Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 1: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, The Clear Voice of the Young Phoenix, Chapter 26: Quzhou Guangzong (Middle)

Zhang Bao, as the second-in-command of the Way of Great Peace and responsible for holding the rear, would surely cause chaos if anything went wrong while facing the Han army.

The attire of the people below the city and their apparent deep concern for Zhang Bao made the defenders on the wall less vigilant in the face of this shocking news.

Guangzong was not like Xiaquyang.

Since Lu Zhi’s troops were not too far away, they absolutely would not accept refugees or those seeking to join the army into the city, to prevent any assassins targeting the Great Virtuous Teacher or enemies attempting to seize the city.

However, they would never leave the seriously ill General of the Earth outside the city.

Moreover, Zhang Bao’s subordinates, understanding the rules, kept more people at a distance, which slightly relieved the city defenders.

“Please quickly bring the General of the Earth into the city!” Huangfu Song shouted again with great force.

Hearing this, the city defenders were startled and immediately came to their senses.

While sending someone to inform Zhang Jiao, they decided to bring Zhang Bao up first after some consideration.

Although the Great Virtuous Teacher’s Talisman Water could cure all diseases, the General of the Earth looked critically ill, leaving no room for delay.

Seeing that the men carrying Zhang Bao had no weapons, the defender felt slightly reassured and ordered the city gate to be opened to let them in.

That was Zhang Bao!

The Great Virtuous Teacher’s younger brother!

The Yellow Turban Army’s background made him think in terms of local community and family loyalty. The principle of city defense had to give way to the life and safety of the commander’s brother.

As the drawbridge was lowered, Huangfu Song did not reveal any flaws due to the smooth progress of the plan. Instead, he showed a grateful expression towards the city wall before rushing into the city.

Among the city defenders, only one showed a hint of confusion towards these unexpected guests.

“What are you standing there for?” the person next to him asked. “Come and help.”

“Last month, when I was sent by the Great Virtuous Teacher to deliver a message to Xiaquyang, the General of the Earth’s entourage didn’t seem to be these people…”

He muttered, thinking that those sent for urgent medical help must be the fastest, and Zhang Bao’s trusted aides should remain in Xiaquyang to guard the city. Perhaps he was overthinking.

However, as the group entered the city and was received by the city defense leader, he suddenly saw the men carrying Zhang Bao draw several long knives from under the sedan chair, quickly distributing them to their companions.

In his subconscious cry of “Enemy attack!”, the face of the leading “General of the Earth’s subordinate” no longer showed concern for Zhang Bao’s illness but the fierce determination of a brave general.

He slashed the city defense leader, kicked him aside, and charged up the wall.

Guangzong, controlled by Zhang Jiao, had many defenders. Huangfu Song and Cao Cao, armed, aimed to delay the closing of the city gate, so they had to control two key points quickly.

One was the city gate, and the other was the drawbridge winch on the wall.

With Zhang Bao as a living shield at the gate, they had some room to maneuver, but the crucial point was the wall.

Before Cao Cao could warn Huangfu Song to be careful, Huangfu Song had already climbed the city wall.

However, the defenders turned their crossbows not towards Huangfu Song but towards the Yellow Turban soldiers he had killed while ascending the stairs.

The soldier’s body, now in his hands, served as a shield.

In his desire to quickly end the Yellow Turban Rebellion and bring peace to the Han territory, Huangfu Song had no time to consider whether the rebels had any hidden grievances.

In a situation where failure to capture the city meant certain death, he couldn’t afford to think too much.

Having a shield in front undoubtedly added to his sense of security.

The city defenders, meanwhile, dared not concentrate all their attacks on him and his elite guards.

Because, as Huangfu Song caused trouble below, the previously distant “Zhang Bao’s subordinates” also surged towards Guangzong.

These were Huangfu Song’s elite troops!

They had not fully demonstrated their strength in the battles of Changshe and Xiaquyang, but now was different.

In this frontal assault, the arrows from the wall hardly affected their advancing formation.

Even if some were hit by stray arrows and killed, it didn’t stop the others from leaving their fallen comrades behind and advancing steadily.

Though dressed as Yellow Turban soldiers, their ferocity made them seem like a fearless, sharp arrow aimed directly at Guangzong.

Huangfu Song and his men on the wall were the same.

