What's going on with so many troops arriving?

Xue Rengui frowned deeply.

"General Xue, could it be that Ding Yuan has already quelled the rebellions in Wuwei and Jincheng, and upon learning that the Xianbei people have arrived in the three counties of Hexi, he is preparing to send troops?"

Chen Ji clapped his hands and said, "That's great! With such a large army, how can we not wipe out the Xianbei?"

"Supervisor Chen, you are no longer a member of General He Jin's mansion, but a supervisor of the Northern Protectorate under the Prince's residence!"

Seeing Chen Ji gesturing wildly, Xue Rengui tapped the table and reminded him, "What will they think if they find out that we've occupied Juyan Lake and Zhangye?"

"This...this old man has lost his composure!"

Chen Ji quickly responded verbally, but his heart was in turmoil.

An army of 100,000!

If all of them are Ding Yuan's troops, and Xue Rengui only has a few thousand men, how can he deal with them?

Moreover, there were tens of thousands of Xianbei cavalry behind them.

Chen Ji's face turned unnatural.

Even if Liu Wei had a strong army and powerful troops, including heavy cavalry, he could still achieve great things.

However, war is unpredictable. Knowing that the other side possesses such powerful weapons, they will surely devise various other means to counter them.

Examples include horse traps, tripwires, hook-and-sickle spears, lime powder, chevaux-de-frise, fire, and flooding.

No unit is absolutely invincible!

There are many factors that determine the outcome of a war, including favorable timing, location, and human factors; the commander's strategy; the soldiers' bravery; superior equipment; and geographical and topographical factors, among others.

“Fanhe is more than 100 li away from Zhangye. It will take at least three days for the enemy’s vanguard to arrive here.”

After thinking for a moment, Xue Rengui immediately said, "Commander Jin, please also report the current situation in Zhangye to the lord for a decision."

"Given the current situation, I and the Xuanjia Cavalry cannot go to Dunhuang."

"We must hold Zhangye and not let the enemy get even a step further, otherwise all our painstaking plans in Hexi will be in vain."

Jin Yichuan immediately stood up and said, "General Xue, rest assured, our Embroidered Uniform Guard's horses are the finest selected from among 100,000 warhorses. We will travel all the way back to Hetao without stopping, changing horses but not riders, and will definitely deliver the news to our lord as soon as possible!"

Seeing Xue Rengui's serious expression, Jin Yichuan knew the matter was serious and turned away quickly without lingering.

"Investigate again!"

"We must closely monitor their every move and report back to me every three hours!"

Xue Rengui then gave orders to the scouts.

"Order the Xuanjia Cavalry and auxiliary troops to be ready for battle at any time."

After Xue Rengui finished giving his instructions, he smiled and asked Chen Ji, "Supervisor Chen, what do you think their intentions are in bringing so many troops to attack?"

"this..."

This time, Chen Ji learned his lesson. "They must have found out that we captured Zhangye and Juyan Lake, and they've come to hold us accountable."

"Hmph, just a prefect, how dare he question our lord? Does he have no sense of hierarchy?"

"We haven't settled the score with him about Shaling yet!"

Xue Rengui snorted coldly.

He knew, of course, that two months earlier, in Yunzhong, Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo had led their troops to attack Yunzhong in a struggle for the position of governor of Bingzhou.

Ding Yuan also instigated the remnants of the Xiongnu to kill a thousand soldiers guarding Shaling, the southwestern gateway to Yunzhong Commandery.

How could Xue Rengui not remember this grudge?

Moreover, the main production areas of Liangzhou horses were the Huangshui River Valley in Xiping and the Western Regions.

In particular, the Ferghana horses from the Western Regions are strong, tall, and incredibly stamina-rich, capable of traveling a hundred miles a day.

Now, if Ding Yuan knew that Liu Wei had actually tried to undermine him, steal his territory, and sever Liangzhou's connection with the Western Regions, what would happen?

How could Ding Yuan possibly let this go so easily?

Both sides were in Hexi, beyond the reach of the central government, which had no authority over the area.

Therefore, when the two meet, a fierce battle is bound to ensue.

"A mere 100,000 men? I'll make sure they never return!"

Xue Rengui ignored Chen Ji and turned to the east, revealing a ruthless look.

Anyone who obstructs our lord shall be killed!

......

It is located at the border of Wuwei Prefecture and Zhangye Prefecture, at the foot of the Great Wall.

Dust billowed, flags blotted out the sky, and countless soldiers stretched as far as the eye could see.

A tall general, wearing a purple-gold crown and holding a halberd, had a face full of ambition.

He was surrounded by more than a dozen brave generals, both of whom were of Han and non-Han ethnicity.

"General Lü, our troops are strong and well-equipped. We will surely sweep through the enemy lines and be invincible!"

"Moreover, there is General Lü, an unparalleled and fierce general."

"I think the enemy will flee at the mere mention of this expedition."

A general dressed as a scholar said with a smile.

He was Han Sui from Jincheng.

Bei Gong Boyu, Bian Zhang, and others caused chaos in Wuwei and Jincheng, growing their numbers from a few thousand to tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands, creating a formidable force.

Han Sui was also coerced into joining the rebellion.

Later, when Ding Yuan took control of Liangzhou, he immediately appointed Zhang Yang as his chief advisor and Lü Bu as his military advisor.

He ordered the mobilization of troops from various prefectures, and even transferred all three thousand soldiers of the Western Regions Protectorate to the inner regions.

In a short time, they had an army of 20,000.

Ding Yuan did not rush to fight the rebels. Instead, he sent Lü Bu with a cavalry force to Xiping and ordered the Qiang king to obey his orders.

When Qiang King Cheliji saw that Lü Bu only had 5,000 cavalry, he lowered his guard.

In the first battle, they were slaughtered by Lü Bu and fled to the upper reaches of the Huangshui River valley.

Subsequently, Ding Yuan asked Ma Teng, who had blood ties with the Qiang people, to step forward and express goodwill to the Qiang king, promising him benefits.

After a while, the Qiang people of Xiping submitted to the government.

Ding Yuan acquired a large number of warhorses, as well as skilled Qiang cavalry.

Ding Yuan also supported Ma Teng in recruiting soldiers and forming an army.

Then, Ma Teng offered a counter-espionage plan, which successfully sowed discord between Han Sui, the rebel leader, and they even became sworn brothers.

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