The Three Kingdoms: Home Travel

(I have to work overtime this afternoon to finish the website, I'll post another chapter tonight, please support me!)

The next morning, Jiang Zhe immediately went to the East Gate, with Xiu'er following behind.

Chen Deng was already waiting there. When he saw Jiang Zhe arrive, he quickly bowed and said, "Teacher, by noon today, everything should be ready..."

"Hmm, take a look at this!"

Chen Deng stared wide-eyed as Jiang Zhe took out another piece of paper from his pocket. He felt a little itchy and muttered to himself, "Why don't you take out the good stuff along with this!"

After reading what Jiang Zhe had written the night before, Chen Deng immediately stopped complaining. He just looked at Jiang Zhe with a strange expression, thinking to himself, "I really can't believe it... This teacher is just like that! He only brings out a little bit of his talent after something has already happened. It's driving me crazy!"

However, Chen Deng also realized that as long as he stayed by his teacher's side, he would eventually steal all of his knowledge... cough, learn it all!

"What you say is very good, teacher. I will go and prepare immediately!" Chen Deng understood the importance of that piece of paper. The patrol password and the arrangement of the soldiers were not important, but he really didn't know how his teacher came up with that bronze mirror.

As long as the firelight illuminates the city at night, the situation outside is clearly visible. What fear is there of any Yellow Turban rebels launching a night attack? He immediately ran off to prepare.

Jiang Zhe walked on the city wall, looking left and right. The city wall was very wide, about three to four meters wide, and as for its length... he couldn't see the end. Jiang Zhe was immediately worried again, wondering why ancient cities were designed to be so big. If only there were a few thousand more soldiers.

Xiuer smiled slightly, not saying a word, just quietly watching Jiang Zhe. Whether he was worried or happy, he always gave her a feeling that touched her heart. As she thought about it, the smile on her face deepened.

At that moment, a burst of noise reached Jiang Zhe's ears.

"Huh?" Jiang Zhe looked down at the city gate and saw a large group of people gathered there. The atmosphere seemed rather tense, so he quickly ran down.

As Jiang Zhe descended the city gate, the elite Xuzhou soldiers guarding the east gate had already raised their weapons against the civilians. Jiang Zhe frowned and shouted, "Stop!"

The Xuzhou elite soldiers' morale faltered, and they all looked at one man. That man stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting to Jiang Zhe, and said, "Greetings, City Gate Commander!"

"What's going on here?" Jiang Zhe ignored him and pointed angrily at the people.

"This..." The man hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Sir, may I speak with you in private...?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhe sized up the man and nodded.

At a corner of the city gate, the man spoke softly, "The Yellow Turbans have been approaching the city recently, and I'm afraid there might be Yellow Turban spies among these people."

That simple question improved Jiang Zhe's opinion of him. Jiang Zhe nodded and asked, "Did these people migrate from nearby?"

"Yes, most of the adults are here to escape the ravages of war!"

Jiang Zhe took a few steps and looked into the distance. He saw many more black dots appearing in the distance, and his heart sank. He had been negligent; he had only considered Xuzhou City and had not taken into account the people outside of Xuzhou! What an oversight!

"Let's put it in Xuzhou City..." Jiang Zhe sighed.

"My lord!" the general exclaimed anxiously.

"I would not abandon a hundred for one person!"

"Your Excellency is truly virtuous!" The general was immediately impressed. "I will immediately release those civilians into Xuzhou City, but..."

"Arrange a place for them in an open area on the east side of the city. Provide them with food as if they were ordinary citizens of Xuzhou, without being stingy. Of course, they must also be strictly forbidden from lingering on the streets at night... This is just a temporary measure!"

"Yes!" Seeing that Jiang Zhe spoke logically and eloquently, the general was immediately convinced and was about to leave when Jiang Zhe called him back.

"What's your name?"

"My subordinate is Fang Yue (I prefer to use generals I already have; everyone knows Fang Yue, a famous general from Hanoi, the one who fought Lü Bu one-on-one and was killed by him. Some people say he was actually very powerful, but he chose the wrong opponent), courtesy name Ziping!"

Jiang Zhe blinked, but still couldn't remember. It was probably just a junior officer, but it was rare for him to have such a keen mind.

"Ziping, you'll have to put in a lot more effort to secure the East Gate!" Jiang Zhe said with a smile, always being polite.

Fang Yue, who was only in her early twenties, was thrilled upon hearing this and replied in a deep voice, "Yes! Your subordinate will certainly do his duty to the utmost!"

"Then go ahead, but be careful not to use force against the people. Try to persuade them to hand over any weapons they have (kitchen knives are also considered weapons)."

"Yes!" Fang Yue strode away, a hint of smugness in his expression. He had seen this gentleman several times before. Even a renowned scholar like Chen Yuanlong, the young master of the Chen family, called him "teacher." He was no ordinary person. If he was valued by this gentleman, he wouldn't have to go back to Hanoi to see his uncle's face.

Jiang Zhe stood there watching Fang Yue slowly put the civilians in and remove their weapons without making a fuss. He nodded to himself, thinking that this young man had the bearing of a general.

The common people...

Jiang Zhe felt something was amiss. The Yellow Turban Army in the early stages was far superior to the rabble that followed. They were a group of fanatics who were fearless and disciplined. How could there be no sign of them yet? Yuan Long had been sending people to scout ahead after hearing his advice.

Could it be? Jiang Zhe looked at the people and had a bad feeling. Could it be that the Yellow Turban army was going to drive all the people near Xuzhou into Xuzhou city to deplete Xuzhou's grain reserves?

Jiang Zhe wondered who the commander of that Yellow Turban army was. Although they were enemies, he couldn't help but admire him. Following this line of thinking, the commander of that Yellow Turban army probably didn't want hand-to-hand combat and would rather let Xuzhou run out of food and surrender. But he didn't know that, not to mention Xuzhou's reserves, even the Chen family's reserves were enough to feed Xuzhou for a year. Could you besiege the city for a year? Jiang Zhe chuckled inwardly.

That's easy to deal with. The real problem is that the Yellow Turban Army might send spies disguised as civilians to infiltrate Xuzhou City, and then, in a coordinated attack from within and without, seize the city gates. That would be much more difficult.

This was the most common tactic in ancient times. It seems I'll have to use strict orders too. Jiang Zhe pondered for a moment, then called Fang Yue over and whispered a few words, "At night, if anyone approaches the city wall, ask for their password. If the password is incorrect or they hesitate, kill them!"

"Yes!" Fang Yue bowed in submission, then asked with some doubt, "But what about the password?"

"Okay, every day when you come to my place, I will give you the password, and you must not divulge it. It will be changed every day." Jiang Zhe thought fiercely, "I'll use 'Heavenly King Covers the Earth Tiger' and if the Yellow Turban Army can come up with 'Pagoda Suppresses River Demon', then I'll give up!"

"Also, you must pay close attention to the patrols, as they concern the lives of millions of people in Xuzhou!" Jiang Zhe said earnestly.

Fang Yue became more and more excited as he listened. What did this mean? It meant that this gentleman valued him and wanted to give him an important position. He nodded excitedly repeatedly.

Although some things have been missed, everything is now ready. From now on, it depends on my ability to adapt to changing circumstances. For the people of Xuzhou and for Xiuer, I, Jiang Zhe, will fight you!

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