“Can strategists not ascend to the throne?”
Chapter 24
As Liu Bei, the commander of the troops, made his way back into the camp, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but cast a subtle glance at him.
Considering it was the foundation of the future three kingdoms—Wei, Shu, and Wu—if we can even partially include Sun Jian, she realized she had met them all.
Compared to the chaotic times of the Han Ling Emperor’s d*ath, the Dong Zhuo turmoil, and the later era of heroes vying for power, these men’s ages were notably different from Qiao Yan’s understanding.
At this moment, Cao Cao was still just a cavalry commander, Sun Jian held the title of guard general, and Liu Bei’s position as a troop supervisor was even lower than that of the guard general. But there was no denying that—
These guys were destined to become giants and ruthless leaders, and it was already obvious they had something brewing beneath the surface.
Sun Jian was courageous to the point of recklessness, his fearless spirit and generous style had allowed him to gather many robust young men to serve him before even joining Zhu Jun.
That was no easy feat.
Cao Cao might seem to be coasting on his family’s legacy for now, but his eloquent manner and military insight presented signs he could claim a piece of the world.
So… what about Liu Bei?
His luck in becoming a student of Lu Zhi was noteworthy since they were fellow townsmen from Zhuo County.
We could say that Lu Zhi’s hometown benefits just happened to align with fifteen-year-old Liu Bei’s desire to enter the academy.
But mere luck couldn’t explain everything.
For instance, while under Lu Zhi, he had the support of Liu Deran’s father, another fellow townsman. Moreover, the renowned merchant Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang viewed him as an extraordinary talent and provided him funding, allowing him to gather his initial followers.
Even amidst his youthful frivolity, loving fine clothes and books, he possessed a charm that seemed unreachable to ordinary folks.
However, what struck Qiao Yan most during this encounter was his measured actions and his decisive judgment on whether someone was a friend or foe.
Indeed, he was no simple character.
Just as Qiao Yan was pondering this, a voice called out to them, “Big brother, why are you back from your patrol so early today?”
She turned toward the source of the voice and saw a robust young man with a dark complexion striding towards them, seemingly a few years younger than Liu Bei.
Though dressed like a hundred-man chief, his thunderous voice and the confident manner with which he held a long spear screamed of a valiant warrior.
With Liu Bei identified, the identity of this person became clear.
And that was indeed Zhang Fei, Zhang Yi De!
Thanks to Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping’s substantial support for Liu Bei, he was able to recruit underlings in Zhuo County, which was how Guan Yu and Zhang Fei ended up following him.
Who wouldn’t envy the luck of pulling two SSR-level generals in one go? But Qiao Yan felt she didn’t need to be so jealous of Liu Bei.
As Zhang Fei approached, it seemed like some cosmic force shifted his focus. Initially focused on Liu Bei’s early return, he soon shifted his attention to the impressive Dian Wei behind Qiao Yan.
Zhang Fei exclaimed without a second thought, “What a strong man!”
Probably due to Liu Bei’s earlier reminder not to make a ruckus, he said this a tad quieter.
And if it hadn’t been such an inappropriate setting, he might have challenged Dian Wei to a duel right there!
This exchange shifted Zhang Fei’s focus from Dian Wei to Qiao Yan.
Inside the camp gate, the lighting wasn’t dim, allowing Qiao Yan to see a hint of confusion on Zhang Fei’s somewhat dark face.
But perhaps because of Liu Bei’s reminders and seeing a bodyguard of such caliber as Dian Wei, he didn’t dare ask, “Who is this person?”
Yet, his bewilderment was practically written all over his face.
She was so young… and a girl…
This was also the impression Liu Bei had when reporting to Lu Zhi about the envoy from Huangfu Song’s visit, and his feelings about Qiao Yan’s arrival.
Qiao Yan clasped her hands and bowed again, “Two days from now, General Huangfu plans a surprise attack to lure open the gates of Guangzong City. I request that the General dispatch troops to assist.”
This brief reply almost left Lu Zhi stunned.
Sitting on the military dais, he was not much shorter than the ordinary generals, but his seated posture made it hard to fully ascertain.
