Chapter 131

Chapter 131

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 4: The End of Zhongping, Luoyang’s Storm, Chapter 131: Receiving the Edict to Suppress the Bandits

“…” Xu Rong was momentarily at a loss for words.

He had clearly assessed the situation before him.

The heavily armored shield bearers arrayed in front of him were not something his cavalry could easily overcome in a charge.

The soldiers arrayed on the Mang Mountain had already raised their bows, ready to shoot at them at any moment.

And behind them, the still unknown ambush forces might catch up at any time.

It seemed he only had two options left.

Either throw himself into the surging waters of the Yellow River or surrender to the Governor of Bingzhou before him.

Xu Rong had no doubt that as Qiao Yan launched this river-crossing attack, the Xuanmen Pass and the Taigu Pass had likely already been met by their own enemies.

This was a three-pronged advance on Luoyang!

And yet, the route he thought least likely to succeed had already achieved its goal, completing the river-crossing strike. So how could the other two routes fail?

In the brief moment of his hesitation, he saw the Bingzhou army on the other side of the river ferry another batch of troops ashore.

Even with victory seemingly within grasp, the Bingzhou army, unlike the Liangzhou troops, showed no signs of relaxation.

Instead, they quickly reserved soldiers for boat operations, while the rest swiftly formed ranks behind Qiao Yan.

This was the confidence that allowed her to advance further.

She was right. Trapped here, once she finished organizing her troops and advanced towards Xiaopingjin, with the overwhelming numerical advantage, they were almost certainly doomed.

And Xiaopingjin had no commanding officer.

Thus, both river crossings were effectively lost.

The next step, attacking Luoyang, would be even easier for her, given the less challenging terrain.

So, did he still need to hold his ground for a side destined to lose?

Although he was an important general under Dong Zhuo, he was not a confidant nor related by blood. With Dong Zhuo’s defeat almost certain, he had to find a way out for himself and his subordinates.

What finally made Xu Rong decide was seeing Niu Fu being tied up and brought before Qiao Yan.

Having been caught off guard by this divine night raid, Niu Fu, as the defeated party, did not reflect on his drunken negligence or his lack of control over the camp, which might have facilitated Qiao Yan’s night attack. Instead, he first looked at Xu Rong, who was in a standoff with Qiao Yan.

Niu Fu, looking utterly disheveled, glared at Xu Rong and angrily said, “I always knew you, Xu Rong, were no good. It was you who led the Bingzhou army here!”

Before Xu Rong could defend himself, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but laugh, “Niu Zhonglang, where did you get that idea? Can’t you see General Xu brought his cavalry to rescue you, only to be trapped here? I say, instead of saving you, he might as well retreat to Luoyang. At least he could show his face in front of the old traitor Dong Zhuo, without you stabbing him in the back, don’t you think?”

The last five words were directed not at Niu Fu, but at Xu Rong.

His expression changed, hard to discern in the night.

But after a few moments, his actions were clear.

He suddenly dismounted, walked a few steps towards Qiao Yan, stopped before the shields, removed his helmet, and knelt on one knee, “Xu Rong of Xuantu County, Youzhou, pays respects to the Marquis. If you do not disdain, I am willing to serve you loyally.”

He was from the borderlands, not one to cause himself trouble with stubbornness.

Previously, he tolerated Niu Fu’s backstabbing because, with Qiao Yan’s army pressing in, any conflict between the two crossings could easily give the enemy an opportunity.

But now that the enemy had crossed the river, and Niu Fu still wanted to pin the blame on him…

Why endure? If they already thought he had defected, he might as well really defect!

He knew Qiao Yan’s use of a divisive strategy to win this battle wasn’t exactly honorable.

But such tactics couldn’t overshadow her success in crossing the river and capturing the Mengjin Pass.

His gaze momentarily shifted to the sheepskin rafts on the shore.

Having followed Dong Zhuo in campaigns in Liangzhou, he recognized them and roughly guessed how she had transported the first batch of troops across the river.

Even without the divisive strategy, she might have achieved today’s success.

Perhaps the greatest significance of this move was… was to make Xu Rong see clearly whether he should still be on Dong Zhuo’s unstable ship!

He might have hesitated due to making a decision in a moment of anger, but such hesitation was quickly suppressed.

