Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 230 The Nation is Secure

Xiangzhou.

After Yuan Hao fled Ye City, Hebasheng temporarily took his place and, on Erzhu Rong's orders, was stationed in Ye City.

In the summer of the second year of Yong'an, Erzhu Rong led his army north and quelled the rebellion in Hengzhou. Afterwards, his army marched out of Shanggu and encountered Du Luozhou's army. In one battle, he killed Du Luozhou.

Subsequently, Erzhu Rong withdrew his troops and led them back to Hengzhou, while Du Luozhou's followers went south to join Ge Rong.

Ge Rong did not refuse and accepted everything, but he did not have the ability to maintain a balance among the three forces in Hebei—the powerful families, the government troops, and the six garrisons—that Yuan Shen had back then.

The aristocratic families of Hebei held an equal loathing for the Erzhu clan and the Six Garrisons.

Therefore, the local aristocratic families did not make a choice.

After gaining a large number of followers, Ge Rong faced a shortage of food and supplies, so he marched south to attack Ye City.

The present-day Ye City was built by Cao Wei and has not yet undergone large-scale expansion.

Standing atop the city wall, Hebasheng gazed at the endless rows of camps in the distance, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

"Qimitou, do you think General Tianzhu can win this battle?"

Behind Hebasheng stood a handsome man, Dugu Ruyuan from Wuchuan.

Outside the city walls, more than 200,000 troops were stationed, the vast majority of whom were soldiers from the Six Garrisons.

Dugu Ruyuan was originally a general under Ge Rong, but after Hebasheng defeated Yuan Hao, he switched sides from Ge Rong to Hebasheng.

Therefore, Erzhu Rong appointed him as General of the Valiant Cavalry!

"If we can't win, will I die with Po Hu Lai?"

Dugu Ruyuan's words ignited Hebasheng's fighting spirit.

He turned around and looked at the man who had once conspired with the Heba and Yuwen clans to plot against Wei Kegu, and said:

"Even if Qi Mitou regrets it, it's too late now."

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

……

Outside the city walls, in Ge Rong's camp.

Ge Rong commanded over 200,000 men, yet he did not experience the exhilaration of wielding absolute power.

On the contrary, I am very worried!

Because Ge Rong had run out of food.

After the Six Garrison Army's guerrilla-style fighting, the fields in Hebei were already deserted. Even if Ge Rong led the Six Garrison Army to farm while fighting, it was still far from enough to supply the land.

Hebei has grain, but it's all in the hands of powerful families and scattered throughout various fortified villages. Ge Rong can't possibly attack each fortified village one by one; that would take forever.
Now, the most lucrative piece of meat in Hebei is right in front of him. Ge Rong has no choice but to first capture Ye City, prove his strength, and then compromise with the powerful families of Hebei.

He understood that only by taking Ye City could he and his more than 200,000 men catch their breath.

"After Dugu Ruyuan joined Hebasheng, the brothers in the Six Garrisons were thrown into chaos."

One of Ge Rong's generals said.

Dugu Ruyuan's decision to jump ship is very exemplary.

It wasn't just because Erzhu Rong greatly praised this first person to surrender and appointed him as a general, but also because after Dugu Ruyuan rebelled, he led his troops into Ye City and got food!
"So what? I'll capture him sooner or later!"

Although Ge Rong spoke with great confidence, he lacked conviction in his heart.

Ye City is not so easy to conquer. After all, it was a city built by Cao Cao back then.

Even if Ge Rong urgently ordered the harvesting of grain fields outside Ye City, it wouldn't last long.

"The brothers are not worried about what to do with Dugu Ruyuan after the city falls, but about what to do after Ye City is breached. I heard that Ye City is running low on food supplies."

After Yuan Shen's defeat and death, Ye City experienced a period of turmoil, with its treasury being looted and supplies severely damaged. Later, although Yuan Hao was appointed to govern Xiangzhou, the situation in Hebei remained unstable, preventing the city from recovering.

