Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 1: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, The Clear Voice of a Young Phoenix, Chapter 33: Heading to Luoyang

But no matter how shocked Chunyu Qiong and Zhang Rang were, they couldn’t change one fact—

The imperial edict that Zhang Rang had previously detained might have had some room for negotiation, but now, as Palace Attendant Bi Lan read it aloud, this edict rewarding the heroes of the Yellow Turban Rebellion was officially proclaimed, leaving no room for further changes.

Marquis of Huaili, Marquis of Qiantang, Marquis of Leping.

These were the highest rewards Liu Hong had to offer.

In the edict for Qiao Yan, Liu Hong was even more generous with his praise.

Her deep loyalty and filial piety, her strategic brilliance, and the phrase “Those who are renowned throughout the world deserve the world’s greatest rewards” formed this edict that no longer constrained her by gender.

Even more astonishing was the phrase “Respect her!” added at the end.

Zhang Rang, who had read many imperial edicts to understand Liu Hong’s thoughts, knew that the phrase “Respect her!” was rarely used, even in edicts conferring the title of County Marquis.

In the past, such phrases were only used when the emperor had extraordinary expectations for the recipient.

For example, Deng Yu, a famous general of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the leader of the Twenty-Eight Generals of Yuntai, was appointed Grand Minister over the Masses and granted the title of Marquis of Zan with a fief of ten thousand households. The edict at that time contained similar wording.

At that time, Deng Yu was about to face the Red Eyebrows Army, and Emperor Guangwu had high hopes for him in the edict.

Now, this phrase appeared in the edict conferring the title of Marquis of Leping to Qiao Yan.

Zhang Rang couldn’t help but wonder what kind of expectations Liu Hong had for this young girl who hadn’t even reached adulthood.

Did he want her to further develop her eloquence to uphold the legitimacy of the Han Dynasty, or did he want her to make significant contributions with her intellect on the land granted to her?

Or perhaps, like the emperor’s usual unpredictable behavior, he simply wanted to add an exclamation for emphasis?

Regardless of Liu Hong’s intentions, the surprise of Qiao Yan’s ennoblement made the other news in the edict seem less significant.

Below the three County Marquises, there were also four Marquis of Ting.

Fu Xie, the Military Protector Sima under Huangfu Song, who fought bravely in the Battle of Changshe and performed exceptionally well in the campaign in Ji Province, was granted the title of Marquis of Ting.

The other three were—

Cao Cao, who supported Huangfu Song as a Cavalry Commandant and personally entered the city gates during the Battle of Guangzong.

Tian Yan, who risked his life to deliver a message for the Han army during the Battle of Changshe and whose family contributed to the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Yanzhou.

Xue Fang, the head of the Xue clan, who defended Dong’e and assisted in pacifying Yanzhou.

As for why Xue Fang was ennobled instead of Cheng Li, and why Tian Yan received a noble title instead of a regular official position, Qiao Yan could guess Liu Hong’s intentions.

Liu Hong likely hadn’t yet received Liu Yan’s proposal on the Provincial Governor System. As a still somewhat intelligent emperor, he might have wanted to test whether granting noble titles to powerful families could curb their tendency to annex land and population.

Qiao Yan didn’t know much about Xue Fang of the Xue clan, but she was quite familiar with Tian Yan, the eldest son of the Tian clan. His simple nature made his thoughts easy to read.

When Qiao Yan approached him, he didn’t hide his admiration for her.

To be honest, when Tian Yan risked his life to send the joint operation letter, he had some regrets.

After all, he wasn’t sure if Qiao Yan’s promise of “leaving a name in history” was just an empty promise.

But at that time, he was already on the battlefield, and having made the choice in a moment of passion, he had to see it through.

And now…

Tian Yan felt as if he was still dreaming.

While the title of Marquis of Ting was indeed being handed out generously under Emperor Huan and the current emperor, there was a fundamental difference between a powerful family with shallow roots and a Marquis of Ting of the Han Dynasty.

