xymnovel Chapter 56 Hebei is completely pacified, and he alone takes credit for suppressing the rebellion.
Chapter 56 Hebei is completely pacified, and he alone takes credit for suppressing the rebellion.
Chapter 63 Hebei is completely pacified, and he alone takes credit for suppressing the rebellion.
Liu Bei led his army northward along the mountains, thoroughly searching the valleys and defeating several enemy forces, but his army's advance did not stop there.
They also attacked Wulu, Digen, Kuqiu, Leigong, and others, breaking through their fortifications and beheading more than ten thousand.
This was also a rare opportunity for Liu Bei to hone his command skills for a large army.
Fourteen thousand infantry and cavalry may not seem like much, but at this time, it was a massive army that only Han dynasty generals and officers could command.
If history had followed its course, Liu Bei probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to command tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry until a number of warlords rose up and Tao Qian ceded Xuzhou to him.
His first battle after taking control of Xuzhou ended in a crushing defeat.
At least in this lifetime, Liu Bei's main rivals, such as Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Liu Biao, have not yet had the opportunity to lead an army of tens of thousands of people to quell a rebellion on their own.
Liu Bei knew this opportunity was not to be missed. Ju Shou strategized for him, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Wen Chou, and Gao Lan led the charge, and Tian Feng oversaw the rear to procure provisions—this was practically the most elite civil and military force in Hebei.
If we cannot seize this opportunity to train a brave and skilled team, how will we be able to compete with the heroes of the world in the future?
Therefore, he would personally go to the front line in every battle to observe the terrain, assess the enemy's strengths and weaknesses, and discuss military strategies with Ju Shou until late at night.
And all of this has yielded remarkable results. Even in military command, practice makes perfect.
After defeating several Black Mountain bandit groups, his command and control of large armies became increasingly proficient.
The cavalry moved swiftly, the infantry advanced and retreated with precision, the supply lines were transported in an orderly manner, and the various camps advanced at the sound of drums and stopped at the sound of gongs, with strict orders.
So in late April, after Liu Bei decisively defeated tens of thousands of Black Mountain bandits, he finally surrounded Bai Rao within his camp.
Bai Rao Camp is located in Cangyan Valley on the southern slope of Taihang Mountain. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and connected to the outside world by only a narrow valley road.
After retreating back to Cangyan Valley, Bai Rao ordered the fortifications of the stockade walls to be reinforced day and night. He also stockpiled all the grain, fodder, and weapons in the stockade there and filled the hillsides on both sides of the valley with rolling stones and logs, making it look like he was going to defend the area to the death.
But Liu Bei gave him no chance to catch his breath, personally leading more than 10,000 elite infantry and cavalry to this place.
At this moment, Liu Bei, full of heroic spirit, rode his horse to a high slope, pointed to the Black Mountain camp ahead, and said to Ju Shou beside him, "Sir, I wish to defeat this bandit as soon as possible. Do you have any plan for me?"
More than 100,000 bandits gathered in their camp to defend it, yet Liu Bei was determined to break through their camp that very day! This display of heroic spirit was truly a display of overwhelming power and ambition!
Historically, Yuan Shao besieged the Poison Camp for five days before breaking through.
Liu Bei possessed a heroic spirit that was no less than this!
His eagerness to break through the camp was not without reason.
He sighed, "We must keep track of the days as we march into the mountains to hunt down the bandits. We have already been advancing northward for more than ten days."
"The imperial court is waiting for our victory. The army has mobilized a large force of over ten thousand men, and their provisions are almost exhausted."
"More importantly, the summer harvest is just around the corner. The crops planted by the 170,000 households in the garrison are ready for harvest. This is crucial to the livelihoods of more than 300,000 people."
This is no small matter!
Although he had won the battle, he was also worried that Wang Fen, who was stubborn and self-willed, would ruin his agricultural development project while he was stuck in the mountains.
At that time, the year's hard work of 170,000 garrison soldiers would be in vain.
Those people who had just received land and seen hope last year will once again fall into famine.
The will of the people is like water; it can capsize or lift a boat, all in a single thought.