However, that did not diminish his imposing demeanor, one that projects a presence distinct from that of a typical scholar.
Quickly recovering from his shock, he leaned on the table in front of him, maintaining a solemn expression as he asked, “Please explain further.”
Huangfu Song wouldn’t recklessly strike without caution, especially with Lu Zhi appointed as the northern commander. He surely wouldn’t have sent a mere child to relay such crucial news.
All Lu Zhi knew was that Qiao Yan had introduced herself as a Qiao from Yanzhou, and that was not much different from what Liu Bei knew.
But as a former mentor, he had some insight and could see that Qiao Yan exhibited a maturity far beyond her years.
She certainly wasn’t lying.
But he wondered where the Young Lady had found such a remarkable talent…
Yanzhou… To be fair, there is a well-known Qiao family there.
Just as Lu Zhi had that thought, he heard Qiao Yan continue, pulling his attention back to her.
“General Huangfu defeated Bo Cai at Changshe and has sent General Zhu south to Wancheng to quickly seize Zhang Mancheng. We will then march north straight to Xiaquyang. Zhang Jiao’s brother, Zhang Bao, has already been captured by our forces, and General Huangfu intends to use him as an excuse to lure open Guangzong’s gates, so I ask the general to split the army into two.”
“One force will create a false attack to prevent Zhang Liang from leaving this place, while the other will head to Guangzong for support. This is General Huangfu’s handwritten order, featuring the left middle general’s seal to validate my words.”
After speaking, Qiao Yan presented the silk letter Huangfu Song had entrusted her with before setting out to Lu Zhi.
Lu Zhi didn’t open it immediately but keenly noted the information embedded in Qiao Yan’s words, hurriedly querying, “Changshe has already won, but what about Yanzhou?”
Huangfu Song would not have rashly attacked; the first opponents he’d face should be the Yellow Turbans occupying the area around Yanzhou’s Dong Commandery, instead of taking such an unexpected turn against Zhang Bao.
Clearly, there was more to this situation than met the eye.
So, he braced himself for an answer that would astonish him.
“I, unworthy as I am, used the strategy of luring the tiger out of its lair, and we have eliminated the Yellow Turbans in Yanzhou.”
Liu Bei, who had been permitted to stay due to Lu Zhi’s allowance, almost lost his composure and exclaimed.
He had been glancing sideways at Lu Zhi’s expression, who typically remained unperturbed even in the face of chaos, and now he noticed a hint of surprise flicker across that stoic face.
Finally, he didn’t hesitate to unfold Huangfu Song’s letter, reading intently and finding Huangfu Song had praised this feat profusely and also mentioned Qiao Yan’s contributions in the battle at Xiaquyang.
Additionally, he urged Lu Zhi to dispatch troops promptly and advised him to look after Qiao Yan’s safety.
Huangfu Song mentioned Qiao Yan’s identity as the granddaughter of Qiao Xuan and the daughter of Qiao Yu, which Lu Zhi took note of.
“It’s rare to see Yi Zhen praise a junior like this, but his assessment of you—rigid yet capable—might suggest that there’s a risk you could end up devoted to the duty, not turning back…” Lu Zhi looked at this mature young lady and couldn’t help but chuckle, “He truly cares for you.”
“…” Qiao Yan didn’t expect Huangfu Song to have written such a thing?
With this, it seemed she had been labeled with “capable but overly stubborn” right from the start. One could imagine Lu Zhi was likely going to treat her like some kind of talisman to protect.
Though she had suspected this might happen on her way here, seeing it confirmed made her unsure whether to appreciate Huangfu Song’s good intentions or wish for a little more freedom in this strategist disguise.
But unexpectedly, after Lu Zhi examined the information again, he said, “Get settled in the camp for now, come find me tomorrow. I have some matters I wish to discuss with you.”
This didn’t sound like the sort of thing meant to imply she would have nothing to do.
Qiao Yan contemplated significantly but managed not to show anything on her face. She responded in agreement and followed Liu Bei to find a resting place.
This historic figure of Liu Bei was evidently not merely someone tied to local connections for the Yellow Turban crusade; his relationships with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were deep beyond just brotherhood.
