“Boom!”
Outside the eastern gate of Lu City, a thunderous crash rang out as two soldiers released the ropes securing the trebuchet’s beam.
The machine immediately sprang into motion.
The counterweight end of the beam plummeted downward at tremendous speed, causing the long throwing arm to rise sharply into the air.
Attached to the tip of the arm were two ropes.
At the other ends of those ropes hung a massive sling.
Resting within the sling was a stone projectile weighing roughly one shi.
As the sling raced free of its guide track, it was hurled skyward.
Whoosh!
When the throwing arm reached its highest point, one of the ropes detached instantly.
Freed from all restraint, the stone shot from the sling and traced a beautiful arc across the night sky.
Boom!
Only after flying more than two hundred paces did the projectile smash into the earth.
The impact was so violent that even Zhang Jing and the others, standing over two hundred paces away, could clearly feel the tremor.
“My lord.”
A moment later, Wang Du approached Zhang Jing, his face filled with excitement.
“According to the brothers who measured the shot, the stone landed only three paces from the target.”
“Well done.”
Zhang Jing nodded in approval.
“The accuracy of a trebuchet is affected by the counterweight, the length of the beam, and the weight of the projectile.”
“With enough testing and adjustments, even if we cannot achieve perfect accuracy, bringing down city walls and shattering fortress gates will be no difficult task.”
“From this day forward, the construction of trebuchets and the training of our siege crews shall depend upon General Wang.”
Overjoyed, Wang Du immediately saluted.
“This subordinate will not disappoint Your Lordship.”
To men of the age, Han catapults were considered valuable military assets.
The soldiers who operated them enjoyed considerable status within an army.
During sieges, they did not have to charge into the thick of combat.
Instead, if the enemy attempted to destroy the siege engines, the rest of the army would be tasked with protecting them.
As the officer responsible for the trebuchet corps, Wang Du could see no reason not to regard the position as a highly desirable assignment.
“With such a divine weapon at your disposal, my lord, great things can surely be accomplished.”
At this moment, Cheng Yu spoke up as well.
“However, this technology must never be allowed to spread.”
“In my opinion, all craftsmen involved in constructing these trebuchets should be placed under strict supervision.”
“Otherwise, the consequences could be disastrous.”
As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward the distant craftsmen, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
“There’s no need for such measures, Zhongde.”
Zhang Jing replied:
“Once we defeat Cao Cao’s forces, seize the grain stores of the great clans, and secure several commanderies of Yan Province, we shall use the army to stabilize the people and repair the cities and fortifications.”
“All civilians living outside the city walls will be relocated within them.”
“I would rather abandon fertile farmland than allow the people to suffer the ravages of war.”
“My lord is benevolent.”
After hearing this, Cheng Yu immediately grasped Zhang Jing’s reasoning.
“However, there is still much fertile land outside the city walls.”
“I believe we could establish military colonies there.”
“An excellent suggestion, Zhongde.”
Zhang Jing also found the proposal reasonable.
Leaving those fertile fields unused would be wasteful.
If military colonies were established instead, there would be no need to worry about rival warlords raiding them.
After all, Zhang Jing firmly believed in preserving people even at the cost of territory.
Besides, even if he somehow conquered all of Yan Province now, he lacked the strength to defend it.
…………
First Day of the Twelfth Month, Hour of Chen. *7:00 AM to 9:00 AM
Wuyan, capital of Dongping Kingdom, Yan Province
“Zilian.”
Today, Cao Cao had no heart for official business.
Standing atop the city walls, he asked:
“Has there been any word from Wenruo?”
Ever since Xun Yu had left the city the previous day, an uneasy feeling had lingered in Cao Cao’s heart.
At first he thought it was merely anxiety born of hope and fear.
But now, with no news whatsoever having returned, that unease had become outright alarm.
Lu County was only a little over one hundred li from Wuyan.
A lone rider could cover the distance in mere hours.
