“Can strategists not take the throne?”
Chapter 25
Zhang Liang stared at the flag, lost in thought.
“Qiao?”
Which famous person in the Han army has the surname Qiao?
Qiao Yan had Dian Wei and Zhang Fei haul back a giant tree, raising it high in the camp, and the flag they hung was no ordinary large flag. In fact, when placed next to Lu Zhi’s commander banner, this newcomer’s flag stood out even more.
She effectively managed to impress Zhang Liang with this special arrangement.
It was known that Lu Zhi, as a skilled general, had very few peers who could match him in status.
Positions like the middle generals directly under the palace and the various others held far higher ranks compared to regular generals.
Furthermore, Lu Zhi was a renowned figure and general across the land; he had notably quelled a rebellion of the Yangzhou barbarians nine years ago as the Jiujiang Prefect, adding a remarkable highlight to his record.
But this newcomer seemed to surpass even him?
Zhang Liang never expected that the mastermind behind this spectacular display wouldn’t even hold an official title.
“If it were Miss Qiao in this position, she surely wouldn’t have pulled off such a stunt.” Liu Bei, having just apologized to Qiao Yan due to the brawl between Zhang Fei and Dian Wei, couldn’t help but praise when he saw the huge flag in the camp.
Even though some soldiers expressed dissatisfaction with Qiao Yan’s actions, they suppressed their murmurs due to Lu Zhi’s order upon leaving the main camp, and Liu Bei noticed.
Lu Zhi’s strategy during the siege of Quzhou was far from idle; the entire camp was lively under his coordination.
Setting up siege equipment, solidifying the camp, pushing forward the frontlines, sporadic skirmishes, reconnaissance…
From Quzhou, one couldn’t see the exact number of troops in the camp, but from the hints and glimpses that emerged, the Han army showed a clear aggressiveness.
However, now the camp was missing over half its forces, even lacking the commander, Lu Zhi.
Faced with such a scenario, merely holding the camp wouldn’t hide anything from Zhang Liang, prompting him to test the waters with a probe.
This would also go against Lu Zhi’s hope that they could hold Zhang Liang off for two to three days.
Thus, Qiao Yan either had to manage troop deployment wisely to maintain the previous state with fewer people or, as she was currently doing, perform a rather unconventional maneuver.
Of course, Qiao Yan didn’t mention to Liu Bei that she had indeed considered the first option, but unfortunately, while reviewing the roll of troops and positions, she realized that Lu Zhi’s previous management was already quite effective, carefully considering the need for rest. Even with her knowledge built on prior wisdom, it didn’t mean she could attain solutions that defy common sense.
With that, only the latter option remained.
“You’re overly modest, Division Chief. With Lu Gong as your mentor, it’s impossible to perform such an act of usurpation,” Qiao Yan responded, “Moreover, I suppose I benefited a bit from my grandfather.”
If she were to raise a commander banner in the camp to deceive Zhang Liang, the characters on that banner had to be chosen carefully.
First, it had to possess enough persuasive power; if she wrote “Cao” on it, Zhang Liang would think they had external help, not realizing it was a failed bluff.
But it couldn’t be too strong.
If she hung a banner with the character “Huangfu”, Zhang Liang would immediately grasp that Huangfu Song had already quelled the Yellow Turbans in Yanzhou and Yuzhou.
The news of Huangfu Song joining forces with Lu Zhi would either make Zhang Liang hurry to Guangzong to arrive before Lu Zhi’s infantry, or abandon the siege entirely and flee Quzhou.
Forcing such a group to abandon the city, whether in a wild dash or by choosing another stronghold while sweeping through other regions, would indeed be a waste of Lu Zhi’s previous arrangements in the area.
This would truly be a disservice to the loyalty Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi had shown her.
After much pondering, she ultimately settled on the character “Qiao”.
In the current Han court and across the territories, the only opportunity to lead troops and hang a “Qiao” banner belonged to the Qiao clan of Liang.
