Great Han Empire

Chapter 629
Under Liu Yan's instigation, Dong Fu, Zhao Wei and others vigorously developed their own forces, and then they clashed with Jia Long and other Yizhou forces.It was at this time that Dong Zhuo intervened in the struggle for power in Yizhou.He is more optimistic about Jia Long's deep-rooted local forces, and wants to use Jia Long's hand to get rid of or drive away Liu Yan, and then send a confidant to Yizhou to take charge of the military administration, so that Yizhou's taxes can be guaranteed.

After Liu Yan learned that Dong Zhuo had intervened in the power struggle in Yizhou, he immediately felt the crisis. He immediately united with Dongzhou forces and some other forces in Yizhou, and launched a surprise attack in the second year of Chuping (191), killing More than a dozen people including Wang Xian and Li Quan from Jia Long's forces were captured, forcing Jia Long and other powerful families to rebel.At this time, Liu Yan was already full-fledged, and he even invited Qing Qiang to help him, but Jia Long, Ren Qi (Qian Wei's prefect) and others were quickly defeated and killed due to insufficient preparation.

Liu Yan was very angry because of this.At this time, the news from Guanzhong and Jingzhou that the states and counties of various states and counties were supporting themselves and conquering each other made him suddenly have the idea of ​​cutting off contact with the imperial court, cutting off contacts with Dong Zhuo's traitors, and operating Bashu behind closed doors.Of course, Dong Fu's words that "Yizhou has the spirit of the emperor" also greatly stimulated him.In order to achieve his goal, Liu Yan set his sights on the Five Dou Rice Road in Hanzhong County.

=

The road to Yizhou is rough and difficult, Liu Yan doesn't have to worry about the forces threatening his safety, the only thing that makes him feel uneasy is the disaster from within Yizhou, which is the five buckets of rice road.

The Tao of Five Buckets of Rice is also called the Tao of Heavenly Master. Like Taiping Tao, it belongs to the early Taoism.When Zhang Jiao led Taiping Taoists to launch the Yellow Turban Uprising in the Central Plains, Zhang Heng, the second generation leader of Wudoumi Taoism, also led Wudoumi Taoists to launch an uprising in Hanzhong, and the two echoed each other.At that time, the imperial court called Zhang Jiao's rebel army "ant thieves" and Zhang Heng's rebel army "rice thieves".Wudou Midao's uprising failed in the end.After Zhang Heng died, his son Zhang Lu succeeded him.

Liu Yan then ordered to appease Zhang Lu, worshiped him as the governor and Sima, and privately sent someone to encourage Zhang Lu, persuading him to fight back to Hanzhong with five buckets of rice.Zhang Lu was overjoyed, and immediately gathered his troops, and with the help of Zhang Xiu, Sima Zhang Xiu of Yizhou Prefecture, he suddenly rushed into Hanzhong.Zhang Lu soon killed Su Gu, the prefect of Hanzhong, and occupied Hanzhong.It's a pity that Su Gu lost his life for no apparent reason.

Liu Yan successfully used Zhang Lu of the Five Dou of Rice Road to control Hanzhong, cut off communication with Guanzhong, the Central Plains and other places, and severed the relationship with the imperial court. At the same time, he also sent Zhang Lu, a hidden danger, out of Bashu, killing two birds with one stone.But Zhang Lu took advantage of Liu Yu's needs, occupied Hanzhong, got a piece of his own territory, and began to develop his own five buckets of rice with peace of mind.

=

Liu Ai and Tian Yi explained what happened in Yizhou in detail.

"I think Liu Yan has the ambition of separatist regime and hegemony." Liu Ai finally said, "In the future, when your lord crusades against rebels and pacifies the world, Yizhou will be a big trouble."

Dong Zhuo nodded, and asked with a smile: "Liu Yan trusts Zhang Lu so much? If Zhang Lu suddenly defected and Bashu's door opened wide, wouldn't Liu Yan be in trouble?"

Tian Yi smiled ambiguously, and Nian Xu said: "I heard that Zhang Lu's mother is very beautiful, she often goes in and out of the government office, and has an extraordinary relationship with Liu Yan. Maybe...it is possible..."

Dong Zhuo laughed loudly, "Could it be that Liu Junlang (Liu Yan) is also a person of this way?"

