I practiced magic in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 87: Eighteen Princes Fight against Dong

After deposing and enthroning the emperor, Dong Zhuo's initial approach to dealing with the secular group was actually to win them over, especially the powerful people like Wang Jing. Wang Ling was appointed as a prefect before he even had his coming-of-age ceremony. Don't think this is an exaggeration. In the Yan and Han Dynasty, which was based on the system of recommendation, it was normal for children of aristocratic families to take up local positions at a young age.

Yuan Shao became a palace attendant when he was young, and came into contact with important civil and military officials in the court. After building his network for several years, he was appointed magistrate of Puyang County at the age of 20.

You have to know that Puyang is the seat of Dongjun, and Yuan Shao is not even the eldest son in the family, he is just a concubine's son. Wang Ling is strongly supported by Wang Jing.

As for the fact that official positions and titles in the Han Dynasty were valuable, what does that have to do with Dong Zhuo?
The massive devaluation of official positions in the late Eastern Han Dynasty was started by Dong Zhuo. In order to win over people from aristocratic families, Dong Zhuo granted official titles and made promises everywhere, giving out positions such as prefects and even governors and provincial governors for free.

Emperor Lingdi at least charged you money for selling official positions and titles, but Dong Zhuo really gave them away directly.

In Luoyang City, Dong Zhuo won over Zhou Bi, Wu Qiong and others who came from aristocratic families, and former officials of the General's Office He Yong and Zheng Tai also became his aides.

Then, under the deception of these aides who came from aristocratic families, Dong Zhuo treated wise men and scholars with respect in various ways. Not only did he get close to scholars, he also recruited famous people to serve as officials in the court, and lifted the Party and Faction Ban that had existed since the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling.

How exaggerated is it?
How long did it take for Xun Shuang to go from being summoned to being appointed to the position of Lietai Si, from being the Prime Minister of Pingyuan to being Guanglu Xun and then to being Sikong, one of the Three Dukes?
Ninety-three days!

It's not even as fast as riding a rocket. From this point, we can see that the official position in Dong Zhuo's hands is worthless and the authority of the court has been reduced to dust.

Dong Zhuo not only used a divisive strategy against Wang Jing and Zhang Liao, but he also used the same tactic against the major aristocratic families in Guandong.

In Dong Zhuo's view, his orders could not leave Luoyang anyway, so he simply divided up all the territories east of Hulao Pass. Then Han Fu, Liu Dai, Kong Rong, Zhang Zi, Kong Rong, Ying Shao, Zhang Miao and others took office one after another and were assigned important posts such as local prefects.

Even Yuan Shao, Wang Kuang, Bao Xin and others who had resigned from their posts were appointed as prefects as a sign of reconciliation.

But it was useless. After all, the noble families monopolized the official positions. You took our things and gave them to us as a favor? And we should thank you?

What are you dreaming about!
Therefore, many scholars, after getting official positions, became subordinates happily, but they did not remember Dong Zhuo's kindness. Instead, they denounced him and raised armies. The eighteen princes gathered in Suanzao, and the prelude to the crusade against the traitor Dong was thus begun.

goo goo~
Outside the city of Luoyang, a pigeon flapped its wings and landed in a small courtyard.

Xun You grabbed it firmly, then took the secret letter from the pigeon's feet, returned to the house, and said solemnly: "My lord, the governors of the various states and counties in Guandong have indeed raised troops to attack Dong Zhuo. The coalition forces have gathered outside Hulao Pass yesterday, and they have jointly elected Yuan Shao, the governor of Bohai County, as the leader of the alliance."

Wang Jing took the secret letter and sneered, "Dong Zhuo really shot himself in the foot. He is really stupid."

It turned out that the secret letter also recorded that Han Fu, the governor of Jizhou, Liu Dai, the governor of Yanzhou, Kong Rong, the governor of Yuzhou, and Zhang Miao, the prefect of Chenliu, all of whom were appointed by Dong Zhuo after he entered the capital, now jumped out and expressed their desire to kill him, as if each of them had a grudge against Dong Zhuo for killing his father.

All we can say is that Dong Zhuo’s political skills were too poor. He snatched power from the aristocratic families, and still hoped that throwing a few bones would make the aristocratic families give up?
You are so stupid. After eating your meat and bones, he has become stronger. If he jumps up and hits you, won't he hit you even harder?
Dong Zhuo's arbitrary appointment of officials actually accelerated the gathering of the Kanto samurai coalition forces.

Xun You felt relieved at this moment: "The coalition forces are coming with such force that Dong Zhuo will have no time to spare. We can now start to implement our plan."

"Gongda is right. Let's get started."

On the small sand table, a city surrounded by mountains stands on the south bank of the Yellow River.

