March 188 A.D.

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Early in the morning, Zhenbei General Li Hong walked out of the Longshan camp with the generals and the Black Panther Yicong, and Xu Rong and a group of generals who stayed in the Zhenbei General's Mansion Peng Shi sent him ten miles.

Li Hong stood beside the Fenshui River, looking back at the towering Longshan Mountain in the distance, and his mood was very heavy. He stayed here for eight months, exhausted himself, worked day and night, although he appeased the Yellow Turban Marshal Zhang Yan and hundreds of thousands of Yellow Turban soldiers, and appeased the millions of displaced people on the Taihang Mountain, but at the same time, he also put a heavy burden on the barren Bingzhou and the crumbling Han State, and the hidden danger that would explode overnight.

Today's internal and external difficulties in the state are indeed not the best time to lead the army north to quell the rebellion, but the emperor's order cannot be violated, and Youzhou cannot be disobeyed, as His Majesty said in the holy decree, once the rebels have gained a firm foothold in Youzhou and their strength has increased, the price paid to quell the rebellion will be greater, and it may drag the entire Han Kingdom across. It is better to quell the rebellion in Youzhou sooner rather than later.

"Don't send it, let's all go back." Li Hong restrained the panther and said loudly, "Let's all go back to the camp." ”

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Xiao Lan looked at Zhu Mu, and tears flowed involuntarily. Zhu Mu smiled: "When I attacked the Yellow Turban Army with my father six years ago, you were still ignorant, and you were dancing with my long sword. He shook his head and said lovingly, "All right, don't cry, smile." I go to war, I go to make achievements, you should be happy. Remember to write letters to your family, so that your parents don't worry, you know? ”

Xiao Lan's heart was sour, and there were more tears.

"Zhong Yuan, Xiao Lan please, you have to take care of yourself."

Li Wei smiled and patted Zhu Mu's shoulder hard, everything was silent.

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Storm Sand and Yan Wuxing, Heart Fox, and Duan Xuan hugged and said goodbye. Because half of the Changshui camp were Xianbei cavalry, Li Hong ordered some of the soldiers of the Wucai battalion and the Changshui battalion to be transferred, and Lu Xian, Yan Wuxin and Hongbai of the Changshui battalion led their troops to stay in the Wucai battalion.

"Fearless, Mingzhi, the adults took you away, but left me in Jinyang, it's too eccentric."

Yan Wuxing smiled: "Forget it, staying in Jinyang may not be without a fight." Half of the martial cavalry battalion is now Xianbei people, if you want the martial cavalry battalion to be able to dominate the battlefield and be invincible in the future, you still have to think of more ways to make the soldiers of the two clans like brothers. ”

"I know, I've been discussing this with Lu Xian for the past few days." Tempest Sand smiled, "The Martial Cavalry Battalion will never lose the battle, you can rest assured." ”

"Heart Fox, when you get to Youzhou, do a good job, don't insult the reputation of our first Lingqiang people."

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Li Hong held Xu Rong's big hand, pointed at Zuo Yan, Li Wei, Tang Fang, Yu Peng, Xie Ming and Tang Yun and said: "At present, there are many things and few people in the Zhenbei General's Mansion, if you can't get busy, you can ask Xiao Lan to take the position of Zhonglang." After all, she is familiar with the affairs of the prefecture, and she is very familiar with the prefecture and the prefecture, although some people make irresponsible remarks and accuse us behind our backs, but everything is based on the stability of northern Xinjiang, and don't care about a lot. ”

"Mu Yun is from the Assassin Mansion of Bingzhou. He is a disciple of Lord Taiwei Cui Liecui, and it took me a lot of effort to get him here this time, and I had a very unpleasant quarrel with Lord Zhang. Mu Yun had been helping the boss run Mintun in the Hutian Captain's Mansion some time ago, and he was very familiar with the affairs of Tuntian, so he handed over all the matters of the inspector Juntun and Mintun to him. ”

Li Wei, Tang Fang and others hurriedly said that they would do their best to assist Xu Rong to stabilize northern Xinjiang.