Upon hearing this, Ge Rong understood that his men were worried about the future.

"Then let's go to Luoyang!"

After Ge Rong finished speaking, the generals started talking non-stop.

"But Luoyang has already been thoroughly exploited by Da Ye!"

"Will that bastard Ohno Sō leave us anything good?"

"I heard he was moving a million shi of grain out of Luoyang, and it took him half a year! It's hard to say how much is left in Luoyang now." "Doesn't Erzhu Rong care?"

"He needs to be able to manage things! It's all over Luoyang now. The Erzhu clan, a bunch of Qihu people, don't know anything about good stuff. They only know how to rob money, women, and houses. They've been taken advantage of by Da Yeshuang."

Upon hearing this, Ge Rong punched the armrest so hard that it broke the armrest of the chair.

In his anger, Ge Rong said something he shouldn't have.

"Stop arguing, let's go to Guanzhong and rob Da Ye Shuang of his!"

As soon as Ge Rong said this, everyone calmed down, looked at Ge Rong, and felt a chill in their hearts.
-
Bingzhou.

Erzhu Rong rode his horse, galloping through the mountains and fields.

Behind him followed a surging tide of black-armored cavalry.

After passing through Fukou Pass and crossing the Taihang Mountains, Erzhu Rong could already see Ge Rong's continuous military tents when he reached a high vantage point.

"What a spectacle!"

Erzhu Rong's words carried a hint of mockery.

The generals followed behind Erzhu Rong, when they heard Erzhu Rong ask:

"He Liuhun, why doesn't Ge Rong defend Fukou Pass?"

Gao Huan looked at the distant dust and smoke, and respectfully replied:
"Ge Rong is waiting for General Tianzhu!"

At this moment, Murong Shaozong said:

"I'm afraid Ge Rong has run out of food and is eager to fight us to the death."

If Ge Rong defeats Erzhu Rong, Ye City will be his for the taking. The troops led by Hebasheng and Dugu Ruyuan in the city will probably not dare to stay in Ye City and fight Ge Rong to the death.

Thus, Ge Rong was able to seize the opportunity to occupy Ye City.

Erzhu Rong nodded and smiled:

"What I saw was a tired, thirsty prey that had reached a dead end. The prey was baring its teeth and claws just to cover up its weakness."

Heba Yue asked:
"How does General Tianzhu plan to deploy his troops?"

"Win hearts and minds first, then deploy troops!"

After saying this, Erzhu Rong asked:

"Which of you can persuade me to surrender Ge Rong's elite troops?"

"The general will go where he wishes!"

Gao Huan clasped his hands in acceptance of the task.

Erzhu Rong sent Gao Huan to persuade him to surrender in order to better sow discord among Ge Rong's six garrison troops, trapping this prey so that it could no longer struggle.

Then, deliver the fatal blow.

“You should take good care of your troops. Once He Liuhun’s plan succeeds, you will each lead your troops to meet the enemy.”

"promise!"
-
Luoyang.

Inside the palace, Yuan Ziyou was reviewing memorials.

These past few days, he has been restless, constantly worried about the war in the north.

Luoyang is a powder keg, and no one understands this better than Yuan Ziyou, who sits on the throne in the imperial palace.

Yuan Ziyou had always hoped that Erzhu Rong would lose.

In this way, he could depose Erzhu Shilong and rally the troops around Luoyang to his own advantage.

But things didn't turn out as he expected.

"Your Majesty, General Tianzhu has personally led two thousand cavalry to Xiangzhou, breaking through Ge Rong's main camp and capturing Ge Rong alive. From now on, the nation is safe and sound!"

Erzhu Shilong's congratulatory voice made Yuan Ziyou's pen tremble.

He had to raise his head, a smile on his face, and speak of his deepest worry.

"The nation is safe and sound!"

……

(End of this chapter)