Chapter 85

After hearing Yuan Shu's words, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang could not help but become nervous again, fearing that something unexpected might happen.

Guo Jia glanced at Yuan Shu and said lazily, "It's not your turn to speak here."

"What did you say? You, a mere military advisor, dare to speak to me like this? Do you know who I am? I am the young master of the Yuan family." Yuan Shu, upon hearing Guo Jia's words, immediately flew into a rage. When had he ever been so disrespected? And by someone he considered a lowly commoner. As he spoke, he wanted to draw his sword and rush forward to kill Guo Jia.

"Huang Gong, stop!" Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun both rebuked Yuan Shu at the same time. One must consider the owner before beating a dog, let alone the fact that Guo Jia was not Liu Yao's dog. Guo Jia was a man of great talent, and even Liu Yao treated him like a close brother.

However, it was already too late. Yuan Shu had already rushed towards Guo Jia. Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun, seeing Yuan Shu, the fool, rushing over, sneered and were about to teach him a lesson for his loose tongue.

But Guo Jia waved them off. He slowly drew a sword from his waist. Huangfu Song and the others stared wide-eyed at the sword, full of doubt: "Isn't this the Chixiao Sword that Liu Yao holds? How did it end up in Guo Jia's hands?"

Yuan Shu naturally saw the Chixiao Sword and immediately froze, his movements halting, and the sword slipped from his hand.

Guo Jia pressed the Chixiao Sword against Yuan Shu's neck. "Yuan Shu, Huang Gong, do you think I now have the right to make you shut up?" Guo Jia was truly grateful to Liu Yao. Liu Yao, fearing that Guo Jia, being young, might not be able to control the others, had temporarily lent him the Chixiao Sword. He never expected that Yuan Shu, the fool, would immediately offer himself up, allowing Guo Jia to establish his authority.

"Leave my lord unharmed!" Ji Ling, seeing the sword at Yuan Shu's neck, immediately lost all composure and rushed forward to save Yuan Shu.

Zhang Fei had seen everything and, with a cold laugh, spurred his horse forward to block Ji Ling.

"You, you have the right," Yuan Shu stammered, his back already drenched in cold sweat. The sharp edge of the Chixiao Sword made his neck feel icy cold, and he dared not move, fearing that any movement would result in a bloody end.

"Little Brother Guo, please spare Huang Gong this time." Although Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun did not like the Yuan family, if they let Yuan Shu die here, they would likely face retaliation from the Yuan family in the future. Reluctantly, they had to step forward to plead for mercy. After all, disobeying military orders on the battlefield could be punished by immediate execution.

Seeing this, Guo Jia felt it was enough. He had never intended to kill Yuan Shu; he just wanted to put him in his place to prevent his arrogant behavior.

"Considering the two generals, I will let this pass this time. If it happens again, I'm sure my lord will not be so lenient." Guo Jia said calmly, withdrawing the Chixiao Sword from Yuan Shu's neck.

Yuan Shu, seeing his life spared, let out a sigh of relief, his legs giving way as he collapsed to the ground.

"Ha ha ha!! Huang Gong, you are truly impulsive. Otherwise, you wouldn't be in such a sorry state." Yuan Shao, seeing Yuan Shu's pitiful state, could not resist mocking him.

"You..." Yuan Shu was furious, glaring at Yuan Shao and Guo Jia with venom, wishing he could devour them.

Ji Ling, seeing that Yuan Shu was unharmed, quickly ran over to support him and moved him to the back, out of sight.

Seeing the farce end, Guo Jia turned to Zhang Bao and said, "The conditions you mentioned are no problem. I can make this decision and speak for my lord. Not only will we not hold them accountable, but if they are willing, they can return to Youzhou with my lord. If they wish to continue serving in the military, they can. If they do not, my lord will provide them with land so they can support themselves."

When Guo Jia heard Zhang Bao's conditions earlier, he was overjoyed. Liu Yao had already intended to recruit these Yellow Turbans, and now Zhang Bao was offering them up.

The Yellow Turbans, upon hearing this, were overjoyed. Youzhou was now as prosperous as Ji Province and other regions. Not only would they not die, but they could live there, which seemed like a dream come true.

Zhang Bao then turned to the two generals behind him and said, "Pei Yuanshao, Zhou Cang, after we die, you will lead the brothers to surrender."

"General, rest assured," the two said, holding back their tears.

"Very well, this way I can face my elder brother with a clear conscience." Zhang Bao laughed loudly, exchanging a glance with Zhang Liang, their eyes full of relief. In the next moment, the two drew their swords from their waists, preparing to commit suicide.

"Wait!" Guo Jia, seeing this, immediately called out to them.

"Do you have something else to say? Are you going to go back on your word?" Zhang Liang, seeing Guo Jia's actions, angrily demanded.

"No, a general should die on the battlefield, not by his own hand. That would be too pitiful," Guo Jia said coldly. Why did he say this? It was because of Liu Yao's orders. Although he did not know why Liu Yao insisted that Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang die at the hands of his own men, Guo Jia believed Liu Yao had his reasons and followed the order.

Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang were taken aback. Indeed, a general might die in a hundred battles, but the battlefield was the best place for a general to meet his end.

Their spirits soared. "I, Zhang Bao (Zhang Liang), the Earth General (Human General) of the Yellow Turbans, challenge any Han general to a duel to the death!" the two shouted in unison.

Guo Jia gave Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun a look, and the two spurred their horses to face Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang.

"I, Zhang Fei (Zhao Yun), a general under Liu Yao, the Governor of Youzhou, am here," the two said in unison.

"You, though a rebel, I admire your loyalty to your brothers. It's truly a pity," Zhang Fei said to Zhang Bao.

"Ha ha." Zhang Bao only smiled, saying nothing more. These two were great generals under Liu Yao, and their martial skills were formidable. Dying at their hands would be a decent end.

"Charge!!" Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang shouted in unison, spurring their horses to charge at Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun.

Zhang Fei faced Zhang Bao, and Zhao Yun faced Zhang Liang. The four men and their horses clashed.

Of course, the outcome was no surprise. Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang were no match for Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun. They did not last more than ten rounds before being cut down.

"General!!!" Pei Yuanshao and Zhou Cang, seeing Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang fall, could not help but cry out, tears streaming down their faces.

Guo Jia stepped forward and asked the two, "Are you Pei Yuanshao and Zhou Cang?"

"Yes, sir, that is us," the two replied, bowing.

"Now that Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang are dead, what are your plans?" Guo Jia asked. In his view, these two were loyal and skilled, and could be recruited by Liu Yao. After all, while Liu Yao had many top-tier generals, he lacked mid-tier commanders.

"We will follow the Earth General's orders and surrender to the Han army," Zhou Cang said firmly.

"Good, your loyalty and righteousness will be recommended to my lord. As for your many brothers, Youzhou is in need of people, and those who are willing can go there," Guo Jia said with a smile.

"Thank you, sir," the two said gratefully.

With Zhang Bao's last words and their desire to go to Youzhou, and with the help of Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao, the 40,000 Yellow Turban soldiers quickly surrendered and were organized.

"March, back to camp." With Guo Jia's order, the army set off for Guangzong.