Chapter 48: Counterattacking the Rebels

  Changshe

  Huangfu Song gathered the generals to discuss the deployment of troops, and was about to set out westward to Yangzhai when Zhao Rong, a cavalry commander, hastily rushed into the main tent.

  "General, there's news."

  Zhao Rong cupped his hands in salute and hastily said, "The scouting horse has reported back that General Zhu Kun's army was at a disadvantage in the first battle against the Yellow Turban rebels. They are now retreating towards Changshe with over 1 million Yellow Turbans pursuing and attacking them."

  "Huh?"

  "What?"

  "General Zhuo's great army was actually defeated by the Yellow Turban rebels?"

  "How is this possible!"

  The generals under his command were greatly surprised and immediately began to murmur in discontent.

  Huangfu Song's eyes narrowed and he asked in a deep voice: "Where is your great army now?"

  Zhao Rong replied: "We have already arrived fifty li west of Changsha. At most two hours later, we can arrive at Changsha."

  "General, General Zhu Huan's army is about to retreat from Changsha. To avoid heavy casualties, our army can quickly send troops to support and escort General Zhu Huan's army back to Changsha."

  "Not allowed."

  As soon as Cao Cao finished speaking, the Longshui school lieutenant Wu Qiong hastily said: "Now the Yellow Turban rebel army has more than 10 million people, with a vast military force. Our army is small and weak, and most of them are new recruits. If we fight, we will surely be defeated. We can deeply dig trenches and build high walls to defend Changsha firmly, and wait for a chance to make plans later."

  Zhou Jianxin thought that Wu Qiong, although having a good reputation for his talent, was only good at discussing military strategy on paper and would be unable to keep up with the demands of commanding troops.

  Another jailer loudly said: "The Yellow Turban rebels are numerous, but they are just a mob, what is there to fear?"

  Zhou Jian also stepped forward and said, "Although the Yellow Turban rebels are powerful, they lack training and armor, and are indeed a mob. Our army can attack them head-on, and even if we cannot defeat the Yellow Turban rebels in one battle, we can take this opportunity to train our troops."

  Huang Fu Cong nodded and said, "That's right, I also had this intention. Our army has 20,000 troops, many of whom are new recruits. Although Chang She is down, most of the soldiers have not experienced a real frontal assault. It's time to go and support Gong Wei's great army and practice military training at the same time."

  "General Mingjian!"

  The generals all nodded in agreement and said in unison.

  At that time, Huang Fu Song led 15,000 troops to march west from Changsha, leaving 1,000 soldiers to guard the city and take care of the wounded while repairing the city's defenses.

  The Ying River has many plains and very few passes that can be defended.

  The army marched swiftly, and when they reached a place twenty miles west of Changsha, the vanguard had already reported that Zhu Huan's troops had arrived ten miles ahead, with the Yellow Turbans in hot pursuit, their attack growing more ferocious.

  Huang Fu Song immediately ordered the army to form a battle array on the spot and personally climbed up a small hill to observe the enemy situation.

  In ancient times, ten li was equivalent to five kilometers. In a large-scale war involving over 100,000 people, even if the armies were separated by ten li, they could still see each other clearly. I remember when I was young, my home was only about five kilometers away from my grandmother's house, and from her village, you could see our small village of less than three hundred people. Even villages twenty kilometers apart could be seen from a high vantage point, unless the terrain was used to conceal their presence.

  On the boundless plain, Zhu Huan led his army of 20,000 in a swift and orderly retreat. The Yellow Turbans, numbering over 100,000, were hot on their heels, killing as they went. As far as the eye could see, the enemy was packed tightly together, like a swarm of locusts, with no discernible formation.

  Compared with more than 100,000 Yellow Turban rebels, Zhu Huan's 20,000-strong army was like a small boat in the midst of huge waves, which could capsize at any time.

  The earth-shaking battle cry and mournful wail resounded throughout the universe.

  Even if it's ten miles away, it can still be heard clearly.

  Huangfu Song's face revealed a stern expression, and he said in a deep voice: "This is the main force of the Yellow Turban rebels! The army is so vast, no wonder Gong Wei suffered a defeat in the first battle. If we don't quickly break through them, I'm afraid it will become an unstoppable momentum."

  The generals also showed a hint of disappointment in their eyes and nodded one after another.

  Zhou Jian said, "Fortunately, these over 100,000 Yellow Turban rebels are just a mob, although their momentum is grand, but they lack training. General Zhu Kun's 20,000-strong army can retreat calmly without being caught up in the chaos."

  Cao Cao also said, "General Zhou's words are reasonable. If it were not for this, General Zhu Ling's 20,000-strong army would find it difficult to retreat safely. After all, the strength of the two sides differs by more than five times, and most of General Zhu Ling's men are new recruits. If these tens of thousands of Yellow Turban rebels receive some training, even if their equipment is poor, General Zhu Ling's 20,000-strong army will find it difficult to resist."

  Huangfu Song nodded in agreement, "That's right. The terrain of Yingchuan is mostly flat plains, with no natural barriers to defend against the Yellow Turbans. If these over 100,000 Yellow Turban rebels were slightly better trained, then the 20,000-strong army led by you and General Wei would indeed be in great danger."