After sitting with Qiao Yan in the Mengjin Pass’s council chamber, he heard her say, “General Xu, I am pleasantly surprised by your willingness to defect. Unfortunately, I cannot offer you the title of Zhonglang General like Dong Zhuo. All I can offer is a promise.”

She spoke solemnly, making it impossible to doubt her sincerity, “General Xu, by serving me, you are my general. There is no distinction between surrendered or defeated generals. The rules for meritorious service in the Bingzhou army are the same as for my other generals.”

“And one more thing, whether you believe it or not, I must make it clear—if General Xu does not betray me, I will not doubt you.”

Xu Rong stood up and bowed to Qiao Yan again, “Marquis, there is no need to call me General. My courtesy name is Wenxian. I am content to serve as a Colonel under your command.”

He noticed a glance from a general across the room when he mentioned “Colonel.”

That general had come from the direction of Xiaopingjin, making it easy for Xu Rong to guess that he was the leader of the heavy infantry that had attacked his rear troops, returning ahead of the others to report the battle’s progress to Qiao Yan.

The faint morning light illuminated the man’s sharp and arrogant face, but also revealed a hint of what could be called envy in his eyes.

Xu Rong was slightly puzzled by this reaction, but it was clearly not the focus at the moment.

He continued, “Before leading my troops to support Mengjin, I informed the garrison inside the pass that if I did not return by noon, it would mean Mengjin and I were both lost. They must exit the pass and return to Luoyang from multiple directions across the Mang Mountain to deliver this military intelligence.”

“Since the Marquis knew I was coming, she must have anticipated my reporting to Luoyang. Intercepting messengers on mountain roads is easy, but intercepting those crossing mountains on foot is difficult. With ten thousand troops, marching thirty miles over mountain roads, the Marquis’s forces would inevitably fall behind my messengers—”

“So, I must return to Xiaopingjin to prevent the leak of information.”

Qiao Yan pondered for a moment and asked, “In the Xiaopingjin garrison, how many are Liangzhou generals, and how many are soldiers from the Northern Army’s Five Divisions?”

Xu Rong was surprised that she didn’t question whether his return to Xiaopingjin would be like releasing a tiger back to the mountains. Perhaps, as she said, not doubting him was already a given.

He straightened his expression and replied, “Three hundred Liangzhou troops, three thousand Northern Army troops.”

“Three thousand…”

If these three thousand troops, as Xu Rong suggested, continued to hold Xiaopingjin to prevent information leaks, it would indeed serve Qiao Yan’s current needs.

But it also meant that after achieving the goal of purging the court, these troops would be reincorporated into the Five Divisions, having nothing to do with Qiao Yan.

But if these elite-trained soldiers could be directly incorporated into her forces during their service, wouldn’t that be better?

Back in the selection for the Du Liao General, Qiao Yan had already coveted this force that combined cavalry, archers, and other units.

Now, with the chaotic order and Luoyang’s instability, it was the perfect opportunity for them to relocate.

And the prerequisite for all this was that they could assist in the attack on Luoyang.

Only then would they be “one of us.”

She asked, “If, besides the proclamation against Dong Zhuo, I also have an imperial edict to purge the court, could Wenxian persuade his troops to join the attack on Luoyang?”

Xu Rong looked surprised as Qiao Yan reached out to Guo Jia, who had also arrived on the southern bank, took the edict from him, and handed it to Xu Rong.

“Before the late Emperor passed away, he knew that with the young Emperor, there would be those with ulterior motives. The Grand General at that time was threatening the imperial authority, showing signs of disloyalty. As a minister promoted by the late Emperor, it was my duty to help stabilize the capital. Unfortunately, during the chaos in Luoyang, I was still campaigning in the north. By the time this edict reached me, the traitor Dong had already entered the capital.”

“Initially, he promoted capable officials to govern the provinces, and though he had no formal regency title, he might have brought peace to the realm. Thus, I did not produce this edict. But now—”

“Now the situation is different,” Qiao Yan sighed, “Dong Zhuo’s tyranny is universally detested. Once he moves the capital to Chang’an, Luoyang’s royal stability will be lost, and the Han dynasty’s glory will fade. At this time, Luoyang must be swiftly conquered! If this edict can secure the assistance of the Northern Army’s Five Divisions for a rapid attack on Luoyang’s northern city, sparing the northern suburbs’ civilians, then it is worth producing.”

Xu Rong clearly saw the imperial seal at the end of the edict.

