I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 523 Counterinsurgency
"Zilong, it's bad, Gongsun Du has rebelled!"

"You have come at the right time. I am about to lead the army to Liaodong to quell the rebellion. I hope you can lead the way!"

Zou Jing also knew that he was a lost dog. Zhao Yun's words were very tactful, but he still couldn't help but question: "Zilong, Gongsun Du not only contacted many powerful people in the county to join the army, but also colluded with the Liaodong Xianbei. These Xianbei people used to hide in the mountains, and it was difficult to wipe them out even if we mobilized troops. Now they are in great trouble... I'm afraid that Zilong's troops alone are not enough."

"No need to worry." Zhao Yun said with a smile.

As Zou Jing was talking, he suddenly saw Gao Yanyou, who had led the Goguryeo people to invade the border, coming to pay his respects after reporting. "My Lord, I have only gathered more than 10,000 people in a hurry. If you can give me some more time, I can gather 20,000 people for you!"

Zhao Yun said: "Speed ​​is of the essence in war. Ten thousand men are enough. You did a great job!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Lord."

"Go and prepare food and fodder, and we'll set out tomorrow!"

"Yes."

After Gao Yanyou left, Zou Jing looked at Gao Yanyou, who treated Zhao Yun like a servant, and felt unbelievable.

He asked, "Zilong, can these Goguryeo people really be trusted?"

Zhao Yun nodded, then shook his head: "Before I lose the battle, it should be credible."

Zou Jing: …

When they set out the next day, Zou Jing finally understood the meaning of Zhao Yun's words.

Whenever Zhao Yun rode his horse within the sight of the more than 10,000 Goguryeo soldiers, he would always be met with respectful gazes from them.

Yan Rou, who was accompanying Zhao Yun, explained to Zou Jing: "After coming into contact with these Goguryeo people, I realized that they were born in poor mountains and bad waters, so they would do anything to survive, such as fishing, hunting, farming, etc. Therefore, the Goguryeo people are brave, like to plunder, and also admire the strong."

"At the beginning of the year, the Lord of the Mansion completely subdued them."

Although Zou Jing found it a little difficult to understand what he said, it was the fact. It was naturally what he wanted if the Goguryeo people could join the team to suppress the rebellion.

Liaodong, after easily driving Zou Jing out of Liaodong County, Gongsun Du did not stop because of his arrogance.

Although he regretted not being able to kill Zou Jing, Gongsun Du only sent his son Gongsun Kang to join some Liaodong Xianbei to guard against Zhao Yun in Xuantu County. In his opinion, Zhao Yun was never the key, and the ruthless and brave Goguryeo people were enough to keep Zhao Yun busy.

After making all these arrangements, Gongsun Du executed Tian Shao, the county official, and Gongsun Zhao, the magistrate of Xiangping County, who came from wealthy families in the county, to establish his authority, and soon intimidated Liaodong County.

Next, just as Gongsun Du was preparing to turn his attention to Liaoxi and attack together with Kobineng, he suddenly heard an urgent report from his son Gongsun Kang - an army of nearly 15,000 people had arrived from Xuantu County!
This number was far beyond Gongsun Du's expectations, especially after he knew that most of them were Goguryeo soldiers. Gongsun Du could not help but curse: Goguryeo dogs, where is the brutality when you plundered counties before?

But no matter how much he hated it, Gongsun Du had to transfer his main force to Xuantu County to attack Zhao Yun.

However, it takes time to turn west to east. Before Gongsun Du met up with Gongsun Kang, Gongsun Kang took the initiative to meet him.

The only regret was that only one tenth of the troops he originally gave to Gongsun Kang survived.

"Father, those Goguryeo people are too brutal. Under Zhao Yun's command, they are not afraid of death at all. They broke through our city wall without even Zhao Yun's cavalry being dispatched."

"It has only been a few months since Zhao Yun defeated them. I really don't understand why they are so willing to obey Zhao Yun's orders."

Listening to Gongsun Kang's defense, Gongsun Du thought that since he was his most outstanding son, he should forgive him first... But he didn't quite believe what Gongsun Kang said.

At most, the Goguryeo people were tempted by Zhao Yun with benefits, and perhaps the benefits were taken from the people in the city. This situation would not last long.

"Of course we have to promise him benefits as well." Zhao Yun explained to Zou Jing.

"However, this benefit is not granted randomly. The most important thing is to be fair and not break your promise."

"Before this battle, I promised that after we captured this county, no matter how much grain and other goods there were in the treasury, I would take half of the grain and all other goods as rewards, and the other half would be used to replenish military supplies. After the city was captured, I arranged for the Goguryeo soldiers who had made the first landing to go to the treasury to check it in person, to show fairness."

Zou Jing understood: "That's why Zilong asked me about the county's treasury and the people's living conditions before the battle."

"That's right. I need to use all the money in the treasury to provide for the military, but I also need to prevent the people from needing relief..."

After hearing this, Zou Jing was impressed and said, "Zilong's talent is far superior to mine."

Afterwards, Zhao Yun gathered his soldiers and demanded that they not harm the civilians. To this end, he personally killed eleven Goguryeo soldiers, nearly half of whom had been the first to reach the enemy.

But even so, since Zhao Yun had given a clear order, neither the Han nor the Wuhuan people violated it, and the Goguryeo soldiers did not move as a result.

Not long after, Zhao Yun and Gongsun Du met in the wild.

There was almost no pre-war communication between the two sides. From the meeting of the scouts to the engagement of the two armies, neither army stopped during the march.

Gongsun Du united the Liaodong Xianbei and the Liaodong Hu and Han people who were under his control, totaling nearly 30,000 people, twice as many as Zhao Yun.

To deal with the Han cavalry and Wuhuan cavalry who were good at riding and shooting, he also had the support of the Xianbei people. In Gongsun Du's view, there was certainly no reason for him to retreat.

As long as he could involve the Han cavalry and Wuhuan cavalry, who he regarded as "military supervisors", and use the main force to press hard on the Goguryeo soldiers, the latter would surely be defeated.

But as soon as they fought, Gongsun Du immediately realized that what Gongsun Kang said was not an excuse, and the Goguryeo soldiers were actually wholeheartedly working for Zhao Yun.

He sent his infantry to attack the Goguryeo people, but instead of disintegrating, the other side relied on their bravery to defeat his infantrymen step by step.

This made him furious, and he quickly ordered the military supervisors he had prepared to take the lead and not allow the soldiers to retreat.

However, he never thought about whether the people of various ethnic groups he brought with him had the desire to fight.

On the other hand, the Xianbei people sent by Gongsun Du to tie up the Han cavalry and the Wuhuan cavalry did tie up Zhao Yun's cavalry.

But as the battle continued, Gongsun Du, who was watching, discovered something was wrong.

Why did the Xianbei people fall so much faster than Zhao Yun's people?

No, why are the Xianbei people running farther and farther?
Oh no, they are trying to escape!
Gongsun Du reacted and didn't care about anything else. He ignored the army in front of him and jumped on his horse, calling his soldiers around him and fled to the outside of the Great Wall.

When Zhao Yun sent his men to continue chasing the Xianbei people, he returned to the Goguryeo people and replaced Yan Rou to take charge of the situation. He soon captured a group of prisoners.

Unfortunately, Gongsun Du still escaped.

(End of this chapter)