Creating momentum

  Upon hearing this, Gao Fei felt that Ge Xun was a man of great character, although he was loyal to the Han dynasty, as a friend, he could also be ruthless. He chuckled and bowed his head to Ge Xun: "Since Brother Yuan Gu doesn't consider me an outsider, then I, Gao Zi Yu, won't consider Brother Yuan Gu an outsider either. To be honest, these so-called private soldiers were indeed handpicked by me from the Han army. The theft at Chen Cang's armory a few days ago was also my doing, only...at that time, something unexpected happened, and my subordinates accidentally injured Lord Fu."

  "Ha! It seems I was right after all. With my understanding of the rebels, even someone as clever as Han Sui wouldn't be able to come up with such a detailed plan. Lord Fu's injury is not serious, just a minor flesh wound that has already healed. However, this incident has served as a wake-up call for us - the defense of the treasury is still quite weak. Since these supplies have fallen into your hands, it's better than them falling into the rebels'. Besides, what was stolen was only one-tenth of the treasury's contents, which is nothing but a drop in the bucket for the imperial court. Let's just consider this as a form of assistance from me and Lord Fu to you."

  Gao Fei smiled and said: "Then thank you, Brother Yuangu."

  Gai Xun said: "No need to thank, but in the future if there's a similar situation, please notify me first so that your subordinates won't overdo it."

  Hearing Gai Xun's words with such sarcastic meaning, Gao Fei hastily said: "Yuan Gu brother, rest assured, there will absolutely not be any similar situations in the future."

  Gai Xun said: "Lord Hou, let's follow the main army!"

  Gao Fei immediately ordered his flying feather troops to follow the Han army, and many more flags were separated from the Han army, making the momentum look even greater. Cao Cao was in front, Ge Xuan was in the middle, and Gao Fei was at the back, with the three men coordinating with each other as they marched forward. All that could be seen were the fluttering flags of the Han army, and all that could be heard were the drumbeats echoing through the valleys, as the 9,000-strong troops made a show of force equivalent to 60,000 men.

  These days, the Flying Feather Troop's training has been exceptionally strict. In just one short month, these originally already impressive warriors from Liangzhou have transformed into an elite force within the elite forces. What's even more precious is that they no longer have the arrogance and impetuousness of before, and are now a troop that only pledges loyalty to Gao Fei alone.

  The black flying feather followed at the end of the orange-red Han army, and compared to the previous Han army, the flying feather's movements were obviously more consistent. The straight-lined dragon, at a glance, seemed like a line, even when changing direction, it presented a right angle. Every step was a proper military step, with a loud sound, and the ups and downs were consistent, producing a "rumbling" sound on the mountain path.

  When the army stopped to rest, the Flying Feather Troop was also distinctly different from the Han army. The Han soldiers were scattered all over the place in twos and threes, while the Flying Feather Troop gathered together as one, appearing very relaxed on the surface but actually with high vigilance, ready to draw their swords at any moment.

  At leisure, Cao Cao rushed over from the front army and arrived at Gao Fei's side. When he saw this team wearing black armor, his eyes showed a look of admiration and admiration, and he said slowly: "This private soldier of my brother is really a well-trained elite soldier. If I have a brother like this elite soldier, it would be great!"

  Gao Fei smiled and cupped his hands, saying: "Brother Meng De, as the General of Breaking Barbarians, you have 5,000 strong men under your command. Aren't they all well-trained troops?"

  Cao Cao sighed and said, "Although I have 5,000 elite soldiers, they are ultimately the imperial court's, not mine. How can they compare to your noble brother's private army?"

  It's not hard to hear Cao Cao's envy of this private army, and it can be vaguely heard that Cao Cao is resentful for himself, after all, Cao Cao is not an ordinary person, how could a generation of heroes tolerate being under others for a long time? It's just that he hasn't had the opportunity yet. Gao Feng was able to take the lead in building a private army loyal only to him because he understood the trend of history, but Cao Cao didn't know what would happen later, although he could vaguely infer that the world would be in chaos later, as an ancient person, he still held a thread of hope for this corrupt Han Dynasty, and wouldn't easily do things that go against ethics until his last bit of hope was shattered.

  Gao Teng once remembered that the history books recorded that Ji Zhou governor Wang Fen was preparing to send someone to assassinate Emperor Ling of Han, and at that time he also wanted to invite Cao Cao to do this thing together. However, Cao Cao resolutely refused such a rebellious act, which shows that in his heart, he still had some attachment to the Han Dynasty, after all, his father had been under the protection of Cao Teng and held high-ranking positions in the court.

  "Brother Mengde, don't be so disheartened. I've heard people say that you're 'a capable minister in times of peace and a treacherous hero in times of chaos'. I also firmly believe that you will become an extraordinary figure." Gao Feng still liked Cao Cao from the bottom of his heart, compared to Liu Bei, Cao Cao was bold and decisive, his actions were clear and didn't need to be hidden, he had a heroic air about him, so he couldn't help but say these words.

  Cao Cao listened and his eyes were filled with tears, but he was also deeply moved. He patted Gao Fei's shoulder and said: "My brother is also a man of great ambition, except for Liu Bei, you are one of the few people I have seen who has heroic qualities."

  Heroes cherish heroes, heroes respect heroes. When Gao Feng heard these words, he thought that Cao Cao was a very insightful person, and Liu Bei was indeed a hero. The founding emperor of Shu Han couldn't be anything but a hero. Gao Feng smiled and said: "Brother Meng De praises me so much, I'm flattered. Sometimes I also think I'm a hero."

