Keyboard Immortal - Chapter 2931

Chapter 1444 Wolfish Ambitions

For the next few days, the group focused on training the army and repairing the damaged city walls, preparing for the impending retaliation from the Yellow Turban Army.

Over these days, Zu’an discovered that the surrendered Yellow Turban soldiers were not so easily assimilated.

Firstly, these people were more like bandits than an army, tainted with many vices. Fighting was a minor issue; more troublesome were their theft and robbery of local civilians, and even their harassment of women.

Zu’an was furious and ordered severe punishment for those responsible, while also establishing three rules for the group.

Although he had seemingly resolved the situation, he knew the loyalty of these surrendered Yellow Turban soldiers was uncertain, and they could easily turn against him given the opportunity.

Besides this, the issue of food supplies was even more troubling.

Although he had specifically selected three thousand elite and strong soldiers from the prisoners, releasing the rest

, the Yellow Turbans always brought their families with them. These three thousand Yellow Turban soldiers had tens of thousands of families to feed, and providing for everyone and everything was an astronomical expense.

While the state granaries could sustain them, it was by no means a long-term solution.

He finally understood the meaning of “theory without practice is insufficient to truly understand.”

Previously, when reading this period of history, he saw Cao Cao annexing a million Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou, accumulating substantial resources, and even looking down on other warlords for failing to subdue the remaining Yellow Turbans and instead exterminating them. Now, he finally understood the difficulties involved.

However, the food supply problem could be addressed later; the immediate priority was the crisis at hand.

News had arrived that Gao Sheng, the Yellow Turban leader in Hejian Commandery, had learned of Deng Mao and Cheng Zhiyuan’s actions and was preparing to lead 50,000 troops as the vanguard to attack Ji County.

Zhang Bao’s main force was waiting in the wings.

Currently, the combined forces of Zu’an and Zou Jing couldn’t even muster 10,000 men. Although they were more elite than ordinary Yellow Turban soldiers, the sheer number of Yellow Turbans, coupled with their unpredictable military talents, meant that a direct confrontation would likely result in a near-certain defeat.

He needed reinforcements; in fact, he had already sent someone to Liaodong Commandery to request aid from Gongsun Zan.

Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei were sworn brothers in the past. Now, as the Chief Administrator of Liaodong, he has been fighting against the northern nomadic tribes for many years and commands an elite cavalry force. Having his assistance would greatly increase their chances of victory.

However, Liaodong is located on the northeasternmost border of the empire, several counties away from Ji County, making it difficult to provide immediate help.

Moreover, Gongsun Zan is also on guard against foreign tribes, so his main force is unlikely to come.

Zu An and Zou Jing discussed the matter and decided to seek help from neighboring prefectures.

Zou Jing went to Shanggu County, with which he had a long-standing relationship, while Zu An went to their western neighbor, Zhongshan County.

The governor of Zhongshan County, Zhang Chun, was renowned, and his army was powerful enough to rival Gongsun Zan of Liaodong. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which ravaged various prefectures, Zhongshan County remained unscathed.

Zu An originally planned to travel alone, but Yun Jianyue strongly suggested that Tingxue accompany him.

Zu An initially declined, preferring that Tingxue stay and help him.

Unexpectedly, after Yun Jianyue whispered something in his ear, he agreed.

Tingxue, on the other hand, didn’t care. Compared to staying here to deal with those complicated political affairs, she preferred going out with Zu’an.

After the two left Ji County, Tingxue suddenly asked on the way, “What did she say to you before she left?”

“Nothing, just told me to take good care of you.” Zu’an couldn’t help but recall the scene from back then. Yun Jianyue had advised him that since collecting those true god souls required that method, why not hurry up and increase Tingxue’s favorability?

With her sharp eyes, she could naturally see that their relationship was somewhat ambiguous, more than friends but not quite lovers, and she needed to work harder.

As for Ji County, he didn’t need to worry. When she was the leader of the Demonic Sect, she managed far more followers than that.

Recalling her excitement back then, it was as if she was trying to drag innocent girls into the water.

However, Zu’an was indeed persuaded by her, but of course, he couldn’t explain the reasons to Tingxue.

Tingxue stared at him quietly, clearly not believing that the woman would say such a thing.

Of course, she didn’t press him for details.

The two traveled together, and after a while, she suddenly spoke up, “Tell me more about Yan Xuehen.”

Zu An was delighted; her interest was a good start, so he continued to fill in the details of how he met, got to know, and fell in love with Yan Xuehen.

Throughout the conversation, Tingxue mostly listened, speaking only occasionally. After a long pause, she asked, “What’s going on between her and Yun Jianyue? Why are they so incompatible?”

“That’s a long story…” Zu An smiled. It seemed that although she had lost many memories, her incompatibility with Yun Jianyue had become instinctive.

The two continued their conversation, dodging the Yellow Turban rebels in various places.

With their cultivation levels, as long as they were careful not to run into large Yellow Turban encirclements, even encountering small groups wouldn’t pose any danger.

Seeing the devastation along the way, Zu An felt heavy-hearted. Although the Yellow Turban Rebellion was a peasant uprising, those who had lost their homes and families in various prefectures were still ordinary people.

Moreover, the Han Dynasty’s fate was not yet sealed; the Yellow Turban Rebellion was destined to have no future.

When the two arrived in Zhongshan County, they found very few Yellow Turban rebels. The people they encountered along the way seemed to live in peace and prosperity, and even Tingxue admired the abilities of the Zhongshan prefect.

Soon, soldiers spotted them, and after explaining their purpose, they were escorted to Lunu, the capital of Zhongshan County.

Upon arriving in Lunu, they sent word to request an audience with Prefect Zhang Chun. However,

they were told that he was out on business and not in his residence, and they should wait for some time.

The two had no choice but to stay in the city temporarily, waiting for his return while gathering intelligence.

They discovered that there were quite a few Wuhuan people in Lunu. The Wuhuan were one of the northern nomadic tribes of the empire, and the two sides sometimes fought each other and sometimes traded and made peace.

They deduced that Zhang Chun had relied on the strength of the Wuhuan cavalry to protect Zhongshan County.

Zu’an was inspired. Youzhou was located on the frontier, with many nomadic tribes in the north. These tribes did not form a unified government; their interests were not aligned, and they were often mortal enemies. It was possible to win over one faction while simultaneously attacking another, which might be a powerful tool in the future struggle for power.

So he went to contact the Wuhuan people in the city, taking the opportunity to gather intelligence on the grasslands.

Not long after, the prefect’s office sent someone to invite him, saying that the prefect had returned.

Zu An pretended not to know what was going on and brought Tingxue into the prefect’s residence.

Prefect Zhang Chun, who had been leisurely drinking tea in the main seat, saw Tingxue’s appearance upon their arrival and his eyes lit up. He immediately stood up to greet them warmly: “So it’s Lord Liu! Could this be the Miss Guan who fought Cheng Zhiyuan so fiercely?”

Zu An frowned slightly; the other party had clearly investigated their backgrounds thoroughly.

However, now that he needed their help, he exchanged pleasantries for a while before explaining his purpose.

Zhang Chun immediately looked troubled: “It’s not that I don’t want to help, but Hejian, Anping, and Changshan are all ravaged by the Yellow Turbans. Zhongshan is now surrounded on three sides. I have been entrusted with an important mission by the court, and I must protect the people of Zhongshan first.”

“You two don’t need to panic. Why don’t you inform Jixian and have your men come to Zhongshan to settle down? I am confident that I can protect you.”

Zu An’s heart sank. Not only were they unwilling to help, but they also planned to annex them.