But it was no secret that Qiao Xuan was gravely ill and had resigned; at over seventy years old, he certainly couldn’t serve as the main force against the Yellow Turbans.
However, one person had potential: Qiao Zhao, the most promising of Qiao Xuan’s clan in the official realm.
During the chaos caused by Dong Zhuo, he had become the Governor of Yanzhou and the Prefect of Dong Commandery.
Qiao Yan flipped through her original entity’s memories and found this uncle’s rise.
He was currently serving as an advisor in Luoyang, having been appointed there.
The advisor position, like Huangfu Song’s past role, was often a stepping stone to gain experience before moving on, such as Huangfu Song’s subsequent appointment as the Prefect of Beidi.
But if the battle situation became critical, with Qiao Xuan facilitating matters, especially against the backdrop of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, it was highly likely he’d skip the prefecture and jump straight to commanding troops.
As for how this banner surpassed Lu Zhi’s authority?
“If the newcomer is indeed Qiao Zhao, either the Emperor of Han is disappointed with Lu Zhi’s lack of achievements, or that young man holds himself in high regard, thinking he can replace Lu Zhi’s position with Qiao Xuan’s backing and take us down first.”
Zhang Liang tried to interpret the meaning behind this “Qiao”, ultimately arriving at the conclusion Qiao Yan hoped for.
A subordinate beside him asked, “General, should we intimidate them?”
“Foolish!” Zhang Liang scolded his subordinate. “When Qiao Xuan was designated General of Dailiao, it was his first time leading a large group of troops; he managed to defeat the Xiongnu, Xianbei, and Goguryeo. Who knows if Qiao Zhao has inherited his ancestors’ abilities? Besides, you only see sandstorms arise, and you can’t even accurately report how many of them have come. How can I recklessly engage?”
Some methods, which seem stale in the future, still hold some novelty in this day and age.
For instance, Qiao Yan had these nighttime troop formations returning in the day tie branches to their horses’ tails, creating an illusion while galloping.
After two months of combating Lu Zhi, it was often said that an opponent’s strength easily influenced oneself, and Zhang Liang exhibited this trait as well.
He instinctively chose to play it safe.
As he furrowed his brows and gazed at the raised Qiao banner, he suddenly felt it was hard to determine the subordinate relationship here: was Qiao Zhao’s new authority overshadowing Lu Zhi’s old command, or was Lu Zhi trying to use this as a false flag operation against him?
This truly seemed like something Lu Zhi would do.
Thus, he dared not move.
Seeing Zhang Liang’s face turn sour, his eager subordinate quickly asked, “Should we write to the Great Virtuous Teacher and ask him to consult the Yellow Heaven for an answer?”
“… Not necessary for now.”
Zhang Liang was reluctant to consult his brother for guidance after a minor setback, as such a move would embarrass his title of “General of the People”. Moreover, he didn’t want to admit that the so-called Prophecy and Mandate of Heaven was merely a fabricated construct they proposed to oppose the Han.
He glanced at the blurry shapes moving around the camp’s outskirts without any clarity and finally stated a few words: “We shall wait and see.”
For him, merely choosing not to act marked a successful first step for Qiao Yan.
As Zhang Liang looked at the new flag in her camp, Qiao Yan also gazed upon this “Qiao” flag.
The choice of “Qiao” stemmed from careful consideration; the meaning behind this word also suggested a sort of deceptive grandeur. But as she watched the flag fluttering in the wind, a subtle feeling washed over her.
This indeed belongs to the banner of her surname!
But in the next moment, that feeling was fleeting.
Dian Wei, who initially felt a bit stuffed, had expended considerable energy hauling back the tree, and now he said with satisfaction, “I didn’t expect Dian Wei to have this kind of skill.”
This was a commander’s banner!
Who knew what kind of grandeur awaited when they carried this banner out?
Just as he contemplated this, he felt a gaze on his face, it was Qiao Yan, observing him contemplatively, her eyes full of thoughtful scrutiny.
“You think you can carry this by yourself?”
