Inside the Heishan Army’s wooden stronghold, in the council hall.
As Zhang Yan listened to the envoy’s account, his expression grew increasingly serious.
At the same time, he became completely convinced of the man’s identity.
“Commander Zhang truly lives up to his father’s name.”
After hearing everything, Zhang Yan sighed with admiration.
“He is a man of benevolence and righteousness.”
“Now that he seeks to secure the four commanderies of Yan Province, did he ask you to request reinforcements?”
The generals present exchanged complicated looks.
At the end of the year before last, the two sides had been preparing to join forces.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Jing’s side had been crushed by Gongsun Zan and forced to retreat in defeat.
As a result, the proposed alliance had come to nothing.
“No, he did not.” The envoy shook his head in confusion.
He did not think his lord needed reinforcements.
In fact, he thought his lord was frighteningly powerful—the only thing he feared was dying needlessly.
“I see.” Zhang Yan nodded and turned to a nearby subordinate.
“Wang Dang, this brother has had a difficult journey. Take him away and see that he is properly entertained.”
“Understood.” Wang Dang bowed respectfully.
“Many thanks, Chief.” The envoy’s eyes lit up as he cupped his fists toward Zhang Yan in thanks.
“Now then, let us hear everyone’s thoughts.”
After Wang Dang and the envoy left, Zhang Yan’s expression became solemn.
“Zhang Jing defeated Cao Cao and occupied all of Yan Province. His military strength is certainly not to be underestimated.”
“Though I know him only through fragments of information, he can already be called a hero in his own right.”
“As for our current situation…It is far from favorable.”
“Yuan Shao may bear the prestigious title of a descendant of the Four Generations of the Three Excellencies, but his actions are those of a petty villain.”
“Not only has he broken every promise he made to us, he has even stationed troops at the foot of the mountains. Next year, if we wish to collect grain again,I’m afraid Yuan Shao will not permit it.”
At this point, Zhang Yan’s expression darkened.
Though he was the leader of the Heishan Army, he also held another identity—that of the imperial General Who Pacifies Rebellions.
He nominally governed the eight hundred li of the Taihang Mountains.
He could legally collect grain from the villages at the foot of the mountains.
He even possessed the authority to recommend candidates for the imperial civil service through the xiaolian system.
Combined with the farmland the Heishan Army had reclaimed in the mountains, this allowed them to barely maintain enough food to survive.
When Gongsun Zan had been at the height of his power, Zhang Yan had assisted Yuan Shao.
But once Gongsun Zan suffered defeat, Yuan Shao immediately turned against him and began targeting Zhang Yan instead.
He had even called Zhang Yan a rebel.
The memory still infuriated him.
“Chief!” Leader Sun Qing spoke with an ugly expression.
“According to my information, the Marquis Wen, Lu Bu, was recruited by Yuan Shao a month ago.”
“The place where he has stationed his troops is directly beneath our mountains.”
“It seems Yuan Shao has made up his mind to deal with us once and for all.”
“That damned traitor!” Another leader gritted his teeth.
“Since he has abandoned all righteousness, we owe him none in return.”
“Chief, now that Gongsun Zan has suffered a major defeat and Yuan Shao is aggressively seeking control of the lands of You and Yan, why don’t we bury the hatchet with Gongsun Zan and join forces against Yuan Shao?”
“I agree with Du Zhang.” Sun Qing’s eyes brightened.
He also felt this was a feasible plan.
If they did so, they could grow grain in the Yan-Yun region, and Gongsun Zan would likely have no objections.
“Then what should I say to Commander Zhang?” Zhang Yan was somewhat tempted by the proposal.
He had already entertained similar thoughts.
If Yuan Shao dared attack him, he fully intended to act accordingly.
However, there was a prerequisite.
That was assuming Zhang Jing had not sent an envoy.
After all, Zhang Jing’s father and the Yellow Turbans of Qing Province had suffered devastating losses at Gongsun Zan’s hands.
Calling it a blood feud would not be an exaggeration.
If the Heishan Army suddenly formed an alliance with Gongsun Zan, it would be almost equivalent to offending Zhang Jing.
“In my opinion, Chief, you worry too much.” Sun Qing narrowed his eyes.
“Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao share a hatred that can never truly be reconciled.”
“And regarding the current situation in Yan Province, an alliance with Gongsun Zan brings only benefits and no disadvantages.”
“How so?” Zhang Yan asked in confusion.
“Why would Zhang Jing have anything to do with an alliance involving Gongsun Zan?”
The others also turned their attention to Sun Qing.
“As everyone knows,” Sun Qing said seriously, “Cao Cao of Yan Province and Yuan Shao are the closest of friends.”
“Zhang Jing is likewise Cao Cao’s mortal enemy. If Yuan Shao grows stronger, he certainly will not tolerate Zhang Jing. Zhang Jing may never ally himself with Gongsun Zan.”
“But if we ally with Gongsun Zan and jointly restrain Yuan Shao’s expansion, would that not perfectly suit Zhang Jing’s interests?”
