Great Han Empire

Chapter 920 Troubled Times Heroic Chapter Wins Central Plains
On July, Guanzhong, Jingzhaoyin, Zheng County.

Zhu Ling felt unwell due to the occasional wind and cold, so he left the army and went to Zheng County to sit in town to transport food and grass to the front line.

After Gao Gan led the army across the river to Zhengbaiqu, he wrote to Zhu Ling that the army would launch an attack early this morning, and asked Zhu Ling to prepare food, grass and weapons so that they could be sent to the Zhengbaiqu battlefield at any time, but after this letter, Zhu Ling actually spent a whole day Haven't received any news from senior officials.Zhu Ling was very disturbed and sent people to Qingge Ferry overnight to investigate the situation.

In the early morning of the next day, the scouts reported that all the roads from Qingge Ferry to the Zhengbaiqu battlefield were blocked by the Northern Xinjiang Army, making it impossible to get in touch with the frontline army.Zhu Ling was taken aback, and immediately realized that the Northern Xinjiang Army had already controlled the Zheng Baiqu battlefield, and the frontline army was in danger.He hurriedly ordered to stop the delivery of grain and grass to Qingge Ferry, and hurriedly wrote to Xinfeng Camp to inquire about the situation of the Xiliang Army.

It was already noon when Zhu Ling arrived at Qingge Ferry, and he saw a shocking scene.The northern Xinjiang army appeared on the north bank of the Weishui River. Among the banners flying all over the sky, he clearly saw the battle flags of Qu Yi, Yan Rou, Zhang He, and Gao Lan.Zhu Ling was dumbfounded, his body trembled, and the strong suffocation made him almost unable to breathe.

The vanguard army in northern Xinjiang launched a cross-river attack.All the way under the cover of the navy's arrow array, they seized the bridge of the ship, and came all the way by dozens of warships breaking the waves.

Zhu Ling ordered to abandon the grain, grass and supplies hoarded at Qingge Ferry, and hurriedly retreated to Zheng County with 2 soldiers and more than [-] civilian husbands.Before leaving Qingge Ferry, Zhu Ling wrote to Xinfeng Camp again that the Northern Army had already occupied Qingge Ferry, and I had withdrawn to Zheng County. Please tell me the battle situation in Zheng Baiqu as soon as possible, and please contact me as soon as possible.

Zhu Ling returned to Zheng County with anxiety, and immediately reported to Luoyang, but when he picked up the pen, he found that he did not have any definite news about the battle between Zheng and Baiqu, so he could not write. Contact, but these two points alone cannot prove that the coalition forces have been defeated.After hesitating for a long time, Zhu Ling put down his pen and decided to wait.He urgently told Gao Rou, who was stationed at Tongguan, to pay close attention to movements in the direction of Fenglingdu.If the Northern Army defeated the coalition forces at Zhengbaiqu, they would attack Chang'an in the next step, and the Northern Army in the east direction would definitely take the opportunity to attack Guanxi to contain Yuan's forces and prevent their main force from being trapped by the enemy.

At this moment, the Xiliang Army of Xinfeng Camp has received the order to evacuate Chang'an City urgently. The captain guarding the camp arranged for the soldiers and the civilians accompanying the army to urgently move the food, grass and supplies back to Chang'an, and at the same time wrote back to Zhu Ling, we are being ordered to withdraw to Chang'an, Zheng Baiqu It is not clear how the battle is going. If there is any latest news, it must be reported immediately.The messenger rushed back to Zheng County by crossing mountains and ridges with this letter.Zhu Ling was very disappointed after reading this letter, so he had to report the truth to Yuan Shao in Luoyang.Judging from the various signs known so far, Zheng Baiqu may have failed in the battle, and Han Sui and Gao Gan may have led their troops to retreat to Chang'an.

Amidst the passionate horns of the northern Xinjiang iron cavalry, Zhu Ling quickly withdrew back to Huayin City with 1000 horses, tens of thousands of civilian husbands, and a large amount of food and supplies.

