My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 563 Gong Yang Requests Rescue
"Ziju, don't be anxious."

Liu Feng first offered a reassuring remark, persuading Gong Yang to return to his seat, before continuing, "You are unaware that the Grand Marshal, a powerful figure in Hebei, has long harbored rebellious intentions. He has repeatedly submitted memorials, bullying the young Emperor and showing contempt for the Grand General. This is a sight witnessed by all discerning people in the land. For the safety of the Emperor and the security of the court, I have no choice but to deploy my main force of elite troops along the Yellow River to prevent the Grand Marshal from crossing the Yellow River and invading from there. This Yellow River defense line alone has tied down 100,000 of my most capable soldiers."

Gong Yang also had some sources of information, and upon hearing this, he knew that Liu Feng was not lying, which made him even more anxious.

Liu Feng raised his hand to stop the other party from speaking and continued, "Apart from the Yellow River line, my territory is vast, and troops are needed to pacify every place. In Jiaozhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou, the Yue people, the Southern Barbarians, and the Baiyue people roam freely. The weak come down from the mountains to plunder, and the strong attack counties and towns. All of these require heavy troops to guard against. There is also the newly acquired Shangyong, which is adjacent to Zhang Lu. His Five Pecks of Rice sect is actually a remnant of the Yellow Turbans, and I must also guard against it."

Although Gong Yang wanted to defend himself, he actually agreed with Liu Feng's view.

In fact, Zhao Wei was initially quite wary of Liu Feng, but he soon discovered that Liu Feng did not seem to pay much attention to the situation in Yizhou. After taking over Jingzhou, he only placed a small number of troops at key passes where the two provinces met, and did not seem to have any hostility towards Zhao Wei.

Especially in the past few years, Liu Feng has not even sent anyone to visit Liu Zhang. The two sides are quite distant. Although there is no hostility, they are definitely not friendly either.

As a result, Zhao Wei couldn't help but start to have some ideas.

Zhao Wei's rebellion was mainly due to Liu Zhang's constant pressure. He himself did not have much ambition. Even after he developed the intention to rebel, he only wanted to replicate Liu Yan's successful experience of establishing a separatist regime. Let alone advancing into the Central Plains, even Hanzhong was not within Zhao Wei's scope of ambition.

Liu Feng's indifference actually appealed to Zhao Wei. In his view, Liu Feng's attention was always on the Central Plains and he had little interest in Shu.

If we can get Liu Feng's assistance, the success rate of this rebellion will be greatly increased.

Previously, Zhao Wei was very arrogant, but he only felt that he had the capital and the possibility of success to rebel. He did not think that he could definitely defeat Liu Zhang. Otherwise, he would not have tried to bribe Pang Xi and the Dongzhou soldiers, nor would he have taken the initiative to seek help from outside and approach Liu Feng.

Zhao Wei's problem was that he failed to see the contradiction between himself and the Dongzhou soldiers, and he did not consider the issue from the perspective of the Dongzhou soldiers, nor did he provide them with guarantees and benefits.

This made Zhao Wei's idea a one-sided affair, and he was unaware that the Dongzhou soldiers had begun to turn against him.

In the original timeline, Zhao Wei did the same thing, and he even took the initiative to curry favor with Liu Biao, humbly requesting Liu Biao to send troops to help him rebel.

At that time, Liu Biao was preoccupied with his own troubles and was unable to extricate himself from Zhang Xian's rebellion. He couldn't even take care of the Battle of Guandu in the north, so how could he possibly deal with the rebellion of Zhao Wei, a local strongman?

The final result was that they accepted the gifts, but provided little support, and sending troops was out of the question—a complete waste of effort.

At this time, Zhao Wei set his sights on Liu Feng, which shows that although Zhao Wei appeared strong on the outside, he was actually quite weak on the inside.

"There is another matter. Many Baiyue barbarians from the south have invaded Jingnan and Jiaoxi. After petitioning the court, the emperor issued an edict ordering me to send 10,000 troops deep into the barren lands to fight them. However, they refused. Now, the only troops available to me are my 8,000 personal guards and 10,000 troops from Jiangbei."

