Chapter 38: The Courage to Kill and Smash

  After Luo Zheng killed to establish prestige and rectify military discipline, the discipline of the Western Liang Iron Cavalry was suddenly purified, and the soldiers no longer had to waste their energy on women's bellies, their movements became more swift and agile, and their combat effectiveness also increased greatly.

  These changes, soldiers did not intentionally observe, but the commander of the army school felt it.

  Li Meng, Wang Fang and other military schools have gone from initial resistance to thorough acceptance, and Luo Zheng's ability to recruit and fight well has earned him the support of these generals, so they naturally dare not make fun of Luo Zheng's military rules again.

  Even after leading his army into Xuzhou alone, he strictly disciplined his soldiers and did not allow them to violate military rules and discipline.

  The Western Liang soldiers hastily called out: "Two generals, it's really a pity to let them go like this! I've lived for so long and have never seen such beautiful women. Even if the two generals don't want them, since we brothers entered Central Plains, General Luo Zhen hasn't had a woman yet. Why not take them back and give them to General Luo Zhen? Hehe, when we return to Luoyang, it's also good to have a woman to warm the general's bed."

  Li Meng and Wang Fang first frowned, then their faces changed color.

  This Western Liang soldier is reasonable, Luo Zheng is to demonstrate the ruthlessness of military law, can be said to be meticulous, not only killing people to establish prestige, but also personally practicing it, never touching women in the army, this is also one of the reasons why soldiers have little contact with them.

  If only officials are allowed to set fires and the common people are not allowed to light lamps, how can they be convinced?

  Even if the soldiers don't say it out loud, they must also have grievances in their hearts.

  Luo Zheng had never been with a woman since the great army entered Central Plains, although many military officers wanted to comfort the general, they just thought about it in their hearts and didn't dare to take action, lest they get slapped in the face for trying to curry favor.

  However, if I return to Luoyang, I shouldn't be considered a woman anymore, right?

  Li Meng and Wang Fang exchanged a glance, each understanding the other's intention.

  Wang Fang shouted: "Where are the girls? Bring them over and let General see them first before talking."

  The soldiers of Western Liang finally breathed a sigh of relief and hastily agreed, running out in a hurry.

  Before long, several soldiers brought in a woman who was seventeen or eighteen years old.

  Li Meng and Wang Fang saw each other, and their eyeballs couldn't move anymore.

  All that can be seen is that the woman's figure is slender and beautiful, her face is delicate and lovely, with features that are extremely well-proportioned, as if they were carefully carved to perfection, a narrow and long face shape that is both refined and plump, combining to form an exceptionally beautiful face.

  Although her face was slightly pale due to excessive fright, she still had a pitiful and touching temperament that evoked sympathy.

  Such a beauty, even if it were a eunuch who saw her would be moved, let alone a normal man.

  No wonder those Western Liang soldiers were reluctant to let him go, risking their lives to remonstrate with him.

  Li Meng and Wang Fang were also stunned, each swallowing hard, thinking that such a beauty, if they could sleep with her for one night, would be willing to sacrifice ten years of their lives, but unfortunately the words had already been spoken, and she was to be presented to the general.

  "General, will you let go or not?"

  The Western Xia army had a sly smile on their faces and hastily asked.

  Li Meng and Wang Fang exchanged a glance, and immediately they understood each other's minds.

  Wang Fang asked the woman, "Little girl, do you have a husband's family, what should I call you?"

  The woman slightly fearful, lowered her head and replied: "I am Xiao Nu Gan Qian, I have not yet married."

  "Great, that's really good."

  Wang Fang chuckled a few times, waved his hand and shouted: "Bring the young lady down, take good care of her, don't be lazy."

  "Roger that."

  Several Western Liang soldiers responded loudly.

  Li Meng was afraid that these soldiers would not be able to hold on and called a few Western Liang soldiers over to instruct them for a moment before ordering several people to take Gan Xiang away, and also had someone prepare a horse-drawn carriage for Gan Xiang to ride in.