An arrow had hit the leading general’s arm, but he showed no concern for being injured while leading the charge. He stood firmly in front of the winch.

It was as if the soldiers surging below were also a force supporting him.

Only when they got closer did the defenders notice that, apart from the usual Yellow Turban attire, these men wore red cloth strips to distinguish themselves and avoid friendly fire.

But perhaps, even without the strips, there would be no confusion.

The soldiers, once guarding the borders, now unleashed, looked entirely different from ordinary Yellow Turban troops.

After dozens fell in the charge, they stepped onto the drawbridge, rushed through the still-open gate, and quickly climbed the wall, standing before Huangfu Song.

This terrifying efficiency undoubtedly shocked the Guangzong Yellow Turbans.

Since seizing the city, they had seen many Han army units in their “pacification” of Ji Province, but only now did they encounter such a ferocious imperial force.

Were they not afraid of death?

If Qiao Yan were here, she might have an answer.

The relaxed conditions for military merit and titles in the late Han Dynasty made everyone willing to risk their lives for fame and glory.

Just as she had persuaded Xue Shi and Tian Shi to fight to the death for her before the Battle of Changshe, the lure of tangible benefits spurred them on.

Moreover, Huangfu Song, known for his thunderous actions, was also recorded in history as “caring for his soldiers, deeply loved by them, always ensuring their camps were set and meals prepared before he ate.” This showed his skill in military governance.

His care for his soldiers, especially in critical moments, was a recipe for loyalty.

And this place wasn’t just Huangfu Song’s force!

As their attention focused on Huangfu Song’s vanguard and the subsequent troops entering the city, they inevitably neglected their surroundings.

Seeing Huangfu Song successfully deceive the city gate and personally control it, Lu Zhi immediately launched the attack signal.

Mounting his horse and drawing his sword, he shouted, “Yizhen has led the charge, fearless of death. How can we lag behind! Guangzong is before us, follow me!”

This was also an elite force!

With just Huangfu Song’s troops, they might temporarily hold the wall, but the Yellow Turbans in Guangzong were numerous. A two-pronged attack could retake the wall, but with Lu Zhi’s additional force, the situation changed.

Earlier, Huangfu Song had entrusted part of his cavalry to Lu Zhi. Now, merging with Lu Zhi’s own cavalry, they quickly appeared within Guangzong’s sight.

The following infantry also hurried, surrounding three sides of the city wall, with more rushing through the fully occupied gate, advancing into the city following the success on the wall.

Guangzong was large, with inner and outer city walls.

But because Lu Zhi had been engaging in small-scale battles with Zhang Liang in Quzhou, it seemed unlikely he could quickly reach Guangzong. The city’s strong walls and traps made a rapid Han army assault unthinkable.

Until now—

Though a few defenders on the inner wall fired arrows, taking some attackers’ lives, they were no match for Lu Zhi’s攻城队伍.

Behind the cavalry’s swift assault came carts pushing battering rams, forcefully breaking through the not-yet-reinforced inner gate.

This was the result of careful planning!

A glint of joy flashed in Lu Zhi’s eyes. With the inner wall breached, the rest would be simpler.

Though the two armies had successfully joined inside the city and controlled the defenses on this side, the battle for Guangzong was not over.

Because it was not night.

Choosing a time that didn’t seem like a sneak attack, Huangfu Song didn’t mind launching the deceptive assault during the day.

This also meant the Yellow Turbans in the city could quickly prepare for battle, unlike at night.

Zhang Jiao couldn’t be like Zhang Bao, who, from noticing the anomaly to donning his armor and stepping out, had enough time for Huangfu Song to reach him.

Moreover, the Great Virtuous Teacher, daring to rebel against the Han, naturally wouldn’t show any distress upon hearing of his brother’s critical illness outside the city and the Han army’s invasion.

He still appeared as a transcendent figure.

Zhang Jiao looked around, seeing the狂热眼神 of his soldiers, or rather,信徒, and stood up.

In recent days, his body had weakened, feeling the fatigue of approaching his天命宣召, but he was determined to overthrow…





The will of the Han Dynasty’s rule still supports him, preventing him from falling.

