Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 185 The Wandering Army

Undercurrents surged across the land of Jizhou.

In the rural towns far from the main battlefield, the chaos did not subside as the main government forces focused on a few major cities; instead, it intensified in unseen corners.

Famous generals like Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song were able to defeat the main force of the Yellow Turbans, but they could not instantly heal the wounds torn by this turmoil, nor could they solve the root cause that drove countless people to their deaths.

Small groups of defeated Yellow Turban soldiers, having lost their leaders, joined together with displaced people who had also lost their homes and land to the war and were unable to survive, like a raging fire.

They no longer have clear goals, no longer shout slogans that heaven is dead, only naked desire to survive remains.

Like locusts swarming across the land, they assaulted the fortified villages and towns that had not yet been affected by the war or whose defenses were weak.

"Open the gate! Give us grain! Or we'll burn your village down!" Ragged, ragtag peasants, armed with crude farm tools and even wooden sticks, surrounded the fortified village of a landlord, frantically pounding on the iron gate, their eyes filled with desperate madness.

On the fortress walls, servants and guards nervously drew their bows and nocked arrows.

The lord's face was ashen as he roared at those below, "Get out of the way! If you dare come any closer, shoot us to death with arrows!"

His response was an even more violent slam and roar.

The authority of the government had vanished in this rural area, and the local tyrants could only rely on their fortified villages and private armies to barely survive.

At the same time, a group of people were secretly traveling around Jizhou, guiding the refugees toward Jingjingkou and telling them that there was a way to survive if they went that way.

Amidst war and famine, few questioned the veracity of the news; they could only strive for the last remaining path to survival.

One person influences another, and one group influences another.

The fortified village remained unconquered after a long siege, and one by one, his own brothers fell.

The leader of the assault on the fortified village gritted his teeth, about to launch another powerful attack, when the people around him pulled him back.

"Brother! Don't waste time here! The government troops might be nearby! Have you heard? Head west! Go through Jingxing Pass! After crossing the Taihang Mountains, you'll reach Bingzhou! There, Magistrate Zhang is opening granaries and distributing land! If you go there, you can survive! They'll really give you food!"

Scarface, his eyes bloodshot from the fight, whirled around upon hearing this, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the speaker: "Bingzhou? Really?!"

“Absolutely true!” Another figure squeezed in, his accent slightly heavy.

“My cousin went there last month and sent a message back saying there’s a real way to survive over there! He’s not lying! It’s better than fighting to the death with this iron gate! How many grains of food could there be in this dilapidated fortress? Even if we robbed it, it wouldn’t be enough to feed all of us!”

The rebel leader looked at the shaky yet still sturdy fortress gate, then at his men whose morale was rapidly declining due to hunger and casualties. A struggle flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by the desire to survive.

He suddenly raised his machete, but instead of rushing towards the fortress gate, he roared at the chaotic crowd.

"Brothers! Let's not waste time here! There's a way out to the west! Magistrate Zhang of Bingzhou is opening granaries and distributing land! Follow me! To Bingzhou!"

"Let's go to Bingzhou!"

Homeless refugees, routed soldiers, women and children driven by hunger... as if drawn by invisible threads, they converged from all directions toward Jingxing Pass in the Taihang Mountains.

On the winding and rugged mountain road, a long line of people moved slowly.

The elderly leaned on wooden canes, children clung to their mothers' backs, and men pushed creaking wheelbarrows piled high with their meager belongings or the bodies of their incapacitated relatives.

The air was thick with the stench of sweat, foot odor, and the putrid smell of festering wounds, along with low sobs and painful groans.

"Mother... I'm hungry..." A thin little girl tugged at her mother's clothes, her voice barely audible.

"Be good, just bear with it a little longer... Once we get over this mountain... we'll have porridge to drink..." The mother's voice was hoarse, and her chapped lips were oozing blood.

She was also holding an even smaller baby in her arms, whose breath was faint.

A man with a broken leg was being carried on a makeshift stretcher made of tree branches by two companions. Every jolt brought excruciating pain, but he gritted his teeth and didn't utter a sound, just staring intently at the western sky.

That was the only way to survive.

In relatively orderly sections of the procession, one could occasionally see a few strong men dressed no differently from the refugees, running back and forth, whispering messages, maintaining basic order, and preventing large-scale stampedes and chaos.

They were secret envoys sent by Zhang Xian, painstakingly maintaining this fragile stream of ants on the path to survival.

The atmosphere was even more complex near Tumen Pass, close to the Jingxing Pass.

This place was garrisoned by a military officer under Lu Zhi.

On the gate wall, the Northern Army soldiers silently watched the massive herd of refugees outside the gate, which resembled a migrating herd of wild animals, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

There was vigilance, pity, and a barely perceptible sense of relief.

Thankfully, these desperate people didn't attempt to break through the checkpoints.

"Boss, are we just going to let them pass like this?" a young soldier couldn't help but ask the military commander.

The military commander gazed at the billowing dust beyond the pass and sighed, "What can we do if they don't release them? Kill them all? The General and Commander Lu didn't give that order! Besides..."