=

After Qu Yi led his army across the Weishui River, he occupied Zheng County and Xinfeng City at the same time.

After Qu Yi entered Xinfeng City, he immediately ordered Yang Ming to rush to Du Ling with his cavalry to cut off the connection between Chang'an and Nanyang.He Feng led his army to follow up. After the two armies met, they went down the Danshui River to Shangluo and Shangcheng to occupy Wuguan.

Zhang He and Gao Lan led the army to attack Huayin, Yang Feng and Zhang Baiqi led the army to follow up, and immediately attacked Tongguan after the two armies met.

=

In July, Chang'an.

The Xiliang army withdrew to the south bank of Weiqiao and stopped.

Xu Rong, Huangfu Li, and Duan Xuan rushed to the north bank of the Wei Bridge with 5000 troops and set up a camp.

Xu Rongshu told Han Sui that the iron cavalry of Pang De, Wei Jun, and Nie Xiao had detoured from Meiyang to Wugong and Meicheng, cutting off the Xiliang army's retreat.Yang Feng is attacking Tongguan with a large army, Yang Ming has already galloped to Wuguan with cavalry, and the way for Yuan Shao's reinforcements to enter Guanzhong has been blocked.At this moment, the Xiliang army has no reinforcements outside, no food and grass inside, and is completely desperate.If the husband sticks to the city, the consequences can be imagined, but if the husband is willing to sit down and have a good talk with us, things will turn around.

The next day, Ma Chao and Ling Ru took ten personal guards and flew to the Northern Xinjiang Army Camp.

After Huangfu Li saw Ling Ru, he sneered and said, "Mr. Wen Yue finally got his wish this time, what else can he say?"

Ling Ru looked gloomy and bowed her head in silence.Due to multiple injuries, Ma Chao barely supported himself. His face was extremely ugly. Hearing Huangfu Li's accusation, his eyes turned red, and he said in a low voice, "Sir...has...been killed in battle."

Xu Rong's face changed suddenly, and he exclaimed in shock, "What did you say? Say it again."

"Mr. was shot by stray arrows during the breakout, and died that night." Ma Chao said again with a hoarse voice.

Xu Rong's mind went blank, and he stared at Ma Chao for a long time speechless.Huangfu Li sighed sadly, turned around and walked out of the big tent.Chen Wei stood behind Xu Rong, at a loss.Who would have expected that Han Sui would die at this critical moment.God, how could this be?Things in Xijiang are in serious trouble.

"Now..." Xu Rong frowned deeply, looked at Ling Ru and asked, "Who is in charge of the Xiliang Army now? Han Yi?"

Ling Ru shook her head, "Before he died, he entrusted Xijiang to Meng Qi." Ling Ru patted Ma Chao's back lightly, "Now Xijiang is up to Meng Qi."

Xu Rong and Chen Wei looked at Ma Chao at the same time, and then at Ling Ru again.

Xu Rong asked who was in charge of the Xiliang Army, but Ling Ru didn't answer. He said that Ma Chao had the final say in Xijiang, that is to say, the Xiliang Army is now controlled by Han Yi, and Ma Chao is just Han Yi's. Just a shield.

In a place like Xijiang that advocates force, what can one do without strength?Xiliang's army wants to be sent back and Xiliang people to guard their homeland, but Hebei can't control Han Yi, so it can only support Ma Chao to check and balance Han Yi. Liangren's force is very strong, which is a huge threat to Guanzhong, and Hebei is not very sure of Ma Chao's loyalty.

Xu Rong's expression became more and more serious.If Ma Chao is not supported, Han Yi is not strong enough to fight against the Qiang people alone. He may simply secretly join hands with the Qiang people to frequently invade Guanzhong in order to survive, revenge, and dominate Western Xinjiang.Han Sui's arrangement before his death forced Hebei to take risks to support Ma Chao and strengthen Xiliang.Ma Chao has become an extremely key figure in the stability of Xiliang.

