Can I get to the other side?.

Chapter 249 The Final Battle with Yuan Shao (Happy Dragon Boat Festival)

Hejian County, Han army camp.

"See Your Majesty——!"

Upon learning that the emperor was coming, Lu Bu, Zhang Liao and others went to greet him immediately and bowed to Liu Xie who walked down from the dragon chariot.

Liu Xie smiled and said, "Get up, no need to be polite."

After hearing this, all the generals stood up.

Lu Bu couldn't help but say, "The frontline is dangerous. How can Your Majesty, as the Emperor, go to the battlefield in person? Who on earth came up with this suggestion? It's simply stupid!"

His tone was full of dissatisfaction.

The emperor is so noble that he should stay in the palace. Things like wars and battles should naturally be the responsibility of military generals like them.

If the emperor were to go to the battlefield and get hurt accidentally, what would happen to his grandson? What would happen to his daughter?
Seeing Lu Bu's angry look, Jia Xu's expression changed slightly. He silently retreated behind the crowd, protecting everyone in front of himself and trying to reduce his own presence as much as possible.

"It's my own idea."

Liu Xie spoke up, taking the initiative to take on the responsibility for Jia Xu: "This battle is difficult and dangerous, and it concerns the control of Jizhou. If we cannot recover Hejian before winter, Yuan Shao will be dead but not stiff. That's why I am leading the army in person to boost the morale of the three armies."

When Lu Bu heard this, he was immediately full of admiration and said, "So that's how it is! If the soldiers knew that Your Majesty was leading the army in person, they would definitely be very excited. It would be a piece of cake to capture Lecheng County!"

"You are worthy of being called Your Majesty! You can actually think of such a brilliant way to capture Lecheng County, even at the cost of putting yourself in danger. I really admire you!"

From insults to praise, Lu Bu's expression changed so quickly and naturally that no one was expected.

Jia Xu:"……"

Generals: "..."

Jia Xu took a deep breath and secretly made up his mind that if anyone said that Lu Bu was stupid again, he would slap the person in the face.

Liu Xie suppressed his smile and said, "Lord Wen, please take me to see the city defenses of Lecheng County so that I can have a general understanding."

Yuan Xi asked, "Your Majesty, you have been exhausted from the journey. Wouldn't you like to take a rest first?"

He didn't expect that Liu Xie had just arrived at the front line and was going to inspect the defense situation of Lecheng County without even drinking a sip of water. This was too hasty.

“No time to rest.”

Liu Xie shook his head and waved his hand.

He asked Zhen's craftsmen to make catapults, but he didn't know whether they could be made, whether there were enough, or whether they could break through the city wall of Lecheng County, so he was always worried.

Seeing that Liu Xie, the emperor, attached so much importance to this battle, everyone dared not neglect it. So, led by Lu Bu, they escorted Liu Xie out of the military camp and went to Lecheng County for inspection.

Zhang Liao had been observing Lecheng County for a long time these days and had a general understanding of it, so he took the initiative to analyze and explain it to Liu Xie:

"Yuan Shao's army has withdrawn to Lecheng County for many days. Before our army arrived, he implemented the strategy of fortifying the city walls and clearing the countryside. He temporarily raised the city walls by half a meter, and gathered the surrounding people and supplies into the city."

"We want to break the city by siege, which is feasible, but it will take a very long time. Winter is coming soon, and siege is not a feasible strategy. If we want to break the city in a short time, we have to attack it by force."

"I have observed that Yuan Shao's defense in the east is relatively weak. We can concentrate our forces to attack from the east and let the Xianzhen Camp forcibly attack the city walls."

Zhang Liao expressed his ideas and plans.

This is how a normal siege war works. If there is no siege method, the only option is to storm the city and sacrifice a large number of lives in exchange for victory.

However, how many lives of the Han army could be saved?

Excluding the troops left behind in Wei County, there were only about 30,000 people.

If Yuan Shao defends the city firmly, even a military genius will find it difficult to break it by force.

Liu Xie did not say anything, but just squinted at the city wall of Lecheng County, estimating in his mind how many catapults would be needed to blow it down.

"Lecheng County is not that grand, so the hundred catapults made by the Zhen family are more than enough to break through the city walls."

Liu Xie was relieved a little, and ordered Zhang Liao: "Wenyuan, order the soldiers to stockpile some stone bullets. Each bullet must weigh more than 100 kilograms. Stockpile as many as you can."

"Zhen will send the catapult soon. Once the catapult arrives, we will launch an attack on Lecheng County."

When the words fell, everyone was shocked.

Of course they knew what a catapult was, but the catapults they knew could only throw stone bullets weighing forty or fifty kilograms at most, and the range was not far.

What kind of catapult can throw stone bullets weighing hundreds of kilograms?

