“Several days ago.”
After Cheng Yu and the other two had become acquainted, Zhang Jing spoke again:
“It just so happened that my father passed away. I once said: Are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born to their stations?”
“The fact that all of you are gathered here today…”
“Is not because we were born rebels.”
“It is because the Han Empire of the Liu clan has oppressed us beyond endurance. It is because corrupt officials have taxed and exploited the people so ruthlessly that our families could no longer survive. That is why we have come together.”
“The world calls us moth-bandits.”
“They call us thieves.”
“They say we are uncivilized rabble who reject proper teaching.”
“But only we ourselves know where true righteousness lies in our hearts.”
“They say we hate the court, that we hate officials, that we hate the rich!”
“Then I would like to ask those people this:”
“Should corrupt officials not be hated?”
“Should crooked bureaucrats not be hated?”
“The Han court of the Liu family keeps and protects a pack of corrupt dogs. Should such a court not be hated? Should it not be destroyed?”
“It should be hated! It should be destroyed!”
“Kill every corrupt official!”
“…”
The generals’ eyes turned red with emotion as they listened.
Just as their lord had said, most of them were gathered here because they had no way to survive.
Only a small minority had joined because of the Yellow Turban faith itself.
“That’s right! They deserve our hatred! They deserve death!”
Zhang Jing’s face was as hard as iron as he declared in a ringing voice:
“Corrupt officials exploit us. Powerful clans oppress us. Yet we ordinary people toil in the fields from dawn to dusk, working the land for an entire year, and still cannot eat our fill even during the New Year festival.”
“Why?”
“They eat the grain we grow, yet still exploit and oppress us. Why?”
“They are human beings, and so are we. We all have one head and two shoulders…”
As Zhang Jing delivered his highly stirring speech, Cheng Yu finally understood where the man’s prestige came from.
With words alone, he had whipped the Yellow Turban officers into a frenzy.
They looked ready to tear the imperial court, the great clans, and the local magnates to pieces.
“The world calls us Yellow Turban bandits. That is the greatest slander against our Way of Great Peace.”
Zhang Jing’s face flushed red as he gritted his teeth.
“We worship the Yellow Heaven. We believe in Great Peace. We seek to build a world free from oppression and exploitation.”
“The yellow headscarf is merely a piece of cloth used to distinguish friend from foe. It is not the banner under which our army truly marches.”
“The Yellow Turbans are rejected by the world.”
“But that rejection stems from the world’s prejudice against the Way of Great Peace.”
“The people of the world are ignorant and numb. We cannot make everyone understand us.”
“Therefore, from this day forward—”
At this point, Zhang Jing’s eyes flashed with ferocity as he shouted:
“Our army shall bear a new name: the Qihuo Army—the Army of Survival!”
“Our banner shall be yellow with a black character upon it, adorned with the rice and powder patterns of the Twelve Imperial Ornaments.”
“From this day onward, all followers of the Way of Great Peace shall enter the ranks of the Qihuo Army.”
“The Liu family’s empire, the great clans, and the local magnates refuse to tolerate us. They leave us no path to live.”
“Then we shall fight for our own survival.”
“If they deny us food—”
“Then we will kill them and seize back the grain that rightfully belongs to us.”
“We will use it to save our families and our brothers.”
“Are you willing to follow me and carve out a road to survival for the suffering common people of this world?”
“Kill! Kill! Kill! We are willing to die for our lord!”
“We shall give our lives without hesitation!”
“…”
The Yellow Turban commanders—including Cheng Yu—were all moved by Zhang Jing’s words.
One after another, they bowed and saluted him.
The two words “Qihuo” (Seeking Survival)
were like a mountain.
They crushed whatever lingering illusions remained in their hearts.
The tragic grandeur of that name filled them with the desire to cut their way through this age of chaos.
“Rise, all of you.”
Zhang Jing likewise returned their salute.
“I, Zhang Yuheng, am willing to endure these hardships alongside you. Together, we shall fight our way through blood and fire and create a flourishing age beneath the Yellow Heaven.”
“Report!”
At that moment, a young officer hurried into the hall and respectfully cupped his fists.
“Reporting to the Qu Shuai! A fast rider has arrived from Feicheng. An envoy from the Office of the Governor of Yan Province has come seeking an audience and has delivered five thousand shi of grain supplies.”
“Who is the envoy?”
Zhang Jing was slightly startled.
At a time like this, Cao Cao suddenly sending grain had completely disrupted the flow of his emotions.
Fortunately, he reacted quickly enough to avoid showing any awkwardness.
