On September 18th, the first year of Zhongping, Cao Cao led 10,000 elite cavalry captains and horses from his headquarters out of Guangzong's stronghold. They marched for three days and set up a formation at the foot of the city.
Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun's troops had been besieging Guangzong for more than a month. Since Zhang Jiao's previous defeat, he had completely retreated into the city and no longer went out to fight.
Seeing this, the two of them were not in a hurry, and gradually built up the earth wall to be level with the city wall. They shot arrows at the top of the city every day, slowly wearing down the morale of the rebels in the city, until they collapsed.
While besieging the city, they felt that if they did not get out with some achievements, they were afraid that Emperor Ling would be suspicious. After discussing with each other, they decided to divide their troops and cross Guangzong to capture the scattered yellow scarves in the Zhending area as a victory report.
The Zhending Yellow Turban lineage was originally headed by Qu Commander Zhang Niujiao. Later he attacked Yingtao and Zhang Niujiao died in the battle. He left his adopted son Zhu Feiyan to succeed him and changed his name to Zhang.
Zhang Yan was quite capable, and led the Yellow Turban thieves to capture Zhending, and was deeply loved by Zhang Jiao.
Early the next morning, Cao Cao had just finished breakfast when his soldiers came in a hurry and told the Yellow Turban Army to leave the city to form an array. They couldn't help but wonder what the Yellow Turban Army wanted to do? They dared to go out of the city to fight with him in the field.
You must know that Cao Cao had the rank of captain of the cavalry department. Among the 10,000 troops and horses under his command, there were 5,000 Yulin cavalry, accounting for half of the army that suppressed thieves. Taiping Road was in a hurry, with infantry as the main force, followed by bows and crossbows, and rarely After all, the cavalry used to be an underground organization, and horse sales were heavily regulated by the court, making it very difficult.
After Cao Cao led his army to Zhending City, he did not intend to rush to attack the city. He knew very well that it would be extremely unwise to attack a city guarded by 40,000 yellow turban thieves with the 10,000 cavalry he brought.
If you want to capture Zhending City, you must have sufficient siege equipment and infantry cooperation. It is best to design a plan to lure the thieves out of the city to fight in the field and consume the available troops.
Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren and other Cao Cao cousins have not been given a chance to perform since they left the capital after being called up by Cao Cao to join the army. Along the way, they first arrived late at Changshe, and then followed Huangfu Song and his two men to go north to Guangzong, and there were small villages along the way. The only bigger battle in the small town was to save Dong Zhuo from defeat.
Now that they learned that the Yellow Turban Army was out of the city and arrayed, they immediately ran to Cao Cao's camp and asked him for orders to go out to fight.
This time, Cao Cao gained the favor of the emperor and led the troops to the expedition. He came with great ambitions. He wanted everyone in the world to know that even after eunuchs, there are loyal and heroic people. He, Cao Cao, is an outstanding talent and the pillar of the country. .
Then you must fight a good battle and show your talents.
Cao Cao smiled and asked: "Yuan Rang, Zi Xiao, how many troops do you need to defeat the 30,000 Yellow Turban Army who formed out of the city?"
Yuan Rang is the name of Xiahou Dun, and Zixiao is the name of Cao Ren.
Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren said in unison: "My lord, you and I each have two thousand cavalry, my foolish brother dares to charge directly into the enemy's formation!"
Cao Cao laughed and said: "My brothers are indeed brave! I will give each of you two thousand cavalry. Yuan Rang, you attack the enemy's left. Once the frontal attack is completed, immediately turn to attack the left wing of the thieves. Be careful of the enemy's encirclement."
"Zixiao, you rush to the enemy's right wing. After completing the frontal attack, you also immediately turn to the right wing of the rebels. You must split the Yellow Turban Army's formation in the shortest possible time and do not allow them to maintain a complete formation."
"The formation is in chaos with the bandit soldiers. I will lead the remaining 1,000 fine cavalry to charge into the formation myself. Zi Lian, you lead the infantry and carry ladders and other tools for climbing the city, and quickly follow up. When the enemy is defeated, break the city."
After hearing this, the three people replied loudly: "I will definitely live up to my lord's expectations!"
Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun each led two thousand cavalry and charged towards the Yellow Turban Army formation.
Xiahou Dun suddenly raised his sword and shouted wildly: "Charge..."
"Rush...Rush...Rush..."
First hundreds of people roared, then thousands of people roared, and finally all four thousand people roared. The thick and passionate sounds were like thunder exploding in the air one after another. The deafening roar almost exploded the thick clouds.
, soaring into the sky...
The Yellow Turban enemy formation is here.
Zhang Yan saw that the other party's dignified officers and soldiers did not even say hello, so he sent his troops to attack. He looked down on himself so much that his face became very ugly, and he waved his hands.
"Beat the drums and prepare to challenge..."
The left and right wings changed their formation and spread out, trying to imitate the crab claws and catch both sides.
Zhang Yan suddenly dared to go out of the city to fight in the field. In fact, it was because of the battle in Zhending County that the power of the Yellow Turbans under his command increased greatly, which greatly increased Zhang Yan's confidence. The official who came to attack this time was no more than ten thousand, and the leading general was the nameless Cao Cao.
, I felt that with a force four times that of the officers and soldiers, I could first dampen the spirit of the officers and soldiers and restore some of Taiping Road's decline. Otherwise, if either Huangfu Song or Zhu Jun had led the army, Zhang Yan would have fought with him long ago.
