My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 353 The Elite Troops of the Six Garrisons Acquired!

Although Mayi was an important military town, the actual number of troops stationed in the city was not large.

These strategically important military locations are all situated in key positions, requiring only a small number of troops to block the passage from the north to the south of Sizhou.

Continuing south from Mayi lies the ancient Great Wall built by the State of Zhao during the pre-Qin period to defend against northern nomadic tribes. Mayi is situated right at a gap in the Great Wall.

If we want to advance south to Sizhou from the north, we must take Mayi by force; otherwise, Mayi will be a thorn in our side of the southward grain transport route.

Should we bypass Mayi and head directly south?

How can the supply of food and provisions keep up?
The garrison in Mayi City could come out of the city at any time to raid grain supplies.

Before the Heyin Incident, Gao Yu advised Erzhu Rong to take Mayi and Jingxing before heading south, so that Sizhou could be as solid as a rock. Erzhu Rong took advantage of the chaos to seize these two extremely important military strongholds, and even after suppressing the rebellion of Ge Rong and others, he did not give them up.

It was held tightly in its own hands.

The city's garrison was caught completely off guard. The steppe troops led by Tutujia and Hedoulingbufan stormed into the city, killing several die-hards on the spot, while the rest of the soldiers simply surrendered.

Where did so many people come from who are stubbornly resisting?
Gao Huan did not become complacent after capturing Mayi City without bloodshed. After gaining actual control of Mayi, Gao Huan began to make the next deployment.

"We will not linger and will continue south with me to Sizhou."

What should be done with the original garrison soldiers in the city?

After a moment's thought, Gao Huan "collected his weapons and armor and let him out of the city."

We certainly can't get them to work for us in the short term. Detaining them would require dividing up our forces to guard them. It's better to let them go. Without weapons and armor, even battle-hardened veterans are nothing more than toothless tigers, nothing to be afraid of.

"Why not let the soldiers rest and recuperate? Why the rush?"

Tutujia advised, "If the soldiers don't get enough rest, how can they have the strength to fight?"

Gao Huan shook his head. "No, we must head south to Sizhou before news of the loss of Mayi City leaks out, while Wan Ren's seal is still valid..."

After thinking for a moment... he gritted his teeth and said, "Go and tell the soldiers that the Erzhu family has been operating in Xiurongchuan for many years, and they have countless cattle, sheep, horses, gold, silver and jewels!"

Motivating soldiers is easy, isn't it?
Allow them to act like bandits, killing, burning, robbing, and looting. With this kind of incentive, they won't complain about being tired no matter how exhausted they are.

Sun Teng and the others had different expressions. Reaching this point meant a complete break with the Erzhu clan.

But then I thought about it.

Given Gao Huan's current state, how could Erzhu Rong possibly tolerate such betrayal?

The two sides were already irreconcilable enemies, so Gao Huan naturally didn't need to leave himself a way out. He could only charge forward recklessly and go all the way down a dark path.

Gao Huan asked Dou Tai to stay behind and guard Mayi in his place.

He then led the rest of the group out of the city and continued south.

Outside Fucheng, Gao Huan met Liu Gui, who seemed slightly surprised, "You arrived so quickly?"

Gao Huan's mind flashed with Gao Yu's image, and he shook his head, saying, "Speed ​​is of the essence in war, and we don't have any extra time to linger here."

"Guizhen, about the matter I entrusted to you before..."

"Don't worry, I have already sent people to make arrangements in secret. As soon as you arrive, we can gather the soldiers and civilians of the original six towns."

"it is good!"

Gao Huan nodded, a hint of joy finally appearing on his face.

After thinking it over and over again...

"Go and summon Zi Mao, Bainian, Long Que... all of them!"

Duan Rong's courtesy name was Zi Mao, while Bai Nian's courtesy name was Han Gui's.

That's Han Gui, the one who absolutely refused to let Han Zhihui marry Gao Huan back then.

Han Zhihui's husband died early, and during the Six Garrisons Rebellion, she fled south with Han Gui to seek refuge. Gao Huan learned about the Han siblings while he was stationed in Jinzhou.

Men always seem to have a deep longing for their childhood sweethearts.

People are often trapped by what they cannot obtain in their youth. Now that an opportunity is presented to him, how could Gao Huan miss this chance to rekindle his romance with his childhood sweetheart?
Han Zhihui became Gao Huan's concubine, and Han Gui became Gao Huan's confidant.

