Chapter 12: The glory is no longer

A great war hindered Guo Jia's trip eastward journey. The three families camped in the wild and rested. After the war, the number of people was counted. Ma Teng and Han Sui was only six or seven thousand soldiers left, and the losses were heavy. Guo Jia lost more than two thousand archers and more than three thousand swords and shield soldiers under Xu Chu's command. Compared with the defeat of the 40,000 Huns, the casualties were acceptable.

As for the thousands of remnants of the Xiongnu who had lost their command, they could only escape to Pingyang County, northeast of the river, but on the way, they might also be attacked by Yan Yan who entered Tongguan.

After setting up camp, the three families were in peace. The Taiping Army was busy dealing with the bodies of the fallen soldiers. Ma Tenghan then wanted to cry without tears and was full of worries.

Ma Teng drank to relieve his sorrows in the tent. After his strength dropped sharply, everyone was full of bitterness. When complaining to Ma Chao and Pang De, he lamented that his strength was not strong enough and led 25,000 troops to come. Now there are only six or seven thousand remaining soldiers, and they cannot blame others. They are not strong enough.

Han Sui was pacing back and forth in the tent with a gloomy face, and resentful. The ones in his heart were Guo Jia and the Xiongnu, as well as Li Jue and Guo Si. It makes sense to resent Li Jue and Guo Si and the Xiongnu, why did he have resentment towards Guo Jia? Because Guo Jia took over the land of the Three Auxiliary, the entire Guanzhong fell into Guo Jia's hands sooner or later. In addition, he lost nearly 30,000 troops, while Guo Jia lost less than 6,000. In terms of strength, Guo Jia is undoubtedly a warlord with the absolute upper hand in Guanxi.

Resenting Guo Jia for this reason is nothing more than being afraid of Guo Jia and jealous of Guo Jia.

Why did Guo Jia and Yinling Flying Cavalry surprise attack Li Jue and Guo Si only lose hundreds of losses? Why did he and Ma Teng also attack Li Jue and Guo Si lose a lot? Why did the other party suddenly attack after they met the Huns? Why did he and Ma Teng's team make a meat shield for the Taiping Army in front? And so on too many seemingly coincidental things, Han Sui couldn't figure it out and was not smooth, so he couldn't find a real reason to resent Guo Jia. Now, it's just unreasonable.

Due to the serious damage to the army, they would not have any effect when they led their troops to meet the emperor. So Ma Teng and Han ordered the generals to return to Liangzhou with the remaining soldiers. They each brought 500 troops with Guo Jia to see the emperor.

The fact is obvious. If Guo Jia wants to harm them, even if they bring all their troops, they can't stop them. If Zhang Ji's army attacks, their little troops may not affect the situation. Let Guo Jia consider these things.

Guo Jia arranged the next arrangement in the coach's tent and was still preparing to meet the emperor.

In fact, he did not want to see the emperor, but if he did not go now, Yu Li would be incompatible. After all, he sent troops in the name of serving the king and rescuing the emperor. He could not leave the emperor aside after the war.

The Anzha area in the Daying was well organized. Next to Guo Jiashuai’s tent was the camp where Jia Xu and Guo Ye were resting.

During this day's battle, Guo Ye saw such a bloody scene, with his chest and abdomen being depressed, his qi and blood were not smooth, and he couldn't eat. He just kept drinking water to suppress the urge to vomit.

Lying on the bed with a pale face, Guo Ye looked at Jia Xu sitting beside the bed and asked, "Sir, is the war in Guanzhong over?" He didn't jump.

Taking a wet towel with warm water to wipe Guo Ye's face, Jia Xu said with a gentle expression: "Yes, it's all over. Young Master, this time your father sent troops to Guanzhong. From beginning to end, you must keep a fact in your heart. Details and process, and wait for you to grow up to think about it slowly. Before sending troops to Guanzhong, Li Jue and Guo Si had 50,000 remaining troops, Han Sui Ma Teng had 60,000 troops, Zuo Xian Wang had 50,000 troops, and your father led more than 80,000 troops to fight. Now that the war is over, Li Jue and Guo Si's entire army is wiped out, and there are only thousands of remaining soldiers waiting to die. Han Sui Ma Teng had less than 15,000 troops, and your father had less than 10,000 troops. You must always remember this fact. You will benefit a lot by seeing and learning the generals and soldiers contained in this Guanzhong conquest."

