niu Fu take command.

Was mainly to let his second son-in-law Niu Fu make up for his mistakes and regain the lost prestige.

But this guy Niu Fu was good, he didn't know how to cherish the opportunity placed before him.

Originally, this battle was not very difficult.

As long as Niu Fu cooperated with Li Jue and Guo Si and fought steadily, I am afraid it wouldn't take long to defeat the Guanxi coalition led by Han Sui.

Now it was good, not only was he defeated.

But he also caused Xu Rong, Zhao Yun, and Zhang He to be deeply trapped in the enemy’s encirclement.

"I can no longer use this kid Niu Fu no matter what."

"Wenyu, draft an order later."

"Order Niu Fu to return to Chang'an from Chencang immediately, and hand over the military power in his hands to Li Jue and Guo Si for the time being."

Dong Zhuo finally decided to remove Niu Fu.

It was fine that this second son-in-law didn't have any great ability on weekdays.

But he dropped the chain at the critical moment.

"My lord, are you planning to hand over the command of this battle to Li Jue and Guo Si?"

Li Ru asked.

Hearing this, Dong Zhuo was slightly stunned.

Old Dong naturally knew the ability of Li Jue and Guo Si very well.

But the critical situation at hand.

Even if the command was handed over to Li Jue and Guo Si.

I am afraid it would be difficult to turn the tide.

To put it plainly.

Li Jue and Guo Si’s ability was definitely stronger than Niu Fu’s.

But they had not reached the level of an excellent commander.

At most, they were two good generals.

Under old Dong’s command, the two could charge into battle without fear.

But let them be commanders themselves.

I am afraid...

It was not enough to win this battle.

Niu Fu’s miserable defeat caused too much of a bad influence.

What the Dong Zhuo army needed next was not just to repel Han Sui, but to completely defeat Han Sui!

Otherwise, Liangzhou would only become more and more alienated.

And the days of being under his rule would become more and more remote.

"Or, should I go to the front line to sit in command myself?"

Dong Zhuo asked tentatively.

Before the words fell, Li Ru immediately interrupted:

"My lord, this must not be done!"

"It hasn't been long since we moved the capital to Chang'an, and the hearts of the people have not yet fully returned."

"If you really go to the front line to sit in command, some people in Chang'an will inevitably have some thoughts they shouldn't have."

"Moreover, you are the Chancellor of the world today."

"How can you do everything yourself?"

This time, old Dong was really a bit anxious.

Just imagine, a battle that was originally sure to win turned into a disadvantage under the disaster of Niu Fu, the pit-maker.

If this happened to anyone, I am afraid they would be anxious.

However.

Because of the miserable defeat, the morale of the front-line soldiers was extremely low.

If they wanted to counterattack smoothly next, they must have someone who could hold the ground to go to the front line.

Currently in Chang'an City.

If we talk about status and position in the army, the only people higher than the second son-in-law Niu Fu were old Dong and Li Ru himself.

However, the affairs Li Ru had to deal with were far more than old Dong’s!

On the surface, old Dong was the Chancellor of the Han dynasty, but in fact, he didn't deal with government affairs much.

The person who was really exercising the power of the Prime Minister had always been the Secretariat Director Li Ru.

Some military affairs of the Xiliang Army, plus some government affairs in the court, were almost all decided by Li Ru.

Unless there was a big event, old Dong generally wouldn't enter the game himself.

Li Ru’s name as the "housekeeper of the Xiliang Army" was well-deserved.

"If I can't go to the front line myself."

"How can the situation on the front line be stabilized?"

"Could it be that I should count on Fan Chou, Zhang Ji, or Hua Xiong and Lu Bu?"

Old Dong was very melancholy.