My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

Central command tent.

Nine oil lamps illuminated the tent brightly. Ji Xuanyuan, wrapped in a fox fur coat, sat in the main seat, his face appearing even paler under the lamplight, but his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.

On the left side of the tent stood the generals: Xiang Yu, Ran Min, Lü Bu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Li Cunxiao, Yang Zaixing, and Dian Wei. The nine valiant generals were imposing. On the right side, Tian Feng and Ju Shou sat upright, with a map of Guangzong's defenses spread out in front of them.

"Zhang Jiao is dead, the news is confirmed." Ji Xuanyuan's cold voice broke the silence in the tent.

"A secret report came from an inside source in the city that Zhang Jiao died of illness three days ago. His confidants kept his death a secret to keep the army's morale stable, but the leaders of various units have already noticed it, and undercurrents are stirring."

He looked at Tian Feng and Ju Shou: "Yuan Hao, Gong Yu, the time has come to break through the city. This battle is entirely in your command."

All the generals in the tent turned their gazes to the two strategists. Although they had received Ji Xuanyuan's order, Tian Feng and Ju Shou had only arranged feigned attacks and harassment in the past few days and had not yet achieved any great feat of breaking through the city. The generals still had some doubts in their hearts.

Tian Feng rose, bowed to Ji Xuanyuan and the generals, and walked to the city defense map. He pointed to the four gates of Guangzong and said in a firm voice, "With Zhang Jiao dead, the 150,000 Yellow Turbans in the city are like headless snakes. However, even a cornered beast will fight. If we launch a strong attack, we fear that the casualties will be heavy. I and the Duke have discussed for three days and decided on the strategy of 'advancing from three directions and breaking through all four gates at the same time'."

He paused, and seeing that the generals were listening intently, he continued: "The first route is a feint attack followed by a real attack. General Guan will lead his own 2,000 troops, together with the 3,000 Northern Army troops assigned by General Lu, to launch a fierce attack on the North Gate. The gatekeeper is Bo Cai, a trusted confidant of Zhang Jiao. If he hears of Zhang Jiao's death, he will be thrown into chaos. General Guan does not need to break down the gate, but only needs to launch a fierce attack to draw away the main force of the enemy."

Guan Yu stroked his beard, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed: "I, Guan, obey your command."

"Second route, inside help opens the city gate." Tian Feng pointed to the east gate.

"General Zilong led five hundred elite soldiers, sneaking under cover of night to the woods three miles outside the East Gate. The spies inside the city had already bribed the guards at the East Gate. At three-quarters past Hai hour, they lit a fire as a signal to open the city gate. If General Zilong saw the fire, he should immediately rush in and take the Yellow Turban central army camp in the city!"

Zhao Yun clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Yes, sir!"

"The third route is the key to breaking through the city." Tian Feng emphasized the west gate. "Generals Zhang, Li, and Yang will lead 1,500 elite troops to lie in ambush outside the west gate. When the battle begins at the north gate and the fire breaks out at the east gate, the defenders at the west gate will have to send troops to reinforce it. At this time, the west gate will be undefended, and the three generals can launch a full-scale attack. It will surely be breached!"

Zhang Fei grinned: "That's more like it!"

Li Cunxiao and Yang Zaixing exchanged a glance, both seeing the fighting spirit in each other's eyes.

Tian Feng then looked at Xiang Yu, Ran Min, and Lü Bu: "General Xiang, General Ran, and General Lü, although the new recruits under your command have only been trained for a short time, they can be of great use. When the enemy army is in chaos after the three routes advance simultaneously, lead your troops to sweep away the fleeing soldiers on the outer perimeter and intercept the fleeing enemy. Remember, capture more prisoners and kill less."

A glint of light flashed in Xiang Yu's double pupils: "Rest assured, sir."

Ju Shou then stood up and added, "There are still four key points to be aware of. First, General Dian Wei is leading two hundred personal guards to protect our lord. He must not be allowed to fail."

Dian Wei thumped his chest, his twin halberds clanging loudly: "Even if I die, I will not let anyone harm a single hair on your head, General!"

"Secondly, the city's granary, armory, and treasury must be occupied immediately after the city is breached."

Ju Shou looked at his generals and said, "The granary is in the east city and will be under the command of General Guan. The armory is in the north city and will be under the command of General Zhang. The treasury is in the west city and will be seized by General Zilong. This is the foundation of our army and cannot be lost."

The generals' expressions tightened, and they all agreed.

"Thirdly," Ju Shou's voice turned cold.

"Capture the leaders of the Yellow Turban tribes if you can, and kill those you cannot capture. However, there are some people who must be captured alive. Although Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao, the three brothers of Zhang Jiao, are not in Guangzong, their confidants must be lurking somewhere. If we can capture these people, we can know the true strength of the Yellow Turbans."

"Fourth, military discipline must be strictly enforced after the city is breached," Tian Feng interjected, his gaze sweeping over the generals.

"No indiscriminate killing of the innocent, no looting of the people! Anyone who disobeys will be executed! Our army is a righteous army, not bandits!"

