Zhang Niujiao led his troops to leave Jiulihe the next day.

He led the troops, carried the grain and grass, and swaggered towards the Dingxing ferry.

Li Hong did not chase and did not intend to besiege the Dingxing Ferry, but ordered the troops to quickly rush to the Jiulihe battlefield and bury the remains of his comrades. Out of hatred, the Yellow Turbans discarded the remains of the fallen soldiers everywhere. Li Hong and the soldiers gritted their teeth with hatred.

In the first battle of Jiulihe, the troops brought by Xian Yufu and Yan Rou suffered heavy losses, and Yan Zhaoqu, who was Xian Yuyin and Tie Yue, was also lost, and only 800 people remained in the two armies. According to the old method, Li Hong used infantry to make up for the losses of the cavalry and reorganized 10,000 iron cavalry.

Although Yan Rou and Xian Yuyin's troops were not much left, neither of them was willing to return to Zhuocheng with Xian Yufu, and they had to follow Li Hong to fight all the way. Judging from the current situation, it is unlikely that the Yellow Turban Army will return to northern Xinjiang without eliminating the Yellow Turban Army.

Xian Yufu asked Li Hong's opinion. Li Hong was overjoyed and couldn't ask for it. Yan Rou and Xian Yuyin are both rare generals, all-round talents in civil and military affairs, and they can take the initiative to ask to join the Fengyun Iron Cavalry, which is of great help to the combat effectiveness of the troops.

Li Hong immediately discussed with Xian Yufu and rearranged the structure of the troops.

According to Xian Yufu, Li Hong led an army of 10,000 troops as a lieutenant of the Li Feng, which was not allowed according to the military laws of the Han Dynasty. 10,000 people, according to the military law of the Great Han State, there are already three armies. The person leading the three armies is not a general, at least he should be a lieutenant general or too guard, otherwise it will be inconsistent with the law. In the future, after the Yellow Turban Army is pacified, once someone uses this matter as an excuse to write to the court and impeach Li Hong, the Son of Heaven will definitely condemn him. Therefore, this matter must immediately ask Lord Yang Huang to write a letter, explain this matter to the imperial court, and ask the imperial court for permission to prevent trouble in the future.

Li Hong was very grateful to Xian Yufu and thanked him again and again. He didn't know anything about this kind of thing, even Xian Yufu reminded him, and he was also confused, let alone deal with it. Fortunately, he has a friend who is Xian Yufu, and everything is thought out for him.

Although Li Hong's qualifications are not enough to lead 10,000 troops, now that there are frequent wars in Youzhou, everything is urgent, and everything is based on the interests of the country, and this army still has to be commanded. Fortunately, Li Hong has the triple authorization of the right Beiping County Taishou, the captain of the Karasuma Guard, and the Youzhou Assassin History, and he can barely command the three armies in name.

Considering that Yan Rou and Xian Yuyin were all engaged in the soldiers in charge of military affairs in various counties, and they had a lot of experience in leading troops to govern the army, Li Hong wanted to establish a ministry-level system. The youngest officer at the first level of the ministry is a military commander, and his rank is more than 600 stones, which is twice as high as the rank of Bing Cao. They led the position of Sima in the capacity of the county government, which was basically the same in terms of position, but this matter had to be agreed by the Assassin Mansion and the two of them serving in the county government. If the county government where the two of them are located does not agree, they will go back obediently. Of course, it's okay to borrow it from Youzhou Thorn Mansion for the time being.

Li Hongjian has three divisions, left, center and right. On the left, Xian Yuyin is the military Sima, Yan Rou in the middle is the military Sima, and the right is temporarily led by the military Hou Yushi.

Because Li Hong is a lieutenant of the line, he has no right to appoint an officer at the level of military commander. Now Li Hong and Jade are still subordinate to the Lu Longsai Border Army of Youbeiping County, if they want to be promoted to Jade as the military Sima, then they must be too much to guard Liu Zheng's personal approval.

