Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 1: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, Clear Voice of the Young Phoenix, Chapter 13: The Tripartite Union

The book it belongs to:


Can a strategist not ascend the throne?

Chapter 013

Two heads rolled on the map, their expressions still frozen in shock from the sudden attack.

But before they could react, Dian Wei’s twin halberds had already descended.

Then, two headless bodies fell to the ground.

In an instant, the fully unfolded map was soaked in blood.

The parchment beneath the bloodstains, initially illuminated by two fallen candles, suddenly caught fire at one corner from the burning wick.

Immediately, the smell of burnt hair filled the air.

Liang Zhongning opened his mouth to say something but realized that when one is shocked to a certain extent, they truly can’t speak.

Or perhaps—

He just didn’t know what to say.

It was just a sudden change in the blink of an eye.

Bu Ji and Zhang Bo were looking at the map one moment, and the next, they were dead beyond dead…

Dead!

He had previously thought that if he were the only Yellow Turban Commander in Yanzhou, it would save a lot of trouble. But when he saw Bu Ji and Zhang Bo dead before him, he almost thought he was still dreaming.

Before the banquet held in the former Dong Commandery Prefect’s Office began, he had thought that Qiao Yan was trying to broker peace between him and those two. But now—

Now this “strategist,” whom he addressed as “sir,” calmly straightened up, not even bothering to wipe the bloodstains from his face.

Her complexion, already fairer than that of rough men like them, contrasted sharply with the blood streaks, making the red redder and the white whiter.

But the calmness displayed in the face of such a brutal scene only added to a terrifying sense of dissonance.

He had long stopped caring about her age, but the height difference between her and Dian Wei, who stood beside her holding his halberds, made the scene even more absurd.

But before he could recover from the shock of the two deaths, Qiao Yan had already taken the next step.

She drew the sword at her side.

This was the sword she had selected from the Puyang government storehouse before setting out for the Gao Family Fortress.

The blade was narrow, long, and light, allowing even Qiao Yan, with her below-average physique and martial prowess, to easily throw it.

The sword flew from her hand and pierced the table where Bu Ji had sat upon entering the hall, making a sharp, piercing sound.

“Take action now!” Qiao Yan shouted.

Liang Zhongning snapped out of his daze.

Whatever Qiao Yan’s reasons were for having Dian Wei kill Bu Ji and Zhang Bo, the followers these two had brought with them must not leave this place alive!

But someone reacted faster than him.

Dian Wei, his twin halberds still stained with blood, leaped forward almost the moment Qiao Yan threw her sword.

The shorter halberd, being lighter, somewhat limited his strengths but also made him more agile in the indoor combat.

From Qiao Yan’s shout to Dian Wei’s next move, it was only a split second, and two of Bu Ji’s followers near the narrow sword had already fallen.

Liang Zhongning, eager to assist Dian Wei in silencing the witnesses, didn’t notice the momentary daze in Qiao Yan’s eyes as she looked at the first fallen man.

She recognized him.

He was one of the guards who had protected Qiao Yan and her mother during their eastward retreat.

Unlike the other guards who had either gone back to search for Qiao Yu or died in the subsequent battle to break through Juye, he had joined Bu Ji’s ranks without hesitation.

For him, continuing to follow a mother and daughter who might have lost their support was naturally less useful than striving for a future in the Yellow Turban Army. From the perspective of human instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm, this was understandable.

But the moment Qiao Yan’s eyes met his, she clearly saw a flicker of doubt in his expression.

Wearing men’s clothing did make a difference from women’s attire, and there were many people who looked similar. Qiao Yan was certain that she and the original “Qiao Yan” were quite different at first glance.

But since she was acting swiftly and decisively, she couldn’t leave such a loose end that might reveal her identity to Liang Zhongning.

After all, as a follower of Bu Ji who had witnessed his death, he was doomed anyway!

But she couldn’t shake the feeling that with Bu Ji dead and this man executed, she felt somewhat lighter, as if—

This act had also avenged the original body’s mother.

However, she didn’t have the luxury to dwell on this thought.