Qiao Yan recalled that Dian Wei had once lifted the Yamen Banner single-handedly and suddenly thought it wouldn’t be impossible to use him here.
Dian Wei scratched his head, unsure why such a trivial question was coming from Qiao Yan. “Of course I can.”
Qiao Yan’s mind raced as she responded, “Good, in the afternoon, you will carry this and go down to the city with the Captain Zou Jing to challenge them.”
Who was Zou Jing?
He was one of the two selected camps left to her by Lu Zhi, counting Liu Bei’s five hundred men and some assembled local loyalists under his command.
Because Lu Zhi observed that Qiao Yan had been friendly with Liu Bei, and Liu Bei was indeed no ordinary person reliant solely on friendships, he temporarily assigned Zou Jing’s command to Qiao Yan in the current camp, placing him as her deputy.
Zou Jing maintained decent relations with Liu Bei, but a hint of jealousy crept into his heart.
He reasoned that his response was quite natural, but before he could stew over it for long, Qiao Yan promptly assigned him a task.
Zou Jing wasn’t a fool; when he received Qiao Yan’s sudden appointment, he first replied, “Middle General ordered us to hold our ground against Zhang Liang’s forces; why would you have me do this?”
Qiao Yan exhibited no surprise at his question and calmly replied, “What do you think ‘holding ground’ means? If both parties stay in their camps, cook, and practice, then fall asleep at night, merely checking on each other in the morning, that doesn’t count as battling the bandits.”
Holding onto the commander’s seal that Lu Zhi had temporarily handed to her, she toyed with it, giving the northern army captain a sudden sense of pressure as though the ten-year-old girl before him was Lu Zhi himself.
She continued, “Rest assured, sending you to challenge them is merely to confuse Zhang Liang. There’s no need for you to engage in formal combat. Upon hearing the sound of the signal, you are to retreat immediately, no mistakes!”
As Qiao Yan shot him a piercing look, Zou Jing instinctively straightened his back and replied loudly, “Yes!”
“Also, I need you to do one more thing.” As Qiao Yan’s gaze shifted from locking onto him to hovering near his chin, Zou Jing felt a sudden dread.
Sure enough, he immediately heard Qiao Yan say, “Shave off your beard.”
“…?”
In those days, many admired a full beard, and Zou Jing wasn’t immune to this aesthetic, as he sported a beard he deemed quite handsome.
Yet the determination in Qiao Yan’s voice, plus the commander’s seal she held, made it clear this wasn’t a decision he could refuse, forcing him to swallow his question: “Why?”
What he couldn’t bring himself to say was compounded by Qiao Yan’s follow-up words: “Whether we can keep Zhang Liang from advancing while ensuring the center remains stable, all hinges on Zou Captain’s sacrifice.”
The influential young woman spoke these words while rising and giving him a respectful nod, a show of trust. Zou Jing had no choice but to comply.
Though he found it utterly perplexing why, after shaving, he was also instructed to put on some makeup.
His naturally fair complexion already made him appear less gallant than other soldiers; now, shaved and powdered, he looked even more so.
Fortunately, with the armor on, he still retained some semblance of a commander’s presence.
As noon passed, he led most of the troops, along with Dian Wei, the one-man flagbearer, toward Quzhou.
Meanwhile, the rest of the troops were under Liu Bei’s command to stand by at a distance for support.
In a matter of moments, the camp was reduced to only a few dozen riders patrolling outside, while the inner area had but a few people left.
Yet Qiao Yan, entirely unconcerned about being in an empty camp amidst the potential threat from the city, pulled out some of the extra pancakes her cooking team had prepared for the morning and began munching on them as a snack, while glancing at a map marked by Lu Zhi.
Any information left by a commander on a map is priceless to someone adept at reading maps and analyzing battle situations.
However, she couldn’t ignore a particular stare that subtly interrupted her study.
