Great Han Empire

Chapter 473
Yan Liang commanded the army to conquer Zhongling City in one day, then led his troops northward, and joined Yan Rou's army at the foot of Shanwu City.Stationed in Shanwu City were Xiongnu Danghu (Xiongnu mid-level military officer) Jiehan and Xianbei Qianchang Yougu, who led [-] Hu soldiers to guard the city.Yan Rou and Yan Liang discussed it, and decided that Yan Liang would lead the army to attack the south gate, and Nie Xiao, Yan Wuwei, and Li Su would each lead their cavalry to attack the other three gates of Shanwu City in order to contain the Hu people's defenders.The soldiers of the Han army stormed for a day, but failed to take it down.Seeing the heavy casualties, Yan Rou immediately ordered the attack to stop, and waited for General Zhengbei to lead his troops to join them.

The next day, Zhang He rushed to Shanwu with [-] soldiers from the Huben camp.On the third day, Li Hong led his army to the city.The [-] troops surrounded Shanwu City completely.The next attack went very smoothly, and the Han army launched a fierce attack from the four gates at the same time with an absolute superiority.The Hu soldiers defending the city were outnumbered and suffered heavy casualties.Chen Hao and Wu Xiong, who were in charge of the main attack on the south gate, took the lead and led their troops to the tower.Xianbei Qianzhang Yougu was beheaded by Wu Xiong with a knife, Xianbei soldiers were killed and injured, and the south gate of the city was captured in half a day.The captain of the Huben Camp, Chang Gong, led two thousand soldiers and rushed into the city first, and they rushed straight to the government office at the fastest speed.The Xiongnu lord Jiehan led a small group of troops to resist, but in a blink of an eye he was completely killed by the crazy soldiers of the Huben camp. chopped off.

On the ninth day of the battle, the Han army recovered Dingxiang County and Zhishanwucheng.

Li Hong immediately ordered Yan Rou to lead his army northward to attack Wujin City in Yunzhong County, followed by Yan Liang and Zhang He.Li Hong warned Yan Rou and other generals that after entering the grassland, all the ministries should keep a distance, and it is strictly forbidden to go in alone.

===

The fortified battle of Jiling City entered the third day.

He Feng's battalion suffered heavy losses, almost all the soldiers in four villages were killed, and the trilogy lost their attack power.He asked Yushi for help. Without reinforcements, he would not be able to organize the soldiers to continue to attack the city.Yushi immediately ordered Gao Geng, the captain of the Chariot Battalion, to lead two thousand soldiers of the Chariot Battalion to support He Feng.Gao Geng stood at the bottom of the city and saw that his soldiers were severely damaged and their attacks were frequently blocked. He was anxious and angry, so he personally led his guards to kill them.On the way to climb the ladder, he was hit by a hurricane thrown from the city, and the ladder broke, and he fell to the ground with the ladder and died of serious injuries.

Gao Geng's death angered the generals of the Han army, and the attack became more violent.The sound of passionate war drums, thunderous shouts of killing, and the sound of tragic fighting are intertwined, hitting Jiling City fiercely like a surging tide.Under the shadow of death, Jiling City trembled violently and groaned.

Panta knelt on the ground and respectfully kowtowed three times to Gao Geng's body, and then rushed towards the city wall with his soldiers and swords in hand.He couldn't remember how many times he led people to attack. He only had one thought in his mind, which was to kill, kill more Hu people to avenge his dead brothers.Panta rushed up to the city wall, slashing several people with his sword flying up and down, and then he found himself pierced through the chest and abdomen by a spear, and the dark red blood shot out along the handle of the spear like a fountain.Panta smiled wryly, and his bloody body flew into the sky as the spear was provocative.

He Feng hugged Panta's body and wept bitterly. His heart was in extreme pain, and he couldn't help but raised his head to the sky and let out a mournful howl, "Kill...kill them for me..."

He Feng organized [-] soldiers to launch the most violent attack before dusk, and Qiequ Nonggu of the Huns also put all their reserve forces into defense.At this moment, Lei Zi led his troops to break through the east city gate, and the machete led five hundred black panther Yi Cong into the city like lightning.The Huns couldn't resist and were killed immediately. Nonggu was also chopped into meat by angry Han soldiers, and his head was hung high on the top of the tower.

On the ninth day of the battle, the Han army recaptured Jiling City in Yunzhong County.

Yushi immediately ordered Pang De to take the black panther along the north of the Yellow River to Shaling Lake and approach Yunzhong.He brought tens of thousands of civilians to pretend to be tens of thousands of troops, and followed up under the banner of the fourth army of Xu Rong, Quyi, Yang Feng and Zhao Yun.

