Chapter 2: Like the Abyss, verse 24

Lower October, Kansai, Hongnong-gun.

The Northern Army and the Northern Xinjiang Army fought a bloody battle on both sides of the Candlewater River.

Xu Rong, the general of Long Xiang, set up 30 stone-throwing carts on the east bank of the Candlewater River, arranged 700 Wuhan Iron and Steel chariots, 500 ballistas, and arranged 12,000 strong bows. On the battlefield about five miles long, the dense arrows and stones beat the northern army to the point that they could not raise their heads.

The weapons of the Northern Army are also very sophisticated, and the number of ballistas and strong bows is more than that of the Northern Army. But in the face of the Northern Xinjiang Army's vehicle formation and the mighty and invincible stone-throwing carts, crossing the river became an extremely terrible thing. Occasionally, a brave vanguard team would attack the opposite bank, but after crossing the chariot formation, they immediately lost the cover of their bows and arrows, and were killed by the Northern Xinjiang army lined up behind the chariot formation.

The Candlewater River was littered with floating corpses, fragments of rafts and boats were everywhere, and occasionally a few moans and cries came from under the embankment full of corpses, and the miserable sound was heard far away with the howling and killing cold wind.

Behind the battlefield, under the command of the soldiers of the Bing Cao battalion, countless people formed hundreds of long queues, busy in an orderly manner. Some drove horse-drawn carts, delivering stones and crossbow arrows to chariot operators, and some carried them on their shoulders and carried all kinds of weapons to the soldiers in front. At the same time, the men who came down from the battlefield carried the bones of the fallen soldiers and a large number of wounded all the way, and more people carried the damaged weapons and collected enemy arrows to the rear camp.

In the camp, the fallen were immediately buried on the spot after they were registered. After preliminary treatment, the wounded were rushed to the Hongnong camp. Damaged weapons are to be recycled, and enemy arrows that are still intact are immediately sorted and distributed to different armies.

Surrounded by a group of guards, Xu Rong slowly walked through the camp and walked towards the battlefield.

After receiving the report, Yushi, Hua Xiong, and Zhang He rushed from the battlefield. Xu Rong and the three of them exchanged pleasantries, and then pointed to the direction of the Candle Water River and asked, "How many times did Niu Fu attack today?" ”

"Three times in the morning." "After noon, there will probably be three more attacks." In recent days, the attacks of the Northern Army have not been as fierce as they were some time ago. ”

"The weather is getting colder and colder, and if Ushisuke is determined to fight to Hangu Pass before the heavy snow comes, the battle will be fierce next month." Zhang He touched his face tiredly and said with a reluctant smile.

Xu Rong nodded and said: "From November to early December, the river will be frozen and frozen, and the northern army can quickly cross the Candle Water River and go straight to Hongnong and Mianchi. He looked at the three of them and waved the whip in his hand violently, "November is a key moment for us, so no matter what the cost, we will stay here until December." From the beginning of next month, organize forces to launch a counterattack. ”

"Counterattack...... Jade hesitated for a moment and asked, "My lord, we don't have enough troops to forcibly repel the northern army from the front. And, if we launch a counterattack, the casualties of the Great Army ......"

"The situation has changed." Xu Rong smiled slightly, "The general has come to write, Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zhan have already had a conflict, and the two may break up in the near future." Now the various departments of Jizhou are quickly assembling in Handan in accordance with the order of the general. It is estimated that in mid-November, the Northern Xinjiang Army will engage in a fierce battle with Gongsun Zhan. ”

Jade, Hua Xiong, and Zhang He were very surprised, they looked at each other and asked in surprise, "So fast?" Jizhou is about to go to war so soon? ”

"I was surprised, too." Xu Rong said with a smile, "After the fight in Jizhou, Yuan Shao's attention will soon turn to Luoyang, so Yuzhou must immediately give up to Yuan Shu." ”

"I have ordered Tian Chou and Wu Xiong to quickly withdraw from Yangzhai City and return to Luoyang. Gao Ran and Gao Shun, who were originally stationed in Luoyang, led their troops to Hangu Pass to meet Yan Liang. As soon as Yan Liang arrived, we launched a counteroffensive. ”

"Is it a little too early to give Yuzhou to Yuan Shu now?" Jade said, "It will take a while for us to fight Jizhou, and at the same time, we must guard against Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan suddenly joining forces to fight back. If Yuan Shao backtracked and joined forces with Gongsun Zan again, the army of Koyi would inevitably fall into the danger of running out of food and grass. Therefore, whether or not the grain we purchased from the southern counties and counties this spring can be safely delivered to northern Xinjiang will directly determine the victory or defeat of the Jizhou battlefield. It is very risky for us to cede Yuzhou to Yuan Shu too early, and to hand over control of the Chi Road to Northern Xinjiang to Yuan Shu. ”