Each part has 3,000 people, and has jurisdiction over three songs, and each song has 1,000 people, and has jurisdiction over three tuns. In this way, the entire army has nineteen and eighteen chief and deputy military candidates, plus Tian Chong, Zheng Xin, and Yan Liang are 20 military officers and more than 30 commanders.

The left part of Xian Yu Yin is composed of three songs: Tie Yue, Xiao Lazy, and Lei Zi. The middle part of Yan Rou is composed of three songs: beard, fist, and Yan fearless. The right part of the jade is composed of three songs: Heng Sacrifice, Shooting Yingtong, and Lu Huanyang. Shoot the tiger and lead the black panther to obey. Yan Liang commanded the pro-guards. Tian Zhong led the guard tun. Zheng Xin led the scouts.

Li Hong had just finished announcing his appointment, and laughter broke out in the big tent.

"What's going on, is there something wrong with me?" Li Hong was puzzled and pointed to his nose and asked.

Everyone laughed even more straight.

Li Hong and Xian Yu looked at each other, a little strange.

"Tiger head ......" Li Hong pointed at Yan Liang and shouted: "What's the matter? ”

Yan Liang stood up and said with a smile: "Uncle said that you have a share of what this stuff is." Rarely brought by adults are children, and their hair has not grown. Lord Yan's department, starting from Lord Yan, are all famous horse bandits in northern Xinjiang, and the whole is a den of horse thieves. Lord Yu's side are all foreign soldiers, and those who don't know think it's an invasion of the Hu army. ”

The big tent erupted in laughter again.

Li Hong couldn't cry or laugh, and pointed to everyone: "What kind of mess is this." ”

Two days later, about 2,000 troops from Zhuocheng and Fangcheng rushed over. Xian Yufu took them and took the captives and returned to Zhuocheng.

Li Hong gave a ride.

"There has been no news from Jizhou so far, which is really worrying." Xian Yufu frowned and said worriedly.

"You don't have to worry so much about affecting the body. There is good news to come. Li Hong smiled and comforted.

"What about the good news? The country is declining, the people are struggling to make ends meet, wars are raging one after another, and it is innocent people who suffer. Xian Yufu shook his head with a sad face. After a pause, he continued: "Even if we repel the horns and the Yellow Turban Army, who can guarantee that there will be no second horns? Who can guarantee that the Yellow Turbans will disappear forever? ”

Li Hong didn't make a sound. He generally doesn't want this kind of thing, he feels that he doesn't have the ability to do it, and he doesn't have the ability to take care of it. He just wants to do his best to fight the war and ensure the stability of the people.

"Zimin, Ziyu's troops have rushed to the Dingxing ferry and are squeezing Zhang Niujiao's river-crossing troops. Will Zhang Niujiao drop his baggage and quickly escape back to Fanyang? Xian Yufu asked with a change of topic.

Li Hong smiled and shook his head, "Zhang Niujiao now has 50,000 people, and he can deal with us, he will not leave the Dingxing ferry in a hurry, and he is even more reluctant to lose the grain and grass." Rest assured, I promise to recapture the entire Zhuo County within this month. ”

"Are you so sure?"

"I'm confident." Li Hong said with a smile: "I still have 10,000 people, and I can run rampant in northern Xinjiang." ”

On the third day, Li Hong set off with the Xianyu Silver Department and the Jade Department and disappeared into the endless Great Plains.

Zhang Niujiao has been in a very bad mood these days. Although Chu Feiyan worshiped him as his father-in-law, the relationship between them was known to the Yellow Turban Army, and there was nothing to be happy about. He is still obsessed with Chu Feiyan. A person who led troops to fight would make such a low-level mistake, he couldn't figure it out.

Zuo Yan understands very well. Colonel Zuo was defeated, the battalion was attacked, and Zhang Baicai's entire army was annihilated, these are all bloody examples. Who dares to pat his chest and say, I can beat the leopard. If you want to have it, you have horns. Of course, Chu Feiyan didn't believe his words.