Liu Feng sighed, "But these soldiers in Jiangbei are reinforcements from all directions, and we cannot easily move them."

Gong Yang's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected that Liu Feng had already sent troops to invade Nanzhong, and that he still had nearly 20,000 troops at his disposal. This showed just how powerful he was.

However, his reluctance was quite obvious, clearly indicating that he did not want to send troops into Shu.

Upon realizing this, Gong Yang's resolve hardened.

While there were some objective factors that allowed Gong Yang to die for Zhao Wei in the original timeline, his loyalty, which far surpassed that of others, was also a very important reason.

He genuinely wanted to help Zhao Wei succeed, and Liu Feng's assistance was, in his view, the key to success.

After considering his words carefully for a moment, Gong Yang finally spoke: "The barbarians in the south do not submit to the king's rule. This has been a long time coming, and no governor or prefect has been able to eradicate this problem. I just don't know where the Left General's troops are now?"

Liu Feng informed the other party of this matter because the various routes in the south had already penetrated very deeply, which was likely to attract the attention of Shu.

Since that's the case, it's better to appear sincere, pretend to be acting on the emperor's orders, and do as one pleases.

Liu Feng feigned surprise and then replied, "They should have already reached the two prefectures of Yizhou and Zangke. Yong Kai and Zhu Bao are practically rebels, and the emperor is furious, ordering me to punish the disobedient."

Gong Yang asked cautiously, "How many troops has your army deployed?"

Liu Feng readily replied, "The mountain roads are difficult to traverse, and logistics are challenging. Only three or four routes of troops were dispatched, each with two thousand men."

Excitement flashed in Gong Yang's eyes. He had long heard that the armies under General Liu Feng were skilled in battle and had no rivals. He never expected that the rumors were true.

Gong Yang was a native of Yizhou, and he knew the situation in Nanzhong quite well; it was truly a barren land.

The Yizhou army had attempted to conquer the southern regions before, but most of the campaigns ended in defeat and heavy losses due to logistical difficulties.

If too many troops are sent out, there won't be enough food, and morale will collapse. If too few troops are sent out, there will be enough food, but the small number of troops will make them no match for the southern barbarians.

It is truly astonishing that the Left General's army is so powerful, having already advanced to the two prefectures of Yizhou and Zangke.

But then, Gong Yang's eyes lit up, and he tentatively asked, "If my lord were to raise an army, I wonder if General Zuo's troops might be responding from Yizhou and Zangke?"

Gong Yang, however, realized that Yizhou and Zangke were already below Jianwei, and Jianwei was a natural barrier to the south of Chengdu.

If Jianwei is attacked, Liu Zhang will have to send reinforcements to Jianwei no matter how short of troops he has.

Given the strength of the Left General's army, if Liu Zhang wanted to resist them, he would have to send at least 10,000 men to aid Jianwei; otherwise, they wouldn't be enough to defeat these 8,000 soldiers.

Liu Feng frowned: "This is not something I didn't expect, but the food supply is quite difficult. You should know that Jianwei is different from other counties like Zangke. It is an important county in Shu. The cities of Bidao and Wuyang are all heavily fortified and well-defended. Although my soldiers are elite, they will be hard to do if the food supply is insufficient."

"General Zuo need not worry. The provisions can be entrusted to my lord."

Gong Yang's eyes shone brightly, feeling that he had found a path to success for his lord.

"Oh?"

Liu Feng looked at Gong Yang suspiciously, his face full of doubt, and said, "Jianwei is an important town in Yizhou. Naturally, after Liu Yan and his son Liu Zhang entered Shu, the governor of Jianwei could not be anyone but their confidants. How did Zhao Zhonglang manage to procure the grain?"