It bore the eight characters: “受命于天既寿永昌” (Mandated by Heaven, Longevity and Eternal Prosperity).

There were slight differences at the corners of the seal, likely due to repairs after the Imperial Seal was broken by Empress Dowager Wang at the end of the Former Han.

Since following Dong Zhuo into Luoyang, he had heard that during the hasty palace burning by Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, the two princes, along with Zhang Rang and Jian Shuo, fled too quickly to take the seal. The seal, previously hidden by Zhang Rang, disappeared after his death, and even the new Emperor Liu Xie did not know its whereabouts.

Thus, the edict in Qiao Yan’s hands gained significant authority.

He replied, “If so, persuading them will not be difficult. Leave this to me.”

Xu Rong’s control over the Northern Army troops was far superior to Niu Fu’s.

These troops, having participated in the Western Suburb Camp…








The soldiers who were training still remember how the Emperor highly valued Qiao Yan when he granted her the position of Prefect of Bingzhou. This appointment was not without controversy. She held such an edict in her hand, and there was no need to explain the reasons. Besides the official title, there was another reason. Even though Dong Zhuo controlled the Emperor Liu Xie, his illegitimate authority and the condemnation from renowned scholars made it hard for them not to feel uneasy while serving under him. Would they be implicated because of this? If it weren’t for their families mostly being in Luoyang, many would have fled by now. Fortunately, Qiao Yan now holds the Emperor’s edict, leading ten thousand troops across the river and persuading Xu Rong to surrender. If Dong Zhuo can be captured in this battle, they wouldn’t have to worry about their families being implicated and could also clear their names of being accomplices! Good news! Before sunset, they were led to Mengjin Ford, joining forces with Qiao Yan. Although some were sent by Xu Rong to deliver messages at night and were left in Mang Mountain according to Qiao Yan’s orders to Lü Bu, and some were killed by Qu Yi’s heavy-armored troops while supporting Mengjin Ford at night, these were unavoidable losses in war. Qiao Yan stood atop Mengjin Pass, looking down at the soldiers who had successfully crossed the river from the north bank to the south bank, even expanding their numbers after the crossing, feeling immensely relieved. In such a rapidly changing situation, she had no time to inquire about the progress of Suanzao’s army advancing towards Xuanmen Pass or the Luyang coalition’s advance towards Taigu Pass. Even if both were still blocked outside the passes, it was time for her to march on Luoyang! Any delay, and if Dong Zhuo started the capital relocation, the suffering would fall on Luoyang’s millions of people! Given the current situation, even if the attack on Luoyang turned for the worst, she had already achieved her goals of gaining people, reputation, and training troops, leaving no regrets. So, let’s fight! She held the imperial decree and declared, “The late Emperor did not underestimate me due to my youth, entrusting me with the heavy responsibility of Prefect and the task of eliminating traitors, placing the hopes of the Han dynasty on me. Apart from leading troops into the capital, eradicating the treacherous, and restoring the state, I have no way to repay this trust! Fortunately, with your help, we have gathered troops north of Mang Mountain today. Marching at night is not easy, but I ask you to follow me on this path. By sunrise tomorrow, it will be time to cleanse Luoyang of its bandits! And also— the time for you to achieve glory and make your mark!” The words “time to achieve glory” resonated strongly, eliciting cheers below the pass. Qiao Yan descended the pass and mounted her horse. Except for the relatively frail strategists like Guo Jia and Jia Xu, who were left at Mengjin Ford, everyone else would advance with her. Under the commander’s banner, Niu Fu was still grumbling, resentful that Xu Rong could command three thousand soldiers after surrendering to Qiao Yan, as if returning home. But he soon couldn’t speak anymore. Qiao Yan needed a symbol for her formal march, and no one was more suitable than Niu Fu. Realizing he wasn’t being kept as a bargaining chip against Dong Zhuo but as a sacrificial offering, Niu Fu quickly changed his curses to pleas for mercy upon meeting Qiao Yan’s gaze. But before he could say much, Dian Wei’s axe fell, silencing him on the spot. Blood splattered on the banner pole, turning a glorious color under the setting sun as Dian Wei hoisted it. Qiao Yan spurred her horse, signaling the march. Onward to Luoyang! The last time she traveled this path from north to south, she entered Luoyang in plain clothes, seeking the position of Prefect of Bingzhou for its people and herself. This time, clad in iron armor and dark robes, she came as a commander, for… “Don’t you have anything to ask me?” Qiao