In the north, east and south of the city, there was a string of flags that turned into arrows, pointing straight ahead with the aura of weapons and murder.

"My lord, the Guandong coalition army consists of eleven lords, divided into three groups, and has surrounded Luoyang."

For several days, Xun You sat in the center and dispatched secret guards to attack from all sides and gather intelligence, which was then quickly transmitted back to the headquarters by carrier pigeons. He easily gained insight into the entire battle situation.

The allied forces and Dong Zhuo gathered their forces in the capital, and a fierce battle was about to begin.

The outcome of this war will determine the future world situation. Wang Jing is not on either side, but he has a large army and naturally hopes to share the spoils. Luoyang and even the entire Sili area are the fattest pieces of meat.

"Gongda, who do you think will win?"

Wang Jing looked at the sand table and asked quietly, as if lamenting that the Han Dynasty's 400-year history was finally coming to an end.

In the past, Emperor Gaozu slew a white snake with his sword, and the autumn wind started from a tiny ripple, but he eventually ruled the country, ascended the throne and became emperor, establishing the Yanhan Dynasty, and his name was recorded in the history books.

Nowadays, things change with time. In the past, Qin lost its power, and today Han has also lost its power. This beautiful land of the Central Plains will naturally be inhabited by those with virtue.

Relying on the intelligence collected by the secret guards, Xun You pondered for a long time before analyzing and saying, "Although the coalition forces are strong, most of the soldiers are newly recruited and cannot compare to Dong Zhuo's experienced Xiliang cavalry. In addition, they are not united, so the chances of winning this battle are extremely low."

The magical powers of Confucianism are extremely powerful, but that was during the prosperous times, when they were able to suppress local areas by using the official power granted by the map of mountains, rivers, and the country.

But once the dragon and snake come onto the land and the dragon energy breaks into pieces, life and death will be left to fate.

Whenever there is troubled times, it is the time for military strategists to show their prowess. The so-called popular support and reputation of Confucianism are really vulnerable in the face of the concentrated military evil.

This is also the fundamental reason why the military strategists were suppressed by Confucianism but were still able to rely on imperial power to survive.

Confucianism has methods of cultivating the spirit, and so do military strategists.

Li Jue, Guo Si, Xu Rong and others under Dong Zhuo were all descendants of military strategists. In times of peace, they could only be suppressed by the Confucianism of their families, but once the times were chaotic, they would kill Confucian scholars like killing chickens as long as they were full of evil spirits.

Wang Jing knew this very well. If he didn't smile at him, he would say, "Then tell me, if you were one of the princes, how would you make a decision?"

Xun You thought for a moment, then answered, "Conserve your strength and act when the time is right."

After hearing this, Wang Jing was deeply moved: "Wise men always like to calculate, weigh the pros and cons between gains and losses, and then make the wisest choice, and will always stand on the winning side. But such people cannot become heroes, let alone inherit the destiny."

Hero? Destiny?
Xun You was shocked. Wang Jing's words gave him an inexplicable feeling.

"When prosperity reaches its peak, the dynasty will decline, and now suffering has arrived. In this dark and depressing era, countless people in the world are eager for heroes to emerge, eager for someone to raise their arms and wield swords to cut off the shackles of the past. But wise men are smart people, always like to protect themselves and seek benefits and avoid harm. But if you don't take responsibility, you can't get the recognition of the people. In my opinion, the so-called destiny is the support of the people."

Wang Jing looked at the small sand table and couldn't help but think of the Five Barbarians' Invasion of China and the hardships and humiliations that the Han people would experience a hundred years later.

He wanted to change all this simply because Wang Jing didn't want his descendants to experience such a thing.

At this moment, Wang Jing's eyes have become firm and calm, but burning with a raging fire. If you are poor, you can only take care of yourself; if you are rich, you can help the world.

Today, I have the power to change the trend of the world.

Wang Jing looked at Xun You and said, "The eighteen princes' fight against Dong may seem grand, but in fact, only those who can pave the way for the people are qualified to inherit the destiny as heroes, lead the times, and dominate the future!"

Xun You also fell into deep thought after hearing this: "Hero... destiny..."

He wanted to refute as a wise man, but he felt that what Wang Jing said was true, because Wang Jing's eyes were too firm and too confident, as if he could really see through the fog of history and look directly into the future.

…………

The three armies jointly attacked Luoyang.

Yuan Shao was elected as the leader of the coalition and stationed his troops in Henei County. He joined forces with Wang Kuang, the prefect of Henei County, and Zhang Yang of Bingzhou to form the northern army.

