Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

Chapter 18: The Last Straw That Crushes the Yellow Turbans

If a reporter traveled back to the end of the Han Dynasty to interview the common people and asked them if they were happy?

It is estimated that the vast majority of people would ask with concern: 'Your mother is ill, filial son, you should quickly return home to serve your parents.'

The meaning behind the words is that if your mother wasn't sick, she definitely wouldn't have given birth to someone like you who asks such a question. Since your mother is sick, then hurry home, lest you lose face outside.

Not to mention the constant natural disasters at the end of the Han Dynasty, and the rampant bandits and thieves everywhere, which exacerbated the annexation of land by powerful families. Even the imperial court was corrupt to the extreme, and the selling of official positions had reached the point of public price tags.

Even if the official positions sold at the beginning were not positions of real power, many things are like breaking through from zero to one. Once an opening is made, the degree of development often exceeds the original imagination.

As things stand now, even if some officials do not directly pay money to buy their positions, they still need to make up that amount of money after being granted the official position.

And the officials who got their positions by paying money, the vast majority of them will naturally think about taking it from the people and using it for themselves.

It is also because the Han Dynasty's emaciated camel is still bigger than a horse, and it still maintains a strong suppression of foreign races, and countless common people almost have a sense of pride in the Han Dynasty rooted in their bones, otherwise the entire Han Dynasty would have completely collapsed long ago.

However, even so, the Taiping Dao, which triggered the "Yellow Turban Rebellion", was undoubtedly a product based on the misery of the people at the bottom.

Therefore, even though the more than 50,000 Yellow Turbans in front of Liu Bei are all common people who have been coerced into joining recently, they have doubts and resentment towards the imperial court in their hearts.

Moreover, the Taiping Dao maintains the facade of "achieving peace", and as long as one is coerced into the Yellow Turbans, at least a little bit of basic food and clothing will be maintained every day.

This little bit of basic food and clothing is the hope for many, many common people.

Even if they are coerced into the Yellow Turbans along the way, and a large number of elderly, weak, women and children fall behind due to physical exhaustion and can never wake up again in their sleep, there is still a glimmer of hope supporting them after all.

And the slogans used by Deng Mao to send Yellow Turban Warriors to bewitch people everywhere are not clever, but they are enough to instigate a considerable part of the Yellow Turbans, gradually starting to trigger a riot.

A riot that Liu Bei's less than two thousand soldiers could not quell at all.

Seeing that the situation of those Yellow Turbans was not right, although Liu Bei tried to appease the Yellow Turbans in various ways, either by promises or by threats, but even when Liu Bei was so anxious that his forehead was covered with dense beads of sweat, the effect was still not great.

Under the instigation of the remaining Yellow Turban bandits mixed among the Yellow Turbans, the Yellow Turbans, whose heads were surging in the river滩, already had an obvious tendency to riot.

Some began to wave things like wooden sticks, bricks, and hoes towards Liu Bei's troops, while others began to collapse and flee towards the Juma River behind them, intending to cross the river and escape.

And among the large number of Yellow Turbans who began to flee and cross the river, Deng Mao was mixed in, and even he was one of the leaders.

As long as he tore off the yellow turban on his forehead and took off the leather armor on his body, except for the spear in his hand, Deng Mao looked no different from the other common people who were crossing the river.

"Humph!"

Deng Mao turned his head and glanced at the chaos on the river滩 that was already visible to the naked eye, and sneered in his heart.

These more than 50,000 common people are not so easy to control.

However, Deng Mao didn't have any special idea of harming these common people. He was just telling the truth to remind the common people.

With the style of the imperial court, these common people who were labeled as Yellow Turbans when they were coerced will only become the military achievements in the hands of many generals and officials.

Therefore, when Deng Mao realized that he was unable to control these Yellow Turbans, he also hoped that by taking advantage of this riot, he might be able to take a bite out of the imperial court's army, and also allow some Yellow Turbans to take the opportunity to escape.

It's just that, when Deng Mao thought of his own situation, he couldn't help but sigh deeply in the cold river water, feeling deeply ashamed of the Great Virtuous Teacher's kindness.

In the past, because he offended a petty official, he was imprisoned with trumped-up charges, and suffered humiliation and torment. He originally thought that he could only die in despair and resentment, but in the end, he heard that the Great Virtuous Teacher had used his connections to rescue Deng Mao.

It was precisely because of this that Deng Mao vowed to follow the Great Virtuous Teacher to repay his great kindness, but unexpectedly he was appointed by the Great Virtuous Teacher as a deputy commander to attack Youzhou, but he didn't want to be defeated in Zhuo County.

Suddenly, a burst of rapid hoofbeats startled Deng Mao.

Where did the hoofbeats come from?!

Deng Mao was shocked, and suddenly turned his head to look in the direction of the hoofbeats. What came into view was Zhang Fei leading the Eighteen Yan Yun Riders.

'Zhang Fei's direction when he came?!'

Immediately, Deng Mao thought of something, his eyes suddenly widened and he wanted to split, and he wanted to vomit blood, even more serious than when he learned of Cheng Yuanzhi's death.