Xu Rong's expression was calm, and he asked slowly, "What else do you have to explain?" ”

Li Hong thought about it and said: "Hedong Guo Tai's Yellow Turban Army is a trouble, if it can't be suppressed for a long time, it will have a great impact on Yang Feng's Yellow Turban Tuntian Army and Bingzhou Tuntian, so the top priority is to solve Guo Tai's Yellow Turban Army." ”

"Then there are the Huns. Years ago, because of the Luoyang incident, we did not send troops to slaughter all ethnic groups, and after the year, we were ordered to requisition 10,000 iron cavalry from the Xiongnu, plus the main force of Bingzhou went north to Youzhou to quell the rebellion, so I was very worried that the Huns would take the opportunity to rebel. If the Huns invade southward, the Xianbei people may take advantage of the situation and attack Yanmen again. ”

Li Hong sighed and continued worriedly: "What I'm most worried about is Tuntian. There may be three reasons for the failure of Tuntian, one is that the invasion of Guo Tai's Yellow Turban Army and the Hu people caused turmoil in Bingzhou, and merchants from all over the country dispersed in a hurry, and Tuntian lost financial support and failed; Second, there was a crisis in Luoyang, the imperial court was in turmoil, and Tuntian lost policy support and failed; The third is bureaucratic corruption, corruption is rampant, and Tuntian loses the support of the people and fails. ”

Li Hong looked at Xu Rong, Zuo Yan and the others, bowed down and said, "Whether the Great Han Kingdom can be revitalized, whether the northern Xinjiang can be stable, and whether the people can be fed and clothed depends on you." ”

Xu Rong and others knelt down one after another to return the salute, saying that although they were full of liver and brains, they would also be loyal to the country.

Li Hong picked up Xu Rong, walked to the side, and asked in a low voice: "If the Xiongnu are in chaos and the Hu people invade, Zilie will go north to command the army to resist the enemy, who will be in charge of the Zhenbei General's Mansion at this time?" ”

"Of course it's the old man." Xu Rong said.

Li Hong shook his head, "When the first few **** left Jinyang City, the boss was still angry, and he was still angry about my killing of corrupt officials, full of complaints, it can be seen that he did not understand my suffering, on the contrary, Mr. Cai and Mr. Wang were more open, and they were very supportive of corruption, but the two gentlemen thought that the bloody killing of corruption could not cure the root cause, and could only be suppressed for a while, and could not be solved for a long time. This approach takes time, and although I can't argue with it, I always think it's not appropriate. ”

"If the old man is in charge of the Zhenbei General's Mansion, his ideas will definitely condone corruption, and the consequences will be worrying, so don't trouble his old man anymore."

Xu Rong nodded, looked at Zuo Yan and said, "Then Lord Zuo will be in charge." ”

"Brother Junyi is loyal and lenient to others, but it is difficult to convince the public; Zhong Yuan is young and vigorous, bold and reckless, which is really difficult to reassure; Xiao Lan is talented and steady, but unfortunately she is a woman; Xie Ming and the others have their own heavy responsibilities, and there is no need to consider them for reasons such as qualifications. ”

When Xu Rong heard Li Hong say this, his heart suddenly understood. To resist the invasion of the Hu people, it is definitely not enough to rely on the 30,000 iron cavalry and thousands of county soldiers who are currently left, and the Yellow Turban Army must be recruited, but forcibly requisitioning the Yellow Turban Army may cause a state crisis, so the only way is to let the Yellow Turban Army ask to fight.

Xu Rong smiled slightly: "Do you like Lord Zhang Yanzhang?" ”

Li Hong gave a deep salute and said with a smile: "With Zilie's words, I am relieved." ”

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"Lü's Spring and Autumn Period" said that Xiongguan Yanmen, the first of the "nine stops in the world", and Lu Longsai and Flying Fox are called the throat of northern Xinjiang.

