Great Han Empire

Chapter 113
At dusk, the bleak sunset in the sky hangs alone on the treetops, and a pair of wide-eyed terrified eyes look at the bloody battlefield in Zhuocheng in surprise.The huge black banner with Chinese characters on the top of the city tower danced wildly in the gusts of wind, making a loud noise.

The soldiers of the Yellow Turban Army were slowly withdrawing from the battlefield. The monotonous and dull drums and gongs sounded in the army from time to time, making them look tired and desolate.

A large number of damaged siege equipment was thrown under the city, and blood-stained stones and giant poles can be seen everywhere. The corpses of yellow-turban soldiers densely covered the death zone within fifty steps below the city wall, and there were also corpses farther away. But much sparser.The battlefield is littered with discarded broken weapons and battle flags.

Hundreds of common people dressed in short jackets were distributed in every corner of the battlefield, busy, carrying corpses, picking up weapons, and cleaning the battlefield.

Xian Yufu sat on the city wall panting, closing his eyes with difficulty.

Since the morning, the Yellow Turban Army launched a fierce attack on Zhuocheng, without any pause in the middle, continuously and frantically attacking, until the moment when the golden gong sounded just now, the Yellow Turban Army's attack gradually stopped.

Xian Yufu has been sticking to the top of the city tower, commanding the soldiers to resist tenaciously, using all the weapons and methods of defending the city that can be used, only wishing that he didn't grow four hands.But there are too many enemies, they are like ants, they are numerous and dense, and they cannot be killed completely.Last year, many local officials who participated in the Yellow Turban riots wrote to the imperial court and used the term "ant thief" to refer to the Yellow Turban Army, which is exactly what they said.When guarding Fanyang, the Yellow Turban Army attacked the city with 10 men, and within a few days, Xian Yufu was killed and fled in embarrassment.But today's battle was particularly fierce, and he almost collapsed several times.

At that time, there were soldiers of the Yellow Turban Army everywhere on the city tower. He let him shout hoarsely, cut off the long sword, and finally even the halberd stabbed the enemy soldier's body and could not be pulled off, but he still did not kill the enemy.Fortunately, every time he was in despair, Captain Wu Chi was able to lead the reinforcements to kill him at the right time.

For a whole day, not a single soldier of the Yellow Turban Army turned back, they never retreated at all, they just attacked, desperately attacking until they died in battle.Whether they died on the city wall or under the city wall, whether they died under the long arrows of the officers and soldiers or the swords and guns of the officers and soldiers, they showed no fear at all, as if their lives were not their own.A series of ladders devoured the lives of countless soldiers, but countless soldiers still went forward, bravely climbed the ladders, and used their blood and lives to pave the way for their comrades to attack.The purely expendable attack of the Yellow Turban Army not only killed a large number of defenders, but also severely damaged the morale of the defenders.In the face of such a fierce enemy, no one does not feel frightened.

In one day, Xian Yufu only ate four small round cakes, without a drop of water.It's not that I don't want to eat, but that I don't have time to eat.He took the lead and led the soldiers to repel the enemy's attack again and again tenaciously.At the end of the fight, he was like the soldiers, not only unable to lift stones, but even walking staggeringly.At this time, the enemy stopped the first day's attack and withdrew.

Xian Yufu was exhausted, his body was dripping with blood, his armor was in tatters and there was not a single intact part.Due to excessive force, the muscles have long been sore and painful, and the legs can't support their body at all.His voice was so hoarse that he could hardly speak, and the huge roar in his ears was getting louder and louder, and he could barely hear anything.

He couldn't sit still, even leaning against the city wall.He was afraid that he would never be able to stand up again after lying down, so he tried his best to open his eyes.

The roar in my ears suddenly disappeared, and there was a messy battlefield in front of my eyes, and the corpses of soldiers from both sides were everywhere. They lay down together in various postures, and piled up on the top of the city wall.The long arrows and various weapons on the ground were soaked in the brown blood that had gradually solidified.Battle flags of various colors were randomly discarded on the soldiers' bodies, everywhere.Some of the exhausted soldiers had already laid down; some couldn't find a place, and simply lay down on the corpses and fell asleep; some soldiers gathered to drink water and eat; more people were looking for wounded comrades, looking for the dead Brothers.The people helping to defend the city have already begun to clean the battlefield, clear the top of the city wall, and prepare for another battle tomorrow.

Several military commanders and military marquises went to Xian Yufu one after another to report the loss and needed additional weapons and equipment.

After a day of bloody battles, more than 500 officers and soldiers defending the west city were killed or injured, with huge losses, and the consumption of various weapons such as long arrows was also quite serious.

At this time, Xian Yufu saw the scout chief Tuntun who was in charge of delivering the news running over, and hurriedly asked:
"Is there any news from the North City Gate?"

