Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3501 All Quiet on the Western Front

In the ninth year of Taixing, winter.

November.

All Quiet on the Western Front.

Luoyang City.

The once majestic Kyoto is now in ruins both inside and outside the city.

Although the Yang family has been operating here for a long time and has done some repairs and tidying up, some burnt marks can still be found in some corners or inconspicuous places.

Those are the traces left by blood and fire.

This was once the glorious city of the Han people, a spiritual pillar, and a place they longed for.

All around the city, there were soldiers and laborers like ants everywhere, going in and out of the four gates, carrying bricks and piling up earth to build fortifications.

Many sons of noble families and officials who wore brocade robes and crowns also joined these ant-like soldiers to do the labor, with worried looks on their faces and sighing from time to time.

Now in the Heluo region, everyone who could run away has already run away, and the only ones left are those who have to stay or those who don't want to run away. Either they really can't leave, or they think they can get a share of the upcoming new changes.

Everyone knows that Cao Cao has been defeated, and the cavalry of the Hussar Army will surge out from Hangu Pass at any time!

Heluo and Luoyang are about to fall into the hands of the Cavalry Army!

Can Shandong, a country as big as it is, organize another Sour Jujube Alliance?

Some people think there is still a possibility, but others are completely disappointed.

The last time Dong Zhuo led the Western Liang soldiers to come, the people of Shandong could still say that they were barbaric, inferior, and uncivilized. But this time, when Fei Qian brought hussar horses filled with Western spices, there was no longer the same unanimous response. On the contrary, many people said that they smelled really good...

As for the longevity of the Han Dynasty in the future...

Some children of the gentry said, what does that have to do with me?

My last name is neither Liu nor anything like that.

The sons of the aristocratic families who possess knowledge, the right to speak, and are responsible for serving as a bridge of communication between the central and local governments are indifferent as to whether the Han Dynasty can continue to exist. Then how can the common people at the bottom of society have such a strong sense of crisis?

Over the years, the glory and honor of the Han Dynasty have all belonged to the Han Dynasty and the upper-level rulers. Who can say that the glory belongs to the people and the wealth belongs to the masses?

Even if you shout it out on the surface, it will almost be gone, right?

The common people of the Han Dynasty only felt that their lives were getting harder and harder, while those officials were still shouting, "Hard it a little longer, just be patient!"

Originally, a stone of millet cost two or three hundred coins, but now the price of even worse and rottener millet has risen to three or four thousand coins! And don’t fight a war, don’t let anything happen, otherwise, let alone three or four thousand, even if you spend three or four hundred thousand coins, you may not be able to buy it!

Under such circumstances, the common people only think about where to find the next meal after finishing this one. Every day they are struggling on the red line of survival. Who would care where the Han people will go and what they will become?

In the distance, a group of flags appeared to the west of Luoyang. On the flags was a word "Cao", which looked listless and contrasted well with the Cao soldiers under the flags.

These dusty Cao's soldiers, with their helmets tilted and their armor plates hanging, swayed and dragged their feet.

These Cao army soldiers who had retreated all the way from Tongguan and Zhongtiao Mountain had completely lost the arrogance they had when they first marched into Guanzhong. They walked with dragging feet, muttering to themselves and couldn't help complaining.

The leading team leader listened to what they said, but he didn't say anything, nor did he stop them. When they were almost near Luoyang, he stopped at the checkpoint under the city and turned around and shouted, "Shut up!"

The Cao army at the checkpoint must be the Central Guard Army. Their armor plates are shining and their heads are held high. "Which team are you in?"

"Team three." The team leader took out his credentials and checked them with the Central Guard at the checkpoint.

"Is there anything unusual? Are the Hussars coming?" the Central Guard asked.

The team leader shook his head, "I didn't see it."

After checking, the Central Guard waved his hands, as if to shoo away a few mosquitoes and flies, "Go away!"

The team leader said nothing, took the certificate and walked forward.

