Chapter 33

"Such and such, such and such..."

As Qin Feng narrated, Lu Zhi and the others gradually showed signs of joy.

Lu Zhi stood up from his seat and said, "Zijin, what a great plan!" Then he asked the gathered officials and generals, "Who among you is willing to go and lure the enemy deeper?"

The generals all shrank back, and no one answered. Lu Zhi was displeased. After some thought, he realized that forcing someone to do it would not be good, and he suddenly remembered a better candidate—Qin Feng. He turned to Qin Feng with a smile and said, "Zijin, since you came up with this plan, it would be best if you could take the lead."

Qin Feng sneered inwardly, thinking that in the Three Kingdoms era, talented scholars and generals emerged in great numbers, comparable only to the Sui and Tang dynasties. However, most of them only came to prominence during the campaign against Dong Zhuo. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, there were still few capable people.

Although he was disdainful of the incompetence of the government forces, he did not show it. Instead, he said with enthusiasm, "Even without the general's command, Qin Feng would have volunteered. I estimate that the rebel leaders like Bian Xi have already learned about the events in Zhuo County. I will pretend to meet Bian Xi by chance. Seeing my small force, and to avenge Cheng Yuanzhi, he will surely come after us."

Lu Zhi was overjoyed and said, "Excellent! Excellent! That's exactly what we need!"

However, to ensure victory and to remind Lu Zhi, Qin Feng added, "I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the terrain. If someone from the government forces could assist, it would be even better."

Qin Feng, without the official status, was just a commoner. Seeing that none of the generals dared to volunteer, Lu Zhi felt very awkward and quickly said, "Zijin, for your service to the country, this general will not forget it. After this battle, I will immediately recommend you for a reward."

After expressing his gratitude to Qin Feng, Lu Zhi's face turned grim as he faced the generals and said sternly, "Who among you is willing to go with Zijin?"

The generals lowered their heads, their minds racing. They thought that luring the enemy deeper was indeed about luring the enemy, but if they were not careful, they might die. Even if they survived, failing to lure the enemy would be a grave sin.

Seeing that no one responded, Lu Zhi became furious and immediately called out, "Han Fu, you go!"

"Ah!" Han Fu was startled and jumped.

Qin Feng also shook his head, thinking that Han Fu was a weakling, perhaps skilled in administration but a complete novice in military affairs.

Han Fu, aware of his limitations, dared not go. He quickly said, "General, I have a subordinate, Zhang He, who is extremely brave and knowledgeable about the terrain. He can assist Zijin!"

"Zhang He!" Qin Feng's face lit up. He had been afraid that Han Fu would assign someone incompetent. He looked at Han Fu again, thinking, "This man is indeed capable. He later became the governor of Ji Province, with advisors like Ju Shou and generals like Zhang He. Unfortunately, he himself was not competent, wasting the talents of his civil and military officials."

Lu Zhi nodded and said to Qin Feng, "Zijin, shall Zhang Junyi accompany you?"

Qin Feng, naturally eager to have a brave general by his side, agreed, and the matter was settled, to everyone's satisfaction.

The next morning.

Qin Feng met Zhang He, one of the Five Fine Generals of his previous life, in his tent. Zhang He was still the tall and imposing man with a strong and resolute face.

"Subordinate Zhang He, greets General Qin... General Qin!" Zhang He hesitated for a moment. Although Qin Feng was a commoner, his reputation was so great that even Zhang He felt it was appropriate to address him as a general.

In his previous life, Zhang He, following the orders of the Yuan family, had attempted to assassinate Qin Feng. Qin Feng, acting with righteousness, spared Zhang He, who was deeply moved and later joined Qin Feng. From then on, Zhang He became one of the Five Fine Generals of the Great Qin, serving loyally and fighting in numerous battles, contributing greatly to the establishment of the Great Qin Empire and earning the title of Second-Class Duke of Keding.

Qin Feng, showing respect, stood up and said, "I have heard much about Zhang Junyi of Hejian. It is a great honor to meet you today."

Zhang He, having heard of Qin Feng's reputation from the battle in Zhuo County, felt a deep sense of regret for not meeting him earlier.

Qin Feng then introduced Zhang He to Dian Wei and Xu Chu.