"Chu Shuai didn't come to save you, but it means that he has a problem. If Li Hong led his troops to pounce before dark, with their combat effectiveness, it shouldn't be a big problem to tear up the formation. At that time we were no longer superior in numbers. Don't be angry, Dashuai. What didn't happen, who can tell. ”

"Junyi, you mean to say that we can't stay up until midnight?" Zhang Niujiao looked at Zuo Yan and said in a cold tone.

Zuo Yan boldly looked directly at Zhang Niujiao, and said in a sincere tone: "Pin Pu, in fact, we are indeed not sure. If Li Hong is like you, if you want to destroy the other party at all costs, he still cares about his own losses. ”

Zhang Niujiao didn't make a sound, he actually understood Chu Feiyan's helplessness. But he really hated Li Hong too much. More than 100,000 people, except for the more than 30,000 people who besieged the city, were all eaten away and devoured by his iron cavalry little by little. He hated it.

"Pin Pu, let's take Feiyan's opinion, give up the baggage, and withdraw to Fan Yang as soon as possible." Zuo Yan saw that Zhang Niujiao did not lose his temper, and took the opportunity to propose.

"What are you afraid of, could it be that Li Hong will grow wings and fly to Beixincheng to block us?" Zhang Niujiao said disdainfully, "With so much grain and grass, transporting it back can solve many problems of the Yellow Turban Army, and we must not give up." ”

Zuo Yan's face suddenly became very ugly.

"Marshal, this batch of grain and grass is gone, we can still replenish it, but if our more than 30,000 soldiers are gone, we can't replenish it."

Zhang Niujiao glanced at him coldly, and was about to speak, when Sun Qin hurriedly ran into the big tent.

"Great Marshal, Yan Rou's troops have appeared in Gu'an City."

Zhang Niujiao's face sank, and he stared blankly at the map, and there was no response for a long time.

"Sun Shuai, how is Fan Yang?" Zuo Yan hurriedly asked.

"Chu Shuai sent someone to deliver the news, he asked Zhang Shuai to defend the city with a thousand people, and the large army had already rushed south with him."

"Dashuai, let's hurry back to Fanyang." Zuo Yan said anxiously: "Fan Yang is now an empty city, once it is occupied by Yan Rou, we will be blocked by him in the giant horse water." ”

"What are you anxious about?" Zhang Niujiao glared at Zuo Yan fiercely, pointed to the map and said, "Yan Rou was still shouting on the other side yesterday, and today he ran to Gu'an, why did he fly?" ”

"It is entirely possible that the leopard may allow Yan Rou to attract our attention on the other side, and the main force will cross the river to Gu'an through the country of Yu, and then go straight to Fan Yang and block us." Zuo Yan immediately retorted.

Sun Qin walked to the map, pointed to Gu'an City and said: "After Fang Biao withdrew from the country, we gave up the country and did not garrison troops. It is indeed very likely that the leopard quietly crossed the river from the country to Gu'an. He deliberately did not play his own banner, but played Yan Rou's banner, indicating that he wanted to set up a maze and hoped that we would be indecisive and buy time for him to seize Fan Yang. ”

"Where's the troops?" Zhang Niujiao asked.

"Before Chu Shuai left, let them withdraw to Fan Yang." Sun Qin whispered.

Zhang Niujiao smiled bitterly: "He's forcing me to go back." ”

He straightened up and said hatefully: "This kid now has an army of 100,000 in his hands, his wings have grown stiff, and he is becoming more and more disobedient. If he hadn't acted in advance in Jiulihe, where would there be leopards now, why would we be so embarrassed. ”

"Dashuai, he was brought up by you, and whatever he says, he is your person." Zuo Yan comforted.

Zhang Niujiao laughed self-deprecatingly, and said disappointedly: "He has grown up, and he is no longer the delicious child." Forget it, let's not talk about him. ”

Zhang Niujiao waved his hand vigorously, as if he had thrown away all the troubles in his heart.