This was a recognition of class!

Although his fief was much smaller than Fu Xie’s and Cao Cao’s, it was enough for him. It was enough for the Tian clan!

He almost wanted to grab Qiao Yan’s hand but realized it was too impulsive and awkwardly withdrew it. “Thanks to your planning, the Tian clan has reached this point. We will repay this great favor with the entire clan.”

Tian Yan had always called Qiao Yan “sir” since she served as Liang Zhongning’s strategist, and he hadn’t changed that.

He then thought of something and said, “No, now I should call you Marquis of Leping.”

“But why was the title of Marquis of Ting given to me and not my father?” Tian Yan scratched his head, puzzled.

Although the title of Marquis of Ting went to the Tian clan, it was strange for the son to be a Marquis while the father remained a commoner.

If we were to count merits, what Xue Fang did wasn’t much different from what his father and uncle did.

“The emperor’s intentions are not for us to speculate,” Qiao Yan replied.

“Right, right… that makes sense,” Tian Yan said, unable to stop himself from grinning.

But compared to Qiao Yan’s calm reaction, he felt he was too easily excited.

She had directly become a County Marquis with the power to establish a state, yet she didn’t show the same excitement. No wonder she received such high praise before even formally meeting the emperor.

But it wasn’t just Tian Yan who thought Qiao Yan was composed.

Cao Cao thought the same.

As Qiao Yan subtly inquired about the Tian clan’s plans from Tian Yan and headed towards the military tent, she happened to run into Cao Cao, who was also strolling outside.

According to the Han’s hierarchy, Qiao Yan, as Marquis of Leping, was like the commander’s banner in the camp, her status only below Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi. Even Cao Cao had to bow to her.

But Qiao Yan immediately addressed him as “uncle,” setting the tone for a private conversation, so Cao Cao didn’t insist on formalities.

“I haven’t congratulated you yet, uncle,” Qiao Yan said. “But not for the title of Marquis of Ting, but for your appointment as Chancellor of Jinan.”

Cao Cao asked, “Why are you congratulating me differently from others? The Chancellor of Jinan and the Cavalry Commandant both hold silver seals with blue ribbons. With the remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion still causing trouble, the position of Chancellor of Jinan isn’t easy. The Cavalry Commandant, being a capital official, has the Imperial Guards under his command. It’s just a lateral move.”

“Uncle, with that tone, aren’t you particularly satisfied with this position?” Qiao Yan replied. “Don’t deceive me just because I’m young.”

The two-thousand-bushel salary of a capital official and the Chancellor of Jinan’s two-thousand-bushel salary were indeed similar, and their seals were of the same rank.

But promotions in the Han Dynasty weren’t like those of the eunuchs in the capital; it wasn’t about being closer to the emperor. It was better to have experience as a prefect.

The salary and authority of the Chancellor of Jinan were equivalent to that of a prefect, making him the highest administrative official in Jinan State.

If an ordinary person were placed in this position, it might not be better than the path of a capital official, but this was Cao Cao.

It was completely different.

Qiao Yan continued, “Uncle, you have the ability to govern, not just to fight. General Huangfu was promoted from Left General of the Household to General of the Chariots and Cavalry, but your path lies in the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers. If you can excel as Chancellor of Jinan, you will surely be promoted within five years.”

“The remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion are still causing trouble, but I don’t think that’s your true concern. Without chaos, how could you showcase your talents?”

Cao Cao stroked his beard and laughed. “The emperor’s praise of your strategic brilliance is indeed high praise. To receive such a prediction of promotion from you, Marquis Qiao, with your keen insight and judgment, I am truly unworthy.”

He then asked, “By the way, I’m not the only one promoted this time. How many others have you predicted for promotion?”

Cao Cao’s tone lowered slightly, more like gossip than a serious question.

Qiao Yan also lowered her voice and replied, “Since you’ve acknowledged me as your junior, I can speak more freely.”

In other words, she wouldn’t mention the others in conversation.

