When Dong Zhuo returned to Guangzong with his troops, he got bad news.

The Yellow Turban Army in Guangzong City took advantage of the opportunity of the Han army outside the city to divide its troops and its weak strength and went out of the city to defeat the 5,000 Han army led by the Zongyuan, and the deputy general Zongyuan was also killed in battle.

During this time, the Yellow Turban Army in the city regathered 100,000 men and defended the city. Dong Zhuo could no longer capture the city and defeat Zhang Jiao.

He had no choice but to ask for help from Huangfu Song, who went north to pacify the Yellow Turbans in Yanzhou after pacifying the Yellow Turbans in Yuzhou. It's just that Huangfu Song reported the situation to the imperial court.

The envoy reported the news of Dong Zhuo's defeat to Emperor Ling and the ministers in the main hall. Emperor Ling was furious and threw the battle report in his hand to the ground.

"Shame, shame! There has never been such a crushing defeat since the counterinsurgency, which has greatly damaged the morale of our army, and the ant thieves have the tendency to counterattack. Dong Zhongying lost her teacher and humiliated the country, and she deserved to die. It is proposed to dismiss him from all his duties and escort him back to Beijing for conviction. ”

After speaking, the Spirit Emperor kept panting, he was really angry.

The rebels in Youzhou, Qingzhou, Xuzhou, and Yangzhou have been pacified by local soldiers and horses, and Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun have pacified Yuzhou, and now only Jingzhou, Yanzhou and Jizhou remain.

Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun divided their troops after the pacification of Yuzhou, Huangfu Song went north to Yanzhou, and Zhu Jun went south to Jingzhou, and both of them also achieved good results.

Jizhou is the base camp of the rebels, and it is the strongest, but it was also defeated by Lu Zhi and was about to perish. If it weren't for that, Emperor Ling would not have exchanged Lu Zhi back in a fit of anger and let Dong Zhuo go up. In fact, he thinks that the Jizhou Yellow Turban is no longer a concern, and anyone who goes can easily win.

Just when Emperor Ling thought that the rebellion in the world could be quelled before the autumn harvest, and he could already sit back and relax and enjoy himself with peace of mind, he actually sent back such a battle report. didn't say some vulgar words, even if he was extremely cultivated.

Taifu Yuan Kui made a list of admonitions: "Dong Zhuo's army was defeated, the crime is unforgivable, and the old minister thinks that Lu Zhi should be reinstated to lead the troops and levy the Yellow Turban again." ”

After hearing this, the Spirit Emperor vetoed the proposal without even thinking about it. Just kidding, if you use Lu Zhi's words again, wouldn't you admit to the world that you did wrong?

Isn't this just giving the truth to those corrupt Confucians who sell their reputations, saying everywhere that they are really a faint king who listens to slander and wrongs loyalty?

The emperor will never make a mistake, and if there is a mistake, it is the fault of his subordinates, the fault of this world.

"Taifu don't say it again, since this Dong Zhuo asked Huang Fu Song for help, then let Huang Fu Song lead the army north, and then send someone to escort Dong Zhuo back."

……

Yanzhou East County, the Cangting on the south bank of the Yellow River, is where Zhang Hao's food is located. Huangfu Song had just defeated the Yellow Turban of Dongjun here and captured its leader Bu Ji alive. At this point, the rebellion in Yanzhou was also quelled.

Later, Huangfu Song received an edict from the Son of Heaven, asking him to lead his troops to Jizhou to defeat Zhang Jiao.

Huangfu Song did not dare to slack off, and immediately led his troops to set off, but before leaving, he killed the captured Bu Ji and the captured leaders to sacrifice the flag.

However, before Huangfu Song arrived in Guangzong, a major event occurred in the city.

Due to the repeated defeats of the Yellow Turban Army led by Zhang Jiao in the face of the Han army led by Lu Zhi, they fled all the way from Guangnian County to Guangzong County, and they were terrified along the way, which made Zhang Jiao's body fall ill.

