The night was as dark as ink.
Zhang Xin stood on the city wall, gazing at the long fiery dragon in the distance.
The torches were not in disarray, indicating that they had not yet encountered the Han ambush.
Five li, ten li, fifteen li...
Zhang Xin breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Just as he calculated, the Han indeed set their ambush fifteen li away, which would significantly increase the plan's success rate.
However, upon reflection, Lower Quyang was surrounded by rivers on its east, south, and north sides, with only one official road to the west, so there was no need to set the ambush too close.
This vicinity was a vast, flat Plain, and if the ambush was set too close, the Yellow Turbans might discover it and escape back into the city, rendering all efforts futile.
At the Yin hour , Zhang Niujiao sent people to deliver thirty pre-built rafts.
Zhang Xin looked up at the time and said to the soldier who delivered the rafts, “Tell Zhang Niujiao that as soon as he sees fire from the East Gate, he should immediately lead his troops across the river! At the same time, order Hu Cai to lead five hundred men to ambush outside the North Gate. If the Han attack, they should make a lot of noise to act as a diversion and startle them.”
“If the Han do not leave, have him hold them off. If the Han leave, there’s no need to pursue; just cross the river as quickly as possible.”
“Understood,” the soldier replied.
Zhang Xin returned to the city wall and saw a distortion at the front of the fiery dragon, realizing that Zhang Bao had already encountered the Han ambush.
“It’s about to begin! Second Uncle, you must hold out a little longer...”
Han North Camp.
Zou Jing received Huangfu Song’s military order and sent someone to summon Liu Bei.
Before long, Liu Bei entered the large tent, saluting, “May I ask why the Colonel summoned me late at night?”
Zou Jing’s official title was Colonel Who Breaks the Captives. He was originally in Eastern Liaoning resisting the Hu. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he led his own troops to suppress the Yellow Turbans in Youzhou.
When he arrived in Zhuo Commandery, Liu Bei happened to form an army of volunteers and came to pledge allegiance, so Zou Jing took him under his command.
“Xuan De has arrived.” Zou Jing relayed Huangfu Song’s order. “I am ordered to attack. The camp cannot be left unguarded. You are to lead a thousand troops to guard the main camp.”
“Colonel,” Liu Bei hesitated, “Since I started following the Colonel, I have not achieved any merit, shaming the country. Now that the rebels’ end is near, I wish to accompany the General to suppress the rebels and contribute my meager strength.”
The soldiers under Liu Bei were temporarily recruited volunteers, essentially militia, with low combat effectiveness. Therefore, during the campaign against the Yellow Turbans, Zou Jing rarely used him.
Saying he achieved no merit was an exaggeration, but it was true that he didn't have many achievements.
It wasn’t until the fifth year of Zhongping that Liu Bei, due to his participation in suppressing Zhang Chun’s rebellion, accumulated enough merit to be promoted to the Anxi County Magistrate, a position worth two hundred piculs of grain.
From this, one could tell that he didn't gain much from the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
Now, seeing that Zhang Bao was about to be defeated, Liu Bei also grew anxious.
If he didn't fight now, there would be nothing to gain!
“Xuan De, there’s no need to worry. You only need to guard the main camp, which is also a merit.”
Zou Jing smiled slightly, politely declining Liu Bei’s suggestion.
Normally, he would certainly not feel at ease leaving Liu Bei to guard the main camp, but this time was different; Zhang Bao had already led all the Yellow Turbans out of the city.
This meant that Lower Quyang was now an empty city.
If not for Huangfu Song's caution, requiring him to leave a portion of his troops to guard the camp, he would have even wanted to take all five thousand soldiers from the camp out.
Could another Yellow Turban army possibly emerge from the city?
Since someone had to stay behind, he might as well leave it to Liu Bei, this half-baked amateur. Zou Jing certainly intended for his own people to claim the merit of this final battle.
“Since that is the case...” Liu Bei was still unwilling to give up and added, “I have two brave warriors under my command, named Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, both exceptionally strong. Night battles are dangerous; how about letting them both accompany the Colonel as guards?”
Do I not have personal guards? Do I need your retainers to protect me?
Zou Jing rolled his eyes mentally.
He understood Liu Bei’s intentions; it was nothing more than wanting his retainers to gain some merit. If his subordinates earned merit, Liu Bei, as their superior, would naturally also receive credit.
However, to be honest, he quite liked Liu Bei and considered him a talented individual who also spoke well.
It was just two retainers; how much military merit could they earn? Letting them tag along to gain some experience wasn’t a big deal.
“Alright,” Zou Jing nodded, “Just have them come over later.”
“I thank the Colonel greatly.” Liu Bei was overjoyed. He accepted Zou Jing’s order and returned to his camp.
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood guard at the entrance. Seeing Liu Bei return, they quickly went to meet him.
“Lord Liu, how was it?” Guan Yu asked, “Did the Colonel summon you late at night because there’s a battle?”
Liu Bei nodded, “The rebel army abandoned the city and fled. The Colonel is attacking and ordered me to guard the camp.”
“Just guarding the camp?” The two couldn't help but feel a little disappointed upon hearing this.
The reason they joined the volunteer army was to earn a reputation through military merit.
But ever since they started following Zou Jing to suppress the rebels, in every battle, their main task was usually to lead troops on the side, merely to boost morale.
Now, with the war seemingly about to end, their final task was still to guard the damn camp.
Liu Bei smiled at their reaction, “Before leaving, I recommended you two to the Colonel. You can follow the Colonel out of the camp to kill the rebels.”
“Really?” Zhang Fei was overjoyed upon hearing this. “That’s great! I haven’t fought in so long; my spear is already thirsting for action!”
“Thank you, Lord Liu, for the recommendation! Haha... Thank you, Lord Liu!”
Zhang Fei laughed like an idiot.
Guan Yu mused, “If we two go out to battle, who will protect Lord Liu’s safety? Why not let Yide stay behind? Mere Yellow Turban moth-rebels, I alone am enough.”
“How can that be?” Zhang Fei immediately became displeased upon hearing this. “I’ve waited so long for this one chance to go into battle and kill the enemy! Lord Liu is in the main camp with a thousand soldiers; what danger could there be? Does Yun Chang not wish for me to gain merit?”
“Yide has a point.” Liu Bei nodded, “Lower Quyang is now an empty city, Yun Chang, there’s no need to worry. Just go into battle and kill the enemy.”
Guan Yu thought about it and agreed that what the two said was true, so he nodded in assent.
After Zou Jing left the camp, Liu Bei returned to his tent. After some thought, he strapped on his waist-saber and took a few retainers to patrol the camp.
Although Lower Quyang was now an empty city, he still had to maintain appearances.
Though he came from humble origins, he had great ambitions since childhood. However, limited by his background, he had always been unsuccessful.
Now that he had finally encountered the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he had to seize every opportunity to prove himself and gain the appreciation of influential people.
It wasn’t until the Mao time that drowsiness overcame him, and Liu Bei finally returned to his tent.
He hadn't even settled down when a soldier suddenly reported that Lower Quyang city was on fire.
Liu Bei’s body trembled upon hearing this. He quickly followed the soldier to the watchtower.
Indeed, flames soared into the sky in the direction of Lower Quyang.
“Could there still be rebel troops in the city?” Liu Bei exclaimed in alarm, “Quick, send a few people to see what’s going on!”
Before long, a few retainers, covered in blood, returned to the camp.
“Lord Liu, the Yellow Turbans have crossed the river!”