“Can strategists not take the throne?”
Chapter 26
As the second-in-command in the Way of Great Peace, Zhang Bao had the responsibility of firmly holding the rear. If anything went wrong at this critical moment against the Han army, it would surely lead to chaos.
The way the folks at the city gates were dressed, combined with their evident concern for Zhang Bao, caused the garrison on the walls to drop their guard, if even just a little.
Guangzong was no Xiaquyang.
With Lu Zhi’s forces not too far away, they definitely wouldn’t allow displaced folks or soldiers to enter the city, to prevent any potential assassins of the Great Virtuous Teacher or enemy forces from sneaking in.
However, they would never let the ailing General of the Earth stay outside the city gates.
Moreover, Zhang Bao’s soldiers knew the rules well and kept more people at a distance, which relieved the city defenders somewhat.
“Quickly bring General of the Earth into the city!” Huangfu Song bellowed, using his energy.
The guards were shocked at his command and quickly regained their wits.
While notifying Zhang Jiao, they decided to first bring Zhang Bao inside.
Though the Talisman Water from the Great Virtuous Teacher could heal a multitude of ailments, they couldn’t ignore the fact that the General of the Earth looked gravely ill, prompting them to act without delay.
Noticing that those carrying Zhang Bao were unarmed, the guard felt a little more at ease and had them open the gates to let them in.
After all, this was Zhang Bao!
The brother of the Great Virtuous Teacher!
The Yellow Turban Army origins made it impossible for him to shake off the usual local community logic when thinking about important matters; clearly, the life and death of the commander’s brother took precedence over standard protocols.
As the drawbridge came down, Huangfu Song hid his elation behind a mask of humility, offering thanks to the city while heading in.
Among the guards on the walls, only one person showed a hint of confusion at this unexpected visit.
“What are you gaping at?” the person next to him asked, “Get over here and help!”
“When the Great Virtuous Teacher sent me to Xiaquyang with a message last month, wasn’t the General of the Earth accompanied by different people?”
He mumbled, then thought that the ones sent for medical help were likely the fastest, so Zhang Bao’s trusted men should remain in Xiaquyang to guard the city. Perhaps he was overthinking it.
However, as the group entered the city and were met by the gate commander, he saw several knives drawn from under the soft sedan they were carrying Zhang Bao on, quickly distributed among the companions.
Before he could even shout “enemy attack,” the lead “General of the Earth’s men” transformed from worried about Zhang Bao’s condition to looking like a fierce warrior ready for battle.
One blade struck the gatehead, sending him flying aside as they charged up into the city.
Guangzong was under Zhang Jiao’s control, and with the considerable number of garrisoned soldiers, Huangfu Song and Cao Cao aimed to delay the closing of the gates, meaning they had to gain control of two crucial points within that brief span.
One was the city gate, and the other was the winch controlling the drawbridge.
With Zhang Bao serving as a living shield, there was a bit of leeway for maneuvering, but the priority was still the city walls.
Before Cao Cao could say, “Watch out, Middle General,” Huangfu Song was already scaling the walls.
However, as the garrison shifted their bows and crossbows to shoot, they weren’t targeting Huangfu Song but instead struck down the Yellow Turban soldier he was stepping over.
Now holding that dead soldier, he cleverly used it as a shield.
With a determination to rapidly end this Yellow Turban rebellion and bring stability back to the Han, Huangfu Song had no time to consider if those thieves had hidden motivations.
With one obstruction in front of him, his confidence only grew.
Meanwhile, the garrison didn’t dare center all their firepower on him and a few elite guards.
Because at the same time Huangfu Song was performing his daring act at the gates, the “Zhang Bao’s subordinates,” who had originally hung back, surged forward toward Guangzong City.
These were the elite soldiers under Huangfu Song’s command!
They had yet to fully display their power during the battles in Changshe and Xiaquyang, but now it was a different story.
In a full-on charge toward the walls, the arrows raining down from above hardly affected the formation of their advancing troops.
Even if someone did get hit by a stray arrow, who died amidst their advance, it didn’t shake the collective confidence of those pushing forward.
Wearing the same yellow turbans as before, the whole unit exuded an aura of ferocity that made them appear as a fearsome, unyielding arrow aimed directly at Guangzong.
The defenders on the walls felt the same urgency.
Though the lead warrior took an arrow to the arm, there was no hint of worry about his position as commander; instead, he stood firm in front of the winch.
It was as if those soldiers rushing from below were fueling his resolve to stand his ground.