After that, he was besieged by Lu Zhi in Guangzong City, and he lived in fear and fear every day, thinking all the time that Lu Zhi would attack the city and that he would be defeated and die.

To his delight, Lu Zhi was transferred, and the new commander gave up the siege and went north instead. But only 5,000 officers and soldiers remained outside the city.

Zhang Jiao seized the opportunity to defeat the Han army outside the city, and regathered 100,000 people, and the future of Taiping Dao seemed to have hope again.

I don't know that after joy, sorrow comes from it. His illness has become more and more serious since the rare victory, and he can't be cured no matter how he treats it.

Although Zhang Jiao also relied on his medical skills to establish Taiping Dao, he did not have the slightest solution for his illness. Now he is suffering from illness and only has one breath left.

In front of the bed, Zhang Jiao was explaining the aftermath to his third brother.

"Third brother, the emperor of the Liu family and the heroes of the scholar clan still have not restrained in the slightest because of our resistance, and now the people of the world are still in dire straits. After my death, you and my second brother will continue to lead the Yellow Turban Army against the imperial court. As long as the people are not at peace, we will never lose. ”

Zhang Liang burst into tears and clasped Zhang Jiao's hands: "Brother, you won't die, our great cause has not been completed, the people have not yet lived and worked in peace and contentment, you still have to stand up and lead us to resist the imperial court, you can't die!" ”

Zhang Jiao's eyes suddenly became extremely bright, and he felt that his mental state was better than ever, and he sat up from the bed.

Zhang Liang was startled, his brother's eyes widened, and his face was like ashes, obviously returning to the light.

Ignoring Zhang Liang's grief-stricken expression, Zhang Jiao shouted: "The sky is dead, the yellow sky should stand, the age is in Jiazi, and the world is auspicious!" ”

He shouted several times in a row. This is not only the slogan of their uprising, but also Zhang Jiao's lifelong wish. It's a pity that I'll never see the moment when it comes to fruition.

The sound was louder and louder each time, and suddenly it stopped abruptly. Zhang Jiao just moved his mouth, and then fell down weakly. Then came the sound of weeping.

The hero who started the troubled times died of illness on the bed, and he didn't blink an eye. And the Taiping Dao and the Yellow Turban Army have lost their spiritual leaders forever and can no longer find their direction.

……

The cries of countless people in the city soon reached the camp of the Han army outside the city.

Dong Zhuo, Zhang Hao, Liu Bei and others all gathered in front of the camp gate to look at the head of Guangzong City, guessing what was going on in the city.

Zhang Hao has an answer in his heart, judging from the sad cries in the city during this time period, it should be Zhang Jiao's death. Sure enough, it didn't take long for white flags to be hung on the city's head again.

Zhang Fei made a joke: "What is this for, can't the thieves in the city surrender?" ”

Guan Yu scolded with a smile: "What nonsense, this is a white flag and not a white flag, it should be that there is a leader in the city who died, so he wept and mourned." ”

Zhang Hao nodded to Guan Yu: "What Yun Chang said is right. In my opinion, if you can afford such a battle, the deceased will either be Zhang Jiao or Zhang Liang. When I came, I heard that Zhang Jiao was chased and killed by General Bei Zhonglang and was seriously ill by this time, and nine times out of ten it was him. ”

Although what he said was still vague, Liu Bei still felt that something was wrong. Everyone was together when he came, how could he not have heard of it.

Fang Zhu also secretly asked him behind Zhang Hao: "Where did the virtuous brother get the news, why don't I know?" ”

Zhang Hao had to pretend to be deaf and dumb, wanting to get by.

Dong Zhuo was convinced when he heard this, and said excitedly: "Since this is the case, it must be the first thief to open his horn." Hahaha, this thief died well. It's a pity that Ben General couldn't use this fang, but he was cheaper. ”

Zhang Hao thought to himself: What does this guy think, he died of illness, it has nothing to do with you, how do you say it, it seems that you forced him to death.

Of course, he didn't know what Dong Zhuo was thinking.

