Chapter 176 Two-Way Interception

Guo Jia endured a bumpy ride, and as he saw the outline of Beixin City on the horizon, he was glad that he could finally direct the battle and show his talents.

But the news brought back by the scout made him furious. The Black Mountain bandits besieging Beixin City had collapsed overnight!

He had previously given Yuan Xi an idea: Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci would each lead an army to ambush the Black Mountain bandits on their flanks and rear, while Yuan Xi would lead the vanguard to harass the enemy camp at night.

Yuan Xi only needed to hold out for the night, and when the enemy was exhausted, Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci could seize the opportunity to attack the enemy's flanks and annihilate them.

The idea was approved by everyone, and Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci each led their troops around to the rear. But what Guo Jia didn't expect was that, for some unknown reason, Yuan Xi's exhausted army, which was supposed to lure the enemy, had caused 20,000 enemies to flee!

Before long, Guo Jia's carriage arrived at the city. Yuan Xi was directing his soldiers to gather the surrendered Black Mountain bandits. Seeing Guo Jia's suspicious expression, he came up and said, "Some changes happened last night."

Yuan Xi explained what had happened yesterday. Guo Jia was stunned, and after a while, he said, "This kind of thing is too unbelievable. Could it be that these Black Mountain bandits extremely believe in the prophecies of the Taiping Dao?"

"However, Gongzi first used fire and then attacked the mind, which is commendable. The only regret is that the able-bodied men on the other side all ran away."

"I see that there are many old, weak, women, and children who have surrendered. Beixin City may not be able to afford it."

Yuan Xi said in a low voice, "They are all children of the Han family. I can't just watch them starve to death."

Guo Jia heard this and swallowed the suggestion that had just reached his lips. According to his original intention, these prisoners would be used as slaves and rewarded to the soldiers, which would be the best.

He thought for a while and said, "Although these people were coerced into attacking the city, it would be difficult to convince the public if there was no punishment at all. At least they should work for several years before they can be treated the same as others."

Yuan Xi thought for a while, thinking that Guo Jia's idea was quite advanced. Isn't this just labor reform?

But this is already the best solution at present. Otherwise, if tens of thousands of old and young people come, Beixin City will be bankrupted.

He said, "I will follow your advice, sir. I will let the officials settle them properly."

Seeing Guo Jia's tired expression, he said, "Sir, please rest here. I will take people to pursue the fleeing Black Mountain remnants."

Guo Jia was stunned, "Didn't Gongzi fight all night last night?"

Yuan Xi waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter, I have already slept for two hours."

"If I don't take people over there, I'm afraid ZLong and Ziyi won't be able to stop the fleeing Black Mountain bandits."

Guo Jia heard this and said with a solemn expression, "Forgive me for speaking bluntly, Gongzi, this idea is very stupid."

"Even if it's true, you can't say it explicitly. This is distrusting your subordinates."

Yuan Xi was sweating profusely and said, "I have been taught."

Guo Jia changed the subject and said, "More importantly, as the lord, you don't need to do everything yourself and rush to the front line in every battle."

"No matter how powerful Gongzi is, can you be as good as a fierce general?"

"But you must understand that the best thing a lord can do is to live long."

"In the past, King Xiang of Western Chu was always at the front in every battle, but in the end, he failed to defeat Gaozu."

"On the other hand, Gaozu was only three years younger than the First Emperor, but he successfully waited for the fall of the Qin Dynasty before seizing the world."

"Huo Qubing won every battle, but he didn't understand the way to maintain his health and died young. Otherwise, how many more years of peace would the Han Dynasty have had?"

"Gongzi's behavior of wasting his body is not the way to longevity."

Yuan Xi quickly said, "I have been taught."

His face was strange. Guo Jia spoke eloquently, but the key was that he himself didn't do well?

However, at present, it is true that both he and the soldiers are exhausted and need rest. Then, he can only hope that Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci can stop Bai Rao.

Otherwise, if he escapes back, it will be a big trouble in the future.

Seeing that Yuan Xi was willing to accept advice, Guo Jia felt a little relieved, but in his heart, there was also a question that he couldn't let go of.

