“Can a strategist not ascend to the throne?”
Chapter 18: Breaking the Yellow Turbans, Xiangfu Comes to Meet
Since Bo Cai became a Yellow Turban Commander, he’d never witnessed such upheaval!
Previously, the Han army had been holed up in Changshe City, but suddenly they grew the guts to charge out and fight, seizing the cover of night and the sparks of fire, completely reversing their earlier timid defensive stance.
Fortunately, he wasn’t totally unprepared for this.
After all, they were close to the heart of the Han, and as long as the Han army still breathed, they wouldn’t concede an inch in the fight for Changshe.
He had previously speculated that the Han would likely exploit the Yellow Turbans’ lax military discipline to stir up chaos and take advantage of the situation.
With a stern face, he commanded the messengers to rally the troops immediately, climbing carefully up to a lookout tower.
From above, he spotted the raging fire in Changshe and cursed under his breath before returning his gaze to the camp.
Despite numerous disturbances, he could clearly see that the number of attackers wasn’t particularly high tonight; it was just that each side had a formidable warrior, and the sudden assault had caught him off guard, leading to this outcome.
Tiger generals, huh…
Bo Cai smirked coldly.
Though these tiger generals were fierce, in the current situation, they were still human and would tire out eventually!
Realizing that these two fighters were vastly superior to him in combat ability, Bo Cai promptly decided to adopt a strategy of encirclement using manpower.
As the Yellow Turban Commander centrally coordinating their forces, he didn’t need to engage in battle himself; he just needed to ensure both fighters received news that they were surrounded by hundreds of soldiers.
In fact, his predictions were spot on.
Among the Han troops attacking his camp, only two posed a real threat.
One was Fu Xie, Huangfu Song’s guard commander.
His initial actions of setting fires and attacking successfully triggered a wave of panic in Bo Cai’s ranks, causing them to retreat towards Liang Zhongning’s camp.
Once he confirmed that Qiao Yan had successfully arranged for the moles to lead people away, spreading the atmosphere of panic in the process, he immediately turned his horse around and galloped toward Zhu Jun, aiming to combine forces against Bo Cai’s Yellow Turban wave before the reinforcements arrived.
Fueled by horse hooves, Fu Xie’s face showed no signs of fear.
From Bo Cai’s previous fleeting glance and now hearing reports on the warriors going to battle, he understood that this guy was no pushover.
The other guy was not Zhu Jun, however.
Zhu Jun was indeed a warrior.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have united thousands of troops to fend off the Liang Long Rebellion as the Jiao Province Inspector, but there was another fierce tiger in his army now.
A general famously known as the “Tiger of Jiangdong.”
“Wentai!”
Fu Xie spotted Sun Jian in the crowd.
The surrounding Yellow Turban soldiers were slowly regaining their composure after the initial chaos, emboldened by their numbers and no longer afraid of the fiery scene; more and more were encircling, intent on wiping out the Han troops right there.
This undoubtedly made Sun Jian, who could easily break through formations, stand out even more.
Sun Jian had been serving under Zhu Jun for over a month, but sadly, his small contingent of young strong men was still just a drop in the bucket compared to the Yellow Turban numbers, and as a mere military aide, he had little autonomy.
Thus, even though the attack began with stealth, it left him eager to prove himself.
Kill, and that’s that!
This was his chance!
Future little tyrant Sun Ce inherited Sun Jian’s bravery, but right now, he was just a nine-year-old left behind in Jiujiang Shouchun with his mother, making Fu Xie’s observation of the tiger father’s commanding presence even more poignant.
Fu Xie swept aside a spear aimed at Sun Jian, leaping into the fray to join him.
Aware that Sun Jian was deep in battle, possibly not hearing his words, and fearing any mention of Zhu Jun’s title might bring trouble, Fu Xie, disregarding any possible impropriety in his address, called out loudly, “Where’s Lord Zhu?”
Where was Zhu Jun, the esteemed Lord?
Though Sun Jian fought fiercely, he hadn’t yet crossed the line into recklessness.