"Return to my lord, the Yellow Turban army that attacked the North City Gate has retreated. The army Sima Wang and the soldier Cao Shiyan are clearing the battlefield."

"How about the loss?" Xian Yufu asked anxiously.What he cares most about now is how many people have been lost.There are fewer and fewer soldiers, and the hope of holding the city is getting slimmer.The Yellow Turban Army launched a fierce attack, and their fighting power far exceeded Xian Yufu's imagination.When they attacked Fan Yang, the soldiers of the Yellow Turban Army were not so powerful. Could it be that they deliberately concealed their strength?Xian Yufu was a little puzzled.

"More than 400 people."

Xian Yufu's heart trembled suddenly.Nearly 2000 people were lost in one day. If the fight continues like this every day, not to mention persisting until it snows this winter, I am afraid that it will not last this month.

"The Yellow Turban Army's attack on the North City Gate was just a feint attack. The purpose was to disperse our troops. Why did they lose so many people?" Xian Yufu looked at the scout chief, as if asking him, but also as if talking to himself.

"Master Yan said that Huang Long of the Yellow Turban Army is in charge of attacking the city. He is a good friend of the Yellow Turban Titan General Zuo Xiao who died two days ago. The Huanglong Warlord's fierce attack probably means revenge."

Xian Yufu nodded, and then asked, "Is Master Yan okay?"

"Master Yan is brave and tough, invincible, and unscathed."

Xian Yufu laughed.He touched his three long beards, and his mood immediately improved a lot.

Zhang Niujiao looked at Huanglong who was sitting silently on one side, feeling very angry.

Today, the direction of the North City Gate was just a feint attack, but Huanglong disobeyed the order for revenge, and the warlord attacked violently, causing heavy casualties to the troops.The combined losses of the two battlefields amounted to nearly 5000 people, far exceeding Zhang Niujiao's expectations.

Both Huang Jin and Zuo Xiao are orphans. They have been carrying medicine baskets since they were young, and they have followed Zhang Jiao around the world to save lives and heal the wounded.Together they learned martial arts from Zhang Jiao's disciples, and followed Zhang Jiao faithfully to rebel.Zuo Xiao is introverted, while Huang Long is impatient.Zuo Xiao is willing to follow Zhang Niujiao to continue to fight the world, but Huang Long is not willing. He has been leading his troops to burn, kill and loot near Taihang Mountain, living a life of a bandit who occupies the mountain as king.It was the left school who dragged him out.Huanglong has always been restless, and he can't change his habit of robbing and enjoying himself, and often violates military orders. He also dislikes Zhang Niujiao's cold face, let alone sell him.Zhang Niujiao wanted to punish him several times, but his subordinates tried their best to dissuade him.Because he is Zuo Xiao's brother, Zuo Xiao is loyal to Zhang Niujiao and cannot discredit Zuo Xiao.Huanglong fought bravely, obeyed Zuo Xiaoxiao's advice, and used it well, he was still a good general.

But now that Zuo Xiao is gone, who can deter Huang Long?
Zhang Niujiao began to summarize the gains and losses of today's siege, and finally criticized Huanglong, blaming him for disobeying orders and causing unnecessary losses.

Zuo Xiao's death greatly stimulated Huang Long.He has always asked to lead his troops to hunt down and kill the leopard Li Hong alone.Of course Zhang Niujiao disagreed with this irrational request.Huanglong hated Zhang Niujiao very much.Today's attack on the city, Huanglong avenged his friends, disregarded the military order, and the warlord attacked fiercely, resulting in heavy losses.He was in an extremely bad mood at the moment.

Seeing Zhang Niujiao's cold face, Huang Long finally lost control of his emotions and began to curse.

In the big tent, apart from him and Zhang Baiqi, the two young commanders, there are also Sima under each commander's tent, who are engaged in the military Sima of each trilogy.When he opened his mouth to curse like this, everyone in the tent turned pale with fright, and there was no sound in the big tent, except for Huanglong's roar.

Zhang Niujiao had no expression on his face. After sitting upright for a few minutes, he looked at Huanglong with piercing eyes, without any trace of anger.

After Huang Long scolded a few words, he calmed down a little.He looked at Zhang Niujiao, spat fiercely on the ground, and said loudly:

"From now on, you do what you do, and I do mine. You go to fight the world, I go to the leopard, we have nothing to do with each other."

Turn around and leave after speaking.After taking two steps, he felt something was wrong.None of his men stood up.

Huang Long turned around abruptly, pointed at several of his subordinates, and yelled loudly:

"What do you want to do? Are you courting death?"

The eyes of all the people showed fear, and they all looked at Zhang Niujiao, with the intention of asking for help.

Huanglong lost his head and shouted openly in Zhang Niujiao's big tent.He clamored and clamored, and he blatantly wanted the Yellow Turban Army to be broken by the wind, and he pulled his own troops to do it alone.This is to kill.But Huanglong has always been arrogant, thinking that he is great, Zhang Niujiao would never dare to do anything to him.

