It's late May, spring plowing has ended, and the weather has begun to get warmer.
The devastated land of Hebei is already full of green crops. Obviously, even in the midst of the war, the Guizhou leaders, who are as tenacious as ants, still chose to risk farming in order to survive.
Yes, this is a real adventure.
Because not only will bandits appear during farming, but even after farming is completed, they may not necessarily grow. And even if the autumn harvest occurs, they may not be the ones who reap the final harvest.
Do you think they are taking risks at this moment? But what can they do? People always have to look forward in life, and they can plant as much as they can. After all, if they don’t plant, there will definitely be no food in the future.
At this moment, there was such an army marching on the dirt road between Julu and Guangzong. Countless chariots and horses, iron cavalry like clouds, and countless soldiers with iron arms but no armor and stomachs, rolling up thousands of layers of smoke and dust.
The Guizhou leaders hiding nearby looked at them with fear and worry, knowing that this time their hard work would be in vain.
Because these armies have passed by, will the young crops in the fields be left?
Oh, it’s so hard. It seems like I really can’t survive this year.
But these Guizhou leaders don’t know that in the marching army at this moment, countless grassroots officials are conveying the same military orders to various ministries:
"Line up in a column, follow the others, and don't trample on the seedlings of the fellow villagers."
These words connected into a huge force, so that the nearly ten thousand people of horse and infantry restrained their fury, and they were like a trickle, bypassing the fields where the Guizhou leaders were scattering seeds.
Watching the army walk by, the dirt road was leveled into a straight path, but the green seedlings on both sides were not damaged at all. Only then did the Guizhou leaders lurking nearby suddenly look at the apricot-yellow banner floating toward the sky.
They didn't recognize the four characters on this banner, "Walking for Heaven." But after that day, they knew that the army holding this flag was different. It didn't seem to harm us pennies.
…
At this time, Zhang Chong, who was under the apricot-yellow banner, was also looking at the green seedlings along the road.
Looking at these green seedlings that are growing more vigorously than other places, Zhang Chong knew that the reason behind this was not how intensively these Guizhou leaders were cultivating. These Guizhou leaders who could not even get a full meal did not have the conditions to do so even if they wanted to cultivate intensively.
The reason is very simple, that is, the land from Julu to Guangzong is too fertile. Why? On this road, the Yellow Turban Army and the Han Army saw each other back and forth countless times, and countless lives were lost on this road. Among them was myself
Teacher, Zhang Liang.
With so much flesh and blood watering it, do you think this land can be fertile?
The sequelae of the war have already begun to appear in the second year of the chaos in the world. Although it has not yet appeared what Lao Cao said in his long song: "The bones are exposed in the wild, and there are no roosters for thousands of miles. There are hundreds of people who have lost one, and the thought of them will break the heart."
"Scene, but the dilapidation and depression along the way are still uncomfortable.
Zhang Chong also felt that he was a little sentimental.
Xu Shi went to war again after a month. Compared with before, this time his heart was much softer because Zhao Ji gave birth to another child for him.
Before leaving for the expedition, Zhang Chong named his second son Zhang An, which means he can stabilize the world. Before, when the eldest son Zhang Chengcai was born, he had already left for the expedition in Heji. When he saw his son again,
, he has already learned how to leave.
But this time, when the second son was born, he was by his side, and it was the first time that he felt his father's affection.
This sentiment coupled with the ruins along the way, combined with the nearby Guizhou leaders who were hiding like wild beasts, Zhang Chong vowed to end this troubled world and give these poor people a stable way to live.
Zhang Chong, who is familiar with historical trends, knows better than anyone how dark the troubled times in the next two hundred years will be. It is for this reason that he must be more cautious than ever before.
This caution was reflected in the fact that Zhang Chong once again asked the Qiangjun about the information about Guangzong behind the flag.
Riding on his horse, Zhang Chong asked Meng Ju beside him:
"Is there any new information from Guangzong?"
Meng Ju has started to grow a beard since he stayed behind to take charge of external intelligence work. Although it is not as good as Guan Yu now, he still has a beautiful beard.
At this moment, Meng Ju put aside his beard and told Zhang Chong the information he had just compiled:
"Commander Qu, the news we received today has not changed from Guangzong's side. The arrangement on the other side is still based on ten battalions on the outside, five divisions of the internal army, and six directions in the city. But there is information from elsewhere, and I feel something is wrong."
Zhang Chong motioned to Meng Ju to continue.
Meng Ju took out another letter and said to Zhang Chong:
"There seems to be some movement in Qinghe. Our sentinels at the border of Qinghe reported that many soldiers and horses are gathering in the Ganling area recently."
Zhang Chong was thoughtful.
It seems that these Han soldiers also knew that they were running out of time, and wanted to take this opportunity to fight Zhang Chong?
Looking at the warriors under his command who are traveling all the way, Zhang Chong is fearless. Since you are coming to die, I will give you a ride.
Soon, the front line of the army marched to a small garrison outside Zhangshui River, also called Quzhou.
Quzhou is a small city with a population of less than 10,000, but because it is located in Zhangshui and connected to the central part of Jizhou, it also has a very high defensive value.