As they walked through the camp, many of the night-watch soldiers greeted him.
Qiao Yan smiled and chimed in, “The troop supervisor only leads five hundred men, but it seems you have quite the rapport with the soldiers here, which is impressive.”
Liu Bei initially thought her words held a hint of sarcasm, but as he turned back, he realized the admiration behind her gaze.
Indeed, Qiao Yan held a high regard for Liu Bei.
Being able to remember the names and information of passersby isn’t something everyone can do. It’s not as if they’ve all shared playful experiences or slept beside each other.
This was quite different from the relationship Sun Jian and Cao Cao shared with their soldiers.
Since Liu Bei was still young, he was unaware that Qiao Yan’s “praise for a social butterfly” contained additional implications. Feeling a slight embarrassment, he replied, “I’m just a nobody; this is all I can manage.”
Liu Bei was puzzled, thinking she wouldn’t need his skills as she seemed to have gained approval from her teacher right from the start.
However, adhering to the habit of keeping conversational space, he nodded in agreement.
After escorting Qiao Yan and company to their tent, he returned to report to Lu Zhi. He found his instinct hadn’t been wrong—
Lu Zhi was still holding the silk letter in his hand.
Such a display of concern was telling.
Seeing Liu Bei return, he slowly spoke up, “Earlier, I was reluctant to let the child become proud and didn’t mention Yi Zhen’s other comment. He noted that Qiao Yan bears the talents of the Qiao family, truly a talent to assist a king. You had a conversation with her; what do you think?”
“Talent to assist a king?”
Those four characters held immense weight!
Liu Bei was taken aback, but he suddenly realized that if he had to offer Qiao Yan an assessment, he found it exceedingly difficult to put her in a box. In fact, over the previous discussions, he hadn’t even managed to delve into her background, yet he had agreed to something she proposed.
Clearly, age wasn’t the measuring stick for her abilities.
After thinking, Liu Bei replied, “The lady possesses exceptional strategizing skills.”
“Exceptional strategizing skills, huh…” Lu Zhi mulled over this assessment, appearing to have made a decision in his mind. He waved Liu Bei off, signaling him to leave.
Once alone in the tent, he sighed at the candlelight, “Yi Zhen, what a monumental dilemma you’ve posed for me.”
In contrast to Lu Zhi’s tangled thoughts, Qiao Yan felt quite at ease.
Thanks to Lu Zhi’s efficient arrangement, the camp didn’t feel cramped. Considering she was somewhat of a guest, there were enough tents divided up for her use.
Thus, she had her own private space as the “lead person.”
Just after the soldiers had done a good job setting things up for her, the system chimed in:
【What a great opportunity! You’ve met all three—Sun Jian, Cao Cao, and Liu Bei—each with a positive impression of you. Have you thought about which faction you want to join in Wei, Shu, or Wu?】
“Why the rush?” She fiddled with the candlelight in the tent, casually replying to the system.
“I’ve indeed met them all now, but what about Yuan Shao? Yuan Shu? Or even the not-so-old Liu Xie? In these chaotic times, there are plenty of choices. Now that I’ve already made a name for myself, it’s prime time to position myself in an unassailable position while waiting for the perfect moment to capitalize.”
Those four words, “waiting for the perfect moment,” caused the system to hesitate, swallowing back its thought about 【joining early helps lay the groundwork for future contributions, and reigns in the goodwill from those who appreciate minor talents】.
It once again heard Qiao Yan say, “Moreover, while it’s true that most strategists aren’t clinging to iron rice bowls, like how Xun Yu left Yuan Shao for Cao Cao or Pang Tong switched to Liu Bei after Zhou Yu’s d*ath, if I want to be the number one strategist in this realm, I should leave an impression of hitting the mark right off the bat—don’t you think?”
The system contemplated and replied, 【You’re right; we shouldn’t be so anxious.】
In the face of Qiao Yan’s expansive vision of nurturing her reputation and waiting for the perfect opportunity to seize the moment, the system felt she was indeed far more composed than anyone else and had the means to execute such a plan.
