Chapter 11: The Yellow Turbans

  Three days later, Yan Liang led his thousand light cavalry to arrive at Ancheng, the seat of Ruyang County.

  Ru'nan Commandery is located at the southernmost tip of Yu Province, and heading west through the mountains can reach Jingzhou. Along its border with Ying River, it can be connected to Shouchun, a major town in Huainan, by following the river downstream. Against Ru River upstream, after several days, you can enter deep into Yingchuan Commandery, and the military strength will point directly to Xudu.

  Because it is a mountainous area in the vicinity of Ru'nan, after Cao Cao defeated the Yellow Turbans in Ru'nan that year, many remaining Yellow Turban rebels escaped into the mountains and became bandits.

  Yuan Shao sent troops south, and the Central Plains were shaken. These remnants of the Yellow Turbans took advantage of Cao Cao's absence to attack from the mountains, flying the banner of responding to Yuan Shao, and plundering everywhere.

  Yun Nan is also the old home of the Yuan family. Many local tyrants are inclined towards Yuan Shao and secretly unite with the Yellow Turbans.

  Under such internal and external attacks, the county soldiers of Ru'nan were unable to resist, several counties in the southern part of the county surrendered one after another, the county governor was killed, and the administrative center Ancheng also fell into the hands of the Yellow Turbans.

  When Yan Liang arrived at Ancheng, nearly tens of thousands of Yellow Turbans had gathered inside and outside the city. Gong Du, the leader of the Yellow Turbans in Runan, and Liu Pi were among them.

  What was unexpected for Yan Liang was that this group of Yellow Turbans, who claimed to have tens of thousands of people, had a grand momentum, but in reality, there were only six or seven thousand men who could fight. The so-called tens of thousands of people actually included the elderly and other family members who could not go to battle.

  Moreover, those 6-7 thousand young and strong warriors were also of uneven quality. The majority of them didn't even have decent armor, let alone a proper weapon in their hands; the weapons they used were merely sharpened wooden sticks.

  "With just this group of bandits, wanting to threaten Xudou, I think it's unlikely..."

  Riding his horse slowly towards the east gate of An City, along the way, looking at the disorderly Yellow Turban camps by the side of the main road, Xu You kept shaking his head and speaking sarcastically.

  Yan Liang secretly smiled in his heart.

  Yu Nan was just a passerby for him, and he never intended to fight Cao Cao to the death.

  At present, although this group of Yellow Turbans is a mob, if they can pick out the strong and train them, Yan Liang believes that with his own military leadership ability, he can definitely train an elite army.

  When Yan Liang entered the city gate, what he saw was a scene of desolation.

  The streets were empty except for the Yellow Turbans, and not a single ordinary citizen was in sight. The city was filled with scenes of devastation, as if it had been thoroughly plundered.

  "Younan is a rich and prosperous land, with a majestic administrative center in Ancheng, how can it be so dilapidated?"

  Yan Liang was suspicious in his heart, but when he saw several Yellow Turbans carrying chickens and ducks coming out of the civilian houses, he understood what was going on.

  It is clear that the entire city of Anqing has been looted by this group of bandits.

  Listening to the crying sounds coming from the civilian houses, Yan Liang felt a pang of sourness in his heart.

  Since arriving in this era, Yan Liang has been plotting to dominate and conquer the world, venting out the grievances he suffered in the office.

  Looking at the scene in front of him, Yan Liang realized that when heroes contend for hegemony, those who suffer the most are always the ordinary people at the bottom.

  "When it prospers, the people suffer; when it declines, the people also suffer."

  Yan Liang was moved and exclaimed, muttering out this famous sentence that would be passed down through the ages.

  Xu You, who was separated from Yan Liang by a horse's head, heard Yan Liang's muttering to himself and couldn't help but feel a shock in his heart.

  The numerous vassals and military generals under the heavens are countless, but most of them are only fighting for their own selfish desires, and those who truly think about the people are extremely rare.

  If these words were spoken by Yuan Shao, Cao Cao or Liu Bei, Xu You would not be surprised at all.

  But coming from Yan Liang's mouth, it gave Xu You a deep shock.

  "He's a military general, yet he has such insight, it's truly remarkable. Yanzi Yi, how many more surprises can you bring me..."

  Yan Liang, immersed in thought, did not notice the change in Xu You's eyes. Originally only wanting to contend for hegemony, he suddenly had another conviction in his heart:

  I want to personally bring peace to this chaotic world, treat the people of the world with benevolence and righteousness, and let them live a warm and fulfilling life!

  Yan Liang also knew that without strength, recklessly discussing benevolence and righteousness would lead to his own downfall.

  Liu Biao, Kong Rong, Liu Zhang... these people seem to be benevolent and righteous enough, but their benevolence and righteousness have led to the invasion of external enemies, causing the people under their jurisdiction to fall into dire straits.