  The next day, Li Meng and Wang Fang ordered the army to have a hearty meal, and then set off northward, entering the state of Lu from Heyang, and entering the territory of Yanzhou from Luyang, then turning westward, burning, killing, looting, and rushing straight to Yangping.

  By the time Tao Qian's army arrived at Langling, the Western Liang army had long since departed.

  Looking at the ruined castle estate, Tao Qian was so saddened that he fell ill and couldn't get out of bed.

  After returning to Xuzhou, he lay in bed for more than a month before barely recovering.

  Dong County, Fan County

  Qiao Meng anxiously paced back and forth in the county government's main hall, unable to calm his mind.

  Following Cao Cao's plan, the various vassals divided their troops and advanced separately, each occupying strategic locations, surrounding and attacking the Western Liang cavalry as they entered the Central Plains.

  Qiao Mu led an army of 8,000 out of Huo, passing through Ye City and blocking a key passageway to the south.

  But as the army marched on, Qiao Yu finally realized how troublesome this Western Liang soldier was.

  This Xiliang cavalry is different from any Xiliang cavalry that Jia Xu has seen before. The Xiliang soldiers under Dong Zhuo have always been known for their bravery and fighting skills, attacking when they encounter strong enemies and pursuing when they encounter weak ones, although their attack is fierce and difficult to defend against, but their tactics are relatively simple.

  However, this Western Xia cavalry was completely different and never fought a decisive battle with Jiao Zan head-on, often hitting and running.

  However, as soon as Jiao Mian dozed off slightly, this Xiliang cavalry would immediately emerge and kill Jiao Mian by surprise, after killing hundreds of people and burning down several barracks, when Jiao Mian wanted to fight a decisive battle, they would immediately retreat far away.

  The Kwantung Army is all infantry, even if they want to chase, they can only watch the dust.

  Qiao Man's temper was as fierce as thunder, but these days, he had also been scared out of his wits.

  When leaving Xuzhou, there were 80,000 troops, but by the time they reached Fan County, there were less than 5,000 remaining defeated soldiers.

  Facing the endless harassment of the Western Liang cavalry, not only was Qiao Yu helpless, but the remaining less than 5,000 defeated soldiers were also exhausted and demoralized, wanting to find a place to hide and never be found by this damn Western Liang cavalry again.

  Qiao Meng was pacing back and forth in annoyance when a small school rushed in hastily.

  "My lord, it has been investigated clearly."

  The little general shouted: "The Western Liang rebels have already passed through Xu Chang and gone east to Ping Guo."

  Qiao Meng's face relaxed a bit, but he still asked somewhat anxiously: "Are you sure you saw it clearly?"

  The little school replied loudly: "It's clear at a glance, there has never been any mistake."

  That's great! That's awesome!

  Qiao Min finally let out a long sigh of relief and removed the huge rock that had been weighing on her mind.

  These days, he can be said to have lost his appetite and sleep, frightened by the sneak attack of the Western Cool Army.

  After hiding in Fan County, he didn't dare to continue northward and just hoped that this damn Western Liang army would leave Dongjun as soon as possible, lead the army southward, then his task would be completed, and he wouldn't have to be on tenterhooks all the time.

  Fortunately, yesterday this Western Xia cavalry finally turned east and went to Xu Chang.

  Qiao Meng could be said to have been bitten by a snake once and feared the rope for ten years. He was afraid that the Western Liang army would come back and launch a surprise attack again. So he kept sending people to keep an eye on the Western Liang army until it was confirmed that they had passed through Xuchang, only then did he truly breathe a sigh of relief.

  Order, the great army will return to Puyang.

  Qiao Feng immediately ordered his attendants and they no longer dared to surround this Western Liang army.

  Even if I will be blamed by other princes in the future, I don't care, nothing is more important than one's life.

  "Roger that."

  Yu Bujun also let out a sigh of relief and hastily responded, quickly running out.

  Qiao Zhen fully dressed in his official uniform and under the escort of his personal guards arrived at the designated location where more than 4,000 troops had already assembled.

