Great Han Empire

Chapter 622 The Heroes of Troubled Times Like the Abyss
Under October, Kansai, Hongnong County.

The Northern Army and the Northern Border Army launched a bloody battle on both sides of the Candle River.

General Longxiang Xu Rong erected 1 catapults on the east bank of the Zhushui River, arranged [-] WISCO chariots, [-] ballistas, and arranged [-] strong bows.On the battlefield about five miles long, the dense arrows and stones beat the Northern Army to the ground.

The Northern Army's weapons were also very sophisticated, with more ballistas and strong bows than the Northern Army's. However, facing the Northern Army's chariot formations and mighty and invincible catapults, crossing the river became an extremely terrifying thing.Occasionally, a brave vanguard would attack the opposite bank, but after crossing the chariot formation, they immediately lost the cover of their own bows and arrows, and were killed by the Northern Xinjiang army lined up behind the chariot formation.

Floating dead bodies were everywhere on the Candle Water River, fragments of rafts and wooden boats could be seen everywhere, and there were occasional groans and cries from under the embankment full of corpses, and the miserable voice came out along with the howling and chilling cold wind Far, far away.

Behind the battlefield, under the command of the soldiers of Cao Ying, countless civilians formed hundreds of long dragons, busy in an orderly manner.Some drove horse-drawn carriages to deliver stones and crossbow arrows to the chariot operators, and some carried them on their shoulders to deliver various weapons to the soldiers in front.At the same time, the civilian husbands who came down from the battlefield rushed all the way carrying the bones of the fallen soldiers and a large number of wounded, and more civilian husbands carried damaged weapons and collected enemy arrows to the rear camp.

In the big camp, the dead soldiers were buried immediately after being registered.After preliminary treatment, the wounded were rushed to Hongnong Camp.Damaged weapons are to be recovered and reused.If the enemy's arrows are still intact, they are immediately sorted and distributed to different armies.

=

Surrounded by a group of personal guards, Xu Rong walked slowly through the camp and walked towards the battlefield.

After Yushi, Hua Xiong and Zhang Yun received the report, they rushed over from the battlefield.Xu Rong exchanged pleasantries with the three of them, then pointed in the direction of the Zhushui River and asked, "How many times did Niu Fu attack today?"

"Three times in the morning." He replied, "After noon, there will probably be three more attacks. In recent days, the Northern Army's attacks have not been as violent as before."

"The weather is getting colder and colder. If Niu Fu is determined to reach Hangu Pass before the heavy snow comes, the battle next month will be very intense." Zhang He said with a forced smile, touching his face wearily.

Xu Rong nodded and said, "From November to early December, the river will be frozen, and the Northern Army can quickly cross the Zhushui River and head straight for Hongnong and Mianchi." Waving the horsewhip in his hand, "November is the key to us, so no matter what the cost, we must stick to it until December. From the beginning of next month, we will organize our forces to launch a counterattack."

"Counterattack..." Yushi hesitated for a moment, and asked, "My lord, we are not strong enough to forcefully repel the northern army from the front, and if we launch a counterattack, the casualties of the army..."

"The situation has changed." Xu Rong smiled slightly, "The general sent a letter, Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan have already had conflicts, and the two may break up in the near future. Now the various ministries of Jizhou are quickly gathering in Handan according to the general's order. In mid-January, the northern border army will start a fierce battle with Gongsun Zan."

=

Yushi, Hua Xiong, and Zhang Yun were very surprised. They looked at each other and asked in surprise, "So soon? Is Jizhou going to war so soon?"

"I'm also very surprised." Xu Rong smiled, "After the fight in Jizhou, Yuan Shao's attention will soon turn to Luoyang, so Yuzhou must be handed over to Yuan Shu immediately."

"I have ordered Tian Chou and Wu Xiong to quickly withdraw from Yangzhai City and return to Luoyang. Gao Lan and Gao Shunze who were stationed in Luoyang led their troops to Hangu Pass to join Yan Liang. As soon as Yan Liang arrived, we launched a counterattack."

"Isn't it too early to give up Yuzhou to Yuan Shu?" Yushi said. "It will take some time for us to attack Jizhou. At the same time, we must guard against Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan's sudden joint counterattack. If Yuan Shao turns his back on his promise and joins forces with Gongsun Zan again, Qu Yi's army will be defeated." It is bound to be in danger of running out of food and grass. Therefore, whether the food we purchased from southern counties and counties can be safely delivered to northern Xinjiang this winter will directly determine the victory or defeat of the Jizhou battlefield. Give up Yuzhou to Yuan Shu too early, and open the road to Handing over the control of Beijiang Chidao to Yuan Shu poses a great risk to us."