Qiao Yan said, “If Mr. Zhongde had spoken earlier, he could have taken Zou Jing’s place. However, requesting Mr. Zhongde to come all the way to Jizhou to hear the words of the Yellow Turbans was already a hassle for him. Sacrificing his beard on top of that would truly be my fault.”
Cheng Li, on hearing her tease, chuckled and asked, “Using the Qiao banner to make Zhang Liang think there’s aid from Liu Zhi’s army, disguising Zou Jing in this manner to mislead Zhang Liang into believing the Emperor is displeased with Lu Zhi’s slow rate of advance—this is quite the clever trick; Miss Qiao’s quick wits are rare indeed.”
His flattery was followed by a shift in tone: “But too much of anything can backfire. What if Zhang Liang genuinely perceives this conflict as his golden opportunity and decides to raid the camp tonight?”
Qiao Yan, however, didn’t show any surprise at this notice and replied leisurely, “If that were the case, since it was Mr. Zhongde’s keen eye catching this oversight, you’ll need to step in.”
“…” Cheng Li felt like he may have just dug his own grave.
But Qiao Yan’s interest in Lu Zhi’s camp layout intrigued Cheng Li, and as a strategist, he couldn’t honestly claim he wasn’t fascinated.
Under her penetrating gaze, he could only return the gesture with a grateful bow, “I’m willing to serve Lady Qiao.”
Cheng Li was a man of action.
Once entrusted with the task, he got to work immediately.
The remaining troops were few, so when Lu Yuan offered to assist, Cheng Li didn’t turn her away.
As she got involved, Cheng Li realized that compared to the soldiers who required explanation, Lu Yuan grasped his intentions with hardly a word. Clearly, her act of imprisoning the Yellow Turbans in the dungeons of Xiaquyang was not merely a spontaneous display; it was within her capability.
“This Lady Lu is truly remarkable,” he said as Qiao Yan handed over the defensive layout papers Lu Zhi had left behind.
Qiao Yan glanced at Lu Yuan and saw her surveying potential entry points around the camp’s perimeter. In Qiao Yan’s eyes, her judgment was undoubtedly accurate, and she replied to Cheng Li, “Mr. Zhongde, haven’t you heard the saying, heroes don’t inquire about their origins?”
Once she said that, Cheng Li realized she was a shapeshifter in disguise.
“Since that’s the case, the young lady doesn’t need to worry about us. Just pay attention to the timing of the gong for retreat.”
Qiao Yan was already quite reassured about Cheng Li.
While I can’t say I have any stereotypes about people, Cheng Li certainly doesn’t resemble Xu Fu, who is still a raw recruit lacking in training. His conversations with her have already shown his present level of skill.
Plus, there’s Lu Yuan, who has an unclear background but seems rather capable; if she can’t manage some basic defensive arrangements, that would be pretty embarrassing.
She turned her gaze towards the direction of Quzhou City.
Due to the commotion from this marching troop, the figures atop the city wall appeared somewhat distant and hazy from where she stood.
Of course, those on the wall couldn’t see that a pair of keen eyes, fully grasping the overall situation, was intently locked onto their position from the camp below.
From Zhang Liang’s vantage point on the wall, all he saw was a neatly organized troop advancing to the foot of the city; they halted at a distance that was but a shot away from the walls.
Zou Jing might not quite qualify as a general, but as a young officer who can achieve merit in bandit suppression, he’s absolutely competent in military logistics.
As the troop’s march came to a stop, they naturally transitioned into a standoff position against the defenders of Quzhou City at his command.
After all this, he looked towards the direction of the city wall.
Since they had come to Ji Province, Zou Jing had faced encounters with small bands of Yellow Turbans numerous times during his patrols, yet this was his first time being this close to Quzhou City.
He instinctively reached to stroke his beard in an attempt to appear calm and collected, only to suddenly realize he shouldn’t be doing that—after all, he didn’t have a beard anymore, so he quickly pulled his hand back.
Fortunately, this instinctive gesture didn’t let Zhang Liang on the wall notice anything unusual, since Zhang Liang’s attention was fully concentrated on Dian Wei.
