My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 243 This humble general's surname is Yang!

Liangjun, also known as Liangguo, Suiyang.

During the Cao Wei period, Liang Commandery was established. Later, Cao Rui changed Liang Commandery to Liang State, and Yao Chang of the Later Qin Dynasty changed it back to Liang Commandery.

As for Suiyang, it is because Liangjun was originally a city built along the Sui River, and it was named according to the traditional orientation theory of the ancients, namely, "the north of a mountain is yin, and the north of a river is yang". Place names containing the words "yin" and "yang" are basically named in accordance with this theory.

The most typical examples are Heyin and Heyang. Heyang is north of the Yellow River, while Heyin is south of the Yellow River.

Chen Qingzhi was standing in the camp with Yuan Hao and others beside the map, and Chen Qingzhi pointed to several key locations with his hand.

"Our army should take advantage of the victory to capture Suiyang, and use Suiyang as a base to advance along the Sui River to attack Ningling, Xiangyi and Yongqiu."

These three cities were all built along the water. As long as we advance along this route, it will mean that the logistics and transportation costs of the Northern Expeditionary Army will be greatly reduced. Water transport is the lowest-cost mode of transportation, and it is the most convenient way to transport logistics by water during battle.

Both Zhuge Liang and Marquis of Huaiyin left Shu, but the former faced an extremely difficult journey because... the Tianchi Lake in Shu was destroyed in an earthquake.

When Marquis of Huaiyin left Shu, he could use the Tianchi Lake and the Great Marsh for water transport, which greatly reduced the logistical transportation costs. Zhuge Liang, however, was not so lucky.

Yuan Hao had also led troops and was well aware of how reasonable Chen Qingzhi's chosen route of advance was. In fact, by following this route, one could understand Chen Qingzhi's subsequent choices.

Reaching Yongqiu means entering the territory of Sizhou. Continuing northwest, the Imperial Guards can capture Daliang City. They can still take the waterway and then head west to attack Xingyang and then Hulao Pass. There is a waterway available for logistics and transportation along this route.

"General Wuwei is truly a renowned general of his time, deeply understanding the principle that supplies must precede troops."

"You flatter me, Your Majesty."

Chen Qingzhi was not complacent because of the praise. Instead, he urged, "King Wei, our army has just captured Xingcheng without bloodshed. We should take advantage of the fact that the news has not yet reached Liang County and immediately march north to catch the enemy general off guard!"

To travel from Xingcheng to Liangjun, one must first cross the Huan River and then the Sui River.

"General Wuwei, why are you in such a hurry?"

Yuan Hao, however, had other plans. He hesitated for a moment, then gave a wink to the person beside him, and his personal guards withdrew from the tent.

Chen Qingzhi hesitated slightly, but remained calm and stood still, asking first, "What does the Prince of Wei have to say that he cannot say in front of everyone?"

Yuan Hao chuckled twice, then stepped forward with a beaming smile. "General, why be so wary? Would I possibly harm you?"

"But I've thought of a better way to make it easier for our army to advance westward."

Chen Qingzhi had no choice but to patiently ask in return, "What brilliant plan is it? King Wei, please speak frankly."

"When the garrison commander of Xingcheng saw us arrive with our righteous army, he immediately opened the city gates and chose to surrender. This proves that the Luoyang court controlled by that traitor Erzhu Rong is not popular. Many garrison commanders and prefects in the northern border only submitted to him because he supported Yuan Ziyou to ascend the throne as emperor."

"I was just thinking..."

"If I could ascend the throne and issue edicts as the Emperor of the Great Wei, those who were already disloyal to Luoyang would surely pledge their allegiance to me. Wouldn't we then be able to march all the way to the gates of Luoyang without shedding a drop of blood?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qingzhi looked at Yuan Hao without showing any emotion.

No wonder he chased everyone else away.

Have they already lost their ambition after only capturing one city?
The ascension of Yuan Ziyou to the throne did indeed provoke Yuan Hao.

Your father was Emperor Xiaowen's younger brother, and so was mine.

The sixth brother and the seventh brother are equally matched in terms of the legal succession.

of course……

The main reason was the persuasion of the garrison commander of Xingcheng. In order to prevent a large-scale rebellion, Erzhu Rong basically retained the positions of the garrison commanders and prefects outside Luoyang and gave them titles and rewards, which was better than nothing. These outsiders also knew that they could not enter Erzhu Rong's inner circle and would not be regarded as his own people.

Erzhu Rong was initially just an outsider, but thanks to his role in supporting the emperor's ascension to the throne, he rose to the rank of king and prime minister in one fell swoop.

Why can't they?

"General, you need not worry. My ascension to the throne is merely a means to ensure that the garrison commanders do not resist. After the bandits are pacified, I will naturally return south with you to meet His Majesty. I have absolutely no ambition or intention to defect!"

"Back then... Emperor Gaozu of Han also led a righteous army and was able to conquer Guanzhong without shedding a drop of blood. Why don't we follow suit? The tyrannical Qin Dynasty lost the hearts of the people, and now Erzhu Rong, this Jie barbarian traitor, has also lost the hearts of the people!"