Liu Feng's suspicion felt like a heavy pressure, forcing Gong Yang to lower his head and bend over, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

After a while, Gong Yang explained, "General Zuo, you may not know this, but my lord has the help of King Pu Hu of the Banshun barbarians. The Banshun barbarians are quite powerful in Shu, and they live scattered in the mountains of Ba County and Jianwei County. Pu Hu told my lord that once my lord starts an uprising, he can provide 50,000 shi of grain, and it will be located in Bidao County of Jianwei County."

Fifty thousand shi of grain was indeed enough for eight thousand soldiers to use for several months, and it was hard to guarantee that Pu Hu did not have other grain reserves.

Liu Feng suddenly understood. No wonder the other side dared to boast so confidently. In the original timeline, after Zhao Wei raised his army, he won battle after battle, forcing Pang Xi and the Dongzhou troops to retreat to Chengdu. Zhao Wei's unstoppable momentum came to an end there, suffering a crushing defeat at the gates of Chengdu. Fearing that Zhao Wei would unleash a massacre after breaching the city, the Dongzhou troops had no choice but to fight desperately, repelling Zhao Wei's repeated attacks on the city.

Left with no other choice, Zhao Wei came up with the bizarre idea of ​​dividing his forces, appointing his general Li Yi as the commander-in-chief, leading 10,000 troops westward along the Yangtze River to Jianwei to attack the Bodao.

As a result, Li Yi was decisively defeated by Yan Yan here, and then went downstream to threaten Zhao Wei's stronghold, Jiangzhou. The Dongzhou troops in Chengdu took the opportunity to counterattack and defeat Zhao Wei, forcing Zhao Wei to retreat from Chengdu and ultimately suffer a crushing defeat.

From this perspective, Gong Yang's statement that the Banshun barbarians had grain in the Bodao area was not a lie to Liu Feng, but rather a true reflection of the situation.

"If that's the case, then it's worth a try."

Under Gong Yang's earnest pleading, Liu Feng finally relented: "However, it is still necessary for you all to exchange information and agree on a date. My elite troops are all veterans who have been through countless battles, and we cannot abandon them lightly."

"Here!"

Upon hearing Liu Feng finally nod, Gong Yang was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, saying, "My lord will certainly obey General Zuo's orders. Please rest assured, General Zuo."

Liu Feng did not show any joy, but said slowly, "However, I still have some requests. If Zhao Zhonglang can agree, let alone those detachments in the south, I would also be willing to send some elite troops from the Central Plains up the Yangtze River."

"What are your requirements?"

Gong Yang's heart skipped a beat, realizing that the biggest challenge of this trip might be approaching, but he still replied respectfully, "If General Zuo has any orders, my lord will do his best."

Liu Feng naturally understood the meaning behind Gong Yang's words: he would only do his best if it was within Zhao Wei's power; otherwise, it would be asking the impossible.

The problem is, what Liu Feng wants isn't something he can force others to do?

With the matter having reached its climax, Liu Feng no longer concealed his intentions and bluntly stated, "Qianguan Jiangfang is the shield of Ba Commandery, and my troops must be stationed here."

"How does this work?"

Gong Yang exclaimed in surprise, his face full of disbelief. He really couldn't believe that Liu Feng's first request was so outrageous, and he dared not agree to it under any circumstances.

Upon hearing this, Liu Feng remained calm and composed, raising his hand to stop Gong Yang. He said slowly, "Ziju, please don't be impatient. Let me explain. This pass stands majestically over the Three Gorges, blocking the Yangtze River. If the troops of Jingzhou wish to advance westward against the current, they cannot enter Shu without passing through this pass. However, since I have already agreed to send troops to assist, why does Zhao Zhonglang still insist on guarding such a strategic location? Could it be..."

At this point, his gaze suddenly sharpened, and he said in a deep voice, "Could it be that you and Zhao Zhonglang are both acting on Liu Jiyu's orders, feigning to seek help while actually trying to lure our elite troops into a trap?"

