Wuyan City – Eastern Courtyard of the Government Office
As Zhang Jing finished speaking, Man Chong’s eyes locked onto the saber resting on the table.
A trace of struggle appeared on his face.
Without drawing attention to himself, Dian Wei took two subtle steps forward, his gaze fixed vigilantly on Man Chong.
At the same time, Cheng Yu rested a hand on his own sword.
The last thing he wanted was to get himself killed by this fellow.
After a moment of internal conflict, the hesitation in Man Chong’s eyes disappeared, replaced by firm resolve.
He stepped forward, picked up the Blade of Judgment, then retreated two paces.
With a sharp motion, he drove the blade point-first into the ground.
Grasping the hilt with his right hand, he dropped to one knee and loudly declared:
“Your subordinate, Man Boning, pays homage to my lord!”
Compared to the minor official position Cao Cao had offered him in a letter, Man Chong found the prospect of enforcing severe laws and punishments far more appealing.
As for whether Zhang Jing was a rebel or not, he no longer cared.
What truly moved him was the authority being entrusted to him and the degree of trust being shown.
It gave him the feeling that a man should die for one who truly understood and appreciated him.
And besides, from what he knew, the Qihuo Army was not weak.
If they actually succeeded in their ambitions, he might even earn a place of honor in his clan’s genealogy.
“Excellent!”
Under Dian Wei’s watchful gaze, Zhang Jing stepped forward and personally helped Man Chong to his feet.
His face was filled with sincerity.
“With Boning’s assistance, the people of the four commanderies will truly be blessed.”
“You flatter me, my lord.” Man Chong stood up, his old face reddening slightly.
Truthfully, he wasn’t nearly as confident in himself as Zhang Jing seemed to be.
“I believe in you.”
Patting Man Chong on the shoulder, Zhang Jing turned toward Cheng Yu and said seriously:
“Zhongde, effective immediately, the Qihuo Army shall establish a new division.”
“It shall be called the Law Enforcement Division.”
“You will serve as its Commander.”
“Boning will serve as Deputy Commander.”
“Beneath you will be four Chief Inspectors, divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Iron ranks…”
This organization would essentially function as a violent enforcement agency similar to the imperial secret police.
As for establishing something like a Ministry of Justice, Zhang Jing was in no hurry.
The realm was still in chaos.
Military administration would likely remain necessary for at least another decade.
“We accept your command!” Cheng Yu narrowed his eyes and respectfully bowed.
“We accept your command!” Man Chong was visibly excited.
Just hearing the name “Law Enforcement Division” made his blood boil with enthusiasm.
He absolutely loved the idea.
Zhang Jing nodded.
“Once the central army has fully returned, separate the able-bodied men from among the convicted criminals.”
“I have plans for them.”
“As for the rest, once the judicial system is formally established, They will be dealt with according to the law.”
There would undoubtedly be many such criminals.
Simply executing them would be wasteful.
It would be better to organize them into forlorn-hope assault units.
Criminals were often formidable fighters.
And with Yuan Shu’s invasion looming, these convicts would become the first wave of assault troops.
…………….
Ji Province – Wei Commandery
Cao Army Camp, Neihuang County
“My lord!” Cao Ren’s expression was grim.
“You sent letters to Yuan Shao long ago, yet he still allows the great clans to continue shipping grain into Yan Province. How can there be such a foolish man in the world?”
“Zixiao, do not complain.” Cao Cao shook his head.
“It is not that Yuan Shao is foolish.”
“We simply discovered the matter too late.”
Then he asked:
“Do you use white salt now?”
“Do you use Warm Fragrance Jade?”
With Yuan Shao’s notoriously soft personality, merely getting those powerful families to restrain themselves somewhat was already a respectable achievement.
Hearing this, Cao Ren fell silent.
After all, who would still use coarse green salt when white salt was available?
He certainly wasn’t short on money.
As for Warm Fragrance Jade, although it could only be exchanged for grain through official channels, that restriction mainly affected the Yellow Turbans and merchants.
He could simply purchase it from merchants with money.
And honestly, he had to admit:
Warm Fragrance Jade was genuinely useful.
“Has Miaocai sent any reports back?”
Seeing that Cao Ren had calmed down, Cao Cao shifted the conversation.
“Not yet.” Cao Ren replied:
“I’ve heard that Lu Bu is currently facing off against the Heishan Army in Changshan.”
“Neither side has been willing to back down.”
“However, the Heishan Army hasn’t gained any advantage against Lu Bu.”
