As Cao Cao rose and bowed, the civil and military officials under his command also stood one after another, turning their eyes toward Xun Yu.
Some of them did not quite understand what Xun Yu was implying, but many did.
Besides, since their lord had already risen to pay his respects, it would hardly be appropriate for them to remain seated.
“My lord, there is no need for this.”
Xun Yu hurried forward and helped Cao Cao up. Deeply moved, he said:
“To devise strategies for my lord is simply my duty.”
“The Yellow Turbans are now like trapped beasts.”
“If they wish to survive, surrender is their only path.”
“While the old commander Zhang Rao was alive, there had already been discussions about submitting to Your Lordship. Now that his son has inherited his position, he will certainly be unable to fully command the loyalty of all his followers, and they have nowhere left to advance.”
“Your Lordship may send an envoy into the Yellow Turban camp.”
“On one hand, offer condolences for Zhang Rao’s death. On the other, reassure the Yellow Turban generals.”
“If there are officers unwilling to surrender, Your Lordship may also grant them safe passage and allow them to leave Yanzhou peacefully with their troops.”
“In this way, if the Yellow Turbans truly desire survival, they will surely surrender in their entirety.”
“As for those officers who choose to leave, they would merely be the dross cast aside.”
“Hahaha! Excellent! Excellent!”
The more Cao Cao listened, the brighter his eyes became.
He had previously been preoccupied with the idea of taking in all the Yellow Turbans.
Now, after hearing Xun Yu’s words, he felt as though a veil had been lifted from his mind.
In Cao Cao’s view, the Yellow Turbans in Yanzhou truly had no path other than surrender.
He knew their supplies were running low.
Yet as long as they remained unsubdued, he could not rest easy.
The fact that they still had not surrendered suggested that disagreements existed within their ranks.
Under such circumstances, if he generously offered a way out to those unwilling to submit, then any Yellow Turban officer with even a shred of sense would know which choice to make.
As for the majority of the young and able-bodied Yellow Turbans who remained, they were exactly what Cao Cao most desired.
“Wenruo truly is my Zhang Liang.”
Grasping Xun Yu’s hands, Cao Cao spoke with complete sincerity:
“With Wenruo’s assistance, why should I fear that the Han dynasty cannot be revived? Why should I fear that great undertakings cannot be accomplished?”
“Congratulations, my lord!”
“Congratulations, my lord!”
“…”
“My lord.”
Just as everyone was offering congratulations, Chen Gong stepped forward two paces and bowed respectfully.
“I am willing to enter the Yellow Turban camp and travel among their ranks on Your Lordship’s behalf, persuading the Yellow Turban generals to surrender.”
“…”
As Chen Gong volunteered for the mission, the hall once again fell silent.
Everyone waited for Cao Cao’s decision.
“Gongtai, do not be impatient.”
After a moment’s consideration, Cao Cao smiled and looked at Chen Gong.
“Since this plan originated with Wenruo, why not trouble Wenruo to make the journey instead? What do you think, Gongtai?”
Bringing a million Yellow Turbans to surrender was no small matter.
If successful, it would be a monumental achievement.
At present, Xun Yu served as a military staff officer and had joined Cao Cao’s service later than Chen Gong.
Meanwhile, Chen Gong had already rendered great service by coordinating with the various commanderies of Yanzhou and helping secure Cao Cao’s position as Governor of Yanzhou.
Furthermore, Chen Gong himself belonged to a prominent family of Dong Commandery in Yanzhou.
Considering all these factors, Cao Cao ultimately decided that Xun Yu should serve as the envoy.
“My lord is wise!”
“I shall not fail Your Lordship’s trust.”
Chen Gong and Xun Yu each bowed respectfully to Cao Cao in turn.
…..
The next day, at the hour of Chen (around 7–9 a.m.),
Zhang Jing and more than two hundred followers entered Feicheng, where the Yellow Turban forces were stationed.
Feicheng belonged to the Kingdom of Jibei.
After Bao Xin of Jibei had died and the newly appointed Governor of Yanzhou withdrew to defend the southwest, the region had effectively become a land without a master.
Jibei also lay within the region that would later become part of the North China Plain.
The million Yellow Turbans were concentrated between Fei and Lu counties.
Even spread across the open plains, their encampments stretched for dozens of li.
“Commander!”
“We pay our respects to the Commander!”
