Although a million coins was not a small sum for him, sitting in the position of a Great General, there were countless ways to acquire money, so this amount was not a problem.
The most important thing was Liu Jin's attitude; he had already expressed his willingness to pledge allegiance and follow his lead.
Given this, he could certainly make good use of this young man.
Two days later, Wei Commandery.
After several days of assault, the Han Army finally breached the city of Ye City. The Yellow Turban Army inside the city was either killed or captured.
Bodies lay on both sides of the streets, and blood flowed like rivers.
The Han Army was currently clearing the battlefield, removing bodies, and guarding all the captives.
Lu Zhi, clad in armor, rode a tall horse, slowly entering the city, surrounded by his Generals.
Seeing the numerous bodies around him, a hint of pity appeared in his eyes, and he couldn't help but sigh!
"It's a pity they were all good people, but they turned to banditry, leading to chaos in the world, and both common people and soldiers have suffered heavy casualties."
Zong Yuan, the Biebu Sima beside him, heard this and looked at the tragic scene around them. He didn't feel sorry for these people; since they turned to banditry, they deserved to die.
However, he did not voice these thoughts. Lu Zhi, after all, was a great scholar of his time and had to maintain his reputation.
Compared to Generals like them who had spent years on the battlefield, he indeed possessed a benevolent heart, but that was all.
If he were truly soft-hearted, he would not have become the commander of this army.
After a moment of lament, Lu Zhi quickly returned to normal.
As a Central Protector-General, commanding tens of thousands of the court's troops, his primary task was to pacify the northern Yellow Turban to be worthy of the court and the common people of the world.
Immediately, he loudly ordered the Generals behind him!
"Upon entering the city, pacify the populace and maintain order. Anyone who dares to disturb the people will be executed without mercy!"
The Generals behind him heard this, quickly bowed, and saluted!
"Understood!"
Naturally, they dared not underestimate this military order. They knew that their commander detested rogue soldiers who disturbed the populace, and would execute them without mercy if caught.
After giving his orders, Lu Zhi prepared to brandish his riding crop and lead everyone onward.
Just then, a fast horse galloped towards them. Before the rider arrived, his voice carried ahead!
"Report!"
Lu Zhi, who was about to leave, paused and looked in the direction of the voice.
The messenger was coming towards them. He immediately dismounted and bowed, saying!
"Reporting to the General, Biebu Sima Liu Jin has sent a battle report!"
Lu Zhi, still on his horse, heard this and was stunned for a moment.
He probably couldn't hold off Zhang Liang's 30,000-strong army and was sending a message.
He didn't pay too much attention to this matter. Now that Ye City had been breached and the Yellow Turban inside the city had been eliminated, he was free to act and wasn't concerned about Zhang Liang's 30,000 troops.
If he still dared to continue south, he might be able to command his army to completely annihilate them and achieve a great victory.
He immediately waved his hand, signaling his personal guards to present the letter.
Lu Zhi took it and examined it carefully. After a few glances, his body trembled slightly, and his face showed shock.
The Generals around him saw this, their brows furrowed, and they instantly felt something was amiss.
Something that could cause Lu Zhi to tremble could not be a small matter.
Especially Zong Yuan, the Biebu Sima beside him, had a worried expression on his face.
Could it be that Sima Liu Jin failed to hold off Zhang Liang's army, and they were now heading towards them?
If so, it would be problematic. After all, they had just breached Ye City, and their various units had not yet been reorganized, making it their most vulnerable moment.
If Zhang Liang's army suddenly attacked, they might indeed be caught off guard, causing all their previous efforts to be in vain.
His face showed anger. Sure enough, one couldn't trust Generals of common origin; he couldn't even hold off Zhang Liang's army for ten days.
After finishing the letter, Lu Zhi took a deep breath, a smile on his face, and couldn't help but exclaim!
"Indeed, heroes emerge from the young! With such a person, the Han Dynasty should continue to prosper!"
Everyone around was stunned to hear this, feeling a bit surprised. Could it be good news of a great victory?
Otherwise, why would Lu Zhi praise him so much?
They all seemed impatient, wanting to know the content of that letter, what exactly it was about.
Zong Yuan, rubbing his hands, smiled and said!
"General, could it be good news?"
Lu Zhi nodded slightly, stroking his beard. He didn't hide anything and slowly spoke!
"Liu Wenyi led his troops on a hundred-li surprise attack, ambushing them in the Xiaoping Mountain Valley, annihilating 10,000 Yellow Turban, capturing 20,000, and personally beheading the Yellow Turban leader Zhang Liang. His head has already been sent."
As soon as these words were spoken, the Generals around him burst into an uproar, their eyes wide with disbelief at this fact.
This Liu Jin, with a mere 3,000 troops, managed to annihilate 30,000. Even if that were all, it would be remarkable, but even Zhang Liang, one of the three great Yellow Turban leaders, was killed on the spot. This news was too astonishing.
Zong Yuan, the Biebu Sima, opened his mouth, unsure what to say.
He had initially thought it unreliable to have Liu Jin block Zhang Liang's 30,000-strong army, as they were just a ragtag bunch, no match for the court's elite Han Army.
He never expected that Liu Jin wouldn't just block them, but completely annihilate them.
After a few moments of silence, the Generals around began to whisper among themselves, discussing the news, which truly shook their hearts.
That was an annihilation of 30,000 enemies, and the beheading of Zhang Liang. Either of these military achievements, no matter which one, was an incredible feat, enough to advance him further.
The two combined were even more terrifying. It seemed that Liu Jin, this Biebu Sima, would soon be promoted further.
At least a Thousand-Stone Sima Xu, and if he had support, even ennoblement was possible.
The Generals around him were filled with envy. They had been in the army for so long, yet they were merely Thousand-Stone Sima Xu, and those who did slightly better were only Captains.
As for official positions at the Colonel level, they were considered high-ranking Generals throughout the Han Dynasty.
Lu Zhi looked at the envious expressions of the Generals around him, some even turning into jealousy.
He frowned and said loudly!
"This battle was a victory achieved by Liu Jin and his troops, who burned their bridges and fought bravely."
"If they had lost, the entire army would have been left there. I imagine few would dare to take such a risk, so this is their deserved credit."
"You all need not envy them. As long as you serve well in the army, fight bravely, and eradicate the Yellow Turban rebels, the rewards from the court will naturally not be lacking for you."
Hearing this, the Generals slowly suppressed their envious expressions and gradually returned to normal.
However, only they knew their true thoughts; others could not see through them.
Lu Zhi immediately brandished his riding crop and, surrounded by everyone, headed into the city.
Soon, they arrived at the Ye City government office. After tidying it up, it was designated as Lu Zhi's lodging.