Chapter 343 Newcomers enter the capital, Liaodong Wuhuan is pacified

This year's winter in Luoyang was another extremely sad year.

Jinmao only supplied some anthracite and smokeless carbon to the emperor, but did not give any extra to the ministers.

Nowadays, people outside call Luoyang the prison city. Only officials who have committed minor crimes and are not spared the death penalty will have the opportunity to go in.

Look, a new batch of "criminals" is about to arrive, all of them are powerful nobles and tyrants outside who are difficult for Jin Mao to deal with, and they are all thrown to Liu Xie for handling.

Nowadays, the development outside is changing day by day.

I won’t say much about the areas south of the Yangtze River, as every household has surplus food.

The section north of the Yangtze River to the Huai River is also quite good, a thriving scene.

The section from the north of the Huai River to the Yellow River was somewhat miserable. Except for Xuzhou, which recovered quickly by relying on the profits from salt and iron, the rest of the provinces, such as Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Qingzhou, Sili, and Liangzhou, had a long and arduous task of reconstruction.

North of the Yellow River, except for the fertile plain of Jizhou, other places are not easy to live in.

Youzhou continued to use most of the policies left by Liu Yu, and it would take at least three to five years to recover.

Bingzhou is in a miserable situation. Neither its parents love it, and Jinmao’s hands are not long enough to reach out. It can only rely on the locals to hold on.

Even worse, this winter the Huns and Xianbei from the north moved south, adding another level of difficulty to Bingzhou's already difficult situation. Only a few Han people dared to stay there, and they all fled south.

The northern nomadic tribes failed to gain any benefits in Bingzhou, so they moved to Youzhou.

Youzhou is not easy to deal with. Jin Mao did not withdraw any of his 30,000 cavalry to the south (Yuan and Cao’s cavalry had been supplemented). With 100,000 against 30,000, the nomadic tribe suffered its first major defeat, with more than 10,000 cavalry killed or wounded.

The commander-in-chief Zhao Yun and the Youzhou chief Yu Fan immediately sent a letter to ask the King of Wu for permission to march to the frontier.

Jinmao approved two months without hesitation. No more than that. We would just do as much as we could in these two months. All systems were calculated according to the regular military system.

At this moment, the 30,000 Turks were like chickens with their blood pumped up, charging into Mobei and charging at anyone they saw.

Because of the Guan Yu incident, Zhang Liao was demoted to Youzhou and became the leader of a cavalry garrison.

There was thick snow in Youzhou during the cold winter, and Zhang Liao was unlucky enough to be assigned to the east to participate in the war.

There are not many big men in the Eastern Xianbei, but the Wuhuan are relatively powerful.

this day.

Zhang Liao's 10,000-cavalry troop accidentally encountered the Wuhuan looting the Han people.

When fighting against Yuan and Cao, Wuhuan followed Zhao Yun and made some achievements, winning the favor of Jin Mao, but as time went by, the true nature of Wuhuan was exposed.

Zhang Liao could not stand the Wuhuan's behavior, so he broke away from the main force and wiped out the marauding Wuhuan cavalry.

This stirred up a hornet's nest.

The Wuhuan people in the three eastern counties of Youzhou came out in full force, with over 30,000 infantry and cavalry!
The Wuhuan leader Tadun threatened that Zhang Liao would pay for his blood debt with blood.

The general leading the troops in the east was Xu Huang, who immediately summoned Zhang Liao to inquire about what had happened.

In terms of closeness of relationship, Zhang Liao and Xu Huang are both from Shanxi and their dialects are not much different, so they should have been closer. However, Xu Huang disliked Zhang Liao's previous help to Guan Yu and had preconceived notions about him.

"Zhang Wenyuan, this matter started because of you."

Xu Huang asked, "Do you know your crime?"