After he came to Beixin City, he had also learned about a force that could not be ignored.

The Southern Xiongnu.

According to reason, the current Southern Xiongnu Chanyu, Yu Fuluo, has always been attached to the Han court and opposed Yuan Shao. Moreover, Yuan Xi killed his son Liu Bao last year. There is no reason not to take revenge.

Especially now that Yuan Shao is attacking Gongsun Zan, it is a great opportunity. The Black Mountain Army has been dispatched, and the Southern Xiongnu, who have always had connections with the Black Mountain Army, why haven't they made any moves so far?

If the two armies come together, it is really hard to say whether Beixin City can be defended.

Thinking that Liu Bao did not go directly north to Bing Province last year, but took the Taihang Mountain passage between Bing and Ji Provinces, Guo Jia faintly guessed in his heart, could it be that something happened to the Southern Xiongnu?

North of Changshan Commandery, Bai Rao was leading thousands of soldiers fleeing towards Changshan, followed by thousands of people behind the main force.

He was furious in his heart. Of the more than 20,000 people who came out of Taihang Mountain, only half remained!

The rest were either killed in the chaos last night or had already surrendered to Beixin City.

Bai Rao felt aggrieved in his heart. Before leaving, Zhang Yan ordered him to bring out as many people as possible, but Bai Rao, in order to be the first to make contributions before the other two routes, hastily mobilized more than 20,000 people before setting off.

Now it seems that he was still careless!

Who would have thought that his subordinates would be bewitched by rumors and kill each other?

Thinking of this, Bai Rao's anger surged. He had been rampant for more than ten years, but he had inexplicably fallen into the hands of a young boy!

But he still has a chance. As long as he returns to Changshan and uses the name of the Black Mountain Army to coerce all the local people, he can raise an army of tens of thousands again in just ten days!

Thinking of this, a smug smile appeared on his face.

But his dream was quickly shattered. A sudden rain of arrows brought him back to reality.

Bai Rao looked at the archers on the mountain slopes on both sides and the enemy general blocking the road in the center, his heart turning cold. He roared, "Charge together!"

Li Da, who was beside him, heard this and charged his horse towards the enemy general, only to see the opponent draw a large bow from his back.

The bowstring sounded continuously, and the opponent shot three lightning-fast arrows in the blink of an eye!

Li Da barely managed to dodge the first arrow, but he didn't have time to react again. He was immediately pierced through the head and neck by the two arrows that followed, and he fell from his horse, dead.

Bai Rao felt a chill run through his body when he saw this. Li Da's martial arts skills were no less than his own, yet he had died just like that!

Moreover, Bai Rao was confident in his archery skills, but compared to the opponent, he was like heaven and earth!

A thought flashed through his mind: he couldn't fight head-on!

Thinking of this, he turned his horse around and led the others to flee in another direction.

Tai Shi Ci put away his bow. Seeing the direction Bai Rao was fleeing, he thought that the military advisor called Guo Jia was indeed a bit clever, accurately predicting the opponent's retreat route.

Zhao Yun was already waiting for Bai Rao in the direction he was heading. Tai Shi Ci was not in a hurry to chase, but led his men to follow behind, slowly depleting the enemy's strength.

As a result, the soldiers at the rear of Bai Rao's team cried out in misery. Seeing that the situation was not good, and that they would be slowly ground to death if this continued, they immediately knelt down and surrendered.

Bai Rao ran for a day and a night, finally escaping into Changshan Commandery. If he went on for another half day, he would reach his base camp, Zhending.

Then, he was stopped by Zhao Yun, who was leading two thousand soldiers.

Zhao Yun, according to the route Guo Jia had pointed out in advance, took a shortcut from Yijing to set up an ambush. At this time, the entire army had rested and recuperated, and their morale was high.

Anger flashed in Zhao Yun's eyes. Zhending was his hometown, but since it had been occupied by the Black Mountain Army, it had suffered greatly. However, at that time, Zhao Yun was under Gongsun Zan, and Gongsun Zan and the Black Mountain Army were allies, so Zhao Yun was powerless to do anything.

