Lu Bu: My wife comes from two thousand years later

On September 1st, Lu Bu officially set out from Chang'an, leading 15,000 soldiers north along the Jing River, first taking Beidi County and Anding County east of Longshan Mountain. Taishi Ci led 10,000 soldiers through the Wei River Valley to control Fanxukou on the Longguan Road. Zhang He led 5,000 people to guard Dasan Pass leading to Wudu County to prevent Yang Qianwan from leading his troops to attack Guanzhong.

During this period, the Qiang people and the nobles of Liangzhou, who had originally not gotten along well, united unprecedentedly and mobilized troops to guard important passes and cities in order to resist Lu Bu's powerful army.

"Scouts report that Yang Qiu has stationed nearly 20,000 troops in Yinpan County over the past few days. Yinpan is the gateway for our army to enter Anding County. With 20,000 soldiers defending the city, this battle will be difficult to win!"

On the official road outside the city of Zuofengyi Valley, Lü Bu looked anxiously at Guo Jia, who was also sitting in the chariot. "My Tang Dynasty's policies are unpopular, and resistance is particularly strong everywhere. Fengxiao, do you think our army can successfully capture Yinpan County in the first battle?"

The Tang army was coming with great momentum. If they lost the first battle, not only would they be slapped in the face, but it would also be a severe blow to the morale of the army. Morale is something that often rises and falls, so this battle was particularly important to the Tang army, and Lu Bu could not help but worry.

Guo Jia corrected him, "The Tang Dynasty's policies only disfavor the people in power, not the people themselves. The common people regard the king and princess as gods!"

Lu Bu snorted, "You know what I mean, answer the key points!"

Guo Jia put down the map and looked at the scenery outside the chariot. He said, "Although I have never been to Liang Province, I know that apart from a few important cities and strong passes, the rest of Liang Province not only has low walls but also lacks any defensive system. Such a city cannot be defended even with a large number of troops. Although Yinpan is the gateway for Zuo Fengyi to enter Anding County, it is not a major border town. Who would think of repairing the city walls and building defenses in such an insignificant place?"

Lu Bu nodded. "Feng Xiao's words make sense. I only thought of the strategic location of this place, but I didn't realize that before the Liang Province rebellion, this place was just a small county in Anding County."

He then asked, "What about Linjing, where Yin Pan went? This is the seat of Anding County, so I think it would be better defended!"

"Your Majesty, are you planning to attack one city and one county at a time?"

Lu Bu frowned, "I know this won't work, but all the cities along the Jingshui River must be captured to ensure a clear retreat for our army."

"As the Art of War says, 'In the art of war, attacking the heart is superior to attacking the city. Psychological warfare is superior to physical warfare.'" Guo Jia said, gazing at the yellow leaves drifting by the roadside in the autumn wind. "Your Majesty, why not send troops to the counties and prefectures of Liang Province to issue military orders? Perhaps many cities can be taken without a fight."

"What military order?"

"Anyone who surrenders after being surrounded will be killed without mercy!"

Guo Jia then explained, "Yang Qiu, Liang Xing, and the others originally wanted to surrender, but their subordinates disagreed. Your Majesty's order will weaken their weak resistance. As long as we slaughter one or two cities ahead, I believe some of them will inevitably become restless. Secondly, our army's strategy this time is to fight to support the war, so slaughtering those who resist is necessary. Your Majesty has given them the order in advance, so we will have sufficient reason to kill the surrendered or massacre the cities, and your image of benevolence, which you have cultivated for many years, will not be damaged."

After hearing the last sentence, Lü Bulang laughed out loud, "Feng Xiao is indeed worthy of the title of genius. This military order is very good! Very good!"

"Genius?" Guo Jia wondered, "When did I get this title?"

Lu Bu was stunned for a moment, then replied casually, "That's the title I gave you today!"

"Why?"

"Well... even if he had the power to overturn rivers and seas, and reverse the flow of rivers, Feng Xiao's brief military order could have reversed the situation for the struggling Tang army. What else could he be but a genius?"

After saying this, Lü Bu said to Hua Xiong, who was following beside his carriage, "Quickly send men to all the counties and prefectures in Liang Province to convey my military order. Anyone who surrenders after being surrounded by the Tang army will be killed without mercy!"

"Yes!"

Hua Xiong took the order and immediately arranged to send the message.

The troops marched northwards, and at noon on September 7th, Lü Bu's army arrived at Yinpan County in Anding Commandery. Looking at the densely packed soldiers huddled on the thin, low city walls, Lü Bu felt relieved. He immediately ordered, "Set up the pots and cook. Eat your fill and leave the city tonight!"

"My lord is wise!" Jia Xu beside him turned his head to look at him, twirling his beard and smiling.

Lü Bu smiled and said to Hua Xiong, "Yingwei, after dinner, lead 5,000 men to block the north gate. There's no need to attack the city. After dark, we can light torches to build momentum. Your main task is to intercept and kill those who escape after the city is breached!"

"Understood!" Hua Xiong clasped his fists and accepted the order!

"Zhongkai, Mengqi!"

"I am here!" Cao Xing and Ma Chao immediately stepped out and bowed.

"You two will attack the south gate. No ladders are needed. Archers will provide cover from a distance, and you can hold up your shields to protect the others and just charge down the gate! Once we take the city, leave no one alive!"

"Duan Zhongming, lead the auxiliary troops and the laborers transporting grain to the rear, holding torches and cheering!"

"As you wish!" The three of them clasped their fists in agreement and went down to prepare.

In Yinpan City, the Qiang leader Jin Yanxin stood on the top of the city wall and observed the movements of Lu Bu's army from afar. He saw wisps of smoke rising from the place where the enemy army was staying. They must be making a fire to cook. Eating at this time was very unreasonable for the people of Liangzhou who only had two meals a day. Jin Yanxin couldn't help but get nervous and ordered all the soldiers to prepare for battle.

However, as the sun gradually moved westward until sunset, there was no movement from Lu Bu's army. Jin Yanxin, who had been on edge, felt a little relieved. He handed over the military affairs on the city wall to his subordinates and went to rest in the city.

In his opinion, unless it was a sneak attack, no one would engage in a night battle in the dark. Moreover, his own city defenders were sufficient and well-prepared, so a sneak attack was completely impossible.

Jin Yanxin returned to his residence and was about to rest after dinner when he saw the light outside the window suddenly become bright.

He walked out of the room quickly and saw that half of the sky in the south was illuminated by fire, followed by the rumbling sound of horse hooves like thunder and deafening shouts of killing.

"Damn it, they actually attacked the city at night!"

Jin Yanxin cursed loudly and hurried towards the south city gate.

Climbing up the city gate, I saw torches in the south from afar, and thousands of knights were slowly galloping towards Yin Pan in the night ahead.

"Cavalry attacking the city?"

Jin Yanxin muttered something, and before he could think about the other party's purpose, he shouted, "Archers, prepare!"

However, to his surprise, the enemy did not rush to the city, but went around the west to the north gate. Behind the cavalry, countless soldiers holding torches rushed here.

Jin Yanxin felt vaguely uneasy when he saw Lu Bu's troops attacking the city at night as soon as they arrived. He passed down one order after another, including the defense of the city and the replacement of the wounded soldiers at the foot of the city. Arrows, stones, wood and other things were all prepared in full, but he still felt uneasy.

After a while, 10,000 siege soldiers and 20,000 auxiliary soldiers and civilians arrived outside the south city gate. The light of tens of thousands of torches and the shouts of tens of thousands of people suddenly increased the momentum of the siege. Not only was Jin Yanxin uneasy, but the defenders on the city wall also felt a little scared.