Since Gongsun Zan invaded Puban, according to Chen Chong's design, he first raised the banner of Liu Yu, and then sent envoys to the counties east and west of Dahe to make public announcements, claiming that he would follow the example of the Great Situ Deng Yu when he went out to Hedong to calm the people and suppress thieves. Distinguish the rebellion and attack Chang'an soon.
Chen Chong originally hoped that after Gongsun Zan's propaganda, the remaining legions in Guanzhong would get the news and immediately attack with all their strength, creating conditions for the South Route Army to enter Wuguan. However, he did not expect that Dong Zhuo's relocation of the people was so brutal that refugees fled everywhere, and the wealthy families in the counties were not in peace. , also separated from Dong Zhuo, the situation in Guanzhong is like a pile of firewood, it only needs a spark to start a prairie fire.
As a result, within ten days, all parts of Guanzhong responded one after another. Not only the refugees returned, but also large and small noble families such as the Hedong Wei family, Wenxi Pei family, Pingyin Zuo family, Huayin Yang family, etc. also crossed Puban one after another. The Jedi presented gifts and food to Gongsun Zan and flattered him. By December 18, there were as many as 130,000 refugees surrounding Puban, and no less than a thousand gentry children from all over the country had joined him.
Such a scene made Duan Xuan and Yang Ding sigh when they looked at it, and Yin Jin stopped and did not dare to move forward.
But Gongsun Zan also encountered unplanned hardships: he didn't have much food left to help the victims. This time the Northern Route Army rushed on horseback and ordered Cong Ma to bring a month's worth of food first. After occupying Puban, Xihe continued to bring food. Two hundred thousand grains of dendrobium flour were enough to last Gongsun Zan's army for four months, but for the refugees, it was just a drop in the bucket. Gongsun Zan used half of the army rations for relief, but it only lasted for more than ten days before reaching the bottom.
Hedong was not without food, but Liu Bei had promised Wang Yi not to take a meter from Hedong. Gongsun Zan had no choice but to ask for food from the descendants of the gentry who came to him. Unexpectedly, Biejia from Youzhou, who came with him and was engaged in farming, argued: "I am waiting here to solve the difficulties in Guanzhong. How can I ask the descendants of Guanzhong for food?" Asking for rice? What should they do if they hear this and leave?"
When Gongsun Zan heard this, he felt that Tian Chou was a rotten scholar, and he replied: "If you leave, you can leave. With the dragon's head strategy, we just resisted the enemy at Puban. Now the Liang people are confronting our army in Yinjin, and the strategy has worked." . If we can’t get food, the worst we can do is send the people away and stick to Pu Ban to wait for the success of the southern road.”
Tian Chou was very angry when he heard this. He refuted Gongsun Zan and said: "The Ming Dynasty has a reputation for benevolence, and the world hears about it and values it. Only then will there be an endless number of adherents. If the general's words and deeds are contrary to his words and deeds, and he drives out the common people, he will be placed in the Ming Dynasty." Where does his reputation come from? It should be noted that the general is under orders and is deeply entrusted by the Ming government. It is obvious that the Ming government trusts him. How can the general only see the small profits in front of him and despise the honor and disgrace of the emperor?"
These words did not move Gongsun Zan. He replied: "If we can capture Dong's thieves, conquer Chang'an, and protect the emperor, then we can truly become famous. It may not be appropriate for people in the field to attach importance to small names and despise big names!"
Tian Chou said that he was no good, so he could only leave angrily. Before leaving, he said to Gongsun Zan: "If a general loses his small name, it is difficult to have a big name. As the saying goes, a thousand miles begins with a single step, and a vast sea becomes a river. I will finish it here."
Gongsun Zan then went to ask for money and grain from various tribes to provide for the people. As Tian Chou expected, the noble tribes concealed the grain and rice without saying anything. Most people said they would provide it later and left soon after. Gongsun Zan then publicized to the refugees that there was no more rice to distribute in the army, and he immediately stopped providing relief. …
At this time, at the height of winter, the refugees gathered together, but they were digging around in the ice, stripping away tree roots and field mice, but to no avail. Every day, large numbers of refugees could be seen lying dead in the wind and snow. Among them, it was soon buried by white snow.
So many people dug ice on the river to catch fish. The ice on the river was as thick as three feet. Many people tried their best and froze to death in the wind and snow before they could dig holes. A few of them dug holes in the ice. , and indeed caught a few carps, but the refugees around them were already hungry and red-eyed, and they soon came to fight for them, causing a large number of casualties. In the end, there was a horrific scene of people cannibalizing corpses.
