Chapter 56: Withdrawal of the Long Society

  Wang Xu, Sun Jian, Gao Shun, Wang Fei! What combination can the Yellow Turbans resist? A moment later, under the leadership of the four men, the left wing of the Yellow Turban army collapsed completely. Zhu Jun's army finally managed to break free from the entangled battle and could safely retreat!

  Before Wang Xu went to find Zhu Jun, his order had already been transmitted one step ahead.

  "General Sun, the rear and central armies of the Yellow Turbans have gradually stabilized their positions. Moreover, the bandit general Bo Cai has also sent reinforcements to support the left wing. General Zhu Huan orders you to withdraw quickly and not to be attached to the battle! If the Yellow Turbans regroup their defeated army and add the reinforcements that are coming, if we are surrounded again, the consequences will be unbearable..."

  Sun Jian nodded at the swift messenger and immediately ordered: "I will lead my troops to cover the rear, while the rest of you retreat immediately!"

  Saying that, he turned his head and smiled at Wang Xu: "You can withdraw quickly too! With me covering the rear, there's no problem."

  Actually, Wang Xu had been fighting for so long and felt very tired. After all, he was still young, and his physical strength couldn't keep up with these strong men. Upon hearing this, he stopped showing off and immediately cupped his hands to say: "Then General, take care!"

  Having finished speaking, he led his troops to quickly withdraw from the battlefield along with the main force of the army...

  The whole army hastened on its way through the snow, and when they had crossed the Hulu Pass, Zhu Huan gave another order to re-form the ranks and wait.

  But this time, Wang Xu was arranged at the end, so basically there will be no fight!

  "Husband? Why are we continuing to retreat and yet stopping here?"

  He glanced at Xu Shu, who looked puzzled, and King Xiang brought his war horse closer. He smiled and didn't answer directly, but instead asked in a low voice: "Wife, hasn't this Huangfu General appeared all along? And he also has nearly 10,000 soldiers under his command who haven't entered the battlefield?"

  "Hmm! Apart from the 4,000 men on our side and the nearly 10,000 cavalry reinforcements who arrived earlier, General Huangfu should still have around 10,000 men at his disposal."

  "This is right, the reason why Huangfu Song did not put all his troops into battle was to make Bo have some concerns and dare not put all his reserve troops into battle. After all, our goal is just to repel the Yellow Turbans who are attacking us from three sides, so that Zhu Jun's army can retreat safely."

  Xu Shu nodded upon hearing this, but immediately afterwards disdainfully said: "This Bao Cai is really too stupid, doesn't he know how to launch a surprise attack? If they had ambushed us on the road and caught us off guard, perhaps they would have already won!"

  "Haha! Do you think Bo is Zhuge Liang? With so many roads around, how did he know which one we'd take?"

  "Oh, really?"

  Xu Shu awkwardly smiled, but then looked at Wang Xu with confusion: "Then what does this have to do with us stopping here?"

  Xu Shu still looked puzzled, Wang Xu couldn't help but laugh and said: "Do you think it's better to let Bo catch up with us now, or should we give him a good beating first and then retreat calmly?"

  This time, Xu Shu remained silent for a long while before lifting his head. He took a glance at the distant black mouth of the gourd and smiled slightly: "I understand, this is to set up an ambush, then make a surprise attack, drive off Bo Zhou after he's been shocked, and then slowly retreat!"

  "Hmm! Absolutely right, although it can't bring huge damage to Bocai, but it can make us pay a smaller price in the process of retreating!"

  As soon as Wang Xu's voice fell, the sound of killing had already come from afar from the direction of Hulu Kou, and Sun Jian led the rear troops to fight and retreat, gradually appearing in everyone's eyes.

  As a large number of yellow turbans poured into the narrow neck of the gourd, the mountains on both sides suddenly burst forth with thick flames and uniform shouts! The momentum was so great that even Wang Xu was startled, and if he hadn't known better, he would have thought there were tens of thousands of brave soldiers on the mountain!