Besides, the Yellow Turbans, for some unknown reason, couldn’t be assessed by his previous experiences; despite defeating plenty, they showed no signs of retreating, further cooling Sun Jian’s initial zeal.
Upon hearing Fu Xie’s question, he immediately pointed in a direction.
Through the dense crowd, Fu Xie spotted Zhu Jun.
His steed was injured by someone and was now struggling, simply becoming a liability.
But this right general promptly dismounted to fight, arranging his troops alongside the attacking soldiers, and at that moment, he wasn’t in any real danger.
Fu Xie thought, with Zhu Jun and Sun Jian’s fighting abilities, and now that he had arrived with reinforcements, breaking through shouldn’t be too hard; he felt somewhat relieved.
However, while he observed Sun Jian alleviating pressure on him, he also spotted Bo Cai, the Yellow Turban leader.
They clearly were unhappy seeing that after creating such chaos, they still had a chance to escape at leisure.
As Bo Cai raised his hand to give orders, the ground shook with the footsteps of helmeted Yellow Turban soldiers wielding weapons, showcasing their wild, threatening nature.
Fu Xie, having keen vision, caught Bo Cai’s unmistakable murderous glare directed towards him and Sun Jian.
While this didn’t cause panic, it did make him grip his spear tighter.
He knew Sun Jian also sensed the danger in the air.
As Fu Xie shouted “Run!” at Sun Jian, Sun Jian swept his spear, clearing a path to continue surging towards Zhu Jun.
Bo Cai’s command came just a tad too late; his archers were either firing at empty space or hitting their own men.
“Commander, don’t shoot!” his deputy urgently advised, “Even though we have light from the fire, visibility at night is limited. In a case of close contact, we might hit our own people, especially with fewer enemies!”
Even without saying so, Bo Cai could guess the implication.
If they were a disciplined army, a few friendly fire incidents might be tolerable to achieve their goal, but alas, this was a band still trembling from a prior siege loss.
Losses among their own would undoubtedly shake their morale.
Bo Cai gritted his teeth and ordered the archers to pull back.
And just as this maneuver was executed, Fu Xie and Sun Jian reached Zhu Jun’s side.
As Zhu Jun’s military aide, Sun Jian immediately offered to let his steed go to his superior, but Zhu Jun refused, stating, “Wentai, your horsemanship is exceptional, and you possess considerable combat prowess. At this time, let’s focus on the greater goal rather than ranks!”
Bo Cai could see where they were, and Zhu Jun easily discerned Bo Cai’s position from the enemy’s ranks.
He narrowed his eyes, confirming he hadn’t mistaken, and asked, “Wentai, are you confident you can take the enemy leader’s head amidst the chaos?”
Zhu Jun realized he couldn’t put all his hopes on Qiao Yan; after opting to infiltrate the camp based on her intel, he confirmed her keen observation skills.
But the Yellow Turbans’ lack of coordinated deployment wasn’t just a problem for Bo Cai.
Whether that girl could do as she claimed in her letter, Zhu Jun didn’t have full confidence either.
Unfortunately, he received no firm reassurance from Sun Jian.
“I’m afraid not,” Sun Jian replied.
Given the numbers on both sides, there weren’t many chances to duel; Sun Jian remained rational, refraining from boasting, “I’ll die for the Middle General, and bring Bo Cai’s head to you!”
This left Zhu Jun feeling somewhat disappointed.
Yet before he could wrap up his plan to execute the leader along with his regret, a sudden shocking turn of events unfolded.
A figure whose face was concealed beneath heavy armor suddenly charged straight towards Bo Cai.
This wasn’t one of Bo Cai’s men.
As it approached, the soldiers near Bo Cai readied themselves in defense.
However, just as they readied their weapons, and even if Bo Cai had switched up the archers’ deployment, he’d barely have any threat from this strange individual.
At most, they’d poke the person he was carrying into a porcupine.
As the flames diminished slightly, Bo Cai failed to realize that the person being carried was none other than Liang Zhongning. He also wouldn’t know this wasn’t the first time Liang Zhongning had been used like that.
