The best way to go from Zhuo County to Longguan is to go south to Changshan State, take Jingxing to Taiyuan County, go south along the Fen River to Hedong County, and then turn southwest through Chang'an to Longguan, a total journey of more than 2,400 miles.
On the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month, he transferred 1,000 Xianbei cavalry to Bi Neng, 1,500 Wuhuan cavalry to Yan Rou, and 500 light cavalry to the Yue cavalry camp, plus 500 Su guards, for a total of 3,500 cavalry.
Four thousand war horses and 3,500 pack horses gathered in Zhuo County.
This is the force he is going to take to Liangzhou. They are all equipped with experienced cavalry. He will not lead an expedition with a group of men and horses that can rebel at any time. He should try to do as little as possible to make fun of his own life.
The generals who went on the expedition were protected by Zhao Yun and Shi A. Xu Rongzuo joined the army. He had been in the army in Liangzhou for many years and was familiar with the terrain and customs.
Ke Bi Neng was responsible for commanding the Xianbei cavalry.
He transferred Zhang He to command the Wuhuan cavalry.
Taishi Ci was responsible for commanding the Yueqi battalion of five hundred Qingqi.
Cui Yi was left in charge of the army and guarding his homeland. Zhen Yi was in charge, and Tian Chou was in charge, in charge of civil affairs.
In the third year of Zhongping, on the third day of the first lunar month, the weather became warmer.
Liu Xiang led 3,500 cavalrymen through Zijingguan, followed Puyin Trail, passed Feihu Road, and went straight into Yanmen, Bingzhou.
Target Zhang Liao Zhang Wenyuan.
At the beginning of last year, he proposed a campaign in the name of the governor of Youzhou, but was rejected. Liu Xiang could not do anything to him for fear of ruining his reputation.
Now he is holding an imperial edict to recruit Zhang Liao to join the army. If he dares to refuse, Liu Xiang will dare to kill his whole family.
In another year and a half, Zhang Liao will be conquered by Ding Yuan and sent to He Jin's command, and then he will be recruited by Dong Zhuo and placed under Lu Bu's command.
This experience was really rough, so Liu Xiang was ready to show mercy and put his mark on him to save his career.
The army entered Yanmen County, bypassed Xiawu Mountain, went upstream along the river, and arrived at Mayi County.
This is Zhang Liao's hometown.
To show his sincerity, Liu Xiang paid a visit in person. Although he felt cruel in his heart, he still looked eager for talents on the surface. He was recruited to use his talents, not to make enemies and make him feel uncomfortable.
Zhang Liao was well-known in Mayi, and people in the county praised him for his bravery. He also heard that his family was good at fighting. Liu Xiang looked at the walls made of loess and the gray courtyard, and guessed that the Zhang family was poor.
That wave of people.
The general who was in trouble, the governor of Youzhou, and the Marquis of Lushui Ting paid a visit in person and waited outside the door with gifts. They performed enough etiquette and gave enough face.
More than 20 men from the Zhang family, all grown up, came out the door, knelt on the ground, and paid homage.
The patriarch Zhang Mai had tears in his eyes: "The Zhang family is grateful for your kindness, but we will never disobey you if we are driven."
The Han people care about appearance, Liu Xiang is the first to conquer, and the last to visit. He respects etiquette and observes etiquette. In this feudal society with strict classes, few big shots can do this.
Zhang Liao is eighteen years old this year, which is seventeen according to modern calculations. It is because he is young and does not want to leave his hometown and go to Youzhou to make a living.
Now he was very moved. He had never seen Liu Xiang's behavior of treating a virtuous corporal like this before. He was young and inexperienced and could easily be deceived. He even spoke with a vibrato: "Your Majesty values such a thing. Liao and Gansu are eagles and dogs for driving.
If you have a destiny, walk through water and fire, and you will die without turning back!"
Liu Xiang quickly helped everyone up.
"Quickly invite me, how can I break things like this? Although I am far away in Youzhou, I have also heard Zhang Jun's reputation for bravery. Last year I sent people to conquer the country, but because of my duties, I could not go to Bingzhou to pay a visit. It is really a pity.
"
Zhang Liogang was about to explain why he refused to conquer the country. Liu Xiang grabbed his hand and interrupted him. Now was not the time to mention his refusal to conquer the country. He struck while the iron was hot and said, "This year, by your Majesty's order, we will lead troops to Liangzhou to quell the rebellion."
