Chapter 24: Iron Cavalry Like a Dragon
On the fourth day, the siege stopped.

The rebel scout team brought the latest news to Yang Xun that the Yan army's cavalry was less than a hundred miles away from Shan County.

If we continue to attack the city at this time, when the Yan cavalry arrives at the city, there will be a massacre.

Therefore, although Yang Xun did not adopt Yang Sui's suggestion to abandon the main army and lead the elite troops north, he still ordered the main army to start marching north and moved the camp to Dongduyuan.

When the guards in Hongnong Palace saw the rebels begin to move their camp, they all raised their arms and shouted excitedly:

Everyone knew what this meant; it must be reinforcements arriving.

Since Yang Xun started his army, except for the defeat caused by Yang Xi being hit by a stray arrow in the Battle of Beimang, he has never lost to the Yan army in a field battle.

This is certainly not because of the rebels' strong combat capabilities. It is because the Yan troops left behind are all old, weak and sick, and the main combat troops have followed Murong Ying to attack Goguryeo.

This allowed Yang Xun to win battles in the field time and time again.

And now that the main force of the Yan army has returned, can Yang Xun's rebels still be as invincible as before?

There is no such possibility.

The rebels who were hastily formed were composed of farmers, boatmen, and refugees. They could rely on their high morale to defeat the old and weak who had low morale, but if they really faced the main force of the Yan army, they would only be abused.

Li Yuanhui also breathed a sigh of relief, with a slight smile on his face as he looked at the camp left by the rebels. The war was finally almost over.

After this battle, he would definitely get a raise and a promotion. To be honest, he really didn't want to start working so early.
Although the rebels moved their camp, the Yan army cheered on the city wall, but they never let the soldiers go out to clean up the battlefield. Pang Lingxun was also worried that the rebels were cheating, so he had to stay on the city wall after cheering.

But the mood is different now. Yesterday there was a bloody battle, but today people are gathered in groups of three or four to chat.

Some even took out poker cards and started playing Landlord.
Yes, Landlord.

But now it is not called Dou Dizhu, but Three Kingdoms.

Even mahjong has it, called dominoes.

Of course, the emergence of these things has nothing to do with Li Yuanhui. Both of these were promoted by the wise and powerful Emperor Xuan of Wei.

Today, it is a household entertainment activity, popular both among civilians and the military.

Playing cards are popular in the military because they are easy to carry and simple to play.

Mahjong is popular among the people and has even become a favorite game for many nobles.

Li Yuanhui stood at the city wall for a while, and then was called by Murong He to the city tower at the palace gate. Wow, the mahjong table was set up.

Murong He, the supervisor of Hongnong Palace Dugu Qi, and his uncle Dou Guang, made up exactly three people short of one.

Pang Lingxun was called at first, but Pang Zhenxi was still cautious. He was worried about the defense on the city wall and worried that Yang Ze would return. However, Murong He was certain that the main force had returned, so he relaxed his mind and thought of Li Yuanhui immediately when he was short of someone.

Li Yuanhui did not refuse and sat down to play cards with them.

It was not until the afternoon that the soldiers in the main building of the city gate saw smoke and dust billowing several miles away and then put away the card table.

Li Yuanhui also immediately returned to the city wall defense area he was in charge of and gathered all the soldiers who were talking and laughing.

Then, all the soldiers on the wall heard the thunderous sound of horses' hooves hitting the ground, neat and rhythmic.
Looking into the distance, where a ridge of a branch of the Xiaoshan Mountain Range meets the sky, countless figures, from small to large, gather into a black wave.

There were tens of thousands of cavalrymen who were endlessly stretching and surging across the uneven plains. Military flags of various colors, such as black, red, yellow, and green, fluttered in the wind in the dust and gathered into clouds.

The armor and helmets of these knights rose and fell with the galloping of countless war horses, reflecting the cold and eerie light in the sunlight, as if they were the scales on a huge dragon.

As they advanced, they were accompanied by the sound of iron hooves pounding the ground, the neighing of horses, the clashing of armor, and the shouts of messengers coming and going.

In the middle was a large banner with the words "General Gao, the Guardian of the East" inscribed on it.

Afterwards, the people on the palace began to cheer again, even more enthusiastically than when they saw the rebels move their camp in the morning.

