...
Chen Xi sat in his command tent, waiting for Guan Yu's return. Upon learning that Fu Yun's forces had been scattered, he felt at ease. While such long pursuits might lead to the trampling deaths of thousands or even tens of thousands, the fact that the war could be concluded swiftly with minimal casualties on both sides was a stroke of luck.
As for Fa Zheng, who was staring at the military reports in wide-eyed disbelief, Chen Xi didn't bother to explain. Even if Guo Jia were present, he would be equally stunned by the scale of this rout. This was the so-called "defeat like a landslide."
As the battle raged on, Taishan soldiers, emboldened by their leaders, chased after the fleeing Yellow Turbans without fear. Even groups of dozens of Taishan soldiers could drive thousands of Yellow Turbans, confident that they wouldn't dare to turn and fight.
In the end, the Taishan soldiers were venting their frustration through relentless pursuit and slaughter. They didn't even see the Yellow Turbans as human anymore—just sheep waiting to be butchered. With a mouthful of dried chicken and a sip of salty, sweet cool water, Taishan soldiers would grab their weapons and continue the chase.
Despite the harsh conditions, the Taishan soldiers at least had sothing to eat and no enemies pursuing them. The Yellow Turbans, on the other hand, were being driven to exhaustion by Zang Ba and his agents, with Guan Yu and his companions close on their heels. In the face of death, they had no choice but to keep running without food or water, knowing that falling behind ant being captured by the pursuing army.
Each ti the Yellow Turbans paused for a brief rest, thousands who were utterly exhausted could not keep up when the order to move ca again. The end of April brought a scorching sun, and the heat further sapped the Yellow Turbans' strength, making their collapse inevitable.
As the days passed, more and more Yellow Turbans fell by the roadside, many dragging down those behind them when they stumbled. Those who fell never stood up again until Wu Dun's forces ca to give them a sip of salt water and whipped them back into the march.
In the long trek from Zhangqiu to Zibo and back again to Panyang, a million Yellow Turbans dwindled. Under the wise and mighty leadership of their new leader, Xuangao, sixty thousand managed to break free, while the forty thousand who fell behind were captured by Wu Dun and Sun Guan's troops and herded south of Zhangqiu Licheng. These utterly exhausted Yellow Turbans had no strength left to resist.
During the march from Zibo to Panyang, even more fell behind due to hunger and fatigue. However, the wise and mighty Xuangao successfully led the strongest ten thousand across the tributary of the Zishui River.
By this ti, Zang Ba had successfully established himself as a wise and mighty leader. His followers had adapted to this nomadic life, seeing a glimr of hope in their blind flight, believing that their leader Xuangao was leading them to salvation.
"What on earth is Chen Zichuan trying to do?" Zang Ba, now emaciated and sun-darkened, sat on a rock to rest, cursing Chen Xi. "There are only ten thousand Yellow Turbans left. You've played with over a million Yellow Turbans like they were monkeys. Can't you just surround and annihilate these last ten thousand? Have so rcy!"
Despite his complaints, Zang Ba had to admit he admired Chen Xi's capability. However, due to Chen Xi's youth, it was impossible for Zang Ba to elevate his feelings to reverence or awe; he could only feel intense envy.
Lately, Chen Xi's ssages had grown increasingly bizarre. The orders directed Zang Ba to attack newly established farming settlents and a few older ones built the previous year. The grain from these settlents barely sustained the ten thousand Yellow Turbans, though there was still a significant shortfall. If this continued, their collapse was just a matter of ti.
Zang Ba had a gut feeling that Chen Xi was planning sothing, or he wouldn't have ordered him to attack these settlents. The settlents housed many farrs, and in such conditions, Zang Ba couldn't control his n, leading to the complete massacre of these settlents.
"General," a spy handed Zang Ba a bun with a clear paper ssage inside.
Finally, new instructions! Zang Ba's joy was boundless. Without new instructions, he feared he might inadvertently ruin Chen Xi's plans by moving around randomly. Even though he had no idea what Chen Xi was planning.
After reading the ssage, Zang Ba's face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot. He admitted that the plan had a one hundred percent success rate. Even if it was seen through, they were already at their wit's end and had to follow Chen Xi's script. The path ahead was fixed, but did Chen Zichuan have to go so far as to set up a tombstone for his fake Yellow Turban leader? Wasn't that over the top?
In the end, Zang Ba accepted Chen Xi's proposal with a bitter smile. It provided the Yellow Turbans with a sowhat dignified conclusion and secured the hearts and minds of the Yellow Turbans and the populace, ensuring long-term stability for Taishan. The credit for this achievent would be enough for him to be honored significantly in the annals of history.
The next morning, Chen Xi, basking in the sunlight, stretched lazily and turned to Fa Zheng with a playful smile. "Xiao Zhi, don't you think I look dashing?"
Fa Zheng remained silent. Since the day Fu Yun's army had been swept away, he had expected this outco. After Hou Qian's army was scattered, he felt completely deflated. Chen Xi's actions had dealt a heavy blow to his confidence; his own strategies now seed laughable in comparison.
Chen Xi had virtually taken over a third of Qingzhou and captured over a million Yellow Turbans with minimal bloodshed, while also eradicating potential internal threats within the farming regions of Qingzhou. The farming areas had been stabilized, with all the hidden dangers eliminated through the Yellow Turbans' actions.
The new farming areas, mostly controlled by various Yellow Turban leaders, had all been exterminated by Zang Ba's Yellow Turbans. In the end, Zang Ba, who had led the Yellow Turbans in a desperate bid for survival, would die heroically. Taishan would accept the Yellow Turbans' surrender and lift the oppressive military control. This would win over the hearts and minds of the Yellow Turbans and the populace of Qingzhou.
As for the ten thousand elite Yellow Turbans who had followed Zang Ba, they were the true elite of this uprising. With a little selection and training under Yu Jin, they could be reorganized into a formidable army, bypassing the need for a lengthy recruitnt process. Chen Xi had accomplished everything in one sweeping motion. Once the Yellow Turbans were defeated, they could all return ho to farm.
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