The Three Kingdoms: The Oath of the Peach Garden, the Rise of the Han Dynasty

Within three to five days, villages were set up in the countryside of the rebellious counties.

Han flags were planted on the stockade walls, and strong young men guarded the area with spears. Their patrols and sentry duty were well-organized, even more so than the fortified villages of local powerful clans.

The rebel soldiers wanted to rob the village of grain and coerce the people, but they were driven back by rolling stones and logs as soon as they reached the village gate.

If we attack, dozens of people will die or be injured in a small village, which would be a loss; if we don't attack, the villages will become connected, which would restrict their range of activities.

Originally intending to coerce the people into expanding their power, they ended up being held back by the villages, unable to expand outwards and trapped in place!

When the news reached the ears of those powerful families, they were studying a map and planning how to attack Ye City!

After hearing the manager's report, they slammed their pens down on the table and stared wide-eyed.

"What did you say? Those peasants actually dared to fortify their village? And...and even drove our people back?"

"Master, it's absolutely true! It was those retired soldiers from the village who led the organization! They even said they were just waiting for the imperial army to arrive so they could attack us from both sides!"

Those aristocratic families swayed slightly, then plopped back down on the couch.

wrong.

None of them are right!

Since ancient times, has it not been that the common people were ignorant, only knowing the aristocratic families and not the imperial court?

Isn't it said that if you raise your arm and call out, a crowd will gather?

Why did the people, instead of helping them in the end, side with Liu Bei and surround them instead?

He climbed the watchtower and looked into the distance, where the flags of villages were faintly visible among the distant countryside.

Why? Why is that?

Could they be retired soldiers?

But those retired soldiers have only been in the village for less than a year. How can they compare to these centuries-old families?

They don't understand!

Are those ordinary people awake?

……

The chill of spring night in Ye City lingered.

The side gate of the Yuan family's backyard was gently pushed open from the outside.

They followed the trail to the courtyard of the two Yuan brothers.

"Young Master, Third Young Master, hurry!"

A man dressed as a night watchman waved in a low voice, followed by a dozen or so men in tight-fitting clothes, each carrying a ring-pommel sword.

Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were wearing heavy fur coats, and their faces were still somewhat pale.

After being under house arrest for several months, they were momentarily disoriented upon seeing outsiders.

"Who are you...?"

"The Li family of Wei Commandery sent us to rescue the young master! Take advantage of the shift change and exit through the west gate!"

Without thinking twice, the two followed the man.

I thought the place of confinement was heavily guarded and a fierce battle was inevitable, but who knew that the patrolmen at the corners would "just happen" to be out of the way.

Either they're drunk and dozing off against the wall, and no one even questions them!

When they exited through the west gate, the guard even turned his face away, pretending not to see them.

Even after he had traveled two miles out of the city and mounted the prepared horse, Yuan Tan was still somewhat dazed.

"It...it just came out like that?"

Yuan Shang, also panting, said, "Ju Shou... wasn't it Mr. Ju secretly helping us? Otherwise, how could things have gone so smoothly?"

The two exchanged a glance, both believing that Ju Shou must have secretly let the enemy go because of past favors from the Yuan family!

Otherwise, given the strict defenses of Ye City, how could a few farmhands have managed to rescue the person?

They dared not delay and spurred their horses to gallop towards Bohai County.

The city of Ye lay quietly in the night behind us, as if nothing had happened.

Several days later, the news spread throughout the aristocratic families.

The noble families who had risen up in various prefectures were greatly encouraged and fiercely attacked and captured Nanpi County, forcing the county magistrate to flee.

A few days later, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang officially raised their banners in Nanpi County, Bohai Commandery.

They declared, "We will restore the legacy of our late father and punish the treacherous officials in the Qing Dynasty!"

Yuan Tan was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Yuan Shang was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Central Army!

In an instant, powerful families and fortified villages in various counties of Ji Province responded one after another, killing county magistrates or attacking village pavilions, creating a chaotic scene.

Despite the commotion, it didn't amount to much.

The fortified village where the uprising started was either surrounded by the earthen fortresses of the surrounding local militia, and it was impossible to break through with too few people, and it was not worthwhile to attack with too many people!