Gao Huan was extremely cautious.

These were originally from the Six Towns, and they were all quite famous.

His many schemes were all aimed at getting back the soldiers and civilians of the six towns who had been detained by Erzhu Rong!
How could he not know how formidable this group of people from the Six Towns were?
Ge Rong relied on this group of men to roam freely throughout Hebei, but in the end he only lost to Erzhu Rong. Even so, Erzhu Rong had exhausted all his schemes and plans before finally winning this difficult battle.

Gao Huan knew it very well!
Anyone who wants to succeed must have their own base of support.

The soldiers and civilians of the Six Garrisons were his chosen base; the Han Chinese were no longer an option. The Han Chinese aristocratic families had such a good relationship with Gao Yu, sending women to him like madmen. If he wanted to be on equal footing with Gao Yu... he could only unite with the Xianbei, Tiele, and other non-Han peoples through a united front.

"Go, tell the soldiers and civilians of the Six Towns that He Liuhun has come to pick them up and lead them to take revenge!!"

"Three days! Assemble in Shicheng in three days!"

"Here!!"

Gao Huan sent out all his people, including himself, to gather the soldiers and civilians of the six towns.

This necessitates raising the feathers.

Back then, Gao Yu's reputation was known to everyone in the Six Garrisons. Now, Gao Huan is able to use Gao Yu's name to persuade the people of the Six Garrisons and exploit their hatred for the Erzhu clan.

Erzhu Rong truly didn't treat them like human beings.

Two years ago, when Ge Rong was pacified, more than 200,000 people were captured. In just two short years... this group has been tortured to the point that only a little over 100,000 remain, and nearly half of them have died.

How could I not hate it?

Moreover, those who survive are not necessarily elites, but their physical fitness is undeniable. With a little training, they can become elite warriors!

People from the six towns.

Everyone there was skilled in riding and archery, making them excellent sources of soldiers. Erzhu Rong even went so far as to forcibly screen them for Gao Huan.

Three days later.

Outside the stone city.

After taking the count, Gao Huan finally confirmed that he had gathered nearly 70,000 people, more than half of whom were able-bodied men.

"Fellow villagers of Liuzhen! I am He Liuhun! Brother of Moheduo!"

"You've suffered these past two years!!"

"The traitor Erzhu Rong has brutally murdered the soldiers and civilians of our six garrisons. Such evil deeds are abhorrent to both gods and men! Everyone has the right to kill him!!"

"For the sake of your lost wives, children, and elderly parents, take up your weapons and seek revenge! Revenge!!"

"revenge!!"

Tens of thousands of people shouted in unison, creating a deafening roar!

"Kill! March towards Xiurongchuan!!"

Gao Huan waved his hand dismissively!
The refugee army, composed of the bravest and most elite troops from the six towns, marched in a mighty force towards Xiurongchuan!

The pent-up anger of the soldiers and civilians in the six towns.

Erzhu clan will have to bear the brunt of this anger!

"He Liuhun...do you want to kill all of them?"

Many people related to Erzhu Rong were brought over, making it a fight to the death.

"kill!"

Gao Huan's face was grim, and his attitude was resolute. "Leave no one alive! If I don't act this way, how can I win back the hearts of the soldiers and civilians of the Six Garrisons?"

However, he then instructed, "Take men and bring out Wanren's relatives...detain them personally and send them all to Qingzhou."

"understood."

Sun Teng nodded, then hurriedly left.

It took three days in total.

Gao Huan's trip was quite fruitful. The main reason was that Xiu Rongchuan had a large number of cattle, sheep and horses, as well as a large amount of armor and weapons. It was as if he used the wealth accumulated by the Erzhu clan to arm himself with a powerful and loyal army!

This army, composed of the elite troops from the six garrisons, is his base of operations!
he!
Finally, I can be like Gao Yu, with my own base of influence, and personally step onto the table to compete with others for the world!

"There are still tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Bingzhou. He Liuhun, why don't we take advantage of this situation and attack Bingzhou?"

"No."

Gao Huan shook his head. "Luoyang is too close to Bingzhou, and most of Erzhu Rong's elite troops are in Bingzhou. It would be unwise for us to go and fight them head-on."

He looked eastward. “Let’s go! Wan Jing has sent word that he has taken Jingxing. We should march east to Dingzhou to join Wan Jing and Ziru!”

(End of this chapter)