The other Cao army soldiers naturally followed, but occasionally someone would look back at the Central Guard.

The Central Guard scolded rudely, "What are you looking at, you bastard?!"

The team leader quickly pulled the soldier back, then bowed and smiled at the middle guard, and then brushed the matter off...

Logically speaking, now that the country and the prime minister are in trouble, shouldn't the army be more united?

Sorry.

Totally impossible.

Because Shandong is divided into classes, and Shandong’s army is also divided into classes!

Since there are class differences, how can there be real unity?

The one who eats the meat first will only guard the food bowl tightly and then kick the one who comes later. How can the one who eats first lead the one who eats later? This is completely against human nature. With so many smart people in Shandong, how could they do such a stupid thing?

As for mutual respect and understanding, there are even fewer of them. Just like at this moment, the newly arrived Central Guard General and Central Commander also expressed contempt for their comrades who had been defeated in previous battles.

The Cao army squad slowly passed Luoyang and entered the camp on the side of the Luo River.

Logically speaking, now that Cao's army is facing such a difficult situation, the Shandong men should unite, but this is not the case in the camp.

As soon as the Cao army team entered the camp, they saw two groups of people arguing with each other, while another group of people were watching the show with their arms folded.

There is a curfew in the military camp and no noise is allowed at night, but it is impossible to prohibit soldiers from talking during the day.

The current situation was clearly beyond the scope of "talking", but some soldiers and military academies around seemed indifferent and watched...

"You are all trash! You are such a large group of people, but you were beaten back by the cavalry. You still have the nerve to ask for food. Why don't you eat shit instead?"

"Look at what you can do! You are just standing back and making sarcastic remarks! If you have the guts, go up and fight the cavalry! I will beat you to a pulp!"

"Raised by a servant!"

"Your grandma!"

Soon the argument turned into name calling, with both sides exchanging greetings about each other's maternal relatives.

Such quarrels broke out frequently after the troops retreated to Luoyang.

The newly joined soldiers and the defeated old soldiers all looked down on each other, but the strange thing was that the officers and military academies who were supposed to come out to stop the quarrels were often late, and would not even show up until the two sides had quarreled and started fighting before they would give each of them fifty lashes.

The Cao army captain didn't know why, but he instinctively realized that something was wrong, so he restrained himself and even pushed the soldiers in his team with his hands, "What the hell are you looking at? Aren't you tired enough after walking for a whole day? Aren't you hungry? Hurry back! If you come back too late, you will have nothing to eat and you will have to eat dirt!"

The team returned to their tattered tent, then sent someone to get food from the rear camp, and started cooking over a campfire.

"Boss..." A soldier in the team came up to the captain and said, "Something seems to be wrong these past few days..."

"You too..." The captain turned to look at the soldier, "What's wrong?"

"I heard that those who were released by that side before..." the soldier said in a low voice, "are all gone..."

"Shut up!" The captain immediately kicked the soldier, "You want to die! How dare you say that!"

After retreating, those soldiers who had previously been in the Hussars and had spoken for the Hussars were now gone.

Everyone knew that these people would definitely not be happy to return home, but no one dared to say anything.

The custom in Shandong is that when one realizes that a big trouble is happening, the best option is to stay out of it as much as possible.

The team leader also thought so. No matter what others do, just take care of yourself first. "These days..." The team leader sighed, "If you can take care of yourself... it's already a blessing from your ancestors... Let's not talk about those things. Let's eat first. One day of eating is one day..."

The soldiers lived in a camp outside the city, and there was not much order in Luoyang City.

After Cao's army retreated to Luoyang, although it was closer to Shandong and the route for material replenishment was shortened, it did not mean that they could have more peace of mind. Whether it was food, clothing or expenses, the supply was relatively small.

Now that the weather is cold, charcoal for heating has become a scarce commodity. Ordinary soldiers can only endure the cold with their own bodies, while those civil officials and staff are really shivering from the cold!

