Han officials

Chapter 266 The Battlefield Is Everywhere [4K]

Jizhou has been home to many cities since ancient times.

Compared to Ye City and Handan, Xindu may be relatively unknown, but it is still one of the most prominent cities in Ji Province.

According to the Book of Han written by Ban Gu:

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Xindu City belonged to Dongyang, Jin Province; during the Warring States Period, it belonged to Zhao Province.

Xindu County was established in the sixth year of Emperor Gaozu of Han (201 BC), and Xindu State was founded.

Later, it changed frequently between commanderies and kingdoms, with Xindu Commandery and Xindu Kingdom alternating constantly.

It wasn't until the first year of Emperor An's reign (122 AD) that prefectures were abolished and counties were established, and Lecheng State was renamed Anping State, which governed Xindu and other counties.

The reason for the repeated changes is entirely due to the geographical location of Xindu.

As the heartland of Ji Province, Xindu City is located right in the center of Ji Province.

Therefore, both the local government of Jizhou and the imperial court liked to make a fuss about this point.

The flat terrain of Hebei is also evident in Xindu.

Therefore, Yuan's army, which had no natural defenses, could only rely on the city for support.

When Wei Zhe's army approached the city, Yuan Shao saw that he had divided his forces into two routes.

One of Yuan's troops set up camp in the northwest corner outside the city, relying on the city for defense, forming a pincer movement.

Wei Zhe was not surprised to see this, and simply led his personal cavalry to observe the enemy's strengths and weaknesses.

In the wilderness, more than a thousand elite cavalrymen roared in and arrived at the city walls in no time.

Looking around, Wei Zhe saw that the city was ancient and solid. Although it was mainly made of rammed earth, the bottom of the city wall was covered with blue bricks, obviously to prevent rainwater erosion.

At this moment, the marks of sword and axe cuts, fire and impact on the city wall are still clearly visible.

"This city is about twelve li in circumference and twenty-five feet high." Surrounded by riders, Taishi Ci rode a magnificent blue horse closely following Wei Zhe on the left. He raised his whip and introduced the city of Xindu ahead: "Although Xindu was built a long time ago, it has been maintained by many dynasties. Therefore, even today, the moat is more than seven feet deep and more than ten feet wide."

With the arrival of Wei Zhe, the siege of Taishi Ci was naturally lifted.

Taishi Ci didn't think much of this; he was only focused on how to capture Xindu.

After giving a brief overview of the relevant data about Xindu City, Taishi Ci said with a sense of helplessness, "This city is square and there is no way to take shortcuts. We can only break it by force."

Wei Zhe did not respond to these words.

After circling the city once, seeing the imposing presence of the defenders on the city walls, Wei Zhe said nothing. However, when he saw a golden-armored general standing on the city tower surrounded by his generals, he couldn't help but frown slightly.

Despite the distance, Wei Zhe immediately guessed the other party's identity.

The man seemed to have seen Wei Zhe as well, and the two stared at each other.

After a moment, Wei Zhe said expressionlessly, "Let's go back to camp!"

Before he finished speaking, Wei Zhe led his personal cavalry away again.

On the city wall, watching Wei Zhe's departing figure, Yuan Shao's feelings were complicated.

Interestingly enough, despite Wei Zhe and Yuan Shao's long-standing rivalry, they had never actually met.

Whether it was Cao Cao or Liu Bei, Wei Zhe had personally contacted them to some extent.

Yuan Shao and Wei Zhe were the only ones whose names they had heard of but never actually met.

Yuan Shao was the same; only today did he see Wei Zhe's true face.

However, seeing him today only strengthened Yuan Shao's resolve to fight.

Keep in mind that he is already forty-two years old this year, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration for him to call himself an old man.

But Wei Zhe was only thirty years old, and still looked like a handsome young man.

For a fleeting moment, Yuan Shao even felt a pang of envy.

Born into a family of high-ranking officials for four generations, this was the first time in his life he had ever envied a poor man so much.