Zhang Niujiao said something.

"killed."

Li Hong woke up from the cold in the woods.He wrapped himself tightly in the cowhide mattress, looked at the dark sky, and felt completely sleepless.

Yesterday afternoon Zheng Xin received the news from Zhuocheng that Zhang Niujiao started to attack Zhuocheng.

This news made everyone a little worried. After all, Zhang Niujiao's Yellow Turban Army has no record of failure so far, and the strength of the offensive and defensive sides is very different. It is a bit self-deceiving to expect more than 1 people to defend for more than a month.Now to break the siege of Youzhou, it all depends on whether the actions on the Jizhou battlefield are fast or not, and whether the fighting is ruthless.If the Jizhou side cannot understand the purpose of the Yellow Turban Army's attack on Youzhou, delays, perfunctory or does not send troops, the battle will be lost.

No matter how Zhuocheng is or how Zhuojun is, Fengyun cavalry must work hard to annihilate the enemy as much as possible and strive for more advantages for Zhuocheng defenders.

Li Hong ordered all the military officers not to spread their voices, so as not to affect morale, and everyone still followed the established plan.Li Hong instructed his subordinates to pay close attention to the concealment of the troops while accelerating the marching speed, so as not to be discovered by the enemy's scouts.

Li Hong turned over and sat up.

The servants around were huddled together in groups of three or four and slept soundly.Yan Liang leaned against a big tree, half of the black cloth cloak on his body fell off.Li Hong walked over quietly, helped him cover the cloak again, and covered him with his cowhide mattress, and then walked out of the woods slowly.

The night patrol soldiers hurried forward to salute.Li Hong stopped them one by one, and chatted with them on the grass.

Soon, a fish-belly white gradually appeared on the eastern horizon.Then, the sky became brighter and brighter, and dawn came quietly.

The sudden sound of horseshoes suddenly broke the tranquility of the morning, and they rushed towards the mountains and forests.

A scout appeared in Li Hong's field of vision covered in dew.

The scout suddenly saw the captain standing next to the sentinel, he was startled, and hurriedly dismounted, panting while saluting:

"My lord, the Yellow Turban Army has left the city."

"When?" Li Hongda asked happily.

The scout blushed, and said with a guilty conscience: "They left the city quietly in the middle of the night."

Li Hong was taken aback for a moment, saw the scout's nervous expression, and then laughed.

"Haven't you been monitoring the movement of the enemy army near the city, why didn't you find it?"

"The Yellow Turbans left the city through the west gate, but did not go through the south gate. We have been guarding near the south gate, so we didn't find out until midnight."

Li Hong nodded, and asked suspiciously: "Did the enemy find us? Why did they march in the middle of the night? According to the speed, they are coming to Yinting soon."

The scout immediately said: "My lord, the enemy has crossed the river and gone to the other side."

Li Hong was stunned for a moment.

"Crossing the river?" Li Hong smiled wryly at himself, then patted the scout on the shoulder and said, "You've worked hard, go to Marquis Zheng. Try to take a rest, we're going to march soon."

The scout saluted gratefully, got on his horse and left.

"Crossing the river?" Li Hong shook his head again and again, admiring: "The person who came up with this idea is really a genius."

The Yellow Turban Army crossed the Juma River and walked along the west bank, and they could also reach Dingxing Ferry.It's just that we have to cross the giant horse water again.But they avoided the danger of being ambushed by the elusive leopard army by walking on the east bank of Jumashui.

Li Hong felt a little dumbfounded.The Yellow Turban leader who led the army was very thoughtful. He chose a route that was more complicated and took a little longer, but it was extremely safe and safe.His move was so powerful that it not only made Li Hong's plan come to nothing, but also ensured that the troops arrived at Dingxing Ferry on time to join Sun Qin.

Li Hong walked away at a leisurely pace.

The mountains behind and the hills in the distance are shrouded in the faint morning mist, hazy and faintly visible, like a fairyland.The slightly chilly mountain wind blows gently, and the wind carries the rich fragrance of trees, which is refreshing.The slightly yellow grass is covered with dew, which is crystal clear.

Li Hong's heart was as calm as water, and he no longer felt helpless.

Heavy footsteps sounded from behind Li Hong.

Li Hong turned around slowly and saw the sleepy Yan Liang.Yan Liang held Li Hong's cowhide tape in his hand.

"My lord, you'd better put it on. It's cold in the morning."

Li Hong stretched out his hand to grab it, but Yan Liang stepped behind him and gently covered him.

"Thank you sir."

Li Hong smiled and patted Yan Liang's big hand.

"Go and inform the military officers that we will arrive at Dingxing Ferry today."

(End of this chapter)