Zhuo County,
East City Gate,
Figures mingled in the crowd.
Besides the curious onlookers, there were also many with ulterior motives.
After all,
If even Zhuo Commandery's administrative seat, Zhuo County, had fallen, would other counties be far behind?
Resist?
When twenty thousand Wuhuan troops were dealt with, what else could they use to resist?
Therefore,
Understanding the preferences of this future warlord, and current rebel leader, Qin Feng, was the key reason for their presence.
And on the other side,
The aristocratic families of Zhuo County and various civil and military officials, led by Prefect Liu Qi, could barely maintain their smiles.
Everyone present was either of the Liu faction, or more accurately, the Qin faction!
They didn't care if Qin Feng was a rebel or not; survival was paramount.
Furthermore,
The Han Dynasty was in turbulent times. Who could say they wouldn't become founding heroes?
"Dada~!"
"Dada~!"
"Dada~!"
As everyone's thoughts drifted, the sound of slightly muffled hoofbeats reached their ears.
"They're here~!"
Someone shouted, and the already clamorous crowd became even more excited.
Fortunately,
As the Prefect, Liu Qi was prepared. Seeing this, he quickly gave a few instructions to a servant beside him.
Immediately after,
A unit of well-equipped shield-wielding soldiers rushed out from the city gate tower.
"Make way!"
"Maintain distance!"
"Step back further!"
Under the sharp edges of the soldiers' steel blades, the onlookers hurriedly retreated.
Even the usually arrogant and overbearing sons of officials dared not utter a word of protest.
Soon,
As the ground trembled more intensely and the hoofbeats grew closer, rolling dust began to appear at the end of the official road.
But just as everyone was preparing to kowtow, a voice, like a duck's, echoed from afar.
"The imperial decree, the imperial decree has arrived..."
"???"
The people of Zhuo County, who had already half-knelt, instinctively stood up.
What a joke!
They were rebels now. How could rebels kneel to the imperial court?
Of course!
While thinking this, everyone's hearts were filled with a mix of apprehension and confusion.
Why would there be an imperial decree?
As they were bewildered,
The envoys' procession, arriving from afar, was no less confused than them.
Weren't they told that Zhuo County had been occupied by rebels?
What was the situation now?
Was this a special reception for the arrival of an imperial envoy?
"Liu Xuande, is this the rebel force you spoke of?"
Zuo Feng, who had been traveling for three or four consecutive days, glared unhappily at Liu Bei beside him.
"I warn you, if you dare deceive His Majesty, even if you are of royal blood, your head will roll!"
"This, I..."
Liu Bei, already in a gloomy mood, became even more dejected upon hearing this.
His heart was heavy!
He had expected that reporting Qin Feng's news would prompt the imperial court to send a large army to suppress him.
But who knew,
The fool who replaced Lu Zhi had not only abandoned the plan to suppress Zhang Jiao in Guangzong, but had also led the entire main force to attack Zhang Bao.
And, crucially, he hadn't succeeded!
Now what?
Hearing that a rebel force, possibly of aristocratic origin, had appeared in Zhuo County, You Province,
This fellow not only failed to consider suppressing them, but instead submitted a memorial to the imperial court requesting their pacification, and to cooperate with him in a pincer attack on the Yellow Turbans.
He was now in a difficult position.
It was he who had disregarded all objections and directly overturned Lu Zhi's strategy, leading the main force to encircle Zhang Bao.
And the result?
They had been here for more than ten days and still couldn't crack this nut.
Retreat?
Retreat was impossible.
If he dared to retreat, Liu Hong would directly have him beheaded.
Continue the attack?
Without reinforcements, continuing the attack was also futile.
What if Zhang Jiao from Guangzong came out from behind and surrounded him...
Hiss~!
He dared not even think about it!
Dong Zhuo had not been able to sleep soundly these past few days, fearing that he would be surrounded by the Yellow Turbans at any moment.
Just as he was troubled,
Liu Bei came along in a hurry, bringing some quite good news.
There was an aristocratic family in You Province rebelling!
How good was that?
As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend!
What were aristocratic families rebelling for?
To gain titles and positions!
Whether it was to "suppress" the rebels later or to cause a bigger stir and await pacification, it was all for promotion and wealth.
What?
Overthrow the Han Dynasty?
Don't be ridiculous!
A starved camel is still larger than a horse. Moreover, the Han Dynasty was only showing signs of weakness.
With just their ten thousand troops, did they think they could overthrow the Han Dynasty?
The imperial court wouldn't even need to send troops; the governor of You Province could wipe them out.
Therefore,
In Dong Zhuo's imagination, that rebel force in You Province was simply seeking merit.
Since that was the case,
He might as well lend a hand, and at the same time resolve his own urgent problem.
Ten thousand troops!
If they could recruit some refugees along the way, even twenty thousand wouldn't be a problem.
With these troops coming up from behind Zhang Bao, wouldn't that at least create some pressure?
And Emperor Ling of Han?
Already terrified by the Yellow Turbans, he naturally agreed to everything.
As for the rebels?
He was accustomed to it!
Especially in border regions like You Province, which offered little profit.
As long as Ji Province, which was close by, remained safe and the rebels couldn't reach Luoyang, everything else would be a minor issue.
Thus,
Under Liu Bei's dumbfounded gaze, the imperial decree arrived.
And under Dong Zhuo's strict order, Liu Bei himself had to personally escort the envoy to deliver the decree.
Refuse?
When the gleaming steel blade was placed at his throat, Liu Bei didn't even have the courage to refuse.
He knew very well,
Regardless of the actual situation in Zhuo County, there would eventually need to be a scapegoat.
And now,
He, the one who reported the intelligence, was the best scapegoat, wasn't he?
Just as Liu Bei was pondering how to explain,
"Dada~!"
"Dada~!"
"Dada~!"
With a slight tremor of the ground, the muffled sound of hoofbeats sounded again.
This time, it was different from before.
Before, the imperial envoy had been in a hurry, causing the official road to be filled with dust.
This time, Qin Feng and his men were bringing prisoners, so there was no need to gallop their horses.
Thus,
As soon as the hoofbeats sounded, everyone noticed Qin Feng returning in triumph.
"Hoo~!"
Gazing at the familiar black armor in the distance, Liu Bei let out a sigh of relief.
"Eunuch Zuo, look, those are the rebels of Zhuo County!"
"They?"
Watching the increasingly long procession in the distance, the pale-faced eunuch said slowly:
"Liu Xuande, are you sure?"
"Of course... Huh?"
Liu Bei, about to speak, felt Guan Yu behind him poking him. He looked at him in confusion.
"Big... Big Brother, the people aren't right..." Guan Yu leaned closer, wanting to say something.
"Impossible!"
Waving away Guan Yu's words, Liu Bei looked closely at the approaching cavalry and said with great conviction:
"This armor, these weapons, I wouldn't mistake them even if I turned to ash!"
"It's them!"
"Then..."
Whether from anger or fear, the pale-faced eunuch's voice trembled slightly.
"Then tell us, is this the one thousand cavalry and ten thousand infantry you spoke of?"
"Uh..."
Reminded by the pale-faced eunuch, Liu Bei finally realized something was amiss.
There seemed to be a few too many people, hadn't there?