Chapter 8: The Battle Beyond the Great Wall (Part 1)

Gongsun Zan agreed. After Gongsun Xu arrived with twenty thousand men, he focused on two main tasks: first, to collect forage as much as possible, and second, to dig sand from the river. Although there were no further battles during this period, Gongsun Xu was not prepared to let the army simply waste time. As soon as the army had set up camp, he suggested dividing the cavalry into seven or eight groups to raid the tribes of the grasslands, ensuring that no small tribes were overlooked. After a month, they had seized a total of two hundred thousand cattle, five hundred thousand sheep, three hundred fifty thousand horses, and had also acquired a significant amount of forage. Additionally, they captured many prisoners and rescued over one hundred thousand Han slaves, the vast majority of whom were young and strong. The physical condition of the slaves who could survive in the grasslands was undoubtedly exceptional.

The original intention regarding the captured Gongsun Zan was to execute them all, as keeping them would waste food and require additional troops to guard them. However, Gongsun Xu firmly opposed this and requested all the captives and rescued slaves to be brought to the riverside camp, along with all the cattle, sheep, horses, and other resources that had been seized. Gongsun Xu employed the method of using civilian laborers to oversee the captives, dispersing them to graze with the main army. At the same time, he selected ten thousand from the one hundred thousand rescued individuals to be trained under the command of Xu Rong. Gongsun Xu employed the method of using civilian laborers to oversee the captives, dispersing them to graze with the main army. At the same time, he selected ten thousand from the one hundred thousand rescued individuals to be trained under the command of Xu Rong

Gongsun Zan did not intervene in these matters. Half a month passed, and when he learned that Zhang Chun and Qiu Liju were leading an army of 150,000 to attack, Gongsun Xu had also made nearly all the preparations. When Xu Rong urged Gongsun Xu to return to the main camp to discuss matters, Gongsun Xu looked at the great river and said, "It should come to an end."

One can only unleash their potential in extreme situations. Of course, at the beginning, it is absolutely essential not to let Zhang Fei exert his full strength; otherwise, one would not even know how they were defeated. He repeatedly urged Zhang Fei to control his power, and Zhang Fei confidently promised to do so. However, during the first attempt, due to a lack of understanding and Zhang Fei's martial skills not yet being at a level of mastery, he inadvertently sent Gongsun Xu straight to the bottom of the lake.

However, due to prolonged combat and being deep behind enemy lines, the army suffered significant losses, with only about 15,000 of the original 20,000 cavalry remaining, many of whom were injured. Reluctantly, Gongsun Zan had to halt to rest and wait for the rear guard to bring supplies and regroup.

This hundred-man commander was specifically requested by Gongsun Xu from his father, not for any other reason, but simply because he is Xu Rong, a native of Xiangping in Liaodong, and has served in the military for a considerable time. Initially, Gongsun Zan did not pay much attention to this, and he also had plans for his son to lead troops, making Xu Rong, an experienced soldier, a suitable choice.

Three months later, the rebel Zhang Chun gathered his old followers and declared himself emperor at Shimen in the vassal state. He also allied with the Quli Ju tribe from the grasslands to launch a large-scale invasion of Youzhou, several years ahead of the historical timeline. The court was furious, and the emperor angrily rebuked the officials in the court. He issued four imperial edicts demanding that Gongsun Zan send troops to eliminate Zhang Chun. By the time winter arrived, it was not the season for military campaigns. Although many ministers in the court repeatedly advised against it, the emperor declared, "My mind is made up; do not speak further. The vile rebel Zhang Chun must be killed."

Now that Xu Rong has not gone far to the West Liang, I absolutely cannot let this opportunity slip by. Moreover, Xu Rong has been quite sincere towards me, partly because I have gained a bit of reputation, and partly because I have repeatedly mentioned Xu Rong to my father, which has allowed the frustrated vanity of a small soldier to rise to the position of a squad leader, with the help of Gongsun Xu. Xu Rong is also a person who knows how to be grateful; as long as Gongsun Xu makes a request, he will definitely fulfill it.