    He spoke in a calm tone, “As you all have heard from the messages, the Han army has left a gap in the city wall, giving us a chance to break out. We do have the option to escape from there. By gathering our Taiping Dao brothers and choosing another city to defend, we can still have another chance to resist. But think about it—”

    “The Han army, using our brothers as hostages, must have already captured Xiaquyang. Whether this gap is a path to life or death is now uncertain. The best plan now is to confront them within the city!”

    They have no other way out!

    The time to gather soldiers for a counterattack is too short, and Zhang Jiao’s speech inevitably quickened.

    If not for his strong mental fortitude, he might have been worried about Zhang Bao’s situation and panicked by the Han army’s sudden breach of the city.

    Now, his composed demeanor undoubtedly made the Yellow Turbans in Guangzong City feel as if they had found their backbone.

    As soon as Zhang Jiao finished speaking, voices of agreement rose around him, “We will fight to the death for the Great Virtuous Teacher without regret!”

    This declaration of “fighting to the death without regret” echoed throughout Guangzong City.

    Even Lu Zhi, who had experienced several rebellions, felt that comparing the rebellions in Jiujiang and other places to the Yellow Turbans in Guangzong City was almost an insult to those who would not retreat even in the face of death.

    Lu Zhi was not entirely ignorant of religious causes, but only now did he truly witness a force willing to fight to the death for their faith. Even after losing the protection of two city walls, they were not a group that would easily surrender.

    Was it just Zhang Jiao’s preaching and that catchy slogan that incited them to this extent?

    Probably not.

    Lu Zhi was not only a competent general but also a scholar. He was well aware of the chaos of the late Han era.

    But between maintaining the dynasty’s rule and respecting these people’s rebellion, he had to firmly choose the former.

    Because the disorder and savagery in the latter’s rebellion had caused greater calamities, which he could not tolerate.

    That said, when he saw the soldiers truly influenced by Zhang Jiao’s Taiping Dao teachings, with the front lines falling and the rear lines surging forward, displaying a fearless attitude towards death, even Lu Zhi couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration for them.

    “Zigan, don’t space out!”

    Huangfu Song shot an arrow from afar, bringing down a Yellow Turban soldier who had climbed onto the wall.

    This soldier had intended to attack Lu Zhi from above, aiming to capture the leader first, but Huangfu Song was quicker.

    As he shot the arrow, Huangfu Song couldn’t help but think of Qiao Yan’s advice.

    It was indeed necessary advice.

    In his previous experiences of sieges learned from his father and uncle, he had never encountered defenders who, even when defenseless and with other escape routes, stubbornly held their ground as if forming a barrier of flesh and blood to protect their Great Virtuous Teacher.

    The casualties in the front did not instill fear of death in those behind but instead spurred them to continue fighting with explosive, almost suicidal attacks.

    But their opponents had more experience in regular combat, making this resistance seem like moths flying into a flame.

    It wasn’t until Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi finally saw Zhang Jiao.

    On the street before them, the brutal and fierce clash had turned the area blood-red. Only Zhang Jiao, dressed in simple clothes and straw sandals, stood there like an immortal detached from the world.

    But neither the generals nor their soldiers could mistake him for a wandering village doctor.

    The sweeping Yellow Turban Rebellion that had ignited wars across several provinces was the result of this man’s years of preparation.

    Even though the Yellow Turbans’ losses were far greater than the Han army’s, and the battle from noon to dusk had reached a point where one final strike could end it, one fact remained unchanged.

    The surviving Yellow Turbans still showed unwavering loyalty to Zhang Jiao.

    Huangfu Song couldn’t help but recall another of Qiao Yan’s words, which was indeed correct.

    He had no doubt that even if he were to step forward and swiftly end Zhang Jiao’s life, this man would remain the spiritual figurehead of the Yellow Turban remnants for a long time.

    Huangfu Song regretted not having read all the Yellow Turban texts, as he might have found something about what happens after death.

    But for now, capturing Zhang Jiao alive might indeed be a better choice than killing him.

    Fortunately, Zhang Jiao’s combat skills… made his capture inevitable.

    He did not possess any divine magical abilities.

    With Zhang Jiao captured and Lu Zhi’s soldiers outside the city gradually taking over the walls, the battle in Guangzong City finally reached its conclusion.

    As Huangfu Song listened to his subordinates report the results, he couldn’t help but worry about whether Qiao Yan’s plan to shatter Zhang Jiao’s faith would work.

