Yingtao County is over eighty li from Linzhang County and over one hundred fifty li from Guangping County.
However, Bai Rao and Sui Gu were marching slowly with their siege equipment. In contrast, Zhang Chen's troops were all cavalry, and even Qu Yi's "First to Ascend Camp" had horses for everyone, making their marching speed far superior to the enemy.
Zhang Chen estimated that if they marched quickly, they could definitely reach Yingtao County before the bandit army.
The army marched rapidly for about a day and a half, arriving thirty li north of Yingtao County.
Thirty li is a distance that cavalry can cover in two hours. Zhang Chen therefore ordered the army to set up camp, stationing themselves there to await developments in Yingtao County.
For several days, Zhang Chen continuously sent out scouts to investigate the area around Yingtao County, finally obtaining important intelligence.
Zhang Niujiao's forces have appeared!
Zhang Niujiao is personally leading three thousand troops, converging from the northeast, while Bai Rao and Sui Gu's forces are estimated to arrive near Yingtao County today.
Listening to the scout's military report, Zhang Chen couldn't help but feel secretly startled. It seems this will be another tough battle!
For a small Yingtao County, Zhang Niujiao actually mobilized thirty thousand troops!
If you include Bai Rao, Sui Gu, and the already annihilated Yu Du, that's a full sixty thousand troops.
Just for a small Yingtao County?
No, his goal is definitely not just this!
On this day, Zhang Chen was discussing matters in his tent with Zhang He and Qu Yi, when Ju Shou suddenly walked in from outside the tent.
Ju Shou had a grave expression and approached, saying, "Lord, this subordinate has an important matter to report."
Seeing Ju Shou's unusual expression, Zhang Chen knew something major must have happened and quickly asked, "Gongyu, what happened?"
"Lord, this subordinate sent someone to deliver a letter to Gongren the day before yesterday." Ju Shou said, taking out two pages of a letter from his In arms, "Gongren replied that recently, there is an organization in Julu Commandery called the 'Yellow Heaven Holy Sect' that is extremely active. Even some mountain bandits in the surrounding areas have joined this organization. Gongren is worried that if the Black Mountain Bandits collude with them, and they act in concert from inside and outside, Julu Commandery will be in danger."
Zhang Chen was startled upon hearing this, quickly took the letter, read it once, and frowned, saying, "Since Gongren thinks this way, it must not be groundless. He must have sensed something. 'Yellow Heaven Holy Sect'? This name... are they afraid others won't know they are connected to the Yellow Turban?"
"Lord, this subordinate also thinks so. This 'Yellow Heaven Holy Sect' must be Yellow Turban remnants!"
"Yellow Turban remnants?!" Zhang He, who was beside him, immediately erupted, "Since they are Yellow Turban remnants, why doesn't the Prefect of Julu Commandery exterminate them?"
"Junyi, you do not know. Although the Yellow Turban failed, their prestige among the common people still remains. Ji Province is where the Yellow Turban rose, and Great Deer is the old lair of Zhang Jiao's three brothers. The hearts of the people yearn for change, and it is precisely because of this that the officials may not be able to suppress them."
While saying this, Zhang Chen was secretly pondering.
The Yellow Heaven Holy Sect is not recorded in historical materials, but after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, its remnants were scattered everywhere, repeatedly causing trouble for more than ten years, like a wildfire that is extinguished and then rekindled, then extinguished again.
Perhaps this "Yellow Heaven Holy Sect" is one of those branches?
There are many Yellow Turban remnants among the Black Mountain Army, and their leader Zhang Niujiao is one of the thirty-six great commanders. If they collude, the possibility is very high.
But if they already had inside help in the city, why would Zhang Niujiao still be shot and killed in the battle of Yingtao County?
Zhang Chen was momentarily puzzled, but then quickly understood.
Because of his arrival, this world has been subtly changing, and some things may no longer develop according to the trajectory in his memory.
Perhaps it was precisely because of Yu Du's complete annihilation that Zhang Niujiao had to change his strategy. Perhaps, because of this variable, he will not die in this life? If so, there would be no later Zhang Yan leading the Black Mountain Army to grow and strengthen.
The butterfly effect, perhaps, has been generated from the moment he arrived.
At this moment, Zhang Chen couldn't help but worry deeply.
Minor changes are irrelevant, but he is worried that some important events will change as a result.
For example, Dong Zhuo entering the capital, the alliance of the eighteen Marquis... those events propelled the direction of the entire Three Kingdoms history, and there were huge interests hidden behind them.