Furthermore, once Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song’s plans to conquer the city and its follow-up actions were carried out, even if Qiao Yan didn’t pull off some grand feats, she was bound to gain corresponding strategist points, and the system couldn’t help but rub its non-existent paws.
It had seen her coveting the three-dimensional map once her strategist points hit 100 and felt the impulse to slip something into the rewards stage for her.
However, after rummaging through its backpack, the rookie system found no inventory items, so it settled for providing spiritual encouragement instead.
Just as Qiao Yan lay down to rest, the system, which had been quiet for a long while, suddenly jumped in with, 【Host, you will definitely become the number one strategist!】
“…Thanks.”
This was truly a mood booster.
However, as the strategist system noted, when Qiao Yan closed her eyes to rest, a smile crept onto her lips that seemed to say it had a hand in it all.
So, it diligently took on the role of her morning alarm clock, just as she’d instructed it over the past few days.
This unusual function seemed a little off…
While pondering this, the system noticed Qiao Yan had quickly washed and dressed, pulling open the curtain and stepping outside. It promptly shelved its thoughts and resumed observing the outside situation alongside her.
The Northern Army camp of Lu Zhi was undoubtedly more impactful than any military locale she’d seen before.
The camps of Liang Zhongning and Bo Cai’s Yellow Turbans in Yanzhou were nothing compared to this.
Huangfu Song’s troops had barely assembled for the battle at Changshe and were clearly in a state of disorganization.
Then, people started to trickle in, but launching a quick assault on Xiaquyang in Yanzhou wasn’t going to allow for a large force.
As a result, Qiao Yan, for the first time today, finally got to see what a regular army camp with over twenty thousand troops looked like.
In the darkness of night, she had sensed that it was orderly and imposing, but now, under the sunlight, the camp’s brooks and divisions were clearly visible.
She walked slowly, finally realizing that the superior military camp layout was quite impressive—this was indeed a truth.
This was vastly different from the chaos she had seen when advising Liang Zhongning.
If any turmoil arose in Lu Zhi’s camp, it certainly wouldn’t escalate to the point where Bo Cai’s troops were fleeing to seek refuge elsewhere.
However, if placed truly opposite Qiao Yan, she wouldn’t resort to such foolish methods.
Qiao Yan thought she had arrived early, but Lu Zhi seemed to have been standing over the map for quite a while.
As soon as she entered the tent, she heard Lu Zhi’s voice, “You’ve arrived.”
Following the sound, Qiao Yan looked over at Lu Zhi, naturally giving some attention to the map spread out before her.
When looking at the entire Yanzhou region, Quzhou and Guangzong, along with Lu Zhi’s current station, were almost converging into a single point.
While Lu Zhi had been digging trenches and setting up camp here, he had likely sent out quite a few soldiers to scout the terrain, resulting in this map laid out in front of Qiao Yan.
With Lu Zhi’s Northern Army on one side and Zhang Liang’s Quzhou defenders on the other, the hills, rivers, and temporary encampments of the Yellow Turbans were all distinctly presented on the vast canvas.
Clearly, Lu Zhi adhered to the principle of never fighting an unprepared battle.
Though Huangfu Song’s arrival would require him to radically alter his original plans, it certainly wouldn’t leave him flustered.
He had already sketched out the marching routes on the map with charcoal pencil.
“I wonder why Lu Gong sought me yesterday. What is it that you wish to inquire?”
As soon as Qiao Yan’s words left her mouth, she saw Lu Zhi place the charcoal pencil aside and turn to look at her with a slight, subtle smile. “Why is it ‘wish to inquire’ and not ‘wish to delegate’?”
Qiao Yan replied calmly, “I’ve only brought a few dozen riders. The Northern Army’s Five Divisions have far more troops. You have been operating here for several days; whether regarding the geography or the control over your soldiers, you already have a good strategy in place, so there’s no need for me to be a delegate.”
Lu Zhi did not comment on her answer but replied, “Alright, let’s consider it as me having something to inquire.”
Seeing Lu Zhi wave her over, Qiao Yan took a few steps closer. He then asked, “I plan to mobilize troops to meet with Yizhen today. When do you think is the right time to move?”
