Great Han Empire

Chapter 131
February 185 AD.

Lei Zi stood quietly outside the big tent.Seeing Li Hong coming out, Lei Zi quickly knelt down and saluted.

"grown ups……"

"Is there something wrong with Jizhou?" Li Hong asked anxiously as he helped him up.

"Chu Feiyan led his troops to capture Liwu and Boling, cutting off our connection with Jizhou." Lei Zi said in a low voice, "The Yellow Turban Army has been mobilizing very frequently recently, it seems that there is some big move."

Li Hong was taken aback, and immediately asked, "Should we advance or retreat?"

Lei Zi shook his head.

Li Hong pondered for a moment, then continued to ask: "Why didn't Shouyan come in person?"

"Zheng Junhou personally went to Zhongshan to investigate the military situation, and has not been in Beixincheng."

"Boyu, are Pingshan and Xiaolan all right?"

"Master Jun Sima and the two military marshals asked me to greet you." Lei Zi said very moved.

"Have all the prisoners in Beixincheng been taken?"

"Return to your lord, we have arrived today. In addition, according to your lord's instructions, we have already contacted Mr. Guo Mu, Jizhou. This is Mr. Guo's reply."

Li Hong took a roll of bamboo slips wrapped in cowhide from Lei Zi's hand, and opened it impatiently.

Guo Dian's request was very simple, to send troops to Zhongshan immediately.Fan Yangcheng can be temporarily surrounded by some troops without affecting the overall situation.If the Yellow Turban Army can be completely wiped out before the arrival of spring, the spring sowing of next year can be guaranteed, and the lives of the people can be guaranteed in the second half of next year.

Guo Dian used the word "urgent" several times in a row at the end to express his eagerness for this matter.

Lei Zi looked at Zhao Yun with great interest.This fair and elegant young man is not only handsome, but also sophisticated and calm, giving a very good first impression.

He couldn't help but asked quietly: "Are you your lord's new bodyguard Du Cao?"

Zhao Yun smiled shyly, bowed politely and replied, "No. I am the chief of the military guard of Changshan County Mansion."

"Changshan County Mansion?" Lei Zi asked in surprise.

"After Changshan was captured by the Yellow Turban Army, Mr. Cao Li, the governor of the county government, took us all the way north. It was not until a few days ago that Mr. Li took us to serve under the tent of Mr. Xiaowei."

"Oh." Lei Zi suddenly realized.The newcomers have not yet been incorporated into the formation of Fengyun Iron Cavalry.

"I used to be your bodyguard too. My name is Lei Zi. You..."

"I'm Zhao Yun." Zhao Yun replied hastily, "I heard that the old man said that you, Yan Junhou and Lei Junhou used to be the guards of the adults."

Lei Zi patted him on the shoulder affectionately, and said in a low voice, "My lord is amazing in martial arts. If you have nothing to do, you should ask for advice and learn more. It will benefit you a lot in the future."

Zhao Yun hurriedly saluted again, and said gratefully, "Thank you Lei Junhou."

Li Hong read Guo Dian's letter, thought for a while, and said, "Lei Zi, you stay here for now, don't rush back to Beixin City."

"Zilong, immediately notify several army commanders, and the army waits for me at the side tent."

All the soldiers of the Yellow Turban Army in Fanyang City, plus the horsemen and handymen of the convoy, plus more than 5000 captives brought back by Lei Zi from Beixin City, totaled more than 5000 people. They were successfully gathered outside the city and set up a camp of prisoners.

Li Hong now has a very headache.

Jizhou Mu Guo Dian was urging him to send troops, Xian Yufu and Zhang Chun were also urging him to send troops, and even several subordinates were urging him to send troops.But he has no soldiers to go out.

The troops lost more than 700 people in the battles of Fanxingting and Beixincheng, and they have not been replenished so far.Beixin City and Fan Yang now need troops to guard them. More than 3 prisoners were guarded by troops.A large amount of food had to be escorted by soldiers to Guangyang and Yuyang.People are needed everywhere, and he can't gather 5000 people no matter what he does now.

Every day he ordered Kuaiqi to rush to Zhuocheng and Jicheng to call for reinforcements, but so far there has been no reply.Inspector Yang Huang actually sent someone here, but it was just to reward and reward the troops, and there was not a single soldier.

Heavy snow, he is now looking forward to a heavy snowfall earlier to relieve his urgent needs.

Li Hong reorganized the Yanzhao Department with the [-] infantry brought by Xian Yufu, under the leadership of Xian Yufu.