He lowered his voice: "A considerable portion of the grain in our camp was sold to Commander Lu by that Prefect Zhang from Bingzhou! It was obtained in exchange for the rags on these rioters... uh, these refugees! Let's just turn a blind eye! As long as they don't storm the gate, let them do what they want!"

Lu Zhi had already given up on the delusion that the court would allocate grain on time.

When the military pay would arrive depended entirely on the eunuchs' mood.

Having no other choice, he had to ask Zhang Xian again.

This time, however, it wasn't about asking for grain, but about buying it.

The wealth obtained from the annihilation of small groups of Yellow Turban rebels was used to buy grain from prisoners.

At the same time, they turned a blind eye to the westward flight of the people of Jizhou.

Faced with his request to purchase grain, Xun Yu naturally did not refuse. After inquiring about Zhang Xian's opinion, hundreds of thousands of shi of grain were sent from Jinyang to Weize Pass.

People, gold, silver and other valuables continued to pour in from Jizhou.

The territory of Xihe Commandery in Bingzhou.

Two thousand armored soldiers have been stationed here for two months.

According to the Fen River, Zhao Yuze guards the area and has a watchful eye on Pingtao County and the Lüliang Mountains.

However, it seems the nomadic tribes were restrained, as no nomadic people have been seen crossing the Lüliang Mountains in the past two months.

Therefore, the soldiers of the armored cavalry in Zhao Yuze's camp appeared somewhat peaceful, simply conducting their daily patrols and training as usual.

However, it's already the 15th of May.

The three colonels of the Youyi Army, Zhang Liao, Zhao Yun, and Zhao Gou, arrived suddenly.

Accompanying them were three thousand new recruits who had completed two months of basic training, and fifteen hundred members of the Youyi Army headquarters.

Zhang Xian had previously separated the Jiaqi Army Cavalry Battalion, leaving half of the original three thousand cavalrymen to Huang Zhong to supplement the cavalry units of the Duliao Camp, while the other half was used to form the headquarters of the Youyi Army.

It was jointly commanded by Zhang Liao and two others.

The military structure of the Youyi Army consisted of Right Colonel Zhang Liao leading 700 cavalrymen, Left Colonel Zhao Gou leading 700 cavalrymen, and Youyi Colonel Zhao Yun leading 100 personal guards to guard the central army.

The Jiaqi Army was newly expanded by 5,000 men. Three thousand were taken to the Zhaoyuze camp by Zhao Yun and his men, while the other two thousand marched north to Qiangyin.

The remaining two thousand soldiers of the Duliao Camp were replaced to make up a total of five thousand for Huang Zhong to command.

"Assemble!!!" *Beep*
The assembly whistle kept sounding.

Two thousand veteran soldiers quickly assembled at the drill ground, and then, under the command of Zhang Liao and his two companions, three thousand new soldiers were incorporated into the scattered and integrated guerrilla troops.

On the drill ground, 6,500 soldiers stood in a solemn square formation, completely silent.

Sunlight shone on the brand-new armor and spearheads, reflecting a chilling glint.

The air was so heavy it seemed you could wring water out of it, with only the occasional snort of warhorses and the fierce wind howling as banners fluttered.

On the command platform, Zhang Liao, clad in black armor, stood with his hand on his sword.

The childishness on his face had completely faded.

His gaze was sharp as lightning, sweeping across the army formation below.

On the left, Zhao Yun is dressed in white robes and silver armor.

On the right, Zhao Gou is dressed in a suit of sturdy armor.

Zhang Liao looked at Zhao Yun, who nodded slightly and then stepped forward and shouted!
"All troops!"

"We have been entrusted with a great responsibility by our lord, to wield the sharpest weapons of the game! What is the game of the game? It means to move like an eagle patrolling the four fields!"
Our feet shall traverse the treacherous mountains and passes of Bingzhou; our eyes shall discern every move of the barbarians; our blades shall serve as a bulwark for Bingzhou, severing the claws of all who covet it!

He suddenly drew his sword from his waist, the blade pointing directly at the towering Lüliang Mountains to the west!

"West of Lüliang lies the ancient prefecture of Xihe! Barbarian cavalry roam freely, and bandits lurk in hiding!"

"Therefore, the magistrate has decreed that, from this day forward, the Youyi Army shall erect its banner here, with each unit stationed in Pingtao, the old city of Zishi! They shall guard the strategic points and suppress bandits!"

Scouts, both overt and covert, have gone ahead to Lishi to gather thorough intelligence on the Western River barbarians! When our provisions are plentiful and our armor and weapons are fully prepared, that will be the day we drink from the Yellow River and reclaim the Western River!

"Drink from the Yellow River! Reclaim the Western River!"

"Drink from the Yellow River! Reclaim the Western River!"

Six thousand five hundred throats erupted with a roar like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing, the sound waves shaking the waters of Zhaoyuze!

