Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 225 Military Might
The spring breeze in Wuyuan County is ultimately different from that in Taiyuan.

It swept across the exposed rocky ridges of Yinshan Mountain, stirring up the fishy smell of freshly turned soil on the riverbank, and also making the tiger flag outside the gate flutter loudly.

The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as dozens of dusty riders appeared at the end of the official road leading to the camp.

The man at the front, dressed in a dark robe representing the central government of Luoyang and wearing a Jinxian hat, was none other than Wu Qiong, the Commandant of the City Gates.

He had a rugged face, and his brows carried the solemnity cultivated from years of service as an official in the capital.

As he traveled along the way, the desolation of the borderlands, the ruins of abandoned villages, and the occasional white bones of livestock gnawed by wolves by the roadside weighed heavily on his heart.

However, as he walked past that terrifying creation on his way here, all his weariness was instantly replaced by a bone-chilling cold!

It was a colossal tower built from countless pale heads! Layer upon layer, it was over ten feet high and several feet wide!

The skull, preserved in lime, gleamed with a chilling, deathly luster under the bleak early spring sun of northern China, its empty eye sockets staring fixedly at the vast northern grasslands.

The strong, pungent smell of lime mixed with a faint, deep-seated stench of decay created a suffocating sense of oppression, as if it were a tangible force!

Even though Wu Qiong prided himself on being upright and had seen many storms, he felt his stomach churning and his face turned deathly pale.

"This is a mound of skulls..."

A young attendant beside him was almost speechless.

They were all central army troops stationed in Luoyang, and compared to the soldiers in the border regions, they were practically green.

The end of a dynasty is not like the beginning. In the early period, the central army was the most capable, but in the end, there were countless mediocre people with connections in the central army.

Fortunately, there were no major problems along the way, and they arrived at their destination safely.

Wuyuan Prefecture, Jiuyuan County.

Woo——!
Just as Wu Qiong and his party were about to arrive, a powerful and long horn suddenly sounded from inside the gate!

Immediately following was a continuous, deep, thunderous sound of war drums!

Boom!Boom!Boom!
Every sound seemed to strike right at one's heart!
The heavy iron gate slowly opened with the creaking of the winch.

Wu Qiong, displaying the composure honed over years of official service, straightened his back and slowly rode his horse into the room.

The scene inside the gate, however, made everyone in Luoyang gasp in shock!
On the surprisingly spacious training ground, two elite forces, clearly distinct yet seamlessly integrated, stood solemnly in formation!

On the left are heavily armored infantrymen in striking black armor, their entire bodies covered in black iron armor, only their cold, stern eyes visible.

The massive, leather-covered iron shield slammed heavily onto the ground, kicking up fine dust.

Behind the shields, a forest of spears pointed diagonally to the sky, their tips gleaming with a dense, cold light in the sunlight! They were as silent as mountains, exuding an aura as heavy as the earth, capable of crushing everything in its path.

The flags of the battalions, such as the Wind Battalion, the Forest Battalion, and the Mountain Battalion, fluttered in the wind.

On the right, stood the valiant and lightly armored guerrillas! Their white battle robes fluttered in the wind, they carried composite bows on their backs, ring-pommel swords at their waists, and quivers on their saddles.

Their warhorses were tall and magnificent, seemingly ready to be launched at any moment! Their agile and sharp aura contrasted sharply with the heavy armor of the armored army.

On the command platform in the center of the training ground, a man stood with his hand on his sword.

Wearing a dark cloak over a gleaming infantry armor, it was Zhang Xian.

He was not wearing a helmet, and his face was calm.

Behind him, a host of great generals, including Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, Lü Bu, Zhang Liao, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, stood solemnly on either side of him, like stars surrounding the moon, their armor clanging and their killing intent filling the air.

As Wu Qiong and his group passed through the tunnel built by soldiers, thousands of eyes focused on them. There was no noise, no discussion, only a cold and suffocating scrutiny and pressure!

Each breath seemed to carry the scent of rust and sweat, so solemn that even the horses of the Luoyang delegation began to stir restlessly.

Wu Qiong could clearly hear her own heart pounding like a drum.

He forced himself to raise his gaze and step by step meet the figure on the platform.

Zhang Xian's gaze fell precisely on him, calm and profound, as if it could penetrate him completely and reach his very heart.

