Chapter 59

Zhao Yun's martial arts were far beyond what Bo Cai could match, let alone when Bo Cai was so enraged that all his moves were in chaos. In just one round, Zhao Yun knocked him off his horse and had him tied up.

"Haha, we always knew Bo Cai's martial arts were no good, but I didn't expect him to be so terrible. You took him down in one move," Zhang Fei said, galloping back and laughing.

"This time, I must thank Yide for your humility," Zhao Yun said gratefully.

"No problem, we are all comrades. I, Old Zhang, am not one to hog the spoils. When there is credit, it should be shared," Zhang Fei said heartily.

At this, the bound Bo Cai glared at Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun with venom and shouted, "You two, release me now, or when the Great Virtuous Teacher conquers the world, it will be your turn to die!"

"Humph." Zhang Fei snorted, walked up to Bo Cai, and slapped him. The next moment, "Puh." Bo Cai spat out a mouthful of blood. Zhang Fei didn't stop, saying one sentence and delivering one slap, "Let's see how arrogant you are, you scoundrel. You're a captive and still so arrogant. I, Old Zhang, have been eyeing you for a while. If you weren't more useful alive, I would have sent you to the afterlife long ago."

A few slaps later, Zhang Fei felt much better and stopped. By then, Bo Cai's face was swollen like a pig's head, and he was spitting out blood and a few teeth. Zhang Fei's strength had knocked out Bo Cai's front teeth.

"Da Xian Liang Shi will not let you off." Bo Cai mumbled, his speech slurred.

"What did you say?" Due to Bo Cai's missing teeth, Zhang Fei couldn't understand him. He waved his hand in disgust and said, "I don't care what you say. Bring me something to gag his mouth. I don't want to hear him talk."

Two soldiers quickly gagged Bo Cai's mouth.

"Take Bo Cai and the other captives back to the camp," Zhao Yun shouted. The group then returned to Changshe City with their spoils.

It was noon of the second day in Changshe City. Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun's troops had already returned. Gao Shun and Huang Zhong, leading the Vanguard Camp, had returned to Changshe more than an hour ago. The only ones left were Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun's Vanguard Camp.

Liu Yao stood on the city wall, looking into the distance, but he was not worried at all. With Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun's martial arts and the strength of the Vanguard Camp, they could retreat safely even if they encountered ten thousand Yellow Turbans.

Sure enough, not long after, two figures and a well-trained army came into Liu Yao's view. It could only be Zhang Fei and the others.

"Open the city gates quickly," Liu Yao called out.

Soon, Zhang Fei and the others entered Changshe City and came to the city wall.

"Your Highness, we led our troops into the Yellow Turban camp, killing over five thousand enemies and capturing over fifty-three thousand," Huangfu Song reported first.

Liu Yao nodded to show he understood and then looked at Zhang Fei and the others.

"Lord, I led the Vanguard Camp to ambush on the road to Runan, capturing over twenty thousand enemies and capturing the leader of the Runan Yellow Turbans, Peng Tuo," Gao Shun reported.

"Lord, I, Old Zhang, only captured less than five thousand this time, but this time Zilong captured Bo Cai," Zhang Fei boasted.

Liu Yao smiled and nodded, clearly very satisfied with the results. This time, apart from nearly a thousand casualties under Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun, none of Liu Yao's troops were lost, only a few were injured. They had captured nearly eighty thousand Yellow Turban captives, and most importantly, the two major leaders of the Eastern Yellow Turbans, Bo Cai and Peng Tuo, were both captured.

"Where are Bo Cai and the eighty thousand Yellow Turban captives?" Liu Yao asked.

"Lord, Bo Cai and the eighty thousand Yellow Turbans are all placed in the Changshe military camp," Huangfu Song replied.

Before Liu Yao could speak, Zhu Jun interjected, "What will Your Highness do with these captives?" Zhu Jun had his eyes on the Yellow Turban captives. Many young soldiers could be trained and used. Although the captives were caught by him, it was all thanks to Liu Yao's strategy. He didn't dare openly ask for the spoils.

Liu Yao understood his meaning and said casually, "The two generals have suffered significant losses this time. Why don't you each select twenty thousand strong men from the eighty thousand to replenish your forces? As for the rest, please take care of them and send them to my Youzhou. My Youzhou will receive them. After all, my Youzhou is barren and has a small population. These Yellow Turbans can help replenish the population."

"Thank you, Your Highness," the two said excitedly. Each would get ten thousand strong men. This would make their forces as strong as before the campaign against the Yellow Turbans. They would have another chance to earn military merit. Sending the captives to Youzhou was a simple task. Under Liu Yao's governance, Youzhou was no worse than the major states in Central China. The Yellow Turbans would be happy to live in Youzhou.

"As for Bo Cai and Peng Tuo, Shi A, execute them and send their heads to Luoyang to claim credit," Liu Yao said casually.

"Understood," Shi A replied.

"Alright, Yuanhao, I have prepared a victory banquet for everyone. Let's celebrate today," Liu Yao said with a smile.

At the mention of drinking, Zhang Fei's eyes lit up, but then he remembered his ban on alcohol and his eyes dimmed.

Seeing Zhang Fei's expression, Liu Yao couldn't help but laugh, "Forget it, today is a great day, so I'll allow you to drink once."

"Thank you, Lord," Zhang Fei said excitedly.

They then entered the hall and began the victory banquet.

But before it started, a messenger ran in and said to Huangfu Song, "General, Colonel Cao Cao is leading troops to support us."

Hearing Cao Cao's name, Liu Yao was startled, and a flash of killing intent crossed his eyes. Cao Cao was definitely the biggest obstacle to his future ambitions. However, now was not the time to kill him. One of his greatest advantages was his knowledge of history. If Cao Cao died, who knew if someone even more dangerous might emerge. Central China was full of talented people, and such a scenario was not impossible.

"Humph, Cao Cao only comes to support us now, when we have already won. What use is he?" Zhu Jun complained.

"Ah, that's not right, General Zhu. Cao Mengde came from afar to help. Although he didn't help much, we should still invite him in for a drink. Otherwise, people might talk," Liu Yao said.

Zhu Jun nodded and said, "Your Highness is right," then turned to the messenger, "Go and bring Mengde in."

"Understood."

Not long after, a short, dark-skinned man with a beard walked in and bowed to Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun, "This is Colonel Cao Cao, Cao Mengde, paying respects to the Commanders."

He then looked at Liu Yao with some confusion. A familiar figure appeared in Cao Cao's mind, and he immediately knelt and bowed, "Cao Cao pays respects to the Crown Prince!"

"Rise," Liu Yao waved and invited him, "Mengde, you came just in time. We have just pacified the Yellow Turbans in Yingchuan and are holding a victory banquet. Why don't you join us?"