  To practice benevolence and righteousness, one must first use force and violence.

  Using his power to help the world, this is a truly benevolent and righteous ruler.

  Having realized this principle, Yan Liang gripped the steel knife in his hand even tighter.

  The sound of horseshoes echoed, and several riders came face to face.

  "I didn't know General Yan was coming, Liu Bi didn't have time to welcome him from afar, please ask the general to forgive his crime." The warrior with a yellow scarf on his head bowed and greeted, while another general beside him called himself Gong Dou.

  Yan Liang looked at Liu Bei, although he was dressed in the attire of a yellow scarf bandit, but between his eyebrows, there were also a few points of dignified and upright color.

  In "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Liu Bei was defeated by Cao Cao in Runan and almost took his own life when there was no way to escape. At the critical moment, Liu Feng said, "Let me die fighting, and I will take a road to rescue you," which persuaded Liu Bei to stay. However, he was killed by Gao Lan.

  It was Liu Bei's desperate fight that bought time for Liu Bei until Zhao Yun's reinforcements arrived and saved his life.

  It can be seen that although Liu Bian was born with a bad reputation, he also had a heart of loyalty and righteousness.

  "General Liu's words are all from his own family, why be polite?" Yan Liang returned the courtesy with a bow, being more polite.

  Liu and Gong accompanied Yan Liang into the governor's mansion.

  Upon entering the grand hall for discussion, Yan Liang pretended to want to take a guest seat. Liu and Gong repeatedly declined, insisting on inviting Yan Liang to take the main seat instead.

  Yan Liang did not decline and sat down on his knees with a big smile, Zhou Cang stood by one side, while Xu You sat beside him.

  Yan Liang, under the name of Yuan Shao, comforted them, and the two generals expressed their loyalty to Yuan Shao and firmly obeyed Yan Liang's arrangements.

  "Since the two generals are willing to follow my command, Yan Certain will not be polite." After a few rounds of small talk, Yan Liang entered the main topic. "I reckon it won't take long for Cao Cao to send troops southward. With our current strength, in order to resist the attack of Cao's army, you two must comply with me on two matters."

  Liu Bei hastily said: "Please, General, give your orders."

  Yan Liang nodded and said slowly: "This first thing, please order your subordinates to stop disturbing the people immediately, and do not dare to move a single needle or thread of the common people."

  When a great enemy is at hand, if we provoke the people's anger and internal disorder, how can we resist the external enemy with all our might?

  As soon as Yan Liang spoke, Xu You nodded slightly beside him, secretly praising his approach.

  Unexpectedly, Gong Du listened and was not happy: "Plundering the city to take what is needed, this is the usual rule of our Yellow Turban Army. General Yan, you don't let me take things from the common people, how can I be enthusiastic about sacrificing my life for the general?"

  Yan Liang's sword eyebrows were quietly condensed, and a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

  Gong Dou had just been obedient and submissive, but now he openly defied him in front of everyone, which made Yan Liang very displeased.

  At this time when he was using people, Yan Liang had just arrived in Ru Nan and had not yet established himself, so it was inconvenient to make rash moves against these local snakes, therefore he temporarily hid his intention to kill.

  He smiled and said lightly: "Ru Nan is a rich and prosperous land, the military needs can be taken from the people according to the law, why must you drain the pond to catch the fish?"

  "General Yan is right, if we rob the people of their food, they will definitely flee to other places to seek a way out. At that time, the city will be empty, who will support us?"

  Liu Pi joined from the side and merged into the Tao.

  "This Liu Bei is quite insightful, a talented individual who can be of use to me."

  Yan Liang secretly praised in his heart, and his sharp gaze turned towards Gong Dou.

  Gong was stared at by him and felt uneasy, hesitated for a moment, and could only murmur in complaint to agree.

  Yan Liang continued: "The second thing is that you two reorganize the troops and horses under your command, and unify them to listen to my deployment."

  He is going to take over military power.

  Liu hesitated for a moment and still followed orders.

  Gong Dou suddenly jumped up and shouted: "How can this be, my several thousand brothers are the ones I brought out with my own hands, why should they be given to someone else to command?"

  "What's wrong, General Gong? Don't you want to hear the deployment of this general?" Yan Liang's tone was cold and solemn, his hand had already quietly pressed down on the hilt of his sword.

  "That's out of the question, General Yan has given orders, I will naturally lead my brothers into battle, but it's not possible for me to hand over the troops to someone else." Gong Du's attitude was also very resolute, and he refused to relinquish command.

  Liu Bei could only persuade him again from the side, but after half a day of persuasion, Gong Da still refused to comply and even shouted that if Yan Liang insisted on this, he would take his troops and leave.

  Looking at this yellow turban rebel general in front of him who was shouting and disobeying orders, Yan Liang's anger rose from his heart, and a murderous intent suddenly appeared in his eyes.