The deaths of Bu Ji and Zhang Bo, erupting at the moment the map was fully revealed, couldn’t be treated with an attitude of “since they’re dead, it’s over.”

After Dian Wei and Liang Zhongning’s men had wiped out all the bystanders, ensuring no one could leak the information, it was time for her to take control of the situation.

She stood with her hands behind her back, quietly watching the confrontation.

With one side’s martial prowess overwhelmingly superior, the clashing of weapons in the hall didn’t last long.

But when the fighting ceased, the silence amidst the corpses was even more foreboding than the earlier sounds of slaughter.

In the extreme quiet, even the sound of a drop of blood hitting the ground seemed audible.

After a long while, Liang Zhongning finally broke the silence, “Why did you do this, sir?”

Why indeed!

Suddenly going from one of the three Yellow Turban Commanders in Yanzhou to the sole leader, the initial shock of realizing the two were dead gave way to an indescribable fear.

He stared at Qiao Yan, whose bloodstained face now exuded a sharp, murderous aura, and was surprised to see her slowly smile.

“Didn’t you say that Zhang Bo was foolish and Bu Ji greedy, neither of whom were suitable for long-term cooperation?”

“…”

He had said that, but he hadn’t meant to kill them outright!

He couldn’t help but think that this wasn’t because he had recently tried to keep the strategist by his side, complaining too much.

Liang Zhongning’s emotions were in turmoil, a mix of complexity, when he suddenly saw Qiao Yan’s smile fade, replaced by a serious expression and a warning tone:

“Since it’s done, Commander, it’s best not to dwell on why they were killed. In my opinion, how to make the best use of this situation and take control of all three armies is the right path.”

“All three are small Yellow Turban forces, combined they’re only the size of one large force. Do you think you’re incapable of leading a large force?”

“Of… of course not!” With his subordinates still in the hall, how could he show weakness in front of them?

Faced with Qiao Yan’s question, he could only muster his spirits and give a firm reply.

This question also diverted his attention from the deaths themselves to the aftermath.

Indeed, what’s done is done, and regret is pointless.

The Way of Great Peace uprising was a path of no return, and now there was just one more layer of restriction on that path.

In Liang Zhongning’s eager gaze seeking approval and support, he clearly saw the strategist’s satisfaction with his response.

Then, he watched as the strategist pulled out a piece of cloth from his sleeve, slowly wiped the blood from his face, and returned to the familiar, composed demeanor Liang Zhongning knew.

This inexplicably gave him a sense of security.

But this sense of security still felt somewhat unreal.

So when Qiao Yan moved again, Liang Zhongning’s eyes instinctively followed her fingers, seeing her point outside.

He didn’t realize at all that Qiao Yan was manipulating his emotions, making him think entirely along her lines, which was a dangerous sign.

The sudden deaths of Bu Ji and Zhang Bo before his eyes had completely scrambled his thoughts.

Even when Qiao Yan said, “In that case, please give the order, Commander,” he first nodded out of instinct, then showed a confused expression.

Give the order? What order should he give?

Qiao Yan paused, then said in a tone that left no room for misunderstanding, “Please send your trusted men—”

“Burn the granary.”

Liang Zhongning shuddered.

The four words she uttered were like a thunderclap, startling him greatly.

The granary in Puyang City had stored grain from both the Tian Family Fortress and the Gao Family Fortress, filling the void left when Liang Zhongning first took over Puyang. It was no exaggeration to say that this granary was the lifeline of his soldiers.

Because of this, the guards he had stationed at the granary were even more numerous than those around him.

But now, what was he hearing?

Burn the granary?

He hesitated, then spoke, “I know the atmosphere is tense, but sir, please don’t joke about such things…”

“I’m not joking with you!” Qiao Yan immediately cut him off. “Burning the granary is the solution to this situation. You can move the grain first, then set a controlled fire. As for how much grain is destroyed, that’s up to you to say.”

“Today, I intended to ease relations with Commander Bu Ji, inviting him to discuss cooperation. His army witnessed this. But everyone knows what kind of person Bu Ji is.”