Chen Qingzhi hesitated.

Although he did not believe that Yuan Hao would actually return to Jiankang with him to meet Xiao Yan if the war went smoothly.

But it does have its merits.

The imperial court in Luoyang had virtually no control over any region other than Sizhou and Shanxi; Yuan Ziyou was merely an emperor in name only.

If Yuan Hao could ascend the throne and become emperor at this time, it would indeed minimize the resistance of the local generals.

After all, Yuan Ziyou was enthroned by Erzhu Rong, not through the normal succession process, so it is normal for people to question the legitimacy of his ascension to the throne and deny his legitimacy.

Yuan Hao ascended the throne.

It's like the Great Wei has two suns.

For local officials, worshipping the sun in the west is the same as worshipping the sun in the east; they just need to avoid offending either side.

They preserve their own strength, wait for the best price, and then help whoever wins.

Seeing that Chen Qingzhi did not immediately refuse or refute him, Yuan Hao was overjoyed and quickly advised, "If the general has any concerns, he can write a letter now and go to Jiankang to explain the truth to His Majesty. However, time waits for no one, and as the saying goes, if you do not take what Heaven has given you, you will suffer the consequences."

After hesitating for a long time, Chen Qingzhi shook his head and said, "This is not appropriate."

A flash of anger crossed Yuan Hao's eyes, but he quickly replaced it with a smile and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Your Majesty, you have not yet achieved any merit, yet you are in a hurry to become emperor. How is this any different from that false emperor in Luoyang? We have raised an army to fight against injustice, to eliminate the traitor Erzhu Rong, to relieve the people and punish the guilty. At the very least, you should first establish some merit before praying to Heaven and ascending the throne."

"We should first capture Liang County and, with the momentum of a great victory, then bring up this matter to silence any dissent."

Yuan Hao's smile faltered for a moment, but he still cooperated and said, "General, you are indeed meticulous and far-sighted. I almost made a big mistake. Then, as you say, our army should quickly head north to attack Liang County."

"Your Majesty is wise!"

After Chen Qingzhi left, Yuan Hao's face was contorted with rage, but he eventually calmed down.

"We still need his help for this Northern Expedition, so let's be patient with him a little longer."

The matter could no longer be kept secret, so Yuan Hao quickly sat down and picked up paper and pen. He also wanted to write a letter to send his trusted confidants back to Jiankang. He would even have his trusted confidants send all the family members he had brought back to Jiankang to reassure Xiao Yan.

"Why should a great man worry about not having a wife or children?"

the other side.

Chen Qingzhi also wrote furiously, explaining the situation. Although he held the authority of an imperial envoy, he dared not make such a decision on his own.

The attack on Liang County was merely a pretext; he needed to stall for time until Xiao Yan gave him a definite answer before he could act on orders.

Unlike Yuan Hao, his roots were in the Southern Liang Dynasty.

"Issue my order: the entire army is to march!"

Chen Qingzhi sent his personal guards to deliver the military order. His White Robe Army was well-trained and disciplined, and they quickly set off ahead of schedule.

On the contrary, Yuan Hao's old subordinates dragged their feet, wasting a lot of time.

But in the end, they still headed north.

Yuan Hao had already gathered 20,000 of his old troops in a short period of time, and the army as a whole numbered nearly 30,000, making for a grand and imposing procession.

The garrison commander in Liang County was named Qiu Daqian.

His original surname was Qiu Dun, and his ancestor was Qiu Dui, the Duke of Linhuai. Qiu Daqian fought against the Liang army on the southern front for more than a thousand years.

"Report! General, we've investigated thoroughly. The commander of the Liang army this time is General Chen Qingzhi, the Martial Might General." "What?"

Upon hearing that familiar name, Qiu Daqian dropped his wine glass, his face filled with terror. "It's him?!"

"Have you investigated this thoroughly?"

"Reporting to the general, I saw it clearly: all of his men were wearing white robes."

"Damn it! How could it be him!"

Qiu Daqian paced back and forth in a panic.

He and Chen Qingzhi were old rivals.

As early as the first year of Xiaochang (525 AD), Yuan Faseng, the governor of Xuzhou, rebelled in Pengcheng and declared himself emperor.

In order to survive after his defeat, he wrote to the Southern Liang Dynasty and begged to surrender.

At that time, Emperor Xiao Yan sent Chen Qingzhi with troops to meet Yuan Fasheng. Just then, Yuan Huiye, the Prince of Anfeng of the Great Wei, led a large army to quell the rebellion. Qiu Daqian was a general under Yuan Huiye at the time. Yuan Huiye ordered him to intercept them. Qiu Daqian was defeated on the spot by Chen Qingzhi. Qiu Daqian was so badly defeated that he lost his armor and fled with only a few guards and his troops.

"What should we do? Although Chen Qingzhi is weak and can't even draw a bow, his soldiers are exceptionally brave. I led the elite troops of the central army and still couldn't fight against him. Now the city's defenses are lax. How can I possibly fight him?"

Qiu Daqian was completely panicked.

His first reaction was to run.

