Chapter 27

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, led by Zhang Jue, Zhang Bao, and Zhang Liang, who commanded a million followers turned soldiers, wreaking havoc in the provinces of You, Bing, Ji, Yan, Qing, Xu, and Yu.

The Eastern Han court and the local gentry, rarely united, came together in a rare show of solidarity.

The court dispatched General Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song, and Zhu Jun to lead over ten thousand troops in conjunction with local forces and militia to suppress the Yellow Turbans.

However, the Yellow Turbans were formidable, and the government forces failed to gain the upper hand, often being on the defensive.

In April 184 AD, the first year of the Zhongping era of the Eastern Han Dynasty, in Ji Province, Guangzong.

Northern Commandant Lu Zhi led his troops to attack the Yellow Turban stronghold, where the leader Zhang Jue was located in Guangzong County.

The Yellow Turban forces numbered 150,000.

Lu Zhi's government forces numbered 50,000, and they set up camp 20 li south of the county.

On this day, after receiving a battle report from the Inspector of You Province, Liu Yan, Northern Commandant Lu Zhi convened a meeting with his generals.

In the main tent, Lu Zhi sat in his high seat, with his generals standing below, including Han Fu, who would later become the Governor of Ji Province.

Lu Zhi passed around Liu Yan's battle report to everyone and said with concern, "The Yellow Turban general Cheng Yuanzhi, with 50,000 troops, is attacking Zhuo Commandery, the gateway to You Province. Inspector Liu has sent an urgent report. You Province is one of the few provinces not yet occupied by the Yellow Turbans, and we cannot ignore it."

He looked around at the generals and asked, "Who among you is willing to go to the rescue?"

Han Fu immediately stepped forward and said, "General, Zhang Jue is entrenched in Guangzong with 150,000 elite troops. Our forces are few, and we cannot act rashly. I believe You Province has its own defensive forces, and perhaps they can manage..."

Lu Zhi waved him off, "We cannot fail to rescue them."

"Yes, General," Han Fu bowed and continued, "If so, I have a subordinate general, Zhang He, who can lead troops to the rescue."

Lu Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Zhang Junyi is the bravest in the army, and Guangzong cannot do without him. Is there anyone else?"

Before the generals could respond, a messenger rushed into the tent and reported, "General, outside the camp, a group of militia under the banner of 'Righteous Army' has arrived!"

Lu Zhi's face lit up, and he said to everyone, "Though the country is in turmoil, it shows that the hearts of the people of our great Han are still loyal, and many righteous men are emerging."

The generals nodded in agreement. Han Fu added, "In recent times, militia from various places have arrived, some with a few hundred, others with seven or eight hundred. Though each group is small, together they form a significant force, truly a great help to the court!"

Lu Zhi stroked his beard in approval and pointed to a deputy general, saying, "You go to welcome them and make proper arrangements."

"Yes, General," the deputy general turned to leave, but the messenger added, "General, if I may be so bold, this time it's not just any militia, but a full cavalry..."

"What! A full cavalry?" Everyone in the tent was shocked, and even General Lu Zhi stood up, asking urgently, "How many troops?"

"Five hundred fully armed iron cavalry!" The messenger was visibly excited.

"Excellent, excellent, this is wonderful! I wonder which noble's descendant has led troops to assist us!" Lu Zhi clapped in admiration. Due to the chaos at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the people were suffering, corruption was rampant, and the army's equipment was incomplete. Cavalry was especially precious. Even a general like Lu Zhi only had 2,000 cavalry under his command, so the sudden arrival of 500 cavalry was significant.

Thus, Lu Zhi decided to personally go to the camp gate to welcome them.

When Lu Zhi, accompanied by Han Fu and other generals, arrived at the western camp gate, they saw a cloud of dust rising from the west, and the sound of hooves thundering as a cavalry unit approached.

To the sound of trumpets, the cavalry halted 200 paces from the camp gate, forming a tight formation. The cavalry was well-organized, each soldier clad in dark black armor, wielding a trident and a two-edged blade. The cold gleam of their weapons and the fierce aura they exuded made them a formidable force.

