The Sixteen Kingdoms of the Eastern Jin Dynasty: The Competition in the Central Plains

"this? It should be. Since Shi Le has surrendered, he should use the banner with the word"Zhao". It's just that we just changed to the banner with the word 'Jin' a few days ago. Then I will order the soldiers to take down the flag with the word"Jin" and burn it, and then replace it with the flag with the word"Zhao"."Xu Gong said. Liu Xiao said:"Sir, the flag with the word 'Jin' cannot be burned. What if it is needed in the future?"

After Liu Xiao said this, he looked at Xu Gong and the two of them laughed. Yang Jian, who had been stationing troops in Xiapi, was discussing with Liu Xia, Cai Bao, Hou Li and other generals in the tent how to attack Xu. Ni. Cai Bao said:"Xu Ni is a wallflower. Not long after he submitted to His Majesty, he turned around and went to Shi Le again. We should take advantage of Shi Hu's opportunity to withdraw his troops back to Fuping, march straight into several routes to surround Boping County, and completely eliminate Xu Gong's forces."

"After Xu Gong surrendered to the imperial court, Duan Wenyang of Xianbei returned to Fuping. Now without the brave and skilled Xianbei cavalry, we are alone and may not be able to defeat these ferocious refugees under Xu Gong."Liu Xia said with some worry. Yang Jian said:"Since the generals have different opinions, I will go to the court and let your Majesty make a decision."

"Lord Yang, you are the commander-in-chief of the expedition recommended by Director Wang. You can make your own decisions regarding all matters concerning the conquest of Xu Temple. Why do you still need to send someone to Jiangnan to report to His Majesty?"Liu Xia said. Yang Jian said:"Since General Liu knows that I am the commander, he should obey"

"It has been several months since our group of men and horses garrisoned troops in Xiapi. If this continues, in addition to consuming food and fodder, the army will lose its fighting spirit. What else will there be?"After Cai Bao finished speaking, he went back to his tent.

When he returned to his tent, Cai Bao's generals Liu Chong and Lu Dang gathered around him. Liu Chong saw the displeasure on Cai Bao's face and asked:" Did Yang Jian adopt the general's suggestion? Cai

Bao smiled bitterly and said,"What can I say? I really don't know how your Majesty uses people." As the commander-in-chief of the expedition, Yang Jian basically didn't understand the matter of leading troops to fight. As for Liu Xia, Shao Xu's son-in-law, he was actually timid and fearful of the enemy, and did not dare to attack Xu Gong.

Lu Dang asked:"In the past, Liu Xia was skilled in bow and horse, brave and resolute, and courageous in times of trouble." Why do you shrink back when you meet the refugee commander Xu Gong? Do you disobey Yang Jian?"

"It's possible. Last year, two dock owners, Zhou Jian and Zhou Mo, were furious because Zhou Mo surrendered to Zu Ti. Zhou Jian was furious and attacked and killed Zhou Mo. Zhou Jian, who rebelled in Pengcheng, also received help from Shi Hu. His Majesty ordered Liu Xia to concurrently serve as the internal historian of Pengcheng, and he, together with me and Xu Gong, the governor of Taishan, attacked Zhou Jian. Zhou Jian was defeated and fled. Xu Gong's subordinate Yao led his troops to pursue Zhou Jian and killed him. Later, His Majesty appointed Liu Xia as Beizhong Lang General and Yanzhou Governor." Cai Bao said. Liu Chong said:"Xu Gong's generals killed Zhou Jian, but it was Liu Xia who was promoted. This is the reason why Xu Gong rebelled. Liu Xia was unwilling to attack Xu Gong for this reason."

"General, Xu Gong often trains troops in Tanqiu. We might as well take advantage of him and give him a surprise attack. If Xu Gong really becomes Shi Le's minion, it will be very detrimental to the court!"Lu Dang said. Cai Bao said:"You have a good idea. I will send out the scouting horse immediately."

Two days later, a scout came to Cai Bao's tent and reported:"Report to the general, Xu Gong has set off from Boping County to Tanqiu. It looks like there are three thousand troops"

"Is the news reliable? Cai Bao asked. Tan Ma said,"It's reliable. I saw it with my own eyes." In addition, the garrison in Tanqiu is estimated to be about 2,000 people."

"Okay, you've worked hard, go down and eat and rest!"Cai Bao said. Liu Chong, Lu Dang and other generals were all waiting for Cai Bao's order. Cai Bao said:"Brothers, Xu Kong is training troops in Tanqiu and will have to train for at least three to five days. We reorganized our team, led our 10,000 troops, and headed for Tanqiu immediately. Be careful to take a lonely path, just in case Xu Gong knows about it. Cai

Bao then ordered:"Generals, prepare your provisions and baggage today, and load them into the carriage before going to bed." After breakfast tomorrow morning, we will set off for Tanqiu!"

"Good general! Liu Chong, Lu Dang and other generals said.

After breakfast the next day, Cai Bao, Liu Chong and other generals led an infantry of 10,000 horses and walked along a winding path in the direction of Tanqiu. Cai Bao and Liu Chong walked at the front of the team, Lu Dang walked in the middle of the team, and several other generals followed behind.

Two miles away from the camp, Liu Chong and Cai Bao said:"General, this Governor Yangjian has been staying in Xiapi Not forward. Not only did Liu Xia not dare to attack Xu Kong, he also wrote to His Majesty privately. If we go to attack Xu niche privately this time, will we be punished by Yang Jian? Cai

Bao said with a smile:"In my opinion, the person to be punished may be Yang Jian himself, and even Director Wang who recommended Yang Jian." If we can defeat Xu Gong, we will be rewarded for our meritorious service!"

It was getting dark, and the troops stopped advancing. Generals such as Lu Dang and Liu Chong came to see Cai Bao. Lu Dang asked Cai Bao:"General, are you starting to bury pots for cooking? The brothers have been walking all day. They ate some solid food at noon and didn't get much rest."

"Now, generals, let your men and horses rest. You can bury pots, but don't cook. Wait until it gets completely dark before lighting a fire to cook in case the people in Xu Gong see you." Cai Bao said. Liu Chong said:"The general has thought carefully and is worthy of being the governor of Xuzhou and General Jianwei!"

"You have followed me for many years, so there is no need to be polite. The generals have temporarily set up camp here, and more sentries should be posted around the camp. In the second half of tonight, each general will send out two of his own scouting horses, and they will be back before dawn. I'll get up and have breakfast tomorrow. I'll be able to reach Tanqiu in about half an hour. When the scouts report back, they'll be ready to attack Xu Gong."Cai Bao said.

There was no words all night. At dawn the next day, ten detective horses came back one after another. Cai Bao ascended to the big tent, and Lu Dang, Liu Chong and other generals also sat down. The detective horses came in and gave Cai Bao and others Salute:"See General Cai! See you generals!"

"You didn't sleep all night, thank you for your hard work. Tell us what you saw and heard in Tanqiu."Cai Bao said. A scout said:"General, we were eavesdropping in the grass on a slope closest to the school military field. They said today is the last day of military training."

"Are your inquiries similar?" Lu Dang asked. Another Tan Ma said:"The things I heard at night are similar. Another situation is that Xu Gong led the soldiers to train. Every hour of training, he would take a break and let the soldiers drink water."

"We need to surround Xu Kun and his soldiers on the Tanqiu campus without anyone noticing. Then while they are resting, attack immediately!"Cai Bao said. Liu Chong said:"Is there a quiet road that can reach Tanqiu Military Field?"