Xu Rong secretly groaned.Although the battle was won, it left behind a terrible hidden danger.If Han Sui did not die, things in Xiliang would be very simple. In the future, as long as the Han Sui steadily embarks on the road of ZTE, and as long as the Han Sui is invincible with force, Han Sui has only one choice, and that is to submit to the imperial court and formulate and implement it with the people of Beijiang. A series of rejuvenation strategies that are conducive to the stability and development of the border, but now...

Ling Ru didn't wait for Xu Rong to ask again, and explained in detail the generals of Xiliang's agreement on various matters in Xijiang after Han Sui's death.

Respect the emperor of Jinyang and obey the orders of the Jinyang court.After the army returned to Xiliang, Ma Chao, Ling Ru, Zhang Ming, Zhang Ji and others temporarily took charge of Xiliang's military affairs in Hanyang.Han Yi, Yang Qiu, Cheng Yi, Cheng Yin, Liang Xing and others led their troops back to Jincheng, Longxi and other places to guard the border counties.

Ling Ru talked a lot, but didn't touch on any of the key issues. Xu Rong listened patiently, and then said to him, "I want to talk to Meng Qi."

Ling Ru understood and bowed to leave.Chen Wei walked out of the big tent with him.

=

"When you were very young, I met you twice." Xu Rong said, "At that time, you were thick-headed, not very courageous, and you didn't talk much. You were very cute. I remember you liked to eat pancakes. , often sitting alone on the stone steps in front of the government office and chewing slowly, one pancake can last for half a day."

Ma Chao smiled bitterly, "Uncle, do you still remember those things?"

"Although I am old, the past is becoming clearer." Xu Rong pointed to his head and sighed softly, "Over the years, many old friends in Xiliang have passed away one after another. Sometimes, in the dead of night, I would think of them. Now that brother Wen Yue is gone, there are not many people from the older generation in Xiliang left, and Xijiang is indeed the world of your young people."

Ma Chao looked lonely, staring blankly at the bamboo slips on the case table, without saying a word.

"What do you think now?" Xu Rong asked.

"What?" Ma Chao looked up at Xu Rong absent-mindedly and asked blankly.

Xu Rong sighed silently.Zheng Baiqu was defeated, almost all his brothers died in battle, and Han Sui died suddenly again. This series of blows seemed to knock the young man down.It seemed that when people like Han Yi and Ling Ru pulled him out as a shield, he didn't even think about it.

"Can I trust you?" Xu Rong asked in a different way.

Ma Chao thought for a while, then said slowly, "I'm from Xiliang."

Xu Rong nodded and continued to listen to him.

Ma Chao thought for a while, and said slowly: "If the emperor and the court are wholeheartedly for Xiliang, the people of Xiliang will be loyal to the emperor and the court."

"Okay, your promise is enough." Xu Rong sat up straight and said loudly, "What do you want the emperor and the court to do for Xiliang?"

"Uncle, do you really trust me?" Ma Chao was stunned for a moment, then asked hesitantly.

"The battle of Zheng Baiqu can't explain all the problems?" Xu Rong waved his hand casually, "One can have everything with strength. No matter how powerful Xijiang is, it can't compete with the whole big man. At present, we can't trust Han Yi, Just like Han Yi can't trust us, so I have no choice, and you have no choice, now that I trust you, you should also trust me."

Ma Chao's eyes lit up, and there was a hint of joy on his face, "Uncle, the top priority is to let the Xiliang Army return to Xijiang immediately. Once the news of Mr. Wen Yue's death is leaked, the Qiang people in Xijiang will definitely take the opportunity to enter the hinterland of Liangzhou. Now The Xiliang army has suffered heavy losses and is unable to fight any more, and the northern army is in Guanzhong, beyond their reach, the western border is in danger."

