Sili Prefecture,
Luoyang,
Imperial Palace,
While the entire Han Dynasty was at war, this place was still filled with song and dance.
However,
Compared to the relaxed atmosphere of the past, the mood was a little heavy.
"Reporting to Your Majesty~!"
Yuan Huai, the Grand Commandant, stepped forward and reported with a hint of panic,
"The Yellow Turban army of four hundred thousand has already set off yesterday and will reach Hulao Pass in a few days!"
"Hmph~!"
Liu Hong, who had already received the report, snorted coldly and rebuked through gritted teeth.
"Grand Commandant Yuan, I'm not asking about the Yellow Turbans, I'm asking about my Han Dynasty's valiant soldiers?!"
"And..."
"Didn't you say a few days ago that the Yellow Turban rebels might seek amnesty?"
"I was already prepared to give them Jizhou, so why are they moving now?"
"This..."
Yuan Huai, who was angrily reprimanded by Emperor Ling, felt a sense of bitterness.
He wanted to know too!
Hadn't he agreed with that fellow Zhang Jiao a few days ago?
Not only would he give him Jizhou,
If their Yellow Turbans could conquer Youzhou, he would give them Youzhou as well!
But what was going on now?
Qin Feng was openly entering Jizhou, and you still wanted to attack Luoyang?
Even if you really took it, so what?
When the reinforcements arrived,
If they attacked from both sides with Qin Feng, could your Yellow Turban troops survive?
Alas,
Zhang Jiao and Yuan Huai's plan was good, but plans could not keep up with changes!
Just as Tang Zhou appeared before the Yellow Turban rebellion, a fierce general has now emerged among the Yellow Turban rebels.
Who?
Zhang Liang!
That's right.
You heard correctly.
One of the three Zhang brothers, the great general known as the General of Earth, Zhang Liang!
...
On the official road leading to Luoyang,
Among the Yellow Turban army,
A general with a slightly troubled expression looked at the martial general at the forefront with a wry smile.
"General... General of Earth, would this be... not good?"
"What's not good about it?"
The martial general at the forefront, Zhang Liang, snorted coldly and gritted his teeth,
"Big brother and second brother actually listened to slander and wanted to negotiate peace with the Han Dynasty?"
"How can that be!"
"We sacrificed hundreds of thousands of men to achieve this situation!"
"Why should they just negotiate peace if they say so?"
"This..."
The general's words faltered upon hearing Zhang Liang's statement, and he mumbled,
"Didn't... didn't they say that Qin Feng kid is coming from behind?"
"Qin Feng?!"
It was better not to mention Qin Feng, but as soon as Qin Feng was mentioned, Zhang Liang's anger intensified.
After all,
He was the one who suggested that Cheng Yuanzhi and the others attack Youzhou back then!
Who knew that Qin Feng, this great dragon, was hidden within?
Not only did he successfully capture Zhuo County and occupy Youzhou, but he also had over a hundred thousand armored soldiers under his command.
How could this be?
Although he didn't believe Qin Feng was a Yellow Turban in his heart, he was undeniably from the Yellow Turbans.
This move by Qin Feng,
Not only did his colleagues look at him strangely, but even his elder brother Zhang Jiao had implicitly asked him where Qin Feng's large army came from.
Isn't that obvious?
Where would I know!
If I had so many elite troops under my command, would I still be playing house here with you?
I would have led my cavalry straight into Luoyang long ago!
That being said.
No one believed him!
Or rather,
They knew perfectly well but just found an excuse to target him.
Just like this negotiation.
Oh?
You were talking nicely, Jizhou, and Youzhou.
What about me?
Jizhou is definitely the eldest brother's, and Youzhou, once captured, is the second brother's.
Am I, the third brother, unloved?
Moreover,
Second brother Zhang Bao went out to develop early, and now generals like Bo Cai are led by him.
It can be said that
Half of the four hundred thousand Yellow Turbans occupying the border between Jizhou and Sili were brought by his second brother Zhang Bao.
The rest?
They belong to the elder brother!
That's right!
Even if only in name, there was no share for him, the third brother.
His own forces?
His own forces were Cheng Yuanzhi and Deng Mao, along with their fifty thousand Yellow Turbans!
As a result?
Not only were two great generals lost in one battle, but less than twenty thousand of the fifty thousand Yellow Turban soldiers returned.
Just like this,
He had fallen from being one of the three giants of the Yellow Turbans to a position worse than that of a regional commander.
If not for using his elder brother's banner this time, he wouldn't even be able to mobilize these fifty thousand troops under his command.
Yes!
The military intelligence received by Luoyang regarding the mobilization of Yellow Turbans was Zhang Liang's fifty thousand Yellow Turbans.
The Han Dynasty believed these were merely the vanguard of the Yellow Turban rebels.
But what was the reality?
This was merely Zhang Liang acting on his own initiative and roping in two regional commanders to accompany him.
However, it didn't matter!
Because,
Zhang Liang's sudden move directly disrupted the plan for negotiation.
The Han Dynasty felt that, with them already at the gates, what was the point of negotiating?
The Yellow Turbans were the same.
Seeing that the enemy was at their doorstep, you wanted to negotiate and retreat?
Tell me!
Did you take money?
Do you really think there are good people among these Yellow Turbans who dared to rebel?
They were all bandits and thugs!
Anyone who hadn't taken a few lives was not qualified to be a minor leader.
And what are the characteristics of bandits and thugs?
Taking advantage!
It was manageable before when the three Zhang brothers were in charge, and they could advance and retreat together.
But now?
Your third brother has already taken the lead, what are you talking about here?
Without even waiting for Zhang Jiao's order,
Groups and teams of Yellow Turbans independently broke camp and pursued Zhang Liang.
"Bang~!"
"Crackle~!"
"Clang..."
Zhang Jiao, who had been throwing things around in his room for a quarter of an hour, sighed and looked up.
"Third brother has failed me!"
"Third brother has failed me!"
"..."
Zhang Bao, who had been waiting outside for a long time, was getting impatient.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
"Enter!"
"Big brother~!"
Zhang Bao, who had rushed into the room with a whoosh, said with an anxious expression,
"What should we do now? When do we break camp? The brothers can't hold back anymore!"
"You, you... Alas!"
Zhang Jiao pointed at Zhang Bao, wanting to say something, but finally sighed.
"Whenever you want to break camp, you can break camp!"
"???"
Zhang Bao understood the implied meaning in Zhang Jiao's words and said with some surprise,
"Big brother, aren't you going?"
"Where am I going?"
Zhang Jiao glared at Zhang Bao, who then pointed in the direction of Youzhou.
"Qin Feng's first legion has already entered, aren't you afraid of being attacked from both sides?!"
"Uh..."
Hearing Zhang Jiao mention this, Zhang Bao's voice faltered, and he quickly cupped his hands and said,
"Since that is the case, then I will trouble you, elder brother. I and third brother will handle Luoyang!"
"Hmm~!"
Zhang Jiao nodded expressionlessly, but still couldn't help but remind him again.
"You must be vigilant against rebels within the army; someone has definitely accepted the court's money~!"
"Cough, cough~!"
Zhang Bao, who was about to turn and leave, stumbled as he heard this and almost fell to the ground.
"Don't worry, big brother, second brother understands. I will always pay attention to them!"
"Hmm?"
Zhang Jiao frowned, looking at Zhang Bao's retreating back with some confusion.
Could it be... Could it be that this fellow already knows who the rebels are?