The reinforcements have really arrived. A cavalry of this size cannot possibly be a rebel army.

This was also the first time that Li Yuanhui saw such a large cavalry group.

It's really spectacular.

But before he could sigh, he had something to do. Although he had turned back into Captain Li, he still had to do his job as a recorder and military officer.

He first accompanied Murong He, Pang Lingxun and others to welcome the reinforcements led by General Gao Huang, who was in charge of Zhendong.

Gao Huang looked to be no more than 40 years old. Although he looked a little weathered after a long journey, he had a neat beard and was a very handsome middle-aged man. No wonder he could become a princess consort.

After greeting Murong He and others, General Gao specifically asked about Li Yuanhui. Upon learning that Li Yuanhui was the man who shot and killed Yang Xi in the Battle of Beimang, he immediately praised him as a "young talent" and "a hero emerges from youth."

Li Yuanhui could only say a few humble words, "I have long admired General Gao's style" and "General is the pillar of the country."

Then, while the big guys were talking, he apologized and went to prepare the tents, food and drinks needed for the army's camping.

Such a powerful cavalry unit could certainly not be hidden from the rebels' eyes and ears.

After Yang Xun and his men had roughly relocated their camp, they immediately began digging trenches, erecting fences, and building fortifications in Dongduyuan to prevent a surprise attack by the Yan army's cavalry.

It is also a preparation for the upcoming decisive battle.

It is almost certain that Dong Duyuan is the place where they will have a decisive battle with the main force of the Yan army.

Now they couldn't even carry out a large-scale transfer. The Yan cavalry was close at hand, and without the cover of equally elite cavalry, it would be very dangerous to march at this time.

Dongduyuan is located on one side of the river. It is a wasteland and a tidal flat. The area of ​​Qiaohan itself does not have much presence.

But behind it is Pandou Ferry, from where you can cross the Yellow River to the north.

To the west of Pandou Ferry is Fengling Ferry, and to the east is Shanxian Ferry, both of which are important places on the Yellow River. In comparison, Pandou Ferry is not large in scale and not famous, and is mostly used by local people.

But now Yang Xun's rebels can neither go to Fengling Ferry nor Shanxian Ferry, so Pandou Ferry has become their lifeline."

"Although the defeat is certain, some people have advised me to hide in Hedong and wait for the right time, but I, Yang Xun, am the direct descendant of the Hongnong Yang family, and I will never abandon you and escape alone. We will stay here in Dongduyuan, waiting for the Yan army to attack and fight them to the death."

"The Murong clan of Xianbei, originally barbarians from outside the Great Wall, have occupied the Central Plains and levied heavy taxes. We are doing something righteous. As long as we can defeat the Yan army here, there will definitely be a glimmer of hope!"

In the rebel army's central tent, Yang Xun gave an impassioned speech, which also served as a final mobilization of his subordinates.

Afterwards, after everyone had dispersed, he secretly ordered Yang Sui to go to the ferry to collect the ferry boats.

"Brother, have you figured it out?"

When Yang Sui heard what Yang Xun said just now, he thought that he had made up his mind to die, but now after hearing this secret order, he felt that things had taken a turn for the better.

But Yang Xun shook his head and said firmly: "Everyone followed me to start a rebellion, how can I escape alone? Although I am not talented, I cannot do such an unjust thing."

Yang Sui said hurriedly: "Brother, Emperor Gao of Han was defeated by King Xiang many times, but he finally unified the world. Why? He knew when to advance and when to retreat. Emperor Zhaolie of Han also fled many times, but he was indomitable and finally became an emperor."

"Okay, Liu Lang, no need to say anything. Go and collect the boats first. Although I can't leave, you have to go. Take my Yang family's sons and the families of the generals to lie dormant in Hedong. I believe in you. You are smart and have the decisiveness to do great things. You will definitely be able to restore my family."

"I, Yang Xun, am a sinner who caused my father and grandfather's graves to be dug up. But you, Liu Lang, are different. You must live well and keep them alive until the time you mentioned!"

"We're leaving the unfinished business to you!"

At the end of his speech, Yang Xun put his hand on Yang Sui's shoulder and said, "Please, Liu Lang."

Yang Sui looked at his brother's pleading eyes and could only nod slowly.

(End of this chapter)