Yan asked the system in her heart as they rode. With no obstacles within thirty miles of Mang Mountain, she allowed herself a moment of peace, gazing at the familiar yet strange mountain scenery at dusk. Five years ago, the green mountains here were lush, and now they were even denser, seemingly unaffected by the turmoil in Luoyang. As the designated burial site for Eastern Han emperors, Liu Hong was naturally buried here, though far from their current path. If time allowed, Qiao Yan would have visited Liu Hong’s tomb, lamenting its desecration by Dong Zhuo, truly embodying the late Emperor’s trust. Unable to do so, she could only chat with the system. […You remember me?] The system had been silent since she decided to oppose Dong Zhuo. Her commanding presence during the oath-taking, her call to arms against Dong Zhuo rallying heroes, her trap for Yuan Shao for future use—whatever it was called, it wasn’t the demeanor of a strategist. When she was just fulfilling her duties as Prefect, the system could be fooled, but now it seemed its strategist system might need a name change! It was so naive! Looking back, all the reasons like “a strategist needs Dian Wei to protect their safety,” “a strategist needs Cheng Yu for intellectual sparring,” “a strategist needs notable achievements to boost reputation,” “a strategist must not serve too early to discern the right master,” seemed like excuses to fool it! Which strategist could become a Prefect and gather such talents? Comparing the development of the three kingdoms at this time, they paled in comparison to her, making the system despair. It once thought Qiao Yan’s brilliance could help it achieve its goals, but now—it’s doomed. Who would dare take in such a unique “strategist”? Probably no one. But thinking carefully, this was predictable. It recalled why it chose Qiao Yan: among the historians it saw, she was the youngest, most ambitious, and showed the strongest will to survive during an archaeological accident. Such a person would fight for their goals anywhere and… was less likely to entrust their life to others. So, rather than striving to be the top strategist, it made perfect sense for her to choose to be an unconstrained leader. No, it couldn’t justify this for the deceiver! Yet, it heard Qiao Yan say, “If I’m not mistaken, my strategist points have increased significantly since initiating the campaign against Dong Zhuo. This isn’t from completing someone else’s plan but from achieving milestones, right?” […] “Dong Zhuo entering the capital, though far from the true Three Kingdoms period, marks the beginning of the Three Kingdoms in public perception. As a system based on this historical period, many built-in achievements should start from this time, right?” The system, not good at lying, stuttered before admitting, [Yes.] “Let’s talk. I think the task of becoming the top strategist is still achievable. But I need your help. If I’m in the Southern Palace of Luoyang, can you find out the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal?” The system paused before replying, [Pay attention to your luck stat.] Luck stat? This was an unexpected answer for Qiao Yan. She thought she might need to make some unscientific deal with the system. Already owing a debt for the seal, more debts wouldn’t hurt. But this answer was good news! The northern district of Luoyang was mostly inhabited by merchants. When Qiao Yan first arrived, she heard the area at the foot of Mang Mountain was called Shangshangli. Due to Dong Zhuo’s entry, merchants with spare money became frequent targets of plunder. Fortunately, escaping towards Mang Mountain wasn’t easily blocked, and merchants, not tied to one place, had mostly fled. Dong Zhuo only cared about hostages he must control, not those fleeing Luoyang. But now, planning to move the capital to Chang’an and needing Luoyang’s population to fill Chang’an’s deficit, he wasn’t so lenient. A northern merchant family trying to cross Mang Mountain was beheaded by Xiliang troops patrolling the outskirts. Under such threats, they could only huddle at home, disheartened by the impending relocation. Relocation… If given a choice, who would want to leave their home? But such words could only be whispered behind closed doors or muttered in dreams. However, tonight, they couldn’t even sleep until morning to finish their dreams. Before sunrise, drum-like hoofbeats approached, accompanied by rhythmic running, intensifying the earth’s tremors. The residents of Shangshangli woke in panic, fearing another raid by Dong Zhuo’s plundering soldiers! But this sound was different from the Xiliang cavalry’s. “Mother, listen…” a sharp-eared child grabbed his mother. This wasn’t a sound from south to north but from north to south, heading straight for the northern gate, accompanied by sharp arrow whistles. Mixed in was a repeatedly chanted slogan, drilling into the ears of those who could hear. “Prefect Qiao of Bingzhou, by imperial decree, comes to eliminate the traitors—”