These 3000 people were improvised in the unit of the village at that time, and Fu Qiang, an old subordinate of Xian Yufu, temporarily acted as a military officer and brought them to the front line of Fan Yang.For the convenience of command, Li Hong arranged for Li Han, Yan Liang, and Fu Qiang to serve as the Sanqu military marshals of the Yanzhao Department.

According to Li Hong, although Yan Zhaoqu was an infantry soldier, he had to ride a horse instead of walking, otherwise the troops would not be mobile, could not keep up with the rhythm of the cavalry, and would not be able to exert their power.The army has a surplus of war horses, and it would be a waste not to use them.

Li Han's more than 100 cavalry were all incorporated into the pro-guards.The personal guard expanded to more than 200 people, and Li Hong appointed Zhao Yun as the head of the village.

It is a fact that there are no soldiers in Youzhou, so Li Hong can only think of another way.Li Hong called Heng Ji, Lu Huanyang, She Yingtong, and She Hu to ask for their opinions.If he asks for cavalry from the two tribes again, will Lu Pofeng of the Bailu tribe and Shemoci of the Wuye tribe agree?Li Hong didn't want to weaken the strength of the two tribes because of his repeated conscription, which would be a bit difficult for others.

After the four people discussed it, they felt that if the two tribes were together, it would be about the same if they gathered a thousand people.Heng Ji came up with the idea that he could ask for troops from Nanlou, the Black Ling King in Baishan.Nan Lou cheated Li Hong last time and owed Li Hong a favor.Although Li Hong requisitioned all the Karasuma prisoners last time, they were all Tito's subordinates and did not move his troops.This time, I can take the opportunity to recruit him.

Li Hong was overjoyed, and immediately sent messengers to Shanggu County day and night.

But distant water cannot quench near thirst.

Jizhou Mu Guodian once again sent people to urge Li Hong to lead his troops to immediately repel the Yellow Turban Army occupying Liwu and Boling, so as to clear up the worries of the Jizhou army.

Governor Yang Huang also received a letter from Guo Dian.Guo Dian threatened him in the letter that if Li Hong was not ordered to send troops again, he would write to the court to impeach Yang Huang for delaying the military plane.Yang Huang was so angry that he cursed.If it weren't for Li Hong's ability to fight, the Yellow Turban Army is still in Zhuojun, how can there be any soldiers to help Jizhou?Don't look at the real situation in Youzhou, just know about impeachment, impeachment.

Yang Huang became angry, and hurriedly wrote to the prefects of Guangyang, Yuyang, and Youbeiping, and immediately dispatched all troops to Fanyang.If not, take the weapons yourself, take the officials of the Yamen, and enslave your family members.Whoever disobeys orders is impeached, sued for disobedience, and appeases and sympathizes with the Yellow Turban Army.

Li Hong received the order from Governor Yang Huang and knew that he couldn't go on, so he had to take the cavalry from the Yushi Department to Beixin City to meet Xianyu Yinbu.Xian Yufu and Yan Rou's troops temporarily stayed in Fanyang to guard the prisoners and wait for reinforcements.

Li Hong led more than 6000 people from Qinwei Tun, Scout Tun, Weiwei Tun, Black Leopard Yicong, Yushi Department, and Xianyu Yin Department across the border between Youyi and Boling City.

Riding on the panther's broad back, Li Hong looked around curiously.

"Old man, this is the Central Plains, is this the Central Plains?"

Tian Zhong snorted disdainfully, and said loudly: "Central Plains? I don't think there is our northern border, okay? We have endless mountains, clear water, vast grasslands, and forests everywhere, often hundreds of miles away. There are no people here. But look here, there are plains here, although they are endless, but there are no mountains and no trees, compared with our northern border, it is far worse."

Li Hong laughed: "Have you never been to the Central Plains?"

"Of course I have never been here. I have been a soldier at the border for more than 40 years, and I have never been out of Youzhou. This is the first time." Tian Zhong said lightly.

Immediately, he remembered Li Hong's lost memory, and hurriedly asked with concern: "Do you have an impression, what might you remember?"

Li Hong shook his head, "I'm very unfamiliar with this place, and I can't remember anything. But compared with Beijiang, I think this place is wider, more majestic, and more imposing."

Tian Zhong looked around, frowning on purpose and asked, "Aura? What aura? I think it's more desolate and more tragic."

Li Hong suddenly thought of the Yellow Turban Army, and the countless people who had been displaced and starved to death on the roadside, and his mood immediately changed a lot.

