Chapter 8: The Advantage Is Mine

“Zhi Shu, why don’t we try to find a way to bring back the brothers from the Northern Four Commanderies?”

The Northern Four Commanderies that Lü Bu referred to were Shuofang, Wuyuan, Yunzhong, and Yanmen in northern Bingzhou. Since the early days of the state, these four commanderies had been settled with large numbers of Xiongnu, Qiang, Wuwan, and other nomadic tribes. After long-term coexistence with Han settlers, the people there developed a fierce and martial spirit, renowned throughout China, and the most elite troops in all of Bingzhou were stationed there.

“That’s impossible! Besides the fact that the Xianbei in the north are restless, both of us come from the Northern Four Commanderies. Don’t you know how many barbarians live there?

Ever since the devastating defeat ten years ago, the barbarians have been harboring ill intentions. Over the years, the court has neither replenished the ranks nor spared the Northern Four Commanderies from the first call to arms whenever there’s a campaign. How many soldiers are left to fight over there? If we redeploy them now, and those barbarians take advantage of the chaos to revolt, the north will surely fall…”

Zhang Yang closed his eyes. Having seen much death as soldiers, he felt differently about this place—it was his homeland, where he was born and raised. He did not want anything to happen there.

“Zhi Shu, I understand that suppressing the local population is already a struggle. If we don’t send reinforcements now, I fear that once news of our defeat reaches them, those barbarians will ally with the Xiongnu rebels and the external Xianbei to rise up. Then it will be impossible for our people to escape.”

“Are you suggesting we abandon the land?” Zhang Yang was shocked.

“So what do you suggest? Unless every soldier is like me, Lü Bu, the rest of us are too few. If we scatter our forces across Bingzhou’s vast land, we won’t be able to hold anything.”

“No, don’t mention this again. Even if it’s abandoning the land, it’s not a decision for people at our level.” Zhang Yang pressed his hands against the table and stared at the map, which was ablaze with the fires of war, and fell silent.

Seeing Zhang Yang’s quietness, Lü Bu also said nothing and quietly drank his wine.

All of Bingzhou’s last field forces had been wiped out by that pig Zhang Yi. Unless the court sends reinforcements from heaven, no one can stop Bingzhou’s collapse.

But reinforcements from the court? Ha.

Before he realized it, Lü Bu had downed another jug of murky wine. Instead of dwelling on the past, he thought it better to look for some amusement now. Who knows—one day soon, they might all be nothing but a handful of earth.

This was not pessimism on Lü Bu’s part, but a harsh reality.

They had survived to this point by fighting their way out from encirclements of thousands of enemies, relying on their combat prowess and a fair share of luck.

Many others never saw the sun rise the next morning.

Survival was a rare treasure for these Bingzhou soldiers, long forgotten by the court. For them, life meant living in the moment—drinking wine today and not worrying about tomorrow.

Yet it was during that battle that Lü Bu and Zhang Yang truly forged a bond of life and death. Though they still had disagreements and quarrels, they never hurt their friendship nor betrayed each other. They were comrades who could watch each other’s backs.

“Fengxian, I’ve been thinking. We can’t let go of the matter concerning the Wang family in Qixian.”

Zhang Yang looked up at Lü Bu.

“We’re facing a great disaster.”

“What? What disaster?” Lü Bu frowned. Could it be that the barbarians had found them? No, that couldn’t be.

Seeing Lü Bu’s confusion, Zhang Yang gave a helpless smile.

“Fengxian, what I admire most about you is your unmatched bravery. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say you’re a hero known to all in Bingzhou.”

Lü Bu’s brow furrowed further. Having known Zhang Yang for a long time, he knew that whenever this man praised him, trouble was coming. Sure enough—

“But, my worthy brother, you’re 33 now, no longer the young man you were ten years ago. In these years of military service, even Li Su, our fellow townsman who is no match for you, was taken by Dong Gong and has now become a general in the Xiliang army, living in style. Yet you, Lü Bu, the pride of men, are still only a company commander, promoted only last year in the heat of battle…”

“Enough, enough,” Lü Bu waved his hand, cutting off Zhang Yang’s endless chatter.

“I just can’t stand officialdom or your roundabout scheming. If you have something to say, just say it. You’re the superior officer, and if you’re right, I’ll listen.”

“Don’t be angry, Fengxian. I mean well. I’m no expert at being an official either, but after years at the governor’s office, one thing is clear.

The current governor holds all the military and political power locally. Our future and fate depend entirely on his decisions.”

“I know that. But the old governor is dead. What great disaster could there be?”

“The old governor is gone, but the court will surely appoint a new one.

And I have some insight into the new appointee—it should be Ding Yuan from Taishan Commandery. It was once rumored that General He Jin was dissatisfied with Zhang Yi’s incompetence in Bingzhou and wanted to replace him with Ding Yuan, which is why he sought a decisive victory.

Now that he’s dead, Ding Yuan’s appointment should proceed without issue. When he takes office, we two defeated deserters might be at risk of being executed as a show of authority.”

Lü Bu had indeed thought of this. That was why he had spent these days leading a small force to launch attacks here and there, gathering heads and earning military merit—a sort of introduction gift for the new governor.

“But how does this relate to the Wang family in Qixian?”

“I just said that Ding Yuan is General He Jin’s man. Do you know who helped Wang Zishi escape from prison?”

“Hm... could it be General He Jin?”

“The intelligence from the governor’s office says so.”

“...” Lü Bu was annoyed. He Jin was the grand marshal controlling all the armies in the land. With his backing, it was no wonder Zhang Yang said Wang Yun might rise again.

“Now Wang Zishi is missing, possibly under the protection of the grand marshal. The new governor Ding Yuan is unfamiliar with the area, while the governor, Wang, has long served in Bingzhou. Given this connection, Ding Yuan is very likely to communicate with him about the local situation.

Therefore, the Wang family in Qixian is the key to breaking the deadlock. When even the prefect has abandoned them, only we are willing to risk everything to save them. If Wang Zishi learns of this later, how could he not be grateful? If he speaks well of us before Governor Ding, won’t our future be assured?”

Zhang Yang’s expression grew more passionate. Through his conversation with Lü Bu, he finally unraveled the questions that had consumed him day and night.

Victories are fleeting. We cannot just wait to die. Zhang Yang clenched his fists.

“Before the barbarians unite, we launch a full-scale attack! I’ll find a way to rally everyone now. No matter what, we must stop those barbarians from capturing the villagers of the Wang family!”

Two hundred against fifty—advantage is ours!

Was Zhang Yang wrong to think this way?

A bloodied figure of a barbarian flashed suddenly in Lü Bu’s mind. He moved his lips but held back from speaking, ashamed of the doubt that had crossed him.

That mysterious barbarian had shown incredible archery skills, but in the end, he was still flesh and blood.

Since Lü Bu had trained under Master Li Yan over a decade ago, he had never lost a one-on-one duel. Now, with the divine spear Fangtian Huaji in hand, how could he fear a mere barbarian?

What a joke!