Upon hearing this, Ju Shou stroked his beard and sighed, "To surround the fortified Black Mountain with over ten thousand infantry and cavalry, yet intend to conquer it today—my lord's ambition is truly awe-inspiring!"
"However, this stronghold is fortified by natural defenses, with high and thick walls and narrow valleys. Even if we could conquer it by force, it would take a long time."
Liu Bei laughed and said, "Therefore, sir, you must have a plan to teach me!"
Ju Shou stroked his beard and laughed, pointing to the camp ahead and saying, "Sun Tzu's *The Art of War* says: 'The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; next best is to disrupt their alliances; next best is to attack their army; and the worst is to besiege their cities. Therefore, the skillful commander subdues the enemy's army without fighting, and captures their cities without attacking them!'"
Liu Bei raised a spirited brow, immediately grasping the key point, and said, "To capture a city is not to attack, but to conquer it? Are you implying that winning hearts and minds is the best strategy?"
Throughout history, the strongest fortresses have always been breached from within!
Ju Shou smiled and nodded, saying, "The reason Bai Rao fled without a fight and ran away at the mere sight of us was not because he feared the size of our army, but because he feared the might of our lord."
"Since the start of the war, our lord has been a master strategist, invincible in every battle. Zhang Niujiao was beheaded, and the Poison Mountain stronghold was burned to the ground. The tribes of Black Mountain tremble with fear at the mere mention of our lord's name."
"Now they are trapped in an isolated village, facing the danger of running out of food and having no hope of reinforcements. Their morale is bound to be shaken and unstable. No one is determined, and they are all thinking about their own future, either fleeing or surrendering."
"At this critical moment, my lord should simply intimidate them with his power and terrify them, and move them with his virtue and show them a way out. Send armored soldiers to their gates and send urgent messages inside, so that the traitors know that the ringleader will be punished and the coerced accomplices will be left unpunished. Then, within three days, someone will surely cut off Bai Rao's head and present it to him."
"As the 'Wei Liao Zi' says, if there are internal gaps, even if the city walls are high and the moats are deep, they are not reliable."
Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was overjoyed and clapped his hands, laughing, "With you, sir, what worries do I have about not achieving great things?"
He immediately ordered the archers in his army to fire a volley of arrows, shooting the feathered proclamation that read, "Only Bai Rao will be executed; those who are coerced into following him will be pardoned; those who surrender after beheading the bandit leader will be pardoned for their previous crimes," into the camp.
At the same time, the three armies launched a fierce attack with shouts and arrows raining down, giving the camp no chance to catch its breath and making a move to take it down.
The greater the pressure, the more distressed people become; haste makes waste, and this is an age-old truth.
The Black Mountain bandits inside the stronghold were already living in constant fear. Suddenly, they saw the urgent message fall in. They picked it up and looked at it, and they all whispered among themselves.
Then came the deafening sound of drums outside the camp and the fierce attack of the Han army. Beset by internal and external pressures, morale was in turmoil.
Bai Rao killed several people who were privately discussing the matter in an attempt to suppress them, but the morale of the army had already collapsed, and it was impossible to reverse the situation.
Liu Bei sat calmly in his central command tent, waiting for a change to occur in the camp.
Unexpectedly, on the morning of the third day, Zhao Yun rode swiftly into the camp, still in his armor, and bowed, saying, "My lord, scouts report that a large force is approaching, intending to rescue Bai Rao. Their banners bear the banner of Yang of Shangdang," which should be Yang Feng, the notorious bandit leader of Black Mountain. He is leading tens of thousands of men, approaching along the valley road, less than thirty li from here.
Liu Bei raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Ju Shou beside him.
Zhang Niujiao was beheaded, and the Poison Mountain stronghold was burned to the ground. The Wulu and Leigong tribes were successively destroyed. The villains of Black Mountain either died or surrendered. Yet, some people still dared to come to the rescue.
Ju Shou stroked his beard, nodded slightly, and said, "The Zuo Zhuan says: 'The cart and the wheel are interdependent; if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.'"