As they neared, the defenders spotted that beside their regular yellow turbans, these attackers wore red cloths, clearly marking a distinction to prevent friendly fire.
But even without those red ribbons, it was doubtful they would mix up the two parties.
Those seasoned warriors, fierce and battle-hardened, appeared utterly different from the ordinary Yellow Turban soldiers.
After dozens fell from their ranks as they charged down toward the drawbridge, they finally stormed through the gates, which were still opening, and swiftly climbed the walls, placing themselves between the soldiers and Huangfu Song.
This frightening pace of attack clearly shocked the Yellow Turbans in Guangzong.
Having set up shop since claiming the city, they had encountered many Han troops on their path to “stabilizing” Ji Province, yet never had they seen such a fearsome court force until today.
Did they not fear death?
If Qiao Yan were present, she might have had an answer for them.
The relaxed conditions for military achievements during the late Han period meant that in scenarios like this, everyone wanted to fight for their fame and honor.
Just like when she had previously persuaded Xue Shi and Tian Shi to fight with her before the battle of Changshe, the opportunity laid before them inspired all to gamble their lives.
More critically, though Huangfu Song had a thunderous demeanor, historical records showed he also had a tender heart for his soldiers, stating, “He nurtured his troops well, winning their respect; every time the army halted, he would ensure canopies were set up first, and only then did he eat.” This clearly demonstrated his ability to govern military affairs.
His compassion at this crucial moment only strengthened the soldiers’ loyalty toward him.
And this area had more than just Huangfu Song’s unit!
As their focus remained on Huangfu Song’s vanguard and the subsequent batch that had just entered, they inevitably neglected to keep an eye on their surroundings.
Seeing Huangfu Song successfully trick the guards into opening the gates, Lu Zhi took that moment to signal the attack.
Mounting his horse and raising his sword, he shouted, “Yizhen has led us into battle, unafraid of death! How can we lag behind? Guangzong is within our grasp, let’s move!”
This was also an elite force!
Only relying on the number of troops led by Huangfu Song might let them seize the city briefly, but with the Yellow Turban forces being so numerous in Guangzong, encircling them from two sides would surely allow the garrison to reclaim the city. However, with Lu Zhi’s additional forces now involved, things were bound to change.
Previously, Huangfu Song had allocated a portion of his cavalry to Lu Zhi for joint command, and those cavalry quickly merged with Lu Zhi’s troops, now visible on the outskirts of Guangzong.
Meanwhile, the infantry was also moving quickly, leaving behind a few to surround the three walled sides and charging headlong through the gate, which had already been taken, continuing their advance into the city.
Guangzong was not small, consisting of inner and outer walls.
Yet due to Lu Zhi’s previous skirmishes with Zhang Liang at Quzhou, they hadn’t expected to breach Guangzong’s defenses so soon. The fortifications and traps below had led them to believe an assault would take longer.
As a result—
While a few soldiers had been stationed at the inner city walls early on and had claimed a few attackers’ lives with their arrows, they fell woefully short against Lu Zhi’s assaulting force.
Behind the cavalry’s swift strike, the siege engines pushed forward, smashing open the still-unrepaired inner city gates.
This was a典calculated victory!
Joy lit up Lu Zhi’s eyes as the inner city walls gaped open, making the rest of the operation a lot simpler.
Of course, even though two armies had now successfully met at the city, the fight for Guangzong was far from over.
After all, this wasn’t nightfall.
Choosing a time that wouldn’t seem suspicious for a stealthy attack, Huangfu Song didn’t mind launching his assault in broad daylight.
This meant, unlike at night, the Yellow Turban soldiers inside the city wouldn’t have as much trouble gearing up for a defense.
And Zhang Jiao was far less likely to have the same window for reaction as Zhang Bao did during his illness; by the time he sensed something was amiss and donned his armor to exit, Huangfu Song could have already been upon him.
Furthermore, this Great Virtuous Teacher was certainly bold enough to challenge the Han publicly; thus, it was unlikely he would lose his composure upon hearing about his brother’s grave illness at the gates then receive news of an invasion.
He maintained an ethereal and commanding presence.
Zhang Jiao glanced around, taking in the fervent gazes of his soldiers, or rather his followers, and stood up.
In recent days, he wasn’t as strong as usual, feeling the weariness and fatigue of approaching his destined departure even more than before.
The will to maintain the Han Dynasty’s rule still kept him from collapsing.