Previously, while looking at the Qiao character flagpole from a distance, he had already thought that it was taller than the usual Yamen banners, and now that he could see it up close, it was even clearer. Yet, Dian Wei easily raised this banner, which could’ve just served as a marker in the camp.
His effortless and leisurely action made it seem as if he was lifting a slender pole, and even when paused at the foot of the city, he never let it drop from his hand.
Zhang Liang couldn’t help but feel a jolt of surprise.
This kind of fierce warrior gave an inexplicably powerful presence to the commander’s banner he was holding, despite its ragged pole.
To him, if this was the level of support troops coming in, he might as well give up on defending the city.
Fortunately, the soldiers following him could barely be called disciplined and were just of the same level as Lu Zhi’s troops he had faced before.
And the leading figure appeared even less imposing, far inferior to Lu Zhi in his eyes.
As his gaze finally shifted to Zou Jing, he noticed that Zou Jing had completely restrained his urge to touch his nonexistent beard, revealing a pale, smooth face instead.
The close distance between them made it impossible for Zhang Liang to see any artistic touch on Zou Jing’s face.
He saw Zou Jing point a finger, and the muscular warrior promptly slammed the flagpole down to the ground, nearly creating a deep pit, followed by an invigorated shout that reached the ears of the men atop the city:
“Yellow Turban rebels, dare you come down and battle!”
Zhang Liang couldn’t help but chuckle at the antics of the man below.
This guy was brave, and his soldiers certainly didn’t seem incompetent, yet he proceeded to say the one thing that should never be uttered between defenders and attackers.
Why would he, atop a fortified city, engage in a fair fight that would sacrifice his own advantage against whoever was down there?
If they were going to fight it out and establish a victor, then why had they rallied so many Yellow Turban soldiers under the banner of the Way of Great Peace to seize control of the counties and states?
It seemed downright ridiculous.
He even noticed a few soldiers under the other’s command turning their heads away, as if they couldn’t bear the sight of this spectacle, while his own defenders felt as though they were listening to a joke.
If not for the first-time commander making such a blunder, they probably wouldn’t even think of saying something so foolish.
However, it was a stroke of good luck for Zhang Liang that the new officer was inexperienced.
War isn’t mere child’s play, as those stories would have it!
But…
That inexperience of the opposing side surely presented him with a chance to confirm the identities of his foes.
He immediately called out from the city wall, “Who’s down there? State your name!”
The pale-faced commander opened his mouth, but due to the distance, Zhang Liang couldn’t hear what he was saying, until he gestured, pointing again, and a booming voice returned from the mighty warrior:
“The military supervisor’s identity is too precious for you to know! I am Dian Wei from General Qiao’s command!”
Dian Wei? Never heard of him.
However, the other piece of information in his statement certainly drew Zhang Liang’s attention.
The titles of Supervisor and General Qiao appeared to refer to two different people.
One must belong to the banner he was carrying, who wasn’t present here right now, leaving Zhang Liang uncertain whether his previous guess about this person being Qiao Zhao was accurate.
The other was the pale-faced leader himself!
The title of Supervisor was rare and somewhat sensitive, plus the features exhibited by this individual…
Zhang Liang began to form a reasonable guess.
The Way of Great Peace, propagated by the Yellow Turbans, had quite a few followers even in the capital of Luoyang, and in terms of influence, other religions would have to bow down to its power.
Even more frightening, there were eunuchs close to Liu Hong who believed in this way, like Bi Lan and Xu Feng.
With such spies around, Zhang Liang had yet to meet them formally, but he had heard plenty of inside information from the Yellow Turban high ranks he had encountered.
There were rumors that one of the palace attendants was known as “strong and capable of strategy,” named Jian Shuo, and word had it that Liu Hong intended to form a specialized military unit in recent years to protect Luoyang closely, directly under his control; because of his admiration for Jian Shuo, he had even mentioned wanting him to hold an important position.