"The Xiliang army has returned, what do you do?" Xu Rong asked.

"I wonder if Lord Uncle can let Lord Pang De station in the western border and station troops in Hanyang?"

Xu Rong glanced at him approvingly, "Okay. What else?"

"After Mr. was killed in battle, all forces in Xiliang were scattered. People like Han Yi, Yang Qiu, Cheng Yi, and Liang Xing would all support themselves. In addition, the forces of Qiang people from all over the world were mixed in, and they were forcibly suppressed by Mr. for more than ten years. All kinds of contradictions in Xijiang will erupt in an instant, and the flames of war in Xijiang will continue, and there will be no peace in Xijiang, which has been stable for more than ten years." Ma Chao said helplessly, "So, in addition to letting Lord Pound station his troops in Hanyang In addition, let a highly respected old minister immediately rush to Xijiang to take charge of Liangzhou's military administration, and temporarily suppress the contradictions among the various forces in Xijiang, so as to win valuable for us to win over, recover and attack various forces in Xijiang. Time. As long as we can win the support of most forces in Western Xinjiang, we can quickly stabilize Western Xinjiang and quickly gather the greatest force to fight against the invading Qiang people.”

"Okay, good idea." Xu Rong showed a look of relief on his face, "Mr. Wenyue has a very unique vision. In my opinion, he entrusted Xiliang to you from the bottom of his heart. Tell me, that old minister in the court Suitable for going to Xijiang?"

"Master Gai Xun Gai."

Xu Rong laughed. He stretched out his hand and patted Ma Chao's shoulder vigorously, "Meng Qi, your father's spirit in heaven will be proud of you."

=

After sending Ma Chao and Ling Ru away, Xu Rong sat alone in the big tent and meditated until Chen Wei came to him, and he suddenly realized it.

"What are you thinking, my lord?" Chen Wei said happily, "Everything is as your lord expected. The people of Xiliang can't wait to leave, and we will be stationed in Chang'an City soon. It's incredible that Guanzhong was taken so quickly. It's like a dream."

There was no joy on Xu Rong's face. He snorted coldly, and suddenly punched the desk, and said angrily, "Yuntian missed a major event, and Xiliang's nightmare is about to come."

Chen Wei's smile faltered, he took half a step back in shock, and looked at Xu Rong suspiciously.

Xu Rong jumped up and walked back and forth restlessly in the big tent with his hands behind his back.

"My lord, although Han Sui's death complicates the situation in Xijiang, we have severely damaged the Xiliang army, and the people of Xiliang can no longer pose a threat to us in the short term." Chen Wei said in a low voice, "If we weigh the pros and cons carefully, the Not a bad thing either.”

"The Xiliang army suffered heavy losses. The threat to us has indeed decreased, but what about the invading Qiang people? Has the threat also decreased?" Xu Rong asked, "Han Sui is dead. The forces have lost control, will they fight in order to dominate the western border? They are not strong enough, in order to eliminate each other or survive, who will they ask for help?"

Chen Wei's expression changed immediately.

"In order to defeat us, Bian Zhang and Han Sui teamed up with Qiang commanders such as June Jinglei and Xibei Yu. If the general hadn't killed them in the battle of Yicheng, Han Sui would be able to dominate Xiliang later and stabilize Xiliang. More than ten years? Now that the Qiang people are strong again, Xijiang has become their prey again, and Han Yi, Ma Chao, and Yang Qiu will lure wolves into the house in order to fight for Xijiang? After Ma Teng was killed, Ma Chao fled back In Longxi, they borrowed troops from the Qiang people, and soon beat Han Sui to death. Didn’t Han Sui send troops to Guanzhong this time with the Qiang people in mind? From this we can see that, whether Han Yi, Ma Chao, or Yang Qiu, these As long as people return to Xijiang, they will immediately call themselves brothers and sisters with the Qiang people, and Xijiang will be in chaos." Xu Rong was very annoyed, shaking his head again and again, "The thing that the imperial court is most worried about will inevitably happen. My crime is unforgivable. Forgive me."