But the emperor's order must have a reason, so Zhang Liao cupped his hands and said, "I will send people to stockpile stones and bullets later."

Liu Xie nodded and continued, "From now on, until the siege, please increase the food supply in the army so that the soldiers can eat and drink well and conserve their energy. There is no need to be so stingy when the war is imminent."

His arrival can certainly boost the morale of the soldiers, but for the soldiers, eating well is the most tangible benefit!
Zhang Liao agreed with this and left with a fist clasp.

Liu Xie turned his head and looked back at Lecheng County. Looking at the city that was like a mountain blocking the way ahead, he gripped the reins tightly in his hands with a cold look in his eyes.

Since this battle is a decisive one, he will definitely recapture Jizhou and then unify the north!
……

Lecheng County, prefectural government office.

Yuan Shao has been feeling a little anxious these days because Lu Bu's army has been hiding outside the city, making him feel that the other side is plotting something.

"Gongji, what is Lu Bu doing today?"

Yan Liang clasped his fists and said, "My Lord, in the past seven days, Lü Bu's army has been frequently entering and leaving the barracks, carrying and storing a large amount of stones, which are almost piled up into a mountain."

"Stockpiling stones?" Yuan Shao frowned when he heard that. It would be useful for them to stockpile stones when defending the city. The soldiers could throw stones at the soldiers who were climbing the ladders to attack the city.

But what’s the use of hoarding stones for siege?

And they hoard so much.

Is it possible to use a dump truck?

This idea popped up in Yuan Shao's mind, but he felt it was absurd because the catapult had a short range and was not very powerful, making it useless for siege.

Catapults are usually used for defending cities to destroy chariots outside the city, disrupt the army's formation, and even attack the location of the enemy's main general.

Because of the high ground, the stones thrown by the cart can fly farther, and the power of the stones cannot be defended by a shield.

After thinking carefully for a moment, Yuan Shao said to Yan Liang: "Keep watching, and report to me immediately if there is any unusual movement..."

"Report——!"

Before Yuan Shao finished speaking, a soldier rushed into the governor's mansion and said in a hurried tone: "The enemy troops are moving out! They are coming towards us!"

"what?!"

Yuan Shao was immediately shocked.

Why is it so sudden!

Without time to think about it, he immediately took Yan Liang out of the prefectural government, hurried to the east wall, and looked outside the city. He saw outside Lecheng County.

Countless enemy troops in uniform armor were advancing towards Lecheng County like a tide. Their momentum was extremely huge. The neat military formation and the densely packed flags fluttering in the wind were enough to make people tremble with fear at just one glance. The momentum was extremely astonishing!
However, the army did not launch a direct attack on Lecheng County, but stopped not far from Lecheng County. Then the army formation was separated, and a figure riding a white horse marched to the front of the three armies under the protection of many Yulin Guards and generals such as Lu Bu and Zhang Liao.

The dragon flag is flying and the white horse is neighing.

"That is……"

When he saw the figure on the white horse, Yuan Shao's pupils shrank, and even generals such as Yan Liang and Qu Yi changed color!
Because the person riding on the white horse is the emperor!

The emperor actually came to the battlefield in person!
"This fellow Lu Bu actually imitated the tactics I used to defeat Gongsun Zan and brought the emperor to the battlefield! What a shameless villain!"

Yuan Shao's face was gloomy and he was filled with anger.

The emperor personally led the army to undermine the morale of the enemy. This was a method he had used before, and he knew how effective it was.

But when he stood on the opposite side of the emperor and became the one whose morale was hit, it felt unpleasant.

As expected, after seeing the dragon flag that belonged only to the emperor, many soldiers on the city wall became agitated and became extremely frightened.

"That, that is the Emperor's flag. His Majesty has led the army in person!"

"The one riding the white horse is His Majesty! His Majesty once bandaged my wounds personally before, I recognize him!"

"So the previous decree of His Majesty was not forged? Is the general really a traitor? Then we..."

"I don't want to be an enemy of Your Majesty!"

"If you rebel, your entire clan will be implicated!"

……

Regardless of whether the soldiers recognized Liu Xie or not, they recognized the emperor's flag, because the appearance of the dragon flag meant that the emperor himself was present!
When Yuan Shao heard the soldiers' discussions around him and was about to shout to stop them, he saw another rider riding out of the enemy's formation and arriving outside Lecheng County.

It was none other than Yuan Xi!
Yuan Xi shouted at the city wall: "Yuan Shao! Now that His Majesty has come to lead the army in person to fight against the rebels, if you continue to resist, you will only die!"

"My Yuan family has been blessed by the Han Dynasty for generations. If you still have a trace of conscience in your heart, please commit suicide immediately to apologize!"

"You and I are father and son after all. As long as you are willing to turn back from your wrong path, I will still recognize you as my father! After you die, I will wear mourning clothes and keep vigil for you until the end of your life!"