"Order Fang Biao to immediately lead his troops back to Fanyang, and we will continue to stay here. Tomorrow, after the last batch of baggage crossed the river, we rushed directly to the Yishui River. ”

Zuo Yan asked in surprise: "Dashuai, let's go back to Zhongshan Kingdom?" ”

"You're right." Zhang Niujiao said calmly: "Whatever you say, Yanzi was brought up by me, although it is not my biological son, but I have no heirs, what is the difference between him and my biological son?" When I returned, I gave him the position of the leader of the Yellow Turban Army. ”

Zuo Yan and Sun Qin were stunned for a moment.

"Dashuai......" Zuo Yan shouted in surprise, "You ......"

"Junyi, the Northern Expeditionary Army has been wiped out, after I go back, can I continue to command the Yellow Turban Army? If I let others push it down, it would be better for me to take the initiative to come down. Give this seat to the swallow, and I'm relieved. After Zhang Niujiao made up his mind, it seemed that the whole person had become relaxed, and he said very casually.

"Dashuai, Chu Shuai is too young, I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince the public. Moreover, his surname is Chu, not Zhang, although he is your adopted son, but not your own son, can your subordinates obey? Even if your men are willing to follow him, what about the other leaders of the Yellow Turbans? Yang Feng, Bai Huan, Wulu, which one is not gathered under this banner for your prestige. Zuo Yan said excitedly: "Now that the Northern Expedition has failed, the battle situation on the battlefield in Jizhou is tight, and this matter must not be mentioned again." Once the news spreads, the Yellow Turban Army will definitely be in turmoil, the people's hearts will be weakened, and defeat will be a foregone conclusion. ”

Zhang Niujiao nodded cautiously.

"I know the seriousness of this. This matter is related to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the Yellow Turban Army, and I will handle the future of the Yellow Turban Army with care. ”

Yan Rou looked at the Yellow Turban Army that was gradually disappearing on the other side, and said with admiration:

"Zhang Niujiao is Zhang Niujiao, and it is really a generation of heroes. Knowing that the bird appeared in Gu'an, he was still not in a hurry and didn't give us any oil and water. ”

"Fire burns your ass, I have to warn you, Yan Wuxing doesn't like people to call him Yanshan Bird. If you're fine, just call it, scream, once you shout smoothly and he knows about it, he will settle accounts with you. Beard glanced at him and said loudly.

"Beard, I warn you, if you call me to burn your ass again, I will take your military justice." Yan Rou pointed at his beard with a horsewhip and said solemnly, "Only my master can call me like this, what qualifications do you have." ”

At this moment, the fist hit the horse like flying, raised his hand and shouted: "Fire burns ass, fire burns ass, Zhuocheng has a book." ”

Yan Rou's eyes widened suddenly, and she couldn't wait to eat her fist in one bite.

The beard snickered, then laughed, and then laughed so much that he burst into tears, and could not straighten up, and fell under the horse with a thud. The beard fell to the ground, still holding his stomach and laughing.

The squires of the two people endured so hard that they couldn't bear it anymore, and one by one they turned their faces away, leaned on their horses and laughed.

Fist rode in and looked very strangely at the group of people on the embankment. The beard lay on the ground and hugged his stomach and laughed wildly, and the attendants of the two people also laughed more indulgently than the other, only Yan Rou was alone with a tense face, as if he was a little unhappy.

"Well, what kind of joke did you say, so funny, tell me about it." Fist hurriedly asked Yan Judo.

Yan Rou glanced at him and said angrily, "I didn't say it. What about paperwork? ”

The fist was hurriedly taken out of his arms and handed it to him, and asked with a smile: "Who said it, who is it, I told him to say it again, and I am also happy." ”

Yan Rou was really angry, glared at him viciously, and casually pointed to the beard that was lying on the ground laughing wildly.

The fist flew off the horse, grabbed the beard and asked repeatedly.

The beard was even more amused, and he laughed so hard that he almost held his breath.

Jizhou finally came to the news.

This month, Jizhou gathered about 50,000 troops, and under the command of Jizhou Mu Guodian, launched an attack on the Yellow Turban Army stationed in Zhao and Changshan. Guo Dian personally led the army to attack Luancheng and Jiumen in Changshan Kingdom, and the army directly threatened Zhending City. Julu Taishou Feng Yi led an army to attack Xiangguo County of Zhao and approached Handan.