The other officers including Cheng Yu all turned toward the messenger.
Their eyes were bloodshot, each of them looking like a ferocious beast ready to pounce on prey at any moment.
“It’s… it’s…”
The young officer swallowed nervously under their collective gaze.
“The visitor claims to be a Military Sima from the Governor of Yan Province’s office.”
“His name is… Xun… Xun Yu.”
The young officer had never witnessed such a scene before.
Under the bloodshot gazes of the assembled commanders, he was so frightened that his speech became halting, his body trembling slightly as his mind nearly froze.
“Xun Yu?”
Zhang Jing’s eyes immediately lit up.
He then glanced toward Cheng Yu and found the latter looking back at him as well.
Clearly, Cheng Yu also understood that this visitor was no ordinary man.
“When he arrives at Lu City, escort him to the side hall.”
“I will meet him shortly thereafter.”
“Until then, do not allow him to leave.”
“Yes, sir!”
The young officer felt as though he had been granted a pardon.
After cupping his fists in salute, he hurriedly fled the hall.
“Sima Ju.”
Zhang Jing gave another order.
“After this meeting, organize men to prepare the banner of the Qihuo Army. At the Hour of the Yin tomorrow morning, the army will march on Wuyan.” *3:00 AM to 5:00 AM
“Your subordinate obeys!”
Sima Ju stepped forward and respectfully accepted the command.
“Xu He, Wang Du!”
After Sima Ju departed, Zhang Jing turned toward the other two commanders and asked:
“How many trebuchets do we currently possess?”
Xu He was an old Yellow Turban Qu Shuai.
Wang Du, meanwhile, came from a humble scholarly background.
Formerly a deputy magistrate of Dong’e County, he had joined the Yellow Turban uprising and was one of the few truly educated men among their ranks.
Ever since Zhang Jing had successfully tested the stone-throwing machines, their production had been entrusted to these two men.
“Reporting to my lord.”
Xu He exchanged a glance with Wang Du.
The latter stepped forward, his face filled with excitement.
“Since Your Lordship completed the design of the trebuchet, the two of us have gathered two thousand craftsmen, assisted by ten thousand soldiers.”
“At present, we have already completed more than one thousand eight hundred trebuchets.”
“They can be dismantled for transport when necessary.”
“By tomorrow, the total number may exceed two thousand four hundred.”
“With such weapons in our hands, taking cities and breaking enemy camps will be as easy as reaching into a bag and retrieving an object.”
“Excellent.”
Zhang Jing nodded slightly.
As expected, having a population of over a million under his control made all the difference.
Among so many people, there would always be skilled craftsmen and capable workers.
He continued:
“After this council concludes, assign eight hundred trebuchets to accompany the army.”
“Xu He will take charge.”
“Lead thirty thousand troops, carrying two days’ worth of provisions, and proceed immediately to Feicheng.”
“Establish a military camp in Zhang County.”
“We obey!”
Xu He and Wang Du respectfully cupped their fists and accepted the order.
Lu County was only seventy li from Zhang County and about one hundred thirty li from Wuyan, where Cao Cao’s forces were stationed.
Even considering the weight of the trebuchets, the march would take no more than three days.
Zhang Jing continued:
“There is one more matter that I ask all of you to convey throughout the army.”
“If we emerge victorious from this campaign—”
“All civilians and soldiers under our rule, regardless of age, whether orphaned, widowed, or alone, shall receive ten mu of fertile farmland per person.”
“No harsh taxes shall be collected.”
“Poll taxes, property taxes, head taxes, and all similar levies shall be abolished.”
“Furthermore, we will provide housing for the people who follow us…”
The battle had not even begun yet.
But promises had to be made.
Only by giving the people hope and uniting everyone with a common purpose could their loyalty and morale remain stable.
“The Qin and Han dynasties had their village elders and local administrators.”
“We shall have our own as well.”
“Once this campaign is won, veteran soldiers from the army may take up local offices.”
“They may serve as squad leaders, village elders, village chiefs, community elders, pavilion chiefs, and other officials.”
“With land to farm and property to call their own, they will finally have a secure future.”
“My lord is wise!”
At these words, Cheng Yu quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply.
His understanding of Zhang Jing had deepened yet again.
“My lord is wise!”
The assembled commanders’ eyes shone with excitement as they saluted in unison.
Secretly, they could not help but think:
The young lord truly was different from the old lord.
The old lord had never possessed any method of governing and pacifying the people.
All he could do was lead them from place to place, living through plunder and raids.
— The end of the Chapter–
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