Zhao Yun urged the horse to catch up, pointed to the front and said, "My lord, Boling City is about forty miles ahead."

"Is it the hometown of Zhang Niujiao, the commander of the Yellow Turban Army?" Li Hong asked.

"His home is in the south of the city, a village far away from Boling City." Zhao Yun replied, "The south of Boling City is Huanshui. If you want to visit South Boling, you must cross Huanshui. "

Tian Zhong likes him very much, and when he saw him, his eyes became cracked.

"Zilong, why didn't you wear the armor I gave you yesterday? Also, what about that white fur cloak? It's cold, you should wear warm clothes, don't freeze."

Zhao Yun smiled embarrassedly, "Thank you, old man."

"Why not?" Tian Zhong asked with a smile.

"Old man, you don't have any, I'm a guard, I'm too ugly, and I think..." He looked at Li Hong next to him, and didn't continue.

"It's okay, tell me." Tian Zhong looked at Zhao Yun, no matter how much he liked it, his mouth burst into laughter.

"When the Zhending City in Changshan is captured, I will take it back to my mother." Zhao Yun said softly.

Tian Zhong patted the horse hard, and shouted: "Okay, good boy. You are so far away from home, you still miss your parents, you know how to be filial to your elders, good boy, good boy."

He kept shouting.Zhao Yun's white face instantly turned red.

Li Hong turned his head to look at Tian Zhong, and laughed loudly: "Old man Changjing, there are several guards and governors following me, it seems that you are the best for Zilong. I am worried that the others will know, and I will break your hand." Old Bones."

Tian Zhong glanced back at Zhao Yun, said with a smile, "I can't help it, this kid knows both books and etiquette, he is very attractive, just like Xu Wucheng's Xiao Tianchou, he is comfortable to look at." Then he glared at Li Hong and said: " How many of them dare to trouble me? Go ask, do they dare to find me? It’s too late to hide from me!”

Li Hong shook his head with a smile, knowing that he was using his identity as an assassin to scare people.Now no one wants to offend him.Tian Zhong is the assassin of Fengyun Iron Cavalry, anyone who makes a mistake must be dealt with by him, who is willing to offend him?
"The last time Hutou wanted that armor, why didn't you give it to him? Now that you gave it to Zilong, Hutou may not be happy if he finds out."

Tian Zhong immediately shouted: "Zimin, I originally left the armor to you, so it's up to you to give it to you. Now you gave it to Zilong, what does it matter to me?"

Li Hong couldn't say anything to Tian Zhong, so he couldn't help laughing.

"Okay, okay. Old man, I really have you. By the way, the army has a lot of people and officers, so you have to pay attention to military discipline. Anyone who violates military discipline will be severely punished."

"Don't worry. The people in the scouts are ghosts and ghosts. They help me watch everywhere. Few people escape."

"Don't always stare at the soldiers making mistakes, but pay attention to the officers. There are those who deduct military pay, those who whip soldiers, those who bully others, those who rob others secretly, and those who violate discipline. Killing one will not be tolerated." Li Hong said seriously.

"I have been a soldier for decades, and I have suffered a lot from it. How could I not pay attention to these things? Speaking of which, I want to thank you. I am old, and I still work for an official, and I am still a assassin. Thank you. .If I die, you must give this assassination job to a loyal and reliable person, otherwise the military discipline will be disrupted, and it will be difficult to win the battle."

Li Hong nodded solemnly.

Zheng Xin came to meet him on horseback.

Due to the sudden appearance of Chu Feiyan's troops during the Jiuliting battle, which almost caused the entire army of Fengyun cavalry to be annihilated, this incident greatly stimulated him.Although Li Hong did not punish him, and none of the other comrades came forward to criticize him, he felt that his fault was too great, and he was always in a bad mood, always avoiding Li Hong.Now, as long as it is news that he thinks is abnormal, he will take the trouble to review it himself.

Li Hong has not seen him for a long time.Zheng Xin is much thinner and darker than before.Li Hong said heartbrokenly: "You are a scout, not a scout. If you run around like this, if there is any urgent military situation that needs to be dealt with, what should you do?"

Zheng Xin hurriedly said: "I know, I will pay attention. Recently, the scouts are all in Beixin City. There are many things and few people, so they are too busy."

"What's the news about Boling City?" Li Hong asked.

"The Yellow Turban Army suddenly abandoned the city and fled. Now the four gates of Boling City are wide open, except for the people in the city, no Yellow Turban soldier can see it." Zheng Xin laughed, "I probably heard that the Fengyun Iron Cavalry came, and the Yellow Turban Army Terrified, he ran away."

