As the court assembly dispersed, news of the rebels' attack on Lu County and the killing of members of the Kong family quickly spread, causing an uproar.
At the same time, Kong Rong's proclamation denouncing the rebels was also circulated.
The text details how Chen Man, Lu Qing, and others persecuted and coerced the Kong family and scholars of Lu County. It also calls on scholars across the country, in the name of the Kong family, to denounce the rebellion in the three prefectures.
Following this, scholars from the Imperial Academy, such as Zheng Xuan and Cai Yong, as well as prominent Confucian scholars from both the court and the public, also spoke out.
In an instant, some scholars and students who had previously felt the loss of the three states' scholars also gathered together to denounce the rebellion.
The wave of public opinion in Luoyang completely labeled the scholars of Ji, Yan, and Qing prefectures as rebels.
Soon, several messengers, carrying Liu Hong's imperial edict, left Luoyang and headed towards the army stationed in Puyang.
Meanwhile, Chen Man and Lu Qing once again led the rebel army to attack Xiang County.
Following Chen Hu's instructions, Lu Qing ordered his men to force the scholars who had been coerced to attack the city walls. Anyone who hesitated or refused to advance was executed on Lu Qing's orders.
Chen Man followed suit, attempting to use the lives of the scholars in Lu County to demoralize the garrison in Xiang County.
Within half a day of the siege, most of the scholars who had been brought there by the rebels had been killed or wounded, and even many members of the Confucius family had been killed.
Faced with the rebels' frenzied attacks, the defenders of Xiang County also suffered heavy casualties.
Many rebel soldiers also scaled the city walls and engaged the defenders in close combat.
On the city wall, Kong Yan witnessed the rebels wantonly slaughtering his relatives. Although he was filled with grief and indignation, he knew clearly that once Xiang County was captured by the rebels, the consequences would be unbearable.
Seeing the fear on the faces of the scholars who had come to help defend the city, Kong Yan raised his long sword and shouted:
"Gentlemen, these traitors have committed acts against Heaven, wantonly slaughtering scholars. Once Xiangxian City falls, we will all be doomed, and we will be branded as traitors, leaving a lasting stain on our reputation."
Therefore, no matter what, we must not retreat; we must hold our ground!
As soon as he finished speaking, Kong Yan raised his longsword and charged towards a rebel soldier who had climbed onto the city wall.
Upon hearing this, the surrounding scholars immediately understood and then commanded their guards and servants to join the Xiangxian garrison in a fearless charge.
After a fierce battle, the rebels who had climbed the city walls were finally driven off.
Seeing this, Chen Man and Lu Qing, who were supervising the battle outside the city, had no choice but to order a temporary halt to the fighting.
After three days of continuous siege, the rebel army has suffered 20,000 deaths and as many as 40,000 wounded. Of the original 200,000 troops, fewer than 140,000 are still capable of fighting.
However, Lu Qin had always forced those who had been coerced to attack the city, so the 45,000 defecting soldiers he brought from Ji Province did not suffer any losses.
In the afternoon, after discussing with Lu Qing, Chen Man launched another attack on Xiang County.
Although the morale of the rebels was already at its lowest point, the garrison of Xiang County was also in a difficult situation, so Chen Man prepared to take Xiang County in one fell swoop.
Soon, the rebels launched another fierce attack on Xiang County.
Lu Qing, at the west gate, while directing the siege, kept turning his head to look north.
Before long, many rebel soldiers climbed the city walls of Xiang County again. Although the defending troops fought hard, they were still defeated by the rebels.
Chen Man, standing below the city, couldn't help but smile with relief as Xiang County was about to fall.
Just then, a cloud of dust suddenly rose on the horizon behind Chen Man's army, rapidly approaching the rebels.
Chen Man and his rebel army, who were busy attacking the city, were completely unaware of the danger.
Upon seeing the dust and smoke, Lu Qing, who had been closely monitoring the situation in the north, immediately led his 45,000 defected soldiers to retreat, and at the same time ordered the execution of all the scholars who had been abducted, along with the remaining members of the Kong family.
"Boom!!"
As the cloud of dust drew closer, the thunderous sound of horses' hooves reached Chen Man and the rebel soldiers' ears.
Chen Man and his rebel soldiers turned their heads in fear, only to see a large banner with the character "Han" faintly visible amidst the dust and smoke.
Below the great banner, Dong Zhuo, the leader, saw the rebel army besieging the city ahead and couldn't help but smile with excitement. He then drew his long sword from his waist.
"Brothers, kill the enemy and earn merit, follow me and charge!!"
After letting out a loud roar, Dong Zhuo spurred his horse's flanks, and the warhorse immediately accelerated forward.
"Imperial Guards, charge!!"
Several Imperial Guards following behind Dong Zhuo also roared and followed closely behind.
The Imperial Guards cavalry behind them also drew their long sabers and began their charge.
At this time, the rebel army responsible for attacking the north gate numbered only over 30,000, and many of them were still climbing towards the city walls of Xiang County.
Therefore, when faced with the five thousand Imperial Guard cavalrymen who launched their charge, Chen Man and the remaining rebel soldiers were all terrified.
No one thought they could withstand the charge of these cavalrymen. As the Imperial Guards cavalry drew ever closer, the already demoralized rebel soldiers could no longer endure it.
"Run!!"
Suddenly, a terrified shout rang out from the crowd, and many rebel soldiers immediately turned tail and ran. In this way, the news spread like wildfire, and the rebels at the north gate rushed towards the east and west gates.
Before the battle even began, the rebel army attacking the city had already collapsed.
The fighting on the city wall continued. At this time, Kong Yan was already seriously injured. There was a long wound on his left arm that was deep enough to expose the bone. The loss of a lot of blood had blurred Kong Yan's vision.
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