Chapter 49: The World in Great Chaos

  Li Chong looked at the two of them, eager to try, and smiled: "Don't worry, Zhang Yan will swallow this breath sooner or later. In three months, he will definitely lead his troops to attack. At that time, let's see the killing skills of you two generals."

  Liao Hua and Jiang Qin exchanged a glance, speaking in unison: "Don't worry, Your Excellency, we will definitely fight bravely against the enemy!"

  Li Zhong immediately decided that the infantry would be led by Liao Hua and Jiang Qin, who would undergo rigorous training every day to await Zhang Yan's return for revenge.

  In the first year of Chuping, in September, after the wheat harvest, Li Chong immediately expanded his army to 2,000 men. He stationed 500 troops in Shenchi County and 1,500 troops in Guangwu, arrayed them in a strict formation, and waited specifically for Zhang Yan to come and take revenge.

  Soon after, a major event occurred in Hebei, where Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan at the Battle of Jieqiao with a smaller force.

  The detailed situation is as follows: Gongsun Zan returned to Beiping and found that there was a lack of grain, so he sent his younger brother Gongsun Yue to Yuan Shao's place to borrow grain.

  Yuan Shao was very generous in his actions, and after asking about Gongsun Yue's intentions, he immediately lent Gongsun Yue 100,000 stones of grain and fodder on the spot. Gongsun Yue was overjoyed and hastily reported back to Gongsun Zan.

  Gongsun Zan was also a generation of heroes, and when he learned that Yuan Shao had borrowed 10,000 stones of grain, he felt very strange. After all, Bohai County is not a place with abundant money and grain. So he sent someone to instruct Gongsun Yue to secretly investigate the truth. However, Yuan Shao was extremely enthusiastic towards Gongsun Yue, sending his subordinates every day to invite Gongsun Yue to drink wine, claiming that collecting grain would take some time.

  On this day, Yuan Qi came to look for Gongsun Yue to drink wine. Gongsun Yue's heart moved and he repeatedly urged him to drink.

  The two men drank from noon till dusk. As a scholar, Ji was not good at drinking and his words were already somewhat incoherent.

  Gongsun Yue felt that the time had come, and he asked in a low voice: "Yuantu (Feng Ji's character), is it true that Yuan Gong is a capable minister and general of the Great Han, who has governed Bohai so richly, and even in a year of great disaster, can still take out 10,000 stones of grain to relieve his younger brother? I really admire him!"

  Ji Huan said vaguely: "Does Yuan Gong have so much grain and grass? It's not that Jizhou Han Fu sent it, wanting to form an alliance with my master and attack... uh..."

  Gongsun Yue was just about to ask Han Fu and Yuan Shao who they were going to attack together, when he saw that Gou Ji had already fallen asleep.

  Gongsun Yue hastily stood up and went back to write a letter to his brother, but didn't notice that Feng Ji's mouth curled into a cold smile as he lay on the desk.

  Gongsun Zan received the news sent by Gongsun Yue and hastily held an emergency meeting with his subordinates.

  Yan Gang said: "Jizhou Han Fu is allied with Yuan Shao, it must be unfavorable to the lord, why not let the two generals go to Jizhou to borrow grain and explore the truth."

  Gongsun Zan thought so, and immediately sent Gongsun Yue to Jizhou to borrow grain, to test the truth. When he arrived in Jizhou, Han Fu claimed that he had no grain or fodder either, and Gongsun Yue could only return with a sullen expression, bringing back the grain borrowed from Yuan Shao to Beiping.

  When they arrived at the border of Bohai County, a group of thieves suddenly appeared, claiming to be Dong Zhuo's generals. They shot and killed Gongsun Yue with arrows. The scattered soldiers returned to Beiping and reported to Gongsun Zan.

  Gongsun Zan hastened to discuss the matter with his subordinates, and this time Yan Gang and others unanimously believed that Han Fu had killed Gongsun Yue and wanted to frame Yuan Shao.

  Gongsun Zan flew into a rage and cursed, "Shameless Han Fu, how dare you covet Pingbei, how dare you kill my brother, this feud will not be avenged." Gongsun Zan immediately dispatched 30,000 troops to rush straight to Jizhou.

  When the news reached Ye City, Han Fu was shocked and lost his color. He knew that Gongsun Zan's White Horse Army was the best cavalry in the world, and when fighting against the northern tribes, they were invincible, and no one could match them. He hastily summoned Xun Yu and Xin Pi to discuss countermeasures.

