"What...what does he mean by that?"

Dong Zhuo was completely bewildered!

He led 50,000 elite troops from Bingzhou from Jinyang, traveling day and night at the behest of He Jin. In less than five days, they crossed the Hedong region. Once they passed Jiguan Pass, they would reach the Henei Commandery.

Luoyang is also just out of reach.

Before setting off, in order to guard against Liu Wei's attack on Bingzhou, Dong Zhuo not only ordered Zhang Ji, Fan Chou, and Hua Xiong to take back Taiyuan County, but also ordered Xu Rong of Dingxiang County to retreat to Yanmen Pass and Pianguan Pass.

In this way, there is no need to worry about Liu Wei sending troops from Yunzhong, relying on the natural barrier of the Yellow River and the Yanmen Pass to protect the core counties of Bingzhou, namely Taiyuan, Yanmen, Shangdang, and Hedong.

Moreover, Dong Zhuo, Li Ru, Niu Fu, and others unanimously affirmed that Liu Wei's troops in Youzhou were definitely heading south to Jizhou.

Unexpectedly, Liu Wei's troops in Youzhou crossed the Taihang Mountains and launched an attack on the flank of Yanmen County.

The combined forces of Duan Wei and Xu Rong of Yanmen Commandery number around ten thousand. Now they are attacked from two sides, and it is unknown how long they can hold out!

"Father-in-law, does Liu Wei intend to seize Bingzhou?"

Niu Fu asked.

"Oops, even the best-laid plans can have flaws!"

Li Ru also gasped, "If Yanmen falls, Taiyuan will be in grave danger!"

"With 50,000 troops all from Bingzhou, their morale is bound to be thrown into chaos!"

Dong Zhuo frowned: "What's the panic? We definitely can't go back now!"

"If we go back to rescue them, and Ding Yuan arrives in Luoyang and helps the General successfully stage a coup, wouldn't he then be above us?"

"Send the order to send Zhang Ji, Fan Chou, and Hua Xiong's troops to support Duan Wei. Also, win over Murong Muyan's 25,000 Xianbei cavalry who are still in Yanmen territory and get them to join the battle!"

Li Ru echoed, "Father-in-law, you are wise. Getting to the capital is the priority! We will not let Liu Wei's interference ruin our grand plan."

Dong Zhuo nodded: "Baiye, order the army to hurry on their way and arrive at Heyang before nightfall!"

Heyang was a city in Henan Commandery located on the north bank of the Yellow River. Across the Yellow River, on the other side was Mengjin.

"I will dispatch two thousand light cavalry, each with two horses, and Generals Li Meng and Wang Fang will accompany me on the first journey!"

"Wenyou, Baiye, you two lead the army and follow us!"

Traveling with the main army would be slow, so Dong Zhuo decided to personally lead two thousand light cavalry to set off first.

He had already learned that Ding Yuan's army had also passed Hangu Pass and would soon arrive at Luoyang.

We must arrive before Ding Yuan.

"Here you go!"

......

Meanwhile.

On the ancient Xiaohan Road, people thronged like a tide and horses galloped like dragons!

Thirty thousand Liangzhou cavalrymen stretched endlessly.

Ding Yuan received a message from He Jin requesting him to lead troops to the capital to stage a military coup, and also learned that Dong Zhuo was among those invited.

He immediately assembled 30,000 troops, with Lu Bu, the Tiger General of the Central Army, as the main general, and rushed over from Liangzhou.

The journey was unimpeded. The counties and prefectures along the way dared not obstruct the arrival of such a large army, nor did they bother to inquire about Ding Yuan's purpose.

Only after arriving in Chang'an did Huang Wan, the prefect of Fufeng, and Zhong Yao, the prefect of Fengyi, learn that Ding Yuan possessed the general's order to mobilize troops. Not only did they not dare to obstruct him, but they also offered him provisions.

With the Tongguan Pass wide open, Ding Yuan quickly entered Hangu Pass, less than a hundred li from Luoyang.

"Report! Your Excellency, the army of the King of Yunzhong is marching south along the Qin Straight Road, and the main force has already reached Guangyan in Hexi Commandery!"

"Dong Zhuo's troops have now reached Ji Pass in Hedong!"

Scouts kept galloping in to report along the way.

Ding Yuan remained expressionless, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

He was concerned about the progress of the troops in both places, but he was even more concerned about the situation in Hexi.

However, half a month has passed since he set off from Liangzhou, and Ma Teng, Han Sui, Zhang Yang and others who stayed in Liangzhou have not received any news.

This made him somewhat uneasy.

"Godfather, we can reach Gucheng before dark tonight!"

Seeing that Ding Yuan had no expression but a hint of worry in his eyes, Lü Bu assumed that Ding Yuan was concerned about the progress of the march, so he reported it to the emperor.

"Fengxian, I ask you, if Liu Wei attacks Liangzhou, how will you respond?"

Ding Yuan asked, however.

Lu Bu was puzzled by Ding Yuan's sudden question, but he still answered confidently:

"Father, we have 50,000 troops stationed in Liangzhou, with Ma Teng, Han Sui, Zhang Yang, and others also left to guard the area. No matter how strong the King of Yunzhong's army is, he can't possibly cross Wushaoling!"

"Even if Wuwei Jincheng is lost, we can still retreat to defend the five counties of Longyou."

"Godfather is overthinking it!"

Ding Yuan said, "I hope I'm overthinking it. But we've been out in the army for so long, the King of Yunzhong's proclamation has spread throughout the land, and the army that marched on the capital is almost at Shangjun. But I always feel that he will definitely not only send one army. Hexi will definitely make a move!"

Just then, a lone rider came galloping by!

"Your Excellency Governor, something terrible has happened! General Ma Teng has been defeated, and his 30,000-strong army has suffered heavy losses, retreating to Wuwei!"

"The troops from Hexi have poured into Wuwei and surrounded it!"

The messenger's warhorse collapsed and convulsed, foaming at the mouth.

It seems that countless horses must have died along the way to deliver this information to Ding Yuan as quickly as possible.

"Is the defense of Wushaoling really that weak?"

Ding Yuan's face was extremely ugly.

Ma Teng was a fierce general of Xiliang, so how come he failed after only a short time of resistance?

“Governor, it’s not that our defenses are weak, but we just didn’t expect the enemy to appear from the direction of Xuanwei and Xiutu and attack General Ma Teng’s rear.”

What!

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