Since the Qin and Han dynasties, in order to resist the invasion of the Xiongnu, starting from Wuwei and Beidi in Xiliang, to Shangjun, Xihe, Yanmen, and then to Daijun in Youzhou, Shanggu, Yuyang, Youbeiping, and Liaoxi, a total of 10,000 miles of Great Wall has been built, and from the Yellow River to the 800-mile Great Wall of the sentence note, it has been built since the Zhao State of the previous dynasty. This section of the Great Wall connects Xiawu Mountain, Juzhu Mountain, Titou Mountain, Caoduo Mountain, and the Yellow River into a solid defense system, and the Juzhu Fortress is located in which the longest and most dangerous terrain is Juzhu, and Yanmen Pass is the Guancheng of the Juzhu Fortress. Yanmen Pass Tiger Standing on the Dragon Pan, majestic and magnificent, there are two peaks facing each other, there is a hole in the road, can only allow the wild geese to fly from it, the nearby peaks and peaks are staggered, the craggy ravine is gloomy, there is a big road, the circling and quiet curve passes through the pass, the terrain is extremely dangerous, it is the important place to defend for the past dynasties.

At the beginning of this month, Li Hong arrived at Yanmen Pass. Pingbei Zhonglang will Xian Yufu, Huloulan, the Xiongnu Zuoxian Wang, Zhang Yi, the governor of Yanmen County, Guo Yun and other generals will go out of the pass to meet each other.

Zuoxian Wang Huloulan is in his forties, tall and broad, with a loud voice, and a pair of aggressive eyes on his weather-beaten face. This time, the cavalry of the left tribe of the Xiongnu and some other small tribes were marched with the Han army, and the right tribe and the Tu tribe refused to send troops for various reasons. Dadan Yu Qiangqu was worried about the situation of the Xiongnu, but at the same time he did not dare to disobey the holy decree of the Han Emperor, so in desperation, he had to let King Zuo Xian lead the army to the expedition. Da Shan Yu negotiated with Xian Yufu many times in order to send troops to the army, but Xian Yufu insisted on asking him to obey the holy decree and send 10,000 soldiers. Xian Yufu said that although there are many people with different aspirations in the Xiongnu tribes, our Han country has 20,000 iron horsemen in Duliaoshui to help Da Dan Yu guard the royal court, what is Da Dan Yu worried about?

Guo Yun, the Taishou of Yanmen County, was once a big farmer, and the Guo family was a famous family in Taiyuan. Guo Yun himself is both civil and military, extraordinary knowledge, famous in northern Xinjiang, although he is fifty years old, but can still open three stone bows, leisure also open a hall to teach, many disciples. This person has served in Yanmen for many years, is an honest official, has outstanding political achievements, and has an excellent reputation.

Li Hongjing was introduced by Xian Yufu and Zhang Yi, and greeted Zuoxian Wang Huloulan and Taishou Guo Yun, and then greeted the generals one by one.

"This is the military Sima Zhang Zhen and Zhang Zhengtao, the fake Sima Wu Xiong and Wu Yuchen." Xian Yufu pointed to the two young and sturdy generals and said, "The soldiers of the three thousand counties of Bingzhou who went out with the army this time are under the command of the two of them. ”

Li Hong was very happy, and after asking a few words cordially, he turned his face to Guo Yun and said, "Thank you, Lord Guo, for giving me two strong generals." ”

Guo Yun said with a smile: "My lord's requisition order, I and Lord Zhang will not have a quiet day, and the generals of various departments are clamoring to go north with you, and we will make meritorious contributions, we are very embarrassed to be officials, and we don't know who to let go." Later, there was no way, so I said, let's do it, in Yanmen Pass in the past few years, whoever has the most military achievements will go. After all, Zhengtao and Yuchen have the most achievements. Both of them are my proud disciples, but because I have no way out as a teacher, they are still just a military horse, and I have wronged them. ”

Li Hong smiled and understood. This is the case in the border army, if there is no one in the imperial court, no matter how much credit you make, at most you will be just a military horse, and it will have reached the top. The reason why he was promoted to the captain by virtue of his military merits was entirely due to Liu Yu's strong recommendation, without Liu Yu's care all the way, there would be no place for him today. Thinking that he was about to join the late master Liu Yu in Youzhou, his mood suddenly improved. The matter of merging the state will be handed over to Xu Rong and Lu Yi, I believe that they will do better than themselves.

