Chapter 94 Another Situation

  Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were both high-ranking officials, they were willing to accompany Liu Bian in a gamble, not because of their love for gambling, but because they knew that this was indeed a gamble, betting on whether Liu Bian could resolve the war situation in He Dong before Yuan Shao divided his troops.

  Dong Zhuo marched west and sent his son-in-law, Zhonglang General Niu Fu, to lead 10,000 infantry and cavalry to attack the White Wave Bandits in He Dong. The two sides clashed several times, but Niu Fu not only failed to defeat the White Wave Bandits, he was also ambushed by them and suffered heavy losses. He has now retreated to Wenxi.

  Once Weijun loses its defense, the White Wave Army can rush out of the mountains and enter the capital area, not only cutting off the connection between Chang'an and Luoyang but also taking away salt and iron. Anyi has a salt pool, after the court lost Shandong, the salt marshes in Anyi were the main source of edible salt. Anyi also had iron, which was an indispensable strategic resource. The White Wave Army cooperated with Yuan Shao's attack, probably because they coveted these two resources.

  In any case, the imperial court cannot give up Hedong.

  Niu Fu's battle was unfavorable, but Dong Zhuo couldn't support him. At the end of December, Han Sui and Ma Teng led more than 100,000 Qiang people to kill into Guanzhong, directly threatening Chang'an. Dong Zhuo was leading his army in the area of Maoling to block them, and he couldn't leave at all. Liu Bian wanted to personally lead his elite cavalry to rescue Niu Fu and lift the siege of He Dong, but it was also out of helplessness.

  If Liu Bian led the cavalry away at that time, Yuan Shao would have attacked separately. Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were limited by their military strength and lacked mobile cavalry, making it difficult to ensure the safety of Luoyang. In this situation, they could only hope for Yuan Shao's slowness and Liu Bian's luck. Huangfu Song also had to take on the heavy responsibility of commanding the army again.

  After the arrangement, Liu Bian led 10,000 infantry and cavalry to leave Xiangyang and rush to Hedong. Two days later, he arrived in Luoyang and stationed troops at Pingle Temple. Yan Zhong, who was garrisoning Luoyang, came to pay his respects immediately. As soon as he saw Liu Bian walking in with big strides, Yan Zhong praised: "Your Majesty has achieved great success in your practice, it's a joyous occasion."

  Liu Bian was inexplicably wonderful. He didn't feel like he had made any progress in his cultivation, Zhang Huan had broken through, Lü Bu had fought smoothly, and apart from gaining some confidence, he hadn't seen any substantial changes. However, he also didn't discuss this issue with Yan Zhong, who thought that Liu Bian's cultivation had progressed and had even more confidence in him, which was exactly what he wanted.

  "What's new in Hedong?"

  "Niu Fu has lost again and retreated to Anyi." Yan Zhong's eyebrows slightly furrowed as he handed a military report to Liu Bian, saying: "The Heishan bandits seem to have gone to Hedong too. Niu Fu's forces are insufficient, and they can't resist."

  "Black Mountain Bandit?" Liu furrowed his brow: "Zhang Yan?"

  "It's not Zhang Yan, it's Yang Feng." Yan Zhong pondered for a moment: "However, in my opinion, the most troublesome thing is not the Black Mountain Army, but the fact that this group of Yellow Turban remnants has clearly improved their military capabilities."

  Liu Bian's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes suddenly became sharp: "You're saying that there is someone superior guiding them?"

  Yan Zhong nodded: "The Yellow Turbans have always been brave but not strategic, only knowing how to rely on their numbers and charge forward. When facing ordinary county soldiers, they can indeed sweep them away like autumn wind blowing down leaves. However, when encountering strong opponents, they also easily collapse. This was the reason for the defeat of the million-strong Yellow Turbans back then. But this time is different, they have actually become clever, retreating and luring Cao Fu into a mountain valley to ambush him."