The last time he had this treatment was during the attack on Tian Family Fortress.
Back then, it was a butcher disguised as Dian Wei who was hauling him, yet now it was the real Dian Wei; he had indeed grown.
Though if Liang Zhongning were conscious at this moment, he wouldn’t wish for such “growth.”
This was just too embarrassing…
Dian Wei, on the other hand, was very much valiant.
With his incredible strength, fully armored, he sprinted quite a distance carrying a person without even breaking a sweat.
Remembering what Qiao Yan said to him before donning that armor, her significant expectations made him temporarily forget that he was merely a temp, and he dutifully carried Liang Zhongning as he ran, seeking his place and arriving here. Just before crashing into Bo Cai and his crew, he suddenly veered off towards the deeper part of the camp.
“…?” Bo Cai was puzzled by Dian Wei’s actions.
This wasn’t even a direction to escape the camp!
But soon, he didn’t have the time to think about where this person had come from; shortly after Dian Wei vanished from sight, he suddenly heard an unexpected voice approaching him amidst the chaos.
Through the noise of footsteps, he finally discerned the phrase “Eliminate the thieves!”
Eliminate the thieves?
Bo Cai was taken aback.
Who was the thief?
Naturally, it was him—the real thief!
From the moment Dian Wei appeared, Sun Jian was halted in his movements by Zhu Jun, adopting a defensive stance as Fu Xie did the same.
By gathering together, they appeared like mere pebbles against the overwhelming Yellow Turban army.
The approaching Jianzhou Yellow Turbans, chasing after Dian Wei to this spot, barely recognized the armored figures in the night and overlooked them completely.
In contrast, what caught the eye was Bo Cai, surrounded and protected by weaponry.
Illuminated by the flickering campfire, Bo Cai’s expression of confidence boldly reflected in their sights.
What they wouldn’t realize was, his demeanor was intended for the approaching Han army, not for them.
They simply knew that the enemy had intended to launch a night raid but had failed due to Qiao Yan’s forewarning, and in a desperate act, had managed to abduct Liang Zhongning instead!
Thus, they didn’t even bother asking Bo Cai for explanation or debate; in a burst of vengeance, they charged at him.
Even Zhu Jun, having learned of her plans ahead of time from Qiao Yan, couldn’t believe the absurdity of the scene unfolding.
Since the Yellow Turbans had risen up, sporadic reports reaching Liu Hong had driven him to decisively lift the Prohibition of Factionalists to seek scholars’ support in his crisis, giving an idea of just how dire the circumstances must be.
The Yellow Turbans battled with local officials, then with the fortified strongmen, and after the armies were dispatched from Luoyang, they clashed with the Han regulars.
And now…
Zhu Jun felt like he might be among the fortunate few witnessing the Yellow Turbans fighting their own.
If Bo Cai had previously had the upper hand rallying his troops, that advantage had now all but evaporated.
The origins of the Jianzhou Yellow Turbans were similar to that of the Yuzhou Yellow Turbans, leading to comparable physical attributes and combat training.
Yet the former had evolved within Qiao Yan’s gathering of food and weapon arms in Jianzhou, showing more ordered formations and marching commands than the latter—more competitive in battle.
Moreover, the Jianzhou Yellow Turbans had clear objectives and that strategist backing them, while the Yuzhou Yellow Turbans hadn’t realized the moment they expressed intentions of assisting against the Han army was one of confrontation instead of aid!
That’s the gap!
Bo Cai’s mind raced—were these people insane?
But just as he opened his mouth to shout this out, the oncoming soldiers and the cries of “Eliminate the thieves!” drowned him out.
Now it was truly a clash of armies, and logically speaking, the archers could come into play.
But switching formations wasn’t something easily done with just words, especially not when one side was charging fiercely forward, while even a single person on the other side showed intent to retreat, greatly reducing the efficiency of their revised setup.
At nearly the same moment, Sun Jian and Fu Xie exchanged glances, both recognizing the calculations behind each other’s eyes.