On the grasslands beyond the Great Wall, with the cold wind howling, while Gongsun Zan and the generals were discussing strategies to defeat the enemy in the main tent, Gongsun Xu was outside contemplating when the Yellow Turban Rebellion would begin. He was determined to quickly end the war beyond the Great Wall and catch up with this last straw that would overwhelm the Eastern Han Dynasty

Five days later, Gongsun Xu led the rear army with maps and books to arrive, setting up camp for the entire army and dispatching scouts to investigate enemy movements within a fifty-mile radius

When discussing the consequences of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, it is evident that destruction is the primary outcome; beyond destruction, there is nothing but destruction. Countless common people have been displaced, and many families have been torn apart. Moreover, in pursuit of his ambition to dominate the world, Gongsun Xu is also seeking ways to build his own power. The Yellow Turban Rebellion can provide him with a larger population; while the Central Plains cannot accommodate them, the frontier can. Liaodong, though distant from the Central Plains, has fertile land that, if managed well, can sustain a significant number of people. Although Gongsun Kang has begun to occupy Liaodong, he has not yet fully established his position, leaving Gongsun Xu with an opportunity. The key is to quickly resolve the issues at hand and then find a reason to eliminate Gongsun Kang.

If the Wuhuan and the Xiongnu were to intervene, we would truly find ourselves mired in a quagmire. Fortunately, the Wuhuan and Xiongnu are unlikely to be so foolish; it is currently the height of winter, which is not suitable for military campaigns. If they dare to come, they would likely face the peril of total annihilation. The winter on the grasslands is not easy to endure; at this time, they should be preparing to burn cattle dung in their tents to survive the winter.

Thus, Liaodong would become its own independent kingdom. With the heavens high and the emperor far away, once there is a solid rear base, one can begin to conquer the world; this is a crucial step, as a stable rear is essential. Consider historical figures like Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Lü Bu—who among them was not a remarkable hero? However, once one's base is interfered with by other forces, how difficult it is to contend for the world. In the early days, Cao Cao was constantly suppressed by Yuan Shao, Liu Bei drifted aimlessly for half his life, and Lü Bu only grew weaker with each battle, ultimately meeting a tragic end. Yet, once one's base is interfered with by other forces, how difficult it is to contend for the world. In the early days, Cao Cao was constantly suppressed by Yuan Shao, Liu Bei drifted aimlessly for half his life, and Lü Bu only grew weaker with each battle, ultimately meeting a tragic end.

In the year 180 AD, Gongsun Zan led an army of 20,000 cavalry to swiftly march 200 li to launch a surprise attack on the rebel forces. He engaged in battle with Zhang Chun, Qiu Liju, and others at the Shimen of the vassal state, achieving a great victory over Zhang Chun. Consequently, Zhang Chun abandoned his wife and children and fled into the territory of the Xianbei. After the rear troops caught up, Gongsun Zan continued the pursuit, engaging in battle with Qiu Liju more than ten times, all of which he won.

Since Zhang Fei's arrival, Gongsun Xu has gained a companion. Yan Liang and Wen Chou are considerably older than Gongsun Xu, and he cannot establish a deep bond with them. Moreover, they have come to join the army to earn fame and a future, not to play with children

Encountering ordinary people is manageable, but if one encounters those formidable individuals, it is certain to result in a disadvantage. In warfare, sometimes endurance is essential. During this period, Gongsun Xu has significantly increased his theoretical knowledge. He has also devised a method for practicing martial arts.

After Gongsun Zan agreed, he appointed the general Zou Dan to assist him. Subsequently, Gongsun Zan sent Zhao Yun as the vanguard, leading 3,000 cavalry in advance, while he himself commanded 17,000 cavalry as the main force, advancing towards Shimen.

When he was pulled up, his face was even paler, but he recovered after a few days of rest. After being knocked unconscious by Zhang Fei four times in a row over the course of more than ten days, Gongsun Xu could no longer endure it. Furthermore, this reckless behavior was discovered by his father, Gongsun Zan, who gave him a severe reprimand. He then specifically instructed Zhao Yun to supervise Gongsun Xu's martial training. Zhao Yun was initially reluctant, but he persisted in going. After a few days of teaching, Zhao Yun also realized that this method was effective, and he began to attempt to break through his own limits in the same way. Subsequently, Yan Liang and Wen Chou also joined this reckless endeavor, training joyfully every day. Zhao Yun was initially reluctant, but he persisted in going. After a few days of teaching, Zhao Yun also realized that this method was effective, and he began to attempt to break through his own limits in the same way. Subsequently, Yan Liang and Wen Chou also joined this reckless endeavor, training joyfully every day.

There was no alternative; after receiving the order, Gongsun Zan had no choice but to assemble his troops and begin preparations for the expedition. Gongsun Xu considered that even if they were to win this battle, it would undoubtedly be a pyrrhic victory, which is akin to defeat, a result that Gongsun Xu did not desire. After contemplating for two days, he suggested to Gongsun Zan the necessity of stockpiling a large quantity of military supplies, including salt, iron, grain, winter clothing, and high-quality fodder for warhorses, urging that they acquire as much as possible along with maps and books. Liu Yu, the Inspector of Youzhou, also fully cooperated. After considerable effort, the sixty thousand troops managed to stockpile enough supplies for two years for an army of one hundred thousand. However, due to the excessive baggage, it was detrimental to the march. Gongsun Xu volunteered to serve as the grain officer, accompanying the forty thousand infantry as the rear guard to transport the supplies.