  Xun Chen presented a plan, saying: "Gongsun Zan is leading the troops from Yan and Dai, advancing with great momentum, his sharpness cannot be resisted. He also has Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei to assist him, making it difficult to resist. Now Yuan Benchu is wise and brave, with many famous generals under his command. General, you can ask him to help govern the state together, he will definitely treat you generously, no need to worry about Gongsun Zan." Han Fu immediately sent a special envoy, Guan Chun, to invite Yuan Shao. The long historian, Geng Wu, advised: "Yuan Shao is a lone guest with a desperate army, relying on us for survival, like an infant in one's arms, if we cut off his milk supply, he will starve to death immediately. Why do you want to entrust state affairs to him? This is like introducing a tiger into a flock of sheep!" Fu said: "I am a former official of the Yuan family, and my ability is not as good as Benchu's. In ancient times, one chose the virtuous and yielded to them, why are you all jealous?" Geng Wu sighed: "Hebei Province is finished!" Thereupon, more than 30 people abandoned their posts and left. Only Geng Wu and Guan Chun hid outside the city, waiting for Yuan Shao.

  A few days later, Shao led his troops to arrive. Geng Wu and Guan Chun drew their swords and came out, wanting to assassinate Shao. Shao ordered Yan Liang to behead Geng Wu, and Wen Jue chopped off Guan Chun's head. Shao entered Ji Province, appointed Fu as the General of Vigorous Military Might, and had Tian Feng, Qiao Xuan, Xu You, and Peng Qi take charge of provincial affairs, completely stripping Han Fu of his power. Fu regretted it too late, so he abandoned his family and fled to Chenliu on horseback to join Governor Zhang Miao.

  Gongsun Zan heard that Yuan Shao had occupied Ji Province without any effort, and thought he had contributed to this achievement, so he sent someone to see Yuan Shao, wanting a share of the spoils.

  Yuan Shao would certainly not agree, and it's unreasonable to spit out the meat that has already been eaten. He immediately had Gongsun Zan's envoy beaten with sticks and thrown out.

  Gongsun Zan flew into a rage and falsely accused Yuan Shao of killing Gongsun Yue (he didn't know that it was actually true), and led his troops to attack Jie Bridge.

  Historically, Gongsun Yue died in battle while fighting against Yuan Shao for control of Yu Province. Li Chong's rebellion was just a minor disturbance to the overall situation.

  The Battle of Jiaoqiao is just the beginning.

  Gongsun Zan led an army of 30,000 and stationed them north of the Jie Bridge, while Yuan Shao led an army of 10,000 and stationed them south of the Jie Bridge. The two armies faced each other across the Pan River.

  In the winter of the first year of Chuping, a heavy snow fell, and the cold wind was biting. The ice on the Pan River was as hard as stone. Gong Sun Zan led out his army of 30,000 men, with 5,000 cavalrymen on each wing, 3,000 white horses in the vanguard, and 20,000 infantrymen bringing up the rear.

  Yuan Shao stood on the high platform and saw Gongsun Zan's white horse, his army was majestic, people and horses were like dragons, and he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

  "Yi (Zhang Jie's courtesy name, those two characters are too difficult to type), how can you lead the halberdiers to block them?" Zhang Jie looked at Gongsun Zan's white horse and shook his head silently.

  At this time, someone suddenly shouted loudly: "Bai Ma Yizhong has what ability, look at me using the first camp to break him."

  Yuan Shao glanced sideways, and it was Ju Yi, the surrendered general of Han Fu. He suddenly became displeased in his heart, and then said in a deep voice: "Since that's the case, let General Yun lead his troops to battle! Let Gong Sun see your skills."

  "General orders received!" Ji Yi responded with a loud voice, and ran down from the high platform, leading his troops to go and fight against Gongsun Zan's White Horse General.

  Yuan Shao looked at Ju Yi's figure, his face gloomy, and said in a cold voice: "This person is too presumptuous."

  Yuan Shao's civil and military officials also nodded in agreement, they didn't have a good impression of Ju Yi, this surrendered general. Mainly because Ju Yi was arrogant every day, relying on the merit of supporting Yuan Shao, he felt superior to others, so his relationships with people were extremely poor.

  At this time, the wind and snow filled the sky, visibility was extremely poor. Ji Yi led 800 soldiers from the First Camp to ambush on both sides of the border bridge, each holding a strong crossbow, carrying a steel knife on their back, and placing a thick shield under their feet.

  Gongsun Zan saw that Yuan Shao had few troops, so he looked down on him and wanted to defeat him in one battle. He immediately ordered Yan Guang to lead 3,000 white horse volunteers to attack.

  Three thousand white horses galloped through the wind and snow, charging straight at Yuan Shao's army. Everyone was on a white horse, wearing white robes; from a distance, they looked like an avalanche, their momentum frightening.

  Ji Yi's vanguard troops were ambushed on both sides of the Jie Bridge, with everyone drawing their bows and pretending to shoot.

  When the white horse galloped to within thirty steps, Ji Yi shouted: "Release..."