“If he was dissatisfied with the disparity between our forces, would it be possible for him to deliberately set fire to the granary, or even send people to secretly plunder it?”

Liang Zhongning: It seems there really is.

“If this matter is inadvertently discovered by the rebel leader, what will he do?”

Before Liang Zhongning could reply, he heard Qiao Yan’s resolute words: “I guess the rebel leader, just like before when he didn’t dare to kill him easily, will be cautious because both sides are still allies, so he will only hold accountable but not kill.”

Qiao Yan pointed, and Dian Wei noticed her glance, paused for a moment, and handed her the wine jar that had been knocked over during the fight but hadn’t shattered yet.

The wine jar didn’t stay in her hands for long before she smashed it fiercely on the ground.

The aroma of wine and the stronger scent of blood mixed into an even more pungent smell.

Yet, it inexplicably made Liang Zhongning’s face flush as if filled with blood.

He seemed to vaguely guess Qiao Yan’s plan.

There seemed to be some deviation from her identity as a disciple of Zheng Xuan, but as a beneficiary, some things are inevitably overlooked.

For a moment, he felt that what shattered on the ground might not be the wine jar, but his already precarious idea of maintaining the balance among the three Yellow Turban commanders.

Qiao Yan then asked word by word: “But what if during the night banquet, under the influence of wine, the rebel leader suddenly learns that the granary fire was started by Bu Ji, what should he do?”

This time, Liang Zhongning gave a firm and resolute reply, “Kill him!”

As for why the other one died? Let’s just say it was bad luck.

Only after she left the banquet hall did the night breeze disperse the lingering scent of blood from her breath.

She looked up at the uncertain stars in the night sky, her expression of decisiveness softened, revealing a different melancholy from when she arranged Liang Zhongning’s next moves, but she suppressed it with a self-mocking smile after looking away.

[…You really are taking a risky path.] The system’s tone also carried a hint of sigh.

Even though it had been shocked before the banquet when Qiao Yan convinced Dian Wei to follow her orders to kill those two, seeing it happen right before its eyes still made it feel like it had to refresh its understanding of its host.

It originally thought that as a qualified system, its database included psychological counseling content, and perhaps it should comfort its host at this time.

After all—when they first arrived in this world, the corpses they saw were already dead; during the battle between the Tian and Gao family fortresses, she mostly stayed out of the frontline for her own safety.

But now, she witnessed such a scene up close.

However, after waiting for a long time, the system only heard Qiao Yan, after watching Liang Zhongning’s confidants carry out the plan, ask in a low voice: “Is there a strategist point settlement?”

[…] The system was speechless.

Isn’t this a bit too dedicated?

But since Qiao Yan couldn’t perform the strange action of opening a light screen, it naturally had to do it for her.

[Yes.]

Of course, there is.

The death of Bu Ji and Zhang Bo undoubtedly puts Liang Zhongning, whom Qiao Yan theoretically serves, in a favorable position to “get promoted and raise salary,” becoming the leader of the Yanzhou Yellow Turbans.

Judging by the personal development prospects of Liang Zhongning, this unique form of “lord,” the strategist point should be awarded to her.

Considering the future where the Yellow Turban Army, no longer restrained by the three-way balance, is likely to fall into the hands of one person and grow stronger, this strategist point should also be awarded to her.

But the way this strategist point was obtained really made the system conflicted.

If it praises her, wouldn’t it encourage her to dance on the edge of danger…

The system, on its first practical mission with a host, fell silent.

But no matter what the system thought, Puyang City was destined to be restless tonight.

The soldiers on night patrol from Bu Ji’s and Zhang Bo’s troops stationed outside the city saw the firelight rising from the city, illuminating half the sky, followed by the distant cry of “fire” in the silent night.

The sound grew louder, and the firelight brighter.

Unfortunately, separated by the city wall, they couldn’t see where the fire started.

But more important to them than the fire in the city was managing the awakened soldiers in the camp.

No matter how much the Yellow Turban Army waves the banner of the Way of Great Peace, appearing to have a spiritual faith, it can’t change one fact—

Most of the soldiers, after long-term hardship, are in poor physical condition, and the unknown outcome of confronting the imperial court adds to their mental stress.