Guo Ye would not understand the intrigue and wise and powerful behind this war for a while, and even Jia Xu could not guess everything because he was just watching and had no detailed information source. He could see through seven points, which was already beyond the reach of people.

The next morning, the army set out and continued to go east.

Xu Chu was left by Guo Jia to clean up the mess, and then took more than a thousand soldiers under his command back to Chang'an to recuperate.

This time, Ma Teng and Han Sui had a total of 1,000 soldiers, and they did not dare to take the lead anymore and joined forces with Guo Jia to advance together.

Arriving at Tongguan two days later, Yan Yan led 10,000 infantrymen to wait for a long time, and at the same time secretly conveyed to Guo Jia that he had returned from a victory in the killing of the remnants of the Xiongnu.

After working for a while in Tongguan for two days, the silver feathered flying cavalry, who was put on a light armor and helmet and inserted into white feathers, was led by Gan Ning and looked like he came to help from Chang'an.

Wuguan is empty and someone must guard it. Guo Jia asked Yan Yan to bring nearly 8,000 archers back to Wuguan. The terrain in Guanzhong west of Wuguan is flat, and the terrain in the east is narrow, easy to defend but difficult to attack. Having archers to defend against the enemy at a long range is to play to their strengths.

Guo Jia personally commanded the 10,000 infans left by Yan Yan. Gan Ning led 9,000 Silver-Winged Flying Cavalry, Dian Wei and 5,000 Tiger Guards, and Ma Teng Han Sui's troops. A total of 25,000 troops continued to go east. Zhang Liao and 10,000 crossbowmen were left by Guo Jia to guard Tongguan.

During the two days of rest in Tongguan, Guo Jia had already gained the movements of the emperor.

When he left Chang'an and returned east, the emperor was invited by Zhang Ji to Hongnong. When he walked halfway, Li Jue repented, Li Jue and Guo Si and Zhang Ji reconciled and pursued the emperor. So the emperor turned around and headed towards Hedong County to the north of Hongnong. Yang Feng and Dong Cheng had only thousands of troops beside him, but he could not defeat Li Jue and Guo Si and Zhang Ji. He issued an edict to invite the Huns. Yang Feng was born in Baibo thief and also invited the remnants of Baibo thieves. After working together to repel Li Jue and Guo Si, the emperor fled to the city of Anyi County, Hedong County.

Hearing that the emperor was out of trouble, Zhang Yang, the prefect of Hanoi County, went to Luoyang to repair the burned palace, and then ran to Anyi to invite the emperor back to Luoyang.

Although Changle Palace is no longer as grand and luxurious as before, it can barely be lived in after Zhang Yang's renovation. For the emperor who lived in Chang'an for several years, it was very satisfying to live in such a palace. The emperor had nothing to reward Zhang Yang, so he named the palace "Yang'an Palace".

Zhang Yang Yingjia made contributions, but in order to avoid suspicion, the emperor returned to Hanoi County to be at peace and comply with his own affairs.

Luoyang was ruined, and after the fire of Dong Zhuo burned the city, the war swept and the looting of Li Jue, Guo Si, and Zhang Ji, it was desolate and rare.

The emperor and his civil and military officials could only dig wild vegetables and tree bark to survive.

The name of Tongguan was first seen in Shi. It was in the battle between Cao Cao and Ma Chao, but this pass had long been established. Tongguan was the east gate of Yongzhou that Cao Wei later divided into Yongzhou, leading to Hangu Pass on the east. Peach trees were everywhere in the mountains and forests on both sides of the road, also known as the Peach Blossom Pass.

It is time for spring to bloom and the mountain flowers are in full bloom. When you leave Tongguan, go east, peach blossoms bloom in the mountains, embellish the plum cherry blossoms, the fragrance of flowers is intoxicating, making people feel refreshed.