There was no deliberate arrogance in his gaze, but rather an absolute confidence that suggested he held complete power and had the power of life and death.

Wu Qiong felt her back instantly soaked in cold sweat, a feeling of insignificance as if she were being stared at by a giant beast.

"Han, Wu Qiong, Commandant of the City Gates, is hereby ordered by the Emperor to reward the soldiers on the northern expedition!"

Upon approaching, Wu Qiong took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady, bowed slightly, and presented the imperial edict wrapped in yellow silk with both hands.

Zhang Xian nodded slightly, but did not step down from the stage. He simply said in a deep voice.

"We are grateful to Colonel Wu for coming all the way to the northern frontier, and to the soldiers for their bloody battles to recover our homeland. The Emperor's great favor is deeply appreciated by the entire army!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it echoed clearly over the training ground.

The next moment, as if receiving a command, a battle roar as powerful as a landslide and a tsunami suddenly erupted!

Armored warriors slammed their swords and spears into the ground with heavy steps, while the guerrilla knights raised their ring-pommel swords high! The roars from thousands of throats soared into the sky.

"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty! Victory! Victory! Victory!"

"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty! Victory! Victory! Victory!"

"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty! Victory! Victory! Victory!"

A tremendous roar surged, and after a long while, the training ground suddenly fell silent with a casual wave of the hand from the man on the command platform.

What does it mean to obey orders without question? This is it!

Wu Qiong's face turned pale, but he forced himself to remain calm and completed the ceremony of proclaiming the imperial edict.

The imperial edict was nothing more than words of praise, granting Zhang Xian a fief and acknowledging his full military and political authority over Wuyuan.

Zhang Xian finally smiled when he heard the official appointment of Huang Zhong as Protector-General of the Xiongnu. Afterwards, the names of the other generals were also listed in a second, much more casually worded edict.

All the documents presented were requested by Zhang Xian.

The military officer's title is mostly the same as the one he was appointed to in the former general's mansion; now it's just that the title of general in the small mansion has been changed to that of a general in the imperial court.

Apart from Huang Zhong, the others still held the positions of Colonel and some other Commandant titles.

For example, Lü Bu became the Commandant of Jiuyuan, commanding the troops of Wuyuan Commandery.

Zhang Liao was appointed Commandant of Yanmen, in charge of the troops of Yanmen Commandery.

Zhao Yun was appointed Commandant of Xihe, in charge of the troops of Xihe Commandery.

Zhao Gou did not go into battle, but Zhang Xian still appointed him as the Commandant of Taiyuan, leading the troops of Taiyuan Commandery.

This time, most of the memorials were presented to military officers, as they were mostly for military achievements.

However, this also revealed Liu Hong's and the court's attitude towards him.

Next time, you can be bolder.

We must also seize control of the governorships of each prefecture in Bingzhou, first uniting the entire region into a single, unbreakable force, and then plotting against Youzhou and Liangzhou!

The ceremony ended hastily.

Wu Qiong was led to the central command tent to rest for a while. The tent was simply furnished, but it exuded the ruggedness of military life.

Zhang Xian didn't exchange many pleasantries, only briefly inquiring about the sights and sounds of Luoyang before delegating military affairs to a clerk.

Wu Qiong knew perfectly well that the other party did not take him, the envoy used to inspect things, seriously at all, or rather, they disdained to hide anything from him.

He mustered his spirits and tentatively suggested that he wanted to learn about the local customs and conditions in the border areas.

The chief secretary in charge of receiving guests had a gentle yet distant smile.

"Commander Wu has come a long way and is suffering from the harsh winds and cold of the frontier. He should rest for two days first. It will not be too late to arrange for the commander to inspect the area after the lord has finished dealing with the urgent military affairs. As for the people's conditions... Wuyuan has been separated from the Han Dynasty for a hundred years. How much of the people's conditions can we see now?"

It is watertight and has a firm yet flexible design.

Wu Qiong knew that all he would see on this trip was what Zhang Xian wanted him to see.

He glanced at the armored soldiers standing solemnly outside the tent; the cold gleam of their armor seemed to remind him of a deep sense of powerlessness and the resulting apprehension that spread through his heart.

As Wu Qiong began to understand the people's conditions, the iron and bloodshed in the northern frontier continued.