Anyone with military experience in the ranks would know that this is a state extremely prone to camp riots.

Fortunately, there was no army attacking, and the fire in the city was quickly extinguished, restoring peace.

The soldiers who woke up and couldn’t fall back asleep gathered together, sharing their thoughts on where the fire might have started in the city.

But soon, they received three shocking pieces of news.

The fire started in the granary in Puyang City.

The fire was set by the mentally unstable Bu Ji.

Bu Ji was killed by Liang Zhongning under the influence of alcohol, along with Zhang Bo who tried to intervene.

These three pieces of news, each more shocking than the last!

If not for the confident tone of the messenger, it would sound like a joke!

Hearing that their superior is suddenly gone is not something anyone can easily accept.

But after selecting representatives to demand an explanation from Liang Zhongning and being allowed into Puyang City, what they saw seemed to confirm the messenger’s words.

The fire started in the granary.

The granary floor still bore traces of burnt grains, and outside were salvaged grain bags.

Some bags were burned open, spilling millet on the ground.

It was the millet obtained from the fortress.

Such a sight is rare in ordinary households, making it especially noticeable.

Also outside the granary was Liang Zhongning.

The Yellow Turban commander, still reeking of alcohol, held a blood-stained blade, distinguishing him from an ordinary drunk.

Due to the need to report the fire damage to him, he had to put on a strong front.

Before Bu Ji’s soldiers could approach Liang Zhongning, they saw him, as if hearing something unbelievable, draw his sword with a fierce expression, shouting:

“I wanted to cooperate with him to get grain, so both our troops could eat their fill, why did he do this to me!”

“Two hundred thousand hu of loss? Killing him was too lenient, even hanging him on Puyang’s city walls wouldn’t quench my hatred!”

His words not only startled the messenger closest to him but also made Bu Ji’s soldiers step back.

But then they saw Liang Zhongning, sobering up, sheathe his sword.

Seeing them, he turned and asked: “Enough about him. With Bu Ji dead, is there… chaos in the army?”

The person he addressed shrank back and replied: “Not yet, but the sudden news sent us to inquire the reason.”

Liang Zhongning sighed.

He didn’t reply immediately but, as Qiao Yan had taught him, slowly looked at the sword in his hand, as if touching the bloodstains brought some regret.

But as the saying goes, the dead cannot be brought back to life. No matter how much he regretted, and despite the circumstances and the influence of alcohol, he had to deal with the aftermath.

When he looked up again, he had clearly forced himself to compose his emotions.

“The reason? You’ve seen it. Both Bu Ji and I are at fault, but the city’s grain reserves are crucial for feeding the soldiers. His actions were no different from taking lives!”

The soldiers who came to inquire didn’t reply.

But if they had to speak, they might agree.

The idea of setting fire to the granary sounds absurd, but pinned on their commander, it seems plausible.

Thus, Liang Zhongning isn’t having an easy time either.

He’s been overwhelmed by the deaths of two commanders and the granary fire loss, and now has to give an explanation.

What the soldiers didn’t expect was, after drinking the cold water handed by his subordinate, he regained some clarity and said: “You say there’s no chaos yet, but I’m not reassured.”

“An army without a leader is prone to mutiny. I’m not sober enough to take over now, but with enough food, and everyone responding to the call of the General of Heaven, they won’t scatter.”

His gaze shifted from them to the sacks outside the granary, showing some reluctance, then gritted his teeth and said: “Since the granary caught fire, these salvaged millets are a gift from heaven. Take them out and distribute them to our comrades outside the city.”

Distribute grain?

The representatives looked at each other, each seeing surprise on the other’s face.

Liang Zhongning clearly has more than one granary, but the salvaged grain here amounts to two to three hundred thousand hu.

If Liang Zhongning only apologized for mistakenly killing Bu Ji, it might leave room for criticism in the army.

But if Bu Ji indeed did something unethical, and with two to three hundred thousand hu of grain in front of them—

Killing him was justified!

Whoever can feed them is the new commander!