Chapter 364: My Own Idea

Zhang He stabbed the Black Mountain soldiers who rushed towards him with his spear and deflected several arrows. Feeling a little exhausted, he retreated behind the soldiers and took a short rest.

The Jizhou army soldiers who rushed up were obviously unable to withstand the arrows shot from the opposite side from time to time. Soon, half of them were injured and forced to retreat down the hillside.

What the two sides are fighting for is the center line of a ridge. Whoever stands on the high point will become the target of everyone's criticism. Unfortunately, the high point is very important, so both sides keep sending people up there.

Zhang He saw Wen Chou was about to charge forward with his axe in hand, so he advised, "Don't be hasty, General. The two sides are in a stalemate. Even if we go up and occupy the high ground for a while, it would be difficult to rush down. It is better to take a long-term view."

Wen Chou thought about how many people were lying in ambush in the woods on the opposite hillside, and he became anxious. "We should throw away all the rocks on this hill. Otherwise, we can occupy the high ground and use rolling stones and battering rams to push back down."

Zhang He thought for a moment and said, "The trees are blocking the way, so the rolling stones won't do much damage. How about we go around them?"

Wen Chou shook his head and said, "The mountain road is really difficult to walk on. The soldiers can't take care of each other. If we are ambushed by the enemy when we go around, it will be difficult to turn back."

The two men looked at each other, both quite helpless. If they were on the plains, they could each ride their horses and lead their troops to defeat the enemy, which was several times their number. But on this mountain road, even the horses could not go up, so they had no place to use their strength.

Previously, when the Black Mountain Army launched the rebellion in Yecheng, the two had followed Yuan Shao all the way into Black Mountain. However, the terrain for the battle at that time was mostly flat, so the cavalry could also be used. It was at that time that Lu Bu led dozens of cavalry to charge for several consecutive days, causing the Black Mountain Army's morale to collapse, and he became famous in one battle.

After the Black Mountain Army was defeated, they retreated into the hinterland. Seeing that the terrain was complicated and food and grass were insufficient, Yuan Shao led his troops back. Therefore, Wen Chou and Zhang He did not go into the mountains to fight.

However, Yuan Shang's goal this time was to destroy the Black Mountain Army and open up a passage from Jizhou to Bingzhou. This would inevitably require him to fight in the heart of Black Mountain. He attached great importance to this and brought Wen Chou and Zhang He with him in order to achieve success in one fell swoop.

But as soon as Wen Chou and Zhang He engaged in the battle, they realized that this would be an difficult battle. The mountains were extremely different in height, and there were overgrown trees and weeds, making it impossible to form a battle formation. Often, after a short battle between the two sides, the entire mountain would become a mess, and it would be difficult to distinguish between friend and foe.

The Black Mountain Army would fight whenever they could, but once they were at a disadvantage, they would turn around and run away, disappearing into the dense forest. In this situation, even though the Jizhou Army was well-equipped, they were unable to move as if they were stuck in a quagmire.

Zhang He and Wen Chou had heard about the Youzhou army's practice of building strongholds along the way and thought it was too conservative. If they continued to advance step by step like this, wouldn't it take several years?

After the fight, they discovered that building camps, digging deep trenches, and relying on defense were actually the most effective methods in this mountainous situation!

No wonder the Youzhou Army and the Black Mountain Army confronted each other for such a long time but suffered very little loss. It turned out that Yuan Xi had already calculated everything!

Thinking of this, the two were puzzled. Yuan Xi had no experience fighting in the mountains before, so how could he come up with such a plan like a prophet?

Seeing that they could not attack further, the two men had to return to the camp temporarily. They met Yuan Shang and told him about their current difficulties. Finally, Zhang He said, "It seems that Master Yuan Xi's idea is correct. If we want to attack Black Mountain now, the best way is to advance and deploy defenses layer by layer. Otherwise, if we make a mistake, we will be ambushed and counterattacked by the enemy."

Wen Chou also spoke up: "There are several generals in the Black Mountain Army who are good at fighting and are quite difficult to deal with. We don't have war horses, so we can only fight them head-on and we won't get any advantage."

"The day before yesterday, Zhang Yan came out with a few leaders and was able to escape unscathed despite being surrounded by the two of us. The enemy is good at mountain warfare, so it is really difficult to defeat them in one fell swoop."

Yuan Shang's face turned ugly after hearing this. He turned to Pang Ji beside him and asked, "Why is Yuan Xi so familiar with the Black Mountain Army that he was able to gain an advantage before? Our Jizhou Army is stronger than him, but we can't defeat the Black Mountain Army?"

"Is Yuan Xi really better than me?"

Pang Ji quickly smiled and said, "Your Excellency is right, it is us counselors who are incompetent."

"And Master Yuan Xi has Ju Su's help. He has been a military supervisor for many years, so he is naturally more familiar with military affairs than I am. It is Ji Zhi who was negligent."

Yuan Shang's expression eased a little, "It has nothing to do with you, sir. It's just that Yuan Xi has many little tricks up his sleeve. What should we do now?"

Pang Ji said cautiously: "How about we also try to build a camp and advance step by step?"

Yuan Shang felt quite embarrassed. In the end, he still had to learn from Yuan Xi!

He was depressed, knowing that Pang Ji was letting him down. Ju Shou would not use such a cowardly tactic! He had brought along counselors and generals, but still had not made any achievements. If this continued, he would become a joke!

Yuan Xi's tactics against the Black Mountain bandits made Yuan Shang envious and jealous, and the tactics also reached the ears of Yuan Tan, who was far away in Qing and Xu.

He took the bamboo slips sent by his spy and showed them to Guo Tu and Xin Pi, saying, "My former second brother has a lot of ideas about fighting a war."