These sons of the aristocratic families from Jizhou and Yuzhou were originally in Heluo and did not follow Cao Cao into Guanzhong. Many of them came here purely to gain experience, so after arriving in Heluo, they stayed here for various reasons. On the one hand, it meant that they had gone to the front line, and on the other hand, they did not have to really face life and death on the front line, which was simply too great.

But who could have imagined that Cao Cao would be defeated so quickly!

These people who came to the frontline to pretend to have qualifications were obviously not from high-class families. After all, if they really had the connections, they would not need to pretend to have qualifications. They would just be given special treatment and recommended by someone. Therefore, not all of these people who pretended to have qualifications had accurate sources of information. Some people, seeing that the situation was not good, gave up even the qualifications and slipped away, while others were reluctant to leave. While they were hesitating, Cao Cao came back and immediately blocked Heluo, allowing no one to enter but not leave!

This immediately made these guys dumbfounded...

Many people tried to ask Cao Cao for an explanation, but the guards directly under the Central Guard of Cao's army, who were usually polite to them, now all had long faces and would not see anyone, whether they were from the Jizhou faction or the Yuzhou faction!

The guards of Cao's army were so fierce that they shouted at him harshly. If he continued to argue, they would even pull out their knives!

This kind of "rude and disrespectful" treatment made the children of the aristocratic families tremble all over wherever they went these days!

I don't know if it was because he was angry or because he was frozen by the lack of charcoal...

It’s not that there aren’t some clever guys who want to escape, but after all, I gritted my teeth and stomped my feet. I don’t care about military merit or not!

But without exception, these escaped nobles were captured by Cao's soldiers on the run as spies and thrown into jail...

At this moment, some of the sons of the gentry realized that they were good for nothing except the robes they were wearing. They were originally thrown out as bargaining chips by the various families, and now they were controlled by Cao Cao as bargaining chips!

What’s more important is that no one knows when the Cavalry Army will come out, and the news that Cao Cao is waiting for obviously has not arrived yet!

If the time really comes and the Cavalry Army arrives, but there is still no news from Shandong, they may all die here!

At this point, these sons of the aristocratic families were completely panicked. It was obvious that Cao's army would not respond to any threats, and if they escaped without proper procedures, they would be caught and treated as spies. So they could only try their best to contact their families as soon as possible, telling them about the suffering and difficulties they were facing at the front line, hoping that their elders at home would find a way to get them out. They really didn't want to stay in this fire pit... no, this ice cellar for even a single day longer!

Strangely enough, Cao's soldiers stopped them from leaving, but did not forbid them from sending letters home. These letters were like sticks stirring shit, randomly poking in the direction of Jizhou and Yuzhou. Shandong suddenly became like a pre-cooked dish in a pot. Even under the thick aroma of sauces, the stench of nipple meat and lymph nodes began to spread...

Cao Cao stood on the gate tower of Luoyang City, taking in the situation inside and outside the city. His expression remained unchanged, but there was a bit of contempt in his eyes. He suddenly asked without any context, "...haven't you reached an agreement yet?"

Man Chong, who was standing behind Cao Cao, cupped his hands and said, "No news has come from your Excellency yet."

Cao Cao nodded slightly, then looked up to the west.

That is the direction of Guanzhong.

"The Hussars have been resting for nearly a month, right?" Cao Cao suddenly changed the subject, "Bo Ning, do you know what the Hussars are doing now?"

Man Chong raised his eyebrows and whispered, "Stockpile supplies, prepare weapons, mobilize troops..."

"Ha..." Cao Cao laughed, "That's right... If the Hussars had chased us when we were retreating, I wouldn't have been too worried... But now... It's ridiculous, ridiculous, the Shandong people are still indecisive at this time!"

Man Chong remained silent.

Indeed.