Upon hearing this, Gong Yang's expression immediately changed, and he hurriedly retorted, "General, what are you saying! My lord was entrusted with the care of the young governor by the late governor and was originally a pillar of the state. However, Liu Zhang is incompetent and has repeatedly ostracized him, resorting to both open and covert attacks without any scruples! My lord has been forced by him and has long been alienated from his cause. How could he possibly seek to harm the Left General by dealing with a tiger?"

"In that case, let's send the gatekeeper over to show our sincerity."

Liu Feng's face was ashen as he said, "Besides, if your lord wants to raise an army, where will the troops come from to garrison the towns along the river? If the troops are all placed on the river defenses such as Qian Pass, does Zhao Zhonglang think he can persuade Chengdu to surrender with just empty words?"

Gong Yang opened his mouth, but could not utter a word.

Although Liu Feng's words were domineering, they made sense.

They've brought out their elite troops; surely it's not hard for them to ask you for a guarantee?
Not to mention if you were to raise an army, where would you find any extra strength to keep stationary in the rear?

Even though Gong Yang was quite eloquent, he was speechless for a moment.

After a long pause, Gong Yang's face turned grim, and he said with difficulty, "This matter needs to be reported to my lord. I beg General Zuo to grant me some more time."

"That's natural."

Liu Feng did not force him, and immediately agreed. Then he put on a smile and said, "Now that the important business is over, please allow me to host a banquet for Ziju. I will invite many famous scholars from Jiangdong to the banquet, so that Ziju can also see the scenery of Jianghuai."

Liu Feng's enthusiasm did not please Gong Yang; instead, it made Gong Yang's expression stiffen.

How come the main business is already finished, but the matter of reinforcements hasn't been decided yet?

For Gong Yang, Liu Fengjun in the south was an unexpected bonus, but he could not rely on him as a reliable support.

Only if Liu Feng truly sends troops from Yang and Jing provinces will Zhao Wei not only receive the support of a strong army, but also the prestige and prestige of Liu Feng.

Liu Feng is now the Left General, in charge of military affairs in the southeast, a position far higher than Liu Zhang's.

With Liu Feng's support, Zhao Wei's uprising was no longer a rebellion, but rather an effort by the court to eliminate the rebellious minister Liu Jiyu, who had ceded territory to defend himself.

The power of the phrase "legitimate and justified" should not be underestimated.

Sometimes, these four words may seem insignificant, but at other times, they can be the key to winning or losing, and ultimately, the outcome of a battle.

Gong Yang immediately became anxious and hurriedly tried to dissuade him, saying, "General Zuo, please wait!"

Liu Feng looked over, puzzled, and asked, "Is there anything else, Ziju?"

Gong Yang said, "General Zuo, the matter of sending troops to provide assistance has not yet been decided."

Liu Feng asked with even more suspicion, "Is there anything else?"

Gong Yang hurriedly explained, "General Zuo, my lord hopes that you, in the name of General Zuo, will personally lead an army up the Yangtze River to join forces with my lord in Jiangzhou to jointly punish Liu Jiyu, the traitor who has ceded territory to defend himself."

Liu Feng suddenly realized, then said unhappily, "Wasn't this matter already agreed upon? If the pass isn't opened, how dare I go up the river? Aren't I afraid of being cut off from my retreat and trapped in Yizhou?"

Gong Yang earnestly advised, “General Zuo, you are wise! Yizhou is a land of plenty, with prosperous people and a wealthy nation. It is truly a land of abundance. Unfortunately, Liu Jiyu is muddle-headed and incompetent, appointing only foreign generals from Dongzhou. He disrespects the heroes of Shu and cruelly oppresses the local people. Now, wolves and jackals rule the governor’s office; and virtuous men are disheartened throughout Bashu. From officials to commoners, everyone is anxiously waiting for his return.”

Gong Yang spoke with righteous indignation, but Liu Feng was dumbfounded.

Are you here to plead for reinforcements for Zhao Wei, or do you want to become the next Zhang Song?

But if you want to be the next Zhang Song, you have to open the gates of Ba County for me first.

(End of this chapter)