"If Bai Rao is defeated, Yang Feng will not survive alone. After Hanoi comes Shangdang. It is not that they are not afraid of our lord's power, but they are afraid that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold, and they have no choice but to help. Fighting in Hanoi is better than fighting in Shangdang, which is in their heartland."
As he spoke, Ju Shou stood up, holding a feather fan, and calmly said, "However, this is exactly what our lord wants. If we can defeat them in one battle and extinguish the hopes of the bandits in the stronghold, then internal strife will surely follow quickly."
Liu Bei also stood up, his hand on his sword, his heart filled with heroic spirit.
Yang Feng? Perfect opportunity to test the fighting strength of my army.
Unlike other Black Mountain bandit leaders, Liu Bei knew this name well. Historically, he was the chieftain of the Black Mountain tribes, second only to Chu Yan. He had occupied Shangdang for many years, gathering tens of thousands of followers. The imperial court could not subdue him, so it issued an edict to appoint him as the Black Mountain Commandant and even allowed him to be recommended as a filial and incorruptible official and a clerk.
Now that he dares to come and provide support, he does indeed have some courage.
Liu Bei then looked at Ju Shou and asked, "Sir, how should we defeat them?"
Ju Shou, however, was not concerned and calmly said, "The rebels rose up in Shanxi and have never faced a major enemy. Now they have crossed dangerous passes and are exhausted. This is the perfect time to attack. My lord should lead the elite cavalry as the vanguard, followed by the infantry. If we strike with one decisive blow, we will surely achieve a great victory."
Liu Bei's eyes lit up; this was the advantage of having a strategist!
With Ju Shou's assessment of the enemy's situation, he didn't need to think much. As the strategist said, as long as the army fought bravely and pressed forward with all its might, they would break through in one fell swoop.
This is his favorite battle scenario.
He immediately drew his sword and ordered the three armies to form ranks!
As the central army drums thundered, more than 10,000 Han soldiers, both infantry and cavalry, quickly deployed outside Cangyan Valley.
Guan Yu led the Jing Sai Iron Cavalry as the vanguard, while Zhao Yun and Wen Chou led the Xuanjia Iron Cavalry on the left and right, forming a wedge formation.
Zhang Fei, Cheng Pu, Zhu Ling, Gao Lan, and others led elite troops to occupy the left and right wings respectively, while Liu Bei personally commanded the main army to hold the line in the center.
Soon the three armies were arrayed, banners fluttering, spears and halberds like a forest, and crimson flags against the sky.
At this time, the Han army had more than 10,000 infantry and cavalry, and more than 2,000 sets of black armor alone, truly a sight to behold!
Liu Bei left only Ju Shou and Tian Yu with more than 2,000 men to guard the camp to prevent Bai Rao from attacking from the rear, while he personally led more than 10,000 infantry and cavalry to launch a counterattack against Yang Feng's forces.
Soon Yang Feng led 30,000 Black Mountain troops along the valley road.
He was confident in his bravery and thought that Liu Bei was exhausted from continuous battles and that he could take advantage of the situation to attack him.
But before he could get close to Bai Rao's camp, he saw the Han army already arrayed and approaching, their banners obscuring the sun and their armor gleaming in the sky, which made him feel a chill in his heart.
Before he could react, Liu Bei had already drawn his longsword and excitedly ordered, "All troops, attack!"
As he pointed his longsword forward, the war drums of the central army immediately thundered.
Guan Yu raised his long spear and led the Jing Sai cavalry forward, followed by Liu Bei's main army. The more than 10,000 troops launched their fiercest charge the moment they engaged in battle.
Yang Feng was greatly surprised, never expecting Liu Bei to be so decisive, and hurriedly ordered the elite Shangdang cavalry to meet him.
This elite cavalry force was his greatest source of confidence in coming to the rescue. It consisted of over a thousand Xiongnu and Jie people recruited from Shangdang and Xihe counties in Bingzhou. They were also given strong armor and padded clothes, powerful bows and sharp arrows, making them truly fierce and brave, unmatched by anyone in the surrounding areas.
But Guan Yu led the Jing Sai cavalry to meet them, and they were invincible. He donned his long, heavy armor, charged into the enemy lines, and broke through their ranks!