He spoke in a calm tone, “You’ve all heard the news that the Han army has left a gap in the city wall, giving us a chance to break through. We indeed have a choice to escape through there. As long as we rally the brothers of the Way of Great Peace and hold our ground in another city, we could even get another chance to defend. But think about this—”
“If the Han army can use my brothers as hostages, they must have breached Xiaquyang. Whether that gap leads to life or death is uncertain. For now, it might be better to confront them right here in the city!”
They had no other way out!
Time was short for gathering the soldiers for a counterattack, and Zhang Jiao’s words inevitably became a bit hurried.
If it weren’t for his strong mental fortitude, he might have worried about Zhang Bao’s situation and been flustered by the Han army’s sudden breach.
Now, his ability to steady his mind undoubtedly made the Yellow Turbans in Guangzong feel like they had found their backbone.
As soon as Zhang Jiao finished speaking, the surroundings erupted with shouts of agreement, “We will fight to the death for our Great Virtuous Teacher!”
This declaration of “fighting to the death” echoed throughout Guangzong City.
Even Lu Zhi, having experienced several rebellions, felt that comparing the unrest in Jiujiang to the Yellow Turbans here in Guangzong was almost insulting to these unwavering men.
Lu Zhi was no stranger to religious affairs, but witnessing a troop willing to fight to the death for their faith in the midst of such chaos, even without the protection of two city walls, was indeed not a group that would easily surrender.
Could it be solely due to Zhang Jiao’s preaching and that catchy slogan that they were incited to this extent?
Probably not.
Lu Zhi wasn’t just a qualified general; he was also a scholar, well aware of the turbulent backdrop of the late Han dynasty.
But in maintaining the dynasty’s rule and respecting these people’s rebellion, he
had to firmly choose the former.
Because the chaos and barbarism in the latter’s rebellion had already caused greater calamities, which he could not tolerate.
That said, upon seeing the soldiers truly inspired by Zhang Jiao’s Way of Great Peace, the ones falling in front quickly replaced by those rushing forward with reckless abandon, Lu Zhi couldn’t help but feel a sense of respect towards these people.
“Zigan, don’t daze out!”
Huangfu Song shot an arrow from afar, taking down a Yellow Turban soldier who had scaled the city wall without anyone noticing.
This soldier had aimed to ambush Lu Zhi from above, trying to pull off a ‘capture the king by taking the bandits’ trick, but Huangfu Song was simply quicker on the draw.
As he released the arrow, Huangfu Song thought of Qiao Yan’s reminder.
That was indeed a crucial shout.
In the experiences he had gained from his father and uncle regarding siege warfare, he had never encountered a situation where the defenders, already at a loss and with alternate escape routes, stubbornly held their ground, as if building a barrier against their Great Virtuous Teacher with their mere mortal flesh.
The casualties ahead did not render the men behind fearful of death; instead, they continued to fight in a frenzied, almost suicidal manner.
Yet their opponents had far more battle experience, making this resistance feel like moths flying towards a flame in its tragic intensity.
It was only when Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi finally encountered Zhang Jiao.
On the streets before them, the brutal and fierce clashes turned the area almost blood-red, with only Zhang Jiao standing there in plain clothes and straw sandals, appearing as if an immortal poised in the realm beyond.
But neither the two generals nor the soldiers they commanded could afford to regard him as just an idle healer or rustic.
The Yellow Turban rebellion that swept across several states started with this man’s years of lurking.
Even though the Yellow Turbans had suffered significantly heavier losses than the Han army, the duel from noon to dusk had turned the tide to the point that they were but a single strike away from ending the battle, and that fact hadn’t changed at all.
Those who survived to this moment still showed complete loyalty to Zhang Jiao.
Huangfu Song couldn’t help but recall another of Qiao Yan’s remarks, which was indeed not inaccurate.
He had no doubt that if he stepped up now and efficiently ended Zhang Jiao’s life, that man would still remain a spiritual beacon for the Yellow Turbans for a long time.
Huangfu Song couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret that he hadn’t read all the Yellow Turban texts—maybe there was something in there about what happens after death.
But for now, perhaps capturing him alive was the better choice than killing him.
Fortunately, Zhang Jiao’s combat power… was inevitably leading him to capture as the outcome.
He also didn’t possess any divine powers.
And with Zhang Jiao captured, as Lu Zhi’s men outside were overwhelmed, the fighting in Guangzong finally reached its final stage.
As Huangfu Song listened to his subordinates reporting on further victories, he couldn’t help but worry whether Qiao Yan’s earlier mention of shattering Zhang Jiao’s faith would actually be feasible.
It was at that moment he saw Cao Mengde, wearing an oddly-shaped helmet, with bandages wrapped around his arms, stumbling in.
