Chapter 122: The Noble Sacrifice of the Grand Leader

...

Upon seeing the battle report, Cao Cao was utterly terrified. Unlike Liu Bei, who was elated, Cao Cao was paralyzed with fear. He immediately halted his original plan to attack Taishan. Until he understood how Chen Xi managed to capture over a million Yellow Turbans within a month, Cao Cao wouldn't dare to make any move against Taishan. It was simply too dangerous.

Liu Ye, after reading the report, was left speechless. Didn't this guy claim his military strategy was mediocre? If this is mediocre, how should others survive?

Over a million Yellow Turbans, despite Guo Fengxiao's arrangements, were handled too smoothly. The battle was over in just over half a month, and it even aligned perfectly with the summer farming season. All strategic goals were achieved, all disobedient elements were eliminated, and new troops were seamlessly selected. By the time Zang Ba puts on a performance, all captured Yellow Turbans will be under control, securing both military and civilian loyalty.

"Ziyang, what do you think?" Liu Bei asked, overly excited. Two million Yellow Turbans leaving Qingzhou had made nearby warlords, including Yuan Shao, feel immense pressure. Yet, Chen Xi resolved it in just over half a month, capturing over a million Yellow Turbans almost bloodlessly and securing a third of Qingzhou.

"Ancient generals and sages could do no better," Liu Ye said with a wry smile. He couldn't find the right words to describe it. This man's performance was simply extraordinary.

"Hahaha, I think the same!" Liu Bei said proudly. "By the way, Zichuan mentioned going to the border of Jizhou to demonstrate our military might and put pressure on Yuan Benchu. What do you think of this plan?"

"It's to show our military prowess and pressure Yuan Benchu into abandoning the Zhen family. Given that the Mi family has already started attacking the Zhen family, it will soon bear fruit. Zichuan probably wants to expedite the process. Even if he can't attend the wedding, he will try to return as soon as possible. Although Zichuan seems indifferent, he cares deeply for his family. Chen Lan and he are close friends from times of hardship," Liu Ye hinted, suggesting the need to formalize Chen Lan's status.

Liu Bei understood Liu Ye's hint. After some thought, he said, "Write a letter to the Chen family in Yingchuan, asking them to give Chen Lan a proper status. This is the most appropriate course of action."

Liu Ye nodded in agreement. This was indeed suitable, and getting the Chen family's acceptance shouldn't be too difficult. Chen Xi's performance had certainly earned their attention.

"Alright, I'll draft a letter to the Chen family. They should be willing to grant Chen Lan the status of a concubine's daughter, though becoming a legitimate daughter is impossible," Liu Ye said after some thought. In noble families, legitimate daughters were well-documented. Concubines' daughters were often seen as secondary, primarily destined to be dowry attendants. Even if the Chen family wanted to bet on Chen Xi, Chen Lan's status couldn't change to that of a legitimate daughter unless the Chen family was willing to offend the Fan family. With the marriage contract already in place, neither the Chen family nor the Fan family could afford to lose face.

"Has Zichuan's request for supplies been met? Also, he mentioned trying to fit nose rings on the cattle from the north. If successful, we won't lack plow oxen in the future," Liu Bei said with a smile. In his experience, Chen Xi's requests were always well-calculated and never trivial.

"I had already instructed Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang to try fitting nose rings when the first letter arrived. If it works, we'll be informed soon," Liu Ye replied with a smile. In this era, farming was paramount. As long as the land could yield crops, even if the economy collapsed, stability could still be maintained.

Meanwhile, Zang Ba was earnestly persuading the remaining Yellow Turbans.

"Grand Leader! You will definitely lead us to break out successfully. Under your leadership, we have already raided several farming points. We will definitely escape Taishan and return to Qingzhou!" A fanatically devoted Yellow Turban spoke up before Zang Ba could finish hinting for the undercover agents to speak.

"Returning to Qingzhou offers no survival. Two million Yellow Turbans left Qingzhou, and now only over ten thousand of us remain. Over a million brothers are gone, starved, fallen behind, killed. Don't we Yellow Turbans want a better life!" Zang Ba roared, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at his subordinates.

"Continuing to flee leads only to death! Commander Chen is dead. I have led you through countless dangers, barely finding a way out, but now we face too many enemies. We cannot break through!" Zang Ba shouted. "Do you know? To return to Qingzhou, we must defeat that army, and we cannot. Staying here means death!"

"I don't understand, but Grand Leader, you cannot die! We can die, but not you! You've led us through countless dangers, found food for us. Every time we got food, you ate last! Grand Leader must not die!" A Yellow Turban knelt, banging his head on the ground.

"Get up!" Zang Ba pulled the Yellow Turban up by his arm.

With bloodshot eyes, Zang Ba stared at those blocking him. "Remember, I lead you to get you food. We are bandits. Once a bandit, always a bandit. No one will forgive us. This time, General of Pacification Liu Xuande doesn't want more killing, so he gave us a chance! Have you forgotten Changshe? How many brothers were slaughtered after surrendering? We won't get another chance like this!"

The Yellow Turbans fell silent. They knew about Zang Ba's deal with Taishan. Their grand leader, much like the legendary Heavenly General Zhang Jiao, planned to sacrifice his life for the Yellow Turbans' survival. Zhang Jiao had failed, but now a new hero emerged among the Yellow Turbans, willing to die for a million Yellow Turbans.

"I am leaving. Stay here. After I die, someone will come to take over the camp. Do not resist. Live well, no more banditry. Marry, farm, raise children. They will treat you as ordinary people, not look down on you. Heavenly General, I have fulfilled your last dream. Allow me, Xuangao, to join you after death!" Zang Ba said, turning desolately to leave the camp. His solitary, emaciated figure stretched long in the sunset.

As Zang Ba stepped out of the camp, a Yellow Turban leader fell to his knees, weeping. Soon, the entire camp was filled with sobbing.

In late April 192 AD, the Grand Leader of the Yellow Turbans, disciple of the Heavenly General—Xuangao, sacrificed his life to secure the integration of the Yellow Turbans into Taishan. Paving the way with his blood, a million Yellow Turbans wept in unison, marking the end of the Yellow Turbans as they joined Taishan.