Forget it, since I'm here, the change in history is inevitable. The changes now are still very small, and everything is still within controllable limits. Perhaps, by trying my best to facilitate the achievement of certain events, I can push the course of history back onto the right track?
"Report!"
Zhang Chen was deep in thought when a Soldier came in from outside the tent. It turned out to be a scout.
The scout bowed to everyone and said, "Reporting to Lord, half an hour ago, tens of thousands of bandit troops set out, heading directly for Yingtao County. Twenty thousand troops of Bai Rao and Sui Gu are heading directly for the East Gate, and Zhang Niujiao's forces are divided into three routes, surrounding Yingtao County!"
"Scout again!"
"Yes!"
Fifty thousand troops surrounding Yingtao County? Zhang Chen thought to himself.
Haha! This is truly heaven helping me!
His side had insufficient troops, and he was just discussing countermeasures with Zhang He and Qu Yi on how to deal with Zhang Niujiao's tens of thousands of troops. He didn't expect him to divide his forces to surround the city.
If tens of thousands of troops were all attacking one gate, Zhang Chen would indeed have a headache. Now that the enemy is dispersed, as long as he concentrates his forces, strikes at one point, and cooperates with the inside of the city, the bandit army will surely be defeated!
As long as one route is broken, the bandit army will surely be intimidated!
By then, Gao Shun should also arrive with the Trapped Camp. Under a pincer attack, the enemy will surely collapse!
Thinking of this, Zhang Chen's face became solemn, and he stood up with a "whoosh".
"Order, the entire army sets out, heading directly for Yingtao County!"
...
Julu Commandery, Yingtao County.
Above the North Gate tower, County Magistrate Dong Zhao stood on the city wall, looking at the rising dust in the distance, his eyes filled with determination.
Beside him stood an official, who was the County Magistrate of this county. He had a worried face, looking at the empty area below the city, a hint of fear in his eyes.
He knew that in no time, the area below would be filled with enemy Soldiers. The dust cloud in the distance was a sign that the enemy was rushing towards them.
"L-Lord..." The County Magistrate wiped the sweat from his forehead and said tremblingly, "Lord, the enemy... the enemy is coming soon, we..."
Dong Zhao looked ahead and said calmly, "Is everything deployed?"
"Y-Yes... yes, the four gates... the four gates have been closed tightly, rolling logs and stones... are all... all prepared, three thousand county Soldiers are dispersed at the four gates, one thousand are mobile and can reinforce various places at any time. Also... the people have been mobilized to go up to the city wall to defend..."
"Then what are you still worried about?"
"But, Lord... they have fifty thousand troops..."
"Don't worry, reinforcements will come..." Dong Zhao looked into the distance, a slight smile appearing.
The County Magistrate's heart, however, was pounding. Reinforcements? Are they the Prefect's reinforcements?
The Prefect only has a few thousand troops. Even if they come, what good will they do?
The enemy, they have fifty thousand people!
Moreover, those people are all mountain bandits and robbers who live by the sword and kill without batting an eye. If the city is broken, who knows what they will do?
Will they massacre the city?
As he thought about it, large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead again.
"Report! Lord, bandit troops have been found outside the South Gate, about ten thousand!"
"Report! Lord, bandit troops have been found outside the West Gate, about ten thousand!"
"Report! Lord, bandit troops have been found outside the East Gate, over twenty thousand, and they have siege equipment!"
The repeated reports made the County Magistrate's tense heart beat even faster. When he heard the words "siege equipment", his heart immediately sank.
It's over, we can't hold it. How can a small Yingtao County withstand the destruction of siege equipment? Even the most ordinary battering ram can smash the city gate after a couple of hits.
"Did you see clearly what siege equipment they have?"
"Several siege ladders, one battering ram."
Dong Zhao felt a little relieved. After all, they are bandits, they don't have deep resources, and these are the only things they can bring out. If they had trebuchets or ballistae, today, they probably really wouldn't be able to hold on!
"Tell Jiang Qi not to worry about the siege ladders when they get close, but wait until the enemy has climbed more than halfway, then pour down fire oil and set them on fire. As for the battering ram, shoot the operators with a barrage of arrows, do not let it get close to the city gate. Once it gets close, hit it with rolling logs and stones!"
"Yes!"
"Also, allocate three hundred archers to support the East Gate."
"Yes!"
The Soldier took the order and left.
At this moment, only a burst of galloping hooves was heard, raising dust into the sky, getting closer and closer.
Dong Zhao narrowed his eyes, staring ahead, and softly uttered two words.
"They're here."