Chapter Sixty-Three: Strategies to Defeat the Enemy

Watching Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi, each taking turns to cajole Zhu Jun out of the room, Xu Kang could not help but force a reluctant smile.

“Um... Master, Uncle, are we really doing the right thing? I think it would be better to explain everything to General Zhu, and then I could apologize to him…”

“No, absolutely not!”

Before Xu Kang could finish, Huangfu Song waved his hand dismissively. “Zhu Gongwei is stubborn and unyielding. If you’re honest with him, it will only lead to endless trouble. It’s best not to tell him!”

“Yes, Yizhen is quite right!” Lu Zhi nodded in agreement.

Seeing both elders so resolute, Xu Kang felt unable to argue further. After picking up the spear Zhu Jun had thrown to the ground and setting it aside, he turned to Lu Zhi and asked, “Master, you patrolled the city today to investigate the Yellow Turbans—did you discover anything?”

Lu Zhi sighed and shook his head.

Xu Kang then looked to Huangfu Song. “And you, Uncle? Have you devised any strategy to defeat the enemy?”

“No,” Huangfu Song shook his head as well. “The Yellow Turbans are strong, their numbers outnumber us a hundredfold. Holding our position is already difficult—how could we hope for victory? All we can do is wait for reinforcements from the court.”

Hearing this, Xu Kang frowned deeply.

According to his memory, Huangfu Song had famously defeated the Yellow Turbans with a fire attack—a battle where the few bested the many, not one reliant on reinforcements.

Thinking quickly, he ventured, “Uncle, it’s summer now, the grass and trees are lush. Zhang Jiao’s main force is camping amidst the fields, their discipline is lax. Could a fire attack work?”

“Fire attack?” Huangfu Song’s eyes brightened at first, but then he shook his head.

“No, Zhang Jiao’s camp stretches for several miles. Even if we set fire, at best we would burn the outskirts. It would not cripple their strength, and might only alert them to danger—unless…”

“Unless what?” Xu Kang pressed.

“Unless a strong north wind blows!”

At this, Huangfu Song’s eyes sparkled anew. “The Yellow Turbans’ camp is to the south. If a great north wind were to come, the wind would feed the flames, and the fire would sweep from north to south for miles overnight. The Yellow Turbans would be caught off guard, and I could lead the troops to attack amid the chaos—a single battle to break them!”

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Hearing Huangfu Song’s words, Lu Zhi nodded in approval, but then shook his head in resignation.

“Yizhen’s plan is excellent, but it’s late spring turning to summer—where would we find a north wind? Let alone one that blows all night!”

“Yes, alas!” Both men sighed again.

Xu Kang quickly tried to comfort them. “Master, Uncle, don’t worry! Even if there’s no north wind, surely there’s a south wind. Couldn’t we set fire from behind the Yellow Turbans?”

“Yide, you’re joking again!” Huangfu Song gave a bitter smile. “Now the Yellow Turbans surround us tightly. Breaking through in any direction is nearly impossible—how could we reach the rear of their camp to set fire? If we tried, we’d be dead at their hands before the south wind even arrived.”

Xu Kang: “…”

Damn, it really had to be a north wind.

But as Lu Zhi had said, it was summer. Usually there were only south winds, and even if a north wind did come, it wouldn’t last all night.

“Could history be wrong?”

The thought surfaced, but Xu Kang dismissed it. History, unless it involved imperial disgrace, was generally reliable. Moreover, it wasn’t recorded by just one person, and later historians weren’t fools—most accounts could be trusted.

“History records Huangfu Song breaking the Yellow Turbans in midsummer, taking advantage of a great wind to set the fire—this couldn’t be fabricated. And who says summer never brings a strong north wind? It’s precisely the unexpected that proves effective!”

With this in mind, Xu Kang’s lips curled into a smile.

Noticing this, Lu Zhi’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. He quickly asked, “Yide, you’re smiling—could it be you’ve thought of a way to defeat the enemy? Quickly, tell us!”

“Hehehehe!”

Xu Kang laughed, shaking his head. “Master, you overestimate me. I have no brilliant plan, but I do know that the north wind Uncle needs will certainly come. When it does, his strategy will surely succeed!”

“What?” At his words, both Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song exclaimed in surprise.

Especially Huangfu Song, who was so excited he grasped Xu Kang’s shoulders with both hands. “Yide, do you possess not only the art of transformation, but also the power to summon wind and rain? That’s wonderful!”

---

“Uh…”

Seeing Huangfu Song’s excitement and joy, Xu Kang realized that saying “I guessed” would never work—it was not believable and would dampen their spirits.

Using the excuse of observing the stars would be better, but Xu Kang knew nothing of astrology, and pretending could easily backfire.

Admitting he could summon wind and rain was also out of the question, for he only knew from history that a north wind would come in the fifth lunar month’s midsummer, but not exactly which day.

After some thought, he decided to imitate Zhuge Liang’s famous ritual for summoning the east wind. He saluted Huangfu Song respectfully.

“I would not dare deceive you, Uncle. I cannot summon wind and rain—but I can ascend the altar, perform the rites, and beseech Heaven for this north wind!”

“What? That’s wonderful!”

At his words, Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song grew elated, immediately launching into an excited discussion of the details of the fire attack, with not a hint of doubt in Xu Kang’s claim.

This trust moved Xu Kang deeply.

“I’d planned to win effortlessly, but Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song treat me with such sincerity—I cannot let them down. I must do my best!”

With this thought, he listened attentively to their discussion, and when they finished, he humbly asked how he should cooperate with them.

At this, Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha, Yide, you need not worry about cooperating with us. Just bring the north wind!”

“Yes, once the wind comes, the fire will be as mighty as a thousand troops. Yide, leave the rest to us—if you bring the wind, you’ll deserve the highest merit!”

Xu Kang: “Uh…”

Damn, are they forcing me to win effortlessly?

Since both men were so adamant, Xu Kang could not refuse. He once again saluted them.

“In that case, leave the matter of the wind to me, and the battle to you, Master and Uncle!”

“Haha, as it should be!” At his words, Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song laughed heartily.