I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 152 - 57: One Battle Shakes the Realm, Liu Hong Falls (Part 2)
For them, this bit of land is nothing more than a drop in the ocean!
But human nature has always been this way.
These are assets they have already devoured.
How could they possibly spit them out easily?
This is clearly not just one person’s thought.
From this day forth, people from various clans started to connect with one another, weaving an invisible net once again.
Of course, they won’t make their move at such a time.
They’re just making preparations.
No matter what, from the day when the battles completely cease, this matter must be stopped.
If this matter drags on.
For them, it’s a hundred harms without a single benefit!
....
As for the changes within Luoyang, Gu Xi was completely indifferent.
He was merely arranging everything on the battlefield step by step.
This great victory.
Did not drive him to accelerate his attack.
Instead, he consistently maintained the previous pace, undermining the Yellow Turban Army relentlessly with momentum and prestige.
This is a straightforward and open strategy.
After the previous defeat, even Zhang Jiao couldn’t steady the troops’ morale in the Yellow Turban Army.
Day by day, more people defect.
Instances of local Daoists binding and surrendering their commanders have become increasingly frequent.
Under such circumstances.
——Jianning, year seven, February.
Gu Xi once again defeated Zhang Jiao at Handan, thereby completely ripping open the Yellow Turban defenses across all Jizhou State.
Zhang Jiao could only gather the remnants of his forces and retreat to Emperor Guangzong, where Gu Xi besieged him.
The die is cast!
Gu Xi did not rush to attack the city, but continued to plan everything methodically, seemingly trying to force Zhang Jiao into surrendering.
However, Zhang Jiao evidently made his decision.
He simply chose to let the Daoists go, and then once more engaged in a confrontation with Gu Xi.
This was a battle with inevitable outcome.
Under such morale, and without any advantage in numbers, how could the Yellow Turban Army possibly withstand the Han Army personally led by Gu Xi?
The outcome was self-evident.
Zhang Jiao retreated again, but this time there’s nowhere left for him to retreat.
The entire Yellow Turban front in the land of Hebei had already completely collapsed.
There were many places that didn’t even require Gu Xi’s presence.
Yellow Turban followers surrendered as soon as they caught sight of him.
In fact, Zhang Jiao could have retreated to Youzhou State or Yan Province, to plot again.
Even though going to these places would also mean facing the attacks from various Han armies, compared to the battlefield where Gu Xi was personally present, going to these places certainly offered opportunities.
But Zhang Jiao seemed not to have this idea, only leading his dwindling number of Dao followers in Jizhou State to maneuver against the Han army.
——It seems he wants to die in Jizhou!
Gu Yi was quite surprised by this.
In the original history, Zhang Jiao was a highly controversial figure.
Some called him the reason for chaos, because it was his uprising of the Yellow Turban Rebellion that completely triggered the beginning of the turmoil at the end of the Eastern Han;
Yet others called him a man of great justice, commanding thirty thousand followers, yet ending with no descendants.
His appearance seemed as though it aimed to teach the world a lesson at the time.
Gu Yi now did not want to concern himself with the original history.
To the current Zhang Jiao.
He evidently is a man of great justice, comprehending the suffering of the people, making myriad plans, both success and failure all for the sake of salvation.
Zhang Jiao was indeed strong enough.
Had it not been for Gu Xi’s existence, the Yellow Turban Army with such power would certainly have inflicted deadly damage on the Great Han!
But this matter is destined to be impossible to delve into deeply.
If it weren’t for the appearance of the Gu Clan, how could Zhang Jiao have been this strong?
There were already myriad signs in the countless causes and effects.
Under such circumstances, Zhang Jiao could not persist for long.
——Jianning, year seven, October.
Zhang Jiao was again defeated in Ganling.
He committed suicide after the battle.
His brothers Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang perished one after another in front lines.
Gu Xi secretly ordered their bodies to be gathered and sent to Julu for burial.
One battle sets Jizhou State!
News spread, shaking the entire nation!.....
......
Luoyang.
"Zhang Jiao is dead?"
Upon hearing this news, Liu Hong was first surprised, then immediately burst out laughing.
"Good! Good!"
"Such rebels must meet such an end."
"Where is his body? Was it sent back to Luoyang? I want to have him torn limb from limb!"
Jian Shuo shook his head and sighed, "The bodies of Zhang Jiao and his two brothers were trampled to pulp on the battlefield, they couldn’t be found."
Upon hearing this, Liu Hong furrowed his brow slightly, saying with some disappointment: "That’s truly a pity."
"By the way, how is the Grand Tutor’s health?"
"He is quite old, and now that Zhang Jiao is settled, the others pose no threat. We should let the Grand Tutor return to the capital and spend his twilight years peacefully."
Liu Hong seemed to have thought of all this long ago, and waved his hand: "Send someone with my edict to Jizhou State."
"Let the Grand Tutor hand over military power to Lu Zhi."
"He can return to the capital to recuperate, accept rewards, or rest at Julu."
Naturally, Jian Shuo was extremely pleased with this matter.
During Liu Hong’s reign, the only person they, the eunuchs, truly feared was Gu Xi.
Now Liu Hong wants to strip Gu Xi of his power once more.
How could he not be excited?
The news spread quickly in Luoyang.
Completely different from Liu Hong’s expectation, he originally thought that the scholars and ministers would make quite a fuss over this.
But the scholars and ministers barely said anything.
Merely mentioned the current situation with Zhang Jiao being deceased and the gradual stabilization of four provinces, suggesting the cancellation of the wartime policies set by Gu Xi and such.
Regarding this matter, Liu Hong took it entirely as a matter of interest exchange, did not hesitate much, and agreed directly.
He needs a balanced court situation.
In Liu Hong’s view.
The court situation he crafted since his ascension has already reached a state of balance.
At the very least, the scholars couldn’t directly threaten his imperial authority.
As for whether this measure might cause another rebellion, Liu Hong did consider it, but he didn’t care.