  The answer was beyond Cao Cao's expectation. He thought Gao Feng would be humble, but he didn't expect Gao Feng to answer so readily. Cao Cao was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Brother is indeed a straightforward person, it's just that there's no wine today, if there were, I'd like to drink with you till we're drunk."

  Gao Fei smiled to himself, thinking: "You Cao Mengde think I'm a hero, then I am a hero. This isn't your future Xuchang Mansion, and I'm not Liu Bei, so there's no need to avoid anything. With me in this era, can you two still become heroes?"

  After resting, Cao Cao returned to the vanguard and continued to lead this army forward.

  From Chen Cang to Han Yang, although the distance is not far, but because it was a winter expedition, the snow had not melted, making the road difficult to walk, and it took two or three days to enter the territory of Liangzhou Han Yang County.

  Hanyang Commandery, Jicheng.

  Bei Gong Bo Yu led 20,000 troops to garrison in Han Yang County, originally planning to hibernate here for a winter and then lead the army to make a show of force for Bian Zhang and Han Sui next spring, attacking Chen Cang. Unexpectedly, before he even attacked, he heard that 50,000 to 60,000 Han troops were coming from Chen Cang, led by his old acquaintance Gao Fei.

  Bei Gong Bo Yu had clashed with Gao Ying once before, and that time he almost lost his own life. Later, following Bian Zhang and Han Shui, leading a large army to attack Chen Cang, Gao Ying firmly defended Chen Cang against the 100,000-strong army. Back and forth like this, Bei Gong Bo Yu, who feared neither heaven nor earth, actually developed some fear towards Gao Ying. As soon as he heard that Gao Ying was leading an army of 50,000 to 60,000 men to attack Liang Zhou, he hastily sent someone to send a message to Bian Zhang and Han Shui in the direction of An Ding, telling them the news of the Han army leaving Chen Cang, and begging for reinforcements. He even personally led his troops from Ji Cheng to arrive at Shang Yu, attempting to use 20,000 soldiers to block the Han army's advance. On another front, he also sent someone to notify the Xian Ling Qiang stationed in Long Xi to send troops to support him.

  After arriving at Shanggui, Beigong Boyu actively arranged the city defense and had people feed the war horses with good fodder. Although he was a bit afraid of Gao Fei, he didn't lose his nerve. What he wanted to do was take this opportunity to thoroughly reverse his usual losing image in the hearts of his subordinates.

  In the county government office of Shanggui City, Beigong Boyu arranged rolling logs and stones on the city wall. He knew that the Han army was numerous and he might not be a match for them, but he could still hold out in the city and wait for reinforcements to arrive.

  "Get the hell to work, hurry up and move these stones to the top of the city wall, faster!" Beigong Boyu held a horse whip in his hand, whenever he saw someone slacking off, he would lash out with the whip while scolding.

  At this time, a rebel scout brought the latest news: "Report to the general, the Han army has set up camp fifty miles away and has no intention of advancing further!"

  Beigong Boyu asked: "Is it the vanguard of the Han army or the entire great army?"

  "It's the entire great army, with banners and flags densely packed, blocking out the sky and sun. The Han military camp stretches for several miles!"

  "Let's try again!" Bei Gong Bo Yu didn't have much confidence, two months ago he personally led 10,000 cavalry to pursue Gao Fei, but unexpectedly was ambushed by Gao Fei, and nearly all of the 10,000 cavalry were defeated, with only over 400 riders returning. Since then, he had a kind of fear towards Gao Fei, for the first time feeling that the Han people were really very powerful.

  For the next three days, the Han army was quiet, and the enemy did not move. Beigong Boyu adhered to this principle: as long as the Han army did not come to attack the city, he would not provoke them either. He had plenty of time to wait, and once reinforcements arrived, he planned to lead his troops to personally destroy Gao Fei's camp.

  On the fourth day, Xian Ling Qiang's army arrived with more than 6,000 cavalrymen, which undoubtedly gave Beigong Boyu a bit of confidence.

  On the fifth day, reinforcements from Anding arrived continuously, and the scene of galloping horses was magnificent. Bian Zhang's arrow wound had healed after two months of recuperation, and his natural fondness for battle led him to immediately lead an equal number of Qiang Hu cavalry to rescue Beigong Boyu as soon as he heard that 60,000 Han troops were attacking Hanyang County from Chen Cang. At one point, the small city of Shanggui could not accommodate more than 800,000 people, and Bian Zhang had to set up two camps outside the city of Shanggui, forming a horn-shaped formation with the city of Shanggui.

  In the Han army's large camp fifty miles outside of Chang'an, Gao Tiao, Cao Cao and Ge Xuan were secretly rejoicing in the main tent upon receiving news that Bian Zhang was rushing to reinforce Bei Gong Bo Yu. Gao Tiao and Ge Xuan both praised Cao Cao's unparalleled strategy, having suddenly transferred 600,000 cavalry from Anding. Cao Cao did not show humility, and the three of them indulged in a bout of drinking.

  Just as the three cups of wine had gone down his throat, a scout suddenly returned to report: Bian Zhang and Bei Gong Bo Yu were leading 700,000 cavalrymen in a charge towards them.

  Upon hearing this, Gao Fei not only didn't show surprise but instead burst out laughing and said to Cao Cao and Ge Xuan: "The rebel army has made their move, let's proceed with the original plan. By the time we return to Chen Cang, An Ding should have already been captured."

  Cao Cao and Gai Xun nodded in unison, then shared another cup with Gao Fei before the three of them exited the tent, each going their separate ways according to plan.