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"Kill!" Yan Qing gave the order.
Cao Jun suddenly let out a shrill scream, and they frantically turned and fled out of the city, throwing away their weapons without hesitation.
But it was too late.
Scythes swung wildly above their heads, blood splattering everywhere. Iron hooves trampled directly on their fallen bodies, and pitiful screams filled the air. Blood instantly stained the city gate red.
The Cao army outside the city was stunned. They began to scramble backward, initially tiptoeing to see what was happening at the city gate. When they saw the galloping cavalry, they retreated frantically and fled.
"Stop the chaos!" Xu Chu shouted. Before even mounting his horse, he raised his broadsword. A flash of cold light, and the cavalryman in front of him fell to the ground, his horse killed as well. "Those who retreat will be executed!"
Cao Cao's army was still in chaos, but some of them calmed down and gathered around Xu Chu, and the entire central route of Cao Cao's army gradually calmed down as well.
However, Cao Cao's army still suffered heavy casualties and was unable to withstand the onslaught. Cao Cao's attacking force consisted mostly of infantry with chariots, who were no match for the higher ground of the cavalry. Xu Chu ordered his men to pile up the chariots at the front to block Yan Qing's cavalry charge. Meanwhile, the infantry fought desperately. Half an hour passed in this manner.
"General Xu!" Cao Cao's rear guard rushed to investigate. "What's going on?"
"My lord, please send out the iron cavalry immediately! The city gates are open, and the main force is coming right away! The enemy has iron cavalry fighting back fiercely!" Xu Chu shouted as he slashed through the enemy lines.
Soon, Xu Huang, Yue Jin, and others led their iron cavalry in a charge. Cao Cao's blue canopy could even be faintly seen; Cao Cao himself had arrived.
Yan Qing quickly found himself at a disadvantage; his cavalry was far too few. "Why hasn't Ma Chao arrived yet!" Yan Qing thought anxiously. The Tiger Warriors were already fighting desperately, most of them fighting against multiple opponents, surrounded and hacking their way through, determined to stop the enemy's advance unless they fell from their horses and died.
The Tiger Warriors were killed one by one, with three, four, or even more Cao Cao cavalrymen falling with them. Yan Qing had no choice but to guide them to retreat step by step to prevent them from being divided. Now they were almost backed against the city gate, with nowhere left to retreat.
"Kill!" a Tiger Warrior shouted, and an enemy soldier fell from his horse. However, more enemies raised their swords at him. Finally, after killing several Cao soldiers, the soldier fell from his horse and died. The enemy stepped over his corpse and advanced.
They were Luo Chen's most loyal guards, the elite of the Luo army... yet they were almost completely wiped out. Yan Qing was filled with remorse. "Ma Chao, you bastard, come quick!"
It sounded like loud hoofbeats coming from behind...
Ma Chao, wielding a silver spear and clad in silver armor, rode a tall white horse at full gallop. His face was ashen, and he was extremely valiant; his spear flashed silver as he brandished it. "Ma Chao of Xiliang is here!" Ma Chao roared, stabbing several men in quick succession, and the Cao army soldiers around him fell from their horses and died. Ten thousand cavalrymen poured out in single file, quickly regaining their footing!
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The Cao army present, including senior generals such as Xu Chu and Xu Huang, were all taken aback! No one expected that the Xiliang army would come to support Luo Chen.
An unprecedentedly fierce cavalry battle began.
With the city gates open and victory within reach, Cao Cao's cavalry and infantry surged towards the gates at all costs, hoping to hold out and breach Tong Pass. Ma Chao and Luo Chen's ten thousand cavalry fought desperately, refusing to yield an inch. In the confined space, swords and spears flew, and blood flowed like a river.
....... ........ ...
At this moment, Cao Cao was clearly caught in a dilemma.
"How did the Xiliang army get involved!" Cao Cao was furious. "I will crush Xiliang! They are truly overconfident barbarians!" At this time, the battle had reached a stalemate, and it seemed that Tongguan could not be captured for a while. Cao Cao could only watch as his soldiers bled like rivers. In the past ten days or so, how many soldiers had he lost on the Tongguan front!
Guo Jia, standing beside him, also frowned in confusion: "I have used all my knowledge to understand how Luo Chen managed to mobilize the Xiliang army. It is truly unbelievable..." He was quite remorseful, "I really did not expect this, which led to heavy losses for our army. I am ashamed."