Guo Jia, who was not in a hurry to rush, looked at the spring scenery of peach blossoms all over the mountains and was in a good mood.

He only brought more than 20,000 troops to Luoyang to meet the emperor. Guo Jia first sent more scouts to inquire about the situation in the Sili area. Unexpectedly, when the peach blossoms were in full bloom, another good news came.

"Lord, Zhang Ji led his army to attack Jingzhou and died. His nephew Zhang Xiu took over his troops and occupied Wancheng in Nanyang." Gan Ning, who was exposed by his subordinates, came to Guo Jia as soon as possible.

Guo Jia, who was sitting in the chariot, chuckled: "It seems that I have caused the soldiers."

Zhang Ji was originally in Hongnong, but because the emperor escaped from the difficulties, he was afraid that the Huns would come to attack him and lack food. So he rushed to the south and borrowed grain from Liu Biao. How could Liu Biao give it to him? Zhang Ji attacked Jingzhou, but he failed to steal chickens and lost rice. He was killed in battle. His nephew Zhang Xiu took over and occupied Wancheng in Nanyang.

There should be no more war in Luoyang. Guo Jia led more than 20,000 troops back and forth, which really caused the soldiers to suffer from the hardships of carriages, but even if Guo Jia wanted to bring thousands of people with him, his subordinates would not agree. If there was a mistake, he would regret it.

Gan Ning rode his horse to Guo Jia's chariot and asked in a low voice: "Lord, now Hedong and Hongnong have no great enemies. Why not let Wen Yuan lead his army to occupy Hangu Pass? In this way, Guanzhong can be occupied."

Guanzhong and Sizhou are not two independent regions. Guanzhong is divided into areas within Hangu Pass, Wuguan, Sanguan and Xiaoguan, while Sizhou covers most of Guanzhong.

Guo Jia had already taken the Three Auxiliary Land, centered on Chang'an, but at this time, he could not send troops to guard Hangu Pass and occupy the entire Guanzhong.

"Xingba, wait a little longer. If the emperor is in Luoyang, if I send troops to occupy Hangu Pass, wouldn't I be too arrogant to intimidate the emperor? It will make the emperor feel uneasy, and at the same time give the people of the world the excuse that I will force the emperor out of Guanzhong. When will the emperor leave Luoyang, we will send troops to capture Hangu Pass again."

Guo Jia said to Gan Ning casually.

Now, Guo Jia can take Hangu Pass, but he is not in a hurry. The people's livelihood in Sizhou is in decline and there is no covetous heroes. Luoyang is in ruins and the emperor cannot stay. When the emperor leaves, Guo Jia will occupy Hangu Pass again. This process will not fall into the real population.

When Gan Ning thought about it, he suddenly realized.

Hangu Pass is sooner or later, all of them belong to Guo Jia, but they cannot be occupied at this time.

Three days later, Guo Jia, Han, Sui and Ma Teng led his army out of Hangu Pass and came to Luoyang City.

The former imperial capital was no longer glorious. From the outside, the dark fire marks on the city walls were successively covered with no defenders on the city walls. Guo Jia sent people to inquire and led his army into the city.

The city is filled with abandoned scenes, ruins, overgrown weeds, and the dust raised by the breeze makes people feel bored.

The house collapsed, and the rubble on the walls could be seen everywhere. The gray and black color after the fire came into view. Guo Jia, who sighed, led his troops towards the palace.

Ma Teng and Han Sui realized that their thoughts were wrong.

What can the emperor reward them now?

Does the Han Dynasty still have the strength to protect itself?

If Guo Jia kills the lord, who can stop him?

Such a surviving Han Dynasty lost 70% to 80% of its troops for a merit that sounds the best in the world.

Han Sui didn't know what he could ask for from the emperor? If he could be a legitimate governor of Liangzhou, it might be good, at least he would be a local emperor.

Ma Teng wanted to use support to the Han Dynasty to shine on the lintel, but the closer the palace, Ma Teng's mood became worse.
Chapter completed!