Chapter 220 He is coming!
"My lord, there is great potential in this matter. Our army does not need to deal with all the pressure from officers and soldiers when it goes out. Although the Qingxu Yellow Turbans have suffered setbacks everywhere, they are still alive and well. They are a force in themselves, but they lack a strong force to break the situation, and we can just play this role.

Furthermore, Tao Qian is in the south, and as long as we don't provoke him, he won't interfere. In fact, we only need to deal with Ying Shao and Kong Rong.

Moreover, this time we are not sending troops to capture cities, we only need to provide support and assistance, which is even easier with our military strength. "

After Tian Shitou took Xu He down to settle him down, Zhang Baiqi also stood up to take his leave. Only Xu Chen and his personal soldiers were left on the hill. At this time, Ju Shou stepped forward to offer advice.

He and Xu Chen also knew very well that they had to lend a helping hand regardless of whether the conditions were met or not.

Since he wants to be the leader of the Yellow Turbans in the world, there is no reason to turn a blind eye now, otherwise the so-called Yellow Turban leader will become a joke. Even if he does not have the ability to save them now, even if saving them may reduce his strength, he must do so.

Fortunately, considering Xuan Xia's current strength, this matter is not that difficult. After some analysis, Ju Su sorted out the situation.

Although the confrontation between the Yellow Turbans of Qingxu and the officers and soldiers of the two states was in the upper hand, they were only in an upper hand. At this time, the addition of Xuanxia's Yellow Turban forces would be enough to reverse the situation, not to mention that this trip only required support, which would be no difficulty at all.

Ju Shou said with a smile: "Although the strength of the Qingxu Yellow Turbans is nothing, they still have a population of more than 300,000, which is just right for replenishing Youzhou. Even if it is just for this reason, it is worth sending our army out!"

Xu Chen nodded upon hearing this. Ju Shou had hit the nail on the head on what he was thinking.

Although sending troops on this mission was inevitable, he was indeed interested in the population of more than 300,000 Yellow Turbans in Qingxu.

Of course, there is another huge significance, that is, once this part of the Yellow Turbans is absorbed, then the major Yellow Turban forces in the world will basically be conquered by himself, and all the legacy of Taoist Zhang Jiao will be inherited by himself.

From now on, the title of Natural Heavenly Master will replace the Great Sage Master. The value of this enormous reputation is also immeasurable.

The more famous it is, the easier it will be for people to understand it. The more they understand it, the more conducive it will be to the spread of the teachings of naturalism. By then, the wind of the new doctrine will blow across the entire land of China, and it will be difficult for scholars and common people to avoid being swept up in it.

If an idea spreads widely enough and enough people understand it, then even if Xuan Xia fails one day, this idea can still grow wildly.

Xu Chen nodded and smiled: "In that case, then send troops!"

Without hesitation, Xu Chen gave an order and the army, which was supposed to return home, turned around and headed east, crossing Hejian and Bohai all the way to Qingzhou.

However, this was something beyond our plan, and some of the previous arrangements needed to be adjusted accordingly.

Of the 20,000 troops that originally set out to attack Changshan and Zhongshan, except for the 5,000 elite troops left for Zhang Baiqi and the more than 1,000 soldiers who were killed or wounded in the battle, there are now only 13,000 to 14,000 troops that can be mobilized. Xu Chen had to recruit soldiers from Youzhou to make up the 20,000 troops and thousands of civilians before he started the action.

An army of some 20,000 is neither too many nor too few, and the logistical pressure is not particularly great. Even if they go deep into the hinterland of Jizhou, they will not be restricted. After all, most of Jizhou's troops are now concentrated in Weijun, and the garrisons in Hejian and Bohai are empty, so the Yellow Turbans will not face much military pressure.

With the fighting power of the Yellow Turbans, these 20,000 troops were enough to break the situation in Qingxu. It was just a matter of mobilizing the Yellow Turbans from Qingxu. Neither Wang Dang nor Xu Chen felt that it was difficult.

However, this took more than a month. Although Xu He was extremely anxious, he also knew that this matter could not be rushed.

When the Yellow Turbans gathered their army and began to head towards Hejian and Bohai, the situation in these two places was just as Xu Chen had expected. They encountered almost no pressure along the way. The counties and towns along the way only retained hundreds or thousands of local troops. Faced with the more than 20,000 Yellow Turban troops with strict formations and complete armor, they did not dare to even look at them and could only watch them swagger past them.

If Xuan Xia was not currently unable to take in so much at one go, he would really want to take over all these places.

But Xu Chen knew that if Xuan Xia expanded recklessly like this, it would be easily dragged into the abyss of war and unable to turn back. Taking over a piece of territory meant investing more troops and manpower to guard and govern it. Xuan Xia's current foundation was still a little lacking, and it could only be built up step by step.

But even if they don't attack these places now, the Yellow Turbans will take advantage of the opportunity to deal with some powerful people in the counties and towns along the way as soon as they see them. This can also consume the potential enemy's manpower in advance and replenish logistics.

In this way, the 20,000-strong army marched all the way, getting closer and closer to Qingzhou.

That is to say, when he was on the march, a group of Yellow Turbans in Taishan County, Yanzhou, were almost at the end of their rope.

It was already winter and the cold was becoming increasingly unbearable. More than 20,000 Yellow Turbans were stationed in the South City, enduring the cold and defending the city walls. Outside, a group of soldiers were staring at the Yellow Turbans in the city.

From the piles of still-live corpses under the city wall, it was obvious that both sides had just experienced a battle.

This place is located in Nancheng County in Yanzhou, which is very close to Xuzhou. These Yellow Turbans were driven here from Xuzhou.