"Fengxiao, this isn't your fault. This whole thing is incredibly strange; no one could have predicted it," Cao Cao sighed. "What do we do now?"
Guo Jia, as the strategist, was somewhat undecided: "One option is to retreat, regroup, and fight again. Our army has more troops, and even if the Xiliang army comes to our aid, their strength will not be as great as ours. This is the safest approach. The other option is to not give the enemy a chance to breathe and launch a desperate attack. We may succeed in capturing the city, or we may suffer heavy losses and gain nothing... Please make the decision, my lord."
Cao Cao was silent for a moment: "Continue the attack! We must take Tong Pass!" He turned to Xun Yu, "Please, Mr. Xun Yu, return to Xuchang to reorganize the supplies and recruit soldiers, hoping to complete the subsequent operations." Xun Yu nodded and set off as ordered.
Chapter Ten: Economic Warfare
Luo Jun was facing its most severe challenge yet. Hundreds of thousands of Cao Cao's infantry, cavalry, and chariots were coordinating their attacks and launching a frenzied assault on the city gates. The elite cavalry guarding the gates brandished their sabers and spears incessantly, and whenever they paused, large numbers of Cao Cao's troops would converge upon them. Luo Jun's elite forces quickly suffered heavy losses, while Cao Cao's army was left in a bloodbath.
Under the command of their sergeant, Cao's soldiers divided into groups and surrounded a fallen cavalryman, attacking relentlessly until the cavalryman died from exhaustion. The fallen army fought bitterly for two hours, suffering more than half its casualties, and finally, night fell.
"What to do?" Cao Cao looked at his soldiers, their blood flowing like a river, the sky darkening. Although the Luojun cavalry had suffered heavy losses, they still firmly controlled the city gates. He couldn't help but feel extremely anxious and furious. "I, Cao Cao, have never suffered such a great loss!" Cao Cao clenched his fists tightly, his anger barely contained. "Zero, one, one!"
"Night battle! Order the soldiers to carry torches! Fire arrows into the city! Arrowheads with torches attached!" Cao Cao ordered angrily.
Guo Jia frowned and shook his head in frustration.
"Report!" A messenger on horseback arrived swiftly. "Reconnaissance has confirmed that the entire Xiliang army has been mobilized. Ma Teng is leading approximately 100,000 men, and they have already reached Tongguan. It seems that tens of thousands more have followed Lü Bu into Hanzhong."
"Damn it!" Guo Jia slapped his thigh in frustration. "Now Tongguan is in jeopardy, and Hanzhong is in danger too. That Luo Chen is truly formidable!"
Cao Cao's face was extremely gloomy. If Luo Chen were in front of him, he would definitely rush up and strangle him. "Cao Ren seems to have died at his hands as well..." Cao Cao reminded himself through gritted teeth.
"I will repay him in kind," said the white-robed general behind Cao Cao coldly. This man was Yue Jin, who had shot Luo Chen with a sneak arrow during the Battle of Xingyang. Fortunately, Luo Chen had the skill of protecting himself with armor, which allowed him to escape unharmed.
Cao's army, armed with torches, began their night battle. Initially, their offensive was fierce; however, the darkness made visibility extremely poor, rendering large-scale archery and the use of siege ladders impossible. Luo's troops, positioned atop the city walls, could clearly see the soldiers beneath their torches and fired arrows with impunity, inflicting heavy losses on Cao's army. Forced to halt their advance, they reluctantly slowed their advance. They then heard cheers erupting from the darkness, seemingly shouts of "Long live General Luo!" and "Long live the Prime Minister!" It was likely Luo Chen had arrived.
Ma Teng's 100,000-strong army finally stabilized the situation, and Tongguan was out of danger. However, Cao Cao's army still retaliated fiercely. Throughout the night, Cao Cao's trebuchets and flaming arrows never stopped, turning some parts of the city into a sea of fire, and charring the city walls. Cao Cao's army vented their anger in this way.
The war returned to a stalemate. Xiahou Yuan was ordered to urgently lead 50,000 troops on an offensive, detouring towards Hanzhong, which was now on the verge of collapse. Although Cao Cao's offensive was thwarted, thanks to Xun Yu's skillful deployment, new recruits and supplies continued to arrive, giving Cao Cao a significant advantage.