"My lord, isn't General Pound going to be stationed in Hanyang? Lord Gai Xun is also very likely to return to Liangzhou, and there may be room for saving things." Chen Wei comforted.

"Ma Chao must be the one who started the incident first." Xu Rong waved his hand angrily, "This kid has grown up, and he is far more scheming than his father. No wonder Han Sui asked him to take charge of Liangzhou's military administration before he died. , The means are really extraordinary. He let Pang De station in Hanyang and Gai Xun to take charge of Liangzhou. He did not want to suppress the forces in Liangzhou, but to quickly arouse conflicts among the forces in Liangzhou and ignite Xiliang. War. Xiliang is in chaos, so he can safely return to Longxi to make a comeback, and Han Yi has a chance to rebel. If we want to avoid falling into the quagmire of Xijiang, we have to withdraw as soon as possible."

"Then why did your lord agree to him?"

"Can I not agree to him? If I don't agree to him, Ma Chao's plea form can still be sent to the court, and the eldest princess will also make an order. In order to keep Guanzhong, I can only promise him to jump into the quagmire of Xijiang, otherwise what will Guanzhong do?" Are you going to fight Luoyang?" Xu Rong looked up to the sky and sighed, "Xijiang is the nightmare of the great man, and the nightmare of ZTE."

"What should we do now?" Chen Wei asked.

"If we kill them now regardless of everything, it is tantamount to surrendering the western border to the Qiang people. If we don't kill them, it is tantamount to digging our own grave, but fortunately, there is still a chance of survival." Xu Rong's face showed determination, "This time we have to completely solve the problem of western Xinjiang no matter what. Even if ZTE's great cause is hindered, we must go forward and never retreat."

=

Two days later, Ma Chao and Han Yi led their troops back to western Xinjiang.

On the same day, Xu Rong led his troops into Chang'an City.

=

Xu Rong played to the court.

In the battle of Zheng Baiqu, 8000 high-ranking troops were wiped out. The Xiliang Army suffered heavy losses and lost 5000 people. In the end, only [-] people withdrew from the battlefield.More than a dozen generals including the leader of the rebel army, Han Sui, Gao Gan, Xia Zhao, and Yan Xing, were killed.

Our army suffered 3000 casualties. Five generals including Li Yao, Yang Zhen, Guo Hua, Zhao Feng, and Yan Jie were killed in battle. Six Zhonglang generals and school lieutenants including Wang Fang and Du Ping were killed. Eight Hu generals were killed.Yan Rou, Xian Yuyin, Liang Baiwu, Yang Chun, Tie Yue, Lei Zi, Xie Wu and other seventeen generals, Zhong Lang generals and school lieutenants were injured.

Five days later, the Xiliang army surrendered, Ma Chao, Han Yi and other Xiliang generals accepted all the conditions of the imperial court, and led their troops back to Xijiang.

Due to the death of Han Sui in the war, the strategy of stabilizing the western borders set by the court before the war failed to be realized, and the situation in western borders fell into an unprecedented crisis.The minister deeply felt that the guilt was serious, so he made a plea, resigned from the position of Taiwei, and was willing to lead the army to the west to ensure the safety of Guanzhong and to ensure that the army could attack Luoyang within the scheduled time.

I believe that under the current circumstances, at least [-] to [-] troops are needed to stabilize the western borders. If the western borders are abandoned, at least [-] troops are needed to defend Guanzhong. Next year to fight Luoyang, there will be a serious shortage of troops.In order to ensure the steady progress of ZTE's great cause, the minister suggested that the imperial court should give up attacking Luoyang for the time being, and instead concentrate its forces to stabilize the western border, so as to avoid the lack of troops causing the army to focus on one thing and lose another, which in turn leads to the failure of ZTE's great cause.

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(End of this chapter)