"Yuan Shu's strength is relatively weak now, especially after Sun Jian was defeated by us, his follow-up is weak, and he can't fight on the two battlefields of Yuzhou and Jingzhou at the same time." Xu Rong explained, "If Yuan Shu is flanked by Yuan Shao and Liu Biao and quickly defeated, the northern frontier will face the danger of being besieged by Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, and Gongsun Zan on three sides. Giving Yuzhou to Yuan Shu now can give him plenty of time to expand his strength, and the prerequisite for him to expand his strength quickly is the stability of Luoyang. If Luoyang is occupied by Dong Zhuo, how can he expand his strength? From this point of view, Yuan Shu will definitely have a good relationship with us before his strength is expanded and Liu Biao's worries are not completely resolved, and he expects us to stop Dong Zhuo in Kansai. ”

Xu Rong looked at the three of them and waved his hand, "As long as we block Dong Zhuo, the grain will be sent to Hedong safely." At this time, Yuan Shu definitely didn't dare to provoke us. ”

The three of them nodded repeatedly.

"The purpose of our counteroffensive is mainly to attract Dong Zhuo's attention and the strength of the Northern Army. Once Dong Zhuo gets the news that we and Gongsun Zhan are fighting in Jizhou, he will definitely not miss this golden opportunity to send troops to Hedong. Xu Rong continued, "Think about it, if Dong Zhuo uses part of his forces to contain us in Guanxi, part of his forces to attack Hedong, and part of his troops to go south to Wuguan to attack Yuanshu, what will be the situation in the Gyeonggi area?" ”

"Yuan Shao will effortlessly take Luoyang, Yuzhou, and even Jingzhou." Zhang He said, "Yuan Shao has the support of various states and counties, and his strength cannot be underestimated. ”

Hua Xiong's thick eyebrows furrowed slightly, "Yuan Shao took Luoyang and faced Dong Zhuo directly, what good is it for him?" ”

"After Yuan Shao occupies Luoyang, relying on the support of many states and counties in the east and south of Luoyang, his strength will swell suddenly." Zhang He shook his head and said, "Yuan Shao has strong strength, he can first join forces with Northern Xinjiang to defeat Dong Zhuo, and then confront Northern Xinjiang. ”

"Junyi, you're right, but that's for the future. Who can predict what the future will bring? Xu Rong looked at Zhang He and praised, "Now we have to drag the Northern Army in Guanxi at all costs." We don't care whether Yuan Shao can occupy Luoyang or not, as long as we can take Jizhou and completely solve the crisis plaguing northern Xinjiang, we will win this battle. ”

"Why can't we occupy Luoyang?" Hua Xiong pointed to the direction of Kanto and said, "Luoyang is in our hands now, why give it to others?" ”

"At the moment we don't have the ability to fight on both sides." Xu Rong said with a smile, "If Jizhou can be taken quickly, and Luoyang is still in our hands, then of course we will not give up Luoyang." ”

The fierce war drums suddenly rose into the sky, and the sound shook the sky.

Everyone looked up in unison. In the distance, flags fluttered, and the roar was like bursts of spring thunder, one after another. All the hurried men suddenly turned around, and all of them roared and retreated like a tide in the direction of the camp. The soldiers of the Bingcao battalion rode their horses and galloped in the crowd, and shouted wildly: "The war has begun...... There is a war ahead, everyone retreats...... Pull down ......"

"Boom...... Boom ......"

A deafening roar exploded in front of me like a landslide, and the heavens and the earth changed color in shock.

Immediately afterwards, pieces of black clouds rushed up to the sky above the Candlewater River, and a huge roar tore open the sky, making people feel heartbroken and their souls scattered.

Bloody rain fell from the sky in an instant.

Du Wei Chang Gong rode on a fiery red jujube horse, held high the blood-red order flag, and galloped along the stone throwing array.

Huge stone-throwing trucks roared like bloodthirsty beasts with their mouths wide open, and lay on their stomachs with all their strength, waiting for the most powerful fatal blow.

A stone weighing about 30 to 50 catties has been placed on each stone-throwing cart, and nearly 100 strong men who pull the rope hold the heavy hemp rope in their hands, and look intently at the flag bearers holding high the command flag in front of them, ready to go.

Chang Gong roared: "Brothers...... Prepare to fire ......"