Defeated on their own, with heavy losses. If he returns to the court, the Son of Heaven and his ministers will definitely punish him, and if he doesn't get it right, he will die to thank the world.

Now that Zhang Jiao is dead, this is a great credit. When the time comes, I will write in the war report, although the army is defeated, but I endure the humiliation and bear the burden, and I am brave after being ashamed. After a bloody battle, he finally forced the thief to kill the first horn. In this way, if you have your own merits and demerits, the Son of Heaven will be happy, and maybe there will be another reward.

Therefore, the more difficult a person is, the more he believes in what is good for him.

Although it is a fact, even if it is not determined who died at the moment, based on Zhang Hao's "guess", Dong Zhuo decided that it was Zhang Jiao. That's right, it must be Zhang Jiao who died.

Thinking that such rhetoric may not be enough, you must also have real merit.

Dong Zhuo thought more and more excited, and made up his mind and said to everyone: "The thief leader is dead, and the thief army in the city will definitely be in chaos, and the morale will be greatly reduced." We should take this opportunity to storm the city on a large scale, and we will surely win a great victory. ”

Fang Zhu stood up and said to Dong Zhuo: "General can't, if the thief leader is really dead, then the thief army in the city is already a mourning soldier, the mourning soldier will win, and it cannot be defeated." ”

Dong Zhuo was furious, and he couldn't imagine that anyone would dare to oppose him.

He glared at Fang Zhu angrily and scolded, "Who are you?" Dare to oppose Ben General! ”

Zhang Hao took a step forward: "He is Fang Zhu, the brother-in-law of the last general, and now he is serving in the army under the last general's account." ”

Dong Zhuo said disdainfully: "Hmph, nepotism, no wonder Mingde can't control his subordinates." A small member of the army dares to have objections to the general's policy. This time, for the sake of Mingde, spare your life, and next time you dare to speak out, the general will kill you! ”

Zhang Hao didn't care what Dong Zhuo said, he still stood on Fang Zhu's side: "The last general also feels that the attack is inappropriate at this time, and I ask the general to think twice." ”

Can't let his arrogance kill his soldiers again.

However, Dong Zhuo had been carried away by the idea of atonement for his sins at this time, and he couldn't listen to the persuasion at all.

"Zhang Hao, do you want to oppose me too!" Dong Zhuo roared angrily, "Lu Zhi, the general of Beizhonglang, has been removed, and you are now my subordinate." What I said is a military order, and you dare to disobey it! ”

Zhang Hao said without humility or arrogance: "This is a chaotic fate, and the general will not dare to accept the order." ”

Dong Zhuo glared at this Zhang Hao angrily, and his eyes seemed to be about to cut him with a thousand knives. At this moment, he doesn't care about any life-saving grace, it is a matter of his own interests, and whoever stops him will kill him.

Zhang Hao also looked at him directly, and his eyes were as still as water. This made Dong Zhuo gradually calm down.

At most, he can only take Zhang Hao's military power, but he can't kill him. Otherwise, the matter of defeat will be over, and the matter of mutilating colleagues will not be clear.

Dong Zhuo finally decided to ignore Zhang Hao and go it alone.

"Since General Zhang is unwilling to attack the city, then take your men and horses to guard the camp and wait for me to return victorious."

After speaking, Dong Zhuo ignored everyone and turned around to go back to transfer troops. He thought to himself: When I win, I will definitely impeach this Zhang Hao in front of the Son of Heaven in the future.

Liu Bei stepped forward and said, "Is Mingde really not stopping General Dong?" ”

Zhang Hao said: "In the end, General Dong is still my superior, I can't stop him, let him go." ”

The Yellow Turban Army was grieved by Zhang Jiao's death and had become mourning soldiers, and Dong Zhuo hit the muzzle of the gun at this time. The result was naturally a loss of troops and a great defeat.

For this reason, Dong Zhuo decided in his heart that Zhang Hao deliberately did not help him, resulting in a big defeat, so he hated Zhang Hao even more.