For no other reason than that Wei Zhe is still in his prime!
This made Yuan Shao very envious, but at the same time, it also made him feel genuinely afraid.

There's nothing we can do; time is a cruel mistress, and it's beyond human control to reverse.

If he fails to kill Wei Zhe under the walls of Xindu this time and force him to escape back to Youzhou, then given time, Wei Zhe will outlast him.

At that time, Yuan Shao could not imagine how his own sons could defeat such a powerful enemy.

Meanwhile, at the Wei army camp.

Back in the command tent, Wei Zhe couldn't help but sigh:
"Yuan Shao's fighting spirit is quite high!"

Wei Zhe had to admit that he had indeed underestimated Yuan Shao before.

But seeing is believing.

Looking at it today, Yuan Shao was not as incompetent as Cao Cao described in historical records.

At least the Yuan army in Xindu was well-organized, its morale was high, and its fighting spirit was strong.

With such an army, it's no wonder that Taishi Ci had such a difficult time fighting before.

Thinking of this, Wei Zhe paced back and forth for a moment, then suddenly looked at Taishi Ci beside him.

"Ziyi, tell me your opinion."

Upon hearing this, Taishi Ci didn't stand on ceremony and immediately recounted his experiences in Xindu City during this period.

He recounted in detail everything from his initial arrival at Xindu with his army, to how Shen Pei and Yan Liang responded, and how Yuan Shao finally sent troops to reinforce the city. While there were some details he couldn't reveal to himself, Taishi Ci naturally wouldn't conceal them from Wei Zhe in person.

Finally, Taishi Ci, with a serious expression, said:

"Shen Pei is a talented commander, and Yan Liang is a courageous general. The two work together very well and are the backbone of Yuan's army."

"In addition, Yuan Shao has an elite force called the 'Halberd Warriors,' numbering about three thousand. They all wield halberds and giant shields, wear heavy armor, and are unstoppable in foot combat and assaults. They are first-class warriors and are far superior to ordinary fierce soldiers."

"In addition, Yuan Shao's rear army has a 'Shooting Sound Battalion' with 10,000 powerful crossbows and officers who are all veteran soldiers, which is also quite troublesome."

Jizhou was, after all, a fertile land in Hebei, and its accumulated wealth was incomparable to that of a harsh and cold border region like Youzhou.

For example, the number of artisans in Ji Province might be equal to the sum of the number in the surrounding provinces.

Because artisans are a group of people who are not engaged in manual labor, each additional professional artisan requires the support of a corresponding number of farmers.

Without sufficient grain production, even if all the skilled craftsmen under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Department were taken away, the local area would not be able to support so many artisans who did not farm.

The most direct outward manifestation of this foundation was the production of weapons, armor, bows, and arrows.

In modern terms, Ji Province's industrial productivity far surpassed that of other provinces and prefectures in the Han Dynasty.

This is why Jizhou is known as the foundation of emperors.

Therefore, although Wei Zhe frowned slightly after hearing this, he was not too surprised.

"In that case, let's launch a preliminary attack tomorrow!"

……

The next day, early morning.

A large army gathered outside Xindu City, exuding a chilling aura of killing intent.

Without any hesitation, seeing his troops fully assembled, Wei Zhe on the cloud chariot decisively ordered an attack on the city.

Immediately, a massive Wei army surged towards Xindu City like waves crashing against the shore.

Wave after wave, boundless and endless, a sight that inspires awe.

In the blink of an eye, a rain of arrows poured down on the city wall, followed by a chorus of wails.

Meanwhile, the Wei army below the city quickly pushed shield carts and, under the cover of the shields, began to fill the river in an orderly manner.

Indeed, Wei Zhe doesn't particularly like attacking cities, but that doesn't mean the Wei army won't attack cities.

The Jingnan Left and Right Camps, which originated from both banks of the Luo River, can even be said to have been born in the midst of a series of siege battles.

Just as the Liaodong Iron Cavalry were naturally adept at charging into battle and breaking through enemy lines, the Jingnan Righteous Cavalry were also skilled at attacking cities and capturing strongholds.