The stone throwing cart is to throw stones, so the soldiers of the chariot battalion affectionately call it a stone cannon. The commanders who were standing behind the artillery carriage and commanding the firing saw the captain patrolling the formation, they were very excited, and shouted one by one: "My lord, ...... ready to go"

"My lord, everything is ready......

"My lord, let's start banging......"

Chang Gong jerked his horse upright, waved the command flag with all his might, and raised his arms and shouted: "Let go...... Put ......"

All the flags fell in an instant, and the flag-bearers opened their eyes one by one, and their tongues bloomed with spring thunder: "Let ...... go"

In the earth-shattering roar of thousands of people, thirty huge stones with wind and thunder soared into the sky with the momentum of thunder.

"Kill ......"

Xu Rong looked at the boulder and tore open the arrow curtain all the way, tearing apart the black clouds, roaring, roaring, roaring away with the momentum of Mount Tai, he couldn't help but be shocked, his blood boiled, "Let's go, let's go and see ......"

Jade hurriedly stopped: "My lord, you are busy with official business, so let's go back to the camp first." ”

"Haha......" Xu Rong whipped the war horse, and galloped away like a cloud, "Go, brothers, go to the battlefield......"

The Great Battalion of the Northern Army.

Niu Fu received an urgent letter from Dong Zhuo.

Due to the repeated obstruction of the attack, the officers and men of the Northern Army suffered heavy casualties, and the generals such as Niu Fu and Li Dao had to urgently write to Dong Zhuo and ask for reinforcements. The Northern Xinjiang Army occupies a geographical advantage, and has sharp weapons, especially the artillery carriage, which is too powerful. A big rock was thrown at it, and the soldiers always had to be killed and wounded, and it was difficult to deal with it. If this kind of hard fight continues, when it reaches Hangu Pass, it will be good if half of the 40,000 northern army can be left.

Dong Zhuo said in his letter, "Before we set out, I told you that we had only one purpose in attacking the Northern Xinjiang Army, that is, to nail it into Northern Xinjiang and Kwantung like a tenon and cut off the connection between them. Therefore, the attack cannot be stopped, and all the Northern Xinjiang Army in the Kanto direction must be brought to Kansai, so that our goal will be half successful. Dong Zhuo specially instructed Niu Fu that it would snow in more than a month, and after the Yellow River froze, the connection between Northern Xinjiang and Kwantung would be basically cut off, and the attack of the army could be temporarily stopped.

Dong Zhuo refused about reinforcements. Dong Zhuo told Niu Fu that the commander of the Northern Xinjiang Army was Xu Rong, the world-famous Longxiang general. This person uses soldiers like a god, and Qi Zheng is omniscient. He is facing the enemy head-on, which means that he is planning and implementing the strategy of annihilating the Northern Army. You must be careful not to go deep alone, so as not to be ambushed. As for whether the army can reach Hangu Pass, it doesn't matter. As long as you drag the Northern Xinjiang Army and lose a lot of the strength of the Northern Xinjiang Army, you will have made meritorious service.

In addition, Dong Zhuo is more concerned about the gun truck. He ordered Niu Fu to do everything possible to send people to lurk on the other side and draw a map of an artillery carriage and send it to Chang'an. There are many skilled craftsmen in Chang'an, and we can also make weapons that can be made in northern Xinjiang. As soon as we've built the gun wagon, we'll send it to you and shoot them back.

Niu Fu showed this letter to Li Dao, Guo Yan and others, and then asked Jia Xu, "Brother Wenhe, how do you think we can fight?" After another month of fighting like this, our losses are still very staggering. ”

Jia Xu said with a smile: "Master Taishi has made it very clear, we just need to drag the Northern Xinjiang Army until it snows and the Yellow River freezes." Therefore, there is no need for us to attack like this again, I think, let's change it to every three days. Half a month later, we changed to one attack every five days. This year, we have stabilized the battlefield in the area of the Candlewater River. ”

November of the second year of the first peace of the Han Dynasty (191 AD).

On November, Jizhou, Handan.

Xiao Cavalry Zhonglang led Wang Dang to lead an army of 8,000 to Handan City.

The four of the four people of the town army, including the general of the town army, Yang Feng, the general of Yangwu, the general of Wulie Zhonglang, Wen Chou, and the strong crossbow Zhonglang, and the general Sun Qin, went to the outside of the city to greet them.

Wang Dang, who was in the dust, was very surprised when he saw Liyi personally come out to greet him, and he said again and again: "How dare the lower officials go out of the city to greet them, the lower officials really don't dare to be it, don't dare to be it." ”

"It should be, it should be." Koji Yi smiled, "The general said that if this battle is lost, he will personally cut off my head." My head is off, and I guess you won't be able to save it. ”

The crowd laughed and rode their horses into the city.