They tried to attack the county seat, but were driven back by the defending troops every time.

The government troops in various prefectures and counties remained stationary, only guarding the city walls and key roads.

It was chaotic, but the chaos was controllable, like a wildfire that, without wind, wouldn't spread.

Although it appears to be fires everywhere, it is actually chaotic but under control, and has not spread into any significant area.

The powerful families were also anxious and wanted to join forces, but the key roads and ferry crossings between the various prefectures had long been blocked by Wang Jiang's patrol cavalry.

Wang Jiang and some Xiliang generals, along with their troops, were ready to provide support at any time.

Once the elite families' bodyguards and servants leave their fortified villages, they no longer need to return!

The powerful families are getting anxious!

With only his own troops, he couldn't capture the city or outlast the government.

Their only hope lay with Yuan Shu in Huainan. They had agreed to march north in the spring and coordinate an attack from within and without.

Messengers were sent to make contact, one after another, but all of them disappeared without a trace.

Heading towards Qingzhou?

Zhang Liao, Xu Rong, and Qian Zhao sealed off the border like an iron barrel, with strict checks at the checkpoints; messengers were detained as soon as they reached the border.

Walking along the Yellow River?

Guan Yu's navy patrolled the river day and night, inspecting all boats, large and small, making it virtually impossible to cross by stealth.

Messages couldn't get through, and reinforcements never arrived!

The elders of the Li clan in Wei Commandery were pounding their fists on the table and cursing in Bohai:

"Yuan Gonglu is a mediocre man! He promised to head north in the spring, but now Jizhou is in turmoil, and where is he? He's wasting our opportunity and ruining our important plans!"

The clan elders joined in the cursing, cursing Yuan Shu for being untrustworthy and for being nothing but a skeleton in a tomb!

But no matter how much they cursed, they couldn't get any reinforcements.

The grain reserves in the fortified village were dwindling day by day, while the number of local militia outside was increasing. Everyone was starting to panic!

……

The council hall of the Prince of Jin's residence in Luoyang was unusually quiet.

Li Chang pointed to the numerous rebellion points scattered across the map and began to coordinate their movements one by one:

"Zhao Yun, obey orders, lead 5,000 newly trained White Horse Cavalry out of Hanoi, enter Wei Commandery, and quell the rebellion in the western route."

"Here you go!"

Zhao Yun stepped forward to receive the order, his silver armor gleaming.

The Liangzhou region had already been handed over to Ma Teng to oversee, while his sons and nephews Ma Chao and Ma Dai served as imperial guards in the Prince of Jin's residence.

"Gongsun Xu, obey my command."

Li Chang changed the subject, and a dashing young man in his early twenties stepped out of the train, his features bearing a striking resemblance to Gongsun Zan from back then.

He was Gongsun Xu, the only son of Gongsun Zan.

After Gongsun Zan's defeat and death, he was sent to Jixia Academy and, through connections, was placed in the same class as Zhuge Liang. He was constantly attacked by Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi to the point of questioning his existence.

Liu Bei stepped forward this time:

"I hereby appoint you as General Who Pacifies the Rebellion, and lead three thousand of your brother Bo Gui's old White Horse Cavalry to march out of Youzhou, enter Hejian, and quell the rebellion in the northern route!"

Guan Jing was appointed as the Chief Clerk, in charge of military and political documents; Tian Kai was appointed as the Military Commander, in charge of the vanguard troops.

They're all your father's old subordinates, so just go ahead and do as you please!"

Gongsun Xu suddenly looked up, his eyes red!

Loyalty!!

He thought that with his father's defeat and death, he would be lucky to have a place to stay.

Unexpectedly, the Prince of Jin was still willing to let him lead troops, and even handed over his father's old White Horse Cavalry to him, and even gave him old ministers like Guan Jing and Tian Kai!

If these people were placed in the former territory of Gongsun Zan in Youzhou, they might all be able to establish their own independent regimes!

But Liu Bei confidently distributed them like that!

Everyone present was deeply impressed by Liu Bei's trust!