At this time, Zhang Yi, who was standing on the side, pointed at Zhang Zhen and Wu Xiong and said: "When you arrive in Youzhou, follow the general to work hard, if you can't make meritorious service and be awarded the title of captain, don't come back." ”

Li Hong laughed, looked at the smiling Zhang Yi and said, "Lord Zhang, are you threatening me?" ”

Zhang Yi did not shy away from saying: "My lord, look at your subordinates, how many other generals of the unified army are military horses?" The generals of the cavalry army of the adults are almost all captains and captains, and the youngest officer is also a Sima of another department. The army of Yanmen County is also subordinate to the Zhenbei General's Mansion, so the adults have to give a few captains, right? ”

Li Hong said with a smile: "Master Zhang, this captain and lieutenant are all cut out by them one by one, not just give it to me if I say it." ”

Guo Yun smiled and said: "Don't worry, your lordship, my two subordinates will definitely be able to cut out two captains, but when the time comes, don't be close to each other, look at each other differently." ”

The group talked and laughed, and entered the fortress of sentence note.

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A few days later, the 3,000 county soldiers from Hanoi Province arrived, and the leaders were led by the county government soldiers Cao Zhi Xu Huang and the fake Sima Yan Zhao.

Xu Huang is in his twenties, tall and mighty, doesn't talk much, and is a little restrained. Yan Zhao was about the same age as him, slightly thin, and looked very smart. Both of them were born in large families in Yang County, Hedong, and they joined the army together and were like brothers. This time, after Wang Han, the Taishou of Hedong County, arrived, he recruited talents. Xu Huang was recommended by his colleagues, Wang Han summoned him to inquire, was surprised by his knowledge, and worshiped Cao Cao, a soldier of the county government. Because of Xu Huang, Yan Zhao was promoted to a fake Sima.

"Why did Lord Wang let you come?" Li Hong remembered that he asked Wang Han for mulberry sheep and was rejected by him in person, and he was very funny, so he asked, "Lord Wang is willing to release people from the government this time?" ”

Xu Huang smiled shyly and didn't make a sound. Yan Zhao looked at Xu Huang, hesitated, and said: "My lord said, let Brother Gongming make a history, it's too condescending, and my lord also wrote a letter of recommendation to the general." ”

Xu Huang glanced at Yan Zhao reproachfully, and his face turned red.

Li Hong looked at Xu Huang in surprise and said with a smile: "What about the letter?" ”

Xu Huang took it out of his arms and handed it respectfully. After Li Hong read it carefully, he looked at Xu Huang again, and suddenly had a good impression of him in his heart.

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The soldiers of Hanoi finally arrived, and more than a thousand miles were enough for them to run.

When Zhao Yun heard that the soldiers and horses of Hanoi were coming, he hurriedly ran to the big tent, but he was greatly disappointed, and the leader was not led by Lu Bu, but a tall man in his twenties, with a loyal appearance and a kind demeanor, and he did not like to talk. When Zhao Yun asked, he answered, and there were only a few words in one sentence, which looked very wooden.

After reading Hanoi Taishou's letter, Li Hong did not speak for a long time.

"Gao Shun, the Yellow Turban of Montenegro has come down the mountain?" Li Hong asked.

Gao Shun bowed his head and was silent, looking humble.

"Lord Cheng really dares to do it, only send a fake Sima with a thousand soldiers to fool me." Li Hong threw the letter to Zhu Mu and said very unhappily, "I named Lu Bulai, but he didn't even pay attention to it." ”

Zhu Mu said with a smile: "Hanoi is an important place in Gyeonggi, the army is insufficient, it is good to be able to give a thousand people, and the yellow turban on the black is always a disaster, as soon as they get off the mountain, Hanoi will send troops to kill them, how can they do it without an army?" Adults should understand. ”

Li Hong sneered, waved his hand to Gao Shun and said, "Go down and rest." Tomorrow morning, you will also participate. ”

Gao Shun didn't say a word, bowed and bowed, and left.