Cao Cao was well aware that although there were two battlefields, Hanzhong and Tongguan, Tongguan was the key stronghold of Luo Chen's main force and the decisive factor. Although his army had suffered heavy losses in this battle, the Central Plains were wealthy, and Cao Cao had accumulated considerable resources over the years, so he could afford to wait. Once Tongguan fell, scattering and eliminating Luo Chen's main force, Hanzhong would naturally be safe. Then he could control Guanzhong and Hanzhong, and even easily enter Shu, gaining a stable base to contend with Yuan Shao in the north. Once he unified the north, and with the southwestern lands, unifying the entire country would be a piece of cake. Therefore, this battle can be considered Cao Cao's war for establishing his kingdom.
Similarly, the fate of Tongguan was a matter of life and death for Luo Chen. If Tongguan fell, the Guanzhong base would cease to exist, and Luo Chen would have no choice but to flee like Liu Bei.
The arduous war has been raging for a month. On the Luo Chen side, Lin Chong's original 50,000 troops were almost entirely wiped out, and Ma Teng and Ma Chao's forces also suffered tens of thousands of casualties, leaving only about 70,000 troops defending Tong Pass. On Cao Cao's side, he lost over 100,000 troops, but thanks to Xun Yu's active reinforcements, he now has approximately 200,000 troops attacking the city. Meanwhile, on the Hanzhong battlefield, the Luo Chen forces also encountered trouble. Thanks to Xiahou Yuan's timely arrival, Lü Bu's offensive was thwarted, and a stalemate ensued in Hanzhong, Chenggu, and Dingjun Mountain.
In the central command tent, Ma Teng was quite worried: "My lord, if we continue fighting like this, we may be exhausted." Yan Qing agreed: "The Guanzhong region has been devastated by the several coups by Dong Zhuo and others, and it is impossible to replenish our troops like the Central Plains. In the end, we are not as strong as them. If we continue fighting like this, although we may inflict heavy damage on Cao Cao, we will surely be defeated."
Luo Chen frowned in thought: "We have a very rich resource at our disposal..."
"Oh?" Ma Teng and the others looked at Luo Chen.
"Do you remember Mei Wu?" Luo Chen asked. "It was Dong Zhuo's supply of money and provisions."
"We have money and provisions, but no soldiers." Yan Qing still didn't understand.
"I once said that wars aren't necessarily won by force alone; economic means can also be used..." Luo Chen smiled slightly, "We have plenty of money. We can buy grain at high prices in Cao Cao's controlled areas and borders, maliciously hoarding it and driving up prices. When Cao Cao can't procure grain within his territory, his army and the people will face livelihood problems. How can he fight a war then?"
"This skill is truly marvelous!" The generals exclaimed in admiration. "Our lord's profound understanding surpasses even the most divine intervention."
"Hehe..." Luo Chen chuckled. After all, in modern times, it's all too common for nations to use economic means to fight each other. People in ancient times probably didn't understand economics very well...
Dozens of officials were dispatched to Cao Cao's controlled territory and its borders to oversee grain procurement in various counties. Yan Qing was personally appointed by Luo Chen to Xuchang to supervise the matter. "The grain must be secretly transported to our controlled territory. In case of emergency, it must be destroyed immediately," Luo Chen ordered.
Officials disguised as merchants, along with their assistants, purchased grain in Cao Cao's controlled territory at prices higher than the market rate. Sure enough, a large amount of grain from the market and farmers flooded into the secret warehouses of the Luo army. A week later, major cities in Cao Cao's controlled territory began to experience food shortages, and the grain reserves in 2.8 rural areas gradually became only enough for sustenance and planting. At the same time, large amounts of gold and silver poured into the markets of Cao Cao's controlled territory, causing prices to skyrocket and severely impacting the lives of ordinary people.
"Why haven't Xun Yu's provisions arrived yet?" Cao Cao at the front lines sensed something was wrong. He sent Cheng Yu to the rear to urge the delivery of provisions.
Meanwhile, Xun Yu was in a state of utter chaos. Although he possessed considerable resourcefulness, comparable to Xiao He, he was clearly at a loss in the face of such a deteriorating market environment, having received no training in modern economics. At the same time, security in the rear began to deteriorate, with several vicious incidents of grain looting occurring, and uprisings and riots breaking out in some areas due to soaring prices and food shortages.
Cheng Yu was stunned by this situation and had no choice but to return and report to Cao Cao.