Zhang Liao's face froze when he heard this, but he regained his composure. He knew that it was useless to argue at this time. The most urgent task was to deal with the upcoming Wuhuan army. He saluted Xu Huang with his hands, and said in a firm and calm voice: "General Xu, I know that this action may be reckless, but as a border guard, it is my duty to protect the people and resist foreign enemies. How can I sit idly by while the Wuhuan plunder? However, since this has happened, I am willing to bear all the consequences and swear to defend the border until the threat of Wuhuan is eliminated."

"As for helping General Guan earlier, it was out of brotherhood, and Liao believed it was the right choice. On the battlefield, things change rapidly, and we should focus on the overall situation and not pay attention to small details. I hope General Xu can understand Liao's painstaking efforts."

Xu Huang's eyes moved slightly when he heard this. He naturally understood that what Zhang Liao said was true, and his loyalty and bravery were also obvious to all. However, he could not let go of his disdain for Guan Yu immediately. He pondered for a moment and said, "Zhang Wenyuan, no matter how eloquent you are, it is useless. Either you serve as a vanguard and kill the generals and seize the flag, or I will hold you accountable for this!"

Zhang Liao was shocked when he heard this, and then he bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, sir! I will make arrangements immediately and will not fail in my mission!"

After saying this, Zhang Liao turned around and was ready to go, his steps firm and powerful, as if every step was on the key point of the battle. He knew very well that although Xu Huang's doubts were out of personal emotion, they were also a reflection of the strict discipline in the army. Only by proving his worth with practical actions could he quell all criticism.

Zhang Liao returned to the camp and immediately summoned his soldiers. His eyes were sharp and his voice was steady and powerful: "Brothers, General Xu has ordered us to show the might of our Liaodong cavalry with thunderous force! Although the Wuhuan are numerous, the courage of one person can determine the outcome of today's battle! Do you dare to fight to the death with me?"

These people were all Zhang Liao's personal followers, and their shouts were deafening.

Zhang Liao deployed a detailed battle plan, from scouting the enemy to ambush positions, from troop allocation to signal transmission, every link was carefully considered. Zhang Liao emphasized that this battle was not only to complete the mission, but also to prove the bravery of the Liao army and to defend our honor and beliefs.

As night fell, Zhang Liao personally led the elite cavalry and approached the enemy camp silently under the cover of darkness. They shuttled through the woods like ghosts, and every step was precise and accurate, as if they were integrated into the night.

With a low horn, Zhang Liao's troops rushed down the mountain like a tiger, suddenly attacking the enemy from the side. Fire shot up into the sky, shouts and screams shook the earth, and the Wuhuan troops were caught off guard by this sudden attack and their formation was in chaos.

Zhang Liao led the troops, holding a spear, and was invincible. Every spear accurately stabbed the enemy's vital points. His bravery inspired every soldier to move forward bravely, fearless of life and death, just to complete the mission.

"Zhang Liao! Zhang Liao!"

In the chaos, there were only about 100 cavalrymen left out of the 200 cavalrymen in the camp, but they were still gathering in the direction of Zhang Liao's shout.

The Wuhuan seemed to know that Zhang Liao was the main commander, and after the confusion they began to stop the troops from carrying out the encirclement and suppression.

Zhang Liao rushed left and right, but was ultimately unable to break through the numerical gap.

at this time.

"Wind! Wind! Wind! Strong wind!"

Zhang Liao was so frightened when he heard the roar that he shouted, "Get off the horse! Get off the horse!"

Zhang Liao and his men had just hidden under their horses when arrows rained down on them.

Most of the two thousand Wuhuan troops that had just gathered were shot down on the spot and lost their ability to resist.

Zhang Liao and his men were lucky, but their war horses suffered a great disaster, with only one in ten surviving.

Fortunately, the Wuhuan camp had plenty of war horses. Zhang Liao had no time to feel sad and shouted, "Follow me closely!"

Zhang Liao and his companions had only run a few dozen steps when a large number of cavalry rushed in from the direction Zhang Liao was advancing.

"kill!"