Even accounting for delays caused by transporting grain through snow-covered roads, there was no reason that no message should have arrived by now.
“My lord, you’ve already asked five times today.”
Cao Hong looked helpless.
“I’ve already dispatched all two hundred scouts.”
“So far, none have returned with any news.”
“Please wait a little longer.”
“With this ice and snow, it’s only natural that unexpected delays might occur along the road.”
“Then we shall wait a little longer.”
Cao Cao’s expression remained grave.
A trace of determination flashed through his eyes as he said quietly:
“If there is still no word from Wenruo by sunset—”
“I shall personally lead the army.”
“Even if I must crush the Yellow Turbans beneath our feet, I will bring Wenruo back.”
The assembled generals surrounding Cao Cao felt their hearts tighten.
Yet not one of them dared to offer advice.
Because every one of them knew exactly how important Xun Yu was to their lord.
Clop… clop… clop…
At that moment, the sound of galloping horses approached from the distance.
Cao Hong looked up and immediately shouted:
“My lord!”
“The scouts have returned!”
“I’ll go at once and inquire about Mister Wenruo’s situation!”
“No need.”
Cao Cao’s gaze hardened slightly.
He waved his hand and said through gritted teeth, “Bring the scouts up. Order the officers of each unit: the army is to prepare for battle!”
“My lord?”
Hearing this, the assembled generals were taken aback.
They looked at Cao Cao with puzzled expressions.
“Generals, prepare for battle!”
At his side, Chen Gong had also noticed something was wrong with the scouts and explained, “If Lord Wenruo were safe, the scouts would not be in such a panic. From this, it is clear some incident must have occurred among the Yellow Turbans.”
“We receive your command!”
Only then did the generals grasp the situation.
Swallowing hard, they all cupped their fists respectfully and acknowledged the order.
“I hope I am mistaken!”
Once the generals had departed, Cao Cao finally spoke, “I only pray that Wenruo’s good fortune protects him. Otherwise my heart will know no peace.”
“My lord, set your mind at ease.”
Chen Gong thought for a moment and replied, “Lord Wenruo is a renowned scholar of the realm. Even in the worst case, his life would not be in danger. Otherwise, the Yellow Turbans would be cutting themselves off from the entire world.”
That was what he said.
And Chen Gong himself truly believed it.
Did they not recall how, when the great Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan returned to his hometown, thousands of Yellow Turbans saluted him and cleared the road?
A famous scholar was not someone to be killed lightly.
“Let it be as you say, Gongtai.”
Hearing this, Cao Cao felt somewhat reassured.
He nodded, accepting Chen Gong’s reasoning, though he privately disdained the argument.
Still, in Cao Cao’s view, No one in the world but he, Cao Cao, would dare to kill a renowned scholar without cause.
A long while later.
After listening to the scouts’ report, Cao Cao’s heart sank to the bottom of the valley.
Yet he still clung to a sliver of hope and asked, “Did you discover any trace of Military Advisor Xun?”
“We did not!”
The scout commander shook his head.
“Twenty li outside Feicheng, we spotted large numbers of Yellow Turbans hauling huge logs toward the administrative seat. Their numbers were no fewer than fifty thousand. We dared not linger, and rode back at once to report.”
In truth, he did not know how many Yellow Turbans there really were.
He had simply seen that there were a great many, so he reported the higher number.
After all, the Yellow Turbans were always numerous.
“Zhang Yuheng!”
Cao Cao’s expression turned grim.
He clenched his fist and said, “What an ungrateful traitor! If anything has happened to Wenruo, I would eat his flesh alive and still not quell my hatred!”
He, Cao Cao, never imagined that these Yellow Turbans, like trapped beasts, would give him such a nasty surprise.
Not only had they cost him five thousand shi of grain, they had also taken his Zifang from him.
To Cao Cao, this was the deepest shame.
He could already picture it: if word of this blunder reached the other feudal lords, they would laugh themselves to death.
— The end of the Chapter–
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