In fact, Qiao Yan only truly foresaw Cao Cao’s promotion.

Huangfu Song’s military prowess was unmatched among his peers in the late Han Dynasty, and his Military Protector Sima Fu Xie was exceptionally brave. However, the position of Grand General in the Han military was occupied by He Jin. No matter how much Huangfu Song excelled, he could only reach the position of Left General, holding a gold seal with purple ribbons, ranking below the Nine Ministers.

In the fifth year of Zhongping, he did reach this position, but his straightforward nature and lack of political maneuvering meant he was promoted more out of necessity than merit.

Before that, he had been demoted to Marquis of Duxiang due to slander from Zhao Zhong and Zhang Rang.

Lu Zhi, though capable in military affairs, was almost indifferent to fame and fortune. He preferred editing Confucian texts to leading armies. Maintaining his position was enough; there was no need to talk about advancement.

As for Liu Bei, he fared much better than his original position as Captain of Anxi County. Since Lu Zhi wasn’t demoted, Liu Bei’s military achievements were properly recorded, and he became the Military Officer of Qinghe Commandery, filling the vacancy in Ji Province.

However, one peculiar situation was that within a year or two after the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Liu Hong, the emperor who was good at “tight budgeting,” ordered a selection and elimination of officials promoted due to military achievements.

Unlike Cao Cao, who had family backing, Liu Bei, despite his admirable interpersonal skills, might not face the same fate as whipping the Inspector and resigning, but promotion would still be difficult.

Cao Cao didn’t know Qiao Yan’s unspoken thoughts, only feeling that this niece of his was truly worth acknowledging.

With that in mind, he couldn’t just take advantage of being an elder.

He asked, “Do you know why the emperor granted you Leping?”

Qiao Yan replied, “Huaili County is in Yong Province, Qiantang County is in Yang Province, and Leping County is in Bing Province. I thought it was to showcase the vastness of the Han territory, but from your tone, is there more to it?”

“It’s rare to see you not know something.”

Cao Cao found a spot to squat down and used a branch to sketch the outlines of the Han provinces. “Yong Province is near Liang Province, which historically was part of ancient Yong Province. The purpose of Huaili in Yong Province is obvious. Recently, Liang Province has shown signs of rebellion, even gathering a group of troops. Granting General Huangfu Song this title likely means he will soon be given the authority to march in that direction.”

Qiao Yan pointed to Yang Province and said, “Then Lu Zhi’s situation is similar. He previously suppressed the rebellion in Jiujiang, Yang Province. With the Yellow Turban remnants still active in Yang Province, it’s likely Lu Zhi will be ordered to march south to Yang Province for military operations.”

Liu Hong’s calculations were almost blatantly obvious.

Isn’t granting you the title of County Marquis generous?

But you have to conquer or defend the territory yourself.

Compared to officials having to pay to assume their positions, it’s hard to say which is more bizarre.

Qiao Yan couldn’t help but laugh. “But the emperor surely doesn’t expect me, with no soldiers or generals, to defend Bing Province for him. After all, Leping isn’t on the border.”

“Not exactly,” Cao Cao replied. “I asked Bi Lan, and he said Zhang Rang mentioned something to you before. After the last military report reached Luoyang, the emperor visited your grandfather.”

Yes, Zhang Rang had indeed mentioned it, even bringing up her grandfather’s request to be buried at the border.

The border…

Seeing the realization on Qiao Yan’s face, Cao Cao said, “Exactly. Because of your grandfather’s words, the emperor decided to grant his wish and bury him in Bing Province.”

“Back when your grandfather was General Who Crosses the Liao River, his headquarters were in Manbo County, Wuyuan, within Bing Province. The emperor, moved by his patriotism, agreed to his request but moved the burial site slightly inland to avoid future border conflicts affecting his tomb. That’s the origin of your title as Marquis of Leping.”

