Chapter 200: Eve of the Decisive Battle

When Su Fan and the others returned to their territory again, it was already the end of November in the first year of Zhongping. The autumn harvest had ended, and this autumn harvest had a great yield, almost enough to support millions of people.

And next year, the grain production would be even greater.

He could also rest assured to receive more refugees.

With the Yellow Turbans ravaging continuously, especially in the places destroyed by the Yellow Turbans, it was impossible to farm, so naturally, there was no grain production in the fields.

The population was still the same, and grain could not be produced. One could imagine what kind of days many commoners would have.

After all, they were not like later generations, all having surplus grain. These bottom-level poor people could barely make ends meet for a year, which was already quite good.

Surplus grain did not exist.

Returning to the military camp, Su Fan reorganized his troops, and even when he had nothing to do, he would send out thousands of troops to sweep away the Yellow Turbans existing in the surroundings.

Now, in various parts of the Great Han, except for the cities that had not fallen into the scope of the Yellow Turbans, most other places had Yellow Turbans ravaging.

These Yellow Turbans were divided into teams, with thousands or tens of thousands of people, sweeping around the cities.

They couldn't take down large cities, but those villages around them became the targets of their looting.

There were also quite a few Yellow Turbans here in Donghai Commandery. There were no large-scale ones, but there were many small-scale ones of tens of thousands.

Many were even impersonated by mountain bandits and robbers, and there were also some powerful magnates behind the scenes impersonating them to rob houses.

With the Yellow Turbans ravaging, all kinds of monsters and demons had run out.

Su Fan sent troops to sweep away the surrounding Yellow Turbans, partly to increase the army's experience in dealing with the enemy, and partly to reduce the surrounding Yellow Turbans.

After all, the Donghai Commandery of the future was destined to be his territory, so this could be considered early development.

The Yellow Turban Army only knew how to destroy. If these people destroyed too much, wouldn't he have to spend a greater price to recover it when he became the Prefect of Donghai Commandery in the future?

One month, two months, three months...

Within half a year, his army of 70,000 had been sent out in turns to find and fight small groups of Yellow Turban troops.

Over these six months, they had suppressed nearly a million Yellow Turbans in total, killing those leaders, and the rest also obtained seven or eight hundred thousand laborers for Su Fan.

Although only half of them were young and strong, it was still quite good.

And in these six months, he had added another million people here. It was not that Su Fan didn't want to add more.

But if he continued to add, he might not be able to hide it here.

He was not yet the Prefect of Donghai Commandery, so naturally, he didn't want to be exposed.

However, it was almost time now.

"Lord, when are you planning to set off?"

The original military camp had now built a small city, where the families of his 70,000-strong army lived.

Su Fan lived in the center of the small city.

And in the half year, Xi Zhicai had finally recognized him as his lord, because he was now the County Lieutenant of Gaoyou.

Even over in Xiapi, someone had already requested merit for him, asking the Inspector to promote him to the Commandery Lieutenant of Xuzhou. After all, Su Fan sent troops to sweep away the surrounding Yellow Turbans, allowing many aristocratic families in the surroundings to be spared from the Yellow Turbans' harassment.

For many aristocratic families, this was a good thing.

In fact, many aristocratic families had also sent private soldiers to make a move. After all, the Imperial Court had already agreed to let the local areas form armies to suppress the Yellow Turbans.

Unfortunately, most aristocratic families had limited power. If it were defense, it would be fine, but if they really encountered tens of thousands of Yellow Turban troops in the wild, they really couldn't stop them.

Su Fan's army was elite, so there were no more Yellow Turban troops around Donghai Commandery and Xiapi.

This was a solid merit, and he was already a County Lieutenant. There were people who were friendly with the Gao Clan who proposed it in Xiapi. As for whether it could succeed, it depended on his public relations.

So Su Fan, who had an official position, naturally became Xi Zhicai's lord.

"Soon. Commandant Huangfu, who has been sweeping away the Yellow Turban Army in the Sili area, has now also arrived in Yingchuan Commandery."

"The decisive battle in Yingchuan is probably coming soon. At that time, we can send out troops."

Su Fan no longer had too many scruples at this time, because Zhang Jiao, whom he feared the most, was actually trapped tightly in that place called Guangzong.

And from the news from Jizhou, Zhang Jiao's state was not good. Since the great battle with the Imperial Court's Nation-Protecting Martial Saint, both sides were severely injured.

That Nation-Protecting Martial Saint was said to have erupted with divine might at the cost of his lifespan, severely injuring Zhang Jiao. Returning to Jizhou, Zhang Jiao was attacked by experts one after another.

The wounds were added to the wounds, and Lu Zhi had been attacking for many days, but the other side had not appeared.

Among the three great Commandants, Lu Zhi's power was the most powerful. Lu Zhi's own cultivation was also the strongest, with at least the cultivation of the seventh layer of Soul Refining. Plus, he was a dual cultivator of Confucianism and the Military School. In terms of commanding troops in battle, he was even above Huangfu Song, who came from a military family.

Because facing the main force of the Yellow Turbans, the Imperial Guards under his command were also the most numerous.

With a million Imperial Guards under his command, plus two million local Imperial troops, he had been suppressing the Yellow Turban Army in Jizhou.

If it weren't for Zhang Jiao's terrifying strength, I fear that with Lu Zhi's ability, he would have suppressed the Yellow Turban Army in Jizhou long ago.

News came from Jizhou that several times, Lu Zhi was about to break through Guangzong City, but Zhang Jiao did not appear. Su Fan knew that Zhang Jiao must have had an accident. Even if he didn't die, he was not far from death.

At this time, the other side simply couldn't take care of him.

"Decisive battle in Yingchuan."

Xi Zhicai heard this, and an excited look also appeared on his face. This great battle meant the direction of the Yellow Turbans in the south.

If the Yellow Turbans won, Yuzhou, Xuzhou, and other places would instantly fall into decay, and it would be very difficult for the Imperial Court to gather power to suppress the rebellion again.

After all, at that time, the Sili area was the most important. I estimate that the Imperial Court would also turn from offense to defense.

And if the Imperial Court won, the Yellow Turbans in Yuzhou, Xuzhou, and other places would be dissolved.

And this great battle of millions—how magnificent the scene was. No one was willing to miss it.

"At that time, Zhicai, you will set off with the main army as the military advisor for the main army."

Su Fan naturally saw Xi Zhicai's expression. Even he was looking forward to this great battle. It was said that the great battle in Jizhou was also very intense.

It was a pity that Jizhou was too far from here, and he didn't have time to go over.

However, Yingchuan was definitely not bad, especially Bo Cai's ability, plus the Yellow Turban Army from Qing Province, Xuzhou, Yuzhou, and even the Sili area were all vaguely rushing toward Yingchuan.

It seemed they all knew that they were going to have the final decisive battle here in Yingchuan. The Yellow Turban Army also began to swarm in. I fear that at that time, the number of people would reach thirty million.

Of course, of these thirty million, I fear that less than one-third were people who could truly fight, and as for elites, it would be good if there were one-tenth.

After all, compared to the Imperial Court, most of the Yellow Turban Army were farmers. If they could have ordinary blades and swords, it would be quite good. I fear most were still looted from local areas or forts.

Having many people was not necessarily a good thing.

With many people, it was even harder to control, and there were all kinds of monsters and demons in there. Bo Cai might not be able to command everyone.

On the contrary, the Imperial Army was different.

"This battle is the path for you and me to be promoted."

Su Fan laughed loudly. ===== CHAPTER 201 =====