Half an hour later, as Qin Feng led his troops away, Lu Zhi and the others also moved into position, setting up an ambush twenty miles south of the Pan River, waiting for Qin Feng to lure the enemy.

On the other side.

In the southern part of Qinghe County, the ten thousand Yellow Turbans were scattered across the fields, like a herd of cattle, sheep, and horses, covering the ground and raising dust that obscured the sky. Most of them carried farming tools and wooden sticks, and if not for the yellow headbands, they would have been mistaken for refugees.

It was already early summer in April, and the fields were full of various plants. The Yellow Turbans, like a swarm of locusts, left nothing edible in their wake.

Among them were banners with the names of their leaders: Bian Xi, Gao Sheng, and Yan Zheng.

The three leaders, each with over two thousand personal guards, rode together, giving the appearance of an army.

Suddenly, a scout from the scattered Yellow Turbans galloped up to Bian Xi and dismounted, bowing and reporting, "General, we have spotted a group of government cavalry ahead, with the banner of the Xian Army and the 'Yi Yong Army' flag."

"Yi Yong Army!" Bian Xi's eyes widened, and he said to his subordinates, "This must be the one who killed my brothers Cheng Yuanzhi and Deng Mao!"

Everyone present showed signs of hatred.

"Send more scouts!"

Another half an hour passed, and it was nearly noon.

"Report... General. The government forces have stopped ten miles west of our position, apparently preparing to eat."

Bian Xi had a plan. He said to Gao Sheng and Yan Zheng, "A new leader of the Xian Army has suddenly appeared among the government forces, killing my brothers. We cannot let this go unpunished. We can take advantage of their rest and mealtime to surround and kill them."

Gao Sheng and Yan Zheng agreed and bowed, saying loudly, "We are willing to follow the general and kill that man to avenge Cheng Yuanzhi and Deng Mao!"

Thus, Bian Xi led the ten thousand Yellow Turbans and quickly advanced toward Qin Feng's position.

By noon, Qin Feng ordered his soldiers to let the horses graze and to start cooking.

The soldiers dug pits, lit fires, and used branches as racks, using their helmets as pots to boil water and cook food.

Qin Feng also dug a pit and started a small fire. The ingredients for his small meal were a rabbit that Xu Chu had specially caught for him.

"Lord, I have prepared a stew for you, it's delicious," Xu Chu said happily, quickly chopping the large, fat rabbit.

Qin Feng thought for a moment and said, "For a picnic, stewing is not as good as grilling." He then instructed his Dragon Twin Guards, having Dian Wei make skewers and Xu Chu cut the meat. Soon, a three-pound rabbit was turned into twenty large skewers.

Qin Feng took five skewers and started grilling them. Thinking about how everything had gone smoothly so far, with the Xian Army and the Dragon Twin Guards in place, and two wives found, he felt that this was the best start in a thousand years. Therefore, he was particularly happy, thinking that after winning this battle, he must get a position from Lu Zhi, or he would not accept it.

Thinking happily, he flipped the skewers and sprinkled salt, muttering, "Grilled rabbit, I love it..."

Dian Wei and Xu Chu, seeing their lord happy, were also happy, one skewering and the other cutting.

However, Zhang He, seeing this, was sweating. He walked over to Xu Chu and said, "Zhongkang, the enemy is about to arrive, and General Qin is eating skewers?"

Xu Chu, though puzzled, had never doubted his lord and said, "My lord has his reasons."

Zhang He shook his head helplessly. When he saw Qin Feng finish a skewer and eat it in one bite, leaving only a trail of oil on the ground, he threw the skewer away and said with a smile, "Delicious skewers, pure and natural, only at this time can I enjoy such good meat." He thought, "In the future, even the most luxurious hotels will not have such pure and natural ingredients."

Qin Feng ate heartily, finishing each skewer as soon as it was done. Zhang He could not bear it any longer and approached, bowing. Before he could speak, Qin Feng saw him and warmly greeted him, "Junyi, come, come, sit down. I'll grill a skewer for you."

Zhang He's heart ached, and he bowed repeatedly, reminding Qin Feng, "General, you can't keep eating. The enemy is about to arrive!"

Qin Feng smiled confidently and said, "This is like waiting for a rabbit. After eating this one, a bigger one will come soon."