At this moment, Cheng Yu, much like Zhang Jing himself, had already begun to regard the Heishan Army as the Taiping Administration’s exclusive preserve.
“Explain your thoughts in detail.” Zhang Jing did not immediately state his position.
This matter could be either major or minor, and the degree of involvement had to be carefully controlled.
If they pushed too hard, it would amount to declaring war on Yuan Shao.
And to be honest, Zhang Jing had no desire to start a war right now.
It simply wasn’t worth it.
Because even if they won, they would not gain any additional territory.
Moreover, they would be fighting on foreign ground.
“Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao.”
After carefully choosing his words, Cheng Yu said, “If Yuan Shao intends to attack the Heishan Army, he will certainly commit substantial forces. The Heishan Army is numerous and enjoys the geographic advantages of the Taihang Mountains. Ordinary armies may defeat them in battle, but such victories would do little real damage.”
“As things stand now, Yuan Shao’s total military strength is less than one hundred and fifty thousand men.”
“As long as we can tie down thirty to fifty thousand of his troops, he will not dare act rashly.”
Yuan Shao’s forces seemed formidable on paper.
In reality, like Zhang Jing, he had to station troops throughout his territory and could not easily mobilize all his soldiers.
“How many troops should we deploy?” Zhang Jing nodded slowly.
This was indeed the simplest and most effective solution.
It was certainly risky.
But avoiding risk entirely was impossible.
“Fifty thousand troops will suffice.”
Cheng Yu pondered briefly before continuing:
“We can station thirty thousand men at Boping and send another twenty thousand along the Boping Official Road into Ji Province. The two positions are only a little over a hundred li apart. Once our camps are established, Ganling will not dare act recklessly.”
“Fifty thousand troops is no small number.” Zhang Jing pursed his lips before speaking.
“Zhongde, send orders to Zhou Cang immediately. Dispatch every scout we have. I want to know the movements of Yuan Shao’s forces in Qinghe Kingdom.”
“This subordinate obeys!” Cheng Yu bowed respectfully.
“Many thanks, Commander Zhang!”
Upon hearing this, Sun Qing of the Heishan Army visibly relaxed and clasped his fists respectfully toward Zhang Jing.
“Think nothing of it.” Zhang Jing waved his hand.
“The Way of the Great Peace (Taiping Dao) and the Taiping Administration are one family. If we can help, there is no reason to refuse.”
“After you return, spread the news openly. Announce that the Taiping Administration and the Heishan Army have formed an alliance and will soon deploy one hundred thousand troops to attack Qinghe Kingdom. I doubt Yuan Shao will dare take that lightly.”
Of course, deploying one hundred thousand troops was impossible.
But there was no harm in boasting first.
If Yuan Shao chose not to attack, everyone would be satisfied.
If he insisted on acting, Zhang Jing would have no choice but to send troops into Ji Province and test Ganling’s defenses.
“Your righteousness is deeply appreciated, Commander Zhang. I shall take my leave.”
Sun Qing nodded heavily, clasped his fists respectfully once more, and descended from the watchtower.
“What a troubled age this is.” Shaking his head, Zhang Jing sighed.
“Dian Wei, tell me—when do you think the world will finally know peace?”
“That depends on you, my lord.” Dian Wei answered with complete seriousness.
“In my opinion, only a benevolent ruler like you can bring peace to the realm. If anyone else tries to seize it, I, Dian Wei, won’t acknowledge them. Neither will the brothers serving under me.”
“Haha, Dian Wei, Dian Wei!” Zhang Jing laughed as he looked at him.
“Since when did you start speaking so elegantly? You’ve got entire arguments prepared now.”
“Well… I’ve spent so much time around you, my lord. Guess I picked up a thing or two.”
Dian Wei looked somewhat embarrassed as he scratched his head.
“Then we’ll go with Dian Wei’s answer.”
Turning away from the watchtower, Zhang Jing strode off in high spirits.
“Let’s compete for this world properly—and bring peace to the common people.”
……………….
Just as Zhang Jing received the letter, Lu Bu in Ji Province had already set his army in motion from Changshan.
Lu Bu’s force numbered only four thousand men.
Yet the baggage train alone consisted of over a thousand wagons carrying grain and supplies.
This did not even include the provisions Yuan Shao had promised him.
On the Jingxing Official Road.
“My lord!” A commander of the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry rode up beside Lu Bu, his face full of concern.
“The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that Yuan Shao is plotting something.”