Qiao Yan surveyed his expression, aware that his question hinted at his knowledge of the matter, and seemed more like he was testing her judgment.
After estimating the distance to Guangzong, she replied, “After nightfall would be ideal. At that time, Lu Gong can lead a team directly to Guangzong, avoiding detection along the way, while another team can head west and return by dawn. It would be best to stir up some dust for the spies outside Quzhou to see, creating the appearance that reinforcements from Luoyang are en route.”
“If Luoyang is about to send troops, the general is typically cautious, so even if they are not at the gates, Zhang Liang would likely not dare to attack or probe the camp. Thus, even if the camp doesn’t have as many troops as before, it should be enough to maintain a defense outside the city until the outcome in Guangzong is decided.”
Lu Zhi clapped his hands and laughed.
What Qiao Yan stated aligned perfectly with his own thoughts.
“That’s good, well said. So—”
Lu Zhi paused dramatically and dropped a bombshell, “After I leave the camp, would you be willing to take on the responsibility of commanding the remaining soldiers?”
Qiao Yan was taken aback.
This was indeed something she had not anticipated.
However, Lu Zhi seemed completely unfazed, as if it were entirely normal to entrust a great responsibility to such a young one.
Seeing that this time it was not Qiao Yan who was shocked by the assignment but rather her surprise at his unexpected arrangement, Lu Zhi felt a bit of mischievous delight.
Now he understood why Huangfu Song had said in his letter that he had coaxed Qiao Yan here for a “safe haven,” but in reality, it allowed her to take on some tasks.
“Yizhen mentioned that you have sharp wits when it comes to military affairs, and your response earlier truly satisfied me,”
Lu Zhi went on. Qiao Yan opened her mouth to refuse the heavy responsibility being foisted upon her, but he raised his hand to indicate she should refrain from speaking yet. He continued, “I know you might say that military affairs must be handled with extreme caution, that you hold no official post, and thus taking up this role may be inappropriate and lead to chaos, right?”
“If you know the pitfalls, why proceed with this?”
His statement implied he wasn’t only passing off a trivial title but was entrusting her with many lives.
“If I say this is due to my faith in Yizhen’s judgment, you probably won’t believe me,” Lu Zhi replied, “But saying it was under his influence to make this decision isn’t entirely wrong.”
“Yizhen also mentioned something in his letter that kept me thinking through the night, leading me to this decision. He said the Han dynasty’s future cannot afford to let potential talents waste twenty years in trivial pursuits, pushing for minor posts instead of allowing them to seize more significant opportunities sooner.”
“This is Yizhen’s heartfelt advice, and I cannot ignore it.”
Qiao Yan’s eyes widened.
What he said carried an impactful weight far beyond the precautions she had received from Huangfu Song about staying safe.
Recommendation for Filial Piety and Integrity, promotion to Deputy Minister, and then to Prefect of the North—that wasn’t something people commonly received.
This was Huangfu Song’s own journey.
As he ascended the ranks, Emperor Liu Hong had been encumbering the government with selling and buying offices based on the worth of the positions. Had it not been for the fierce onset of the Yellow Turbans, Huangfu Song would have needed to cough up a hefty amount to rise to the position of Left Middle General or perhaps prepay several years’ worth of his future earnings.
Thus, in his letter to Lu Zhi, he expressed that he didn’t wish for anyone with potential to take twenty years to earn such an opportunity.
It wouldn’t hurt to leverage this Yellow Turban Rebellion to place Qiao Yan in a fitting position for some real-world experience.
Besides, Lu Zhi had no option to pull everyone out.
If Zhang Liang in Quzhou City discovered it, they could close in from behind before he could even breach Guangzong.
This troop, meant to deceive Zhang Liang, wouldn’t engage in direct combat, creating a relatively safe situation for Qiao Yan, who was a bit lacking in self-preservation capability.
Moreover, this kind of training could only help Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song break through in Guangzong, so handing her this task shouldn’t be too distressing for him.
There truly wasn’t a more suitable position.
