binnovel Chapter 1171 Luoyang Reorganizes for Battle Against Lü Bu
Chapter 1171 Luoyang Reorganizes for Battle Against Lü Bu
As dusk fell, Ma Chao's army had reached the outskirts of Luoyang, and the outlines of the city walls gradually became clear in the twilight. Scouts had already spurred their horses forward to investigate the situation.
"My lord, look!" Zhang Xiu suddenly pointed to the city wall, his voice filled with undisguised excitement, "The flags fluttering above Luoyang are all from our Xiliang!"
Everyone looked up and saw that the banners with the character "horse" fluttering in the wind on the city walls looked like burning fire in the setting sun. Xu Shu, holding the saddle, had a glint in his eyes: "When we left Chang'an, Wen Yuan had already been ordered to send troops. Now it's almost September, and given his abilities, it's only expected that he will take Luoyang."
Ma Chao nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on the city walls for a moment, and said softly, "I just wonder who Wen Yuan left to guard Luoyang. He should have returned to Chang'an long ago." He turned his horse around and said to the soldiers behind him, "Let's speed up and rest in Luoyang tonight."
As the procession approached the city gate, they found it wide open. Jia Xu was leading a group of generals waiting by the roadside. Among them were several unfamiliar faces, but judging from their attire, they were none other than Yu Du and Bai Rao, former leaders of the Black Mountain Army. Clearly, scouts had already informed them, and they were there specifically to welcome them.
Ma Chao dismounted and was slightly surprised to see that the leader was Jia Xu: "Wenhe? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Chang'an assisting Wen Yuan?"
Jia Xu bowed respectfully, his smile gentle yet composed: "Your Majesty must be weary from your journey. Accommodation has been prepared in the city. Please enter the city and rest. We can discuss military matters in detail tonight."
Ma Chao nodded and led the others into the city with him.
The moment I stepped into Luoyang, a sense of desolation washed over me. Years ago, Dong Zhuo's fire burned down the capital's splendor, and although repairs had been made in recent years, it was far from its former glory. The streets weren't wide, and most of the houses on either side were newly built, low and simple. Occasionally, a few old houses remained, their walls peeling, revealing broken beams beneath. Few people passed by; their faces showed a semblance of peace, yet the hardship of their livelihoods was undeniable.
Upon reaching the former site of the imperial palace, several palaces have been restored, with their upturned eaves and corners still faintly revealing their former grandeur. However, in the distance, there are still large areas of ruins, with withered vines climbing the broken walls, resembling hideous scars in the twilight.
Standing before the palace gates, Ma Chao gazed at the ruins, a sudden, intense feeling of oppression gripping his heart. Back then, Dong Zhuo burned Luoyang to extinguish the ambitions of the warlords east of the pass and to facilitate the westward relocation. At that time, Ma Chao was young and only saw it as a helpless act in a chaotic world. But now, witnessing this devastation firsthand, he didn't know whether Dong Zhuo's actions were right or wrong.
That fire destroyed the last vestiges of dignity of the Han Dynasty, and also burned down the homes of countless ordinary people.
"My lord?" Dong Bai called softly when he saw him stop in his tracks.
Ma Chao snapped out of his daze and waved his hand, "It's nothing." He took a deep breath, suppressing his chaotic thoughts, "Let's settle down first."
Jia Xu responded with a "Yes," and led the group toward the repaired palace. As dusk deepened, palace lanterns lit up one by one, their dim yellow light illuminating the dilapidated palace walls, like an unfinished old dream, so heavy it was suffocating.
Seeing the melancholy in Ma Chao's brow and Xu Huang's bandaged wound, Jia Xu knew there must have been some trouble on the way. Therefore, he only arranged a simple meal and did not prepare a banquet. After the servants cleared away the dishes, leaving only the core officers in the hall, Ma Chao spoke first, his tone grave: "Wenhe, you and Wen Yuan captured Luoyang. Something must have happened, otherwise why would you be left here to guard it? Have you also taken Sishui Pass and Hulao Pass?"
Jia Xu bowed and slowly said, "Your Majesty is wise. At first, everything went smoothly. Lü Bu was fighting Cao Cao in Yanzhou, and our army took advantage of the situation and captured Luoyang in three months. Wen Yuan personally led the main force to attack Hulao Pass. The defending general Wei Xu was Lü Bu's confidant and resisted stubbornly. He was killed by Wen Yuan on the battlefield. General Gao Shun led the Trapped Camp and together with General Zhang Yan, they took Sishui Pass. The defending general Song Xian was no match for them and abandoned the pass and fled."
