Chapter Fifty-One: Temptation of Profit

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Although Xu Kang didn’t strike Peng Tuo as any sort of good person, Peng Tuo found himself with no better option. The memory of that wrenching, soul-crushing pain still fresh, his will already shattered, words poured out of him like beans tumbling from a bamboo tube—he confessed everything he knew.

“The Great Virtuous Teacher—no, Zhang Jiao is now in Changshe. He’s in charge of all the defenses there, so I know nothing about them. He ordered me to stay here with a hundred thousand men to intercept reinforcements from Chenliu and Xuxian, while he sent Bocai with two hundred thousand to garrison the border between Changshe and Luoyang, blocking reinforcements from Luoyang, Runan, and Shouchun…”

As Peng Tuo spoke, Xu Kang gained a rough understanding of the Yellow Turbans’ external deployments. But knowledge alone didn’t offer him a way to break the enemy.

Xu Kang hadn’t let victory cloud his judgment. True, he had defeated Peng Tuo three times, and the last time he’d managed to capture Peng Tuo’s main camp almost bloodlessly by turning the Yellow Turban soldiers against him. But these victories had relied on two key conditions.

First, Peng Tuo had suffered two defeats, sapping the Yellow Turbans’ morale—already dependent on religious zeal—to nothing and crushing their fighting spirit.

Second, Peng Tuo’s own harsh command had bred resentment among his men, pushing morale even lower.

Because of these two reasons, the Yellow Turban soldiers in the camp had been susceptible to Xu Kang’s efforts; the prisoners he sent in quickly incited a mass defection, so when Peng Tuo woke, he found himself a captive.

But Bocai was a different matter entirely. The fact that he had defeated and besieged Zhu Jun spoke to his high military skill—far beyond a brute like Peng Tuo. And with two hundred thousand men under his command, breaking him would not be easy!

But then, Xu Kang’s goal had never been to defeat Bocai. He simply wanted to lead his troops into Changshe and ride on the coattails of Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song, sharing in the glory.

“After all, Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song are bound to defeat the Yellow Turbans. I don’t need to worry—just link up with them and quietly collect the rewards that come after.”

With that thought, he turned his gaze once more to Peng Tuo, the corners of his lips curving in a sly smile.

“Heh heh heh… Peng Tuo, don’t look so troubled!”

Laughing, he beckoned the crestfallen Peng Tuo over.

“Come, come, let me show you a bright path. If you can safely get us into Changshe and bring me to Lu Zhi or Huangfu Song, all debts between us will be erased. What do you say?”

“Ah?”

Peng Tuo stared at him in disbelief, taking several moments to process the words.

“You mean… if I take you to the Han army, you’ll let me go?”

“Yes, exactly!”

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Seeing Peng Tuo’s shock, Xu Kang grinned and hauled him up from the ground, draping an arm around his shoulders in camaraderie.

“Old Peng, I’m not the evil fiend people think I am—just misunderstood, really. I’m an honest man at heart. I know your circumstances. So not only will I let you go, I’ll even give you some money to help you escape. How’s that?”

“Uh… haha…”

Peng Tuo managed a strained smile and gave a respectful gesture with his hands. “Thank you, young general!”

It was clear he didn’t believe a word Xu Kang said, but fear kept him from objecting.

That wouldn’t do.

Relying on intimidation always left cracks, and while it might suffice in ordinary times, at critical moments such flaws could prove fatal.

Xu Kang disliked leaving loose ends. So, with a wave, he pulled three chests from his backpack, opening them right before Peng Tuo.

Immediately, dazzling gold ingots, gleaming silver, and lustrous pearls spilled out before Peng Tuo’s stunned eyes, leaving him speechless.

“This… this is… this is…”

Seeing his tongue-tied astonishment, Xu Kang flashed a wide grin, grabbed a gold ingot, a handful of pearls, and a pile of silver, and stuffed them all into Peng Tuo’s arms.

Then, with Peng Tuo still dazed, Xu Kang clapped him on the shoulder.

“Old Peng, I told you I’m a man of principles. Think of this as a deposit. There’ll be more when you’ve done your part. But if anything goes awry… heh heh, you know what happens.”

With that, he released Peng Tuo’s neck and tapped it lightly.

The cold touch sent a chill racing down Peng Tuo’s spine—his knees buckled and he collapsed before Xu Kang with a “thud.”

“Young general, rest assured—I, Peng Tuo, swear on my life: nothing will go wrong. If it does, you may take my head as you please!”

His tone was firm and resolute, as if he were a loyal minister accepting a fateful charge.

Yet his hands, clutching the treasure for dear life, betrayed his true nature as a brigand.

But that mattered little to Xu Kang—in fact, it was exactly what he hoped to see.

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Under Peng Tuo’s astonished gaze, Xu Kang once again waved his hand, stowing the three treasure chests back into his backpack. He gave Peng Tuo a bright, approving nod.

“Excellent, Peng Tuo, you truly understand the times. Now, tell me how you’ll get us to Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song.”

“Well…”

Peng Tuo thought for a moment, then broke into a grin.

“Heh, young general, you have nothing to fear. If you and your men don yellow turbans and blend in, I can easily fool Bocai and take you into Changshe. Then I’ll claim I’ve received new orders from the Great Virtuous Teacher—no, from the rebel Zhang Jiao—to attack the Han army. That way, you’ll surely encounter Lu Zhi. What do you think?”

“Well…”

Xu Kang furrowed his brow, pondering for a moment, before nodding with a faint smile.

“Yes, the plan is rather simple and rough, but sometimes the simplest schemes are the least likely to arouse suspicion. We’ll do as you say.”

He gave Peng Tuo another reassuring pat on the shoulder.

“All right, you’ve had a rough few days—get some rest. Once this is over, you can return to the countryside a wealthy man. But until then, you’d best behave, understood?”

“Yes, yes, I understand!” Peng Tuo nodded vigorously, bowing again. “Thank you, young general!”

“Mm.” Xu Kang replied with only a faint acknowledgment, then turned and left the tent.

After he’d gone, Peng Tuo straightened up and sat on his bed, counting the treasures Xu Kang had given him.

He bit into the gold ingot and silver piece to test them, then painstakingly counted the pearls twice. Satisfied, he wrapped them carefully in a silk cloth and tucked them into his robe.

Only then did he lie down, close his eyes, and gradually slip into an even, steady breath.

Though he knew he had been utterly defeated, Peng Tuo—for reasons he couldn’t explain—felt a profound sense of relief. Sleep came swiftly, and that night, he slept more soundly than he had in years.