Chapter 62: Gathering at Guangzong

  May.

  Huangfu Song led his army northward, passing through Liangguo and Jiyin, and arrived at Dongjun in June, pressing on to Qinting.

  Shi Bo's rebel army has marched south with a large following, attacking cities and plundering the land along the way. They have already reached the Qin Ting Ferry Crossing, where they are facing off against government troops across the river.

  Huangfu Song ordered the army to force a crossing of the river, and at Qintingdu they defeated the rebel forces. Bu Yi led more than 40,000 remaining troops in a frantic retreat. Huangfu Song led his army across the river, pursuing northward, and at Cangting they greatly defeated Bu Yi's remaining forces, capturing and executing Bu Yi. The Yellow Turbans of Dong Commandery were thus pacified.

  After a series of battles, the 20,000-strong army that set out had dwindled to less than 18,000.

  More than 2,000 people died or were seriously injured and could no longer fight. Fortunately, after several baptisms of blood and fire, the army of 18,000 was undergoing a rapid transformation, and all new recruits had transformed into veterans.

  Qin Tingdu's battle at the ferry mouth, Huang Fu swung his army to force a crossing, successfully defeating Bu Yi's army of over 50,000 from the front.

  Compared to the first battle in Yingchuan, the current 18,000-strong army has increased its combat effectiveness by nearly tenfold. At that time, facing Baozi's more than 100,000 rebel troops in Yingchuan, they had to avoid their sharp edge, but now they can defeat them head-on.

  After defeating the Yellow Turbans in Dong Commandery, Huangfu Song immediately submitted a memorial to the Emperor and actively prepared his troops, waiting for an imperial edict.

  Ten days later, the imperial court sent an urgent order to summon Hu Fu to go north to Ji Province and join forces with the Northern General Lu Zhi to attack the Yellow Turbans in Ji Province, with the aim of quickly defeating Zhang Jiao's main base and pacifying the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

  Huangfu Song did not dare to delay, and on the day of the order, he led his troops northward, entering Qinghe State and turning westward, directly attacking Guangzong.

  Within five days, the great army marched several hundred miles.

  In early July, Huang Fu Song led his army to Guangzong City, and the Northern Zhonglang General Lu Zhi personally led his generals to welcome him.

  On the vast plain, the army formed a battle array on the spot, with flags and banners fluttering in the wind, and an aura of stern killing intent came face to face.

  Huang Fu Song led his generals to ride out, when they were still more than 20 paces away from Lu Zhi, he reined in his warhorse and bowed his head slightly on horseback, saying loudly: "It's been months since we last met, how have you been lately, General?"

  Lu Zhi was over forty years old, and although he had a strong physique, his demeanor was elegant and refined, making him look more like a learned Confucian scholar than a general commanding a large army. Upon hearing the words, he smiled and said: "Thanks to the blessings of the Holy Son, I am still in good health. General Yi Zhen has led his troops on a long journey and must be exhausted. Why not order your army to set up camp and come with me into the central military tent? Let us rest for one night and then discuss our plan to defeat the enemy."

  "Good, just follow your own heart."

  Huangfu Song readily agreed and immediately ordered the army to set up camp on the spot, and he himself led the generals to go to Lu Zhi's central military camp.

  Zhou Jian glanced sideways at the various generals under Lu Zhi's command, and suddenly discovered that among the last three generals, there was one who was quite extraordinary. One of them was seven feet five inches tall, with ears that reached his shoulders, hands that hung below his knees, and eyes that could see his own ears.

  Another man was nine feet tall, with a beard two feet long; his face was like a heavy date, with vermilion phoenix eyes and recumbent silkworm eyebrows, looking majestic.

  The last one had a leopard's head and ringed eyes, a swallow's chin and tiger's whiskers, with a majestic physique and an awe-inspiring presence, his arms seemed to have the strength of a tiger.

  Entering the main tent of the central army, the generals took their seats in two rows.

  Lu Zhi sat in the left seat of honor, and the other generals under his command took their seats below him in order.

  Huang Fu Song took his seat in the first position on the right, and the other generals under the account also entered their seats one after another from the lower head.

  Soldiers presented already prepared meals, alcohol is prohibited in the army, and tea was used as a substitute.

  Lu Zhi first introduced the generals under his command one by one. When introducing the last three, he pointed to the young general with drooping ears and shoulders, and hands clasped over his knees: "This is Liu Bei, also known as Liu Xuande, a descendant of Zhongshan Jingwang. In the past, he was once a student under my door, and we have a teacher-student relationship! The two below are his sworn brothers, the second brother Guan Yu, styled Yunchang, and the third brother Zhang Fei, styled Yide. Both of them have the bravery to charge forward alone against ten thousand enemies. This time, in the campaign against the Yellow Turbans, Xuande and his two brothers fought bravely and achieved many merits."

  Huangfu Song cupped his hands in a salute, but did not rise to his feet, merely saying: "Truly a scion of the Han imperial house, a true hero indeed!"

  The other generals also hurriedly saluted with their hands, and couldn't help but take a few more glances at Liu Bei, the descendant of the Han imperial family.

  Zhou Jian glanced at Liu, Guan and Zhang several times, thinking to himself that these were indeed Liu Bei and Guan Yu, Zhang Fei. Moreover, Liu Bei was a student of Lu Zhi, who seemed to hold him in high regard.

  Liu Bei hastily stood up with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to return the courtesy, their manner extremely respectful.