Because those siege experiences were learned through blood and tears from countless battles.

As more and more people die, those who survive naturally acquire certain skills. For example, even now, though they are in the center of the battlefield, with rocks flying and arrows whistling through the air, many veterans of the Jingnan Rebellion remain calm, not because they are unafraid, but because they understand that fear is futile.

Although it may seem superstitious, it is indeed true on the battlefield: the more afraid of death one is, the faster one dies.

Gradually, as the moat-filling wagons were pushed into the city, the Wei army finally advanced to the city walls.

"kill!"

Having been waiting impatiently, Mao Kun immediately leaped up, grinning maliciously as he led his troops into battle.

Before the ladder was even properly placed, he had already leaped up to a height of more than one person and used his weight to press it down onto the city wall.

This is also the experience he summarized from his many first-time visits; it may seem dangerous, but it is actually not safe at all.

But it is precisely this irregular operation that often allows him to save a few breaths of time.

For example, at this moment, he climbed up the city wall, which was more than two zhang high, in the blink of an eye.

Yuan Jun on the city wall felt the siege ladder approaching when he saw a figure swiftly leap up, startling him.

Instantly, Mao Kun ducked and crashed into Yuan's army on the city wall. But before he could sweep across the surroundings, he saw several shields rushing towards him from all directions. In that instant, Mao Kun felt a chill in his heart and without thinking, he kicked off and flew backward.

This approach may seem rigid, but if the defenders react quickly and are fearless, it can be extremely damaging to the attackers. No matter how brave you are, when you're trapped between several shields and unable to move, you're nothing more than a fish on a chopping board.

It is precisely because of this subconscious reaction that Mao Kun has been able to repeatedly be the first to reach the summit and has survived to this day.

Of course, the cooperation of the Wei army is also very important.

For example, after Mao Kun jumped off the city wall, his men immediately formed a wooden net by thrusting long spears horizontally.

When Mao Kun fell from the city wall, he landed right on top of it, and the impact cushioned his fall, preventing him from dying.

This was a special skill that Mao Kun's men had specially trained.

There's nothing they can do; they've been paired with someone like Mao Kun who loves adventure.

Although Mao Kun suffered a minor setback, the Wei army's vanguard launched increasingly fierce attacks.

Meanwhile, Yuan Shao, also fully armed and in good gear, patrolled the city walls, encouraging morale.

Seeing that he was willing to brave the arrows and personally go to the front line, the morale of Yuan's army on the city wall was greatly boosted.

Yuan Jun, who was already of high quality, became even more resilient at this moment.

Meanwhile, Yuan's army camp outside the city was also not idle.

Yan Liang led the cavalry and Shen Pei led the infantry, and 20,000 Yuan soldiers stabbed at the waist and abdomen of the attacking Wei army like daggers.

Yuan Shao was inside, and Shen Pei was outside.

With the combined efforts of internal and external forces, the Wei army launched a fierce offensive but failed to shake the Yuan army's defensive posture.

Upon witnessing this scene, Wei Zhe on the cloud vehicle couldn't help but frown slightly, even though he had anticipated it.

It seems he cannot rely on Yuan Shao making mistakes in this battle.

But it's okay if he doesn't make mistakes, he has plenty of ways to make him make mistakes!
With this in mind, Wei Zhe immediately ordered the catapults to be deployed.

In a short while, huge rocks were seen flying across the sky and earth, some landing on the city walls, others smashing into the Yuan army's formation outside the city.

In any case, Wei Zhe had tested every possible point and surface, and only after seeing the other party's reaction did he change to another method.

After a while, Yuan Shao on the city wall finally couldn't help but look serious.

Such effortless siege tactics finally gave him a concrete understanding of Wei Zhe's mastery of military strategy.

Even though Wei Zhe used conventional siege tactics, his timing and rhythm were exquisite.

Between the rotations of troops, no opportunity was left for Yuan's army to exploit.