Things developed to such an extent that the more than 100,000 people gathered in Puban quickly dispersed within ten days. Gongsun Zan said to his younger brother Gongsun Yue, "This is all Dong Zhuo's fault. Isn't that what we want? I only wish that after Chang'an is conquered, we should sacrifice the entire Dong family to the people."
Let's talk about Huangfu Song. He took office in Yinjin on the 20th. When he arrived at Duan Xuan's camp with a dozen of his cavalry, the epidemic was already quite serious, and it was hard to count the number of soldiers infected with the disease. Huangfu Song first inspected the camp and saw soldiers lying ill on the camp couches everywhere. They were covered in sores and overflowing with thick water. The smell of the medicine was particularly pungent, but it could not stop him from seeing Duan Xuan. When the time comes, first ask him what he plans to do.
Duan Xuan answered honestly: "Now the army is in embarrassment. The whole army has no intention to fight. The enemy is guarding the fortified city. It is really impossible to win. But the prime minister has the order in front and it is difficult to retreat." Huangfu Song asked: "Why? Can't retreat?" Duan Xuan was stunned and didn't know why. Huangfu Song said with a smile: "Since we are in a dilemma, it means that the time is not right, so it is better to retreat first and then advance, and just send him out of the city."
Duan Xuan didn't know why, so he asked: "Now that Gongsun Zan has dismissed the people, he obviously intends to defend Puban. After all, the situation is not in my favor. He is in an invincible position. How can the chariot and cavalry make him leave the city to fight?"
Huangfu Song said with a smile: "The war is about criticizing the enemy and attacking the weak. I will attack the enemy to save him, and the situation cannot be controlled by Gongsun Bogui."
That night, he ordered the sergeants in the army who were not infected to gather together in one place and counted the number of people. There were about 24,000 people. Huangfusong only left a thousand men behind, and asked Yang Ding to lead them. They gathered these sick soldiers who were unable to move, and sent them to Yinjin City with great fanfare. He announced to the outside world that the epidemic in the army was severe and they could only rest temporarily.
Gongsun Zan was quite surprised when he saw the Liang people on the other side retreating. After hearing what the Liang people said, he sent scouts to the old camp of the Liang army to check.
The scouts braved the wind, snow and river ice to cross the river. Looking along the road, they could see human corpses as stiff as sticks and pale bones from time to time on both sides. However, most of the corpses were naked, and occasionally people could be seen. Picking up the remaining clothes from the zombies. The scouts did not dare to stay too long on the road and rushed to the old camp of the Liang Army. The camp was naturally deserted. Most of the wooden beams used to build the camp were taken away by the refugees to keep warm, and there were a few left that they did not tear down. Because there were many Liang soldiers who died of illness in the camp, there was also a mound in the north of the old camp, as well as some unfilled earth pits.
The scouts dug up a mound. There was no coffin in the mound, so the wooden shovel could cut off the thigh of the deceased. The scouts looked at the face of the deceased in the mound. The holes in the mound made the face of the corpse look like a honeycomb, which was very disturbing. They were horrified and hurriedly filled the grave again, praying in their hearts to ask for forgiveness from the deceased. …
They went back and reported to Gongsun Zan that the epidemic situation in the Liang army was very serious, and there were forests of corpses in the old camp, which was absolutely true. Gongsun Zan was quite satisfied and thought to himself: "Liang Gou has been punished by heaven. It can be said that God has helped him. Puban is safe, so he can rest easy. What a pity! I am short of major generals. As long as I have 30,000 people, I will ride on good horses. , attack Chang'an on your own!"
Therefore, Gongsun Zan relaxed a little about the movements of the Liang army. However, due to the impact of the epidemic, he ordered his troops to strictly guard the camp and not move lightly. If anyone in the army was infected, he would be sent to Anyi immediately.
At the same time, Huangfu Song led the remaining soldiers to rush north. After traveling for seventy miles, he chose a place to hide his 15,000 soldiers in the mountains slightly north of Xia Yang. He personally led more than 8,000 knights, crossed the river majestically, and came to Fenyin City on the night of the 23rd.
Fenyin City was originally a small city. The city defense was no more than three feet high and the number of soldiers guarding the city was no more than a thousand. Huangfu Song was caught off guard and should have taken it easily. However, he did the opposite and openly camped in front of the city. , took Dong Min's Zuo General's banner out of the camp, cut down trees around the city, and made a move to besiege Fenyin.