After Xin Pi saw it, he exclaimed in amazement and said, "This method is very effective against the Black Mountain bandits. It can be used to deal with the Taishan bandits!"

After hearing this, Yuan Tan smiled and said, "I thought so too."

The situations of the Black Mountain bandits and the Taishan bandits are very similar, with hundreds of thousands of people each. One hides in the Taihang Mountains, which stretches 800 miles from north to south, and the other hides in the mountain range of Taishan, Nishan, Mengshan, Yishan, and Wulianshan, which stretches hundreds of miles from east to west.

Because of the complex mountain terrain, the Taishan bandits are just like the Black Mountain bandits, they will run away if they can't win.

Yuan Tan mobilized all the troops in Qingzhou to attack from both sides. Xin Pi and Guo Tu used several strategies, including knocking the mountain to scare the tiger, luring the snake out of the hole, and besieging Wei to save Zhao, but with little effect.

After all, there are too many entrances and exits in the hundreds of miles of deep mountains. How can Yuan Tan completely block them with just tens of thousands of soldiers?

Now, Yuan Xi's tactics in Black Mountain have given them inspiration. Although this method seems stupid, it can advance step by step, erode the enemy's hinterland, and force the enemy out.

As long as we eliminate the Taishan bandits' strongholds in the mountains one by one and squeeze their living space, they will be forced into a decisive battle with Yuan Tan sooner or later!

Guo Tu said at this time: "Master Xianyi is born with the ability to fight. I am afraid he will become a great trouble for you in the future."

Xin Pi looked up at Guo Tu. Yuan Tan thought for a moment and said, "Right now I still need him to deal with my third brother."

Guo Tu still insisted: "According to intelligence, Master Yuan Xi gave the central pass of Black Mountain to the Third Master. It is very likely that the two sides have reconciled."

"If this is true, Master Xianyi may turn around and deal with the eldest master in the future."

After hearing this, Yuan Tan felt a little unhappy. Guo Tu was in favor of suppressing Yuan Xi, and even with his tacit approval, he did some shameful things.

Yuan Tan thought to himself that Yuan Xi had not communicated with him in the past six months. Could it be that what he had done was exposed?

Some time ago, Yuan Xi chopped off Xu Jie's head, but spared Xu You's life, which puzzled Yuan Tan and Guo Tu. Did the two sides fall out or reconcile privately?

This also made the two of them alert. Although the strategy of alienation would not leave any evidence, it would have the opposite effect if it made Yuan Xi suspicious.

Therefore, during this period of time, Yuan Tan focused on attacking the Taishan bandits. He had to race against time with Yuan Shang. If the other party defeated the Black Mountain Army before him, he would definitely be defeated again!

Only by swallowing up the Taishan bandits would he have the strength to covet Xuzhou and then go south to attack Yuan Shu. Only by destroying Yuan Shu with his own hands could he surpass Yuan Shang in momentum and gain the upper hand in the competition for the position of head of the family.

This is Yuan Tan's real purpose. Qingzhou no longer has room for development. He must find his own way so that he can surpass everyone else, seize the Yuan family, and even the world!

As for Yuan Xi's plan to seize Liaodong, Goguryeo, and even go out to sea, Yuan Tan scoffed at it. Those places were bitter and cold, so even if they were taken, what would be the use?

The only way to completely seize Yuan Shu's territory is to recruit the Taishan bandits, take advantage of the situation to go south to seize Xuzhou, and then spy on Jianghuai, break into Yuzhou, and even control Jiangdong. This is the bright road that Yuan Tan's advisers have painstakingly planned!

As for the agreement with Liu Bei, Yuan Tan naturally had a way to circumvent it. Although Liu Bei was his sponsor, Yuan Tan would never allow him to become too powerful.

Thinking of this, he became full of heroic spirit, stood up and waved his hand, saying: "In two years, no, within a year, we will take down the Taishan bandits!"

"Of course, if Zang Ba knows what's good for him, I can share the mountain with him!"

"Everything you do is for me to fight for the position of the head of the family. When the matter is accomplished, I will definitely give you a satisfactory reward!"

After hearing this, Pang Ji and Xin Pi quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "We are willing to serve you, sir!"

Seeing Yuan Tan and Pang Ji looking pleased with themselves, Xin Pi wondered inwardly whether things would really go so smoothly.

He didn't know what Yuan Tan and Pang Ji had done to Yuan Xi in private, but Xin Pi knew very well that the fierce tiger of the Yuan family was a vengeful person!

In the heart of Black Mountain, Zhang Yan was also worried. Although the Black Mountain Army had the advantage of terrain, the Jizhou Army was, after all, one of the strongest armies in the world. Over the past few days, the Black Mountain Army had suffered heavy casualties.

However, the Black Mountain Army launched an offensive without regard for their lives, which seemed very powerful. This made Yuan Shang feel that the Black Mountain Army had reserved a lot of strength, so he became more cautious in his actions.

Only Zhang Yan knew that if the Black Mountain Army continued to fight like this, they would not be able to hold out for more than two months, let alone break out and occupy Youzhou!

Another thing made him even more upset.

Lu Bu in Hanoi sent a letter with extremely harsh words.

It is said that the Black Mountain Army instigated a surprise attack on Huaicheng and launched a rebellion. They also attacked Lu's mansion and attempted to kidnap his wife and daughter. Now Lu Bu wants an explanation from the Black Mountain Army!

Zhang Yan looked at the solid evidence in his mind, which pointed from Yang Chou to Yang Feng. Zhang Yan was also confused. The rebellion in Huaicheng was definitely not done by himself. Was it Yang Feng's own idea?

What does she want to do?

Zhang Yan hesitated, wondering whether he should call Yang Feng over and have a frank talk.