This dilemma posed the question of whether Liu Hong had become hopelessly inclined toward the eunuch faction or if he was trying to take full control of this newly formed military unit to negotiate with the noble families in the capital.
Zhang Liang recalled hearing Zhang Jiao mention something about it previously, but he couldn’t remember exactly how his brother had reacted.
Regardless of how it was, one thing Zhang Liang could deduce was—
If Liu Hong truly meant to delegate one of the ranks in his direct army to an attendant, he would definitely need to give him an opportunity to perform!
This perfectly explained why this Supervisor would show up at the foot of the city instead of lounging around in the main camp, doing merely sergeant duties.
Because this person came for the glory of defeating him!
Only someone like a little Yellow Gate who had spent too long in the gloomy palace serving that foolish emperor would use such naive methods of declaration.
Zhang Liang drew a deep breath.
He had originally thought that with so few troops and someone inexperienced in command, he might just swiftly crush them, relieving himself of the frustration of being trapped by Lu Zhi here, but upon realizing their probable identities, as well as catching a distant glimpse of the incoming troops, he decided against it.
Slowly, he lowered his earlier intention to order a charge.
Indeed, he couldn’t do that.
Under this new frame of thought—
He responded to Dian Wei’s self-introduction with an exceptionally provocative “So what?”
And he ignored the pale-faced Supervisor’s subsequent challenge to battle.
To his subordinate who sought a fight, he merely gestured for them to hold on for now.
It wasn’t until he heard the sound of gong for retreat echo from Lu Zhi’s camp in the distance that the unwilling pale-faced Supervisor turned back, joining up with the reinforcements as they disappeared into the camp’s enclosure. Zhang Liang finally withdrew his gaze from that direction, wearing a scheming smile on his face.
“Why did the general let them provoke us down there, then allow them to retreat safely?”
Someone from his ranks immediately raised the question, clearly disapproving of Zhang Liang’s decision to avoid battle.
“Because letting them leave is better than allowing them to die at our gates,” Zhang Liang replied, even adding a tone of delight.
This feeling was worlds apart from when he first saw the Qiao character banner.
He continued, “I originally thought there were just two forces facing us, but actually, it seems we should count three.”
His subordinate, simply a manual worker, couldn’t grasp why Zhang Liang would feel pleased by this.
“Isn’t three more than two? Doesn’t this mean we’re in more trouble?”
If there were indeed three parties opposing them, wouldn’t that heighten the pressure on them?
“No, for us, this is merely an opportunity,” said Zhang Liang, his gaze landing on the Qiao character banner that stood tall against Lu Zhi’s flag. The frown on his face lifted significantly, “The Han soldiers are not like us; when their numbers increase, they might end up fighting over merits.”
Unbeknownst to Zhang Liang, there had already been three Yellow Turban leaders merging into one in Yanzhou, and observing his subordinate’s bafflement, he felt compelled to elaborate: “Previously, there was only Lu Zhi facing us. This man’s military strategies are exceptional—he’s a solid unit, and I had little chance against him.”
Feeling that just admitting to this might undermine the reputation of the Yellow Turbans, he quickly followed up, “Of course, if the Great Virtuous Teacher were here, things would be different.”
He quickly got back on track, “But now it’s all changed.”
“On the opposing side, one is Lu Zhi, who has yet to capture any Yellow Turban leaders, another is the eunuch sent by that foolish emperor to supervise and seek glory, and the last is a young general trying to regain his family’s prestige. What kind of outcome do you think will emerge from the gathering of these three?”
While Zhang Liang didn’t provide a completely affirming answer, the insinuations hidden in his words were expressed clearly in the confidence of his tone.
As long as he held on to the city and refrained from charging out, these three would inevitably come into conflict!
Once any rift appeared within their encampment, that would be his chance!
Upon receiving reports from scouts indicating that Lu Zhi’s troops gathering wood for siege equipment had significantly decreased, Zhang Liang felt increasingly secure in his assessment.