“So your situation is a bit different from Lu Zhi’s and Huangfu Song’s,” Cao Cao glanced at her. “With your abilities, raising a force in Leping County shouldn’t be difficult. With your… persuasive skills, you might even rally neighboring commanderies, like Changshan and Taiyuan…”

Qiao Yan felt that when Cao Cao said “persuasive,” he might have wanted to say “manipulative” or “instigative.”

But such subtle implications didn’t bother her. Cao Cao continued, “But the emperor probably doesn’t expect you to fight the Xianbei for him.”

Qiao Yan smiled wryly and cupped her hands. “Uncle, rest assured. In the campaign against the Yellow Turbans, my strategic planning was exceptional. Bing Province has its prefects and governors, as well as troops stationed in Yunzhong and Wuyuan to guard the borders. There’s no need for a County Marquis like me to raise troops and head north to fight.”

What kind of impression did Cao Cao have of her to so explicitly remind her that she didn’t need to take on the same responsibilities as Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi, who had to pacify regions in addition to their titles?

But speaking of Leping, aside from being near the border with Taiyuan and Yunzhong, the place held significant meaning.

This was the area later known as a strategic military stronghold…

Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu first occupied Taiyuan, then the north to suppress the Xiongnu, and pacified the east. During the Sui Dynasty, the Li clan rose from Taiyuan, and by the Song Dynasty, Taiyuan was considered a place of imperial origin.

The series of mountain basins between the Taihang Mountains, Taiyue Mountains, Lüliang Mountains, and Yunzhong Mountain formed a unique terrain of valleys between mountains, interconnected yet separated by ranges, creating numerous strategic passes.

The fertile land nourished by rivers, surrounded by layers of mountain passes, made it an ideal position for both offense and defense. No wonder it was said, “Shangdang has always been the backbone of the world,” and “overlooking the Central Plains, with Hedong at its side.”

Leping, located between Wutai Mountain and Taihang Mountain, though not as high as Shangdang, was nearby and had similar terrain.

If one were to rest in peace, it would indeed be undisturbed.

But if…

“Niece, what are you thinking about?” Cao Cao interrupted Qiao Yan’s thoughts.

She snapped back to reality, realizing she had been staring at the map for a while, and replied, “I was just thinking how generous the emperor was to choose Leping as my fief.”

Cao Cao thought about Liu Hong’s usual behavior and Qiao Yan’s description of him as “generous,” unsure whether to correct her perception.

But considering the rewards the emperor had given her and the arrangements for Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi, it did seem fitting.

Moreover, Qiao Yan’s upcoming trip to the capital likely wouldn’t last long, and she might not even have the chance to meet the emperor. Letting her maintain this impression wasn’t a bad idea.








Moreover, even wise rulers have moments of folly, and foolish rulers may have moments of wisdom, perhaps even a chance to turn things around dramatically.

Who can predict the future accurately?

The most urgent matter now is to execute Zhang Jiao as soon as possible, then have Qiao Yan follow the delegation returning to the capital to report, so she can see her critically ill father, Qiao Xuan, one last time.

Zhang Jiao…

The Great Virtuous Teacher who founded the Way of Great Peace and incited the Yellow Turban Rebellion met the same fate as his disciple who was exposed in Luoyang, as decreed by Liu Hong through Bi Lan.

The punishment of being torn apart by chariots.

As for his younger brother, Zhang Liang, despite his merit of defecting and surrendering the city, such “merit” was built on leading the charge to seize the city and killing officials in Quzhou. Not only could he not be rewarded, but he should also be punished for his unmitigated crimes.

Fortunately, since the abolition of corporal punishment during the reign of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing, many cruel punishments have been revised or replaced, and these legal systems have continued to this day. With Liu Hong approving the commutation of his death sentence to encourage Yellow Turban commanders in unquelled areas to surrender directly, Zhang Liang’s final punishment was—

Two hundred lashes, and exile to the Wuhuan military camp to guard the frontier.

Next was Liang Jing, who “surrendered.”