As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn; living is more important than anything else.

The Great Wei Dynasty is already a mere shell of its former self. If we were to fight to the death here and actually die on the battlefield, it's hard to say whether anyone in the court would even remember us.

"General, why worry so much?"

At this moment, his chief clerk stroked his beard and laughed, “Chen Qingzhi is escorting the Prince of Beihai north to quell the rebels. Erzhu Rong is currently unable to attend to the south. The Prince of Beihai might actually be able to fight his way all the way to Luoyang. General, why don’t you follow the example of the garrison commander of Xingcheng and lead your troops to surrender directly? If the Prince of Beihai ascends the throne and becomes emperor in the future, you will be indebted to your support!”

Qiu Daqian's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes, what Chief Secretary Luo said is absolutely right."

But his personal guard shook his head and said, "General, we still have tens of thousands of soldiers who are ready to fight. If we surrender before even engaging the enemy, we will not be able to convince the soldiers. Moreover, if our army surrenders like this, we will be looked down upon in the future."

"How about this, our army should first fight them head-on and defeat them decisively. After that, the general can establish his prestige among the soldiers with the momentum of a great victory. Then, we can tell the soldiers the truth, which will also prevent the people under the command of the King of Beihai from looking down on us. This way, we can achieve the best of both worlds!"

Qiu Daqian heard this.

He was taken aback for a moment, then quickly grabbed his bodyguard's arm and praised him repeatedly.

"You do have a quick wit."

"Go, relay my military order: summon the elite troops out of the city. We will take the initiative to meet the enemy, and while they have just crossed the river and are not yet firmly established, we will launch a surprise attack and catch them off guard!"

"The general is wise!"

………………

Chen Qingzhi truly understood the importance of speed in warfare.

At his repeated requests, the Northern Expeditionary Army marched north at a rapid pace.

We have now crossed the Sui River using a pontoon bridge and arrived north of the Sui River. Liang County is just a few dozen miles ahead.

"Pass on my orders: set up camp where you are, and send your soldiers out to cut down trees and build siege weapons. We will attack the city tomorrow!"

Yuan Hao came to his side and said, “General, why are you in such a hurry? Why don’t I send someone into the city tonight to persuade them to surrender? I have some old acquaintances with the garrison commander of Liang County.”

"Oh?"

Chen Qingzhi countered, "Does Your Majesty know who the Prefect of Liang will be?"

"Qiu Daqian".

"he?"

Chen Qingzhi was taken aback, which puzzled Yuan Hao. "General, you also know Qiu Daqian?"

Chen Qingzhi smiled and said, "General Qiu and I are old acquaintances."

Knowing Qiu Daqian's character well, Chen Qingzhi nodded and said, "In order to reduce unnecessary sacrifices, I would like to trouble Your Majesty to quickly write a personal letter and send a trusted confidant into the city to persuade him to surrender."

Chen Qingzhi had never seen a "runaway general" who collapsed after a single battle and abandoned his generals. How could he not be impressed by him?
Such people will not defend a city.

If Qiu Daqian had been determined to defend the city, he wouldn't have done what he did.

however……

Just now.

Suddenly, a scout on horseback arrived with news!
"Report, General! Enemy troops have been spotted ten miles to the northwest and are heading towards our army!"

"what?"

Yuan Hao was greatly alarmed!

Chen Qingzhi was taken aback. Should he take the initiative?

Is this something Qiu Daqian would do?
It doesn't seem like it. Or has Luoyang already received news of the Northern Expeditionary Army and realized that Qiu Daqian is unreliable, so they temporarily replaced him with another general?
"General! What should we do?"

"Your Majesty need not worry, I will immediately send men to quell the rebellion!"

Chen Qingzhi remained extremely calm as he approached the soldiers in white robes.

"Soldiers, the enemy is advancing this way. I intend to lead you to meet them. Are you willing to come with me?!"

"Prepare for the enemy! Prepare for the enemy!!"

The soldiers shouted loudly, their voices shaking the heavens, and every soldier's eyes blazed with intense fighting spirit.

"Excellent! Truly worthy of being a warrior of our Great Liang!"

"General!"

Suddenly, someone stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This humble general requests that the general grant me five hundred elite troops, which will be enough to quell the invasion!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qingzhi took a closer look.

This man was young, but handsome and robust, with broad shoulders and strong arms. One look at him and you could tell he was a rare and brave man!

However, he had no recollection of them; they were not his own troops, but rather people who had been conscripted into the White Robe Army.

"Your courage is commendable, but do you know that there is no joking in the military?"

"This humble general is willing to sign a military pledge here and now: if I fail to lead my troops to a great victory over the enemy, I am willing to accept military punishment!"

"it is good!"

Chen Qingzhi praised him repeatedly, and then asked, "I still don't know your name."

The young man who had volunteered for the mission replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This humble general's surname is Yang!"

P.S.: Long time no see, here's a long chapter, please give me some monthly votes!

With more and more powerful figures appearing, the book is about to reach the end of its third volume, and the protagonist will officially begin his quest to dominate the world.

(End of this chapter)