“So this guy can actually change his execution plan…” he remarked sardonically. “And it’s thanks to that foolish emperor providing such helpful assistance.”
It occurred to him that Lu Zhi was likely under tremendous pressure, and his subordinates might have even been taken by one of the two other leaders at that moment.
Today might not be enough for any conflict to escalate to a tipping point, but what about tomorrow or the day after?
Once those two fledgling officers took command of the military affairs, that would be his time to counterattack!
Zhang Liang dispatched a small team to attempt night scouting, but after they were exterminated, he realized that Lu Zhi still retained control over the camp and that he couldn’t take any reckless action just yet.
On the following day, he noticed an argument broke out in the camp, where the mighty warrior who could carry a flag led a team out for wood, yet Lu Zhi’s troops remained stagnant. He decisively set aside the frustrations borne from last night’s losses.
It was merely a matter of waiting a few days!
Having already endured two months of stalemate, he hardly feared waiting another three to four days.
However—
If Zou Jing truly was the eunuch Jian Shuo, if Qiao Yan raised this Qiao character banner due to Qiao Zhao’s arrival, and if Lu Zhi indeed remained in the army, then his guesses would hold some merit.
It’s worth mentioning that Lu Zhi found him to be quite the enigma; Zhang Liang was certainly not in his position partly due to familial ties with Zhang Jiao—all this meant something. He was clever enough to strategize and think things through.
But, coincidentally, Lu Zhi had already reached the proximity of Guangzong and was in the middle of flipping alliances with Huangfu Song.
These three to four days seemed trivial to him, yet for Guangzong City, they could undoubtedly become a period of immense upheaval!
While Qiao Yan was extracting a chessboard from Lu Zhi’s tent, playing a leisurely game with Cheng Li as Zhang Liang remained entirely sealed within the city, her task was complete; she just had to wait on Guangzong’s end.
At this moment, Zhang Bao was merely a tool that needed his breath to remain alive.
Huangfu Song certainly wouldn’t harbor any pity for him; once he confirmed that the city gate would be seized, the troops led by Lu Zhi would arrive without delay. He exchanged a glance with Cao Cao and saw the same glint of battle intent in each other’s eyes.
Inside Guangzong City, the true mastermind behind the Yellow Turban Rebellion was present; whether they could strike decisively and quell the chaos depended entirely on this mission.
Days of rushing and waiting consumed Huangfu Song’s attention, leaving him no time to ponder Qiao Yan—whom he had just rated as “Talent to Assist a King”—or to wonder what tasks she might accomplish over at Quzhou.
His focus remained fixed on preparations for the operation.
For example, he had to gauge the demeanor and expressions of the Yellow Turbans, ensuring that he wouldn’t appear an interloper with excessive prowess that made him incompatible with them when it came time to show up at the city gates.
He also needed to pick up a few phrases of the dialect common in Ji Province, so that when asked questions from the city wall, he wouldn’t inadvertently reveal a Luoyang accent, raising suspicions.
However, none of these tense preparations could provoke even a hint of anxiety within him as he approached Guangzong City.
He was, after all, a general accustomed to combat!
Hunched over, he adopted a worried expression, appearing as a typical Yellow Turban soldier troubled by Zhang Bao’s grave condition, carrying the barely-breathing General of the Earth and heading straight towards Guangzong.
As he neared the city, he raised his gaze to the wall, where the proactive sweat on his forehead was brilliantly illuminated by the sun.
Meanwhile, leading a small squad of thirty or so, he raised his voice, “The General of the Earth is gravely ill! Quick, report to the Great Virtuous Teacher!”
The banners belonging to Zhang Bao that fluttered in the distance stood out clearly.
The closer he got, the more distinct the figure being carried became, amplified by the panicked tone of the speaker.
These elements undoubtedly conveyed a message that forced Guangzong’s defenders to open the city gates—
The General of the Earth, Zhang Bao, was in critical condition and urgently required the aid of the Great Virtuous Teacher, Zhang Jiao!