Chapter Eleven Yuan Shao
Cao Cao was horrified. He was completely helpless in this situation. Xun Yu was arguably the best manager and coordinator of the era, but even he couldn't solve it.
The high-price grain purchases were quickly banned, but the grain could no longer be found; most of it had already been smuggled out of Cao Cao's controlled territory through secret channels. Large numbers of troops took to the streets to maintain order and enforce martial law, preventing riots. Panic over food shortages spread among both the civilians and the army.
At this time, Yan Qing arrived in Ji Province, which was controlled by Yuan Shao.
Yuan Shao's palace was magnificent, in no way inferior to that of the emperor. Antiques were displayed on precious tables, and rows of ancient books were behind him. Yuan Shao stroked his beard, a smug look on his face, exuding an air of refined elegance.
Yan Qing sneered inwardly, thinking he was just like a pretentious nouveau riche who pretended to know everything. But he still bowed respectfully: "General Yuan's scholarly demeanor is renowned throughout the land. Seeing him today, I realize that seeing is believing. Your brilliance is unparalleled."
Yuan Shao laughed heartily: "You flatter me. Prime Minister Luo sent you here? What brings you here?"
Yan Qing presented a piece of jade: "This is a precious jade from the Warring States period, unparalleled in the world. Prime Minister Luo instructed his subordinates to bring it to General Yuan. Please accept it with a smile."
Yuan Shao was overjoyed: "Prime Minister, you know me well! I heard you received quite a few good things from Dong Zhuo..."
The advisors beside Yuan Shao chuckled. One of them, dressed in a brown robe and sporting a short beard, spoke up: "Prime Minister Luo must have something to ask for. I've heard that Prime Minister Luo and Cao Cao are fighting fiercely, and Tong Pass is in imminent danger..." This man had a pointed, monkey-like face and seemed quite smug. Yan Qing had learned about Yuan Shao's advisors before his arrival, and this man was likely Xu You.
Yan Qing didn't hide anything: "That's right. Prime Minister Luo asked General Yuan to send troops immediately. At this time, Cao Cao's army is near Tongguan, and the rear is extremely vulnerable. General Yuan can take advantage of this opportunity to enter... At that time, a large area of land in the Central Plains will belong to you."
Xu You laughed heartily: "Prime Minister Luo is using our lord's knife to kill Cao Cao."
An older strategist dressed in blue spoke up: "General Yan Qing is right. My lord should send troops as soon as possible to take Xuchang. At this time, Cao Cao's main force is far away at Tongguan. This is a golden opportunity that must not be missed! The Central Plains cannot accommodate two tigers. My lord and Cao Cao will inevitably have a battle. The victor will unify the north. Now is the best time!"
Yuan Shao nodded in agreement and was about to accept when Xu You frowned and spoke up: "Tian Feng, you make it sound so easy. Do you know what is most important for a large-scale military expedition?"
"Grain?" Yuan Shao said, "Recently, there has been a general shortage of grain in the Central Plains, and Cao Cao is in an even worse situation. I heard that his army cannot hold out for much longer. If we go to Cao Cao's territory, we really won't be able to procure much grain..." Yuan Shao hesitated.
Yan Qing smiled slightly and softly said, "What if Prime Minister Luo gives General Yuan 400,000 shi of grain?"
A single, soft sentence, like a thunderclap, silenced the entire hall.
After a long silence, Yuan Shao finally spoke: "I have long heard that Prime Minister Luo is a man of few words and a rare talent in the world. Today I have witnessed it firsthand... When will the grain supplies be delivered?"
"Two hundred thousand shi can be delivered now. Please send troops immediately, General. The remaining half will be delivered later."
"Good!" Yuan Shao stood up. "Yan Liang and Wen Chou will each lead 200,000 troops, forming the left and right wings. I will personally lead 300,000 troops in the central route, set off immediately, and crush Xuchang!"
"General, your wisdom and martial prowess are unmatched in the world," Yan Qing said, then took his leave.
Yuan Shao, having long resided in Hebei, continuously recruited soldiers and recuperated, taking advantage of the abundant population and arable land of the Central Plains to rapidly expand his power. Now, his army has grown to eight or nine hundred thousand men, with capable generals such as Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He, and Gao Lan, and strategists like Tian Feng, Xu You, Ju Shou, Shen Pei, and Feng Ji. He can be considered the most powerful force in the land at that time.