The three made fun of Liu Yan, and then got back to business.Dong Zhuo ordered Liu Yan's three sons, Zuo Zhonglang General Liu Fan, Zhishu Yushi Liu Dan, and Fengche Duwei Liu Zhang to be arrested in Meiwu, "Let his sons write letters to Liu Yan. Send it to Chang'an, just wait for the head to be taken."

"When will the battle in Kansai start?" Liu Ai asked.

"You go to Tongguan to sit in the town yourself." Dong Zhuo pointed to Liu Ai and said, "Han Sui and Ma Teng from Xiliang want to send people to appease them. The army of Lu assembled in Huayin on the lower reaches of the Wei River and Linjin on the lower reaches of the Luo River, and made a gesture of attacking Hedong and supporting Kansai at any time, so as to contain the strength of the northern army."

Dong Zhuo picked up Li Hong's letter and looked at it again, "This leopard, after returning from the expedition to the desert, I haven't seen him show his power." Then he looked up at Liu Ai, "It's better to fight earlier, the sooner the better." Well, there is no time to lose."

===

In the middle of the first month, outside the Great Wall, Yanmen County, Baideng Mountain.

Covered with snow, the cold wind howling, and the battle flags flying, the Northern Frontier Army walked with difficulty on the vast snowfield beyond the Great Wall.

Li Hong rode the snow lightly, and quickly climbed to a high ground.This is the famous Baideng Mountain. At that time, Emperor Gaozu led an army of 30 troops to march in person. He accidentally fell into the trap and was besieged by the Xiongnu Shanyu Maodun with 40 cavalry.Standing in the field of the snow-capped mountains to pay tribute to the ancestors, Li Hong couldn't help feeling a lot of emotion.

Emperor Gaozu took a group of civil servants and generals who were accustomed to fighting, and conquered a vast country.The great Han Zuo continued for 400 years. Is the foundation of 400 years going to be destroyed by us incompetent younger generations today?
Looking at the undulating mountains covered in silver makeup and the beautiful icicles in the woods, Li Hong's thoughts flew back to Jinyang, to the warm tent like spring.Since marrying Xiaoyu and Fengxue, the concern and longing in my heart not only did not decrease in the slightest, but instead became thicker and deeper.Every time I was out fighting, there were more distances and less gatherings. It was rare for the three of us to sit and talk together, and even more rare to walk arm in arm in the secluded woods of Longshan.A peaceful and beautiful life is now a luxury.Thinking of this, Li Hong felt very uneasy and guilty.I promised Xiaoyu and Fengxue, but I didn't do any of them.There is no peace, no happiness, and no long-term companionship. What I bring to them is only thoughts, worries and parting.

Small, pure white snowflakes floated down from the sky sporadically.The snowflakes fell gently on the face and hands, and a faint coldness and warmth slowly and quietly penetrated into the body and flowed into the heart.

Li Hong silently looked at the snowflake in his palm, the snowflake slowly melted, and then turned into a blooming crystal water drop.This is like the tears of the eldest princess, just like the helpless and helpless sadness of the eldest princess, which makes people heartbroken and sad.

The eldest princess has grown up, and she is no longer the carefree little girl in Yongle Palace, nor is she the ignorant and ignorant little highness who only hides her face and weeps. She grows up rapidly in this harsh environment, her Her mind and talents are as shocking as her appearance.

A sad and sad flute sound, a drop of warm teardrops, these are the gifts that the eldest princess gave him to go to war.

Li Hong felt palpitations and felt very uncomfortable.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..."

The low and desolate sound of horns sounded on the snow field, spreading far and far with the wind...

A familiar thing suddenly occupied Li Hong's mind, deep and vast...

Irritability, pain, resentment, restlessness, all kinds of emotions disappeared in an instant.

Li Hong took off his battle helmet abruptly, spread his long hair, and galloped his horse against the howling wind, "Hoo...ho..."

It has been a long, long time since the soldiers of the Black Panther Regiment heard the familiar, crazy and hysterical roar, "Hoo...ho..."

The heartstrings of the soldiers trembled, and the lofty pride and fighting spirit that had not been seen for a long time suddenly burst out. Looking at the galloping white horse and the fluttering long hair, they all shouted wildly: "Huho...huho..."

The sound of the horn soared into the sky.

"Huho...huho..."

Amidst the earth-shattering cheers, Li Hong turned his horse's head, faced Bai Dengshan, opened his arms, and roared to the sky: "Today, I, Li Hong, swear that if the country is not fair, the head will be broken and the hair will not be tied."

===

Under the first month, Daijun, Gaoliu City.