To directly bypass the numerous protections and slay Bo Cai right then and there required a well-coordinated effort and additional backup, but lacking that didn’t mean they couldn’t think out of the box at this moment.
For instance, they could move around back to take care of those archers!
As these two tigers received Zhu Jun’s consent, the sound of galloping hooves drew their attention; they turned to face the source, spotting a child and a middle-aged scholar riding together, heading towards them and gesturing a salute.
Clearly, that was Qiao Yan and her acquaintance Cheng Li!
Right now, they couldn’t see her features clearly, yet they felt they could identify the piercing clarity in her eyes, acting as the unseen player, witnessing the final outcome of this battle.
“A child should be like this…”
Currently in Changshe City, having just seen Huangfu Song and Cao Cao lead the charge, Fu Gan, and Sun Ce, who was praying for his father’s safe return along with his mother, were unaware that their father had simultaneously begun to entertain such thoughts.
But this sentiment was fleeting.
With the Jianzhou Yellow Turbans advancing, it was inevitable that their defenses would weaken.
This allowed their escape plan to unfold smoothly.
The rear attack from these two and the unexpected strike from the Jianzhou Yellow Turbans became the final straw that pushed Bo Cai into panic.
Regardless of how chaotic the camp was, his forces were still positioned somewhere, right? He should at least be able to anticipate the Han Army’s plans and feel secure, but now,
He had no clue what had prompted the Jianzhou Yellow Turbans’ sudden attack and where their “Eliminate the thieves!” shout had come from!
Why were these people so coincidentally aligned with the Han’s timing of the assault? He had no clue!
When the first row of axe-wielders was brutally taken down, Bo Cai instinctively lurched backward, his back drenched in cold sweat.
In realizing things had taken a turn for the worse, he abandoned the rear guard and fled.
But if he hadn’t run, he was undoubtedly the legitimate commander selected by the Great Virtuous Teacher, revered by the Yellow Turbans as their leader—he would have had his safety guaranteed.
But now he retreated in what appeared to be a hasty escape.
In a situation that seemed increasingly like an internal Yellow Turban conflict, this looked like blatant cowardice.
Both Jianzhou and Yuzhou Yellow Turbans were faced with a dilemma.
In the absence of the commander, should they fight amongst themselves?
The Jianzhou troops instinctively looked toward where their strategist was supposed to be, hoping to receive insights from this unfailing “master,” only to realize both he and Cheng Li had disappeared at some unknown point.
At that moment, the surrounding flames flared brightly, amidst dust and horse whinnies, they heard a collective cry ringing out, “Surrender, and you won’t be killed!”
Upon seeing the figure leading them, both factions, having shed considerable strength in battle, recognized a terrifying truth.
The old tale of the clam and the snipe fighting, only for the fisherman to benefit, was not just a story—it was happening right now.
The arrivals had previously appeared before them during the Longshe command.
It was the highest commander of the Han army, Huangfu Song!
They certainly didn’t grasp what “A valuable son wouldn’t lounge in the hall” meant, yet they could infer already that people often found in tales resided in the background and would shy away from taking risks, unless—
Unless the current environment posed no danger for him at all.
Amidst the confidence displayed by the opposing side, the Yellow Turbans were met with the earth-shattering declaration, “The leader has been captured, remaining rebels surrender now!”
“There are a few who actually have a strategy for battle, yet they might notice that the number of the incoming third party is even less than half of theirs.”
Although Qiao Yan and Cheng Li had walked out of the Yellow Turbans’ sight in Yanzhou, they weren’t too far off, still positioned to observe the battlefield.
The surrounding chaos and fires, if one didn’t first harbor misunderstandings and fears, would reveal that only a few dozen horses were actually involved in the fray.
Sadly, amidst the disarray of the leaderless Yellow Turbans, all they could hear was the thunderous sounds and the persistent drums, while seeing Huangfu Song and his spirited Han army advancing step by step, along with that bizarre armored figure appearing again, this time hoisting a Yellow Turban commander in each hand like a trophy, perfectly echoing the words, “The bandit leaders have been captured.”
