xymnovel Chapter 231 Undercurrents
Chapter 231 Undercurrents
Having won a great victory, Meng Zhang pressed his advantage, leading the Yellow Turban army northwards without stopping, with overwhelming momentum.
The Yellow Turban army, numbering nearly 300,000, marched in a mighty and imposing manner, with iron cavalry as numerous as clouds and banners obscuring the sun. They chased after Yin Yuanxun and the Daqian army all the way, displaying an unparalleled and awe-inspiring momentum.
Wherever the Yellow Turban army passed, the abandoned county soldiers of the Great Qian Dynasty surrendered without resistance. The garrisons of many cities and towns surrendered without daring to fight against the Yellow Turban army.
Unlike the high spirits of Meng Zhang and the Yellow Turban army.
Yin Yuanxun and Qiu Longteng, along with other generals of the Great Qian Dynasty, were pursued by the Yellow Turban army and were in a sorry state, like stray dogs.
Their once-proud elite force crumbled under the fierce attack of the Yellow Turban army, and they were unable to mount any effective resistance.
Most of the soldiers scattered and fled, and the generals could only lead their remaining troops in a hasty retreat.
The Yellow Turban army advanced triumphantly, recapturing numerous cities and major towns.
Moreover, Meng Zhang was strict in disciplining his troops, and he never committed any offenses against them wherever he went.
Wherever he went, he was warmly welcomed and supported by the local people, lived in harmony with them, and won their widespread support.
In the recaptured cities, the Yellow Turban army took a short break to regroup and resupply.
They repaired the city walls, reassured the people, and rectified military discipline, making full preparations for the upcoming battles.
During this time, Meng Zhang communicated with local gentry and people to understand their sentiments and opinions, and formulated a detailed plan for the Yellow Turban Army's next move.
As the Yellow Turban army continued its northward march, their momentum grew ever stronger.
Meng Zhang led the Yellow Turban army like an unstoppable torrent, sweeping across most of Luzhou.
Only a small portion of the area adjacent to Qianzhou, the core of the Great Qian Dynasty, remains under the control of Yin Yuanxun and his associates.
The two sides once again engaged in a standoff.
Unfortunately, unlike before, the Yellow Turban Army has now completely surrounded Yin Yuanxun and his men.
After a massive defeat.
The 200,000 regular troops of the Great Qian Dynasty under the command of Yin Yuanxun and others suffered heavy losses.
In the previous battles, some died, some were wounded, some were captured, and some surrendered.
They also lost many troops during the rout.
Now, only one-tenth of the regular army of the Great Qian Dynasty under the control of Yin Yuanxun and others remains.
Although Yin Yuanxun and others had recovered to nearly 100,000 troops when confronting Meng Zhang's Yellow Turban army, most of these soldiers were scattered remnants, mainly county soldiers who had fled from various cities.
The number of soldiers with real combat capability was very small, and the morale of these troops had long been dissipated by the repeated blows from Meng Zhang and the Yellow Turban Army.
Faced with the Yellow Turban Army's attacks, these soldiers often showed extreme panic and unease.
They had witnessed the Yellow Turban Army's bravery and cruelty in previous battles and were well aware of the gap in strength between themselves and their opponents.
Therefore, when faced with the Yellow Turban Army's charge, they often lost their fighting spirit and even collapsed without a fight.
Yin Yuanxun and others were well aware of the actual situation of these soldiers, but they had no other choice.
In their current predicament, they can only rely on these soldiers to resist the Yellow Turban Army's attack.
To boost morale, they continuously mobilized and inspired the soldiers, trying to help them regain their confidence and fighting spirit.
However, these efforts often yield little result.
The soldiers' fear and anxiety were hard to dispel, and they remained extremely passive and negative in battle.
This put Yin Yuanxun and others at a severe disadvantage in their confrontation with the Yellow Turban Army.
Therefore, the Yellow Turban army that Yin Yuanxun and others are facing now far surpasses them in both numbers and morale.
They could only rely on strong city defenses and limited troops to struggle to hold on to this land.
...
At a time of gloom when the entire Luzhou front of the Great Qian Empire collapsed.
At this time, within Qianzhou, in Lingyang County, the rear area of the Yan King of Xiyu Yanzhou, the situation was also turbulent and turbulent.
At this time, although the prominent families in Lingyang County were constantly fighting each other openly and secretly, they unexpectedly chose to secretly gather together at this critical moment for the survival of the country.
The streets were sparsely populated, with only the sound of the night watchman's gong echoing through the empty alleys.
Meanwhile, inside a secluded mansion in the city, the lights were on, shadows were everywhere, and the atmosphere was unusually tense.
This place also brought together several prominent families from the western part of the Great Qian Dynasty.
"Duke Pei, is this plan truly feasible?"
The speaker was the head of the Li family, who held the position of governor of Lingyang County. His brows were furrowed, clearly indicating his unease about the impending changes.
"Brother Li, the Great Qian's battle lines in Luzhou have now completely collapsed, and the Yan King's army is advancing like a whirlwind. If we do not make plans soon, I fear that the day the Yan King breaches Qianzhou will be the day our families are wiped out."
Duke Pei, the patriarch of the Pei clan, has been blessed with imperial favor for hundreds of years, serving as the guardian of the western part of Qianzhou on behalf of the Great Qian imperial family.
At that moment, a sly glint flashed in his eyes.
"What Lord Pei said is absolutely right."
"Our Shen family has served the royal family for generations, but now the royal family is in decline, and the Great Qian Dynasty is at a critical juncture. We have no choice but to think about the future of our family."
The head of the Shen family, who commanded tens of thousands of soldiers in Lingyang County, also spoke in a deep voice.
"Although I, Zheng, am unwilling to be a traitor, the Yan King is powerful, and those who know when to yield are the heroes."
"But we wonder if, once this barrier is opened, the Flame King will comply with our wishes and refrain from committing any offenses?"
The patriarch of the Zheng family, who controlled most of the commerce in Lingyang County, stroked his long beard and sighed.
"Hmph, if King Yan dares to break his promise to us, how could we let him easily obtain the gold, silver, treasures, and beautiful women of Qianzhou?"
The head of the Xu family, who represented most of the dark forces in the Jianghu of Lingyang County, snorted coldly, his tone revealing a ruthless edge.
"Rest assured, everyone. I have been secretly communicating with the King of Yan for many days, and he will keep his promise to us."
"Once the barrier is opened, the Yan King's army will march straight to the heart of the enemy, and then we can join forces with the dragon and share in the riches."
Duke Pei smiled slightly, but there was no hint of amusement in his eyes.
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.
They all knew that taking this step would lead to an abyss with no way back.
But the current situation left them with no other choice; the Flame King's army was like a sword hanging over their heads, ready to fall at any moment.
"What Lord Pei said is true."
"But opening the city gates to meet the enemy is, after all, going against the will of the world."
"What if the Flame King settles scores after entering the city? Wouldn't we be digging our own graves?"
The Zheng family patriarch frowned and took over the conversation.
"Hmph, the Flame King is known for his benevolence and righteousness; he's a hundred times better than that tyrannical Emperor Qian!"
The head of the Xu family slammed his hand on the table and said angrily, "In my opinion, we should take this opportunity to establish a good relationship with the Flame King, which may preserve the family's honor."
The wildly popular novel "I Summon Famous Generals from All History in Another World," a heartfelt work by author Mu Jin Bai Yi, is available on Kele Novels.