Guan Hai stood on the top of the city wall, looking at the troops outside the city from afar. When he looked at the numb and tired Yellow Turbans on both sides of the city wall, he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of hot phlegm, cursing in his heart that the officers and soldiers were dogs who would never let go once they bit them.

In the past few months, they were chased back and forth from Qingzhou and Xuzhou by soldiers. They had no choice but to come to Taishan County in Yanzhou. After spending several days, they finally broke open the city gate and took the city with their large numbers. But they hadn't even sat down when they were blocked by soldiers from Taishan County who heard the intelligence. The soldiers were indeed much stronger than the Yellow Turbans. They had only been able to hold on in the previous battles by relying on their advantage of defending the city.

But Guan Hai knew in his heart that if this continued, his Yellow Turbans would be doomed sooner or later. Although they had captured the South City, they would not have time to plunder and enjoy it, so they needed to find a new way out.

The strength of the two sides is unequal, and the officers and soldiers may break through the city at any time, and then we will be doomed.

He only hoped that the messenger he sent for help could quickly invite Zhang Rao, who was nearby, to come and rescue him, so that he could escape successfully by attacking from both inside and outside.

But can this guy Zhang Rao come to save me?

Guan Hai was a little unsure. He and Zhang Rao had always been at odds with each other and their relationship was not good at all. So even if they were forced to join forces now, they would only maintain consistency in the general direction of action. In reality, they would still be fighting each other. In this situation, there was no guarantee that the other party would not risk his life to save him.

"Damn it, no matter what, we are all Yellow Turbans. This guy won't just watch me die, right? Besides, if I die, he will be doomed sooner or later!" Guan Hai muttered to himself.

In fact, the government soldiers only had less than 20,000 troops led by Taishan Prefect Ying Shao. However, although the government soldiers had fewer troops, the fighting power of the Yellow Turbans was even weaker, so that the government soldiers could chase the Yellow Turbans all the way and the Yellow Turbans could not fight back at all.

There is still a huge difference between the refugee soldiers like Qingxu Huangjin and the regular officers and soldiers.

Even if Zhang Rao really came to rescue, Guan Hai did not dare to say that they could unite and defeat the officers and soldiers. He would be thankful as long as they could help him break out successfully.

Just as he was muttering to himself, the formation of the officers and soldiers changed again, which made his heart sink immediately.

He knew that the officers and soldiers were organizing a new round of attack.

"Damn it, he doesn't even let us breathe, this guy is so hateful!" Guan Hai cursed but there was nothing he could do. He could only shout loudly to encourage the already very tired soldiers to cheer up and prepare to defend the city.

As he expected, the officers and soldiers soon launched a new round of attacks, and the battlefield, which had just been quiet, became noisy again.

However, this time the offensive was particularly terrifying, and Guan Hai soon realized that the other side was about to launch a general attack.

Previously, the officers and soldiers’ sieges were mostly a strategy of wearing out the troops, using just the right amount of troops to continuously consume the Yellow Turbans’ energy. The officers and soldiers could attack in rotation, but the Yellow Turbans did not dare to relax at all and could only defend the city with all their strength every time.

As one side gained strength while the other lost strength, the officers and soldiers still had enough energy, but the Yellow Turbans were already exhausted both physically and mentally. What would be the effect of launching a general attack now?
Guan Hai felt that things were not going well and could only use thunder-like roars to inspire the morale of the soldiers, but the final effect was minimal. Morale was already at a gloomy low and it would be extremely difficult to bring it back.

No matter what, the enemy began to attack the city at this time, and Guan Hai had no choice but to bite the bullet and hold on.

With an army of nearly 20,000 soldiers attacking, tremendous pressure was overwhelming. Many thin and pale-faced Yellow Turban "soldiers" could only grit their teeth and hold on. On the already broken city gates and city walls, they engaged in a tug-of-war with the soldiers who were climbing ladders and storming the city gates.

At first, they could still hold on, but one side had high morale while the other side had low morale. Coupled with the existing gap in combat power between the two sides, the battle situation soon began to tilt towards the officers and soldiers, and this momentum was getting faster and faster.

Ying Shao's strategy of tiring the enemy had begun to show its power. As the battle wore on, the Yellow Turbans' fighting power became increasingly weak.

It was as if they had reached a critical point. When the battle lasted for a certain period of time, as the brothers in front died one after another, the Yellow Turban soldiers behind them suddenly collapsed. The entire South City defense line was broken in an instant, and the city was in danger of being broken.

Guan Hai, who was fighting hard against the enemy, felt desperate. Was he going to die here today?
If there is anything worth looking forward to at this time, it is Zhang Rao's support. If he comes, he will still have a chance of survival.

Although he knew in his heart how unrealistic this wish was, he couldn't help but look into the distance.

When he saw this, his eyes suddenly widened, and then his whole face turned red. A roar instantly burst out from his chest: "Brothers, reinforcements have arrived, let's fight back!"

At the same time, Ying Shao, who was commanding the battle outside the city, also noticed this reinforcement.

He looked calm and unmoved. He knew that there was a Yellow Turban force led by Zhang Rao nearby, and he had expected support from them.

In his opinion, even if a group of rabble had more soldiers, they would still not be enough to fight him.

He was very confident in the strength of his officers and soldiers, and also in the strength of the Yellow Turbans, so even when the Yellow Turban reinforcements arrived, he was not at all panicked.

Until the cold wind whistled away and he saw the other side's yellow flag fluttering, revealing a strange pattern on one side and the words "Xuan Xia" on the other, his calm face suddenly froze.

(End of this chapter)