Any kind of signal meant doom was imminent for them.
They revered the Great Virtuous Teacher as their savior, yet had never considered how their Way of Great Peace might assist them should they find themselves in dire straits.
In any case, a bolt of heavenly lightning wasn’t going to strike down Huangfu Song.
With that mindset, the first person instinctively dropped their weapon to the ground.
Then came the second person, and then the third…
“The Yellow Turban army clearly has a significant gap in turning numbers into combat strength,” Qiao Yan sighed.
As she spoke, she caught sight of the leader among the cavalry through the smoke.
It was a bit tricky to discern someone’s stature while seated on a horse, but the man’s appearance and what she could gauge of his height aligned pretty much with someone she’d had in mind.
And when it came to the Yellow Turban army’s numbers not equalizing to combat strength, it seemed one couldn’t bypass the mention of him.
Cao Cao.
The hundreds of thousands of Qingzhou soldiers he obtained after quelling the Yanzhou rebellion served as classic proof of this statement.
Farmers can’t exactly match professionals in warfare, that’s just unrealistic. In terms of military discipline, they definitely couldn’t compare to regular troops.
During the Battle of Puyang, the Qingzhou soldiers failed to intercept Lü Bu for Cao Cao, which resulted in Cao Cao getting his palm burned in the flames; at the Battle of Wancheng, they not only failed to turn the tide for him but ended up plundering their own! Just thinking about it is a laugh riot.
However, one undeniable fact is that these Yellow Turbans remain a precious resource of manpower.
Especially towards the end of the Han.
So, Qiao Yan must not let Huangfu Song kill them all off.
She gazed out at the bustling camp slowly calming down and adjusted her attire before heading towards where Huangfu Song was stationed.
The fire surrounding no longer presented the chaotic state of before, but instead, torches were positioned every ten steps, sweeping away the chaos within the camp.
Only under the illumination of these torches did Liang Zhongning and Bo Cai’s Yellow Turban soldiers realize that perhaps their surrender wasn’t the wisest decision.
The third party, the Han army, wasn’t nearly as numerous as they had imagined!
But by now, they clearly had no chance to change their minds.
The weapons in their hands had already been swiftly confiscated, their ranged archers decimated by the combined might of Sun Jian and Fu Xie, followed by the arrival of the Han army; most of them were injured, and what was worse, their food supplies had been quickly seized by the Han.
Indeed, the Han army attacking from Changshe didn’t have enough troops, which also implied there might be gaps for them to escape through; yet with their food reserves confiscated first, it was the equivalent of being chained down.
Qiao Yan encountered Huangfu Song right by the military supply tents.
When she arrived, Huangfu Song was clearly intrigued by Dian Wei, the burly warrior who could dash through the Yellow Turban camp wearing heavy armor, and was busy inquiring about him.
What particularly impressed Huangfu Song was that Dian Wei not only carried the captured Liang Zhongning but also fortuitously knocked Bo Cai out amidst the chaos, directly bringing him into custody.
When it comes to credit, that’s quite the accomplishment!
But when Dian Wei began assigning escape routes for his local community, he seemed almost comically clueless, and when Huangfu Song started asking questions, it felt like he was missing a crucial cog in his brain; Qiao Yan couldn’t help but think he was off his game.
Fortunately, someone else could alleviate Huangfu Song’s curiosity about him.
Seeing Qiao Yan approach, Dian Wei threw her a look that could be translated to “Saved at last.”
Huangfu Song was indeed far more interested in Qiao Yan.
When Cheng Li met Qiao Yan before, he was in a similar state; Huangfu Song was too, but Qiao Yan was doing far more now than just gathering the multiple factions of Yellow Turbans from Yanzhou.
If what she previously showed was her ability to read people and sow discord, now—
That letter sent to Changshe could very well be titled as youthful righteousness; displaying the talents of a pillar in this encirclement, her schemes were far from ordinary.
All these traits were now packed into a girl who was barely old enough to be called a “youth.”