"I heard that Lord Yang is from Handan, and this place used to be Lord Yang's ......" Koji raised his horsewhip, pointed to the city tower and said with a smile, "Later, ......"

"Later, I robbed it for the general." Yang Feng shook his head again and again, "I lost a lot that time, and my two younger sisters also robbed Yan Hutou, and I can't ......look back."

"Then does this time count as a return to the hometown?"

"Of course not." Yang Feng stopped his horse and pointed at Fan Li, Yu Yigen, Peng Lie, Ding Bo, Li Yao, Yang Zhen, Liao Lei, Lin Xun and others with a horsewhip and said, "My lord, look at it, these are all the fierce generals of the Yellow Turban Army who followed the great sages and good teachers and followed the bull horn marshal to conquer the world in the past. We have fought for so many years, and countless brothers have died, and we only hope that the people will live a stable and good life, but the result is very different from what we think in our hearts. Now that the world is getting more and more chaotic, apart from northern Xinjiang, where is there a peaceful place? ”

"If the world is peaceful and the people are rich, I, Yang Feng, will set foot here again, it can be said that I have returned to my hometown, but it's a pity that ......" he turned his head to look at Ko Yi, "I may not see that day." ”

Lu Yi looked at the pain on Yang Feng's face and the sadness in his eyes, and suddenly remembered Bian Zhang, Han Sui and Beigong Boyu, and the suffering Xiliang people. In comparison, the people of Western Xinjiang are hundreds of times more bitter than the people of Yanzhao and the Central Plains. Xiliang people, when will they be able to live a peaceful and well-fed life? Is Mr. Wenyue (Han Sui) still fighting around Xiliang? In the future, if Dong Zhuo is driven to the western frontier, will the people of the western frontier be exterminated?

Koji Yi didn't dare to think about it anymore, he looked up at the big "Han" character fluttering high on the city tower, and let out a long sigh.

"What are you thinking?" Wen Chou asked in a low voice.

Koji Yi smiled bitterly, "I remembered Mr. Bian?" He looked back at Yang Feng, Wang Dang, Sun Qin and others, "Do you know him?" ”

A group of yellow turban generals were in awe.

"Mr. Bian started an incident in Xiliang back then, and he was very powerful, and he beat our old friends to an embarrassment." Ko Yi trembled for a while, and couldn't help but feel a little sour in his heart, "Later, when the general arrived in Western Xinjiang, his good luck immediately left Mr. Bian, and Mr. Bian was defeated." Mr. Bian's thoughts are the same as yours, that is, for the people of Xiliang to have food to eat and live. It's a pity that his ambition has not been rewarded......"

"I heard that the general was corrupt in Xiliang back then, and all the evidence was provided by Mr. Bian." Sun Qin asked, "Is it true?" ”

Koji nodded, "The reason why I, Koji Yi, am willing to follow the general and go to the soup for him, is because of this incident." For hundreds of years, the great general was the first hero who dared to kill thousands of corrupt officials and corrupt officials in the western Xinjiang in one breath with a sword. Who has such courage? There is no one else except the general. ”

"The general is worried that I have a bad temper and that I can't get along with you Yellow Turban generals. He was wrong. Lu Yi pointed to his chest and said, "I was born and grew up in Xiliang, and like you, I also want the world to be peaceful, and I also want the people to be well fed and clothed." Everyone is fighting for the common people in the world, they are all brothers in life and death, why can't they get along? Even if I am asked to obey Feiyan's orders and obey Qizhi (Yang Feng), why not? ”

Yang Feng, Wang Dang, Sun Qin and other Yellow Turban generals were very excited, and they dismounted one after another and bowed down. "Only the adults and horses are the first to look forward to the enemy, and swear to kill the enemy."

"Okay, thank you brothers for your trust." Koji Yi dismounted and returned the salute and said loudly, "Tomorrow, we will send troops to Guangzong." ”

On November, Bohai County.

Gongsun Zhan's 30,000 army and Xu He and Wu Ba's 300,000 Yellow Turban troops faced off against Hongting, thirty miles south of Dongguang City.

Xu He and Wu Ba thought that Gongsun Chan would fight a decisive battle after rushing up, but who knew that after Gongsun Chan took Dongguang City, there was no movement for ten consecutive days. Xu He and Wu Ba were very anxious. It is nearly 300 miles away from the Yellow River, and even if the troops are withdrawn, it will take three or four days. Coupled with the time to cross the river, it takes at least half a month. Half a month later, according to the usual practice, the Yellow River had frozen and closed the river. Xu He and Wu Ba immediately decided to retreat in batches.