  All the generals under the account were above the rank of Colonel, and Liu Bei and Zhang Fei had no official position and were still commoners. They were able to attend such a high-level military banquet, which was already an exception made by Lu Zhi, and they could only respectfully accompany the lower seats, not daring to lose their courtesy.

  Lu Zhi introduced all the generals under his command, and Huangfu Song also introduced all the generals under his command one by one.

  Although Zhou Jian was highly valued by Huangfu Song, and the troops he commanded were the most numerous, he was only a miscellaneous lieutenant, ranking below the five lieutenants of the Northern Army. In an army that placed great emphasis on status and position, he could only take a middle seat.

  Huang Fu introduced Zhou Jian to Lu Zhi, with a look of great appreciation in his eyes. He smiled and said: "This is Zhou Jian, the commander under my command, who is the grandson of the former General-in-Chief Zhou Gong Zhongyan. Although Zhou Jian is still young and not yet wearing a crown, he possesses both intelligence and bravery, and has some ability to lead troops. In this campaign against Bo Cai, Peng Tuo, and the rebel army under Bu Yi in Dongjun, Zhou Jian achieved great merits. I believe that in the future, he will be a pillar of the imperial court."

  Zhou Jian hastily stood up and bowed deeply to Lu Zhi, saying: "I, Zhou Jian, have seen General Lu Zhi."

  He then bowed his head to Lu Zhi and the other generals, saying in a loud voice: "I have seen all of you generals."

  The other generals also rose and returned the courtesy.

  Lu Zhi bowed his hands and said: "No need for more courtesy, let's sit down."

  After Zhou Jian re-seated, he stroked his beard and sighed in praise: "A true hero indeed! I've heard that you once personally hunted and killed a fierce tiger to take its skin as a gift for Zhang Rang, seeking fame and official rank. Is this true or false?"

  As soon as these words came out, all the generals in the hall were shocked.

  Huang Fu Cong's face was also thick with a frown, secretly thinking that if Zi Gan said this in front of the other generals, it would be somewhat embarrassing. Although Zhou Jian's son was greedy for power and relied on eunuchs, he had not lost his integrity. If they could win him over, it wouldn't be difficult to make him leave the eunuchs and become a great general's arm, which would also be a great help in dealing with the eunuch party in the future.

  Zhou Jian was displeased in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. He respectfully replied: "General, what you said is not false."

  Lu Zhi's eyes were piercing, and he stared straight at Zhou Jian, pressing him to ask: "Jing Gong is one of the three dukes, with great prestige in the court, and has accumulated kindness and virtue towards scholars like us. You are Jing Gong's grandson, why did you betray your ancestors' will and lose your integrity, relying on eunuchs?"

  Zhou Jian said in a deep voice: "There is no way to serve the country, and I have no choice but to entrust myself to the eunuchs."

  Lu Zhi's sword-like eyebrows rose in displeasure. "Absurd!" he said. "Today the Emperor is wise and enlightened, where does this talk of 'no way to serve the country' come from?"

  Zhou Jian said: "In that case, I dare to ask the general, if the Son of Heaven is wise and virtuous, then the country's fortune will flourish, and the people's lives will be stable; but now the world is plagued by bandits and thieves rising up everywhere, the people are struggling to survive, famine is widespread, and many are joining the rebels. I don't know what the reason is?"

  "This..."

  Lu Zhi was momentarily stunned and didn't know how to respond.

  The so-called wise and enlightened emperor is nothing more than a cliché.

  What kind of monarch is the Crown Prince today, all the generals under his command know it in their hearts.

  Lu Zhi only had an opinion about Zhou Jian being a scholar, yet relying on the eunuchs, so he borrowed an excuse to ask a few questions. Now that Zhou Jian has turned the tables with this counter-question, he really doesn't know how to respond.

  Disasters arise in all directions, and the people are displaced and lost. The most critical reason is that the Son of Heaven is not wise enough.

  If today's ruler is truly a wise and enlightened monarch, would there have been the Yellow Turban Rebellion? Would the people have turned to banditry?

  All these reasons are well understood by everyone, but they dare not and cannot say them out loud.

  Huangfu Song hastily interjected: "This matter is useless to discuss further, Subutai, why don't you tell me about the Battle of Guangzong instead?"

  Lu Zhi nodded and glanced at Zhou Jian again. His eyes did not show any anger, then he started talking to Huangfu Song about the Guangzong war.

  Liu Bei, who was sitting at the end of the seat, looked at Zhou Jian and thought to himself that having a good family background is indeed better than anything else. This Zhou Jian is not even as good as Kou, yet he has already been appointed as a school lieutenant.

  As long as one can be promoted and ennobled, what does it matter if they rely on eunuchs?

  Since ancient times, the victorious kings have written the history books. As the chaotic era is approaching, only those who can seek fame, power and position will have the opportunity to grasp enough power to advance bravely in the turbulent waves and protect themselves.

  Otherwise, it can only become a wave in the big waves, and it will break at any time.

  Compared to fame, power and position, relying on eunuchs is only a trivial matter. Moreover, relying on eunuchs is just a matter of taking sides, and does not involve doing anything that goes against benevolence, filial piety, loyalty, and righteousness, or suffering the scorn of the people, so there is no loss in terms of major virtues.

  There are not a few courtiers who rely on eunuchs in the imperial court of China. What does it matter if there is one more Zhou Jian?

  Alas, being a member of the imperial clan and a descendant of the Han dynasty, I ended up with no literary talent, and to this day, I am still an ordinary person.

  Even if you want to climb up Zhang Rang's high branch and ask for a official position, they may not necessarily pay attention to this declining royal relative.

  ;