The Fenyin defenders were shocked at first, but when they saw that there was no siege outside the city, they watched the Liang army from a distance from the city. Seeing that their troops were not invincible, they calmed down again. While reorganizing the city defenses, they dispatched envoys. Pass the news to Kaban.
The seventy-mile journey took less than half a day by horseback. When he arrived at Puban, Gongsun Zan was having breakfast. He drank minced meat and listened to the envoy's words. When the envoy finished speaking, his face did not change and he continued to ask: "What do you mean about Liang's soldiers and horses?" How many?" The messenger quickly replied: "Not even tens of thousands."
"They are repairing fortifications in front of the city?"
"When my subordinates left the city, they cut down trees on the outskirts of the city and seemed to be making ladders to rush the cars. Apparently so."
Gongsun Zan showed a bit of a smile and said sarcastically: "Liang Gou is sick and has lost his head. Do you still need to rush to fight Fenyin? Do you think whose flag the Liang people are flying?"
The messenger recalled for a moment and said with certainty: "It's General Zuo's flag."
"It turns out that Dong Min is here in person." Gongsun Zan suddenly understood, and then sneered: "Dong Min is just a slow boy, how can he fight in battle like Dong Zhuo? This strategy of surprise attack on Fenyin is quite appropriate, but it is a pity that he did not know the opportunity, and he was not the same. If the drum breaks the city, he will definitely be defeated."
So he gathered his 10,000 cavalry troops and planned to go to Fenyin to rescue him that day. When he was putting on his armor, Tian Chou came to ask him again: "General, when you go to Fenyin, are you sure of victory?"
Gongsun Zan said with a smile: "There is no need to worry about doing it. If my prediction is correct, the Liang people are already exhausted. When I come back with a complete victory, Chang'an will have no more soldiers to use. I will just take the soldiers to see the emperor! I don't know, but I can still reward the soldiers. He is a minister!"
After that, he reined in his horse and stepped in front of the sergeant, and his followers also moved closer to him. These followers all rode high-headed white horses, wore lacquered white mail armor, and held red tasseled spears. They walked on the snow, with everlasting majesty, like gods. These followers and Gongsun Zan fought continuously in Youzhou, so Gongsun Zan was called the White Horse General by Xianbei and Wuhuan. These followers were called the White Horse Yicon. When the soldiers from Youzhou who came with him saw them entering, they all cheered loudly. stand up.
The white horses galloped, and the knights left a long black mark on the snow. From Puban all the way to the north, the terrain on the east bank of the river gradually changed from flat to small hills, and the terrain on the west bank of the river changed from hills to rolling mountains. , the mountains are covered with vast white tops, and when the foothills of the mountains are also vaguely visible, Fenyin City is right in front of you.
At this time, the people of Yan saw that the Liang people were circling the city and taking aim. A ladder fell down in the corner of the city. It was obvious that the attack on the city was not going well, and the flanks were exposed to the south. Gongsun Zan was overjoyed, and the sound of the attacking trumpet sounded in the mountains. , he personally led the army to kill Liang Ren.
The Liang people were really on the verge of collapse. Seeing Gongsun Zan's arrival on the white horse from a distance, they abandoned their baggage and fled west of the river on their horses. Gongsun Zan saw a general and a knight in golden armor among them. It was really dazzling. He couldn't help but said with joy: "That is the thief general Dong Min! Kill him, and everything in Guanzhong will be settled!"
So he led his army to continue the pursuit, from Fenyin to the river ice, and rushed to the east bank of the river with the sound of cracks in the ice. The white horse Yi Cong was indeed brave. During the chase, he beheaded more than 700 people one after another, but he still failed to catch up with the knight in golden armor, causing them to scatter into the forest.
Gongsun Yue hesitated for a moment and asked Gongsun Zan, "Sir, are you advancing or retreating?"
Gongsun Zan did not hesitate, rode his horse into the mountain, and said to his clan brothers: "Drive the enemy to death and fight until death!"
On the morning of the 25th, Gongsun Zan was ambushed by Huangfu Song and his army was destroyed. Many of his subordinates, Gongsun Yue and Yan Rou, were killed in the battle. Only Baima Yi, including more than 20 riders from Shan Jing and Yan Gang, escorted Gongsun Zan and fled to Anyi. Fenyin fell that day. After Pu Bantianchou learned the news, he did not dare to stay any longer and took all the remaining five thousand troops to Anyi.
Huangfu Song took some time to tidy up and then led the rest of the troops south to Huayin.
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