When Wei You heard this, his eyes turned red, and he immediately knelt on one knee, declaring loudly!
"General, how could I, Wei You, be such a person? Since the General wants to fight with all his might, I will naturally follow. Even if I die on the battlefield, I will never leave."
Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, Han Dang, and others all stood up, cupped their hands, and proclaimed loudly!
"We are all willing to fight with all our might."
Liu Jin looked at everyone's determined eyes, his blood surged, and he shouted loudly!
"Good!"
"Since you all agree, then let's assemble the army and set off. We'll arrive at Xiaoping Mountain as soon as possible, go all out, annihilate these thirty thousand Yellow Turban, slay their leader, and make our names known throughout the world."
"If anyone dares to retreat, don't blame this Sima for beheading him as a sacrifice."
Everyone bowed in agreement!
Soon, the army began to move. Soldiers were assembled and, under the leadership of various ranks, broke camp overnight.
Led by Liu Jin, three thousand troops marched in a mighty procession, rapidly advancing southward, their target clearly Xiaoping Mountain.
Two days later!
After a rapid march, the three thousand troops had arrived at the Xiaoping Mountain area of Baixiang County.
They found a hidden spot at the foot of a mountain, and the army set up camp there.
Liu Jin stood on a mountaintop, looking around. Everywhere were towering mountains and ridges, indeed a suitable place for an ambush.
After careful observation, he decided to set up the ambush in this valley.
As long as the Yellow Turban passed through here, a charge from both sides would surely break their formation, defeating them in one fell swoop.
Having made up his mind, he slowly walked down the mountain, surrounded by his personal guards.
In a temporarily constructed military camp, all the Generals gathered.
Liu Jin got straight to the point, without any wasted words!
"After my observation just now, the valley ahead of us is suitable for an ambush. We will wait here for Zhang Liang's arrival."
"Yide, Yuan Cheng, you two will lead one thousand soldiers and ambush on the left side of the valley."
"Yi Gong, Wu Xing, you two will lead one thousand soldiers and ambush on the right side of the valley."
"When the Yellow Turban arrives, first roll down boulders to break their formation, then use bows and crossbows to shoot. The enemy army will surely be in a panic, and then the entire army will charge down and bravely kill the enemy."
"Yun Chang, you will lead five hundred cavalry and ambush behind this valley. As soon as the sounds of battle are heard in the valley, you will circle around and charge out, harvesting these Yellow Turban soldiers."
"I will lead the remaining five hundred militiamen as a reserve force, stationed at the rear, waiting for the opportune moment."
"Do any of you Generals have any questions?"
The Generals in the tent all shook their heads; no one had any objections.
Seeing this, Liu Jin immediately ordered!
"Now go and make your arrangements, lest Zhang Liang arrives with his army and we miss the opportunity."
Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, Han Dang, Wei You, and Wu Xing all stood up and bowed, saying!
"Yes!"
After dealing with this matter, Liu Jin sent out the army's scouts to investigate the movements of Zhang Liang's forces.
A day passed quietly!
In the Baixiang County area, a force of thirty thousand troops, with Yellow Turbans wrapped around their heads and sharp blades in hand, was advancing along the official road.
The army's banner was a large character 'Zhang' flag, made of yellow cloth with intricate patterns, appearing somewhat sacred.
In the center of the army was a group of mounted soldiers, clad in armor and holding long spears, surrounding a middle-aged man.
It was Zhang Liang, one of the Yellow Turban leaders, with a handlebar mustache, a gaunt and bony face, dressed in a yellow robe, wearing a yellow silk turban, and with a long sword tucked into his waist.
His attire was somewhat mismatched; although he had started a rebellion, his appearance was indeed somewhat lacking compared to a Han Army General.
Looking at the army surrounding him, Zhang Liang stroked his handlebar mustache, appearing somewhat spirited.
Since starting the rebellion, his three brothers had each commanded tens of thousands of troops, sweeping across most of Jizhou.
Coupled with the thirty-six Qu Shuai attacking various parts of the Han Dynasty, occupying half the country, the Yellow Turban had already formed a formidable force, and even the imperial court had no way to deal with them.
Although the imperial court had now sent a large army to suppress them, his three brothers were not afraid. After all, the entire Jizhou had hundreds of thousands of Yellow Turban soldiers, still giving them an advantage against a few tens of thousands of imperial troops.
As long as they held their cities and did not engage in open field battles outside the city, even the powerful Han Army would have no way to deal with them.
The longer it dragged on, the more the Han Army's morale would decline. At that time, with a call to arms, leading hundreds of thousands, they could surround these Han Army and defeat them in one battle.
Thinking of this, Zhang Liang's mouth curled into a sneer. He was determined to overthrow the Han Dynasty, drag that so-called emperor off his horse, enthrone his eldest brother as the ruler of this world, appease the people across the land, and let them live comfortable and peaceful lives.
Just then, a small leader with a Yellow Turban on his head rode a swift horse towards them. Upon arriving beside him, he cupped his hands and bowed, saying!
"Reporting to Rengong General, if we pass through this valley and travel another ten li or so, we will reach Baixiang County."
Zhang Liang heard this, looked up at the towering mountains and ridges before him, and then at the bright sky.
After a moment of contemplation, he spoke loudly to the Yellow Turban General beside him!
"Since that is the case, then let's speed up our advance and reach Baixiang County before dark. The entire army will rest there and replenish provisions."
The Generals beside him all bowed in agreement!
"Yes!"
Soon, the army began to advance rapidly towards the valley ahead. The army was still relatively lax and had no defenses.
Because the surrounding counties had already been occupied by their Yellow Turban, they simply did not worry about imperial government troops appearing here, unless the enemy descended like divine soldiers from the sky.
In the Xiaoping Mountain valley, Liu Jin lay under a tree branch, his eyes covered by a large leaf, leisurely basking in the sun.
Just then, a scout rode towards him. Upon reaching Liu Jin, he quickly reported!
"Reporting to the General, a force of troops is approaching from a few li away, flying a 'Zhang' banner, estimated to be twenty to thirty thousand strong."
Upon hearing this, Liu Jin quickly pulled away the leaf covering his eyes, revealing a look of joy. Zhang Liang's army had finally arrived.
He immediately stood up and quickly ordered!
"Pass down the order, all ranks of soldiers prepare."
The messenger, having received the order, immediately went to relay the information.
Two hours later!
The thirty thousand Yellow Turban Army below the valley advanced along the simple road.
Zhang Liang, riding on horseback, surrounded by his Generals, led the central army slowly into the valley.
Just then, a whooshing sound suddenly came from his ears.
From the forests on both sides of the valley, arrows shot out, instantly piercing into the formation.
Thudding sounds echoed as sharp arrows pierced through the bodies of the surrounding soldiers, blood splattered, and bodies fell one after another.
"Ah, ah, ah!"
Screams rang out continuously!