"Yuan Shu's power is relatively weak now, especially after Sun Jian was defeated by us. He is weak in succession and cannot fight on the two battlefields of Yuzhou and Jingzhou at the same time." Xu Rong explained, "If Yuan Shu is flanked by Yuan Shao and Liu Biao, quickly If it is defeated, Northern Xinjiang will be in danger of being besieged on three sides by Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan. Giving up Yuzhou to Yuan Shu will give him enough time to expand his strength, and the prerequisite for his rapid expansion of strength is the stability of Luoyang. If Luoyang is Dong Zhuo is in possession, how can he expand his strength? From this point of view, before Yuan Shu’s strength is expanded and Liu Biao’s worries are not completely resolved, he must establish a good relationship with us and expect us to stop Dong Zhuo in Kansai.”

Xu Rong looked at the three of them and waved his hand, "As long as we block Dong Zhuo, the food will be safely sent to Hedong. At this time, Yuan Shu will never dare to provoke us."

The three of Yushi nodded again and again.

=

"The purpose of our counterattack is mainly to attract Dong Zhuo's attention and the strength of the Northern Army. Once Dong Zhuo gets the news that we and Gongsun Zan are fighting in Jizhou, he will definitely not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to send troops to Hedong." Xu Rong continued, "Think about it, everyone, if Dong Zhuo uses part of his troops to contain us in Guanxi, part of his troops to attack Hedong, and part of his troops to go south to Wuguan to attack Yuan Shu, what will happen in the Gyeonggi area?"

"Yuan Shao will take Luoyang, Yuzhou, and even Jingzhou without difficulty." Zhang He said, "Yuan Shao has the support of the forces of various states and counties, and his strength cannot be underestimated."

Hua Xiong frowned slightly, "Yuan Shao won Luoyang and faced Dong Zhuo directly, what good would it do him?"

"After Yuan Shao occupies Luoyang, relying on the support of many states and counties in the east and south of Luoyang, his strength will suddenly expand." Zhang He shook his head and said, "Yuan Shao has strong strength. First, he can join forces with Beijiang to defeat Dong Zhuo, and then confront Beijiang. , under the premise of saving and stabilizing the country, northern Xinjiang will be very passive."

"Junyi, you are right, but that is in the future. Who can predict the future?" Xu Rong looked at Zhang Xi and praised, "Now we will drag the Northern Army to Kansai at all costs. Can Yuan Shao Occupying Luoyang, we don't care, as long as we can win Jizhou and completely resolve the crisis that plagues northern Xinjiang, we will win this battle."

"Why can't we occupy Luoyang?" Hua Xiong said, pointing in the direction of Guandong, "Luoyang is in our hands now, why should we give it to someone else?"

"Currently we don't have the ability to fight on both sides." Xu Rong said with a smile, "If Jizhou can be taken quickly and Luoyang is still in our hands, then of course we will not give up Luoyang."

=

The violent war drums suddenly soared into the sky, shaking the sky.

Everyone looked up in unison.On the battlefield in the distance, flags fluttered, and roars were like spring thunder, one after another.All the peasants who were in a hurry suddenly turned around and retreated in the direction of the camp like a tide.The soldiers of the Bingcao Camp rode their horses and galloped among the crowd, shouting wildly: "The war is on... the war is on ahead, everyone withdraw... withdraw..."

"Boom...boom..."

The deafening roar exploded in front of it like a landslide and an earth crack, and the sky and the earth changed color in horror.

Immediately afterwards, patches of black clouds rushed over the Zhushui River, and the huge howling sound tore through the sky, making people's liver and gallbladder split, and their souls fly away.

Bloody rain fell from the sky in an instant.

=

Captain Chang Gong rode on a fiery red jujube horse, held high the blood red command flag, and galloped along the catapult formation.

A huge catapult was like a bloodthirsty beast with its bloody mouth wide open, roaring in a low voice, lying down with all its strength, waiting for the most severe fatal blow.

A stone weighing about [-] to [-] kilograms has been placed on each catapult vehicle. Nearly a hundred strong peasants who pull the rope hold the heavy hemp rope and stare at the flag in front of them. Soldiers, ready to go.

Chang Gong roared loudly: "Brothers... prepare to fire..."

