Wind rises time and space gate

Chapter 507 The situation is not good
Hangu Pass was the most important pass in the northwest of the Great Qi State, with a garrison of 300,000 troops, led by Marshal Fang Sheng and 12 generals.

Zhao Guangyuan had already investigated the backgrounds of the twelve generals, and he had a rough idea of ​​who they belonged to. There were three people who belonged to the crown prince, and two people who belonged to the king of Qin. The rest did not have a clear position.

Now that we are facing a powerful enemy, I believe everyone wants to focus on fighting the enemy. However, we still need to be on guard against what we should be on guard against.

I explained it to Fang Er and Zhang Zhi, and they wrote it down one by one.

After lunch, all the generals gathered in the tent.

Fang Sheng first talked about the battlefield cleanup and reported the casualties to Zhao Guangyuan. "We lost 2,648 men, and the enemy's number is estimated to be over 5,000."

This was all thanks to the surprise army of King Yue, which caught the enemy off guard.

The Western Rong thought the surprise attack was successful, but they didn't expect that all those who rushed into the city gate would become cannon fodder. When the enemy troops outside saw that the city gate had been breached, they rushed forward in excitement and without any plan, but were stopped by the King of Yue and his men, and were soon beaten and scattered.

He was caught off guard and was killed on his horse.

Fang Sheng looked at the King of Yue while reporting, and he admired the King of Yue who was so calm and capable.

As expected, he was taught by Duke Lu.

The generals listened to the marshal reporting the morning's battle situation to the King of Yue, and were also observing the King of Yue.

If the battle outside the city in the morning made everyone look at the King of Yue with admiration, it only means that the King of Yue is good at fighting, but it does not mean that he can really fight.

But now I heard him and the marshal analyzing the battle situation, how to replenish military equipment and supplies, how to record the merits of the fallen soldiers, how to arrange pensions, how to write memorials, how to fight the next battle, how to arrange...

Everyone was surprised. Is this really a noble person raised in a rich and noble family?
Is this really the first time the King of Yue goes to the battlefield?

Zhao Guangyuan glanced at the generals with different expressions, taking their looks into his eyes. He probably knew what they were thinking.

This was his first time participating in such a large-scale battle, but it was not his first time facing an enemy.

During his time in Yuezhou, he led his troops to fight against pirates countless times, and analyzed the enemy situation with his generals, how to deploy troops, etc. This was not his first time to participate in a war. In Changping Mountain, Sun Lu taught him how to deploy troops, and Zhao Guangyuan was considered his favorite disciple.

Seeing the King of Yue like this, Lu Ye and Jiang Huan felt proud of him. Even Meng Yan beside them could not help but straighten his body with a proud look on his face.

Zhao Guangyuan glanced over and said, "Is General Meng's injury better? He has suffered new injuries before his old ones have healed. Marshal Fang, please remember to give General Meng a credit for his merits."

He joked, "You should take good care of yourself first, and don't rush into battle. Leave some military merits for other generals to earn, so that you don't earn all of them by yourself."

The generals turned their heads to look at Meng Yan, who looked embarrassed, and laughed at him teasingly, teasing him. "If the King of Yue hadn't arrived in time, Marshal Fang would have sent the pension money to your family in a few days."

"Go away. Your family will give out pensions, but my family won't!"

All the generals laughed. Suddenly, the originally serious atmosphere became relaxed.

Everyone had a new understanding of the King of Yue. The King of Yue was not so unapproachable. All the generals couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

In the military camp, apart from fighting and training, they usually like to get together and joke around. If a boring and unfriendly superior comes, it will be a big deal to live in fear every day. "Your Highness, how do we arrange for the new Beijing soldiers? Should they be added to the generals' camps?"

After Fang Sheng finished speaking, all the generals looked at the King of Yue. Since the Western Rong besieged the city, they had suffered casualties in their respective camps, and they all wanted to get some reinforcements from elsewhere.

Zhao Guangyuan shook his head. "The twelve generals will still lead their own troops. Count the casualties of their respective lieutenants and battalion commanders, and Marshal Fang will oversee the reorganization. The troops from the Beijing camp will be led by their own generals."

Most of these people came to gain credit, and they still had to return to Beijing after the war, so it was not easy for them to be assigned to the local garrison camp.

"Yes." Everyone agreed.

After the meeting, everyone dispersed. Fang Sheng stayed and talked to the King of Yue about the battle situation and the situation of the garrison at Hangu Pass...

"What? There are only 25 soldiers stationed at Hangu Pass! And only 30,000 cavalry?"

Zhao Guangyuan was shocked. Hangu Pass had always been stockpiling 300,000 soldiers and claimed to have 100,000 cavalry. His grandfather had told him this himself. He knew that after more than a decade, the situation would be somewhat different, but he didn't know it would be so different?
"When Guan Du went to Yanmen Pass a few years ago, he took away 20,000 war horses and 20,000 soldiers. In recent years, there have been many veterans and wounded soldiers who have retired. I have repeatedly petitioned the court to replenish the troops, and the Ministry of War replied that the troops at Hangu Pass are sufficient."

Fang Sheng sighed. The Ministry of War probably felt that there had been no major wars in recent years, and maintaining so many troops would cost a lot of military expenses every year, so they were saving money for the court.

"Why has this prince never heard of these situations in Beijing?"

Only 250,000 of the 300,000 soldiers and horses were left at Hangu Pass, but this was not announced to the outside world. Could it be that the court was still paying military pay based on 300,000 soldiers?

Moreover, why was there no report that Guan Du had withdrawn 20,000 soldiers to Yanmen Pass and also took away 20,000 war horses? Who was keeping the extra soldiers and war horses at Yanmen Pass?

Fang Sheng lowered his eyes and said, "Yanmen Pass is no different from Hangu Pass. Many soldiers have retreated here over the years." He refused to say anything more.

But Zhao Guangyuan understood.

There are 200,000 troops stationed at Yanmen Pass, but I am afraid that the remaining troops are already less than 200,000. There are thirteen important passes on the northwest border, with a total of one million troops stationed. Hangu Pass is the most important pass, with the largest number of troops stationed, at 300,000.

However, there have been no major wars in recent years, and there are probably many old and retired soldiers. Troops have not been replenished in various places, and these garrison commanders have not reported the reduction in the number of casualties to the Ministry of War, so they are still eating up the spoils every year.

Or maybe it was reported, and someone in the Ministry of War suppressed the situation and did not make it public.

It is estimated that Yanmen Pass is still applying for military funds based on 200,000 soldiers, and the 20,000 soldiers and horses taken away by Guan Du may just make up for the reduced military strength.

Who is behind this, manipulating Guandu?

Guan Du is the prince's man, so could the person who indulges him be the prince?
Now is not the time to settle accounts, there are more important situations now!
"So Hangu Pass only has 250,000 troops now? Only 30,000 cavalry? What about the entire northwest defense line? 800,000? 900,000?"

Fang Sheng didn't dare to look at him, "Now there are less than 250,000 troops in Hangu Pass. Since the war began, more than 20,000 have been lost." As for the entire northwest defense line, there must be less than one million troops.

Zhao Guangyuan slammed the table and stood up.

So Hangu Pass is now fighting with less than 250,000 soldiers and horses against the 400,000-strong army of the Western Rong? And half of the enemy are cavalry!
It's late again. Sorry everyone.