She was just too young!
For generals like Dian Wei, while Huangfu Song found him quite appealing, he had someone as strong and clever as Fu Xie already at his side, so there wasn’t a dire need there.
But Qiao Yan was different.
She was a strategist capable of turning the tide of battle…
After Qiao Yan approached him and performed her greetings, he wasn’t surprised that this clever girl would ask, “What arrangements do you have for these people, General?”
At this point, Bo Cai had regained consciousness, along with Liang Zhongning, who had been knocked out by Dian Wei at the start. Both were muddled with confusion regarding the situation, and there was even a trace of resentment lingering between them.
Of course, they couldn’t fathom why their struggle ultimately benefitted the Han army.
For Liang Zhongning, the biggest shock was that the military strategist he relied on so heavily seemed to have stood on the Han army’s side from the start, making her the mastermind behind the Yellow Turbans’ downfall.
If it wasn’t for the cloth stuffed in Liang Zhongning’s mouth, he would have outright questioned what he had done wrong to make her act this way.
Just as he was eager to understand what was happening and to confront Qiao Yan, he heard her question.
Then he heard Huangfu Song reply without a hint of hesitation: “I previously discussed this issue with Gong Wei, who provided a reason I couldn’t refute: He said, ‘If there’s profit, they become thieves; if there’s no profit, they surrender; where is the nation’s law?'”
The meaning was clear: Kill!
Zhu Jun’s advice to Huangfu Song was that if the Yellow Turbans could run to join others when there was a chance for profit during a rebellion, then when calamity struck and they had no benefit to gain, they would turn to the throne to beg for surrender, then what would hold these people back from being swept up in the next rebellion?
Thus, the best course of action was to utterly eradicate these individuals, giving a stern warning to others tempted to join in the uprisings.
Liang Zhongning certainly understood the implications of Huangfu Song’s words; his earlier defiance against Qiao Yan morphed into dread as he faced imminent doom.
He sensed that he shouldn’t feel this way, as he followed the General of Heaven’s uprising for the sake of justice.
Neither success nor death in this journey should warrant fear.
But before he could figure himself out, he unexpectedly heard Qiao Yan say, “I think these people shouldn’t be killed.”
“…?” Liang Zhongning instinctively looked at Qiao Yan’s face but saw not a hint of pleading or emotion in her calm demeanor.
She calmly articulated to Huangfu Song her judgment regarding the situation: “Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t oppose General Zhu’s viewpoint, but the purpose of beheading the Yellow Turban bandits is to provide a warning—who are you warning at this very moment?”
“Naturally, the others uncommitted to the rebellion,” Huangfu Song replied.
The implication being the brothers Zhang Jiao from Ji Province and Zhang Mancheng from Nanyang.
Qiao Yan then asked, “Wouldn’t that also inform them about the situation here?”
Huangfu Song suddenly was taken aback.
Qiao Yan’s words had truly reminded him.
Did he really want such news to be disseminated?
He immediately thought to pull Qiao Yan back into Changshe for a discussion, but she rejected his invitation, citing fatigue, disheveled clothes, and that it wouldn’t be proper to meet elders in such a state. She preferred to visit Huangfu Song the next day, once she was cleaned up and properly attired.
“Young people are too concerned about appearances,” Huangfu Song commented.
Just as he finished speaking, Zhu Jun shot him a glance.
That look was unmistakably filled with meaning.
Zhu Jun could tell Huangfu Song’s words were correct, but the tone didn’t sound like a reprimand towards Qiao Yan’s youthful flaw; instead, it felt more like a senior’s fondness for a junior.
Her infiltration into enemy lines and their inside-outside coordination wasn’t a rash act but rather daring, which was very much to Huangfu Song’s warrior taste.
If this girl weren’t from the Qiao clan of Liang, even if Qiao Xuan would likely pass away this year and Qiao Yu had already died in the Yellow Turban bandit attack, Huangfu Song would have had some inclination to see if she’d be interested in serving under him.
Especially since they had won!