The catapult is for throwing stones, so the soldiers of the Chariot Battalion affectionately call it the stone cannon.The chiefs standing behind the sports car directing the launch were very excited when they saw the captain patrolling the formation, and they all shouted loudly: "My lord, ready to go..."

"My lord, everything is ready..."

"My lord, let's start booming..."

Chang Gong jerked his horse upright, waved the command flag with all his strength, and raised his arms and shouted wildly: "Let... let..."

All the command flags were split in an instant, and the flag bearers opened their eyes angrily, and their tongues burst into thunder: "Let... let..."

In the earth-shattering roar of thousands of people, the 30-yuan huge stone carried wind and thunder, and flew into the sky with the momentum of thunder.

=

"kill……"

Xu Rong watched the boulder tearing apart the curtain of arrows and the black clouds all the way, roaring, roaring, roaring away with the momentum of Mount Tai, he couldn't help being shocked, his blood boiled, "Come on, let's go and see..."

Yushi hastily stopped him and said, "My lord, you are busy with work, so you should go back to the camp first."

"Haha..." Xu Rong whipped his horse to the horse, and galloped away like flying through the clouds, "Go, brothers, go to the battlefield..."

===

North Army Camp.

Niu Fu received an urgent letter from Dong Zhuo.

As the attacks were repeatedly blocked, the northern army suffered heavy casualties, and generals such as Niu Fu and Li Jue (jue) had to urgently write to Dong Zhuo to ask for reinforcements.The northern border army has a geographical advantage and has sharp weapons, especially the cannon carriage, which is too powerful.When a big rock hits, several soldiers will be killed or injured, which is difficult to deal with.If the fight continues like this, by the time Hangu Pass is reached, half of the [-] northern troops will be left.

Dong Zhuo said in his letter, I told you before we set off that we had only one purpose in attacking the northern border army, and that was to drive into the northern border and the Kanto like a tenon (sun) and cut off the connection between them. Therefore, the attack cannot be stopped. We must draw all the Northern Frontier Army in the direction of the Kanto to the Kanxi, so that half of our goal will be achieved.Dong Zhuo specially told Niu Fu that it will snow in more than a month. After the Yellow River freezes, the connection between northern Xinjiang and Kanto will basically be cut off. At that time, the army's attack can be temporarily stopped.

Dong Zhuo refused the reinforcements.Dong Zhuo told Niu Fu that the commander-in-chief of the northern border army was the world-renowned Longxiang General Xu Rong.He is facing the enemy head-on with you, which means that he is planning and implementing a strategy to wipe out the Northern Army.You must take precautions, don't go deep alone, so as not to be ambush.As for whether the army can reach Hangu Pass, it doesn't matter, as long as you hold back the northern army and consume a lot of its strength, you will have made meritorious service.

In addition, Dong Zhuo was more concerned about the cannon carriage.He ordered Niu Fu to do everything possible to send people to lurk to the other side, draw a picture of a gun carriage and send it to Chang'an.There are many skilled craftsmen in Chang'an, and we can also make weapons that can be made in northern Xinjiang.As soon as we build the cannon carts, we'll send them over to you, and hit them hard.

Niu Fu showed the letter to Li Jue, Guo Si and others, and then asked Jia Xu, "Brother Wen He, what do you think we should do? If we fight like this for another month, our losses will still be astonishing."

Jia Xu said with a smile: "Master Grand Master has made it very clear, we just need to hold back the Northern Frontier Army until it snows and the Yellow River freezes, so there is no need for us to attack like this again. In my opinion, Let’s change it to one attack every three days, and after half a month, we will change it to one attack every five days. This year, we will keep the battlefield in the Candle River area.”

===

November of the second year of Chuping of the Han Dynasty (AD 191).

=

In November, Jizhou, Handan.

Xiaoqi Zhonglang general Wang Dang led an army of eight thousand to Handan City.

General Qu Yi of Zhenjun, General Yang Feng of Yangwu, General Wen Chou of Wu Lie Zhonglang, and General Sun Qin of Qiangnu Zhonglang went out of the city to welcome them together.

The travel-worn Wang Dang was very surprised to see Qu Yi coming out to meet him in person. He cupped his hands repeatedly and said, "How dare I ask my lord to go out of the city to meet you. I really don't dare to be an official, I don't dare to be."

"Should be, should be." Qu Yi smiled, "The general said that if this battle is defeated, he will cut off my head himself. My head is lost, and I think you will not be able to keep yours either."

Everyone laughed and rode their horses into the city.

"I heard that Master Yang is from Handan, and this place used to belong to Master Yang..." Qu Yi raised his horsewhip, pointed at the tower and smiled, "Later..."