Jianwei General Yan Rou, Du Liao General Zhao Yun, Yingyang Zhonglang General Xian Yuyin, Daijun Taishou Qianzhao, Heiling King Loulu, Wuye King Shemoci, White Deer King Lu Pofeng, Flying Fox King Ranran, etc. The big officials and the kings of the Hu tribe greeted each other ten miles outside the city.

When the generals saw the majestic and disheveled Li Hong, a very familiar feeling came to their hearts immediately, and the infinite fighting spirit gushed out instantly.

"General, you are back again..." White Deer King Lu Pofeng hugged Li Hong happily, and beat him hard a few times, "General, good brother."

Li Hong shook hands with all the generals and the kings of the Hu clan, or hugged each other for a long time.

Li Su (Xiao Lazy) looked at him carefully, and said with a smile: "The general is still as good as this, this is the general we are familiar with."

Li Hong patted him on the shoulder hard, "You have grown strong. I heard you have a son?"

Li Su smiled, "Is the general coming soon?"

Li Hong laughed and shook his hands, "Did you go to Lulongsai recently?"

"I went, I went years ago." Li Su said, "It's the first time I've been back to Lulongsai after Li Song's tomb was moved back. The general also plans to go back and have a look?"

"Go again when you have time." Li Hong smiled, "I believe I will return to Lulongsai soon." Then he pointed to Zhao Yun and asked, "Zilong, where is Wenji? Are you sending her back to Jinyang? "

"Should be home soon." Zhao Yun replied.

"After this battle, you should go back to Jinyang to marry Wen Ji immediately, don't delay any longer." Li Hong said with a smile, "Lord Cai seems to be in a hurry, and I have already said it many times."

The crowd burst into laughter.

Lou Lu said loudly: "Zilong, you must get married in Yunzhong Camp, so that we can have a good time."

=

The kings of the Hu tribe were very concerned about the domestic affairs of the Han Dynasty.Li Hong comforted them, saying that there were indeed some small conflicts between the imperial court and various states and counties, but the main battle was to put down the Yellow Turban Army, so there was nothing to worry about.

"General, do you want to recruit iron cavalry for this battle?" She Moci asked, "If the general needs it, I can let Shehu go out with you."

"General, as long as you nod your head, I will immediately follow you with three thousand cavalry." Lou Lu said eagerly.

Several other tribal kings did not fall behind and expressed their willingness to obey the general's orders.Li Hong cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Thank you all for your kindness. If I need your help, of course I will not be polite to you. This time the iron cavalry is going south, and the food and fodder are a little tight. Please come, I just want to borrow some money from you for a while. .”

The kings of the Hu clan agreed to this trivial matter without any hesitation.Lu Pofeng said: "The general treats us as outsiders. We are brothers with the general. The general wants our lives, not to mention the livestock and fodder of the tribe. Just say what the general wants. As for credit One thing, don't mention it again."

Lou Lu kept pestering Li Hong, and repeatedly asked to go south to join the war. Li Hong didn't want to embarrass him too much, so he whispered: "Look carefully, who is going south with me? Have you seen the general of Youzhou?" ?”

Lou Lu looked around suspiciously, leaned into Li Hong's ear and asked, "I heard that the general wants to beat the white horse Gongsun Zan, is it true?"

Li Hong smiled, noncommittal.

"The general should have killed him a long time ago." Lou Lu said bitterly, "This man is a wolf, he kills people without blinking an eye, and turns his back on him. Unfortunately, the general still treats him as a friend. The general knows how he is. Killed us Karasuma?"

"The hatred between our two clans has a long history. You can't put all the hatred on Gongsun Zan alone." Li Hong argued.

"What about you, General? What about Lord Liu? Why don't you kill innocent people indiscriminately?" Lou Lu gritted his teeth, "If this person doesn't die, I, Karasuma, will never have a peaceful life. I'll go with you."

"No." Li Hong flatly refused.Lou Lu was so angry that his face was black and he didn't speak.Li Hong was worried that he would lead his troops south without authorization, so he hastily explained.The situation of going south this time is very complicated. It is hard to say whether I have completely turned against Gongsun Zan.Because there are too many factors to consider, and the northern border cannot withstand a defeat, so I almost recruited all the troops outside the Great Wall to go south this time.In this way, the situation on the desert will inevitably change with the departure of the army.