  The Yellow Turban rebels were even more terrified, and in a state of confusion, they were frightened to the extreme. Huangfu Song's actions were even faster, without waiting for the enemy commander to give any orders, countless logs and rocks poured down, and dense arrows fell continuously on the heads of the Yellow Turbans.

  The Yellow Turban troops were suddenly thrown into chaos, rushing backward in a panic and shouting in alarm.

  "Ah! I've been tricked......"

  "There is an ambush..."

  "There are too many people, everyone quickly withdraw..."

  "Zhu Jun's cavalry is also ahead and will soon be back..."

  The intense bombardment lasted for a long time, and when the timing was ripe, the imperial army on both sides of the mountain slope suddenly rushed down like a landslide.

  Seeing this, Zhu Jun was also extremely decisive and quickly dispatched troops to join the counterattack from the front!

  Because the sky was extremely dark, the Yellow Turban rebels who had fallen into chaos didn't know how many people were charging over and scattered in a panic, fleeing back along their original route...

  After this battle, Bo was no longer dared to pursue at full speed, but only steadily approached. Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun also sent out elite cavalry from time to time to harass, and they led the defeated army to retreat slowly to Changsha in the north without any danger!

  In December 183 AD, Wang Xu and others followed the defeated imperial army to enter Changsha slowly, besieging the isolated city. Bo Cai led his 100,000-strong army, approaching the city walls, calling for battle every day!

  But in the north, Lu Zhi won battle after battle, but his progress was very slow. The whole country was shaken and everyone was terrified!

  In the next half month, the situation in the court changed greatly. The Central Regular Attendant Lü Qiang was hated by Zhang Rang and other Central Regular Attendants because he had helped persuade Emperor Ling to lift the party prohibition and pardon all the party members. They jointly submitted a memorial to frame him, which eventually forced Lü Qiang to kill himself at home. However, they did not stop there, but also confiscated his family property and arrested his family members.

  Shizhong, Hebei people Xiang Xu and Langzhong, Zhongshan people Zhang Jun jointly accused eunuchs of their crimes, but were instead framed by Zhang Rang and others, arrested and executed!

  Taiwei Yang She was dismissed for failing to quickly quell the Yellow Turbans, and Tai Bao Deng Sheng became Taiwei. Zhang Ji, the Minister of Works, was dismissed, and Zhang Wen, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, was appointed as Minister of Works...

  Thinking of the great events that had taken place in the past half month, Wang Xu stood on the city wall and gazed out at the Yellow Turban camp, letting out a long sigh.

  "In these chaotic times, eunuchs are still so rampant, persecuting the loyal and good, I really don't know if our great Han dynasty is truly going to decline!"

  "Alas! Eunuchs are indeed a calamity for the country and its people!"

  Gao Shun, who was standing by with his sword at the ready, also furrowed his brow upon hearing this and spoke in a tone of great indignation!

  Before the two could say more, Wang Fei's voice came from afar. "Third Brother! I've finally found you, what are you hiding here for? General Huangfu wants to see you immediately!"

  Looking back at Wang Fei who was walking quickly towards him, Wang Xu asked doubtfully: "What's going on again?"

  "I don't know either, just calling your name to let you go this time!"

  "Hmm!" He nodded and set off immediately with Gao Shun and Wang Fei towards the Changsha County Government, despite being puzzled in his heart.

  "Huangfu General, I heard you're looking for me?"

  Wang Xu came alone to the temporary conference hall set up by the county government and saw Huangfu Song, who was talking in a low voice with Zhu Jun.

  "Hehe, you've finally arrived, I have something important to discuss with you!"

  "Hmm!" Seeing this, Wang Xu didn't say much either, turned around and closed the door properly before quickly walking over.

  "Wang Xu, I and Gong Wei have already come up with a plan to defeat the Yellow Turbans, but for now we still need a general who is both intelligent and brave to do two things! Originally, I was going to let General Sun go, but after thinking about it, I think you are more suitable!"

  Upon hearing this, Wang Xu finally had a 50% understanding in his heart. However, on the surface, he still pretended to be clueless and asked: "I don't know which two things?"