“They are bandits, after all.” Cao Cao’s expression grew serious.
“What truly troubles me is that Yellow Turban leader Zhang Yuheng.”
“If Zhang Yuheng truly possesses the qualities of a great warlord…”
“Then Yuan Shu will undoubtedly suffer a crushing defeat.”
“And when that happens… The Yellow Turbans, controlling all four commanderies of Yan Province, will become too powerful to contain.”
“By then, dealing with them will become extraordinarily difficult.”
During this period, Cao Cao had received numerous reports regarding the Yellow Turbans.
The more he learned, the more he realized how extraordinary Zhang Yuheng was.
And unfortunately, that man happened to be his mortal enemy.
“Could it be that you’re worrying too much, my lord?” Cao Ren frowned and said:
“Even if Yuan Shu is incompetent, he is still a descendant of a family that produced officials for four generations and held the Three Excellencies. Moreover, he has come with over a hundred thousand troops. Even if he can’t defeat the Yellow Turbans, surely he won’t suffer a crushing defeat, will he?”
“You pig-headed fool!” Cao Cao looked annoyed at his brother’s lack of insight.
After a moment’s thought, he said:
“What your elder brother is considering now is whether, when Yuan Shu is defeated, we can leave him in Yan Province permanently and take possession of Yu Province ourselves.”
“Elder Brother…” Cao Ren’s heart tightened.
After looking around to ensure no one was listening, he lowered his voice and asked:
“You mean… we’re going to kill Yuan Shu?”
“What do you mean we’re going to kill Yuan Shu?” Cao Cao glanced at him and said calmly:
“If Yuan Shu dies, he will certainly have died at the hands of the Yellow Turbans.”
“Benchu is too occupied in Ji Province to concern himself with other matters.”
“If I whisper a few words in his ear, I can enter Yu Province with complete legitimacy.”
“My lord is wise!” Cao Ren’s eyes immediately lit up.
Then he frowned again.
“What about Yan Province?”
Even now, he could not let go of Yan Province.
Not only had it once been their base of operations, but many of their sworn brothers had left their lives there.
“If Yuan Shu is defeated…” Cao Cao’s tone became somewhat wistful.
“We won’t be able to take Yan Province.”
“Unless both sides are severely weakened and Benchu sends troops to assist us, we’d have only the slightest chance of reclaiming it.”
“Then we’ll take Yu Province!”
A fierce light flashed in Cao Ren’s eyes as he clenched his fist.
“Yu Province is richer than Yan Province. Liu Chong is merely a man capable of maintaining what he has. He’s no match for us.”
“Yu Province won’t be so easy to seize either.” After thinking for a moment, Cao Cao continued:
“Unless Yuan Shu dies, there is only one path left open to us.”
“And even I am not confident about it.”
“I believe in you, Elder Brother.” Cao Ren did not ask further.
Looking at Cao Cao, his face was filled with trust.
“You’ve always had the best ideas and the greatest ability.”
“Of course.” Seeing Cao Ren’s expression, Cao Cao relaxed slightly and smiled.
Yet deep within his eyes flashed a trace of sorrow and determination.
…………….
Meanwhile, Under the relentless persuasion of his advisers, Yuan Shao finally made up his mind and adopted a compromise strategy.
He would divide his army into three forces.
The first force, numbering fifty thousand men, would be led by his eldest son, Yuan Tan.
At the same time, he would petition the court to appoint Yuan Tan as Inspector of Qing Province.
Their objective would be to march into Bohai and seize Qing Province.
Yuan Shao himself would personally command thirty thousand troops.
He would station them in Hejian State to prevent both Gongsun Zan and Zhang Yan from coming to Qing Province’s aid.
The remaining three camps, totaling more than fifteen thousand troops, would be placed under Zhu Ling’s command and sent to Neihuang to assist Cao Cao in recovering Yan Province.
When Xiahou Yuan returned and delivered the news to Cao Cao, Cao Cao fell silent on the spot.
Afterward, he could only curse Yuan Shao for being a master at trying to please everyone while tearfully preparing to welcome the incoming reinforcements.
“Zixiao!” Now that Yuan Shao still remembered him, Cao Cao no longer held back.
Immediately, he ordered in a deep voice:
“Send an envoy across the river to Yuan Shu’s camp at once.”
“Inform him that I, Cao Cao, am willing to join forces with him in attacking the Yellow Turbans.”
“Furthermore, dispatch every scout under your command.”
“I want to know the movements of Yuan Shu’s army at all times.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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