"If anything happens in the desert, I can only rely on you." Li Hong said solemnly, "I recruited some of the Xiongnu cavalry to go south, and I recruited the king of the sun, Liu Ming, and the captain Mustafa to go south. What is the purpose behind it? , Didn’t you see it at all? Didn’t I worry about the desert clans fighting each other and deliberately balance the strength of the desert clans?”

Lou Lu bowed to be taught, "I obey the general's order."

"It is an unattainable thing for all the tribes in the desert to live in harmony for generations." Li Hong sighed, "But I hope that in your and my lifetime, all the tribes in the desert can live in harmony, even if the time to live in harmony is only a short time. A short period of 20 years, ten years, or even five years is a good thing."

=

At the end of the first lunar month, Captain Li Feng Jiang Wu, Xiongnu Rizhu King Liu Ming, and Hundu Captain Mustafa led their troops to Gaoliu Camp.

Mustafa was very excited. Seeing the Hussar General hurriedly bowed down, "Thank you General for giving me such an opportunity."

Li Hong helped him up, and said with a smile: "Your predecessor, General Kim Il-dun (di), made great achievements throughout the world. If you want to catch up with him, you need to pay ten times and a hundred times more effort. Now you have the opportunity, and the meritorious service depends on you." He chopped it down with a knife."

"Never disappoint the great general's high expectations." Mustafa said loudly excitedly.

Liu Ming, who was standing aside, knocked him on the head with the whip in his hand, "Remember, everything about you, including your life, was given to you by the General. You must be loyal to the General throughout your life." , obey any order of the general."

Mustafa blushed, knelt down and swore again.Li Hong hastily stopped him and said, "As long as you are loyal to the great man, and to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han, one day, you will achieve something unrivaled in the world."

Zhao Yun helped Mustafa up and affectionately patted the snow off his armor.Liu Ming said with emotion: "Your sister is in the spirit of heaven, if you see the general and Du Liao love you like this, I don't know how happy you will be."

Zhao Yun smiled and said, "Brother Qiansi remembered the old man again?"

Li Hong also asked with concern: "Qiansi, are you married yet?"

Liu Ming smiled bitterly and shook his head.I owed too much to Yu Diao, even if I gave up my life, I couldn't make it up to her.Both Li Hong and Zhao Yun knew that Liu Ming had a strong temper, so it was difficult to persuade him.

Then, Mustafa commanded 5000 Han cavalry from the Ural Mountains to practice the attack formation.These [-] people were recruited from the Han refugees who migrated outside the Great Wall, and they were an iron cavalry that he spent two years painstakingly building.Li Hong was very satisfied after seeing it. Although these people still have a certain gap compared with the Xiongnu cavalry, Fengyun cavalry, and Duliao cavalry, with the increase in actual combat experience, they will quickly grow into an invincible team in the true sense. Han cavalry.

Li Hong rewarded Mustafa heavily.When Li Hong came back from the desert two years ago, he asked Hu Zi, Lei Zi and Mustafa to form and train a Han cavalry of 2 people.Now it seems that they have done it, and this army can be used.

In the evening, Li Hong called several generals together to discuss the war in Jizhou, and Li Hong mentioned the desert again.Is the desert really stable?
Jiang Wu replied that there are many Hu tribes in the southern desert, and there are conflicts among many tribes. However, due to the small difference in strength between the tribes and mutual restraint, they can maintain stability for the time being.If something goes wrong, it will be the northern desert.In the past two years, Lord Xianbei Xie Guini and Wild Wolf King Youqi have repeatedly clashed in order to compete for the pasture.In the past, we had a large army stationed in the desert, and both sides were relatively restrained and fearful.Now almost all of our army has withdrawn, only Pang De and Yan Wuwei's five thousand wind and cloud cavalry are left.It's hard to say whether these five thousand cavalry can maintain a deterrent effect on the tribes of the Hu tribe.

Liu Ming thinks it is not enough to worry about.The strength of the Hu tribes in Hanbei County has an absolute advantage, and the three tribes of Xianbei have not yet had the strength to rebel.If there is a conflict in the desert, at most it will be a small fight between some tribes, which is normal.If the tribes on the grassland want to survive, they must fight and kill people constantly, otherwise they will be killed by others sooner or later.

=

Riding fast for eight hundred miles to Gaoliu City.

General Zhang Yan, the guardian of the town, urgently reported to Li Hong that the battle situation in Jizhou had changed drastically, and the general asked to go south quickly.

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(End of this chapter)