That Night, Jizhou
Changshan Commandery, Taihang Mountains
At this moment, Zhang Yan led a group of men carrying torches as they ascended a mountain peak.
Unlike the steep and treacherous mountains surrounding it, the summit of this mountain was a flat expanse stretching several hundred paces across.
Several wooden stockades stood scattered across the plateau.
A great Taiping banner fluttered proudly in the wind.
Meanwhile, squads of burly men dressed in bright yellow uniforms, with sabers at their waists and yellow turbans wrapped around their heads, patrolled the stockade with strict discipline.
“Feiyan.”
Before Zhang Yan could reach the summit, a burly man with one hand resting on his saber stepped forward and blocked the group’s path.
In a deep voice, he said:
“The Saintess has no intention of involving herself in the affairs of Heishan.”
“What brings you here today?”
“Greetings, Commander Liu.”
Rather than becoming angry at being stopped, Zhang Yan smiled and clasped his fists in salute.
“The Saintess may not concern herself with worldly matters, but she is still the daughter of the Great Virtuous Teacher and the Saintess of the Way of the Great Peace (Taiping Dao).”
“Heishan is the foundation of the Taiping faith.”
“No matter how large or small the matter, the Saintess should be informed.”
The Saintess they spoke of was Zhang Ning.
She was the daughter of Zhang Jiao, the Great Virtuous Teacher.
When Zhang Jiao died and the Taiping movement collapsed, the girl was only seven years old.
Loyal followers had secretly taken her into the mountains.
There, she was honored as the Saintess of the Taiping Dao.
However, to ensure her safety and prevent the Han court from targeting her, and because Zhang Ning was still a child at the time, they publicly announced that she had died alongside her father.
The deception allowed her to grow up in peace.
Nearly ten years had passed since then.
Many followers of the Way of the Great Peace had long forgotten that Zhang Jiao even had a daughter and that she was still alive.
Yet among Zhang Yan and his followers, she was revered as the Saintess.
The burly man standing opposite Zhang Yan was named Liu Shi.
He had once been a regional Yellow Turban commander.
Now he guarded the mountain alongside Huang Long.
“Speak then.” Liu Shi frowned slightly.
“If it truly is important, I will report it to the Saintess.”
“According to reports from my scouts,” Zhang Yan said seriously, “Lu Bu left Changshan several days ago with a force of cavalry.”
“Since Yuan Shao has defeated Gongsun Zan, he is likely preparing a major move.”
“I believe there is a strong possibility that he intends to launch a campaign against Heishan.”
During the recent months, they had suffered repeated defeats at the hands of the terrifyingly powerful Lu Bu.
They simply had no answer for him.
At one point they had assembled twenty thousand troops.
Yet Lu Bu charged directly into them with his Wolf Cavalry, scattering them into chaos.
When their forces were smaller, matters were even worse.
Lu Bu didn’t even need to appear personally.
His cavalrymen alone could strike hard and disappear before they could respond.
Combined with the mobility of their armored horsemen, the Heishan Army had been driven to misery.
Now that Gongsun Zan had been defeated, the attention of Yuan Shao’s main army could very well turn toward them.
With Yuan Shao’s forces and Lu Bu working together, even if the Heishan Army avoided annihilation, they would certainly suffer devastating losses.
“What do you propose?” Liu Shi asked, frowning.
He felt Zhang Yan’s concerns were justified.
“Seek reinforcements.” Zhang Yan fixed his gaze on Liu Shi.
“In Yan Province, Zhang Jing has transformed Yellow Turban force into the Qihuo Army.”
“He commands hundreds of thousands of troops.”
“Only a month ago, he defeated Yuan Shu.”
“If we seek aid from him, Yuan Shao will not dare move against Heishan so easily.”
“Zhang Jing of Yan Province…” Liu Shi’s expression became complicated.
This was not the first time he had heard that name.
In fact, he had met Zhang Jing several times when the latter was still a child.
After a pause, he said: “Zhang Jing is the son of Zhang Rao.”
“If you ask him for help, there is no reason for him to refuse.”
“If only it were that simple.” Zhang Yan shook his head bitterly.
“Zhang Jing founded the Qihuo Army and built his power upon the four commanderies of Yan Province.”
“Though he still carries the ideals of Great Peace, his ambitions are immense.”
“He and we may already be walking entirely different paths.”
“Furthermore, Yan Province is surrounded by enemies on all sides.”
“If he moves his army, it will affect the entire strategic situation.”
“Without a sufficiently compelling reason, Zhang Jing will never commit troops.”
Zhang Yan’s feelings toward Zhang Jing were complicated.