  "I shall pass on your orders and set off."

  Qiao Wei waved his hand and urged on the war horse, galloping forward rapidly.

  Thousands of troops immediately followed, opening their legs and heading south, running that was fast.

  Just as the army had marched ten miles, a loud horn sounded, and the majestic and stirring sound of the ox-horn bugle suddenly rose to the sky.

  "What's with the horn?"

  Qiao Min almost fell off his horse in shock, and indeed became a startled bird.

  The words had barely fallen when the sound of killing shouts shook the earth, and then a dense black mass of Western Liang cavalry emerged from the dense forest on both sides of the path, led by a majestic Western Liang general who danced with his sword and galloped straight towards Qiao Man.

  Qiao Hu's soul flew out of his body in shock, and without saying another word, he mounted his horse and left immediately.

  The more than 4,000 soldiers who were ambushed by the Western Liang army had already been chilled to the bone by the endless sneak attacks, and suddenly encountered ambushes, where was there still a bit of will to fight? They also dropped their weapons and fled in all directions, it was indeed a defeat before the battle, the scene was chaotic and could not be opened.

  It's not that Jiaomu is careless, it's just that these damned Xiliang soldiers are too cunning.

  Although they had already passed through Xuchang, who would have thought that this damned Western Liang army would suddenly return to Fan County in just one night?

  It's less than a hundred miles from Xuchang to Fanxian, even if the cavalry comes and goes like the wind, wanting to kill from Xuchang to Fanxian in one night, plus the time spent on rest and hiding along the way, the soldiers hardly have any time to rest.

  "Are these Western Liang soldiers made of iron?"

  Qiao Man's mind even had such doubts, otherwise how could it be explained that the Xiliang army would kill from Xuchang to Fan County overnight.

  "Qiao Mu, where are you running off to, you useless thing!"

  Luo Zheng cracked his whip and danced with his sword, shouting loudly as he urged his horse on in hot pursuit.

  A strong gust of wind came suddenly, blowing up the black cloak behind him, making a rustling sound.

  Haha!

  Luo Zhengyu darted forward, his sword flashing swiftly as he struck out, sweeping past the neck of a fleeing infantryman.

  In the heat of the battle, a huge skull flew out.

  Not until the war horses had galloped far away did the headless corpse collapse to the ground, and there was no more movement.

  Four thousand Western Liang iron cavalry descended like a pack of wolves, killing the four thousand Eastern Commandery soldiers who cried out for their fathers and mothers, with corpses scattered all over the fields.

  Luo Zheng was in hot pursuit, Qiao Yu's eyes saw that he couldn't escape, gritted his teeth and rode the horse into the dense forest by the side of the road.

  After running for a few steps, the war horse was blocked by the lush forest and could no longer pass through.

  At the moment of life and death, Qiao Mu didn't care about anything else, hastily dismounted his horse and rushed in headfirst.

  When Luo Zheng rushed over on horseback, Qiao Man had already disappeared without a trace.

  "Hey, this piece of junk runs pretty fast."

  Luo Zheng swung his horse whip fiercely and had no choice but to rein in his horse and turn back.

  West of Dongping, a place that must be passed through when heading south, in a dense forest beside the official road.

  Five thousand elite soldiers quietly lay in ambush in the forest, gritting their teeth and enduring the harassment and bites of mosquitoes.

  Cao Cao stood with his horse's belly exposed, and the warhorse also had its hooves wrapped in cloth and its mouth tied up, quietly waiting for the Western Liang army to arrive.

  However, by noon, there was still no sign of him.

  Cao Cao's face showed a hint of doubt, the 4,000 Western Liang cavalry had passed through Xuchang yesterday afternoon, logically speaking, if Ruo Zheng wanted to head south from Dongping, this was the only way to go, and Xuchang was not far from here, the cavalry would arrive in half an hour.

  But looking at the sky, the sun is about to set in the west, but there is still no sign of the Western Cool cavalry.

  Cao Cao was usually very patient, but at this moment he couldn't help feeling a little restless.