  "General, the Yellow Turban rebels are rushing forward in a swarm. Our army can now attack their two wings and defeat the rebels in one battle."

  Huang Fu Song said with a smile: "The commander has always had this intention, and all the generals will follow orders."

  "The end will be there."

  The generals hastened to take a step forward, clasped their hands and waited for orders.

  Huangfu Song said: "With Cao Cao as the main general, Zhou Jian as the deputy general, each leading their own troops and horses to intercept the rebel army's right wing; the other generals can lead their own troops and horses to follow their respective generals and intercept the rebel army's left wing."

  "Understood."

  The generals hastened to receive the order, Cao Cao and Zhou Jian rushed to lead their troops to attack the left and right wings of the Yellow Turban rebels.

  Huangfu Song shouted: "Where is Zhao Rong?"

  Commander Zhao Rong hastily stepped forward and said in a urgent tone: "I am the last general here."

  Huang Fu said: "You can lead your 3,000 cavalrymen to circle around the rebel army from behind and launch a surprise attack on their rear formation."

  "Understood."

  Zhao Rong hastily obeyed and went to inspect the troops.

  Yellow Turban Rebel Army General.

  A lone horseman came galloping, from a distance, the yellow scarf bandit on horseback suddenly let out a loud shout, "General, another group of government troops has arrived within fifty miles ahead, with nearly 20,000 men, and they have already started attacking from both sides."

  "What's this? Another twenty thousand imperial troops have arrived?"

  Bo was shocked and his face changed drastically in an instant. He sternly asked: "Why didn't you report it earlier?"

  "Uh, this..."

  Huang Jin scolded Hou Meng, who was taken aback and hastily said, "I'm also just now discovering the government troops."

  "Damn it."

  Bao Zhan's face turned pale, and after the remnants of the Yellow Turbans who had escaped from Changshe returned, he had already learned that Huangfu Song's 20,000-strong army was in Changshe, and at any time they might march westward, so he had long since sent out scouts.

  However, it was not expected that Huangfu Song's army had killed all the way to ten miles outside, and this group of bastards only came back to report.

  "Come on, take this scoundrel away and behead him!" Bo shouted in anger.

  "Ah! General, spare our lives, General, spare our lives!"

  Marquis Huo was so frightened that his soul flew away and he hastily dismounted from his horse, crawling on the ground and wailing miserably.

  Two fierce warriors pounced on Xi Hou, ignoring his cries for mercy. They pinned him to the ground and with a swift swing of their swords, beheaded him. In the heat of the moment, Xi Hou's head rolled on the ground, his eyes still wide open in death.

  Bo shouted loudly: "Pass on the order, if there is any further delay in military action, this commander will definitely behead without pardon."

  "General, since the government troops from Changsha have also arrived, our army can take advantage of the situation and launch a surprise attack to defeat them completely. Then we can directly lead the army to attack Luoyang. As long as we eliminate the Emperor and the officials inside Luoyang City, the Han dynasty will be overthrown. At that time, General Zuo will become the Emperor, and you, General, will have made a great contribution, at least you will be enfeoffed as a king."

  "That's right!"

  "General, give the order quickly!"

  The officers heard this and each of them was overjoyed, immediately cheering and shouting in excitement.

  "Shut up, all of you."

  Bo Zhong let out a stern shout, which cut off the excited chatter of the various generals. Infuriated, he loudly cursed: "A group of fools! Now our army is pursuing Zhu Yun's 20,000 government troops, and they have already become disorganized. If Huangfu Song's large army attacks us directly from both sides, then we will certainly be in danger. You bunch of fools, you don't even understand this basic principle, how can you still be generals?"

  "Uh..."

  All the generals suddenly became speechless, one by one turning their heads away, their eyeballs rolling around in all directions, not daring to look straight at Bo's intimidating gaze.

  Bo Zhong, although not a great general, had read some military books and knew some common sense about leading troops, unlike the other generals under his command who were completely illiterate. He immediately realized that Huangfu Song's army was already ten miles away, and it seemed clear that they were going to attack from both wings, if he didn't gather his troops quickly, the 200,000-strong army might be in danger of collapse.

  It's too late.

  Bo Zhong immediately drank: "Pass the commander's order, and let the vanguard continue to pursue Zhu Yun's army, at all costs, to block Zhu Yun's army for this commander, in order to prevent Zhu Yun's army from counterattacking."

  "Understood."

  There were already close guards loudly taking orders, and immediately turned their horses' heads and galloped away.

  Bo Zai loudly ordered: "The central army and rear army will form an array on the spot and attack the government army."

  "Understood."

  The generals responded loudly and hastily dispersed to gather their troops.

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  If you think this book is barely readable, please collect it and vote for it! During the recommendation period, two updates will be made every day. However, historical articles are not easy to write, especially Three Kingdoms stories, which require a lot of thought and planning to describe strategies and wars properly, or they will appear low IQ. Please forgive me for the slow updates!

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