Chapter 410

After Meng Zhang left, they could fully utilize the foundation Meng Zhang had left behind, and pull out again a Yellow Turban Army whose combat strength is not weak!

This is also the reason why those behind-the-scenes black hands act without fear.

As long as they are good at guiding and good at utilizing, the army left behind after Meng Zhang's departure can quickly be transformed into a sharp blade in their hands.

Although Meng Zhang controlled more than half of the Yellow Turban Army's forces, the Yellow Turban Army's righteous cause, faith, and troops in every aspect all come from the Taiping Sect.

When facing those behind-the-scenes black hands of the Taiping Sect, Meng Zhang actually does not have many countermeasures.

Without the various blood transfusions from the Taiping Sect behind them, this army is like a rootless tree, difficult to sustain.

Otherwise, the many examples in ancient history of generals being persecuted—could it be because they dared not bring their armies to rebel?

It's because they cannot!

All the lifelines of military maintenance, logistics, etc., are in the hands of the court.

What can they use to rebel?

Once they set foot on the path of rebellion, what awaits them will be the severing of logistics and the desertion of soldiers.

They might be able to shout and rally in the camp, but the next moment they could be bound hand and hand by those soldiers who once fought side by side, left powerless to struggle.

Of course, if you are like the three great lords of different surnames, having your own territory, you can be self-sufficient for your own army.

Then it would be fine, but such a situation is only a minority.

After all, such situations are rare; most generals still need to maintain their armies under the court's control and support.

Let alone anything else, just the three great lords of different surnames previously still relied on the Da Qian court to maintain their army's consumption.

Relying on a single prefecture's land to support so many troops is still somewhat too strained.

The current Yellow Turban Army is the same; most of its logistics, grain and fodder, and various weapons and equipment, etc.

In fact, most of it actually relies on blood transfusions from those behind-the-scenes forces of the Taiping Sect in the rear.

Otherwise, relying solely on looting, how much money could they loot?

Perhaps at the outset of the rebellion, they could seize some wealth from the unprepared landlords and powerful clans, but as time passes, would those landlords and clans simply sit and wait for death?

Do you think those landlords and powerful clans are stupid, or those aristocratic clans are stupid?

Foolishly staying there waiting for the Yellow Turban Army to come and loot.

If that were really the case, why not contribute a wave to the Da Qian court and exchange for a good position within the dynasty?

Or could they stay in place and wait for the Yellow Turban Army to come and criticize and struggle against themselves?

Or perhaps when the Da Qian dynasty retreats, it would still leave behind all its baggage for you to make a big profit?

Dream on!

Now if there were no blood transfusions from the Taiping Sect behind them for the Yellow Turban Army.

Relying solely on Meng Zhang, he couldn't even support the nearly 100,000 troops directly under his command in the Yellow Turban Army!

For nearly 100,000 elite troops, their food, clothing, housing, travel, fodder for warhorses, repair and updating of weapons— which of these is not a huge expense?

Even the daily expenses of his Azure Dragon Regiment constitute a considerable sum.

Now Meng Zhang's Azure Dragon Regiment can already be considered the elite among elites within the Yellow Turban Army.

Their equipment, training, and daily consumption are not comparable to those of ordinary troops.

The existence of the Taiping Sect is like an endless lifeline, providing the Yellow Turban Army with necessary supplies and funds.

And once this lifeline is cut off, the consequences are unimaginable.

Without the Taiping Sect, letting Su Ye and even the Cloud Prince's Mansion temporarily divert a batch of supplies for hundreds of thousands of Yellow Turban Army troops...

They also have some trouble.

And without the Taiping Sect's blood transfusions, they can't even afford meals—how could Meng Zhang still lead the troops?

Even basic food and drink are hard to guarantee, let alone other needs.

Wasn't their original intention in rising up simply because they couldn't get enough to eat and couldn't survive, thus choosing this risky path?

Now, if they fall into hunger again, what meaning would this uprising have?

Before the rebellion they couldn't get enough to eat; after the rebellion they still can't afford food—am I not rebelling for nothing?

So can I still follow you and work?

If you don't work, that's already not bad!

Meng Zhang deeply understands this; he knows what the Taiping Sect's support means for the Yellow Turban Army.

Therefore, he cannot directly turn against the Taiping Sect, even if he is unwilling, even if he knows the Taiping Sect is manipulating everything behind the scenes.

But the reality is cruel; without the Taiping Sect's support, these hundreds of thousands of elite Yellow Turban troops will be unable to move an inch.

This dependence puts Meng Zhang in a dilemma.

He must both protect his own interests within the Yellow Turban Army and, as much as possible, avoid conflict with the Taiping Sect.

This delicate balance requires him to constantly maintain it with utmost care.

And the soldiers perhaps do not fully understand this complicated relationship behind the scenes; they only care about their own livelihood.

Once their livelihood cannot be sustained, some soldiers might even develop dissatisfaction and resentment toward Meng Zhang.

After all, it was they who chose to trust Meng Zhang and follow him onto this path of rebellion.

And now, even basic livelihood cannot be guaranteed, so this trust will naturally face a severe challenge.

After all, their original intention in rebelling was simply to survive, to have a full meal.

Therefore, Meng Zhang must find ways to maintain his relationship with the Taiping Sect.

This is also the fundamental reason why Meng Zhang cannot directly turn against the Taiping Sect.

Although in secret the two sides have always been dealing deadly blows to each other, on the surface it's still everyone being nice to everyone.

Supplies are still taken, battles still fought.

As for who has the upper hand behind the scenes, that depends on each side's methods.

Mengzhang wanted to expel them from the Yellow Turban Army; he just needed to honestly be a patsy and provide later supplies for the Yellow Turban Army.

As for the Yellow Turban Army's military authority and troops, the Taiping Sect ought not to meddle.

The Taiping Sect's behind-the-scenes manipulators think likewise; Mengzhang, just be a pawn honestly, lead the Yellow Turban Army to victory, that's all that's needed.

In their eyes, Mengzhang is merely a usable pawn; his command of troops and self-regard will only disrupt their meticulously arranged game.

What's mine is mine, and what's yours is still mine!

They yearn to control everything, firmly holding both the Yellow Turban Army and Mengzhang in their hands.

In this silent contest, both sides reveal their powers, with methods constantly appearing.

Mengzhang, relying on his prestige and influence within the Yellow Turban Army, strives to confine the Taiping Sect's influence to a certain area.

Meanwhile, the Taiping Sect's behind-the-scenes manipulators exploit their resources and wealth, constantly planting spies within the Yellow Turban Army, attempting to gain more military power.

At this moment, Su Ye on the other side also started making his final efforts.

"System, spend 110 summon points to summon a Commander-in-Chief, focusing on that!"

Su Ye has a clear grasp of his own situation; the mainstays of their Commander-in-Chief side, Tie Shi Wen and Xue Ren Gui, have been left on the Wu Zhou battlefield.

Meanwhile, the Taiping Sect's behind-the-scenes manipulators on the other side are clearly getting desperate, like a cornered dog jumping over a wall.

Having drained all their resources, the accompanying Commander-in-Chief fierce general lineup is naturally not far behind.

If there aren't a few strong Commander-in-Chief types guarding nearby.

Su Ye really is feeling a bit anxious.

(End of chapter)