Now that he had joined Yuan Xi, he could finally take action without any scruples!

He rode his horse forward, holding his spear, and shouted, "Is that the Black Mountain Army's Bai Rao?"

Bai Rao rode forward and said, "I am Bai Rao, a general under Pingnan Zhonglang General (Zhang Yan)! Who are you, blocking my way?"

Zhao Yun said coldly, "Du Wei under the command of the Governor of Zhuo Commandery, Zhao Zilong of Changshan, is here to Rebellion!"

Bai Rao's face turned pale when he heard this. In the past few days, Zhao Yun had already made a name for himself in Beixin City. After Bai Rao inquired, he found that Zhao Yun used to be a general under Gongsun Zan and had defected to the Yuan family.

Moreover, his hometown was his current base camp, Changshan Zhending!

Bai Rao naturally knew how badly Zhending had been ravaged. Back then, the generals and officials under Gongsun Zan were quite dissatisfied with Gongsun Zan's alliance with the Black Mountain Army.

Gongsun Zan saw that the situation was not right, and took the opportunity to kill Liu Yu, cleansing and killing all the generals and officials of the Zhending faction under his command.

At that time, Zhao Yun temporarily belonged to Liu Bei, and Gongsun Zan regarded him as a thorn in his side. He wanted to use a knife to kill someone, and let Zhao Yun lead troops to attack Beixin City. That's why Zhao Yun left Gongsun Zan by taking advantage of the gambling agreement with Yuan Xi.

Seeing Zhao Yun announce his name, Bai Rao knew that he could not settle this peacefully today. He shouted, "We are all generals personally appointed by the Han Dynasty. The Yuan family is the Han Dynasty's rebel!"

"If you know what's good for you, quickly dismount and surrender. I can recommend you to Zhonglang General and help you get promoted and make a fortune!"

Zhao Yun was furious: "You people poison the people, and you still have the face to call yourselves Han officials!"

"Die!"

He shook the reins, held his spear, and charged up with his men.

Bai Rao knew that he could not avoid this battle. He also held his horse lance and roared, welcoming them.

As soon as the two men exchanged blows, Bai Rao felt that something was wrong. He had also been on the battlefield for more than ten years, but his halberd could not attack the opponent's center at all!

After only a few rounds, Zhao Yun opened his halberd, revealing a large opening in his chest.

Bai Rao's soul flew away, and he quickly dodged to the side, but he didn't expect Zhao Yun to not want to kill him directly. The spear pointed out and pierced through his palm.

Bai Rao screamed and fell from his horse. He lay on the ground, watching his men being killed and routed, knowing that the situation was over.

He hissed, "Please, General, spare my life for the sake of being from the same hometown as Zhonglang General!"

Zhao Yun dismounted and pointed his spear at Bai Rao, saying, "Zhang Yan is also from Zhending, why did he allow you to poison your fellow villagers?"

Bai Rao quickly said, "Let me tell you, General, that Zhonglang General was oppressed by the local gentry in the past, so he angrily raised an army. I am in Zhending, and I heard that you have also had this experience. Those people are very hateful. We are also avenging you."

Zhao Yun shouted, "Nonsense!"

"The people of Zhending are now living a life worse than death. Did they also oppress Zhang Yan?"

"You are just making excuses for doing evil!"

Seeing that Zhao Yun's killing intent was great, Bai Rao begged for mercy, "General, spare my life! I am also an official of the imperial court, I…"

With a puff, the cold and sharp spearhead pierced through Bai Rao's throat, pinning him to the ground.

Zhao Yun pulled out the spearhead and shook it casually, drawing a line of blood on the ground.

He thought to himself that the Young Master was right, most people in this world are hypocritical and fish in troubled waters. There are very few who are truly determined to relieve the people and save the common people from fire and water.

The people are forced to start an uprising because they cannot live, but in the end, they become the knives in the hands of these people, and they never live a few good days even until they die.

Someone must stand up and end this chaotic world.

Zhao Yun carried his spear, mounted his horse, and left.

In the future, he must take a good look at the Young Master's path, to see if he can really do what he said and return a peaceful world to the world.