Zhao Yun stared at his back as he gradually moved away, and suddenly said, "My lord, this person's martial arts skills are good. ”

Li Hong snorted and didn't even raise his head.

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A total of 60,000 soldiers and horses from all units of the Northern Expeditionary Army were assembled.

Li Hong immediately regrouped his army.

The infantry corps removed 5,000 chariot battalions, and the remaining 22,000 men and horses built five battalions in the front and rear. Xian Yuyin, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Hua Xiong, and Gao Lan each led a battalion. The first battalion of Wenchou was 3,000 men of Zhang Zhen and Wu Xiong. Gao Lan's first battalion was 4,000 men of Xu Huang, Gao Shun and Yan Zhao.

The 30,000 iron cavalry of the cavalry army also built five battalions in the front and rear, left and right, Nie Xiao, Jiang Wu, Yan Wuxing, Liu Ming and Zuoxian Wang Huloulan each led a battalion.

The reason why the Xiongnu iron cavalry was able to be divided into two and led by Liu Ming with 5,000 men and horses was related to Liu Ming's background. Liu Ming's Xiongnu name is Moth Qiao'er, and he is the nephew of the Iron Eagle King of the Xiongnu Left Tribe. Zuoxian Wang Huloulan grew up watching Liu Ming, and now he is very happy to see that Liu Ming has become a captain, so when Li Hong discussed this matter with him, he agreed without saying a word, and also put Liu Bao, the son of Yufuluo, the king of Youxian, under his command, and asked Liu Bao to follow Liu Ming and learn his skills.

In the middle of the month, the last military meeting.

"How is the weight of the grain and grass?"

Tian Zhong stood up and replied: "The stock of grain and grass for a month has been prepared, all kinds of weapons are sufficient, and the 50,000 people accompanying the army are ready to go. After we rush to Jicheng next month to meet Lord Liu's army, the follow-up grain and grass will be replenished in Jicheng. ”

"How are the troops?"

Xian Yufu and Yan Rou stood up one after another and said that all the troops and horses were ready to set off at any time.

"How about the border defense forces?"

Guo Yun, the Taishou of Yanmen County, pointed to a young and handsome officer and motioned for him to return.

"The Juzhu fortress has a total of 7,000 troops, except for the garrison of Yanmen Pass, the rest of the troops are stationed in three large stone walls, 25 small stone walls, and eighteen passes, among which the pass connecting Juzhu Mountain and Tired Head Mountain has the largest number of troops, with 1,000 soldiers."

"Who is the Hook Gatekeeper? Stand up and I'll see. Li Hong suddenly raised his head, looked at the dozens of officers in the big tent, and said loudly.

The young officer blushed and said nervously, "It's the lower officer." ”

Li Hong glanced at him attentively and asked, "What's your name?" ”

"The lower official Zhang Liao is now engaged in the Yanmen County Bing Cao."

At this time, Guo Yun leaned sideways to Li Hong and whispered: "Wen Yuan is Zhang Zhen's brother and my most proud disciple. ”

Li Hong glanced at him and said with a smile: "Why don't you give it to me?" ”

"Your Excellency's mind is too big, you have so many elite soldiers under your command, do you want more?" Guo Yun smiled, "It's all for you, I don't want to close the Yanmen." ”

Li Hong smiled and said to Zhang Liao: "As soon as the hook note pass is lost, the defense of the sentence note fortress will be broken, and you have a heavy responsibility and cannot afford to lose." ”

Zhang Liao replied excitedly and loudly: "The lower official swears to stick to it and will never retreat." ”

Li Hong nodded approvingly and waved him to sit down.

Pound hurried in and handed over an urgent paperwork. Li Hong glanced at it and handed it to Zhu Mu.

"Tomorrow, the army will go out of the fortress and go north to Youzhou along the Chi Road."

The tent erupted in cheers.

Zhu Mu opened the paperwork, and the smile on his face immediately froze. Guo Tai led the Yellow Turban Army to capture Pingyang City in Hedong and cut off the land and water transportation.

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