As it turns out, war is a contest of who makes fewer mistakes.

At this moment, both Wei Zhe and Yuan Shao were tempted to force the other to make a mistake.

As dusk approached, both sides sounded the retreat.

……

Not to mention how Wei Zhe and Yuan Shao tested each other under the walls of Xindu.

On the Xiaquyang side, with the complete annihilation of the 20,000-strong Black Mountain Army, the already anxious Changshan Kingdom became even more fearful.

Even without the Prime Minister of Changshan Kingdom issuing an order, the various powerful clans spontaneously united to protect themselves.

At the border between Changshan State and Julu County, a defensive line was almost entirely built up with barricades.

However, they were unaware that the real danger came from behind.

Late at night, outside Jingxing Pass.

Looking at the flickering firelight on the city wall, Zhao Yun's expression grew even calmer.

As one of the eight passes of Taihang, the importance of Jingxing is beyond doubt.

As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, the "Lüshi Chunqiu" and "Huainanzi" referred to "Jingxing" as one of the nine strategic passes in the world.

Because the area is high and flat on all sides, and low in the middle like a well, it is called Jingxing.

As the name suggests, "Jingxing" is a narrow pass in the Taihang Mountains.

However, the Jingxing Pass of today is different from that of the Ming and Qing Dynasties; it is now mainly the western exit of Jingxing Pass.

Since the Former Han Dynasty, it has been collectively known as the "Three Passes of Shangdang" along with Huguan and Tianjingguan to the south.

As for the Jingxing Pass in later generations, it generally refers to the entire territory of Jingxing County.

This refers to a complete defense system that includes Hangu Pass, Niangzi Pass, and Tumen Pass.

The "Han Dynasty Pass" referred to by later generations is today's Jingxing Pass.

Carts cannot travel on straight tracks, and riders cannot form ranks.

Since the pre-Qin period, this place has been known throughout the world for its treacherous, winding path.

It is truly the key to Bingzhou entering Ji, and the throat connecting the east and west.

When Zhu Yuanzhang captured the Yuan capital at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, he also went west from Zhengding to Jingxing and then to Pingding Prefecture.

Yuan's army would naturally not overlook such a strategically important location.

However, this time and that time.

With the Black Mountain Army's crushing defeat, Changshan Chancellor Sun Jin had long since lost his composure.

Aside from defending the city, he spent his days like an ostrich, huddled in the prefectural government office, feeling lost and helpless.

Thus, Zhao Yun, who had originally been wandering within the territory of Zhao, keenly sensed the opportunity.

Therefore, between harassing Ye City and launching a surprise attack on Jingxing Pass, he decisively chose the latter.

Even if Ye City was caught off guard and he managed to storm the city, he wouldn't be able to take over Ye City with only 800 men.

In this way, it did little more than give Yuan Shao a fright at the front lines.

But if we can capture Jingxing Pass, the situation will be completely different, and the entire battlefield situation may change.

As time passed, Xiahou Xuan finally returned from the dense forest.

"It's confirmed. Governor Xu has already sent troops to ambush in the Cangyan Valley. They will be able to rush into the pass within an hour of the city walls being set ablaze."

It wasn't that Xu Rong didn't want to help launch a pincer attack from both inside and outside; the main reason was that the focus of Jingxing Pass's defenses was on the Taiyuan direction.

As for Changshan State, since Yuan Shao became the governor of Ji Province, it has always focused on collecting taxes.

This was even more true after Yuan Shao pacified the Black Mountain Army; they were not afraid of anyone sneaking through the pass.

However, right now, let alone the Black Mountain Army, even Zhang Yan is nowhere to be found, hiding in some remote mountain valley.

As a local strongman in Zhending, Zhao Yun arrived stealthily without causing any disturbance.

The Black Mountain bandits had no time to pay attention, and Jingxing Pass had never even considered this.

After all, Changshan Kingdom hadn't fallen yet; who could have imagined that an enemy army would sneak out from their own territory to cross the border...

(End of this chapter)