===

The strong offensive power and speed of the Han army greatly exceeded the expectations of the Huns.Baimatong, who led the army stationed in Yunzhong, hurriedly flew to report to Xubu Guduhou, asking him to send a large army to Yunzhong for support.

Pound led [-] black panthers and was hit head-on by the Huns' [-] cavalry from the moment they entered the Shaling Lake area.Pang De was not afraid, he and Hu Ding Abandoned Shen each brought [-] cavalry to meet them in three groups, and the two sides fought bloody near Shaling Lake.The soldiers of the Black Panther Yi Cong were brave and good at fighting, and the soldiers and horses of the three routes were like three sharp arrows, and quickly dispersed the attacking formation of the Huns.Seeing that the Huns were unable to kill the Black Panther Yicong, they were worried that Xu Rong's army would come to support them later, so they retreated in a hurry.

Yushi led his army to garrison Shaling Lake and set up a camp by the lake.

Li Hong led his army into Yunzhong County quickly, and set up camp in Huajingyuan.It is 120 miles away from Wujin City to the east, [-] miles to Chengle City to the north, [-] miles to Yunzhong City, and [-] miles to Shaling Lake to the west.

On the 12th day of the outing of the fortress, all the Han army's frontal attack troops were stationed in Yunzhong, and the decisive battle with the Hu nationality allied forces was imminent.

===

At this time, Zhao Yun led his troops into the Gongxian Desert.

Zhao Yun led his army from Beidi County via Lingwu Valley, crossed Helan Mountain, and then entered Shuofang County.Although Shuofang County has a vast area, it is surrounded by Yinshan Mountains in the north, the Yellow River in the middle, and mostly desert in the south. There are almost no pastures and cultivated land. The population of only a few thousand is mainly concentrated in Linrong, the county seat, and the nearby Woye City.After the Xianbei captured Shuofang County, they shared it with the Eastern Qiang people, and some of the Eastern Qiang people who lived near the desert moved to the vicinity of Linrong City to graze.There were originally a thousand Xianbei cavalry stationed in Linrong City, but Tuoba Feng summoned them back after the defeat at Yanmen Pass, so Shuofang County basically became the territory of the Eastern Qiang people.

Zhao Yun has 2000 riders, and he needs enough food and horse fodder to travel more than 2000 miles to attack Jiuyuan City.When they set off from the Great Wall Fortress, each of them had two horses, one horse carrying people and the other carrying goods, but these supplies were limited and could not support them to travel more than [-] miles, so Li Hong chose a supply location for them, that is Linrong city.

Zhao Yun's iron cavalry rushed into Linrong and Woye overwhelmingly. The soldiers chopped down people and robbed livestock when they saw them. Only two days later, Linrong City, Woye City and the nearby Bailifangyuan grassland I couldn't see anyone anymore, they were all killed.The Han army rested in Linrong City for three days, prepared enough food and water, and then walked into the vast desert under the leadership of several guides who had traveled through the bowstring desert for a long time.

===

The desert is vast, the sea of ​​sand is vast, and the sun is round. Zhao Yun, Jiang Wu, Li Suyongchen and many soldiers who set foot in the desert for the first time were mesmerized by the majestic scenery of the desert. They have long forgotten the upcoming war. .

On the afternoon of the third day, the army arrived at Qixing Lake in the hinterland of the desert.There are many lakes in the Gongxian Desert, but the most famous one is the Seven Star Lake, which is composed of seven lakes.These seven small lakes are rippling blue waves, quiet and beautiful, separated by sand mountains, like seven pearls side by side inlaid in the vast bowstring desert, very magical.

The Iron Knights camped along the lake for a short rest.

Sitting by the lake, Zhao Yun looked at the blue and clear lake in front of him and the green trees in the distance. He couldn't help but think of Cai Yan and Cai Yan's watery eyes.In the future, northern Xinjiang will be stable and there will be no more wars. I will definitely bring her here to see the most beautiful scenery in the desert.Zhao Yun took out the exquisite and small sachet from his arms, put it in the palm of his hand and stroked it gently, a faint refreshing fragrance was blown into his heart with the wind, making him feel comfortable all over, and slowly immersed in the fragrance. In the sweet happiness, he seemed to see Cai Yan's smile again, and heard Cai Yan's laughter.

Liu Ming came from afar, waved at Zhao Yun and smiled, "Zilong, what are you looking at?"