“Zhang Jing may never openly acknowledge it, but he will still be forced to station troops along the border with Ji Province.”
“Would that not also suit Gongsun Zan’s interests?”
“In that case, does a formal alliance even matter?”
“Hiss—” Everyone involuntarily sucked in a cold breath.
When they looked at Sun Qing again, their gazes had changed completely.
“Hahaha! Sun Qing speaks wisely!” After hearing this, Zhang Yan felt an immense sense of satisfaction.
He burst into hearty laughter and said, “After you leave here, convey our intentions to that envoy. Since Yuan Shao dares to play the first move, then I, Zhang Yan, dare to answer with the fifteenth!”
At the same time, he thought to himself:
This matter must also be reported to the Holy Maiden.
Presumably, she will have no objections either.
Zhang Yan had long wanted an opportunity to vent his anger.
He had simply been unable to swallow his pride.
After all, he had been fighting against Gongsun Zan not long ago.
Suddenly approaching him now would have been somewhat awkward.
But now, he had found a reason to convince himself.
An alliance with Gongsun Zan could be described as a three-way win, creating a situation where Yuan Shao was the only loser.
……………..
End of the First Month
Dong’e County, Yan Province
This was the third stop on Zhang Jing’s inspection tour, and also the second major stronghold he had visited.
The location lay forty li from Cangting Ford and sixty li from another major stronghold, Linyi.
The three positions could support one another like the horns of a tripod.
Launching an offensive from them might not be easy, but for defense they could reinforce each other rapidly.
Even if Yuan Shao sent an army of one hundred thousand men to cross the river, it would not be an easy task.
“Guan Hai.” Wearing a heavy cloak, Zhang Jing arrived at the city walls accompanied by Dian Wei.
Looking at Guan Hai, who was accompanying him, he said, “This city is one of our key strongholds. Yet even after renovations, its walls are only three zhang high. How can that possibly be enough?”
“Raise them to five zhang. Even if the ford ahead is lost, our brothers can retreat here and still have a heavily fortified city to defend.”
“As for the trebuchets, assign a group of men to become proficient in operating them. Those things aren’t just useful for attacking cities—they’re equally effective for defending them.”
“When Yuan Shao eventually brings siege engines, scaling ladders, and other equipment to attack the city, a powerful corps of stone-throwing troops will prevent those siege machines from even approaching.”
“Combined with strong fortifications, even if Yuan Shao arrives with two hundred thousand troops, he still won’t be able to capture Dong’e.”
Among the seven major strongholds and twelve defensive passes, there were no ordinary civilians.
Aside from soldiers, each was essentially an empty city.
Zhang Jing had only one objective:
The soldiers could build however they liked— but the cities absolutely had to be held.
“I understand, my lord!” Guan Hai’s eyes suddenly lit up.
It felt as though an entirely new world had opened before him.
Bowing respectfully, he said, “Your words are like enlightenment poured directly into my mind. I shall remember them for the rest of my life and benefit from them forever.”
He thought to himself:
Why hadn’t I realized this before?
Compared to training an army into an effective fighting force, fortifying cities was far more practical at the moment.
If the city walls were strong, the enemy could not break through.
That would buy more time to train the troops.
After all, according to the strategists’ estimates, war would likely arrive around late February.
That left barely a month.
There was no realistic way to produce elite soldiers in such a short period.
But if that time were spent on construction, the results would be entirely different.
The men under his command might not always show enthusiasm for military drills, but when it came to building projects, their enthusiasm was guaranteed.
“Hmm.” Zhang Jing nodded slightly and climbed onto the battlements.
“And one more thing. The army’s discipline must be strict. Otherwise, it will be nothing more than a pile of loose sand.”
“You’re a veteran commander. You also lived through my father’s generation. Back then, hundreds of thousands of our brothers were chased across the countryside by only ten or twenty thousand Han troops.”
“And the reason was a lack of discipline. The truth is, people are naturally afraid of death. Think about it. If an army of hundreds of thousands had discipline, then even without weapons, if they simply used their teeth to bite and tear at the Han soldiers, once the Han army’s casualties became heavy enough, those Han troops would break first.”
“Wouldn’t the outcome have been completely reversed?”
“After all, our soldiers fear death. But the enemy fears death as well.”
“On the battlefield, the more afraid you are of dying, the easier it becomes to die.”
“You and I both understand this principle. But we must make the men below us understand it too.”
“My lord speaks the truth.” Guan Hai nodded deeply in agreement.
Memories of countless past defeats surfaced in his mind.
Then he thought of the name of their current army.
Though they had once been as insignificant as dust, the spirit of tragic courage and iron-blooded resolve now permeated every soldier.
Perhaps, just as his lord had said, even without weapons,
they would still dare to tear the enemy apart with their teeth.
At that thought, when Guan Hai looked at Zhang Jing once more, his eyes were already filled with reverence.
— The end of the Chapter–
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