A loud neighing of horses drew everyone's attention. At the front, a man in golden helmet and armor held a golden spear, looking majestic and imposing, riding a powerful white horse. On his left was a general with a large sword and a broad waist. On his right was a general with a pair of iron halberds, looking fierce and resolute.

The two generals flanked the golden-armored general, and behind them, two large banners fluttered in the wind, one reading "Siege Army" and the other "Righteous Army"!

For many years, there had been no such formidable Han cavalry, and for a moment, Lu Zhi's troops were stirred. Many soldiers peered over the fence, their eyes wide with amazement.

Impressed by the cavalry's neat formation, the soldiers' imposing stature, and their fierce aura, Lu Zhi could not help but praise, "What a fine cavalry! If all our Han soldiers were like this, the Yellow Turbans would be crushed in no time!"

The Siege Army! The sight of the cavalry brought to mind images of them charging into battle, their iron hooves breaking through enemy lines, invincible in attack and defense.

Intimidated by the newcomers' might, Lu Zhi addressed them as generals, asking, "Whose troops are these?" as he looked at the golden-armored general.

The generals thought it was obvious that it must be the general in the golden helmet and armor. Some thought, "This guy must be very wealthy to have formed such a fully armed cavalry unit."

Others thought, "Judging by the momentum, they are definitely elite troops, and their leader must be a great general. 'Righteous Army! What a great name! Truly a fine son of our great Han!'"

The equipment of this cavalry unit was extraordinary, specially crafted by skilled artisans with the help of the descendants of Ou Ye. Though fully armored, the armor was not heavy, yet provided protection comparable to heavy armor. Thus, this Siege Cavalry combined the mobility of light cavalry with the protection of heavy cavalry, making them a "modified heavy cavalry." Of course, the cost was enormous, equivalent to the cost of equipping 10,000 to 20,000 infantry.

However, the golden-armored general had his own thoughts. First, the mobility of cavalry allowed them to seize opportunities everywhere. Second, if they couldn't win, they could retreat. Third, forming a large infantry force would be suspicious in the current stable Eastern Han court.

In his previous life, the golden-armored general always spoke from horseback. But in this life, starting anew, he needed to be cautious and flexible, maintaining a low profile while acting boldly.

Thus, the golden-armored general dismounted and approached, bowing and saying, "I am Qin Feng from Ye City, Qin Zijin. I have heard that General Lu Zhi is here to fight Zhang Jue, and I have led the Righteous Army to assist."

By saying this, he revealed his identity.

"Do you know me, Zijin?" Lu Zhi looked thoughtful, trying to recall where he had met Qin Feng.

Qin Feng thought, "We are more than just acquainted; we are extremely familiar. In my previous life, after you were framed, Dong Zhuo also fell. If I hadn't stepped in, you and your ilk would have been destroyed by the Yellow Turbans. Even Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, ask them, and they will tell you I saved them."

Even if Lu Zhi were killed, he would never know about Qin Feng's past life, and Qin Feng could not reveal it, as it would make him seem like a demon. Therefore, Qin Feng smiled and said, "General Lu's name is renowned far and wide, and I have long admired you!"

Lu Zhi, with a modest and embarrassed expression, thought perhaps he had met Qin Feng before, but there were too many people to remember.

Subsequently, Lu Zhi, highly impressed by Qin Feng, invited him into the camp. On the way, he inquired about Qin Feng's background. Qin Feng fabricated a story, mentioning his connection to the Zhen family from Ye City.

Upon hearing the Zhen family, a well-known clan in Ji Province, everyone understood. The gentry-born generals began to praise Qin Feng for his youth and talent, his noble lineage, and his loyalty to the emperor, and even Lu Zhi could not resist joining in.

As they entered the main tent, Han Fu pulled Lu Zhi aside and whispered, "General, seeing how formidable Qin Zijin's 500 cavalry are, capable of matching 10,000 infantry, should we ask him to go to Zhuo Commandery for the rescue?"

PS: Lords, the curtain has risen on the struggle for supremacy. All resources must be in place! Mobile users, please visit http://m.piaotia.net

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