Zhang Jiao also hunkered down in Zhending County.
However, Zhang Yan had some selfish motives in her heart, that is, she wanted to win a few battles so that she could increase her bargaining chip and use it to persuade the imperial court in the future.
Although Zhang Yan was young at this time, his vision was far more far-sighted than the average Yellow Turban Canal. He knew that Taiping Road was failing and that it was necessary to find a way out. But the way back was the way back, and the fight still had to be fought. Only in this way could there be wealth.
Unfortunately, Zhang Yan underestimated Cao Cao. The Yulin Cavalry brought by Cao Cao from Luoyang were the most elite force of the Han Dynasty, so the Yulin Cavalry of the country in the era of Emperor Wu was passed down in one continuous line.
The rumbling sound of war drums was like thunder on the plains, roaring loudly.
The Knights of the Feather Forest started to start, started to run, accelerated, and accelerated again.
"For the country's wings are as prosperous as the forest, the great Han will surely win."
First there were bursts of slogans, and then there was the sound of galloping horses. Gradually, these two sounds were intertwined, forming a huge roar, an earth-shattering roar.
The earth shook and trembled.
Two sharp knives struck at the fists of the two Yellow Turban Army units, and the result was imminent.
Unfortunately, the crab's claws of the Yellow Turban Army were not strong enough and they could not catch Cao Cao's two cavalry, and the crab's legs collapsed in one fell swoop.
Zhang Yan's face changed drastically, and a chill passed through his whole body. It was like the cold wind penetrated into the bone marrow, directly chilling his heart, and then rushed towards his head. Crazy Chinese army guards and cavalry were sent out to support him, but they still could not stop Cao Renhe.
Xiahou Dun rushed back and forth to kill.
Cao Cao, who was in front of the formation, saw that Zhang Yan's cavalry had been transferred away. Due to the decline in morale, the formation began to become chaotic.
"Commanders, follow me to kill the enemy and make great achievements. Kill!!"
One horse took the lead, and all the thousand Yulin cavalry left behind were dispatched. Cao Hong led the infantry to follow quickly.
The rushing cavalry was getting closer and closer. They had murderous faces and wild and fierce horses. The roars and the breathing of the horses could already be clearly heard.
The front line of the Chinese army began to loosen up, and the three thousand-man formations at the front began to panic and retreat somewhat with large shields in hand.
Zhang Yan persisted and shouted: "The shield soldiers come forward to fight against it. They are not allowed to retreat. Anyone who retreats will be killed..."
"The archers of the Chinese army shoot arrows for me"
"Put...let..."
A yellow turban centurion shouted, and the long arrow roared out, roaring fiercely, tearing through the cold wind.
"Shua...shua...shua..."
In an instant, the sky was full of arrows, like a thick dark cloud, flying towards the charging cavalry.
"Quick, charge! Charge through the rain of arrows!" Cao Cao was lying on his horse, dodging the arrows while shouting.
The long arrows fell, and the harsh and sharp screams made people's hair stand on end. One after another, soldiers were hit by arrows and fell from their horses.
Arrows shoot three rounds.
Still unable to resist the approaching cavalry, the Yulin Cavalry were all high-quality horses donated by Xiliang. They had strong explosive power and quickly crossed the arrow rain area.
There was a loud "boom" sound.
The two armies came into contact. The shield-wielding thieves in the front line were unable to withstand the impact of the cavalry. They swept away thousands of yellow turban infantry in an instant, just like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.
Cao Hong, who followed later, led his infantry to capture the ant thieves who had fallen to the ground before they got up...
Zhang Yan's eyes suddenly opened wide and she took two steps back in horror.
I don't know whether it was because of the cold weather or because she was very nervous, but Zhang Yan's hands were shaking slightly. He was proud of his 30,000 elite soldiers, but his predecessor defeated his opponent with 10,000 infantry cavalry.
"Withdraw troops, return to the city first!"
The five generals of the Cao family were like bloodthirsty beasts. They stabbed and slashed from the left, slashed and slashed, and no one survived every blow.
After Xiahou Dun slashed away a yellow scarf general who was coming towards him, he finally reunited with Cao Ren. When the two saw that the rebel soldiers were in chaos, the rebel leader Zhang Yan galloped back to the city. The two shouted and rushed to intercept him.
If he were allowed to escape back to the city, close the city gates, and attack the city, many more soldiers' lives would be wasted.
Zhang Yan was caught in the middle and dragged by the Yellow Turban soldiers, and protected him with all his life. Only then did he stop Cao Cao and Cao Hong's attack. When he saw the city gate approaching, he was stopped by Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren who felt it. After a few rounds,
Zhang Yan was captured alive by the two men.
The real decision was broken, and when the remaining ant thieves saw that their leader had been captured, they immediately surrendered.
After dusk, inside the government office in Zhending County.
Zhang Yan, whose whole body was tied into a rice dumpling, was taken to Cao Cao to await trial.
According to official history, after the demise of Taiping Dao, Zhang Yan integrated the remnants of the Yellow Turbans to form the Black Mountain Bandits, claiming to have millions of followers. However, Cao Cao did not forcefully land on Zhang Yan until he defeated Yuan Shao and pacified Jizhou.
Now that Zhang Yan was captured early, I wonder if there will be Black Mountain bandits in the future!