The following day, a proclamation condemning Cao Cao was issued. It was written by Chen Lin, a literary figure and great talent of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It still cursed Cao Cao's ancestors and said that he was the son of a eunuch, but it did not accuse Cao Cao of holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords, because the emperor was intercepted by Luo Chen.
Luo Chen looked at the proclamation and laughed heartily: "Chen Lin is a great talent, and his name is well-known in literary history. I hope to have the opportunity to meet him." Luo Chen asked the emperor to issue an edict saying that Cao Cao was plotting treason and dismissed him from all his posts. He also highly praised Yuan Shao's righteous actions.
Cao Cao's camp was in a state of panic.
"Please, my lord, return to the capital immediately!" Guo Jia and his advisors were also in a panic.
"Immediately send the order back to Xuchang!" Cao Cao commanded. "But... what if Luo Chen pursues us?"
"Your subordinate is willing to cover the rear." General Cao Hong, in his red robe, stepped forward. He was the same general who had saved Cao Cao's life in the Battle of Xingyang. "Your subordinate only needs five thousand light cavalry. Please lead the main army back to Xuchang quickly, my lord."
"This..." Cao Cao was somewhat worried, but he still agreed.
Standing atop Tongguan Pass, Luo Chen watched as dust billowed in the distance as Cao Cao's cavalry galloped away. Below the city, the infantry, their banners clearly visible, began a swift and orderly retreat. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Cao Cao's military discipline is truly remarkable!"
The Battle of Tongguan was the first battle of its scale that Luo Chen had ever experienced. He had been overseeing the battle for a month since he arrived at Tongguan, and today the siege of Tongguan was finally lifted. Luo Chen felt quite proud of his will and wisdom.
Luo Chen often longed for modern life—convenient, comfortable, and most importantly, peaceful. He could spend an entire day quietly reading in the library, without a care in the world. Now, fate had cast him into this chaotic, war-torn, and highly underdeveloped (compared to modern times) ancient era, giving him only a strange skill before leaving without looking back. He had to rely on himself. Power—the power of life and death over countless people—suddenly seemed to be placed in his hands. Responsibility—a responsibility he had never dared to imagine—was suddenly on his shoulders. All of this felt like a dream.
For the first time, he witnessed thousands upon thousands of people brutally slaughtering each other with primitive weapons. He felt the cruelty of history and the horror of war, far more complex than depicted in television dramas, yet he had no choice. After the war, the soil outside the Tongguan city walls had turned a dark red, stained with countless drops of blood. The surrounding area was littered with corpses; perhaps years later, archaeologists would be astonished to discover piles of bones here. Guanzhong had endured countless wars. Each war saw young men conscripted, grain requisitioned, and vast tracts of land left uncultivated. After each war, wives and children were torn apart, families shattered, famine spread, and cries of agony echoed across the fields… He left the palace, rode his horse across the fields, and watched these tragic scenes with tears streaming down his face.
Frequent and brutal wars and power struggles have turned this once rich land into a living hell.
"It's time to stop. We need to find a way to improve people's lives," Luo Chen said to himself.
Chapter Twelve Hanzhong
As Luo Chen was lost in thought, Ma Chao had already walked up to the city wall: "Please, my lord, give the order immediately, allowing me to lead the cavalry in pursuit. We can't let them get away so easily." Luo Chen snapped out of his reverie and nodded.
The gates of Tongguan opened with a thunderous roar, and Ma Chao charged out first, chasing after Cao Cao's retreating army, followed closely by ten thousand cavalrymen, raising a cloud of dust.
Luo Chen saw a general in red robes blocking his way. He remembered that this general was the one who had swiftly deflected Yan Qing's short arrow during the Battle of Xingyang, and Luo Chen had praised him as a good general.
Without a word, Ma Chao swung his silver spear and thrust. The general blocked with his sword, and the two exchanged blows, their blades flashing. Ma Chao grew impatient and unleashed a fierce attack. He struck the red-robed general's broadsword with his spear, using the momentum to propel the spear forward, aiming for the general's heart. This move proved deadly; the general was startled, and seeing the spear coming, he couldn't block it with his sword in time and fell off his horse. Ma Chao, using all his strength, missed and lost his balance. The general seized the opportunity and swung his sword, but Ma Chao, no pushover, immediately dodged. Unexpectedly, the sword struck the horse's head, and the horse cried out in pain, throwing Ma Chao to the ground. The two dismounted and fought on foot. Long weapons were inconvenient, so they discarded their spears and swords and clashed with their own swords. Ma Chao was strong, and each of his swords was heavy and deadly, making it difficult for the general to defend himself. However, the general's parries were skillful, and Ma Chao found it difficult to injure him.
