vrcanaries Chapter 183 "A Do-or-Die Battle"
Chapter 183 "A Do-or-Die Battle"
In another timeline, Liu Che sighed several times. Liu Yan had ambition and might be brave, but he lacked talent and strategy. It all depended on Liu Xiu's performance!
Lin Ke sighed. "Those figures remembered by history, upon reading their lives, mostly evoke a sense of injustice and regret."
"Liu Yan started his rebellion, and in less than a month, he had already killed several members of the Liu family, including his own sisters."
"I wonder if you feel a little regretful now when you look back on that slogan you shouted back then? I think not."
"The deaths of the Liu family members and the disparity between the Liu family and the government troops were suffocating Liu Yan, but what was even more despairing was that the two groups of 'plastic allies' from the Green Forest Army had run away."
"In response to this situation, Liu Xiu sent Liu Yan and Li Tong to Yiqiu to meet Wang Chang, the leader of the Xiajiang army, and persuade him to join."
"These soldiers from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River are also a branch of the Green Forest Army. Wang Chang and his men led 5,000 troops to Yiqiu just to get a piece of meat. After all, Nanyang is famous for its fat meat. As the saying goes, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."
"I never expected that I would hear so soon after I arrived that Liu Yan and his men had suffered a defeat. They must be feeling very 'wonderful'."
"So when Liu Yan came to them to ask to form a team, Wang Chang deeply felt that the Han Dynasty was about to be restored."
"Because Liu Yan knew that the other two teammates were unreliable, how could he get revenge if he didn't seize this opportunity? Therefore, when he was fooling Wang Chang, he even described a scene of victory!"
A Qin official: ...My emperor often does this!
Li Si of Qin: ...If you can't kill him, then kill him to death!
A Song Dynasty official: Qin Dynasty officials are terrifyingly powerful!
A scion of a prominent family in the Ming Dynasty: What to do with a leader who is too career-oriented!
A romantic scholar from the Tang Dynasty: Actually, this was the time to burn one's bridges, because the pain was so profound!
……
After calming down, Wang Chang went back and discussed the matter with his deputies Cheng Dan and Zhang Ang. The two of them were against it. After all, the government army in Xuancheng numbered 100,000, and they were trying to recruit us. Why should we listen to the Liu family?! Why?!
"However, Wang Chang was a man who had seen a lot. He felt that the Liu brothers did not seem like ordinary people, and might actually be able to restore the Han Dynasty in the future."
"Moreover, those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. Perhaps this is the will of Heaven. So he prepared to send his five thousand troops up with him, hoping to earn some merit!"
"It must be said that Wang Chang has a good eye, but his strong support for Liu Yan and his group also influenced Xinshi and Pinglin armies, and eventually the four forces joined together."
"In the first month of 23 AD, Liu Yan served as the leader of the rebels of the temporary allied forces. He ordered all troops to be divided into six routes to launch a night raid on the government army's grain storage sites and to seize as much of their supplies as possible."
"The next morning, Liu Yan led his army to pursue Zhen Fu to the west, while the troops from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River attacked Liang Qiuci, the deputy general of the new army, from the southeast."
"The government troops' logistics were completely disrupted, and their morale was low. Then they encountered a fierce offensive from the Green Forest Army. Liang Qiuci lost his composure, and then problems arose on Zhen Fu's side as well."
"Then the roles reversed. Liu Yan led his army in pursuit, while Zhen Fu and Liang Qiuci fled towards Huang Chunshui. Unfortunately, the bridge had already been ordered to be cut down by Zhen Fu. The soldiers at that time must have been cursing their ancestors a thousand times over in their hearts!"
"According to records, more than 20,000 people were killed by drowning, including Zhen Fu and Liang Qiuci."
A young scholar in the Song Dynasty: This Wang Chang has quite the discerning eye for talent!