Lu Zhi couldn’t help but chuckle at his appearance, lightening the mood that had turned somber due to the Yellow Turbans’ spirited sacrifices.
“If Lu Gong is laughing at me, it’s somewhat ungracious,” Cao Cao remarked as he wiped the blood from his face.
He could be said to have decent combat skills, yet he wasn’t exactly a fierce general.
Luckily, he still had enough self-preservation skills to avoid being a liability in this battle.
Of course, he didn’t find going close to death troublesome at all.
Missing this battle in Guangzong would truly be a regret for Cao Mengde.
This lack of regret was reflected in his words; though he criticized Lu Zhi for being ungracious, his tone was more teasing.
He then added, “Good thing my niece didn’t come here. She has a point; that time she said Zhang Bao could be used as a shield, that was seriously unreliable.”
“So, Zhang Bao couldn’t shield you from disaster?” Huangfu Song raised an eyebrow and asked.
Cao Cao replied, “Not exactly, the Yellow Turbans in Guangzong recognize Zhang Bao, but as for me… I’m a bit more substantial than Zhang Bao.”
“…” Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song exchanged glances, both unable to suppress their laughter.
With such lighthearted banter, and with Guangzong secured, having Quzhou to tackle next, they simply set aside what to do with Zhang Jiao for the moment.
After resting for a night, they left the wounded in Guangzong and left Cao Cao in charge of guarding the defeated forces while they set off towards Quzhou.
With Lu Zhi leading the way, they smoothly arrived at the camp not far outside Quzhou City during the night.
The stars and moon hung high.
The camp seemed silent, yet the guards around were evidently alert and not relaxed.
Before they could get close, sentries had already detected their presence and were moving to block them.
However, upon realizing it was Lu Zhi, the soldiers who belonged to Lu Zhi were overjoyed, quickly sending someone to inform Qiao Yan while leading Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song towards the camp.
When they reached the camp gate, Qiao Yan had already rushed over after receiving the news.
Seeing the two weathered generals, who had bestowed favors upon her, Qiao Yan bowed to them, “Thanks to the recognition from Lu Gong and General Huangfu, Yan is fortunate not to have failed in her mission.”
This gratitude was genuinely heartfelt.
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Song recalled the earlier battle at Xiaquyang.
Back then, she humbly said her contributions weren’t due to her alone; she merely congratulated the general. But now, she said, “fortunate not to have failed” with particular boldness, clearly not shying away from her achievements.
Huangfu Song’s strategic vision was sharp; after conversing with Lu Zhi about the situation in Quzhou, he discerned that leaving Qiao Yan in that position meant she wouldn’t just be guarding that camp.
In the dim night, he could see the camp still orderly, unlike a place that had just fought with Quzhou; the camp stood out with a prominent flag displaying Qiao’s character next to Lu Zhi’s commanding banner; among those welcoming them was an eye-catching lieutenant who had just shaved off his beard—
Though Huangfu Song couldn’t grasp all of Qiao Yan’s strategies, he could certainly piece together enough of it.
He had initially thought recommending Qiao Yan for the position was somewhat risky but now felt relieved he hadn’t suppressed that thought due to any constraints.
If he hadn’t placed her in a high position, how could he know she could do even better!
And indeed, she had fulfilled the expectations he and Lu Zhi had for her.
As long as she firmly pinned down Zhang Liang there, she had already exceeded her mission without needing to actually defeat the General of the People inside the city to prove her competence.
Huangfu Song didn’t see Qiao Yan’s talent for psychological warfare, expressed through her mature scheming that surpassed her age, as something to be wary of.
On the contrary, he felt his assessment of her as a “Talent to Assist a King” truly suited her.
This proved he had an eye for talent.
Seeing Qiao Yan leading them into the camp and instructing Dian Wei to remove the false Qiao banner, he immediately raised a hand to signal Dian Wei not to do so.
“Let it stay; a single person can be worth a thousand troops, so how can it not count as a force?” Huangfu Song glanced at the banner, finding it amusing, “Once we breach Quzhou City later, it’ll be proper to credit you with a great achievement!”
So, come the next morning, Zhang Liang, who thought he would see a more chaotic situation on the opposing side, was instead met with—
The tightly encircled armies beneath three commanding banners surrounding Quzhou City.
If there was just that added banner with the characters of Huangfu, that would be one thing, but as he stepped onto the city wall to oversee the battle, he saw a prisoner cart being pushed out from their camp.
And in that cart was none other than Zhang Jiao.