Liang Zhongning witnessed the debate between Qiao Yan and Zhang Jiao that day. With his limited capacity for thought, he truly felt he had been deceived by Zhang Jiao.

But when he saw Qiao Yan again, he had a beast-like intuition—

If Zhang Jiao was a high-level fraudster, wouldn’t Qiao Yan be an even more skilled deceiver?

But now, pondering whether the cognitive transmission in the three debates between Qiao Yan and Zhang Jiao was true or false is clearly meaningless.

After a moment of eye contact with Qiao Yan through the prison bars, Liang Zhongning heard the verdict read out to him.

One hundred lashes, and exile to the Wuyuan military camp to guard the frontier.

Similar to Zhang Liang’s punishment, just slightly lighter.

Frontier defense is a high-risk job, but compared to losing one’s life directly for the crime of rebellion, it is clearly a life-preserving outcome.

But for these forced rebels, what is the difference between avoiding the death penalty and the original “rebel or die” situation?

Clearly, one cannot simply coast along just because they have a chance to eat official rations.

But with Liang Zhongning’s knowledge and intellect, he couldn’t reach a conclusion.

Since Emperor Jing of the Western Han Dynasty issued the bamboo whip decree, a five-foot-long bamboo stick without nodes has been used for flogging, which obviously isn’t fatal. Especially with the rule that the executioner cannot be changed, the latter part of a hundred lashes often lacks force. For someone like Liang Zhongning and Zhang Liang, who are still strong and healthy, such punishment wouldn’t cause irreversible damage.

After numbly receiving his punishment, Liang Zhongning, along with other Yellow Turban convicts exiled to Wuyuan, was escorted by Fu Xie’s troops to Bingzhou.

When they were about ten miles from Quzhou, it suddenly started raining in Ji Province.

Summer showers are not uncommon, and this year isn’t as dreadfully dry as last year.

But as the fine rain fell on his head, Liang Zhongning suddenly remembered that today, besides being the day they were exiled to Youzhou and Bingzhou, was also the day the Great Virtuous Teacher Zhang Jiao was executed.

However, in this silent crowd, no one spoke of this being a fortunate event of the Yellow Heaven’s mercy and successful rain prayer.

Liang Zhongning instinctively glanced towards Quzhou and frowned at what he saw.

If he wasn’t mistaken, in the rain’s haze, a young man was leading a horse, on which sat a familiar figure cloaked against the rain.

But when he looked again, the figure was gone.

Perhaps the heavy rain had blurred his vision.

The soldiers urging him forward forced him to turn his head back.

But Liang Zhongning wasn’t mistaken; there were indeed two people on horseback watching them leave before turning back towards Quzhou.

When Qiao Yan left Quzhou earlier, she told Huangfu Song that the punishment of being torn apart by chariots was too cruel, and since Zhang Jiao wasn’t directly responsible for the deaths of Qiao Yu and his wife, it was better to see these exiled Yellow Turbans.

But Xu Fu, who was leading her horse, was clever and, after being subtly guided by Qiao Yan and Cheng Li, could analyze the situation well. He could see that Qiao Yan’s reason to Huangfu Song wasn’t the real one.

“Does the Marquis have pity for these Yellow Turbans?” Xu Fu asked after some thought.

Amid the sound of rain and the horse’s hooves on the field, Qiao Yan’s reply was clear to Xu Fu, “Pity for the weak presupposes that one is strong, and I am not yet strong.”

“But in my view, the Marquis has indeed saved their lives.”

Xu Fu had been present since the Battle of Changshe and had heard about the initial measures against the Yellow Turbans. The shift from execution as a warning to flogging and exile, with those coerced being sent back to their hometowns, was a significant improvement.

“Is the word ‘life’ merely about having breath?” Qiao Yan countered.

Xu Fu couldn’t answer immediately.

He felt that Qiao Yan, when asking this question, seemed more mature than her age, far beyond her usual composure and eloquence.

But not being able to think of an answer wasn’t necessarily bad news for him. He confidently said, “I’ll tell the Marquis when I figure it out.”