It was like seeing an old brother-in-arms:
You worry when he’s struggling, but when he suddenly becomes wildly successful, you feel shocked as well.
By now, Zhang Jing’s fame had completely surpassed that of the Heishan Army.
Rumor held that he commanded mighty armies and countless talented advisors.
The only recent connection between them had been when Yu Du defected to Zhang Jing.
Even while surrounded by enemies on every side, Zhang Jing had never once asked Heishan for assistance.
“Feiyan.” Liu Shi finally understood what Zhang Yan was implying.
“Do you truly believe Yuan Shao will attack Heishan?”
“Almost certainly.” Zhang Yan nodded firmly.
“Yu Du has joined Zhang Jing.”
“The Southern Xiongnu and Zhang Yang were defeated in Yan Province.”
“The entire southwest of Jizhou is now secure.”
“Only we remain, entrenched throughout the Taihang Mountains and Changshan.”
“Not long ago, Gongsun Zan sent a message into the mountains.”
“He informed us that he has already concluded peace with Yuan Shao.”
At present, throughout all of Jizhou, the only hostile force remaining against Yuan Shao was Zhang Yan’s Heishan Army.
Now that Yuan Shao had free hands, if he did not move against them, it would be difficult to justify.
Liu Shi sighed.
“Very well.”
“I will report the matter to the Saintess at once.”
“You may wait here.”
“Many thanks, Commander Liu.”
Zhang Yan cupped his fists in thanks, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
Ever since receiving Gongsun Zan’s letter, he had felt that something was terribly wrong.
After much consideration, he concluded that seeking reinforcements was the only option.
If he, Zhang Yan, were the one to ask, he doubted Zhang Jing would give him much face.
At the center of the mountain peak stood a brightly illuminated wooden pavilion.
The interior was simple and elegant.
Aside from a single portrait of Zhang Jiao hanging on the wall, there was little decoration.
Beneath the portrait sat a young girl in black robes, kneeling properly on a cushion.
A silk sash was tied around her waist.
Her appearance was graceful and beautiful.
Her oval face resembled a flower just beginning to bloom, while her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall of ink, as if gifted by heaven itself.
At this moment, she held an ancient book with both hands.
As carefully as one would cradle a priceless treasure.
Her deep, tranquil eyes were fixed upon the text, focused and serene.
Knock, knock, knock…
A crisp knocking sound suddenly echoed through the room, like a pebble dropped into a still lake, instantly breaking the pavilion’s silence.
“Is that Uncle Liu?”
Hearing the sound, the girl lifted her gaze from the book and parted her rosy lips.
Her voice was as clear and pleasant as a mountain spring, spreading softly through the pavilion.
“It is I, Liu Shi.” Standing outside, Liu Shi cupped his fists respectfully.
“There is an important matter. I request an audience with the Saintess.”
The girl inside the pavilion was none other than Zhang Ning, daughter of the late Great Worthy Teacher Zhang Jiao and the Saintess of the Way of the Great Peace spoken of by Liu Shi and Zhang Yan.
Even after all these years, though the Great Worthy Teacher had long since passed away, Liu Shi and the others still treated her with the utmost reverence, almost as if she were a divine figure.
“Please come in, Uncle Liu.”
Zhang Ning put away the ancient book and sat upright, composed and dignified like a blooming lotus, quietly waiting for Liu Shi’s arrival.
“Saintess.” After entering, Liu Shi bowed respectfully.
“Heishan’s Flying Swallow, Zhang Yan, has come…”
He then carefully explained Zhang Yan’s concerns and proposed solution, recounting everything in detail.
“Uncle Liu…” After listening, Zhang Ning’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly.
With some hesitation, she asked:
“Do you think Brother Zhang Jing still remembers Ning’er? Would he truly be willing to send troops to help us? Wouldn’t that put him in danger?”
Of course, Zhang Ning knew Zhang Jing.
However, her memories were from before she was five years old.
Zhang Jing was only one year older than her, and she had even heard that his name had originally been given by her father.
“Please don’t worry, Saintess.”
Seeing her lack confidence, Liu Shi felt as though knives were cutting into his heart.
He nodded firmly.
“That boy Zhang Jing definitely remembers you.”
“As long as you send a letter to Yan Province, he will dispatch troops to Ji Province and relieve the Heishan forces.”
“There will be no danger in this matter.”
“If Zhang Jing moves his army into Ji Province, it will be like a sharp sword thrust into Yuan Shao’s side, forcing him to divide his forces.”
“In that case…” Only then did Zhang Ning relax and slowly nod.
“I’ll write a letter immediately.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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