In recent days, Gongsun Xu has been leading his men to explore the surrounding terrain. He is searching for a suitable location to set up camp. It is not that the current location is inadequate; he is prepared for a prolonged battle and has some ideas in mind, though he cannot disclose them at this moment. Everyone is eager to resolve the rebellion quickly so they can return home for the New Year, and it would be difficult to explain if he suddenly proposed preparations for a long-term engagement. This morning, a cavalry officer reported that he had found a location that meets Gongsun Xu's requirements.

Every day, Gongsun Xu and Zhang Fei would practice martial arts by the lake near the military camp, holding their breath while executing various techniques underwater. They trained their strength, explosiveness, and endurance in the water, yielding very noticeable results. Moreover, Gongsun Xu required that at the moment he could no longer endure and had to surface, Zhang Fei must strike back hard against him. This was because Gongsun Xu's capabilities were at their limit at that point, making it a very dangerous stage. The bottleneck for martial artists often breaks through at the moment of life and death, which is also why many soldiers on the battlefield experience rapid improvement in their skills. Furthermore, Gongsun Xu insisted that at the moment he could no longer endure and had to surface, Zhang Fei must strike back hard against him, as Gongsun Xu's capabilities were at their limit, making it a very dangerous stage. The bottleneck for martial artists often breaks through at the moment of life and death, which is also why many soldiers on the battlefield experience rapid improvement in their skills.

Xu Rong held great respect for Gongsun Xu. This individual had a relatively low martial prowess in history; however, this is of little consequence. The key point is that during his time as a general under Dong Zhuo, he managed to defeat both Cao Cao and Sun Jian in military engagements, a remarkable achievement indeed. Had he not died young, he would undoubtedly have been one of the great generals of the Three Kingdoms. More importantly, he was known for his steadiness, reliability, and loyalty.

At least for now, Gongsun Xu is still just a little over eleven years old, although his appearance and demeanor do not reflect that. As for Zhao Yun, Gongsun Xu has frequently visited him, not for any other reason, but because of the name "Zhao Zilong of Changshan"; it carries immense fame. Although he is currently just an eighteen-year-old soldier, still somewhat inexperienced in various aspects, that is not a concern. Gold will always shine in the end. What Gongsun Xu needs to do is to win him over before he shines. He often comes to Zhao Yun to seek guidance on spear techniques.

After returning to the camp, Gongsun Xu proposed to his father the request to separate 10,000 soldiers and 10,000 laborers into different military camps. Everyone was puzzled, but Gongsun Xu insisted repeatedly, and since the location was not far from the main camp and posed no danger, it did not count as splitting the troops

After Gongsun Xu followed Xu Rong to the location, he nodded and personally conducted an inspection. Very good, Xu Rong is indeed reliable in his work. There is a river here, of the U-shaped kind, with a small mountain nearby. More importantly, there is an open-pit coal mine here. There are many open-pit coal mines on the grassland, but not many people know the uses of this coal. Even if someone is willing to give it a try, they would likely end up poisoned. There is a river here, of the U-shaped kind, with a small mountain nearby. More importantly, there is an open-pit coal mine here. There are many open-pit coal mines on the grassland, but not many people know the uses of this coal. Even if someone is willing to give it a try, they would likely end up poisoned

The unpredictability of worldly affairs makes it difficult to continue this major battle. Although Qiu Liju has been defeated, it has not affected his strength. When Zhang Chun fled, he took away more than 30,000 cavalry and infantry. Moreover, this is the grassland, the stronghold of the Xianbei people, and the situation is not optimistic

Zhao Yun held a great fondness for this well-known young general in the army, and with Gongsun Xu's deliberate flattery, as well as being the son of his superior, it was only natural to treat him well. After two to three months, Gongsun Xu's martial skills improved significantly, and he began to explore the essence of strength.

Due to the emphasis on strength and dominance in the family martial arts, he has not yet achieved much. However, after spending two months with Zhao Yun, Gongsun Xu has begun to lean towards a development that balances both rigidity and flexibility. Zhao Yun's long spear exhibits great flexibility, allowing for strikes from astonishing angles. This particularly piqued Gongsun Xu's interest. His father has always practiced the family martial arts in a straightforward manner, engaging in direct confrontations.