The eastern army of the coalition was composed of five princes gathered in Xingyang, namely Chenliu prefect Zhang Miao, Guangling prefect Zhang Chao, Dongjun prefect Qiao Mao, Shanyang prefect Yuan Yi, Jibei prime minister Bao Xin, and Cao Cao's rebel army. They formed the main force of the coalition and marched into Suanzao, facing Lu Bu from afar outside Hulao Pass.

In the south, the brave and resolute Sun Jian forced the governor Wang Rui to death as soon as he arrived in Jingzhou, and when his troops reached Nanyang, he killed the prefect Zhang Zi.

With such cruel means, he quickly exceeded his authority and obtained countless money and food to recruit soldiers. Soon he had an army of tens of thousands. He resolutely launched the Northern Expedition, joined forces with Yuan Shu in Luyang, reorganized the troops, and prepared for war.

Luoyang, court meeting.

In the main hall, the civil and military officials had different intentions. They closed their eyes and remained silent, as if they were waiting for the coalition forces to rush into Luoyang and eradicate the source of all the chaos.

All the generals in Xiliang were terrified and restless.

The coalition forces are very powerful and have five times the number of their own troops. How can we not be afraid when we don't know the enemy's strength?
Just as everyone was thinking about their own things, a man came walking like a dragon and a tiger. He was fat, but his eyes were like those of a ferocious beast, fierce yet full of power and majesty. The red and black evil spirit lingering on his body was almost tangible. This was a sign of the completion of the "Nine Deaths" chapter in the "Immortal Yuan Gong". The evil spirit was entangled, killing everything, destroying the heavens and the earth. He did not walk in the court, but went to the palace with a sword and shoes!
Violent Tiger Dong Zhuo!

The civil and military officials who had been calm and composed all held their breath in fear and suppressed their emotions.

They were afraid that they would be dragged out and beheaded before the coalition forces arrived.

When Dong Zhuo arrived, the Xiliang generals, who had been at a loss, immediately found their backbone and came forward one after another to ask, "Grandmaster, the Guandong coalition forces have arrived, what should we do?"

"Why, are you scared?"

Dong Zhuo's fat face showed disdain and sneer, and he looked down on others and said, "The destiny is with me. How difficult is it to defeat a group of rats from Guandong?"

In one sentence, he immediately revealed the tyranny and strength of the hero, as well as the self-confidence that he was the only one who was superior to others.

The frustration that had been suppressed for a long time by Yuan Wei seemed to no longer conceal his ambition after learning that the Yuan family of Runan had been searching for the imperial seal in vain.

As the crisis approaches, the hero of Xiliang who quelled the Qiang rebellion and defeated the Xiongnu is back!

The Xiliang generals were excited when they saw this. This was the lord they were willing to follow: "We are willing to be the Grand Master's wings and wipe out the rats in Guandong with the force of thunder!"

"Within three days, the army will march north from Pingyin County across the river to destroy their main force first, to make an example of them."

"promise!"

Before the army moved, the news had already spread secretly.

Wang Kuang immediately led his army to defend the river bank, intending to prevent Dong Zhuo from crossing the Yellow River to the north.

And to the east of Mengjin, in the northern suburbs of Pingyin County, a group of cavalry quietly arrived on a high hill near the river.

The two leaders, one is unstoppable with eyes as sharp as swords, the other is introverted and gentlemanly like jade.

"Gongda, what do you think?"

The unstoppable one was naturally Wang Jing. He was dressed in fine clothes and riding a horse, standing on a high hill, looking far towards the river bank where the army was gathering.

Xun You was wearing a bearskin cloak and hunched his neck, seeming to be a little afraid of the cold, but his eyes were deep, as if hiding infinite wisdom: "These soldiers are not dressed in the right clothes and armor. Although there are many of them, they do not have the sternness and sharpness of fighting on the battlefield. Dong Zhuo must be deliberately setting up a false formation to paralyze the coalition forces. This is a plan to sneak through Chencang."

The two of them are protected by the Yin army. Even the top masters of spiritual cultivation will not be able to discover their presence unless they are within fifteen feet.

Now that the coalition forces of the nobles were fighting the Xiliang army, Wang Jing was naturally happy to sit on the mountain and watch the fight, and take a look at the strength of the troops of both sides.

On the high ground, Wang Jing was relieved when he learned that the coalition forces were going to lose the first battle. "Haha, what a great plan of pretending to build a plank road while secretly attacking Chencang. I didn't expect that Dong Zhuo, who looks like a rough and rude warrior, is actually a scholar."

Wang Jing knew that Wang Kuang was doomed to fail.

Sure enough, not long after, a dove flew from the north, crossed the turbulent river, circled over the heads of Wang Jing and Xun You three times before landing.

Xun You took down the secret letter and read it with a serious expression. "My Lord, the secret guards reported that an hour ago, Dong Zhuo led a small number of elite troops to cross the river via Xiaopingjin to the rear of the Northern Army and launched a surprise attack. Wang Kuang's army was almost wiped out. Fortunately, Yuan Shao and Zhang Yang came to the rescue and he was able to escape."