A spoiled young master from the Tang Dynasty: That was a beautiful win! Who would have thought that Zhen Fu would cut down that bridge and block his own path to survival?
An official of the Sui Dynasty: Liu Yan is quite capable in battle!
……
Lin Ke continued, "After Liu Xiu and his men defeated the government troops, the reputation of the Green Forest Army grew even stronger, and they were able to obtain logistical supplies. With money, they could even replace their weapons and equipment. Liu Yan's military talent also received unanimous praise from both superiors and subordinates."
"Subsequently, the Green Forest Army marched north again. At the foot of Yuyang City, south of Wancheng, the Green Forest Army clashed with the government troops led by Yan Yao and Chen Mao. However, the Green Forest Army still won a great victory. Historical records state that they killed 3000 people and defeated them."
"After a series of victories, the Green Forest Army's morale soared, and they pressed their advantage, attacking the major southern metropolis of Wancheng."
"In fact, throughout history, there have been many people who have become kings or emperors. Apart from inheriting their own family property, they either rebelled and succeeded in the end, such as Liu Bang and Zhu Yuanzhang. Their starting point was not very high, but there have only been two or three of them in thousands of years!"
"This road is difficult and often impassable, but some people manage to make it through. Who could have imagined that he would be the ultimate winner?"
Zhu Bajie of the Ming Dynasty: Our old Zhu is amazing!
Liu Bang of the Han Dynasty: ...
"Most peasant uprisings in history were suppressed, but a few were able to go all the way. If they were not suppressed, they would start to become kings and tyrants, and the Green Forest Army was no exception."
"Therefore, in February of 23 AD, Liu Xuan, a member of the Western Han imperial family, was enthroned as emperor by the main leaders of the Green Forest Army and established the reign title [Gengshi].
"Actually, I'm quite puzzled. The Green Forest Army hasn't even taken Wancheng yet, and they're already preparing to establish a country?! Are they in such a hurry? I don't know whether to say they're limited in vision or just too hasty."
"No one objected to the selection of the emperor from the Liu family, but unexpectedly, Liu Yan, who was highly regarded, did not win the right to inherit the throne this time."
"It turns out that the reason why the Xinshi and Pinglin armies were so undisciplined was that they felt that Liu Laoda was too sharp and difficult to control. Liu Yan and the powerful clans of Nanyang were not too satisfied with this. However, the Green Forest Army had a large number of soldiers and the threat from external enemies had not been eliminated, so they reluctantly agreed."
"Liu Xuan is not only weak-willed, but also not very strong. Such a person is easier for the Green Forest Army to control."
A scion of a prominent family in the Song Dynasty: A puppet! But he'd been one for several years!
A Tang Dynasty official: But he hasn't even finished conquering Wancheng, and he's already proclaimed himself emperor! Isn't that a bit too fast?!
A farming expert from the Ming Dynasty: Why not just establish Liu Xiu as emperor based on the prophecy?!
……
"The election for the emperor at that time was not very pleasant, especially for Liu Yan. He even analyzed the situation, but the Green Forest Army just wouldn't listen to him, so it was all for naught."
"In fact, Liu Yan was not wrong. The Green Forest Army's move will directly make them a target, and this nascent regime will eventually perish."
"Moreover, Wang Mang will focus his attention on attacking this place because the other refugee armies are, in essence, a group of uneducated people who don't understand literature, how to manipulate public opinion, or military strategy. So even though several routes have already been launched, he's not too worried."
"But the nobles of Nanyang on Liu Yan's side are different. They are learned and knowledgeable, and some have even read military strategy and know how to fight. So Wang Mang is very uneasy."
Big Han Liu Zhuzhu: ...
A scion of a prominent family in the Song Dynasty: This is where the limitations come in! I still don't understand why so many high-ranking officials were appointed before even conquering Wancheng!
The Ming Dynasty's farming expert: He's being used as a punching bag! They think they're so tough? If a bunch of them don't beat him, who else can they hit?!