And Zhang Fei's thunderous voice also echoed in the river滩 at this time.

"Brother, following Mr. Zi Kun's instructions, I突attacked the Yellow Turban army's supplies in the rear, and have already killed all three hundred Yellow Turban bandits escorting the grain. There are so many white粟rice啊, enough for us to eat for three to five years without worrying."

As soon as this statement came out, Liu Bei was surprised and delighted, and stayed in place.

Previously, Liu Bei only knew that Zhang Fei had feigned defeat and led his cavalry to withdraw into the dense forest, but he thought that Zhang Fei would join Guan Yu to ambush Cheng Yuanzhi, but he didn't expect that Zhang Fei would突attack the Yellow Turban army's supplies.

Immediately, Liu Bei recalled the 大兴山 terrain map that was already engraved in his mind, and he understood that Zhang Fei's specific route must be to withdraw into the dense forest, and then leave directly on the other side of the dense forest.

Then, relying on the terrain advantage of the plain area, Zhang Fei's cavalry can maximize their speed advantage, and then have the opportunity to绕to the rear of the Yellow Turban army.

And because the Yellow Turban army continued to march rapidly, the supplies that should have been团团protected by the Yellow Turban bandits and Yellow Turbans were completely exposed in the rear.

Without the protection of the main force, the mere three hundred Yellow Turban bandits escorting the supplies in the plain area only need two or three charges to completely destroy the enemy, and even have no chance to escape in the plain area.

"Good good good!!!"

Liu Bei's face flushed, and he said good repeatedly with excitement, both praising Zhang Fei and praising Li Ji, who had arranged everything behind the scenes.

Luring the enemy to ambush, fire attack, water断, cutting off the front and back, attacking the supplies...

It can be said that Li Ji's series of arrangements have been so perfect that Liu Bei doesn't know how to pick刺, and he has really maximized the advantages of Liu Bei's only two thousand soldiers and the 大兴山 and Juma River.

And the Yellow Turbans who were about to riot completely fell into a dead silence at this moment.

Grain is everything!

Especially for these hungry Yellow Turbans, no one understands the despair and pain of being hungry more than them.

Resistance seems to have become a joke.

Even if all the imperial court soldiers in front of them are killed, without food, these Yellow Turbans who have lost their land and been coerced will not live long.

Similarly, Liu Bei also took this opportunity to raise the long sword in his hand and shouted loudly.

"Everyone, I am Liu Bei, Liu Xuande, a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan and a member of the Han Dynasty. As long as you surrender, I am willing to swear by my ancestors that I will never let you go hungry."

No words are easier to enter the hearts of these Yellow Turbans than this simple sentence.

"I am willing to surrender."

"Your Excellency, spare my life."

"Please, Your Excellency, give me a way out."

......

In the shouts, the more than 50,000 Yellow Turbans finally gave up the idea of resisting one after another.

This made Liu Bei couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, fearing that these people would really riot just now.

Not to mention whether the soldiers under Liu Bei can block the impact of these rioting people, Liu Bei is also unwilling to put the butcher knife on the necks of those elderly, weak, women and children.

And Zhang Fei, watching the situation on the river滩 gradually stabilize, turned his attention to the part of the Yellow Turbans who were soaking in the Juma River preparing to escape, and shouted.

"Go back, all of you go back, otherwise don't blame me for being impolite."

Like a thunderous loud voice, coupled with Zhang Fei's leopard head, ring eyes, and swallow jaw and tiger whiskers, it is undoubtedly easy to镇住 a large number of Yellow Turbans.

Moreover, even if Zhang Fei only led the Eighteen Yan Yun Riders to arrive at the bank of the Juma River, relying on the advantage of fast horses, it is enough to攔intercept the Yellow Turbans trying to go ashore from the river like playing whack-a-mole.

Therefore, one by one, the Yellow Turbans soaking in the Juma River can only slowly retreat to the river滩 under Zhang Fei's gaze.

It is also by relying on this Juma River to intercept the retreat that Zhang Fei can easily block the Yellow Turbans, otherwise, even if the speed of the war horses is faster, in the case of the Yellow Turbans scattering, it is impossible to block them anyway.

However, Deng Mao did not retreat, but slowly swam to the shore.

And when Deng Mao landed ashore, Zhang Fei had already appeared in front of him, holding the丈八snake spear on Deng Mao's shoulder, and shouted.

"Go back. Otherwise, die!"

"Humph!"

Deng Mao snorted coldly and said disdainfully.

"Death is death, what is there to fear? The Great Virtuous Teacher has great kindness and virtue to me. I originally wanted to use my 残躯 to bring the supplies back to Jizhou and hand them over to the Great Virtuous Teacher, but unexpectedly the grain and grass have fallen into your hands, and I have no face to return to Jizhou to meet the Great Virtuous Teacher."

"Hmm?"

Zhang Fei looked up and down at Deng Mao, noticed the spear he was holding in his hand, and said. "It seems that you are also a figure in the Yellow Turban bandits?"