The new recruits' eyes burned with the desire to make a name for themselves, while the veterans' faces showed the composure and confidence of someone who had survived countless battles.

Zhang Liao, Zhao Yun, and Zhao Gou exchanged glances, each seeing the burning fighting spirit in the other's eyes.

This guerrilla army, totaling 6,500 soldiers, became Zhang Xian's second newly formed army with a formal organization and a large banner.

The Bingbei Grassland has returned to normalcy, and the naturalization and grazing order has begun to gradually weaken the influence of the people who separated from the Bingbei Grassland.

The value of sheep has begun to be reflected in the Bingbei Grassland. According to the letters sent back by Xi Zhicai and Guo Jia, the number of sheep raised by the tribes in the Bingbei Grassland this year is 30% more than last year.

This is a good sign. As long as Jinyang has enough money, salt, iron and other valuables to buy sheepskins and wool, the northern grasslands will fall into Zhang Xian's hands in less than two years.

Therefore, the main purpose of establishing the Youyi Army was to control Xihe County.

The control distance west of Jinyang only extends to Zhaoyuze, and the only remaining county seat of Xihe Commandery is Daling County next to Zhaoyuze.

Zhang Xian dispatched Zhang Liao and the other two with the aim of continuing westward, regaining control of Pingtao County and Zishi County, and then using the Lüliang Mountains as a boundary to guard against the grassland people of Xihe Commandery.

This is also to prepare for the recapture of Xihe County next year or the year after.

To control Xihe County, we must first take Lishi County, which is the central location of Xihe County, connecting all directions. Controlling Lishi County will give us the opportunity to recover the entire county.

However, Zhang Xian currently lacks the resources to wage war outwards. He can only rely on the natural barrier to push the defensive line westward, expand the area under Jinyang's control, and use the extra land to cultivate more grain.

To put it bluntly, war is about fighting for food.

The allocation of grain and forage for this year has been clearly planned.

All of it must be used for infrastructure construction and the resettlement of displaced people in Jizhou.

The influx of hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of people completely devoured the food he had accumulated over the past year, leaving it slightly insufficient.

Therefore, it is unlikely that they will be able to penetrate deep into Xihe County and recapture it this year.

The entire county is now in a frantic rush to reclaim wasteland. After the spring planting, the original 1.3 million mu of farmland in the county increased to 2 million mu in just two and a half months.

New villages and post stations sprang up like mushrooms after rain.

140,000 refugees and Yellow Turban prisoners in Ji Province were resettled and given land.

The number of artisans and scholars began to surge.

Everything is progressing in a positive direction.

When Zhang Liao and others were in Tao and Zi counties.

The twice-yearly large market for strong yin has also begun.

The trade markets outside the city have more than doubled in size compared to last year.

A tall wooden fence enclosed a huge area, which was bustling with activity.

However, the focus of the trade has quietly shifted from warhorses and leather to a new product.

wool.

One by one, the grassland men herded flocks of sheep to the designated fenced area.

Most of these sheep are newly expanded flocks with mixed coat colors, but their large numbers make up for it.

A market official dressed in the uniform of a Bingzhou clerk, fluent in the Hu language, led a skilled hairdresser forward.

The sharp, specially made scissors flew, skillfully gliding across the sheepskin, and large clumps of gray-white wool fell like snowflakes, quickly piling up on the ground.

"This pile, second-grade wool, forty catties for one catty of salt!" The market official grabbed a handful of wool, twisted it open to check its cleanliness and length, and loudly announced the number.

"This pile is good! Lots of wool, clean, it's top-grade! Ten pounds of wool can be exchanged for a pound of tea bricks!" Another official pointed to another pile of wool that was even whiter.

The men of the grasslands watched with a mixture of tension and anticipation as the sheep they had brought were sheared, the wool was sorted, weighed, and then exchanged for heavy blocks of salt, brick tea, iron pots, and needles and thread.

Compared to risking one's life to plunder, or waiting for the unpredictable and ever-present threat of disaster, this method of shearing and exchanging animals seems so safe and reliable.

Several tribal chiefs gathered together, watching the bustling market, talking in hushed tones, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Does that Magistrate Zhang really want this wool? What was it used for besides making rope before?"

"Who cares! Anything that can be exchanged for salt, tea, or an iron pot is a good thing! It's much more profitable than raising horses! Once the horses are fattened up, whether it's the Xiongnu chieftain or the Han people, they'll come to requisition them, and then we can just give them a few pennies and send them on their way!"

"That's true... and look, they really pay out when they take wool here, they follow the rules! I heard that Jizhou in the south is in complete chaos, but our Bingbei is still peaceful..."

"Raise more sheep...and fewer horses...so the kids won't be thinking about riding horses and fighting all the time, they'll learn how to take good care of sheep..."

The leaders reached a tacit consensus.

Beside the trade market, piles of wool were being packed tightly into huge burlap sacks and loaded onto oxcarts and horse-drawn carts by Bingzhou merchants and their hired workers.

The convoy continued to drive south, heading towards Jinyang.

(End of this chapter)