"Later it was snatched by the general." Yang Feng shook his head again and again, "I lost a lot that time, and my two younger sisters were also snatched by Yan Hutou, I can't bear to look back..."

"Then is this a homecoming?"

"Of course not." Yang Feng stopped his horse and pointed at Fan Li, Yu Digen, Peng Lie, Ding Bo, Li Yao, Yang Zhen, Liao Lei, Lin Xun and others with his whip, "Look, my lord. He is the Yellow Turban Army warrior who followed the great virtuous teacher and the Niujiao commander in the past. We have fought for so many years and lost countless brothers. We only hope that the people will live a stable and good life, but the result But it is quite different from what we thought in our hearts. Now the world is getting more and more chaotic, where is there any place of peace except northern Xinjiang?"

"If the world is peaceful and the people are prosperous, I, Yang Feng, will be able to say that I will be returning home when I set foot here again. Unfortunately..." He turned his head to look at Qu Yi, "Maybe I won't see that day."

Looking at the pain on Yang Feng's face and the sadness in his eyes, Qu Yi suddenly thought of Bian Zhang, Han Sui and Beigong Boyu, and the people of Xiliang who had suffered so much.In comparison, the people of Xijiang suffered hundreds of times and thousands of times more than the people of Yanzhao and the people of the Central Plains.Xiliang people, when will we be able to live a peaceful and comfortable life?Is Mr. Wen Yue (Han Sui) still fighting around in Xiliang?In the future, if King Dong Qin is challenged, if Dong Zhuo is driven to Xijiang, will the people of Xijiang be wiped out?
Qu Yi didn't dare to think about it anymore, he looked up at the big banner with the Chinese character "Han" fluttering high on the tower, and heaved a long sigh.

"What is your lord thinking?" Wen Chou asked in a low voice.

Qu Yi smiled bitterly, "I think of Mr. Bian?" He looked back at Yang Feng, Wang Dang, Sun Qin and the others, "Do you know him?"

A group of yellow turban generals stood in awe.

"Mr. Bian started an incident in Xiliang back then, and he beat us old friends into a mess." Qu Yi shuddered for a while, feeling a little sad in his heart, "Later, when the general arrived in Xijiang, the good luck disappeared immediately. After leaving Mr. Bian, Mr. Bian was defeated. Mr. Bian’s idea is the same as yours, that is, for the people of Xiliang to have something to eat and survive. It’s a pity that his ambition has not been fulfilled..."

"I heard that Mr. Bian provided all the evidence for the great general to suppress corruption in Xiliang." Sun Qin asked, "Is it true?"

Qu Yi nodded, "The reason why I, Qu Yi, was willing to follow the General and go through fire and water for him is because of this incident. For hundreds of years, the General was the first one who dared to kill countless people in Western Xinjiang with a sword. A great hero with thousands of corrupt officials, may I ask, who in our Great Han Kingdom has such courage? Who has such courage? There is no one other than the great general."

"The general is worried that I have a bad temper, and that I can't get along with you yellow turban generals. He is wrong." Qu Yi pointed to his chest and said, "I was born in Xiliang and grew up in Xiliang. I and you In the same way, I also want peace in the world, and I also want the people to have enough food and clothing. Everyone is fighting for the sake of the world, and they are brothers who live and die. Why can’t we get along? Even if I obey Feiyan and Qizhi (Yang Feng) , why not?"

Yang Feng, Wang Dang, Sun Qin and other Yellow Turban generals were very excited. They got off their horses one after another and bowed to salute: "Only my lord will follow the lead and swear to kill the enemy."

"Okay, thank you brothers for your trust." Qu Yi got off his horse and returned the gift, and said loudly, "Tomorrow, we will send troops to Guangzong."

===

In November, Balhae County.

Gongsun Zan's 30 army and Xu He and Wu Ba's [-] Yellow Turbans faced off at Hongting, [-] miles south of Dongguang City.

Xu He and Wu Ba thought that Gongsun Zan would fight decisively after he rushed up, but who knew that after Gongsun Zan took Dongguang City, there was no movement for ten days.Xu He and Wu Ba were very anxious.It is nearly three hundred miles away from the Yellow River, and it will take three or four days to withdraw the troops. Including the time to cross the river, it will take at least half a month.Half a month later, according to the usual practice, the Yellow River has been frozen and sealed.Xu He and Wu Ba immediately decided to retreat in batches.