"Where is the direction of Liwu?" Li Hong asked immediately.

"Liwu is currently guarded by Fan Li, Chu Feiyan's subordinate."

"how many people?"

"If you include the Yellow Turban Army who fled to Liwu, Fan Li has about 1 people in his hands."

Li Hong thought for a while, then turned to the bugle soldiers and said, "Order the troops to rest and stop advancing."

Xianyu Yin and Yushi rushed to the location of the Chinese army.Li Hong was sitting on the ground looking at the map.

"Boyu, Yicong, Boling's enemies have all fled to Liwu now. There is no Yellow Turban Army in Boling City, so what are we going to do? Go directly to Liwu, what do you think?" Li Hong asked.

Xian Yuyin and Yushi glanced at each other, without answering, they looked down at the map.

"We don't have the strength to attack the city." Xian Yuyin said, "We don't have much supplies, and we need supplements from Jizhou. Isn't it too hasty to go to Liwu now?"

"If we don't attack the city, what are we going to do? Liwu is a hundred miles away from Boling, and the supplies sent by Jizhou have to travel more to reach Liwu. I was very passive." Yushi said loudly.

"Master Guo means to completely eliminate the Yellow Turban Army this winter, so I estimate that the battle against the Yellow Turban Army will start soon. We will quickly catch up and bite them, which can guarantee the formation of a deterrent to the Yellow Turban Army in Zhongshan. , forcing them to fail to increase their troops in Changshan and Zhao. If we give the illusion of a [-]-strong army, it is more likely to force them to abandon Liwu and return to Nulu City.”

Li Hong pointed to Nulu City on the map and said: "Look, Nulu City is in the south of Huanshui, and Liwu and Anxi, which is more than 100 miles away from it, are in the north of Weishui. These three cities are all in Huanshui. On both sides of the water, if we keep pushing up, it can put a lot of pressure on them."

Xian Yuyin stared at the map for a while, then gestured with his hands and said, "If Liwu's enemies want to retreat, they can only retreat to Anxi. If we set up an ambush between Anxi and Liwu, we may be able to destroy them. Nulu City is far away from these two cities, and it is impossible to send troops to support them."

Yushi immediately retorted: "The Yellow Turbans are afraid of being ambushed by our cavalry, and they will definitely not give us a chance. I think they are more likely to escape across the river from Liwu."

Zheng Xin pointed to Liwu and said: "The only way to cross the river from Liwu is by boat, which will take a long time. If we rush to Liwu quickly, the enemy can only retreat to Anxi. Although we have a chance to ambush them, But we don’t have enough troops, food and grass, so I’m afraid we won’t be able to seize this opportunity.”

Xian Yuyin nodded, "Shouyan is right. We need a certain number of troops to pretend to attack Liwu, and even more so to ambush them. It seems that we can only go to Liwu to scare them."

"Shouyan, did the food and grass in Jizhou arrive first from the Hejian Kingdom or from the Anping Kingdom?" Li Hong asked.

"I can't tell." Zheng Xin smiled wryly, "There are people from the Yellow Turban Army everywhere here, so it's very inconvenient to contact. To be honest, I suspect that the possibility of them arriving on time is very small."

"If we can't be sure that the supplies from Jizhou will arrive tomorrow, we can't go to Liwu." Tian Zhong said solemnly: "If something happens to the troops and the soldiers suffer losses because of the supplies, that's my responsibility."

Li Hong smiled and said, "What if I take on this responsibility?"

Tian Zhong stared at him with wide eyes, looking very annoyed.

"If you must go to Liwu, you should also find a few local people to lead the way, so as not to go in the wrong direction and be ambushed by the Yellow Turban Army. We are not familiar with the terrain here, but the Yellow Turban Army is familiar with them. They are all born and raised here. People can find their way with their eyes closed.”

Li Hong clapped his hands and said loudly: "The old man is right. Shouyan, when will the scouts in the direction of Liwu come back?"

"It will take more than an hour."

"Then first go find a few local people and ask them if they would like to lead us the way?"

"As long as you give some food, no one is unwilling." Zheng Xin said with a smile while flying on the horse.

Suddenly, there was a hasty and shrill sound of alarm horns from the direction of the rear army.

The sound of the trumpet alarmed all the soldiers, and everyone got on their horses one after another and formed a battle queue as quickly as possible.

Li Hong looked at Tian Zhong and felt that he was simply amazing.

(End of this chapter)