Zhao Yunjun blushed, and hurriedly stuffed the sachet in his hand into his arms, "Brother Qiansi, did the scout report back?"

Liu Ming nodded, and said excitedly: "Yes, the scouts and guides who rushed to Yangshu Lake earlier came back as agreed."

"What did the scouts say? What happened to the Xiongnu rebels?" Zhao Yun stood up and asked eagerly.

"The scouts reported back that there is no one in the area more than 100 miles away from Fangyuan near Yangshu Lake." Liu Ming laughed, "I said a long time ago that the Marquis of Xubugudu would arrange the tribal people at the foot of the Yin Mountain instead of letting them go." Let them run to Yangshu Lake. The tribe gathers at the foot of Yinshan Mountain to graze, and they can retreat across Yinshan Mountain in time. Xu Buguduhou knows this better than anyone else, and he will never give up his tribe and escape to Xianbei alone." Then he said worriedly: "According to the normal marching speed, we can reach Yangshu Lake in three days. At that time, it has been fifteen days since the general led the army out of the fortress. Fifteen days? Has the general already hit the cloud? Attracted the main force of the Xiongnu rebels to the cloud?"

Zhao Yun said confidently: "Don't worry, the general is invincible. He must have reached the city of Yunzhong by now. The question now is when we will receive Xubuguduhou's iron cavalry to leave after we arrive at Yangshu Lake." Wuyuan supports the news in the cloud? As long as we get accurate information, we can launch a surprise attack immediately. By the way, what is the name of your brother who is going to dedicate the city to help us?"

"Mustafa." Liu Ming said, "he is Qiqu now, leading the army to garrison in Xi'anyang, which is the closest to Yangshu Lake. He used to be from our left tribe, because his sister married the son of Baimatong, so After his mother died, he went to slaughter various tribes." When Liu Ming said "his sister", his expression darkened, and a murderous look flashed in his eyes.

Zhao Yun glanced at him in surprise, and asked in a low voice: "If he betrayed Bai Matong, then his sister...?"

"His sister is dead." Liu Ming said sadly, "He was beaten to death by Baima Tong's son."

"why?"

"There's no reason." Liu Ming gritted his teeth and said sadly, "It's all my fault. Three years ago, Jade Carving came all the way to Luoyang to find me. I drove her back so that I could gain fame in the Northern Army. .If I had left her in Luoyang, she would not have married Baimatong's son, and she would not have died. This is all my fault."

Seeing his heartbroken look, Zhao Yun didn't know how to comfort him, so he put his arms around his shoulder and patted him lightly, but he suddenly thought of Cai Yan and the tears that Cai Yan shed when he sent him away from Jinyang.Zhao Yun's heart trembled, and he swore secretly that after the war was over, he would definitely fly back to Jinyang and marry her back home, and no one could take her away from him.

===

Under April, Luoyang.

The emperor woke up, but his body was extremely weak, it was difficult to stand, and the pain became more and more severe.The emperor lay on the sickbed all day, very depressed and helpless, he felt that the time left for him was running out, and he could see it from his mother's mournful cry and Jian Shuo's painful eyes.The emperor refused to take medicine, and when the pain was severe, he took a few golden pills.He ordered Jian Shuo to kill those medical craftsmen immediately, so as not to cause trouble.

Because of the heavenly vision, Taiwei Ma Rixun took the blame and resigned.The Son of Heaven read the memorial for a long time, then smiled at Jian Shuo who was standing aside, "Ai Qing, guess who is the person I most want to see right now?"

Jian Shuo was stunned for a moment, then whispered back: "Does Your Majesty want to meet General Zhengbei?"

The Son of Heaven shook his head and said calmly: "Decree, let Ma Rifeng's position as Taiwei be dismissed, and Liu Yu, the shepherd of Youzhou, be moved to be Taiwei and Rongqiuhou. After receiving the order, return to Beijing to preside over the government."

Jian Shuo suddenly realized.Now the matter of the emperor's serious illness cannot be revealed, and he cannot come forward to preside over the government affairs, and the emperor urgently needs a confidant to preside over the government affairs, and immediately began to prepare for the appointment of the prince and the abolition of the empress.Youzhou Shepherd Liu Yu is the most suitable candidate.Liu Yu is the emperor's most trusted confidant clan. He is well-known among the scholars and has no enmity with the middle officials. Last year he made a great contribution to appease the Karasuma tribes to put down the rebellion in Youzhou. Killing the leader of the ant thief Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun will make great contributions again. At this time, it is most appropriate to promote him to the rank of Taiwei and send him back to Beijing to preside over the government.Because Liu Yu won the trust of the emperor, he could enter and leave Yongle Palace and complete all unfinished business for His Majesty.