On the first day, Xu He went south with 5 main forces.The next day, another [-] people left.The camp of the Yellow Turban Army immediately became chaotic, and the morale of the army was slackened.First, soldiers in twos and threes left the camp without authorization, and then some of the yellow turban leaders led thousands of people to Pingyuan County, and then things got out of hand.Everyone, you call me, I call you, many yellow scarf generals did not report to Wu Ba at all, and left with their teams.

Gongsun Zan was overjoyed when he received the urgent report from the scouts. He immediately rectified the army and launched an attack on the Yellow Turban Army in a cold morning.The [-] cavalry were divided into two parts, outflanking from the left and right.Gongsun Zan personally led Baima Yicong to charge from the front, and Tian Kai led [-] infantry to cover up and kill them.

Wu Ba commanded the army to fight, and the two sides fought fiercely. However, due to the confusion of the army, the soldiers of the Yellow Turban Army failed to stop the charge of the Youzhou Army and retreated step by step.At this time, Youzhou Iron Cavalry surrounded the Yellow Turban Army from the left and right wings.The soldiers of the Yellow Turban Army could no longer resist and fled in defeat.Youzhou iron cavalry launched a pursuit, chasing hundreds of miles in one breath, even the tens of thousands of yellow scarf soldiers who left the camp that night were surrounded by them.

In the Battle of Dongguang, the Youzhou Army defeated about 20 Yellow Turbans, beheaded 3, and captured 15.

Gongsun Zan ordered Tian Kai, Yan Gang, Guan Jing and others to immediately clear the battlefield in Dongguang and take care of the Yellow Turban prisoners.Among the captives, all those who were in good health were recruited into the army, and all the old, weak and disabled were sent to the banks of the Zhangshui River in Bohai County to reclaim wasteland and farmland.When Gongsun Zan was garrisoned in Youzhou, he had housed refugees in Youbeiping County to farm, and he had a lot of experience in farming.For this reason, Liu Yu, the shepherd of Youzhou, wrote to the imperial court to ask for credit for him.

The next day, Gongsun Zan roared down with [-] iron cavalry, and went straight to Qingzhou Pingyuan County, intending to wipe out the Yellow Turban Army who were crossing the river.The Yellow Turban Army heard the roar of the iron cavalry from a distance, and their livers and gallbladders were torn apart with fright. They ran wild and fled. Many people drowned in the Yellow River, and more people ran away like crazy along the Yellow River embankment.

The Youzhou iron cavalry slashed and killed more than 8000 people again, and captured more than 5 people. All food, grass and luggage were captured by the Youzhou army.

Xu He and Wu Ba fled to the other side of the Yellow River in panic, and returned to Dongjun and Jibei Kingdom with the remaining 2 people in misery, where they joined Sima Ju, the commander of the Yellow Turban Army.

Gongsun Zan wrote to Yuan Shao for the fifth time that I had defeated the Yellow Turban Army at the foot of Dongguang City, and the entire Yellow Turban Army was wiped out.According to the agreement between me and Brother Benchu, Bohai County and Hejian Kingdom are owned by me today.If Brother Benchu ​​has no objection, I will lead the army to Wei County to help Brother Benchu ​​defeat the Black Mountain Yellow Turban Army.Of course, if Brother Benchu ​​objected to my going to Wei County, I would not go.I have recently recruited [-] Yellow Turbans and need to reorganize and train, but I am extremely short of food and military supplies. I wonder if Brother Benchu ​​can borrow it on credit?
Yuan Shao was fighting Yu Du at this time, and he was horrified when he heard the news.Gongsun Zan is really powerful. He only has 30 cavalry, and he wiped out [-] Yellow Turbans in one battle, which is incredible.

Yuan Shao hurriedly forwarded the letter to Qu Yi, the general of the town army.Gongsun Zan is about to attack Weijun immediately, and I have no time to clone myself, so I ask the general to defend me first, and join you as soon as I defeat Yu Po.

Yuan Shao wrote back to Gongsun Zan.If you want to die, come to Wei County.

In mid-November, Gongsun Zan received a letter from Yuan Shao.Gongsun Zan sneered, "Order to send troops to Wei Commandery to attack Yuan Shao."

After Qu Yi received the news that Gongsun Zan was leading an army to Weijun, he immediately led his army to leave Guangzong and hurried to Ganling State, preparing to stop Gongsun Zan's army near Panhe (now Deping County, Dezhou, Hebei).

At the same time, Yuan Shao urgently ordered Han Qiong to lead his army east to Ganling State to join Qu Yi.

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(End of this chapter)