Seeing Qiao Yan in a daze as if she had realized Huangfu Song’s good intentions, Lu Zhi patted her shoulder and said, “Yizhen also mentioned that your grandfather, Qiao Gongzu, had a feud with Prefect Chen Qiu of Nanyang. Yet when he reached the position of San Gong, he still recommended Chen. Today, as he conspires with me to elevate you, that too could have some personal motives—”
“In future discussions, people will link this matter as two good deeds; Huangfu Yizhen and I, Lu Zigan, have neither the title of San Gong, but we’ve already shown the virtue of one. Isn’t that something to be delighted about!”
As Lu Zhi said this, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter himself.
His voice boomed like thunder, and his laughter was no less staggering. “What do you think?”
Qiao Yan didn’t hesitate and immediately exclaimed, “If General Huangfu and Lu Gong are willing to entrust this to me, why not give it a shot!”
This was, for her, an enormous opportunity.
How many people in this world could genuinely take on the responsibilities of commanding troops at such a young age?
Even if it was merely due to Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi not reporting her to Luoyang, she could be seen as receiving a tacit joint recommendation, temporarily obtained this position, making her experiences enviable.
Moreover, this was not a hurriedly arranged task.
Since Lu Zhi was planning to leave at night, he had taken the chance during the day to inform everyone that Qiao Yan would temporarily oversee the military affairs of this camp.
His steady personality was now clearly visible in this two-way operation.
The soldiers he chose to leave behind were initially puzzled about the responsibility handed to Qiao Yan, but they merely found it strange.
Then, Lu Zhi asked, “If any among you believes they can quell the chaos in Yanzhou, feel free to challenge Qiao Yan and take over.”
That was a tough challenge to accept.
While they had come to Yanzhou with the intent of hitting straight at the core, they were not completely ignorant of the situation in Yanzhou.
The combined forces of the three rebel leaders there were not far from their total numbers. Hence, even if they were largely made up of the lower classes and could be seen as a disorganized rabble in direct confrontation, it wouldn’t change the fact that one person facing three was quite the legend.
Subsequently, Lu Zhi appointed Liu Bei as Qiao Yan’s assistant.
“Xuande, a good rider, dressed glamorously, isn’t much into reading, but he does have a bit of a talent for troop maneuvers—though it might be tough to win, he could still serve as a competent deputy.”
Lu Zhi’s earlier comments about Liu Bei, who was merely around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, elicited a hint of embarrassment on Liu Bei’s face. But the later praise raised his spirits back up.
Qiao Yan tried hard not to laugh at his being called not a keen reader or studiously dressed and said gravely to Liu Bei, “Just last night, I told my deputy that perhaps I could make use of your knack for networking, and today it seems I indeed have the chance to work together.”
Liu Bei cupped his hands and replied, “You are truly wise, Miss.”
“It would be more appropriate to say I recognize your heroic potential, General,” she returned the courtesy.
This unlikely duo appeared to have promising prospects, satisfying Lu Zhi as he thought through any potential oversight and added, “Speaking of which, among those sturdy fellows Xuande recruited from Zhuo County, I see that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are not ordinary men. If you need manpower, you may refer to these two.”
“But let me also remind you,” Lu Zhi changed from the tone of kindly warning his junior to a more serious one, “Don’t underestimate Zhang Liang merely because of past successes in Puyang, Changshe, and Xiaquyang. I’ve circled around this person for some time, and I know he’s tough. Only strike when the heavens grant you an opportunity; do not act rashly.”
Qiao Yan squared her composure, forcing a serious look on her not-so-intimidating face. “Lu Gong, don’t worry. In the Yellow Turban battle, I know well the importance of balance; I understand who is primary and who is secondary in Guangzong now.”
Whether entrusting such a heavy task to a young child was indeed the right decision, Lu Zhi could not firmly say yes. Nevertheless, from Huangfu Song’s words, he saw in her a potential leader among his disciples—perhaps no one could rival Gongsun Zan.
Having been cautious for so long, it wouldn’t hurt to gamble a little.
As he led his troops toward Guangzong, he glanced back at the camp, spotting the sparse lanterns flickering in the dark night.
He no longer hesitated and spurred his horse onward.