Especially behind Quzhou was Guangzong, so it was regarded as the gate to the west by Taiping Road. The Han army had attacked several times before, but except for the first time when they took advantage of the chaos to break through, the others never captured the fortress.
After the Han army was defeated at the foot of Guangzong City, the Hebei Yellow Turbans were stationed at this hub. The young general Zhang Ji led two thousand soldiers to garrison here. In addition, there were large armies outside the city, which served as horns with each other.
Zhang Ji, the general of Qu Zhou, was a member of the Zhang clan. Although he was only thirty years old, he appeared to be mature and steady because he came from a proud and powerful family and had good culture and knowledge.
When Zhang Ji originally sent troops to Wei and defeated Julu, he expected that the Han army might counterattack later, so he made careful arrangements for the defense of the Zhangshui River.
He first ordered the brave general Que Yan of the Yellow Turban Army to lead three thousand troops to set up camp on the east bank of the Zhang River. He also ordered Lin Shao, the general of the Yellow Turban Army, to lead two thousand boat divisions and search hundreds of small boats to guard the river. As for Zhang Ji himself, he stayed in the city for the purpose of
Taking care of all parties.
But who knew that instead of the expected Han army, the legendary Taishan Army actually arrived.
Yes, the Taishan Army is now a legend among the Yellow Turbans in Hebei. They have heard the so-called stories about the Taishan Army’s victorious battles, but they all have this thought in their hearts:
"We are all human, we are all Yellow Turbans, but you are so powerful?"
So even though Zhang Ji knew that the Taishan Army should not be underestimated and that he was more knowledgeable than other young generals, he still felt that the Taishan Army was overrated.
But Zhang Ji is also extraordinary. Even though he feels dissatisfied in this way, he still carefully strengthens the camp.
In the long-term battle with the Han army, the Hebei Yellow Turbans also accumulated their own experience in setting up strongholds. Therefore, the Hebei Yellow Turbans set up a total of six camps on the east bank of the Zhang River.
Among them, there is one large camp and five small camps. A ditch more than one foot deep and three or four feet wide was dug around them. Afterwards, Zhang Ji diverted water from Zhangzhou to fill the ditch.
In other words, Zhangshui's city defense was surrounded by a circle of water defense.
Zhang Ji's caution didn't stop there. In the deep ditch, the Yellow Turban Army set up ten more sentry towers, all surrounded by wooden fences. Outside the ditch, rows of bamboo sticks and wooden stakes five feet wide were nailed together. And these are all hidden beneath the surface of the water.
It would be really dangerous if the Taishan Army led their boats to attack without knowing this.
In order to facilitate the deployment of the camp on the east bank of the Zhang River, Zhang Ji also set up an observation tower on the city and ordered his soldiers to stay on it around the clock to observe the flags of the camp outside the city.
Just like this, on the other side is a deep moat and a stronghold, connected inside and outside. On the water, there are hundreds of boats patrolling back and forth, waiting in full formation. It can be said that Qu Zhou is already full of murderous intent at this time, waiting for the Taishan army to come and break the blood.
And when Zhang Chong arrived, he saw this situation.
Knowing that it was difficult to fight, Zhang Chong could only temporarily stop the troops. On the one hand, he waited for Zhang Dan's troops in the rear, and on the other hand, he began to collect nearby small boats to prepare for the forced crossing.
While the Taishan Army was stationed on the west bank of the Zhang River, another group of reinforcements arrived from the other bank.
Zhang Baiqi of the Yellow Turban in Hebei Province led 20,000 reinforcements from Guangzong in the rear and stationed himself less than fifteen miles north of Quzhou.
At this time, the Yellow Turbans of Hebei gathered 30,000 troops on the east bank of the Zhang River. Zhang Ji was quite optimistic when he saw this, thinking that the Guangzong portal was absolutely foolproof.
On this day, which was the second day after Zhang Baiqi's reinforcements arrived, Zhang Ji, after inspecting the water surface of Zhangshui with the navy, said to his brother Zhang Liang as soon as he came back:
"I came back from patrolling Zhangshui this year. I feel that the defense on the water is still too weak. The one coming from the opposite side is General Soaring to the Sky, who is the most capable of fighting. We still have to find ways to strengthen the defense on the water."
People like Zhang Ji still admire General Zhang Chong. After all, the two thousand stone commanders who died at the hands of this man could not be counted on one hand.
Therefore, the names of people and the shadows of trees should be taken seriously.
After Zhang Ji said this, his younger brother Zhang Liang also expressed his feelings:
"That Zhang Chong is indeed my number one general in the Taiping Dao. In the past, we were both ministers, but I didn't think anything of it. Now, when I think of having to fight a decisive battle with such a person, I still feel embarrassed, brother. I also know that there is a shortage of water defenses, so Thinking of a way."
Zhang Ji didn't expect that his younger brother Zhang Liang was also afraid, and he thought of a way, so he hurriedly asked:
"Oh, why don't you tell me quickly and listen."
Zhang Liang said:
"Brother, do you still remember how we played against Lu Laogou in Guangping last year?"