"For the sake of the Han Dynasty and the people of the world, please don't be stubborn and die quickly!"

Yuan Xi's words were so righteous and sincere that anyone who heard them would give him a thumbs up and praise him as a loyal minister and a filial son.

He is truly a model of both loyalty and righteousness!

"This evil beast!!"

Yuan Shao was furious. He slammed the railing and shouted, "Shoot! Shoot! Shoot this evil creature to death! Don't let him get away!"

However, when he gave the order, none of the soldiers around him obeyed it. Each of them looked hesitant and fearful, and was reluctant to raise their bows and arrows.

Yuan Xi’s words were too damaging.

As a son, he called his father a traitor. Would he slander his father? If they launched an attack now, they would also become traitors.

“What a bunch of idiots!!”

When Yuan Shao saw this, he wanted to kill someone.

But he also knew that the appearance of the emperor and Yuan Xi's words had a huge impact, so he held back his anger and cursed directly outside the city: "You evil beast who defies human ethics! How dare you have the nerve to bark here!"

"You killed your brother and imprisoned your father, and your moral character is corrupt; Lu Bu repeatedly killed his adoptive father, and you are a slave of three surnames! You two held the emperor hostage, do you really think you can hide it from the world?"

"Evil beast! You are still distorting the facts and telling such ridiculous lies. You will be punished by God for what you have done!"

Yuan Shao angrily scolded Yuan Xi, and then shouted to the many soldiers on the city wall: "My fellow soldiers! The emperor was forced to come here by Lu Bu and Yuan Xi. He was forced to do so, and he did not really lead the army in person!"

"I, Yuan Shao, failed to educate my son properly and gave birth to such a rebellious beast. This is all my fault!"

"After I and my fellow soldiers rescue the emperor from these two traitors, I will commit suicide to atone for this crime!"

In order to stabilize the morale of the army, Yuan Shao directly adopted the strategy that Gongsun Zan used to deal with him, claiming that the emperor was being held hostage by Yuan Xi and Lu Bu.

He even said that he would commit suicide after rescuing the emperor.

Although these were just polite words, once he really had the emperor under his control, it would not be up to him to decide whether to commit suicide or not, but these words were indeed effective at the moment.

Because Yuan Xi and Lu Bu's reputations were not very good. Lu Bu had a long history of bad deeds and was a well-known slave of three surnames.
Yuan Xi also killed his brother and imprisoned his father, and his character was corrupt.

Yuan Shao's long-standing dignity and reputation still existed, and now he was willing to say that he would commit suicide to apologize afterwards, so many soldiers believed him.

After all, Yuan Xi and Lu Bu's credibility cannot compare to Yuan Shao's.

So after Yuan Shao said this, many soldiers regained their confidence, drew their bows and arrows at Yuan Xi, wanting to shoot him to death here.

"not good!"

Seeing that the situation was not good, Yuan Xi turned his horse around and fled without hesitation before the soldiers on the city wall shot him, leaving the rain of arrows to fall into the air.

Yuan Shao felt quite regretful for not being able to shoot Yuan Xi to death, but now was not the time to dwell on it. He looked at Yan Liang and said in a deep voice: "Gong Ji, the morale of the troops is low right now, it's your turn to take action."

"You will go out of the city later to challenge the enemy and kill the general in front of the battle to boost our morale!"

When he led the emperor to attack Yicheng, Gongsun Zan's morale was already very low. It was only because Zhao Yun killed Wen Chou on the battlefield that morale was boosted again.

He now also needs Yan Liang to kill the general in front of the battle.

"Ah I?"

Yan Liang looked embarrassed when he heard this. He glanced outside the city, hesitated for a while and said, "My lord, it's not that I'm afraid, but the enemy has Lu Bu and Zhao Yun."

"If the two of them come out to fight me, how can I defeat them? If they kill me, it will not only fail to boost morale, but will further lower it."

It's not that he is timid, but that he has a clear understanding of his own strength.

He would definitely not be able to defeat Lu Bu and Zhao Yun. Facing them would be tantamount to committing suicide.

"Are you stupid?" Yuan Shao cursed, "Why don't you take the initiative to find an opponent? Pick a weaker one, like Zhang Liao, Zhang He and the others."

"You can't beat Lü Bu and Zhao Yun, so how can you beat Zhang Liao and Zhang He? When did you become so unconfident?"

"Go quickly, go quickly!"

Yuan Shao kept pushing Yan Liang to hurry out of the city to fight the enemy.

No matter who is killed, it is enough as long as we can kill the general in front of the battle and boost morale.

"The last general takes orders."

Under Yuan Shao's urging, Yan Liang sighed, picked up his spear, walked down the city wall, and led a small group of men out of the city to challenge the enemy.

(End of this chapter)