The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 301: Layout of Hanoi
In Henei County, Zhang Yang summoned his generals, including Yang Chou, Sui Gu, Chief Clerk Xue Hong, Henei Prefect Miao Shangde and others. The atmosphere in the hall was rather solemn, and everyone was looking at Zhang Yang.

"The report from Guandu is that Qin Shou personally led 5,000 elite cavalry to launch a surprise attack on Wuchao and burned the general's food supplies. The general's troops retreated to Yecheng." Zhang Yang looked around and repeated the information he had received.

There was a sudden uproar in the hall. You have to know that Yuan Shao had hundreds of thousands of soldiers and he announced to the outside world that he had raised an army of 500,000 to attack Qin Shou. The whole world was shocked. Everyone was optimistic about Yuan Shao, and even the ministers in the court contacted Yuan Shao privately.

Zhang Yang also leaned towards Yuan Shao.

After all, Yuan Shao had a strong army, while Qin Shou had only a few hundred thousand soldiers and horses. In addition, Ma Chao was attacking from the west, delaying the enemy's troops. In this situation, Qin Shou's chances of winning were extremely small.

It was just that I didn't expect that things would change so quickly, and Qin Shou actually defeated Yuan Shao and won the final victory. It was a slap in the face of the world.

Zhang Yang can't care about other people, he only cares about himself.

After all, when the two sides were fighting, Zhang Yang had deployed his troops on the other side of Luoyang, with the intention of intimidating Luoyang.

Although he did not attack, his implication was very simple: he was optimistic about Yuan Shao, but now he was in a difficult situation.

Yuan Shao had already been defeated. If he continued to support him, Qin Shou would retaliate. But if he did not support Yuan Shao, would Qin Shou let him go? It seemed difficult.

"My lord, the Cavalry Army is too powerful for us to resist. It is better for us to submit to the Cavalry Army now. My lord, you may still be granted a title of nobility." Yang Chou said.

"No." Sui Gu stopped him and said, "Qin Shou is the Prime Minister of Han in name, but he is actually a traitor to Han! My lord is a loyal minister of Han. How can you betray the Han Dynasty and join the traitors? I think this is not possible."

"Hmph, Sui Gu, do you think we are a match for the Cavalry Army?" Yang Chou asked with some dissatisfaction.

If possible, he naturally did not want to surrender, but now he was no match for Qin Shou. If he fought against him, he would surely be defeated and killed in the end. Yang Chou did not want to be killed now.

"My lord, the general owns four states. Although he suffered a minor setback in Guandu, as long as the enemy's main force is still alive, the final victory will still belong to the general." Sui Gu retorted.

Zhang Yang nodded. He still believed in Yuan Shao. After all, although the other party had lost some soldiers, his foundation was still there and there were still many people under his command supporting him. For this reason, he believed that Yuan Shao should be the winner in the end.

"Although the general suffered a small setback in this battle, his main force is still there. With the support of the aristocratic families in Hebei, I think he will be able to recover his strength soon. Qin Shou is just relying on his bravery. If we talk about his background, how can he be a match for the general?"

"The general is magnanimous. When we surrender to him in the future, he will certainly make use of us." Zhang Yang still trusted Yuan Shao very much. The reputation of a family of three officials for four generations determined that Yuan Shao would not be a person who would burn bridges after crossing them.

After hearing this, Yang Chou's words immediately turned into a sigh.

"Since the Lord thinks so, we naturally have no objection. We just need to be careful to guard against Qin Shou."

"Okay, okay, General Yang Chou is right. As long as we work together, we can overcome this obstacle."

Zhang Yang was very happy to see that all his generals supported him and immediately began to praise them.

When Yang Chou returned to his mansion, he saw a young scholar kneeling there.

"Mr. Sima."

When Yang Chou saw the other person, a trace of embarrassment suddenly appeared on his face.

"Failed?" Sima Yi chuckled and said, "Zhang Yang has a good character, but he is definitely not a wise leader. He is worried about his future! If a general surrenders to the prime minister, he can get a high position and generous salary, but Zhang Yang is worried that his life will be in danger after surrendering." Yang Chou nodded and sighed, "The prime minister is powerful. If the royal army arrives, everything will be burned. The people of Henei are so innocent. Even Yuan Shao is not a match for the prime minister. How can Zhang Yang stop the prime minister?"

Yang Chou was very angry. Zhang Yang didn't know such a simple truth and wanted to ally with Yuan Shao.

"Xu Rong was defeated by Ma Chao and has retreated to Sanfu. After the Prime Minister defeated Yuan Shao, he should return to Guanzhong. After defeating Ma Chao, he will fight Yuan Shao again. At this time, he must pass through Hanoi. The general should make preparations early." Sima Yi advised: "If the Prime Minister's army arrives, then the general surrenders, the result will be different."

Yang Chou nodded, with a hint of ferocity in his eyes.

The results of offering a county and offering an army are completely different. Yang Chou needs to get something more.

"I already know what you mean, sir." Yang Chou said fiercely, "Sir, just wait for my news. This Marquisate is mine, it must be mine."

"So good."

Sima Yi smiled, nodded, bowed to the other party, and left Yang's house.

"Zhongda, did it succeed?"

Sima Yi returned to the inn and met Dong Zhao.

"Yang Chou is brave but has no strategy, greedy and forgetful of righteousness. If such a person is given a high position and generous salary, he will definitely submit to the Prime Minister."

Sima Yi didn't take Yang Chou's matter to heart at all. To persuade such a person to surrender would be to lower his own wisdom, but to capture Henei County would allow him to establish merit under Qin Shou.

Only someone like me, who comes from Hanoi, can do such a thing.

"I have met Miao Shang, and he promised me to meet Xue Hong. You and I can go to meet him in the evening. I believe that with your eloquence, you will be able to convince Xue Hong." Dong Zhao and Sima Yi came to Hanoi together in order to disintegrate the generals in Hanoi, so that Qin Shou could easily capture Hanoi.

One was born into a noble family in Henei, and the other was a former general under Zhang Yang. The two worked together and had achieved certain results.

"Zhang Yang and Yang Chou must die. Although Sui Gu is very loyal to Zhang Yang, his ability is limited. Moreover, he is good at divination. I have found someone for him to take action at the critical moment." Sima Yi's face was full of smiles, and he seemed very confident.

People like Zhang Yang only control one county, have only 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers and two or three generals. It is impossible for him to turn the situation around. Such a person can only rely on others, otherwise he will be destroyed overnight.

It's ridiculous that a man like Yang Chou still wants to be granted a title of nobility. He takes the title of marquis of the Han Dynasty too seriously.

A person who doesn't know what's best for him will die sooner or later.

"That's great. Whether it's Zhang Yang, Yang Chou, or Sui Gu, they all have a good reputation in Hanoi. If these three are not killed, it will be very difficult for the Prime Minister to completely conquer Hanoi."

Dong Zhao also agreed with the other party's point of view.

He seemed to have forgotten that when he first came out from Yuan Shao, Zhang Yang personally led the army to welcome him and treated him like a distinguished guest. Now he was only thinking about how to use his fame to realize his ideals.

(End of this chapter)