The only thing Zhang Liao had in his eyes was the stable, and he wished he had two more legs.

Military exploits!
They are all military achievements!
If we were a step later, how much merit would we lose? After taking such a big risk, how could we fail at this moment?

Fortunately, his subordinates understood Zhang Liao very well and followed him closely.

Finally having his warhorse back, Zhang Liao raised his spear high and shouted, "Brothers, follow me and kill!"

The horses galloped, the hooves thundered, Zhang Liao was the first to lead, like a black lightning that cut through the haze of the battlefield. The spear in his hand turned into a silver dragon shadow, and every swing was accompanied by the fall of the enemy, blood splattered, but it aroused his fighting spirit.

All around, there were shouts and fights between the enemy and us, but in this chaos, Zhang Liao's team was like an unstoppable torrent. Wherever they passed, the enemy retreated one after another, and no one dared to confront them. They followed Zhang Liao closely, with the same light flashing in their eyes - that was the desire for victory and the persistence for honor.

"For military merit, for the honor of being a general, kill!" Zhang Liao's voice penetrated the hustle and bustle of the battlefield and inspired every soldier. Every time he charged, it was like a shot of adrenaline injected into the entire army, boosting morale.

At this moment, an enemy general wearing heavy armor and holding a huge axe rushed from the flank, intending to cut off Zhang Liao's attack. But Zhang Liao was no ordinary man, he sneered, stretched his body, and dodged the sharp edge of the huge axe like a dragon playing in the water, and at the same time shook his spear, going straight to the enemy's heart.

"Suffer to death!"

The spear pierced the enemy general's armor accurately and hit his heart. The enemy general fell to the ground with his eyes wide open and a look of disbelief on his face. His huge body fell to the ground with a bang, splashing a cloud of dust.

This scene shocked everyone on the battlefield even more. At this moment, Zhang Liao's reputation spread quickly to every corner like a raging fire.

"Kill!" The soldiers' shouts resounded even louder in the sky. They seemed to be infected by Zhang Liao's bravery, and each of them burst out with unprecedented fighting power.

The fighting lasted all night. Among the more than 30,000 Wuhuan infantry and cavalry, more than 5,000 were killed or wounded, and more than 10,000 were captured, but more than 10,000 were still at large.

In the early morning, when the first ray of sunlight shone on the earth, Zhang Liao stood at the highest point of the battlefield, looking at the remnants of the Wuhuan fleeing in the distance, with a flash of determination and calmness in his eyes. He knew that true victory was not only about killing on the battlefield, but also about how to exchange the greatest peace at the lowest cost. So he quickly summoned his generals and deployed a strategy of pursuit and appeasement.

"General Xu, do not be arrogant in victory, and do not be discouraged in defeat. Although we have won a great victory in today's battle, there are still some bandits that have not been eliminated. I suggest that we immediately divide the troops into two groups. One group will be led by me to pursue and kill the fleeing enemies and make sure they are all captured in one fell swoop; the other group will be led by General Xu to go to the nearby villages and appease the people."

Xu Huang was refreshed upon hearing this and asked, "Wenyuan, do you still have the energy to chase after Tadun?"

Zhang Liao's eyes were bloodshot, and he laughed loudly, "Tadun certainly didn't expect our army to dare to pursue him. Now is the best time to capture him in one fell swoop!"

"You are so good, Zhang Wenyuan!" Xu Huang also laughed and said, "Well, I'll give you the credit. I will follow your arrangements and stay here to settle the rear."

After that, Xu Huang approached Zhang Liao, punched him on the shoulder and said, "Don't let my kindness go to waste!"

"Easy to capture!" Zhang Liao raised his spear and clasped his fists confidently, saying, "Brother Gongming, please give me another 500 cavalrymen."

"Don't look down on me!" Xu Huang shouted, "Deputy General Huang, transfer 2,000 cavalry to Zhang Liao!"

"Yes." Deputy General Huang responded.