These words were spoken with great weight, and the generals stood solemnly at attention: "We will obey your orders!"

Ji Xuanyuan listened attentively the whole time, and only then coughed twice before slowly speaking: "Yuan Hao and Gongzhi's strategy can be described as flawless. All generals, obey their orders and act without error."

He paused, looked at Tian Feng and Ju Shou, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes: "If this battle is won, the two gentlemen will deserve the greatest credit."

Tian Feng and Ju Shou bowed and said, "We dare not accept that. We rely entirely on the general's virtue and the soldiers' bravery."

That night, undercurrents surged outside Guangzong City.

At the beginning of Hai hour, outside the North Gate.

Guan Yu stood with his sword drawn, his five thousand soldiers standing silently behind him. The Green Dragon Crescent Blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight, and the red-faced, long-bearded general closed his eyes to rest, waiting for the appointed time.

"General, the time has come," the lieutenant whispered.

Guan Yu opened his eyes, a murderous glint flashing in his phoenix-shaped pupils: "Attack the city!"

Five thousand soldiers surged toward the north gate like a tidal wave.

Ladders were erected, battering rams advanced, and arrows rained down like locusts. The Yellow Turban defenders on the city walls hastily prepared for battle, and the sounds of battle shook the heavens.

The defending general, Bo Cai, watched from the city tower as the government troops launched a fierce offensive, growing increasingly anxious. The Great Teacher had not appeared for three days, rumors were rampant in the city, and morale was already low...

"Report! Fire has broken out at the East Gate!"

Bo Cai suddenly turned around and saw flames shooting into the sky from the direction of the East Gate!

"Not good! Something's happened at the East Gate! Quickly send two thousand soldiers to reinforce it!" Bo Cai gave the urgent order.

Almost simultaneously, the garrison at the west gate saw fire breaking out at the east gate and heard deafening battle cries at the north gate. The west gate commander, without waiting for orders, took it upon himself to send troops to provide reinforcements, which was the norm for the Yellow Turban Army due to its lax discipline.

Ximen's forces were completely depleted.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Fei, who was lying in ambush outside the west gate, widened his leopard-like eyes and pointed his eighteen-foot spear: "My men! Follow me and kill!"

Fifteen hundred elite troops burst forth like tigers from their cages!

Li Cunxiao took the lead, his Yuwang Mountain-Opening Spear swirling like an angry dragon overturning the river. With one strike, he smashed the iron-wooden gate, causing several cracks to appear. Yang Zaixing's Iron Rolling Gold Spear transformed into a golden whirlwind, and the defending soldiers fell to the ground wherever the spear struck.

The guards at the west gate had already divided their forces, but now that they saw such fierce-looking men coming to kill, they had no will to fight.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the West Gate was breached!

Outside the east gate, Zhao Yun saw the fire and brandished his silver spear, shouting, "Follow me!"

Five hundred elite soldiers in white robes charged straight at the east gate like swords drawn from their sheaths.

The city gates were indeed opened wide, and the soldiers inside were fighting fiercely.

Zhao Yun, his silver spear gleaming like a dragon, led his troops in a charge, heading straight for the Yellow Turban central army camp in the city.

The city was in complete chaos at this moment.

Upon hearing that the West Gate had fallen and the East Gate had been lost, Beimen Bo realized that the situation was hopeless. He disregarded his subordinates and led his personal guards to flee to the South Gate. With their commander gone, the garrison at the North Gate collapsed instantly.

Inside Guangzong City, the 150,000 Yellow Turban soldiers were leaderless, with their leaders divided into groups, some wanting to resist, some wanting to flee, and some wanting to surrender, creating chaos.

Xiang Yu, Ran Min, and Lü Bu led their troops to intercept and kill them from the outside.

Xiang Yu's Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd danced like a black dragon, leaving a trail of blood and flesh in its wake. Ran Min's double-edged spear clashed with his hooked halberd, displaying his cold-blooded killing prowess. Lü Bu's Fangtian Halberd swept through the sky like a crescent moon, showcasing his youthful ferocity.

Seeing their commander's incredible prowess, the thousands of new recruits were greatly encouraged and utterly routed their own number of defeated soldiers.

By the time of Yin (3-5 AM), all four gates of Guangzong City had been breached.

Upon hearing the news, Lu Zhi hurriedly led the main force of the Northern Army into the city.

Seeing that the situation in the city had been brought under the control of the Xuanyuan army, and that banners bearing the character "Ji" had been planted at the three key locations—the granary, the armory, and the treasury—the great scholar stroked his beard and sighed, "Ji Wenlie's army is truly a ferocious force!"

The sky gradually brightened.

The central command tent was moved into the former governor's residence inside the city.

Ji Xuanyuan, supported by Dian Wei, entered the main hall, with Tian Feng and Ju Shou attending him on either side.

The generals came one after another to report:

"Report! The granary has been captured, and 200,000 shi of grain have been obtained!" Guan Yu entered the hall to report.

"Report! The armory has been seized, and we have obtained 5,000 sets of armor and 20,000 weapons!" Zhang Fei's voice boomed.