Zhang Jishun said:
"You mean we follow the example we did in Guangping and intercept with iron ropes on the Zhangshui River?"
Zhang Liang nodded, but was immediately rejected by his brother.
Zhang Jidao:
"When we were in Quang Binh before, we also deployed three iron ropes, but weren't they burned in the end? This strategy is not safe."
But Zhang Liang explained with a smile:
"Brother, don't I know this? So I improved this iron rope. The iron rope we deployed in Guangping before had no ship in the middle to bear it, so it was left alone. Now we only need to make a few improvements to achieve a real interception. It’s Zhangshui.”
With that said, Zhang Liang took out two wooden sticks, turned over four more bowls, and showed them to his brother.
Zhang Liang placed the two wooden sticks side by side on the bowl and said:
"Now we only need to use two iron ropes, place a boat every ten feet, and put the iron locks on the boat, so that it is strong. In order to prevent the boat from being washed away by the water, the bow and stern of the boat are fixed with stone anchors. And the opposite side is If you want to burn it with fire, we sailors on the ship can also shoot arrows and miss it."
To be honest, Zhang Ji does think this strategy is very good, but there is only one thing: it is too useless.
There was not so much iron material in the city, so if we wanted to deploy such water defenses, we could only ask Guangzong for support.
Thinking of this, he was about to send his general information to the rear. It seemed that he could write this down as well. I guess Zuo Beard Zhangba would not refuse.
Zhang Ji was very complicated about Zuo Yanzhangba's murder of Zhang Bao.
That's right, although Zhang Bao said that he died violently in the house, who didn't know that it was Zuo Zhangba's hand? But Zhang Ji is not an ordinary person.
In fact, his grandfather and the three Zhang brothers are brothers, but he is not a direct descendant of the Zhang family. His grandfather was only the son of a concubine of the Zhang family, and there was no chance of making a show of provocation.
Later, the entire Julu Zhang family revolted with Zhang Jiao in the main house, and the momentum became more and more powerful. However, under the fire, there was a huge hidden danger, that is, Zhang Jiao had never had any children.
Zhang Jiao, who was already fifty years old, seemed to be destined to be childless. So at that time, some people in the clan advised Zhang Jiao to adopt an adopted son from the clan and keep him by his side.
This adopted son is not some general or general, but someone who truly wants to inherit Zhang Jiao's career.
Among them, Zhang Ji, as the leader of the next generation, was adopted by Zhang Jiao's side and planned to be an alternative. Zhang Ji was also secretly overjoyed.
Although the situation of the Yellow Turban Army at this time does not look good, it can be said that it is surrounded by wolves, and the uprising has reached a low ebb. However, Zhang Ji believes that these are caused by Zhang Jiao's inability to fight in war, and Zhang Ji considers himself to be a natural born soldier. The talent of the military. With his talent and strategy, the Yellow Turban Army will surely be able to regain its prestige.
But this dream of power was shattered after Zhang Jiao's two wives became pregnant. Not only was he deprived of his inheritance rights, he was also sent to the front lines of Quzhou.
But even so, Zhang Ji never gave up. He thought that if the children of those two people were both girls, or if both children died young, wouldn't Zhang Ji still have a chance?
So he has been paying attention to the situation in Guangzong.
But who knew that this situation would develop so fast? Who would have thought that last year, the great sage master would lead them heroically and shout, "The sky is dead, the yellow sky will stand.", leading them towards the sun and moon that exists like the sun.
The Han Dynasty launched a devastating blow.
This year, Zhang Jiao died.
Moreover, after his death, Zhang Jiao actually appointed Zhang Bao, a mediocre person. Although this man was his uncle and the general of Taiping Road, he really did not look like the leader of a force.
And such mediocre people can be the masters of Taiping Road, but they can't? It's really unfair, and Huang Tian should stand up.
But Zhang Ji was a tough and careful person. He did not show his emotions to others, but waited for the opportunity. Sure enough, not long after, this man was killed by the reckless man Zuo Beard Zhangba.
Now Zhang Ji knew that his opportunity had come.
After Zuo Zhuzhangba appointed Zhang Jiao's posthumous son as the young master, Zhang Ji immediately expressed his praise and stood next to Zuo Zhuzhangba. Zuo Zhuzhangba also reciprocated the favor and sent Qu Zhou's eight thousand
The command of the land and water armies was entirely handed over to Zhang Ji.
Zhang Ji basically wanted to contact other commanders in the city and prepare to attack Zuo Zhangba. But unexpectedly, the Taishan Army attacked.
However, this is also an opportunity in a crisis. Relying on the pressure of the Taishan Army, he can continue to ask for supplies and reinforcements from the rear.
And once he can defeat the Taishan Army here, Zhang Ji will gain great reputation. When the time comes to return to Guangzong, won't it be easy to capture Zuo Zhaozhangba?
When the time comes, this person whose hands are stained with their Zhang family's holy blood will have to be careful.
Thinking of this, Zhang Jiping calmed down his excitement and began to write down the current situation and the need for more supplies and materials in the military newspaper.
Don’t think that Zhang Ji wants too much.
After all, you don't want Taishan's army to attack the city.