He paused, his brows furrowing slightly: "I thought that with the two passes in hand, Luoyang would be as secure as Mount Tai. Who would have thought that at the end of May, Lü Bu would abandon the war with Cao Cao and personally lead a large army to attack, simply because he heard that Wei Xu had been beheaded. He disregarded the Yanzhou front and marched day and night to besiege Hulao Pass."
"In mid-June, when an urgent report came from Hulao Pass, Generals Wen Yuan and Gao Shun had already returned to Luoyang to rest and regroup. Upon hearing the news, they immediately turned back. General Zhang Yan stayed behind to guard Sishui Pass to prevent Lü Bu from dividing his forces; Zhang Liao and Gao Shun led the main force to defend Hulao Pass, where they have been in a standoff with Lü Bu ever since."
Jia Xu looked up at Ma Chao, his tone grave: "Hulao Pass truly lives up to its reputation as a formidable pass, with its high walls and deep moats. Generals Wen Yuan and Gao Shun have made excellent arrangements, and the Trapped Camp has repeatedly achieved remarkable feats in defending the city. However, Lü Bu is incredibly brave, and his cavalry is formidable, attacking relentlessly day and night, refusing to retreat. Wen Yuan and the others are held back, so they naturally cannot return to Luoyang, leaving me, Yu Du, Bai Rao, and other former Black Mountain troops to guard this place."
Upon hearing this, a sharp, cold glint flashed in Ma Chao's eyes. He slammed his hand on the table and said in a deep voice, "Lu Bu, you scoundrel!"
He recalled how Zhang Liao and Gao Shun had both served under Lü Bu, yet he had sidelined such capable generals, neither utilizing their talents nor heeding their strategies, instead indulging in mere brawn. What infuriated him even more was that when Dong Zhuo was besieged by the warlords in Chang'an, he led the Xiliang cavalry in a desperate battle, while Lü Bu, highly regarded by Dong Zhuo, stood by and watched the situation deteriorate at the crucial moment—a grudge he had never forgotten.
"I, Xiliang, have only recaptured Luoyang, yet he dares to besiege the city?" Ma Chao's tone was filled with anger, and even more so with undisguised contempt. "Luoyang was never Lu Bu's territory. He only seized it by taking advantage of Cao Cao being besieged by three forces. Now that our army has captured it, he still dares to come for revenge. He is truly courting death!"
The anger in his words was partly directed at Lü Bu, and partly at the pent-up frustration in his heart. The unpleasant experience of his trip to Jingzhou had already unsettled him, and now that Lü Bu was mentioned, all the old and new grudges came flooding back, adding to his impatience.
Jia Xu listened from the side and saw that he was really angry, but he did not agree with him. He simply cupped his hands and said, "My lord, please calm down. Although Lü Bu is brave but not resourceful, the combat power of his cavalry should not be underestimated, especially his Bingzhou Iron Cavalry, which has a very strong impact. The fact that Hulao Pass has been able to hold until now is because Wen Yuan and General Gao Shun have done their best."
He paused, then added, "Moreover, Lü Bu's anger this time may not be entirely for Wei Xu. Luoyang is located in the heart of the Central Plains, guarding the vital east-west passage. He probably wants to use the pretext of avenging his subordinates to seize this strategic location, so that he can have more leverage in the power struggle with Cao Cao and Yuan Shao."
Ma Chao took a deep breath, suppressing his surging anger. He knew Jia Xu was right; although Lü Bu was reckless, he wouldn't fight the Xiliang cavalry to the death without a reason. The strategic value of Luoyang was the real crux of the matter.
“I know.” He slowly got up, walked to the palace gate, and looked at the deep night outside. “He wants Luoyang, but I won’t give it to him. We’ll rest for a day tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow morning, we’ll go to Hulao Pass to meet him.”
He paused for a moment, then added, "Back then, he stood by and watched. What he owed Lord Dong and what he owed Xiliang should also be settled."
The atmosphere in the hall became tense. Xu Shu frowned, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Lü Bu's bravery is indeed unparalleled in the world, and his Bingzhou cavalry are highly skilled and experienced. A head-on confrontation is definitely not the best strategy. Your safety in Xiliang rests on your shoulders; you must not risk your life for a moment of impulse."