"Report! The treasury has been emptied, yielding three thousand catties of gold and fifty million coins!" Zhao Yun's white robe was stained with blood, yet his expression remained solemn.

"Report! We have captured seven Yellow Turban leaders and 30,000 defeated soldiers!" Xiang Yu, Ran Min, and Lü Bu entered the hall.

"Report! We have captured one of Zhang Bao's trusted men, named Zhou Cang, who is currently being held captive!" Li Cunxiao and Yang Zaixing reported.

Ji Xuanyuan coughed a few times, and a smile appeared on his pale face: "Everyone has worked hard. Yuanhao and Gongyu, this battle was a great victory. You two deserve great credit."

Tian Feng and Ju Shou bowed and said, "We rely entirely on the bravery of our soldiers."

The way the generals looked at the two strategists was completely different now; every step of last night's battle had been within their calculations.

Such strategic planning ability is truly admirable.

Lu Zhi entered the hall at this moment and solemnly bowed to Tian Feng and Ju Shou: "You two gentlemen are masters of military strategy, I admire you greatly. In this battle, you two deserve the greatest credit for defeating Guangzong and killing Zhang Jiao!"

Tian Feng returned the greeting: "Lord Lu, you flatter me. I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."

"Please speak, sir."

"Although Zhang Jiao is dead, the Yellow Turban Rebellion has not been quelled," Tian Feng said solemnly.

"His brothers Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao occupy Yingchuan and Nanyang respectively, each commanding 100,000 troops. If the court believes that the fall of Guangzong will bring peace to the world, a great disaster will surely arise."

Ju Shou interjected: "I believe we should press our advantage and pursue them. I request that General Lu submit a memorial to the court, ordering our army to march south to Yingchuan to assist General Zhu Jun in defeating Zhang Liang, or to advance west to Nanyang to assist General Huangfu Song in attacking Zhang Bao. In this way, the Yellow Turbans can be quelled."

Lu Zhi pondered for a moment: "What you two gentlemen say is absolutely right. I will submit a memorial immediately."

He looked at Ji Xuanyuan: "Captain Ji, your troops have won consecutive victories, and the soldiers are exhausted. Do they need a rest?"

Ji Xuanyuan smiled: "I dare not complain of being tired in the fight against traitors for the country, but I will leave it to General Lu to arrange."

"Excellent!" Lu Zhi slammed his hand on the table. "Then please have Commandant Ji lead his troops south to Yingchuan to assist General Zhu Jun in defeating Zhang Liang! All necessary provisions and military equipment will be provided!"

"This subordinate obeys."

After the generals withdrew, only Ji Xuanyuan, Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Dian Wei remained in the hall.

Ji Xuanyuan coughed for a long time before catching his breath, then looked at Tian Feng and Ju Shou: "Gentlemen, are you now truly willing to stay in my army?"

Tian Feng and Ju Shou exchanged a glance, then knelt down in unison:

"General Feng (Shou) is grateful for your kindness and treatment as a national hero. Today, seeing the many valiant generals under your command and the strict discipline of your army, I am even more aware of your ambition to serve the world. If you do not abandon me, I (Shou) am willing to devote my life to helping you achieve your great cause!"

These words were no longer "waiting to see how it goes," but rather a genuine declaration of allegiance.

Ji Xuanyuan laughed heartily, though a cough escaped his lips: "To have you two gentlemen is Xuanyuan's great fortune! Please rise!"

He helped the two up and said solemnly, "The victory at Guangzong is just the beginning. The battlefields of Yingchuan and Nanyang still require your planning. As for this chaotic world..."

He looked at the gradually brightening sky outside the hall, a deep light flashing in his eyes: "This is just the beginning."

Five days later, the imperial court bestowed its rewards.

For his merit in defeating Guangzong, Ji Xuanyuan was appointed General Who Subdues the Barbarians and Prefect of Zhuojun, and was given the authority to lead an expedition against the Yellow Turbans.

All his generals were rewarded.

The title of General Who Subdues Barbarians was merely a miscellaneous one, and the title of Holding a Banner was nothing more than a formal honor, offering no real help to Ji Xuanyuan in expanding his actual power.

However, Ji Xuanyuan was quite surprised that Emperor Ling appointed him as the governor of Zhuojun.

This was a real local official with real power. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, an era that placed great emphasis on family background, it would have been impossible to be appointed to such a high-ranking position without a powerful background. Even Liu Bei, who had military achievements, was only appointed as a county magistrate.

Although he had more military achievements than Liu Bei, he was still far from being appointed as a prefect, and he did not believe that no one was helping him behind the scenes.

"Liu Yan..." Ji Xuanyuan thought of this name.

It seems the governor of Youzhou intends to win him over...

But Ji Xuanyuan cared about practical benefits, and Lu Zhi was exceptionally generous, giving Ji Xuanyuan half of the spoils of war, saying that he should be credited with the greatest merit in defeating the Yellow Turban Army.

One hundred thousand bushels of grain, two thousand five hundred suits of armor, ten thousand weapons, fifteen hundred catties of gold, and eight thousand strong men selected from thirty thousand surrendered soldiers—these were his true assets.