Tonight was perfect for travel; he had no time to waste on regrets about decisions already made.
Meanwhile, as Lu Zhi left with the troops, creating the illusion of reinforcements arriving from Luoyang, the main tent in the nearly deserted camp still had its lights on.
Qiao Yan perused the roster Liu Bei had just brought her, suddenly hearing the system voice: [Wait… Is there something off again?]
“What’s wrong?”
[This scene feels a bit familiar. Weren’t you the one I urged to side with Cao Cao earlier? Back then, you were outside the city while Cao Cao was inside it, and now…]
“Indeed.” Qiao Yan replied while stacking another roll of the roster beside her.
[If I recall right, last night I suggested that since you’ve seen Cao, Liu, and Sun, you could choose one. If you picked Liu Bei, you’d be serving under him, but now…]
The system’s virtual eyes widened as Liu Bei was just in the tent, but now it saw the future founding emperor of Shu Han serving under Qiao Yan.
This relationship seemed completely flipped around.
However, seeing Qiao Yan remain so calm, the system started to ponder if this was some strategist move it hadn’t grasped.
Unfortunately, it didn’t receive a reply from Qiao Yan.
Having gained a general understanding of the soldiers’ affiliations, Qiao Yan felt no pressure in the nearly empty camp before dawn. After stretching, she strolled out of the tent toward her resting place.
Meanwhile, Dian Wei seemed to have forgotten that his relationship with Qiao Yan was merely a temporary employer-employee one, diligently standing guard outside her tent.
As a result…
As Qiao Yan woke to the system’s alarm and stepped outside, she noticed a scuffle a bit away from her tent, where two figures were wrestling.
In broad daylight, everything was clearly visible. How could Qiao Yan not realize that the two currently grappling were none other than Dian Wei and Zhang Fei!
Seeing Lu Yuan standing outside the tent, seemingly torn about whether to wake her, Qiao Yan inquired, “What’s going on?”
“Just now, the deputy sent Zhang Fei to ask if the lady had any orders to give. Last night, you instructed Dian Wei that if anyone asked, say we’re cooking double rations for the camp’s personnel.”
This was indeed Qiao Yan’s directive.
While Lu Zhi had taken some men, she certainly couldn’t reduce the cooking rations; otherwise, Zhang Liang on Quzhou’s walls would know that fewer personnel were present.
Lu Yuan sighed, “Dian Wei said just that, but he has a fierce look, and the way he spoke…”
“It didn’t really sound too pleasant. Zhang Fei had wanted to spar with Dian Wei and found his cue today, claiming he was implying that Dian Wei could eat a lot.”
Even Liu Bei probably didn’t anticipate that anyone would resort to such a tactic to justify a fair fight.
Had Qiao Yan woken up later, the two might have already determined a winner, and she would find it hard to assign blame.
In a sense… it was quite clever.
Qiao Yan found it amusing, though she concealed her mirth and maintained a somber expression walking up to the two men engaged in combat.
These two fierce warriors, having both held back a bit while fighting, were unable to separate, suddenly paused upon hearing Qiao Yan’s light cough.
As they instinctively halted, they heard her pronounce firmly, “Dian Wei, Zhang Fei, listen up!”
The two exchanged looks, as if fearing the other would react faster, both promptly standing at attention before Qiao Yan and shouting, “Yes!”
Qiao Yan scanned them, her expression unchanging, only saying, “Leave the camp! Find a tree trunk and bring it back for a flagpole.”
Military orders had to be followed like a mountain.
Uncertain about Qiao Yan’s intent for the flagpole, the two men instinctively began to step forward.
But before they’d walked two steps, they heard her add from behind, “Hold on, eat two portions of food first.”
“…” While having food is great in this era, the way it sounded was almost like an insult.
Fortunately, this little incident was merely gossip around the camp, and the scouts in Quzhou were oblivious.
Zhang Liang climbed the city wall.
After receiving word at dawn that reinforcements arrived for the Han army, unease gnawed at him. Now, from his vantage point, he saw a robust trunk being erected from that camp, adding to his growing anxiety.
On the massive tree trunk hung a flag displaying a large character—“Qiao.”