Deng Mao raised his head and said proudly in a loud voice. "I am Deng Mao, the deputy commander of the Taiping Dao!"

"It's a big fish."

Zhang Fei grinned, moving the丈八蛇矛 (zhàngbā shé máo - Eighteen-foot Snake Spear) off Deng Mao's shoulder.

“What do you mean?” Deng Mao asked, seeing this.

“Seeing that you're a man who understands loyalty and righteousness, I'll give you a chance.”

Zhang Fei said, then signaled one of the eighteen Yan Yun riders behind him to hand over his warhorse to Deng Mao.

“Good!”

Deng Mao leaped onto the horse, raised the spear in his hand, and said, “You Yan man are quite interesting, but I won’t hold back.”

This scene of an imminent one-on-one duel attracted the attention of everyone on the riverbank across the Ju Ma River.

Guan Yu frowned slightly and said, “This action of our third brother is inappropriate. Why do it?”

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then said.

“Perhaps our third brother feels aggrieved because of the feigned defeat, hence the undiminished battle intent in his heart; or perhaps he is deliberately dueling Deng Mao, who is the deputy commander. If he can defeat him, it will greatly deter the Yellow Turban masses, preventing them from causing chaos.”

After a pause, Liu Bei couldn't help but ask with concern, “Yun Chang, in your opinion, how does Deng Mao's martial skill compare to yours? Does Yide have a chance of winning?”

“A paper tiger, not worth a single blow.”

Guan Yu said proudly, putting Liu Bei's mind completely at ease.

Just as Liu Bei and Guan Yu were talking, Deng Mao took the lead and charged towards Zhang Fei on horseback, the spear in his hand pointing straight at Zhang Fei's vital neck point, heedless of everything else.

“Well done!”

Zhang Fei shouted, also clamping his legs, and the mount beneath him moved instantly.

In an instant, the two warhorses rapidly approached each other, and everyone witnessing this scene couldn't help but widen their eyes, watching nervously.

Until the moment the two sides' warhorses were about to meet, Zhang Fei and Deng Mao's weapons collided, and then the spear instantly flew away, spinning as it fell into the Ju Ma River.

The Eighteen-foot Snake Spear pierced Deng Mao's chest, pulling Deng Mao entirely off his horse, completely impaled on the Eighteen-foot Snake Spear.

Zhang Fei actually held the Eighteen-foot Snake Spear with Deng Mao hanging on it with only one hand, and he still seemed effortless.

This incredible strength shocked countless Yellow Turban soldiers, and even Li Ji on the distant hillside was stunned for a moment.

It even made Li Ji have a somewhat outrageous idea in his mind.

With Zhang Fei's brute force, he could completely carry Guan Yu, letting Guan Yu sit on Zhang Fei's shoulders to fight together…

Zhang Fei and Guan Yu combined, wouldn't they be invincible, and even beat Lü Bu, known as the strongest at the end of the Han Dynasty, into crying?

Red Hare among horses?

What level of mount is that? It's impossible to compare to Zhang Fei, who personally squats down to brace himself.

Deng Mao, who had been stabbed through the heart, obviously felt his life force rapidly draining away. In his dying moments, he said to Zhang Fei.

“I hope Liu Xuande won't break his promise.”

“Rest assured about that. My eldest brother is a descendant of the Han Dynasty, how could he do such a thing as going back on his word?” Zhang Fei patted his chest and replied.

Hearing this, Deng Mao forced a smile on his face, and then shouted.

“Great Virtuous Teacher, if Deng Mao has a next life, I will repay your great kindness…”

Before Deng Mao could finish speaking, he had already died on the spot.

Zhang Fei carefully placed Deng Mao's body on the ground and ordered, “Bury him well, but don't erect a tombstone.”

Burying him well is Zhang Fei's basic respect for a fellow man of loyalty and righteousness.

Not erecting a tombstone is also Zhang Fei's, as a resident of Zhuo County, disgust for these bandits who disrupted the peace of the elders and folks in Zhuo County.

Yellow Turban rebels are not worthy of leaving a tombstone in the land of You and Yan!

“Yes.”

The eighteen Yan Yun riders who had been following Zhang Fei for some time had long revered Zhang Fei as a god. They quickly responded, and two of them placed Deng Mao's body on horseback, preparing to find an opportunity to bury him after the battle.

Deng Mao's death also completely became the last straw that broke the Yellow Turban's back! — —

PS: Yellow Turban Bandit: A member who has truly joined the Taiping Dao;

Yellow Turban Masses: The people who were coerced by the Taiping Dao, can also be regarded as forced believers, but not the part that has really joined the Taiping Dao;

Yellow Turban Army: A general term including Yellow Turban Bandits and Yellow Turban Masses.

Since the internal structure of the Yellow Turbans is quite complicated, this different terminology is specially adopted for classification to facilitate the reading of you, gentlemen.

In addition, the new book is on the road, please support the gentlemen a lot, all kinds of tickets and the like, please be sure to smash me to death.