North of the Yin Mountains, deep in the vast wilderness, a remnant of the Hu people, numbering about three or four hundred, was driving the cattle and sheep they had stolen, and was fleeing north in a panic.

They were remnants of the scattered Lan clan, who had narrowly escaped the repeated attacks by the wolf cavalry and the wandering army, and were like frightened birds.

"Hurry! Once we cross that icy river and enter the black pine forest, the Han dogs won't be able to catch us!"

The leader, Gerile, brandished his whip, his voice hoarse, his eyes bloodshot.

With Qiangqu dead and the royal court gone, they were like stray dogs, only wanting to escape as far away as possible.

However, just as they approached the glacial mudflats, something unexpected happened!

Woo——!
A piercing whistle suddenly tore through the sky!
Immediately afterwards, from behind the hills upstream of the glacier, a large number of white figures emerged like ghosts! It was a unit of the guerrilla army personally led by Zhao Yun! Like a pack of wolves that had been lying in wait for a long time, they silently completed the encirclement!

"Release the arrows!" Zhao Yun's voice rang out in the cold wind, icy and ruthless.

Om-!
A dense, chilling rain of arrows, accompanied by a piercing whistle, descended like a cloud of death! The arrows precisely covered the vanguard and flanks of the Hu cavalry!

puff!puff!puff!

The dull thuds of blades piercing flesh echoed one after another! Caught off guard, the Hu cavalry fell from their horses like wheat being cut down! Men and horses tumbled and screams of agony startled the cattle and sheep, causing them to scatter and flee, further disrupting the order of the army!
"Han dogs! It's the White-Armored Killer! Scatter! Charge!" Gerile roared, his eyes bloodshot, as he drew his scimitar.

However, once you fall into the trap of the game's forces, it's too late to make any decision.

The Youyi Army's arrow rain never stopped, wave after wave! The precise iron arrowheads easily tore through the Hu people's simple leather armor, piercing through flesh and blood. Once they lost speed and came to a standstill, the Hu cavalry were like lambs to the slaughter under the Youyi Army's agile and accurate mounted archery.

"Kill with me!"

When the time was ripe, Zhao Yun took the lead and charged into the chaotic enemy ranks! His spear flashed, and wherever he passed, men and horses fell, his momentum unstoppable!
The remaining Hu cavalry were completely stunned by this fierce and unparalleled attack, and their last bit of will to resist collapsed instantly.

"Surrender! We surrender!" Gerile watched his tribesmen fall one after another around him, and in despair, he threw away his scimitar, dismounted, and knelt on the cold riverbank, pressing his forehead deep into the soil.

The battle ended cleanly.

The remaining forces of the Lan clan quickly knelt down and surrendered. The guerrilla soldiers skillfully cleaned up the battlefield, gathered the prisoners, and drove back the scattered cattle and sheep.

"General, these prisoners..." Deputy General Zhao Yong rode over to ask for instructions.

Zhao Yun's gaze swept over the Hu people kneeling and shivering in the cold wind, then looked at the captured cattle and sheep, and said coldly.

"Women and children will be escorted back to Jiuyuan and placed under the jurisdiction of the prefecture. Young men will be sent to build the city walls and beacon towers in Wuyuan. There will be no shortage of manpower."

"Yes!" Zhao Yong replied, his eyes showing no emotion.

That's how war is; the loser loses everything.

Similar campaigns were repeatedly carried out across the vast land of Wuyuan County.

Lu Bu's wolf riders, like wolves that have caught the scent of blood, pursued any trace of the Hu people who dared to gather deep in the wilderness.

Wei Xu and Song Xian's two wolf rider teams, like red-hot daggers, repeatedly pierced through the areas surrounding Yiliang, Chengyi, and Linwo, dragging out the scattered tribes hiding in the valleys and dense forests one by one.

Those who surrendered became laborers, while those who resisted added to the height of the Jingguan (a mound of corpses).

Zhang Xian's orders were ruthless and efficient, aiming to completely eliminate all unstable factors in Wuyuan County with the fastest speed and the most effective means!
What he wanted was a land where people could live in peace and prosperity, not a scourge that could turn on him at any moment.

Either you can sing and dance well, or you'll turn into dust!
(End of this chapter)