Then he charged back again, entering and exiting the enemy lines once more, repeating this three or four times. Arrows rained down on him like hedgehog bristles, yet his courage remained undiminished. His troops rallied to support him, attacking from all sides, invincible. Every man shot fell dead instantly.
As a result, more than a hundred were beheaded, and the Shangdang cavalry was utterly defeated.
At this moment, the bandits swarmed into the valley, and before they could even form a battle formation, their elite cavalry, which had been sent to hold them off, were defeated and forced to retreat back into their own ranks.
Zhao Yun, Wen Chou, and others led their iron cavalry in a charge. Those in front of them suffered heavy casualties, and in a short time they broke into the enemy formation several hundred paces away.
By this time, the enemy formation could no longer hold its ground, and the Han army had arrived. Thus, a great battle ensued, with dust billowing into the sky.
After less than an hour of fierce fighting, Yang Feng was in dire straits and his battle was going against him. He had no choice but to retreat to the east slope and order his soldiers to line up in front of the slope with spears and halberds.
At this moment, the Han army's infantry and cavalry fought fiercely, their momentum roaring and their advance unstoppable.
Zhang Fei quickly led the Gengshi camp to attack. Seeing that Yang Feng still dared to resist stubbornly, he arranged his spears and halberds in formation, attempting to fight like a cornered beast.
His leopard-like eyes widened instantly, his bushy beard bristled, and he roared, "Gengshi Camp! Follow me and crush the bandits!"
Having said this, he took the lead and charged into the enemy lines. Wherever his spear reached, no enemy could withstand him.
Behind him, over a thousand armored soldiers, clad in heavy armor and covered in crimson military robes, with spears like a forest, slowly advanced, crushing towards Yang Feng's last remaining formation.
Each squad in the Zhuohua Formation stands independently, with the squad leader in the center commanding the attack. The front ranks unleash a flurry of blades, slashing and thrusting, blood spurting and limbs flying everywhere.
Arrows flew from left and right like locusts, streaking and shooting, and those hit by them would surely fall.
On the battlefield, bows and crossbows reign supreme. The archers and crossbowmen, whom the Han army had painstakingly trained, were now displaying their formidable power.
The bandits suffered heavy casualties, with hundreds of corpses lying piled up on the hillside.
It should be noted that these were Yang Feng's most elite and trusted men. Although he had tens of thousands of followers, only a few hundred of them were truly brave and valiant in battle, all of whom were from his clan and fellow villagers. Therefore, they were often regarded as his confidants.
Even if he wins the battle, he will still have to weep bitterly after hundreds of people have died in battle.
Moreover, the enemy's front ranks were engaged in fierce fighting with spears and halberds, while their rear ranks were firing arrows like thunder, making it impossible to withstand them.
Yang Feng wept blood, screamed hoarsely, and personally led his spear to engage the Gengshi Camp in battle, but he was forced to retreat step by step by the overwhelming wall of spears.
At the same time, Guan Yu led Wen Chou, Zhou Cang, Gao Lan and other cavalry to break into the enemy's formation, throwing them into chaos.
After nearly two hours of fierce fighting, Guan Yu even broke through to the rear of the enemy's formation.
Looking back now, all that could be seen was a fierce battle between the two sides, with drums and horns shaking the heavens, shouts of battle echoing across the fields, and dust obscuring the sun.
A cold glint flashed in his phoenix eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "Unfurl the flag!"
At this moment, the Jingse cavalry had ascended to the high ground in the valley, and dozens of Han army red flags were unfurled at the same time, fluttering in the wind.
The Black Mountain bandits, whose morale had already been shaken by the defeat, turned around and saw the red flags of the Han people on the hillside behind them. They realized that their way back was cut off and they were attacked from both sides. Their morale plummeted and they fled in disarray.
The Han army pursued the fleeing enemy for over thirty li, beheading three thousand.
Yang Feng himself was stabbed in the chest and led several dozen personal cavalrymen to escape.
Zhao Yun and Cheng Pu led their cavalry in pursuit. Yang Feng, in his panic, lost his footing and fell off his horse.