Both sides' soldiers were stunned by the fierce battle. Luo Chen descended from the city wall and, with Yan Qing in tow, rode over. Seeing reinforcements arrive, the general did not linger in battle; seizing the opportunity, he jumped out of the encirclement and swiftly mounted his horse.
Ma Chao mounted his horse, and the two sides were about to fight again. Luo Chen said, "Red-robed general, please leave your name."
The general said, "Cao Hong!" After speaking, he saw that Cao's army had already gone far away. He mounted his horse and slowly retreated, as if he wanted to leave the battlefield.
Just as Ma Chao was about to give chase, Luo Chen stopped him: "When two tigers fight, one of them may be injured. Let's give up." He called out to the general: "I think you are a good general. For your sake, I will not pursue you. Please return, General. I, Luo Chen, guarantee that I will not pursue you." Upon hearing this, the general led his light cavalry and rode away in a cloud of dust.
With Cao Cao and Yuan Shao vying for power, the Guanzhong region will enjoy a relatively long period of peace. As long as the enemy is kept beyond Tong Pass, the Guanzhong region can develop in peace. Currently, Guanzhong has a relatively large population and fertile land, but due to annual wars, many people have been displaced, and large amounts of land have been abandoned. If they can be organized…
Luo Chen pondered these situations, wondering if there was a suitable land system. Yan Qing, standing beside him, announced, "General Ma Dai has arrived."
"Oh? Let him come over," Luo Chen said. Ma Dai was not wearing a cloak, but was dressed in thick clothes and armor, and carried a curved sword, which was quite in the style of Xiliang.
"How's it going with Lü Bu? Has Xiahou Yuan made any moves?" Luo Chen asked.
“No.” Ma Dai said, quite annoyed. “This Xiahou Yuan is extremely troublesome. When our army attacks, he defends the cities and passes to the death; when our army rests, he comes to harass us. For the past month, our army has not been able to advance an inch.” Ma Dai clenched his fist as he spoke. “Now General Lü has heard that Yuan Shao attacked Cao Cao, and Cao Cao has retreated. He wants to ask you to send reinforcements and generals, so he called me here…”
“Of course, of course, that’s natural,” Luo Chen nodded. “Cao Cao is currently engaged in a direct confrontation with the powerful Yuan Shao, yet he still refuses to recall Xiahou Yuan. This shows how determined Cao Cao is. He’s determined to confine my forces to the area around Guanzhong. It’s a pity that his ally Zhang Lu isn’t very capable, unlike Yuan Shao, otherwise we would have been finished long ago.” Luo Chen chuckled.
"Ma Teng! You are hereby appointed as General Who Conquers the East. You will lead 20,000 troops and garrison in the Tongguan and Hangu Pass area."
"Yes!" Ma Teng replied immediately.
“General Ma Teng is capable of leading an army on his own. He could easily command 100,000 troops. However, our army is currently short of manpower, so we have no choice but to ask him to do this… General, you are to cultivate the land here on your own. I grant you the power to appoint and dismiss officials and collect taxes. You are also to allocate a large amount of land in the surrounding area,” Luo Chen said.
"Thank you, my lord! I would gladly die for you."
“Pang De! You will stay here with General Ma Teng.” “Yes.” Pang De replied calmly, his face grim.
"Ma Chao! You are now in command of the remaining 50,000 troops in this area. Set off immediately for Hanzhong."
"Yan Qing! You will lead five thousand Imperial Guard cavalry with me to Hanzhong!"
"Lin Chong led his troops to guard Chang'an Town."
The deployment was complete. Without pausing, Luo Chen led his army to Hanzhong that very day.
During the march, Luo Chen pondered in his mind. A strong nation needs a robust system to guarantee its strength. He recalled the system of the Tang Dynasty—that's it, the equal-field system! With so much land now lying fallow, the most important thing is to organize the farmers and restore agriculture; this is the foundation of the nation. Then, the source of soldiers can be guaranteed. The Tang Dynasty's militia system can be implemented, requiring no state funding, and a large army can be mobilized in times of war.