"I will issue an order to He Jin again, telling him to return to Beijing immediately, I want to see him."

Jian Shuo was taken aback, bowed and asked, "Your Majesty, do you want to transfer the Xiyuan Army into the capital?"

The emperor said disdainfully: "Why do such a trivial matter make such a big commotion? Ask some Zhonghuangmen to take him to Beisi Prison and kill him, but..." He sighed softly, still unwilling to say, "It's a pity that I couldn't do what I wanted to do."

===

In May of the sixth year of Zhongping in the Han Dynasty (AD 189).

===

At the beginning of May, Wuyuan County.

=

Three days later, Zhao Yun led his cavalry to secretly enter Yangshu Lake.Yangshu Lake is boundless, the lake surface is silvery, the water and the sky are the same color, the vast expanse is clear, the waves are vast, the lake is full of green shade, the lake water and cattail grass complement each other, the blue sky and blue waves complement each other, which is extremely beautiful.Faced with such beauty, Zhao Yun and the generals had no intention of appreciating it, and everyone was anxiously waiting for news from the scouts.

As early as March, Liu Bao and Liu Ming secretly dispatched dozens of capable men to the north bank of the Yellow River according to Li Hong's request. The army provides the most accurate movements of the Hu coalition forces.The two confidantes of Liu Ming were the first to rush to Yangshu Lake.They told Zhao Yun that three days ago, they saw with their own eyes Xubu Qiyang, the younger brother of Xubu Guduhou, leaving Jiuyuan City with [-] cavalry. The cavalry left the city and headed towards Yunzhong.According to their estimates, there should be [-] cavalry in Jiuyuan City, and [-] cavalry in the four cities of Xi'anyang, Chengyi, Yiliang, and Linwo along the river. Ma, there are currently at least [-] troops in Wuyuan County.

Zhao Yun summoned Liu Ming, Jiang Wu, Sheying Tong, Lu Huanyang and the four school lieutenants to discuss how to attack.Zhao Yun said: "The strength of the remaining troops in Jiuyuan City exceeded our expectations. Not to mention that there are now 5000 cavalry in Jiuyuan City, it will be difficult for us to take the city in a short time. As long as the attack is blocked, the troops along the river The garrisons in the four cities will immediately divide their troops to support us, so we will fall into a bitter battle, and the result is that we can neither occupy Jiuyuan City, nor cover Master Xu's army to cross the river, and the surprise attack plan will fail."

Jiang Wu said: "We don't have time. The army doesn't have enough food now, and their whereabouts may be exposed at any time, so it's best to start a surprise attack immediately. The Huns may not be able to stop us if they are completely defenseless."

She Yingtong said: "Even if we can't capture Jiuyuan City quickly, we can definitely buy enough time to cover Master Xu's army crossing the river. As long as [-] soldiers come from the opposite side, we can firmly hold the ferry and wait for an opportunity to capture Jiuyuan .”

Lu Huanyang said: "Yangshu Lake is too close to the Huns, so it is very dangerous. Once the Huns find our whereabouts, the surprise attack will become a strong attack, and the loss will be even greater."

Liu Ming pondered for a long time, and said: "Wait a minute. If we have the help of Mustafa, we will be able to capture Jiuyuan smoothly. Whether we can take the lead in capturing Jiuyuan is directly related to the victory or defeat of the Northern Xinjiang War, so we must Wait a minute. When we attacked Meiji last year, Mustafa sent someone to contact me, saying that he wanted to sacrifice the city for revenge, but because Xubuguduhou and Baimatong suddenly withdrew their troops, he had no choice but to go north with the army. This time, I was ordered by the general to find him and asked him to help us cross the river, and he agreed. He wanted to contact my subordinates after Xu Bu Qiyang led his army to leave Jiuyuan, so he must have something in the past few days. News. Please believe me once, this person is my life and death brother, absolutely reliable."

All the generals hesitated and looked at Zhao Yun.Zhao Yun immediately decided to wait another day, "Send more scouts to lurk fifty miles away, and anyone who approaches Yangshu Lake will be killed.

On the second night after the army arrived at Yangshu Lake, the confidant Liu Ming was waiting for finally arrived at the army.He brought news of Mustafa, who was willing to sacrifice Xi'an Yang.

"When?"

"Tomorrow evening."

===

(End of this chapter)