Cheng Pu immediately thrust his sword at Yang Feng, who hurriedly looked up and cried out hoarsely, "Don't kill me! I am Yang Feng from Shangdang, and I can bring you wealth and honor! I am willing to persuade Bai Rao's troops to surrender for the general!"
Zhao Yun then ordered Cheng Pu to dismount, capture him, and put him on a horse to meet Liu Bei.
Liu Bei never expected that he would be able to capture a bandit leader alive.
After all, since the suppression of the rebellion, the enemy leaders have either died or fled, and none have surrendered.
Seeing Yang Feng thrown off his horse by Cheng Pu and kneeling to beg for mercy, he laughed and rebuked him, saying, "I am dealing with Bai Rao of Hanoi myself. What business is it of yours? Yet you have crossed the border and dared to challenge my military might!"
Yang Feng knelt respectfully and said, "If I do not come myself, I fear I will trouble the Commandant to travel all the way to Shangdang to retrieve it."
Liu Bei smiled and asked, "Can you persuade Bai Rao's troops to surrender?"
Yang Feng immediately prostrated himself on the ground, touching his forehead to the earth, and said, "I am willing to atone for my sins with merit. As long as the captain lets me into the camp, I will definitely persuade the general to surrender his people. Bai Rao is already at his wit's end, the camp is out of food, and the people are thinking of changing their minds. A few words are all it takes to make them collapse."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Pu clasped his hands and said urgently, "Commander, you mustn't! Yang Feng is a long-standing bandit from the Black Mountain, who has occupied Shangdang for many years. If we release him into the camp now, we might be letting a tiger return to the mountains, and we'll regret it too late!"
Liu Bei smiled calmly and said, "Do not worry about De Mou. If I can capture him today, I will surely capture him again tomorrow. Moreover, Bai Rao's troops are trapped in a deadly situation, their external support has been cut off, and their days are numbered. Yang Feng is cunning and wise; he will know whether to court death or atone for his crimes through meritorious service. He will not make the wrong choice."
Yang Feng kowtowed repeatedly, pointing to the heavens and swearing that he would never dare to break his promise. Liu Bei then ordered Zhao Yun to untie him and allowed him to enter the camp alone.
That night, chaos erupted in Bai Rao's camp, and then the camp gates were suddenly flung open.
Covered in blood, Yang Feng, carrying a bloody severed head, rode his horse into the Han camp.
He dismounted, knelt on one knee, raised the severed head high above his head, and triumphantly proclaimed, "Captain! Bai Rao's head is here!"
After entering the stronghold, Yang Feng secretly met with Bai Rao's general, Sui Gu, that very night. Sui Gu, seeing that external aid had been cut off and the stronghold's food supplies were exhausted, had long harbored the intention to surrender. He was moved by Yang Feng's words and that very night led his confidants to turn against Bai Rao, beheading him on his bed and taking over all his men.
Yang Feng brought Bai Rao's head to present as tribute, and tens of thousands of Black Mountain bandits in the stronghold all surrendered.
Liu Bei ordered his men to examine the head, and after confirming that it was correct, he ordered that Bai Rao's head, along with the heads of several other bandit leaders, be sent to Luoyang.
He kept his word. Although he knew that releasing Sui Gu might lead to him not behaving himself, he still sent him back to his hometown along with the elderly and weak in the camp.
Yang Feng, on the other hand, was quite brave and courageous, probably second only to Zhang Yan among the Black Mountain bandits. Moreover, he had military merits and was recruited into the army.
If these bandits are released and allowed to return to the mountains, they will surely wreak havoc on the region in the future.
After the Cangyan Valley was captured, the various tribes of Heishan were either beheaded or surrendered, and the bandits in Jizhou, Henan, and Shangdang were all pacified.
Liu Bei then reorganized his troops and tallied the results of the battle. In this battle, more than 20,000 people were beheaded, and the armor, weapons and equipment were piled up like mountains, with countless grains, fodder and gold and silk.
More importantly, with the news of victory being sent to Luoyang by fast horse, Hebei was completely pacified, and Liu Bei, who had led the army independently this time, had already taken all the credit!
He couldn't help but wonder what kind of reward the imperial court would bestow upon him.