Until then, he could continue following her.

Of course, he had his plans.

On the way to Luoyang with Qiao Yan, he could first return to Yingchuan to inform his mother of his decision to continue following Qiao Yan.

Witnessing the high-level debate that day, Xu Fu felt that his previous desire to be a wandering knight wasn’t the right path, and another road was laid out before him.

He wanted to further his knowledge, not just be a sword-wielding brute!

He had to inform his mother of this decision, and then—

If his mother wished to stay in Yingchuan, he would leave the reward money from participating in the Jizhou raid and arrange for her care. Given Yingchuan’s proximity to Luoyang, there shouldn’t be further turmoil after the Yellow Turban Rebellion was quelled.

If his mother was willing to go to Leping, that would be even better.

Qiao Yan saw through Xu Fu’s little thoughts but didn’t expose him.

Though Xu Fu was far from reaching the level of Xu Shu (Xu Yuanzhi) and hadn’t experienced life-threatening situations or drastic changes, nor had he fled south to Jing Province to study to avoid war, he was undoubtedly a potential talent.

His performance in the Battle of Xiaquyang and his mission to invite the Buddhist abbot proved this.

A county marquis ruling a county with ten thousand households couldn’t manage alone; having more help was always better than going solo.

Moreover, improving in administrative affairs and learning from renowned scholars in Jingxiang had its pros and cons, and for Xu Fu, it might not be a loss in his path to success.

Qiao Yan smiled, “Alright, I’ll wait for your answer.”

When the two returned to the military camp at the city’s base, Zhang Jiao was no more in this world.

Perhaps the only thing left of him here was the Scripture of Great Peace he had compiled.

But since this book originated from the court, it would inevitably be handled uniformly by the court. Even though Qiao Yan was the great hero who refuted Zhang Jiao, she couldn’t retain the book as a special privilege.

Qiao Yan handed over the Scripture of Great Peace she used as evidence without hesitation, only pausing to gaze at the sunset glow on the city walls after the rain.

The system wanted to offer psychological counseling, as the punishment of being torn apart by chariots, though not seen, might be distressing for someone from modern times. A person who had just debated with her was now dead and dismembered.

It had never been useful in giving advice, like when the host had Dian Wei kill Bu Ji and Zhang Bo, it hadn’t helped then either, so…

“The strategist points needed to unlock the 3D map are still far off,” Qiao Yan examined her panel, her gaze lingering on the line “Unlock 3D map at 100 strategist points.”

She had coveted this before, and now even more so.

Leping’s geographical conditions meant that managing governance and military deployment required a more precise 3D terrain display.

In this regard, the strategist system wasn’t useless.

Unfortunately, her current strategist points were—90.

The 30-point achievement for “Devising a plan to annihilate a force” and 60 points from six instances of devising plans that benefited her side.

Wait a minute…

“Isn’t your system’s calculation too unintelligent?” Qiao Yan flipped through the system record panel and asked, “My debate with Zhang Jiao doesn’t count?”

The system, feeling like a mere accessory again as the host quickly moved on from her low mood, awkwardly replied, “This isn’t hard to understand. If Zhang Jiao didn’t debate with you, since he was already captured, he only had one outcome—death, possibly along with his followers.”

“Whether you used this roundabout method to reduce casualties or Huangfu Song’s original method of killing everyone, it made no difference to this faction, so it can’t count as strategist points.”

“Now that Zhang Jiao is dead, according to the system’s confidentiality rules, the corresponding achievement can be told to you: persuading Zhang Jiao to surrender. This is an achievement no one has ever accomplished in any parallel world, so you needn’t feel discouraged.”

“He would only become a martyr, not let himself be persuaded by other logic, which isn’t surprising,” Qiao Yan replied. “You’re right; I preserved the Yellow Turbans for the sake of Han, not the current Han, so not counting the points is correct.”

“But this means that to unlock the 3D map before going to Leping, this trip to Luoyang can’t just be a formality.”