, passing by Taiyuan, I deliberately took a detour here to see Zhang Liao of Yanmen."
Zhang Liao was even more moved. It was more than four hundred miles from Taiyuan to Mayi, and it was not easy to walk all the way through mountains and rivers.
After thinking about the situation at home, my father was a county official in his early years, and the family was still prosperous at that time. However, the barbarians went south to plunder, and my father was killed. After that, the situation became worse every year.
Yanmen has become a place where barbarians are raging, and the family is becoming more and more embarrassed. If this continues, the decline is not far away. Now that Liu Shijun is valued, he will be reused under his command. This opportunity cannot be missed.
Thinking of this, he bowed his hands and bowed to the end: "Zhang Liao of Yanmen, I am willing to die in the service of my lord, please accept it."
Liu Xiang smiled from the bottom of his heart. This was a good result. He smoothed his robes with both hands and solemnly returned the gift: "With Zhang Jun's help, I am as powerful as a tiger. I am willing to join hands with you and never let you down."
Everyone in the Zhang family was very happy. They killed sheep and sold wine, prepared a banquet, and entertained Liu Xiang.
The patriarch Zhang Mai was so generous that he poured down Liu Xiang's food before the food was even served.
The next day, Liu Xiang woke up in the military camp. Zhang Liao was already waiting at the camp gate with several clan members and about twenty companions.
Zhang Liao was appointed Army Sima, commanding five hundred Wuhuan cavalry, under Zhang He's control.
No longer wasting time, the army set off south that day, bypassing Leitou Mountain, entering the Great Wall at Loufan, marching along the foot of Juzhu Mountain, preparing to pass through Yuanping County and go south to Jinyang, the county seat of Taiyuan County, where they would receive supplies.
Go south along the river.
If there weren't too many horses, we could go straight down to Linfen by boat, which would save a lot of energy.
The imperial court's deployment of troops, marching routes, and where to supply supplies are all planned. You cannot just let the army plunder everywhere. If you don't want to be a traitor, you have to be obedient.
He took a detour through Mayi, just as a side trip. Instead of taking Jingxing in the south, he took the Puyin Trail in the north. That is, he didn't want to hit Shanggu now, otherwise he could take the Jundu Trail in the north.
Three thousand five hundred cavalry marched along the way, with many scouts sent out to explore the terrain and hydrology along the way. After Zhang Liao had been in the army for a few days, he became more and more impressed by his ability to restrain Hu Qi and enforce his orders. His lord was truly a Ming military strategist.
Zhang Liao, who lived in Yanmen, knew very well what the Hu people were like. If he wanted to use military discipline to restrain them, he would have to make great efforts. Most people could not control the Hu cavalry.
The Lord, however, acted like an arm, and while he was marching quickly, scouts were constantly coming and going. Even after entering the Great Wall, he would never let down his guard, as a true general.
Zhang Liao didn't know the specific situation. A large part of these Hu cavalry were veterans who had joined the Anping Army for more than a year. Some were even members of the Yuancong troops when they launched the army. Those Xianbei cavalry were also old men who followed the army and fought against the elite Northern Army.
In just over a year, they will be registered as Han Chinese and become Han people. They will have plenty of supplies and strict training. They can recite the seventeen prohibitions and fifty-four cuts proficiently in Chinese.
With them leading the way, other barbarians will naturally follow their example.
Liu Xiang also treated his soldiers well. He had interests in the future, and now he was subject to military discipline. He wore a jacket to keep out the cold, and his stomach was full every day. He also had fish and meat from time to time to improve his food. Where could he find this kind of treatment? The cost of their crime was too high
If you are high, you will naturally be willing to abide by discipline.
Over time, you develop the habit of obeying orders.
As for releasing more scouts.
As soon as Liu Xiang left Youzhou, the army entered a state of combat readiness and was ready to fight at any time.
The army also brought several scribes who were good at calligraphy, painting, and landscape painting to record the terrain, mountains and rivers, roads, and city gates along the way to prepare for sending troops to merge with the state in the future.
In the eyes of others, Bingzhou has many mountains and little water, and the land is barren, making it difficult to feed the people. But in Liu Xiang's eyes, there are treasures everywhere with mineral deposits everywhere.