The Fifth Day of the Twelfth Month, Third Year of Chuping (192 AD)
Wuyan City, Dongping Kingdom, Yan Province
Dressed in plain clothes and resting one hand on the hilt of his saber, Cheng Yu entered the prison where the sons of the great clans and aristocratic families were being held.
His expression was devoid of emotion.
Two ranks of soldiers escorted him as he walked through the prison corridors.
Near one of the cells sat Xun Yu.
His face was deathly pale, his lips cracked and dry, and his entire appearance was gaunt and haggard.
“Cheng Zhongde!”
The moment he saw Cheng Yu, Xun Yu spoke in a hoarse voice.
“Today I have fallen into captivity. Whether you kill me or dismember me is entirely your choice. But why torment me in this manner?”
“How can such conduct be worthy of a true gentleman?”
As he spoke, Xun Yu glanced toward the corner of the cell.
There, arranged neatly in a row, were four severed heads.
They belonged to Cao Hong, Yue Jin, Chen Gong, and Cao Chun.
By now, Xun Yu no longer entertained any hope of leaving this place alive.
He merely wished that someone would grant him a swift death.
“Master Zhongde! Master Zhongde!”
As soon as Xun Yu finished speaking, another prisoner suddenly cried out.
Fear and hope mingled on his face.
“It’s me! Xue Fang! Do you remember me?”
“We fought side by side once and defeated enemies together!”
“Why have you locked us up here?”
“Didn’t you promise that those who surrendered would not be killed?”
“I am willing to surrender!”
“Yes, Master Zhongde, we’re willing to surrender too!”
“Please, Master Zhongde, give us something to eat! If this continues, we’ll starve to death!”
“Please spare us!”
The prison instantly erupted into chaos.
Cheng Yu’s expression remained icy.
“I did indeed say that those who surrendered would not be killed.”
“But are you not still alive?”
“All of you come from powerful clans and aristocratic families.”
“If I were to leave you unchecked, you would inevitably become a threat to our army in the future.”
Since assuming responsibility for Wuyan, he had dispatched Geng Ling and Bian Xi with troops to conduct operations against influential clans throughout the surrounding commanderies.
Now, members of more than a dozen major families—including the Wang Clan of Shanyang, the Liu and Dai Clans of Dongping, the Liu and Lü Clans of Rencheng, the Yang and Humu Clans of Taishan, the Xue Clan of Dong’e, the Yan Clan of Jibei, and even Xun Yu from Lu County—had all been imprisoned here.
At present, the Qihuo Army was winning victory after victory throughout Yan Province.
As the army’s chief strategist and administrator, Cheng Yu handled at least dozens of times more affairs each day than Zhang Jing himself.
The reason he had found time to come here today was because he wished to find useful talent.
These sons of noble families might not possess many exceptional skills, but literacy and education were the minimum expected of them.
However, before he could make use of such people, Cheng Yu believed a little pressure was necessary.
“Master Zhongde is worrying too much!”
Xue Fang hurriedly shouted.
“We surrender sincerely!”
“In the future, we shall abide by our duties and never harbor improper ambitions!”
“I, Xue Fang, swear it before Heaven!”
“We are willing to swear as well, Master Zhongde!”
“Please spare our lives!”
“Please give us another chance!”
The prison once again descended into noisy pleading.
Seeing this, one of the guards stepped forward and bellowed while gripping the hilt of his blade:
“Silence!”
The prison immediately fell quiet.
The aristocratic youths looked toward Cheng Yu with nervous, uncertain expressions.
“To tell the truth, the reason I came here today—”
Cheng Yu paced calmly between the cells.
“—is not to send you to your deaths.”
“It is to bring this matter to a conclusion.”
“Imprisoning all of you here was something I had no choice but to do.”
“Today, the Han Dynasty stands on the brink of collapse.”
“Heroes rise across the realm.”
“The warlords occupy their territories and wage war against one another. Such conflict has become inevitable.”
“My lord was raised within the Way of Great Peace.”
“Gathering the masses of the Taiping Dao, he established the Qihuo Army in this world.”
“He has unified the lands of Yan Province in the Central Plains and seeks to bring peace and stability to its people.”
“The former Inspector, Cao Cao, suffered heavy losses at my lord’s hands and fled north of the Yellow River with the remnants of his defeated army.”
“That battle established the Qihuo Army’s place in the world.”
“As the saying goes: When the Han loses the deer, all under Heaven compete to chase it.”
