Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Ever-Changing Battlefield

For a moment, Cao Cao was stunned by Xu Kang's sudden enthusiasm. He hesitated for several seconds before asking uncertainly, “General Xu, do you mean… you wish to become sworn brothers with me? But… why?”

Xu Kang burst into laughter, throwing an arm around Cao Cao’s shoulders in an easy familiarity. “Ah, there’s no need for so many whys. I simply find you agreeable! When I make friends, I don’t care about their background or rank—just whether we get along. Fate brought us together in such circumstances, and my courtesy name is Yide, yours is Mengde—is that not destiny? Unless you think I’m after your money?”

Cao Cao: “…”

He might be!

The thought made Cao Cao’s face twitch, but he said nothing, eyes narrowing in suspicion. Seeing his expression, Xu Kang immediately understood that this man was deeply mistrustful, and realized that whatever he said now would only make Cao Cao suspect ulterior motives.

“Old Cao is too wary—any further insistence will only backfire!”

With that in mind, Xu Kang released Cao Cao, took the wine cup from his hand, and drained it in one gulp, laughing loudly again. “Ha! That was bold of me—consider this cup a penalty for my rashness. Here, your cup!”

He returned the empty vessel to Cao Cao, then turned back to his own seat, raising a toast to Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song and the others.

Cao Cao watched, bewildered. “What did he mean by all that?”

Before he could puzzle it out, Huangfu Song across the table burst out laughing. “Ha! Mengde, you missed a golden opportunity! My nephew here, when he was young, studied under Scholar Cai, then learned the ways of immortals on Mount Penglai—he can create something from nothing, and is versed in transformation. He is a disciple of the immortals!”

“Create something from nothing? Transformation? Disciple of the immortals?”

Cao Cao was stunned by this revelation. He turned to Xu Kang, who was smiling and drinking, neither confirming nor denying the claim. Then he looked at Lu Zhi and Zhu Yi, who were also smiling, but their eyes held a peculiar amusement, as if he had missed out on something precious.

Before he could untangle it, Xu Kang finished his wine and spoke cheerfully. “Enough, uncle, don’t overpraise me, or Mengde will tease. Let’s discuss our next steps. What are your plans?”

Upon hearing Xu Kang’s inquiry about military matters, Huangfu Song put down his cup and smiled.

“We have crushed the Yellow Turbans, slain tens of thousands of their forces—a great victory. Next, we must press our advantage, pursue the remnants, and wipe them out completely!”

“Indeed!” Zhu Yi nodded in agreement. “The Yellow Turbans are scattered, but Zhang Jiao still lives, and Bo Cai, Zhang Mancheng, and Bu Yi are still stirring. We must split our forces and pursue them, eliminating future threats!”

Everyone nodded at his strategy, and they began to discuss how to divide their troops.

After deliberation, they decided to split into two armies. The first, led by Lu Zhi, Cao Cao, and Xu Kang, would pursue Zhang Jiao’s main force. The second, led by Huangfu Song and Zhu Yi, would chase Bo Cai and attack the Yellow Turbans in Chenliu and Runan.

With the plan set, everyone retired to rest, sending orders to prepare supplies and equipment. Once ready, they would each lead their troops against the Yellow Turbans.

The Yellow Turbans, reeling from defeat and shaken in faith, had low morale, while the Han army’s spirits soared from their victory. The contrast was stark, and the pursuit was smooth and relentless.

Just after June, good news arrived from Nanyang: the Prefect Qin Xie had slain Zhang Mancheng, and the remaining Yellow Turbans had seized Wan City.

With their rear secure, Huangfu Song and Zhu Yi focused on pursuing Bo Cai, finally defeating him at Yangzhai and clearing the Yellow Turbans from the region.

Lu Zhi’s campaign was equally successful. With Xu Kang’s heavy cavalry—a moving fortress—the Han army advanced steadily, and the Yellow Turbans retreated at every turn. Not even Zhang Jiao could change the tide; after Lu Zhi slew more than ten thousand, Zhang Jiao withdrew to defend Guangzong.

Zhang Jiao’s withdrawal led Lu Zhi to construct barricades, dig trenches, and build siege ladders. Once complete, Zhang Jiao would be trapped with no way out.

Xu Kang’s troops, mainly cavalry, were not suited for siege warfare, so Lu Zhi ordered him north to Dongjun to pursue Bu Yi’s Yellow Turbans, then to return to Changshe.

Xu Kang obeyed, and in just over ten days reached Dongjun, captured Bu Yi in a single battle, and after more than half a month, escorted seven thousand prisoners back to Changshe.

He expected Lu Zhi to have already defeated Zhang Jiao and prepared a victory feast, but to his surprise, upon returning, he learned that Lu Zhi had been taken to the capital in a prison cart.

Stunned by the news—victory within reach, only for this to happen—Xu Kang wondered if Emperor Ling was ill in the head.

Cao Cao explained: while Lu Zhi was preparing siege equipment, the eunuch Zuo Feng arrived to inspect the army on Emperor Ling’s behalf. As was customary, the eunuch expected a bribe. Had Lu Zhi given him something, Zuo Feng would have exaggerated his merits.

Xu Kang, had it been him, would have paid; after all, money spent can always be earned again, and in a few years, it would all be worthless anyway.

But Lu Zhi refused, and that sealed his fate. Zuo Feng, denied his bribe, returned and accused Lu Zhi of incompetence, claiming that Guangzong could have been taken in days, but Lu Zhi was delaying.

Emperor Ling, lacking any resolve, believed Zuo Feng and grew furious, ordering Lu Zhi shackled and brought to the capital, and appointing Dong Zhuo to replace him and continue the assault on Zhang Jiao.

Not only Lu Zhi, but even Huangfu Song was dismissed for alleged poor performance.

By the time Xu Kang learned this, Cao Cao had already withdrawn, clearly unwilling to serve alongside Dong Zhuo, and advised Xu Kang to do the same.

That was obvious. With Lu Zhi imprisoned in Luoyang and Huangfu Song dismissed, Xu Kang was already displeased. Not aiding the Yellow Turbans was already generous; helping Dong Zhuo was out of the question.

Still, he wouldn’t hand anyone a weapon against him. As Zhu Yi was attacking the Yellow Turbans at Wan City in Nanyang, Xu Kang took his men there, nominally to assist, but in reality to do as little as possible.

Zhu Yi was not happy about Xu Kang’s lack of effort, but remembering Lu Zhi’s fate, he said nothing, pretending not to notice.

The Yellow Turbans in Wan City numbered a hundred thousand—an undisciplined rabble, but their numbers made the city hard to take.

Another month passed, and the siege made no progress.

Of course, what Zhu Yi considered “no progress” was actually significant progress for Xu Kang.

Think about it: if Wan City fell quickly, wouldn’t that suggest Lu Zhi really was dragging his feet at Guangzong? But now, after two months with no success, perhaps Guangzong was even harder to conquer.

As Xu Kang rejoiced at finding a way to vindicate Lu Zhi, even better news reached him—

The court’s new commanders against Zhang Jiao, Zhang Wen and Dong Zhuo, had both failed, and Huangfu Song was reinstated!

Hearing this, Xu Kang became invigorated.

“The opportunity has come!”