If the Hussars were like the Xiliang Army back then, they would go with the wind and run away when the wind was against them, whether it was Cao Cao or Man Chong, or anyone else, even if they knew that the Xiliang Army was very powerful, they would not take it seriously. Because this way of fighting has no foundation, it is probably just a wave of all the family members, even if they win the current wave, there may not be another wave of troops. So the people of Shandong are not panicking, anyway, they can hold on, and if it drags on, the whole family will be defeated in a wave...

Over the years, the aristocratic families and powerful families in the Central Plains of the Han Dynasty dealt with rebellions and turmoil time and time again in this way. It cannot be said to be perfect, but at least it kept the Eastern Han Dynasty from collapsing despite its precarious status.

Now, it's different.

The Hussars did not do what the Western Liang Army did. After Cao Cao withdrew his troops, they rushed out of the pass with their spears pointed, like a lecherous man who had never seen a woman in his lifetime. Instead, they stopped in the area between Tongguan and Hanguguan and began to rest.

This abnormal stagnation of the Cavalry Army gave the Shandong gentry and powerful families an illusion!

Many Shandong nobles began to celebrate, saying that the war was over and they could continue singing, dancing and learning foreign languages!

But some people also know that this is the last calm before the storm.

The Hussars are storing up strength, just like retracting their fists. This does not mean they are stopping, but rather that they will be more powerful the next time they strike!

Although Cao's army was also resting, replacing personnel, and collecting supplies, it was obvious that there were different opinions within Shandong...

Some people say that the Cavalry Army stopped advancing, which means that the Cavalry Army still obeyed the emperor's edict!

Some people say that it was the wisdom of the emperor, the blessing of the Han Dynasty, and the power of the heroic spirits of more than a dozen emperors of the Eastern Han Dynasty!

Some people said that the cavalry were scared and afraid. There were so many people in Shandong, and the cavalry could be drowned with a spit from each of them!

someone said……

Of course, there were some people who said that danger was coming and a storm was approaching, but no one listened or believed.

People are always willing to listen to what they want to hear and believe what they want to believe.

Therefore, in Xu County and in the court, there was still debate and argument about whether to continue fighting or whether the cavalry would come!

That’s right, even now the situation has come to this, but these guys in Shandong still cannot reach a unified consciousness!

Is it funny?

Anyway, Cao Cao thought it was very funny.

"Bo Ning, tell me," Cao Cao asked, "when will the cavalry go out?"

Man Chong raised his head slightly, paused, and said, "The beginning of spring."

"Why?" Cao Cao asked.

"Spring is the first season of the year." Man Chong sighed, "Then the cavalry will be dispatched, and Shandong will dispatch soldiers for labor service. By then, spring ploughing will begin..."

Without mobilizing manpower, there will be no defense.

But after the manpower was mobilized, spring ploughing was abandoned.

After the spring plowing was abandoned, even if the cavalry failed to take over various parts of Shandong in a short period of time, the autumn harvest in various parts of Shandong would be reduced due to the problems of spring plowing, further reducing their strength...

It's like a snowball on the top of a mountain, rolling down.

I can see it, but I can't stop it.

Cao Cao took a breath and said, "Bo Ning is right... But if I were a cavalryman, I would probably have to go out now!"

Man Chong was surprised, "Now?"

Cao Cao nodded and turned his head slightly to look in another direction.

Man Chong followed Cao Cao's gaze and understood, "My lord, you are saying..."

Cao Cao let out a long breath, then tossed his sleeves, "Shandong is infested with infestations! It's time to clear them out! Before the Hussars take any action... time is running out... I'll leave this place to Bo Ning! Be very careful! Keep an eye out for the Hussars' advance!"

Originally, it should have been handed over to Cao Hong, but Cao Hong was injured in many places and could not continue fighting, so he returned to Xu County for treatment.

Man Chong naturally agreed.

Cao Cao patted Man Chong on the shoulder, then turned and left.

Man Chong watched Cao Cao leave.

For some reason, he suddenly felt that Cao Cao's back was not as tall as he had looked back then...