    At that moment, he saw Cao Cao, wearing a mismatched helmet and bandages on his arms, walking in looking disheveled.

    Even Lu Zhi couldn’t help but laugh at his appearance, lightening the mood that had been weighed down by the Yellow Turbans’ sacrificial spirit.

    “Lu Gong, laughing at me like this is a bit unkind,” Cao Cao said, wiping the blood from his face.

    Though he was somewhat skilled in combat, he was no fierce warrior.

    Fortunately, he could still protect himself and wasn’t a liability in this battle.

    Of course, he didn’t think walking the edge of life and death was a problem.

    Missing the battle at Guangzong would have been a real regret for Cao Mengde.

    This lack of regret was evident in his tone as he jokingly chided Lu Zhi.

    He then added, “Thankfully, my niece didn’t come here. She usually makes sense, but this time, saying Zhang Bao could be a shield was quite unreliable.”

    “Didn’t Zhang Bao shield you from disaster?” Huangfu Song asked, raising an eyebrow.

    Cao Cao replied, “Not exactly. The Yellow Turbans in Guangzong did recognize Zhang Bao, but I… am a bit broader than him.”

    “…” Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song exchanged glances, barely containing their laughter.

    With this bit of banter, and with Guangzong secured but Quzhou still to deal with, they temporarily set aside the issue of how to handle Zhang Jiao.

    After a night’s rest, they left the wounded in Guangzong and assigned Cao Cao to oversee the prisoners before heading to Quzhou.

    With Lu Zhi leading the way, they arrived near Quzhou City’s camp under the cover of night.

    The stars and moon hung high.

    The camp seemed silent, but the patrols were clearly vigilant.

    Before they could get close, the sentries spotted them and moved to intercept.

    However, upon recognizing Lu Zhi, his subordinates were overjoyed and quickly sent word to Qiao Yan, leading Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song into the camp.

    By the time they reached the camp gates, Qiao Yan had already arrived after receiving the news.

    Seeing the two dust-covered generals who had mentored her, Qiao Yan bowed deeply, “Thanks to the appreciation of Lu Gong and General Huangfu, I have not failed in my mission.”

    Her gratitude was sincere.

    Hearing this, Huangfu Song recalled the battle at Xiaquyang.

    Back then, she had said, “Congratulations, General,” claiming no credit for the victory. But now, her declaration of “not failing in my mission” was bold, showing she was not shy about her achievements.

    Huangfu Song’s strategic insight was sharp. After discussing the situation in Quzhou with Lu Zhi, he realized that leaving Qiao Yan in her position was not just about defending the camp.

    Now, seeing the orderly camp under the night sky, with no signs of a major battle with Quzhou, and the prominent Qiao banner beside Lu Zhi’s commander’s flag, along with a freshly shaven officer among the welcoming party—

    Huangfu Song couldn’t figure out all of Qiao Yan’s arrangements, but he could guess most of them.

    He had taken a risk recommending Qiao Yan, but now he was glad he hadn’t held back.

    If she hadn’t been given a high position, how would they have known she could do even better!

    She had indeed met, if not exceeded, the expectations he and Lu Zhi had for her.

    By firmly pinning Zhang Liang in place, she had already overachieved, without needing to defeat the General of the People in the city to prove her capabilities.

    Huangfu Song didn’t see Qiao Yan’s talent for psychological warfare and her precocious cunning as something to be wary of.

    On the contrary, he felt his assessment of her as a “Talent to Assist a King” was spot on.

    It proved his ability to recognize talent.

    As Qiao Yan led them into the camp and instructed Dian Wei to take down the fake Qiao banner, Huangfu Song stopped him.

    “Leave it up. With your ability to match a thousand soldiers, you are indeed a force to be reckoned with,” Huangfu Song said, glancing at the banner with amusement. “Once we take Quzhou, we’ll credit you with another great achievement!”

    The next morning, Zhang Liang, expecting to see a more fragmented enemy, instead saw—

    Three commander’s banners, with troops tightly surrounding Quzhou City.

    If it were just the addition of the Huangfu banner, it might have been manageable. But as he stepped onto the city walls to oversee the battle, he saw a prisoner cart being pushed forward from the enemy lines.

    Inside the cart was Zhang Jiao.