She must give Liu Hong sufficiently influential advice.

As for what that advice is…

We’ll see when we reach Luoyang!

Before setting off, she had one more thing to do.

Besides Xu Fu, who had already indicated his decision to follow her in a special way, there were a few others she needed to consult.

One was Lu Yuan.

Qiao Yan had her follow from Xiaquyang to Quzhou, letting her decide her own path after Jizhou was pacified, but this mysterious woman, still secretive about her background, decided to continue following Qiao Yan.

Even though Qiao Yan clearly stated there was no profit to be had around her and that Bingzhou might not be safe in the coming years, it didn’t change Lu Yuan’s decision.

Qiao Yan had no reason to refuse her.

Given her former status as the wife of the Xiaquyang county magistrate, there wouldn’t be any conflict of interest with Qiao Yan for a long time, so keeping her was more useful than forcing her away.

Lu Yuan had assisted Cheng Li in setting up the camp defenses, successfully intercepting Zhang Liang’s spies. Her strategic vision and knowledge impressed Qiao Yan.

Having a willing worker, possibly one who only needed room and board without wages, why demand her ID?

That’s how Qiao Yan viewed Lu Yuan now.

Next was Dian Wei.

Their initial agreement was for three months of protection. With only a month left, it would end by the time they reached Luoyang.

From a utilitarian perspective, with Dian Wei’s bravery, serving in a regular army or under an official would be far better than taking up a post in her fief of Leping.

Cao Cao had once inquired about Dian Wei.

With his upcoming appointment as the governor of Jinan State in Qingzhou, where there were still troublesome bandits, and Cao Cao’s combat skills being mediocre, he really needed a bodyguard.

But since Qiao Yan had secured her marquis title, even if Dian Wei didn’t want to follow her, her bottom line was that he return to Chenliu in Yanzhou, not aid the enemy.

However, her worries might be unfounded.

When Qiao Yan asked Dian Wei about his future plans, he replied without hesitation, “Haven’t I already been working for you?”

“…”

In the silence, Dian Wei weighed the reward money he received for helping capture Xiaquyang and his significant contribution in the Battle of Changshe, “Isn’t this the hiring fee?”

“…You could say that,” Qiao Yan was somewhat speechless at Dian Wei’s logic.

Then Dian Wei asked, “Does what you said before, about my future son being able to study under you, still count? You were really impressive debating the Great Virtuous Teacher; I don’t have that eloquence.”

Qiao Yan: …Actually, you’re quite eloquent.

Of course, she couldn’t say that, so she replied, “I’m no gentleman, but I keep my promises.”

With such a capable subordinate, many of her ideas became more feasible.

Now, the only person left to persuade was Cheng Li.

This was the person she was least confident about convincing.

Cheng Li was mature and had established relationships in his hometown. Their previous cooperation and following could be explained, but recruiting him now felt somewhat unjustified.

Why would a county marquis need to recruit a strategist like Cheng Li?

If the system asked, she could say she wanted to correct Cheng Li’s ruthless tactics or grow together before Dong Zhuo’s rebellion, but such answers couldn’t be used to recruit Cheng Li.

But when she appeared before Cheng Li, before she could speak, Cheng Li asked first, “Previously, the Marquis invited me to Jizhou to hear the Yellow Turbans’ words. Now, do you want to invite me to Luoyang to hear the Son of Heaven’s words, and to Leping to hear the frontier’s voice?”

After discerning Cheng Li’s tone, Qiao Yan smiled and bowed, “Exactly, Zhongde understands me.”

Cheng Li was silent for a moment.

His reason told him his talents wouldn’t be better utilized by moving from Dong’e County to Leping County, and leaving Yanzhou didn’t seem like a good decision.

But when Qiao Yan bowed and invited him, the sunlight streaming through the window in the clear weather after yesterday’s rain enveloped the child in a halo.

For some reason, he suddenly remembered his dream of holding up the sun at Mount Tai.