As Sima Yi and Cao Pi analyzed, conquering Wuhuan is different from attacking Yuan Xi.
Wuhuan's hometown, Liucheng, is far northeast of Liaoxi County.
Judging from the map, the straight-line distance alone is thousands of miles away, and the journey is long and bumpy.
If you are not careful, you may lose everything.
Therefore, Yang Ling must be cautious!
While he was talking to Gan Ning, Zhou Cang opened the camp curtain and hurried in.
"Military advisor, Captain Yan is back!"
Yang Ling was refreshed. After thinking for a while, he ordered,
"Xingba, go and gather everyone here."
"Here!"
Gan Ning took the order and left.
Before long, Zhao Yun, Gao Rou, Gan Ning, Tian Yu and other generals and counselors gathered in Yang Ling's tent.
"Everyone, the reason why I ordered the troops to stand still these days is actually to send Captain Yan to inquire about the situation ahead."
Yang Ling smiled and said to Yan Ju standing in the hall,
"Captain Yan, please tell everyone the situation."
"As you command!"
Yan Rou cupped her hands and said slowly to everyone,
"If you want to attack the Wuhuan people, there is only one way to go, and that is to start from Wuming, take the Binhai Road, and pass through the Jieshi to reach Liucheng."
"People in the world used this road to travel between the east and west ends of Youzhou."
Upon hearing this, Gan Ning immediately became energetic and said quickly,
"Then what are we doing in a daze? Let's quickly attack the Wuhuan people from this way!"
"Xingba, don't be anxious, wait and listen to Captain Yan."
Yang Ling shook his head at Gan Ning, signaling him not to be impatient.
"It's just that the coastal roads are all plains and the terrain is flat. Such a long supply line is easily attacked by the Wuhuan cavalry."
Yan Rou introduced,
"But that's not the most troublesome thing."
"I went to investigate a few days ago. It's summer right now, it's raining heavily, and the coastal road is muddy."
"Not to mention the cavalry, even if the infantry wants to pass, it will be extremely difficult!"
"The most terrible thing is that the Wuhuan people expected that we would pass through Binhai Road and had already guarded all the dangerous points."
Everyone frowned.
If it is true as Yan Rou said, it would be almost impossible to attack the Wuhuan people from Binhai Road!
Just when everyone was at a loss what to do, Gan Ning suddenly noticed that Yang Ling was smiling broadly.
He couldn't help shouting,
"The military advisor looks so relaxed, maybe he already has a way to deal with it?!"
Everyone was stunned, and they all looked towards Yang Ling and urged,
"What good plan does the military advisor have?"
"Come quickly, don't hide it from us anymore."
Yang Ling waved his hand and smiled,
"What Lieutenant Yan said is basically true, but there is something wrong."
"What's wrong?"
Yan Rou was stunned.
"If you want to attack the Wuhuan people's Liucheng, Binhai Road is not the only way to go."
Yang Ling showed an enigmatic smile.
Yan Rou subconsciously looked at the sand table in the tent, thought for a moment, and her eyes lit up.
"What the military advisor said is the ancient road that starts from Lulongsai, passes through Pinggang, and then attacks Liucheng?"
"Yes, this is indeed the way."
Yang Ling smiled and nodded.
"I didn't expect that the military advisor was so knowledgeable and even knew about this ancient road."
Yan Rou praised, but shook her head with a wry smile.
"It's not that I haven't thought about starting from the ancient road. It's just that the ancient road has been abandoned for a long time and almost no one knows about it."
During the Western Han Dynasty, the seat of Youbeiping County was located in Pinggang.
People can start from Lulongsai, arrive at Pinggang, and then go straight east to Liucheng.
However, due to historical changes and frequent wars, the seat of Youbeiping County was moved to Tuyin County.
Pinggang City was subsequently abandoned, and the roads leading to Liucheng and other places were also dilapidated and cut off.
"You are right, but almost no one knows it, but not no one knows it."
Seeing Yan Rou's confused expression, Yang Ling smiled and said,
"Do you know who Tian Zitai is?"
"Could it be that what the military advisor is talking about is the field that he previously served under the Marquis of Xiangben?"
Tian Yu was the first to react and asked.
"Yes, this is the person I'm talking about."
Yang Ling smiled and nodded.
Marquis Xiangben was the royal family minister who died at the hands of Gongsun Zan, and the former governor of Youzhou Liu Yu.
Tian Chou was originally a subordinate of Liu Yu. After Liu Yu was killed by Gongsun Zan, he was unwilling to serve Gongsun Zan, so he lived in seclusion with his family in Xu Wushan.
Historically, Cao Cao used him as his guide. In the end, his troops left Lulongsai and rushed thousands of miles to Liucheng.
In the end, Cao Jun encountered the Wuhuan people at Bailang Mountain, and the two sides launched a decisive battle.
Zhang Liao's formation beheaded Tadun Chanyu and eliminated Wuhuan's hidden danger in one fell swoop!
"This person has lived in Xu Wushan for a long time, and maybe he really knows the ancient ways."
Tian Yu touched his chin, nodded and said,
"But this man has an arrogant character. Previously, Gongsun Zan and the Yuan family sent people to invite him to come out, but he refused."
"The military advisor wants him to serve as a guide. I'm afraid it will be difficult."
Yang Ling smiled and said,
"Don't worry, I have sent people to look for him. He will definitely not reject me."
When everyone heard this, they didn't say anything else.
…
A few days later, a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar came to Yang Ling's camp.
"Tian Chou, a common man, has seen a general with great facial features!"
"Mr. Zitai is free of charge!"
Yang Ling stepped forward to help him up, then smiled and said,
"Mr. Zitai has always had great prestige in Youzhou. His willingness to come today really brings glory to our military camp!"
Although Tian Chou lived in seclusion in the mountains, because of his great reputation, people came to join him one after another.
In just a few years, he managed to grow it into more than 5,000 households, and even Wuhuan and Xianbei each sent envoys to deliver tributes.
"The gentleman with five senses is very polite. This is not a false reputation."
Tian Chou smiled faintly.
"Mr. Zitai, don't call me by my official title anymore, just call me by my first name."
Yang Ling said with a smile.
Tian Chou nodded and asked,
"I already know Ziyi's intention of inviting me here. I do know the ancient road leading to Pinggang."
"But there is a question I want to ask Ziyi."
He paused and continued,
"How are you sure that I will not reject you like I rejected the Yuan family and his son?"
"It's very simple, because my husband and I, like Wei Gong, both hate the Wuhuan people."
Yang Ling said in a deep voice,
"The Yuan family and his son are short-sighted and only know how to win over the Wuhuan people, but sit back and watch the Wuhuan people wantonly invade our Han border."
"Wei Gong is a man of great talent and strategy, he loves his people like a son, he is truly a famous master!"
After hearing Yang Ling's answer, Tian Chou nodded with satisfaction.
"Very good! Since General Wu Guan Zhonglang is willing to attack the Wuhuan people, then the grassroots people should do their best!"
He stood up and bowed deeply to Yang Ling again!
After sitting down again, Tian Chou said,
"But although I know how to walk on the ancient road, it's just that after so many years, the ancient road has become deserted, and it may be difficult to pass it."
"This is all on me."
Yang Ling said confidently.