"Sure enough."

Wang Jing understood that Dong Zhuo must have deliberately spread the news at the court meeting that he would send troops from Pingyin County three days later. As a result, he secretly crossed the river from Xiaopingjin early the next morning and caught the coalition forces off guard.

"This is to kill the chicken to scare the monkey."

Wang Jing sighed and said that if it were him, he would definitely choose to do the same.

After all, although the Xiliang Army is elite, it is small in number and difficult to replenish. Unlike the Eighteen Princes' Allied Forces, it has the full support of the noble families and almost endless soldiers and money and food. If it becomes a war of attrition, Dong Zhuo will be dragged to death.

Break one route first and shock the rest. This is an extremely wise tactical choice.

The eighteen princes were not united as one. Seeing that the Xiliang army was powerful, they certainly did not dare to fight to the death. Instead, they thought that it would be better for them to die than for themselves.

If everyone thinks this way, Dong Zhuo will feel comfortable.

Xun You also echoed, "The Xiliang army is at a disadvantage in terms of manpower. Only in this way can we deter the other princes."

And at the same time...

"kill!"

On the north bank of the Yellow River, the iron hooves of the Xiliang Army were trampling over Wang Kuang’s army camp, and the wolf-like and tiger-like Xiliang warriors were chasing and killing the fleeing soldiers all over the mountains and plains.

Dong Zhuo personally led the troops and won a great victory in the first battle. The originally turbulent morale of the army suddenly stabilized. The morale of the entire Xiliang army was greatly boosted and the fighting spirit was high. They were full of contempt for the coalition forces of the princes and did not take this group of trash seriously at all.

At the critical moment, Yuan Shao and Zhang Yang each led their troops to help, but when they saw with their own eyes how brave and terrifying the Xiliang Cavalry were, they were so frightened that they dared not get close.

After rescuing Wang Kuang, the two of them immediately retreated thirty miles, set up camp and defended it, not daring to advance an inch.

Seeing the enemy so cowardly, General Niu Fu, holding a big axe, laughed loudly: "The rats from Guandong are really not fit for a fight. Should our army continue to pursue them?"

After hearing this, Dong Zhuo remained silent, his eyes drifting slightly towards the northwest.

Li Ru, the counselor, immediately understood what was going on and said, "Our army has already won. The coalition forces will be frightened and will not dare to act rashly. Now the Northern Army is stationed in Hedong, close to Luoyang but is not moving. We have to be on guard."

How could the cunning Dong Zhuo not know this truth?
Although the Northern Army did not join the coalition forces to attack Dong Zhuo, it still made Dong Zhuo feel uncomfortable and he was very alert.

"It's hateful! If Xuan Fan hadn't been killed, our army would have lost its source of intelligence and wouldn't be in such a passive position right now!"

Niu Fu cursed angrily, and then expressed his suspicions: "This must be the work of that old man Yuan Wei. Someone witnessed hundreds of soldiers appearing at the White Horse Temple that night, but when our people arrived, they disappeared without a trace. In such a big capital, how could anyone mobilize hundreds of soldiers without being noticed by our army?"

"General Zhonglang, be careful with your words!"

Li Ru hurriedly spoke out to dissuade him. At this time, Yuan Wei's attitude was unclear and he held the map of the country in his hands, so it was not appropriate to turn against him.

As for the threats from Wang Jing and the Northern Army, they cannot be put on the table. After all, the Western Liang Army needs high morale to maintain its morale and combat effectiveness.

Therefore, such words that would boost others' morale and destroy one's own prestige could not be said by Dong Zhuo, but had to be spoken by Li Ru.

As soon as Li Ru spoke, Dong Zhuo was able to take advantage of the situation and announce: "We are returning to the capital. The coalition forces may seem to have a large number of people and power, but as long as we hold Luoyang, the world will eventually submit to us!"

"Wan Sheng!"

Not long after, Dong Zhuo returned with his army after a great victory. The people in Luoyang city felt as if they had lost their parents and were filled with despair.

Suppressed anger and hatred brewed in silence.

In counties and cities across the country, countless people are waiting in endless darkness, hoping for the emergence of heroes and saviors, hoping that someone will save them from the water.

However, the actions of the coalition of princes made the people extremely disappointed.

In Henei County, Yuan Shao and Zhang Yang stopped in their tracks. After this defeat, they realized how powerful the Western Liang army was. Now they could only look at the river and sigh, not daring to continue their attack.

In Suanzao County, the main forces of the eastern princes spent the whole day singing and feasting, and bragging to each other.

(End of this chapter)