However, because the number of Jizhou troops is insufficient, the attack effect has not been ideal, and it is currently in a state of stalemate with the Yellow Turban Army. Therefore, Jizhou Mu Guodian hoped that after the Yellow Turban Army withdrew from Youzhou, the army in Youzhou would do its best to send troops to Zhongshan to contain part of the Yellow Turban Army's strength in order to respond to the Jizhou battlefield.

The reason why the news was not delivered to Jicheng in Youzhou for a long time was because the Yellow Turban Army also appeared in the area of Hejian Country, which caused poor traffic and made it difficult for fast riders to arrive quickly.

After confirming that the reason for the retreat of the Yellow Turban Army from Zhuocheng was indeed because they were attacked by the Jizhou army, Yang Huang, the assassin of Youzhou, Wang Wei, the Taishou of Zhuojun, and a group of Youzhou officials all thought that the victory on the battlefield in Youzhou was decided, and now they just don't fight, and Zhang Niujiao will also withdraw from Youzhou. Therefore, the two of them couldn't wait to write to the imperial court to report the victory, for themselves, and of course, for the soldiers of Youzhou to annihilate the Yellow Turban Army's hundreds of thousands of troops, and to drive the leader of the Yellow Turban Army Zhang Niujiao out of Youzhou, and the most important thing is to ask the court for assistance.

One family is happy and one is worried. After Zhang Chun, the minister of Zhongshan, arrived in Jicheng, he was sad and depressed all day long. Although he never received the documents from the imperial court to deal with him, he had no confidence in his future at all. Colleagues in Youzhou often dismissed him, at most, he just dismissed the official and returned to his hometown in Yuyang, and he would not suffer from prison. Since the rebellion of the Yellow Turban Army, there have been many officials in the state and county, and few have been killed.

But Zhang Chun doesn't want to be dismissed, he still wants to continue to be an official. When he heard that Li Hong's troops had won successive battles and that Zhang Niujiao's Yellow Turban Army had withdrawn from Zhuocheng, his hopes for retaking Zhongshan were immediately ignited. He immediately borrowed troops from Yang Huang, the assassin of Youzhou, and borrowed troops from He Yi, the Taishou of Yuyang.

In Youzhou now, in addition to the garrisons of various cities and the border troops in the border passes, where are there any troops, and the troops that can be pulled out to fight are now on the battlefield of Zhuojun. Yuyang has 5,000 troops under the command of Captain Tian Kai and is stationed in Jicheng. But this is Youzhou's reserve force, and no one can move except for Yang Huang.

At this time, Xian Yufu hurried back to Jicheng. Yang Huang immediately consulted with him.

Xian Yufu thinks that Jizhou Mu Guodian is very righteous, and he helped in time when Youzhou was in the most critical situation, and solved Youzhou's urgent need, and now Youzhou should repay him. He suggested that 3,000 troops be transferred from Yuyang's 5,000 troops, rush to Zhuo County, cooperate with Li Hong's Fengyun Iron Cavalry, and completely drive Zhang Niujiao out of Zhuo County. After that, the entire Youzhou army was under the unified command of Li Hong, and immediately launched an attack on Zhongshan to deal with Guo Dian's army on the Jizhou battlefield.

As for Zhang Chun, the prime minister of Zhongshan, if he loses Zhongshan, sooner or later he will be dismissed and investigated by the imperial court, so there is no need to ignore him, and of course it is impossible to lend him troops. But he is familiar with Zhongshan Kingdom, and if he really wants to make meritorious contributions, he can set off with the army and help come up with ideas. In the future, if he really defeats the Yellow Turban Army and recaptures the Zhongshan Kingdom, he will also be regarded as a meritorious battle, and he can reduce his guilt a little.

Just as they were discussing this matter, the messenger of Jizhou Mu Guodian rushed to Jicheng.

Yang Huang hurriedly opened the letter, just read a few lines, and his face suddenly changed.