On the first day, Xu He went south with 20,000 main forces. The next day, another 50,000 people left. The camp of the Yellow Turban Army immediately became chaotic, and the morale of the army was disheartened. First, there were taxi cars leaving the camp without permission, and then some of the little leaders of the Yellow Turbans headed for Pingyuan County with a team of thousands of people. And then things got out of hand. Everyone, you call me and I call you, many Yellow Turban generals didn't report to Wu Ba at all, and left with the team.

Gongsun Chan received an urgent report from the scouts, was overjoyed, immediately reorganized the army, and launched an attack on the Yellow Turban Army on a cold early morning. The 10,000 iron horsemen were divided into two parts and outflanked from the left and right. Gongsun Zhan personally led Bai Ma Yi to charge from the front, and Tian Kai took 20,000 foot soldiers to cover up and kill.

Wu Ba commanded the army to meet the battle, and the two sides fought fiercely, but due to the confusion of the army, the officers and men of the Yellow Turban Army failed to block the rush of the Youzhou army and retreated step by step. At this time, the Youzhou Iron Cavalry outflanked from the left and right flanks of the Yellow Turban Army. The officers and men of the Yellow Turban Army could no longer resist and fled in defeat. The Youzhou Iron Cavalry launched a pursuit, chasing for hundreds of miles in one go, and even the tens of thousands of Yellow Turban soldiers who left the camp without permission that night were surrounded by them.

In the Battle of Dongguang, the Youzhou army defeated about 200,000 Yellow Turban troops, killed 30,000 people, and captured 150,000 people.

Gongsun Zhan ordered Tian Kai, Yan Gang, Guan Jing and others to immediately clean up the battlefield in Dongguang and take care of the Yellow Turban Army prisoners. Among the captives, all those who were fit were recruited into the army, and those who were old, infirm, or disabled were sent to the two banks of Zhangshui in Bohai County to reclaim barren fields. When Gongsun Chan was stationed in Youzhou, he once settled the displaced people in Tuntian in the area of Youbeiping County, and he had a lot of experience in Tuntian. Liu Yu, the pastor of Youzhou, also wrote to the court for this and asked for merit for him.

The next day, Gongsun Zhan roared down with 10,000 iron horsemen, and went straight to Qingzhou Pingyuan County, intending to annihilate the Yellow Turban Army that was crossing the river. The Yellow Turban Army heard the roar of the iron cavalry from afar, and was so frightened that the wolf rushed and fled. Many people drowned in the Yellow River, and many more fled like crazy along the Yellow River embankment.

Youzhou Iron Cavalry slashed, killed more than 8,000 people again, captured more than 50,000 people, and all the grain and grass were captured by the Youzhou army.

Xu He and Wu Ba fled to the other side of the Yellow River in panic, and returned to Dongjun and Jibei with the remaining 20,000 people, where they met with Sima Ju, the commander of the Yellow Turban Army.

Gongsun Zhan wrote to Yuan Shao for the fifth time that I had defeated the Yellow Turban Army under Dongguang City, and the Yellow Turban Army was completely annihilated. In accordance with the agreement between me and my first brother, Bohai County and Hejian Kingdom are now owned by me. If Brother Ben Chu has no opinion, I will lead the army to Wei County to help Brother Ben defeat the Yellow Turban Army of Montenegro. Of course, if Brother Benchu objected to me going to Wei County, I wouldn't go. I have recently recruited 100,000 Yellow Turban soldiers and need to reorganize their training, but I am extremely short of food and military supplies, so I wonder if my first brother can borrow them on credit?

Yuan Shao was fighting with Yu Poison at this time, and was shocked when he heard the news. Gongsun Chan is really powerful, he only has 30,000 foot cavalry, and he actually annihilated 300,000 Yellow Turban troops in one battle, which is incredible.

Yuan Shao hurriedly forwarded this letter to the general of the town army, Lu Yi. Gongsun Zhan is about to attack Wei County, I have no time to clone, please the general first resist for me, and after I defeat Yu Poison, I will quickly join you.

Yuan Shao replied to Gongsun Zhan. If you want to die, you will come to Wei County.

In mid-November, Gongsun Chan received a reply from Yuan Shao. Gongsun Zhan sneered, "Order, send troops to Wei County, and attack Yuan Shao." ”

After receiving the news that Gongsun Chan was leading an army to Wei County, he immediately led his army to leave Guangzong and hurried towards the state of Ganling, preparing to block Gongsun Zhan's army near Panhe (present-day Deping County, Dezhou, Hebei).

At the same time, Yuan Shao urgently ordered Han Qiong to lead his army east to Ganling Kingdom and join Liyi. Jump to