It was only then that Dong Zhuo realized that while all the units under Marquis Xuanwei Zhang Xin had appeared this time, his personal guard camp and Wuhuan Cavalry were nowhere to be seen.
If he secretly returned to Huayin from Fengling Ford, and then, while I was heading north to Longmen Ferry, he entered Chang'an from Zheng County in the south...
In that instant, Dong Zhuo had already planned out the route for Zhang Xin.
"Zhang Ziqing is quite the schemer…"
A hint of fear rose in Dong Zhuo's heart.
"Withdrawing the army with the civilians should not have been his original intention, but he could use this point, lure me out with Wu Kuang, and then launch a surprise attack on Chang'an…"
No wonder Zhang Xin let Xu Rong and Wu Kuang guard the ferry, and no wonder Li Que said that the cavalry flying Zhang Xin's banner was probably not his personal guard camp.
No wonder...
Zhang Xin discarded something as important as his main banner just like that.
Thinking of this, Dong Zhuo stood up with a 'whoosh'.
"Quick! The entire army, assemble! Return to aid Chang'an! "
The Dong soldiers, upon receiving the order, hurriedly packed their belongings.
Originally, they had planned to rest and relax for a few days in River East.
But now you're telling me their home was stolen?
Dong Zhuo quickly prepared his large army, crossed the river again, and rushed back toward Chang'an.
Even tho he was burning with anxiety, the Dong soldiers had been on a long march all nite, and now had to return without rest. By the time they reached Linjin, the army truly could not move any further.
Dong Zhuo, helpless, could only order the army to rest, while also dispatching fast horses to Chang'an to gather information.
Two days later, Dong Min's reply left Dong Zhuo stunned.
"Little old brother, what's going on with you? Chang'an is fine, isn't it? "
Dong Zhuo instantly felt like a Japanese man who married an African woman.
What?!
Really fine?
Dong Min: Really fine.
Hearing that Chang'an was fine, Dong Zhuo calmed down and pondered with his head lowered.
Since the Zhou brothers were ordered by Yuan Shao to attack Yu Province, Sun Jian would definitely have to return.
Zhang Xin's home base was attacked, so his most elite Qing-Xu soldiers would also have to return.
Thus, the troops Zhang Xin could use were only the White Wave Yellow Turbans from River East, and the Xiliang Army and Luoyang Soldiers who followed him.
These three forces combined amounted to only about twenty thousand men.
Even if his two cavalry units were included, it would only be around twenty-five thousand men.
With such limited forces, he would have to divide his troops to garrison the three crucial locations of Huayin, Puin Ferry, and Longmen.
He also had to organize the evacuation of the civilians.
There were thirty thousand troops within Chang'an City, and those officers and soldiers loyal to Zhang Xin had mostly left with him.
Without inside help, Zhang Xin simply lacked the objective conditions to capture Chang'an.
How could five thousand cavalry attack?
Were they going to ram their heads against Chang'an's city walls?
Understanding this point, Dong Zhuo flew into a rage.
"Zhang Xin, that brat, is going too far! "
By now, how could he not understand?
He had been tricked by Zhang Xin again!
Hmm?
Why again?
"Where exactly are Zhang Ziqing's cavalry…"
Dong Zhuo was puzzled.
Since Zhang Xin did not possess the objective conditions to launch a sneak attack on Chang'an, why would he let someone like Wu Kuang guard Longmen Ferry?
Wouldn't it be more secure if he personally guarded it?
At the very least, sending a great general would also work, since he had so many great generals under him.
Unless...
Zhang Xin himself and his great generals were not in River East!
Dong Zhuo's thoughts raced.
There were only two things Zhang Xin needed to do now.
First, welcome back the Son of Heaven, and second, rescue his home base.
Since there was no problem in Chang'an, then Zhang Xin leaving with his great generals could only mean he was going to fight Yuan Shao.
"So that's it! "
Dong Zhuo suddenly understood and burst into laughter.
Zhang Xin was willing to risk the annihilation of his entire army to leave with his great generals. What did this indicate?
It indicated that his ambitions were great!
Given that, it couldn't be a simple return to rescue.
"Zhang Ziqing divided his forces into two routes, one thru Xiaohan, and one thru Zhi Pass, while he himself led another route."
Dong Zhuo found a map, spread it on the ground, and his eyes scanned it back and forth.
"If these two armies are the overt moves, and the cavalry he personally leads are the covert ones…"
Dong Zhuo's gaze fell on Black Mountain, "Yuan Shao and Han Fu sent troops to Qing Province, leaving Ji Province vulnerable."
"I heard he's on good terms with the Black Mountain Yellow Turbans. If I were him, I would definitely borrow troops from Black Mountain, take the Taihang Mountains pass, andnd spreading eastward, an explosive piece of news was released.
Marquis Xuanwei Zhang Xin is dead!