Zhang Liao clasped his fists and said no more.

Soon, a team of two thousand cavalrymen chased in the direction of Tadun's escape.

Liaoxi County.

As expected, the Wuhuan leader Tadun did not run far. He fled from Youbeiping County to Liaoxi County and never moved again. More than 5,000 cavalrymen rested on the spot.

After finally making a fire and cooking, just when they were ready to eat, Zhang Liao arrived with his men.

"The Han army is coming!" The Wuhuan cavalry lost all will to fight, and more than a thousand of them knelt down on the spot to surrender.

"What a lowly person!" Tadun was furious. He mounted his horse and led his men to kill his own people first.

"Stop, Lord Tadun!" An old Wuhuan general stepped forward and blocked Tadun's horse, his eyes full of helplessness and determination. "We are exhausted and our morale is low. It is useless to fight again. The Han army is powerful, and General Zhang Liao is the bravest of the three armies. We cannot contend with them. Surrendering may save more lives of our people."

Upon hearing this, Tadun's eyes widened with anger, the long sword in his hand trembled, and he cut off the head with one blow. He looked around and saw that his subordinates were frightened, their morale had dropped to the bottom, and a nameless anger rose in his heart.

"Anyone who dares to disrupt the morale of our army will be killed without mercy!"

Tadun roared: "The Han people will treat prisoners kindly, but they will never be lenient towards foreigners!"

"We have no way out. We can only fight our way out to have a chance to survive."

"Follow me, my men!"

After these words, the Wuhuan cavalry chose to believe what Tadun said, and those kneeling on the ground picked up their swords and mounted their horses.

Zhang Liao saw it clearly and understood that Tadun was the key. If he could not get rid of Tadun, with two thousand against five thousand, it was still unclear who would win or lose.

"Deputy General Huang, take a team over there."

Zhang Liao began to give orders, saying, "The rest of you, follow me!"

The two thousand men immediately divided into two teams of a thousand men and attacked.

Upon seeing this, Tadun also sent half of his men to fight against Deputy General Huang's troops, and he rushed towards Zhang Liao head-on.

The brave Tadun was determined to kill this hateful Han man with his own hands.

Zhang Liao's eyes were stern, and he was full of fighting spirit. He knew that the duel with Tadun would be the key to this battle. He held his spear tightly, and the tip of the spear flashed a cold light in the sun, as if foreshadowing the coming killing storm. Facing Tadun's violent attack, Zhang Liao was not afraid, but instead aroused his bloodiness and fighting spirit.

He was agile, like a dragon swimming out of the sea, moving freely between the war horses, and every swing of his spear was extremely accurate, hitting the enemy's vital points. Although Tadun was brave, he gradually felt the pressure doubled under Zhang Liao's clever maneuvers. The two fought back and forth, and the battle was indisputable. The shouts and screams around seemed to have faded away, leaving only the clanging of weapons clashing and the silent contest between the two.

At this moment, Zhang Liao saw an opening, and his spear accelerated suddenly, turning into a silver lightning, piercing Tadun's heart. Tadun was horrified and hurriedly blocked with his sword, but Zhang Liao's spear contained a huge force, which almost made his sword fall out of his hand. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhang Liao turned his body to the side, swept his spear horizontally, and hit Tadun's side waist hard, knocking him off his horse and falling heavily to the ground.

Without saying a word, Zhang Liao raised his spear and mounted his horse, charging towards Tadun.

"Ahhh!" Tadun screamed.

Zhang Liao rode his horse, drew his sword, leaned over and beheaded him with one blow.

"Tadun is dead!"

"Why don't you surrender?"

Upon seeing this, the surrounding Wuhuan cavalry exclaimed that half of them surrendered, but the other half tried to flee.

"Deputy General Huang, the surrendered soldiers are in your hands."

After Zhang Liao finished speaking, he led his soldiers to pursue.

Liaodong was pacified.

(End of this chapter)