Lu Su echoed, "Yuanzhi is absolutely right. Lü Bu has been famous throughout the land for a long time. If Your Majesty goes there in person, the slightest mistake will surely throw the Xiliang army into chaos."
Ma Chao's hand rested on the sword at his waist, his face so dark it could drip water: "Back then, I fought him fiercely outside Chang'an for a hundred rounds without a clear victor. Now that my soldiers are of one mind, are we afraid of him?" His tone was filled with an unyielding stubbornness, and his gaze swept over the crowd. "As the King of Liang, if I shrink back when faced with a strong enemy, how can I command the respect of my people?"
"My lord!" Dong Bai's voice suddenly rose, tinged with heartache. "The upheaval in Chang'an, the events in Xiangyang—a man of noble birth should not risk his life. Do you still wish to put yourself in danger?" She changed the subject, glancing at Zhang Xiu's face, which flushed instantly. She swallowed the rest of her words, but they were enough to pierce his heart.
Zhang Xiu was already resentful about the delayed reinforcements from Xiangyang, and now, with Dong Bai inadvertently pointing it out in his anxiety, he felt even more ashamed. He knelt down on one knee with a thud, clasped his hands, and said loudly, "A subject who has disgraced his lord shall die! Your Majesty need not go in person. This humble general is willing to lead the Xiliang Iron Cavalry to reinforce Hulao Pass tomorrow! If we cannot defeat Lü Bu, we will die on the battlefield to atone for our sins!"
Xu Huang, already injured, struggled to get up, but was held down by his personal guards. He still gasped for breath and said, "This humble general... this humble general is also willing to go! We will not let Lü Bu set foot on Hulao Pass!"
Jia Xu stood to the side, his fingers stroking his beard pausing slightly. Dong Bai's mention of "the Xiangyang affair," Zhang Xiu's guilt, and Xu Huang's unhealed wounds all hinted at something unusual. It seemed Ma Chao's group had encountered considerable trouble in Xiangyang. He remained calm, observing the situation closely.
Ma Chao looked at Zhang Xiu, who was kneeling and begging for battle, and then glanced at Xu Huang, who was enduring the pain and looking anxious. His chest heaved for a moment before he finally stepped forward, reached out and helped Zhang Xiu up. His voice softened a little: "Ah Xiu, the matter of Xiangyang was not your fault. Why blame yourself so much?" He patted Zhang Xiu's shoulder. "You will come with me to Hulao Pass this time."
A flicker of excitement crossed Zhang Xiu's eyes, and he nodded vigorously: "This subordinate obeys!"
Seeing this, Xu Huang tried to struggle to get up, but Ma Chao held him down by the shoulder. "Gongming," Ma Chao said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument, "your injuries have not healed, you must not fight again. Stay here and return to Chang'an with the ladies' carriage to recover in peace."
"Your Majesty!" Xu Huang cried out anxiously, his neck turning red. "This humble general can still fight! The battle at Hulao Pass is critical, how can I..."
“I said there’s no need for further words!” Ma Chao interrupted him, but his eyes held a hint of warmth. “Once you recover from your injuries, you’ll have plenty of tough battles to fight in the future. Right now, Hulao Pass is held up by Wen Yuan and Gao Shun, and we can’t do without a great general like you.”
Looking into Ma Chao's resolute gaze, Xu Huang finally lowered his head, cupped his hands, and replied, "...This subordinate obeys the order."
After making the arrangements, Ma Chao turned to Xu Shu and Lu Su and said in a deep voice, "Yuanzhi and Zijing, you two will stay in Luoyang to manage civil affairs and allocate grain and fodder. You must ensure that the front line is well supplied and safeguard this rear base."
Xu Shu and Lu Su bowed in unison: "We will obey Your Majesty's command."
Finally, Ma Chao's gaze fell on Jia Xu: "Wenhe, you know the battle of Hulao Pass very well. You are familiar with Lü Bu's troop deployment and Wen Yuan's city defense strategy. Come with me on the expedition."
Jia Xu cupped his hands and replied, "Your subordinate obeys." A knowing glint flashed in his eyes—although his lord was angry, he had not lost his composure. His personal campaign was to boost morale, and bringing him along was for strategic planning. Clearly, he had suppressed his impulse and was only left with decisiveness.