“My lord possesses both extraordinary talent and grand ambition.”
“He can command armies, and he can govern the people.”
“Since ancient times, fine birds choose worthy trees upon which to perch, and wise ministers choose worthy lords to serve.”
“Today, I have come here—”
At this point, Cheng Yu stopped walking and swept his gaze across the prisoners.
“—to seek capable ministers for my lord.”
“To seek those who share his aspirations.”
“Those among you who are willing to enter the service of the Qihuo Army may leave these cells and serve my lord.”
“As for those unwilling to do so, I will still provide food and shelter.”
“You will at least be guaranteed warmth and sustenance within these prison walls.”
Having said his piece, Cheng Yu turned and left the prison.
“……”
Xun Yu pursed his lips and chose not to say anything further.
He neither shouted nor protested.
As for the many members of the great clans and aristocratic families imprisoned there, the promise of food eased much of their desperation to survive.
As for entering the service of the Qihuo Army—
Most of them were deeply resistant to the idea.
In their eyes, the Qihuo Army had grown out of the Yellow Turbans and the Way of Great Peace.
They were rebels and bandits who had risen against the state.
After all, surrendering and lying low was one thing.
Serving the Qihuo Army wholeheartedly was another matter entirely.
Even so, quite a few people, for various reasons, expressed their willingness to enter the Qihuo Army’s service in exchange for leaving prison.
Meanwhile, after leaving the aristocrats’ prison block, Cheng Yu did not depart immediately.
Instead, he headed to the area where surrendered officers were being held.
More than ten former Cao Army officers were imprisoned there.
According to Cheng Yu’s information, two among them possessed the greatest prestige.
One was Han Hao.
The other was Yu Jin.
Both had been discovered by soldiers while the battlefield was being cleared after the war.
Their survival had been due largely to sheer luck and resilience.
After arriving, Cheng Yu repeated almost the same speech he had given earlier.
The only difference was a single condition:
Those who refused to serve would die.
“Rebel!”
Han Hao shouted angrily after hearing Cheng Yu’s proposal.
“If you think you can persuade me, Han Yuansi, to join a band of traitors, then give up that foolish idea immediately!”
“Since entering official service, my hands have been stained with the blood of countless rebels and bandits.”
“If I were to surrender to rebels today, would I not become the greatest laughingstock under Heaven?”
“General Han!”
“Why not just surrender?”
“General Han—”
“I, Yu Jin, am willing to surrender.”
After hearing Cheng Yu’s words, Yu Jin showed little hesitation.
He had been born into a humble family.
Before joining the army, he had never distinguished himself in any particular way.
Originally, he had believed that General Wang Lang’s recognition would allow him to build a successful career.
Instead, Wang Lang had died on the battlefield.
Now, as a prisoner, Yu Jin understood better than anyone the importance of staying alive.
He had no desire to die such a meaningless and humiliating death.
“We are willing to surrender as well!”
Seeing that Yu Jin had already submitted, the other junior officers no longer felt any burden and quickly followed suit.
“Do any of you still possess even a shred of loyalty and righteousness—”
Before Han Hao could finish speaking, Cheng Yu cut him off.
“Guards!”
“Take this man outside and execute him.”
“Afterward, send his head to Xun Yu.”
“As for the body, leave it intact. I have my own use for it.”
“Yes, sir!”
The soldiers accompanying Cheng Yu respectfully acknowledged the order.
They immediately stepped forward and dragged Han Hao away.
“Hahaha! It’s only death!”
Han Hao’s face was filled with determination as he laughed wildly.
“You rebels know nothing of Heaven’s favor!”
“When spring comes next year, all of you will surely be sent down to join me!”
“Hahahaha!”
“Bring them along.”
Ignoring Han Hao’s words entirely, Cheng Yu gave a brief order to the guards before turning and leaving.
…………….
Elsewhere.
A soldier carrying a severed head by the hair walked to Xun Yu’s cell.
With a mocking grin, he tossed it inside.
“There, O kingmaker.”
“We’ve brought you a new companion.”
“YUANSI!!!”
The moment Xun Yu recognized the face, his expression changed drastically.
A wave of grief struck him like a knife through the heart.
Like himself, Han Hao had held the rank of military commandant.
Moreover, Han Hao’s reputation was known throughout the realms of the warlords.
Within Cao Cao’s army, his status and influence had been anything but ordinary.
— The end of the Chapter–
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