After a victorious campaign, they had quelled the largest faction of Yellow Turbans within Yu province, alongside cleaning up the Yanzhou faction as well—certainly even someone like Huangfu Song, with military authority, would savor a moment of triumph.
Although these soldiers who answered the call of the Taishi Path could not be killed immediately, gathering them under his banner would certainly take some effort, yet that was far easier than what they had estimated regarding the prior battles.
Moreover, it would allow them to extend their support to other fronts.
On the day of the Gengzi, the Yellow Turbans of Nanyang killed the county magistrate Chu Gong, with their leader Zhang Mancheng and vice commander Zhao Hong stationed with several thousand troops in Wancheng.
From Wancheng, should they attack the Yishui River, they could drive straight into the heart of the capital and seize Luoyang.
This was undoubtedly a highly dangerous position.
Prior to multiple lines of Han troops launching, the eight passes of Luoyang had already stationed troops, while Yique Pass, due to the advantages presented by Longmen Mountain and Xiangshan Pass, was guarded by a seasoned commander, thus not easily taken even with sheer numbers.
Backed by Luoyang, they wouldn’t lack for supplies in a prolonged battle.
But—
The Yellow Turbans’ inspiration, or rather the Great Virtuous Teacher Zhang Jiao’s appeal, had gained a complete understanding from Huangfu Song’s recent confrontations with them.
Ma Yuanyi, Zhang Jiao’s disciple, previously colluded within Luoyang, attempting to secure a decisive blow; it could not be guaranteed that when Zhang Mancheng’s troops moved towards Yique Pass, there wouldn’t be any insiders stirring things up.
Currently, there was indeed the Jiangxia commander Qin Jie, under dire circumstances appointed as the Nanyang Prefect, heading out with troops against Zhang Mancheng; yet to secure the capital, it was preferable they split forces in pursuit.
Meanwhile, on the northern front, reports indicated that Lu Zhi’s troop advance remained steady.
This might be orderly progress for his own plan to eradicate the bandits, but for Emperor Liu Hong, who was eager to snuff out the Yellow Turbans, it was less than ideal news.
Huangfu Song understood the nuances and couldn’t help but harbor concerns about Lu Zhi’s method of military advancement.
After some contemplation, he stated to Zhu Jun, “Gong Wei, I’d like to discuss with you the subsequent troop divisions.”
In the room was an expansive map of the Han, and Huangfu Song rose to indicate a point on the map.
They were currently situated in Yingchuan, not too far from Wancheng.
After quelling the Yingchuan Yellow Turbans, the natural step would be to press onward from this location.
But Huangfu Song didn’t intend to waste time, concentrating all efforts there.
The news of their prior victory in crushing the Yellow Turbans in Yanzhou, just as Qiao Yan said, was something he preferred not to announce too soon.
As long as they could suppress this news momentarily, preventing it from reaching Zhang Mancheng in Nanyang and the Great Virtuous Teacher in Ji Province, they could put on a swift show of strength—
Strike hard at the Yellow Dragon!
He would agree to Qiao Yan’s suggestion to spare the Yellow Turbans’ lives, recruiting them, rather than adhering to Zhu Jun’s caution against how the world might perceive them as “If there’s profit, they choose to rebel; if there’s none, they surrender,” leading to a recklessness during the next uprising, which was indeed the motivation for his decision.
“I remember that Sun Jian, appointed as the military officer, gathered local young men from the Huai-Su region; their water skills should be impressive?”
Huangfu Song’s gaze remained glued to the map, glancing over the Ying River, Ru River, and Tai River, which intertwined within Nanyang.
Zhu Jun recognized Huangfu Song’s intent and responded affirmatively, adding, “This man has served as the magistrate in Yandu, Xuyi, and Xiapi County, renowned for his bravery, equal to Fu Nanrong; in the recent night raid, our side relied heavily on his martial prowess to navigate through the Yellow Turban camp; he’s more than capable.”
Zhu Jun, possessing a talent for recognition, certainly didn’t hesitate to praise Sun Jian.