  Liu Bian understood, Yan Zhong's reminder was very important. If there were high-ranking officials behind the scenes directing the Yellow Turbans, their combat effectiveness might be greatly enhanced. Niu Fu's defeat might have been due to this very point. However, Yan Zhong's words were not simply a warning for Liu Bian to be more careful; the danger lurking behind was much greater.

  Why did the Yellow Turbans fail at first? Because they attacked the manors of local aristocratic families, provoking a counterattack from these families. They had only brute force but lacked a brain that truly knew how to command troops. They relied solely on Zhang Jue's personal charisma. After Zhang Jue died in battle, the Yellow Turbans became like scattered sand and were quickly defeated by Huangfu Song.

  Now, they and the wealthy families have turned their enemies into friends, joined hands, and it's not just a simple increase in combat effectiveness. Either the Yellow Turbans have learned from their lessons, attracted those intellectuals who have no way to advance, taken the road of regularization, and continued to fight, or they have reached some kind of agreement with Yuan Shao, taking unified action.

  Considering the current situation, the latter is more likely and more dangerous. This means that Bingzhou may be nibbled away by Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao doesn't even need to mobilize a single soldier, just send a few strategists to guide the Yellow Turbans, and he can cut off Bingzhou from the imperial map, further squeezing the court's living space, and also gain tens of thousands of elite troops and nearly a million people.

  Liu Bian narrowed his eyes and remained silent for a long time.

  ……

  Cai Yong was shocked and lost his color: "Your Majesty has created a drum melody that can help people understand their destiny?"

  Cai Yan nodded slightly and lowered her head, avoiding Cai Yong's gaze. Cai Yong's eyebrows twitched: "You want to help him?"

  "It's not that his daughter wanted to help him." Cai Yan hastily explained: "This is really something he figured out himself."

  Cai Yong looked at Cai Yan, wanting to speak but hesitating. After a moment, he took the score that Cai Yan had brought back and looked at it again, his fingers lightly tapping on the table. After another moment, he let out a long sigh: "Could this be the true will of heaven?"

  Cai Yan looked at Cai Yong in puzzlement.

  "Ayuan, don't you think this drum tune is a bit similar to that one?"

  Cai Yan was stunned for a moment: "Isn't the drum score already lost?"

  Cai Yong hesitated for a moment: "The original score of the drum music has been lost, but the drum music was originally a battle array song. In later generations' drum and blow music, there are still some remnants of it, only after some modifications. In comparison, the war dance drum music that was passed on to the barbarians preserved more of its original flavor. The Ba Yu dance of the Board Shield Barbarian is one of them."

  Cai Yan suddenly enlightened. The drum blow is a military music, when she compiled this drum song according to the rhythm provided by Liu Bian, she intentionally or unintentionally borrowed many rhythms of the drum blow, unexpectedly, there were remnants of the drum song in the drum blow, under the coincidence of fate, she restored part of the face of the drum song, which led Zhang Xiang to understand his destiny and successfully break through.

  "My daughter didn't mean it." Cai Yan stuck out her tongue and shrank back, saying timidly.

  Cai Yong glared at her, wanting to rebuke her, but couldn't bear to. He knew the role he played in this scheme was too sinister and would eventually suffer heavenly punishment. Dragging his daughter into it was not what he wanted. Moreover, Cai Yan wasn't intentionally doing so; this melody was originally something Liu Bian had figured out himself, and could only be said to be fate.

  But what is Heaven's will? Cai Yong did not know.

  Cai Ye said: "Oh, right, Tang Fei might be a White Tiger destiny, it's very likely that Ming Wu will understand soon."

  "Is that so?" After listening to Cai Yan's account, Cai Yong was shocked, his eyebrows furrowed in concern, and he fell into deep thought. "So, it can't be allowed for her to stay by the Emperor's side anymore. The White Gold gives birth to the Mysterious Water, and the dragon and tiger mate; perhaps this is exactly the opportunity for the evil dragon to awaken." He pondered for a long time, then suddenly muttered to himself: "Could it be... that her entering the palace was someone's secret plan, intentionally arranged?"

  The second update, seeking recommendations, seeking collections!