“…”
As Zhang Jing’s group entered the city, the generals responsible for defending Feicheng stepped forward to greet him.
“Que Xuan.”
Looking at the leading officer, Zhang Jing instructed:
“I leave this place in your hands. Make certain that the rear of our army remains secure.”
“Please rest assured, Commander!”
Que Xuan clasped his fists respectfully and shouted:
“This general will not fail his duty! As long as the city stands, I stand! If the city falls, I perish!”
“As long as the city stands, I stand! If the city falls, I perish!”
“…”
The other officers likewise shouted in unison, their expressions resolute.
“With you here, my mind is at ease.”
Patting Que Xuan on the shoulder, Zhang Jing then turned to a younger officer and ordered:
“Zhou Cang, send word to all commanders immediately. At noon today, a council meeting will be held at the Governor’s Office in Lu City.”
“This general obeys!”
The sturdily built young officer stepped forward and cupped his fists in acknowledgment.
“Return to your posts.”
Zhang Jing waved a hand toward the assembled officers before speaking once more to Que Xuan.
“I leave this place to you.”
With that, he spurred his horse eastward.
“This general respectfully sees off the Commander.”
Que Xuan led the assembled officers in a unified salute, their fists clasped respectfully.
If there were anyone among the Yellow Turban generals who might consider defecting to Cao Cao, that person certainly would not be Que Xuan.
His parents had died during a famine.
Had it not been for the charity and relief provided by the Way of Great Peace (Taiping Dao), he would have followed them to the grave long ago.
That was precisely why Zhang Jing had entrusted him with the defense of the city.
Because Zhang Jing understood that not only would Que Xuan never surrender to Cao Cao, but he also harbored a deep hatred toward the Han dynasty itself.
Meanwhile, Xun Yu set out with five thousand shi of grain, personally escorted out of the city by Cao Cao.
“Wenruo.”
Holding Xun Yu’s hand, Cao Cao spoke earnestly:
“The Yellow Turbans are not a benign group. This journey may be dangerous. If anything unexpected occurs, remember to place your own safety above all else.”
“Please rest assured, my lord. I understand.”
Xun Yu was deeply moved.
As for whether the journey was dangerous, he had already weighed the matter carefully.
There was certainly some risk.
But the likelihood of anything serious happening was quite small.
When the old commander Zhang Rao had still been alive, envoys had traveled back and forth between both sides many times without incident.
This time, Xun Yu was bringing generous gifts.
Even if the Yellow Turbans ultimately refused to surrender, his life was unlikely to be in danger.
Moreover, in Xun Yu’s estimation, the probability of their refusing was so small as to be almost negligible.
Because, as things stood now, the Yellow Turbans simply had no other choice.
And so, carrying five thousand shi of grain—and Cao Cao’s heartfelt hopes—Xun Yu gradually disappeared into the distance along the official road.
……
At the third quarter of the Si hour (around 10:45 a.m.),
Zhang Jing and his party arrived at Lu City.
Lu City had originally been the administrative seat of the Kingdom of Jibei.
Its defenses naturally far surpassed those of Feicheng.
Yet now, like Feicheng, it had become a refuge for the Yellow Turbans.
Inside the Governor’s Office of Lu City, Zhang Jing sat facing Cheng Li.
A small table stood before each of them.
On each table rested two simple side dishes.
Before long, attendants brought the main course.
It was steaming millet porridge.
“The army is short of food.”
After finishing a bowl of hot porridge, Zhang Jing noticed Cheng Li staring silently at his own bowl.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he said:
“Our circumstances are difficult. I hope Zhongde can bear with it.”
“But please be assured: as long as we win this campaign, our grain shortage will certainly be alleviated.”
“I am confident that within a year, our Yellow Turban people will no longer be burdened by a lack of provisions.”
No one understood the state of the Yellow Turbans’ food reserves better than Zhang Jing.
Even he had never imagined that, after living through two lifetimes, he would one day be surviving on little more than bowls of porridge.
Yet there was no helping it.
These were the conditions they faced.
To fully win the people’s hearts, everyone had to share the hardship.
Only by tightening their belts together could they unite as one.
“I naturally trust in my lord.”
Only then did Cheng Li emerge from his thoughts.
After a brief pause, he asked:
“May I ask, my lord, how much grain remains in the army’s stores?”
— The end of the Chapter–
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