“Yan Province is no easy prize.”
“Otherwise, how could Cao Cao of Dong Commandery and Yuan Shu of Yu Province have both suffered crushing defeats there?”
“If we cannot defeat that so-called Qihuo Army, then even if we reach Yan Province, we won’t be able to establish ourselves.”
Yan Province lay in the heart of the Central Plains.
It was coveted by every warlord.
Moreover, thanks to Zhang Jing’s recent achievements, anyone with even a little capability could easily gather information about the situation there.
“Wenyuan worries too much.” Lu Bu looked completely unconcerned.
“That so-called Qihuo Army is nothing more than a bunch of Yellow Turbans.”
“Before I arrived, wasn’t the Heishan Army being praised as some terrifying force?”
“And look at them now.”
“I’ve beaten them so thoroughly that they hardly dare show their faces.”
“Cao Cao is just a fool.”
“During the coalition against Dong Zhuo, Xu Rong beat him so badly that he fled in panic.”
“What ability could a man like that possibly possess?”
“And as for Yuan Shu—he’s an even greater idiot!”
“He enjoys the reputation of a Four Generations, Three Excellencies family, yet he’s petty, narrow-minded, and utterly ignorant of military affairs.”
“A dried-up corpse in a grave, nothing more!”
“Once we establish a foothold in Yan Province, The first person we’re going to deal with is Yuan Shu.”
At the mention of Yuan Shu, Lu Bu was filled with resentment.
When he had fled Chang’an the previous year and found himself with nowhere to go, he had once considered seeking refuge with Yuan Shu.
Not only had Yuan Shu refused to take him in, he had also publicly cursed him everywhere he went, calling Lu Bu a fickle and untrustworthy villain.
Lu Bu had been approaching him as a potential subordinate.
In his view, even if Yuan Shu did not wish to accept him, there was no need for such insults.
Yet Yuan Shu had done exactly that.
Having suffered such humiliation for no reason, how could Lu Bu possibly let it go?
When he had been weak, he had no choice but to endure it.
But now he was the Governor of Yan Province.
Naturally, he had no intention of showing Yuan Shu any goodwill.
The commander whom Lu Bu called Wenyuan was named Zhang Liao, courtesy name Wenyuan.
A native of Yanmen in Bing Province, he came from a powerful local family.
Recognized by Ding Yuan for his talent, he had been recommended to the General-in-Chief He Jin.
He Jin had thought highly of him and sent him to Hebei to recruit troops for the planned extermination of the eunuchs.
Unexpectedly, before Zhang Liao could return, He Jin was assassinated.
After many twists and turns, he eventually reunited with his old acquaintance Lu Bu and followed him all the way to Ji Province.
It had truly been a turbulent first half of his life.
“My lord.” Seeing that he could not persuade Lu Bu, Zhang Liao could only say:
“I believe we should dispatch more scouts to Yan Province to gather intelligence.”
“Fine, fine.” Lü Bu replied impatiently, waving his hand.
“Handle it yourself.”
“I really don’t understand what’s so worrying about a bunch of Yellow Turbans.”
“Just because they call themselves the Qihuo Army doesn’t mean they’ve stopped being Yellow Turbans, does it?”
“This subordinate obeys.”
Ignoring Lu Bu’s complaints, Zhang Liao clasped his fists and rode off to make the necessary arrangements.
“Weixu!” After Zhang Liao left, Lu Bu looked somewhat exasperated and turned to someone nearby.
“Tell me, are the Yellow Turbans really that formidable?”
“Of course they’re formidable!” Wei Xu’s eyes darted about before he replied with a grin.
“But that’s only because they haven’t encountered you, my lord.”
“When you rode across the northern steppes in your glory days, even the foreign tribes honored you as the Flying General.”
“No matter how capable those Yellow Turbans may be, once they face you, my lord, they’ll be nothing more than chickens and dogs—an unruly mob fit only to be swept aside.”
“Hahahahaha!” Lu Bu burst into hearty laughter.
“Well said, Wei Xu!”
“In front of me, the Flying General Lu Bu, those so-called Yellow Turbans are utterly insignificant!”
…………………..
That night, Yan Province.
At the central military training ground of Wuyan City.
“Everyone.”
Seated in the same place as before, Zhang Jing swept his gaze across the crowd and said:
“Today, I will be speaking about the rise of the great clans.”
“What are the great clans?”
“In truth, the great clans were not something fixed and unchanging. They generally began as…”
— The end of the Chapter–
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