Huangfu Song had witnessed the battle yesterday and was also quite impressed with Sun Jian from the previous siege and defense, replying immediately, “Very well, I suggest you arrange quickly; we’ll mobilize towards Nanyang tomorrow, with Sun Wentai as your deputy, and swiftly join forces with Qin Jie to capture Zhang Mancheng. The southern waterways are easy to navigate, and in the battle against the Yellow Turbans, we certainly must not allow any of their leaders to escape.”
If they offered an opportunity for another commander to step up, that could lead to a resurgence.
Zhu Jun’s forces, led by Sun Jian, were perfectly suited for a surprise southern offensive at this moment.
Huangfu Song’s objective had also become clear to him.
Yanzhou was no longer in question; they could cut straight through it to advance on Ji Province, quickly joining up with the northern lines.
With that thought in mind, a hint of a smile appeared on Huangfu Song’s usually stern visage.
Time was an extremely critical element for any general, and with the initiative in hand, Huangfu Song couldn’t help but feel elated.
At that moment, a guard reported that Qiao Yan was requesting an audience.
“Let her in!”
Huangfu Song, still immersed in the excitement of about to execute a two-front campaign, was completely oblivious to the subtle tone in the messenger’s words, which hinted at something difficult to comprehend.
It wasn’t until the door of this “temporary command center” in Changshe swung open and a figure in white entered that Huangfu Song suddenly had a realization that if he hadn’t heard wrong, the bodyguard who had been with him in battle bore an air of…
Shock?
Zhu Jun was the first to recognize the figure, leaping up in surprise.
“You…”
What he saw was not a young boy who had dressed up to impress but a girl clad entirely in white mourning attire.
Switching to feminine clothing didn’t obscure her identity—the commanding presence she displayed during the encirclement of the Yellow Turbans and her decisiveness would not wane because of her attire.
At worst, the white outfit made her look a little paler, appearing somewhat worn out.
That was all.
However, the suddenness of this scene delivered a shock to both Zhu Jun and Huangfu Song, who had originally formed the impression of “she’s Qiao Xuan’s grandchild, and truly has the demeanor of her grandfather.”
It wasn’t merely a reversal of gender!
It was also the unusual implications coming hand-in-hand with her attire.
Practically speaking, finding mourning attire in the city wasn’t a daunting task.
The droughts and cold snaps last year didn’t spare the land of Yingchuan, and if you look a bit farther back, a few clan elders from the Zhong family in Changshe had also succumbed this spring due to seasonal changes. Add to that the casualties from the Yellow Turban siege, and there was no shortage of need for such garments.
So, upon confirming that the props could be procured, she decisively chose to present herself in this white mourning dress, appearing before Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun as a woman.
Before this action, the system couldn’t help but question her reason for doing so.
After all, such an act could be seen as slightly offensive.
However, Qiao Yan explained that decorum wasn’t something to be judged based on hierarchical relations.
She had previously mentioned to the system that what she sought was to build her own renown, and that motivation remained.
To foster the reputation of extinguishing the Yellow Turbans, she needed to seize every opportunity to ensure it all landed perfectly upon her own identity.
On the identity of Qiao Yan from the Qiao clan!
With her accomplishments in tow, why not add a final flourish to boost her fame, ensuring she’d be remembered among the emerging talents during the Yellow Turban rebellion?
With the incredulous looks of the appointed Middle General upon her, Qiao Yan bowed deeply and stated: “This is Qiao Yan, the daughter of the former Prefect of Rencheng, here to greet the General.”
At that juncture, she quickly followed up with a surprisingly bold statement, “I apologize for being presumptuous, dressed in white; since the bandit was captured, I should have sent their head to the capital to report to the Emperor and all officials. However—”
“Both my parents fell victim to the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and as their child, I cannot rest easy without doing everything in my power to eliminate these bandits, even if it costs my life. I seek only one favor: when you mobilize, allow me to take Bo Cai’s head and present it to Yanzhou, offering my regards to my parents’ spirits!”
After finishing her words, she bowed deeply once more.
