Chapter 94

At the last moment before dusk, the government army and the Yellow Turbans, each with a force of ten thousand, faced off under the setting sun.

Qin Feng, moved by the last rays of the setting sun, put on his sunglasses and stepped forward, representing the government army, to angrily rebuke the Yellow Turbans.

The Yellow Turban army was shaken, and the Zhang brothers were furious.

Zhang Liang rode out, pointing angrily and saying, "Qin Zijin, you despicable and shameless scoundrel, you deceived us!"

Qin Feng poked the frame of his sunglasses and smiled, "General Zhang, your words are not fair. On the battlefield, each serves their own master. If you can't see through others' schemes, you call them shameless? If that were the case, this general would be a minor sorcerer facing a major one when seeing you Yellow Turbans."

Zhang Jue, who was meeting Qin Feng for the first time, was even more furious than Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao. He swung his Daoist money sword and shouted, "Who will take this man's life for me!"

Horses neighed, and several Yellow Turban generals leaped forward, eager to try.

Qin Feng was startled. He recognized Guan Hai and Zhou Cang in the Yellow Turban ranks, who were not ordinary generals. Just as he was about to call for the Dragon Guards to take over, he suddenly couldn't see anything. Qin Feng was shocked and exclaimed, "What! Why can't I see anything!"

He reached out to feel the air in front of him, then had a sudden idea and took off his sunglasses, smiling awkwardly, "It's just that it's dark. This general was scared, thinking I couldn't see."

Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, Dong Zhuo, and others almost fell off their horses. Zhang Jue and his men stumbled, thinking, "We've seen shameless people, but never one as shameless as this. It's dark, and you wear such dark glasses, can you see anything!"

In summer, even the last bit of sunlight still illuminates the earth. Once this bit disappears, the vast plain becomes pitch black.

Zhang Yan was furious. Although he was angry that his sister's reputation was ruined by Qin Feng, he still advised Zhang Jue, "Master, it's too dark to fight. Qin Feng's situation just now is a warning. We can't see anything. Let's withdraw for now and choose another time to fight."

Zhang Jue agreed and ordered the Yellow Turban army to slowly retreat.

On the government side, the three thousand government troops, who had been pursued for fifty miles, were relieved to see the Yellow Turbans retreat.

Qin Feng and others discussed and decided to gather earth to build a fort and camp on the spot to rest and regroup.

As Li Ru, Li Jue, Guo Si, and others, who were left to guard the Guangzong camp, escaped to this place, the military supplies increased, and the central camp was quickly set up.

In the central tent, Dong Zhuo sat in the highest seat, Li Ru stood beside him, and everyone looked like they had just survived a disaster.

Dong Zhuo, moved, stood up and said to Qin Feng and the others, "Today, we owe our lives to the four of you. I am deeply grateful. May I ask what positions you currently hold?"

During the battle, it was necessary to meet and confirm identities to determine subordination.

Yuan Shao stood up first, bowed, and said, "I am Yuan Shao, Yuan Benchu, currently the Commander of the Archers."

Dong Zhuo immediately became much more amiable, his bearded face breaking into a smile as he returned the bow, "So you are the descendant of the Three Excellencies. Indeed, a tiger does not give birth to a dog."

Yuan Shao had heard this too many times and smiled faintly.

Cao Cao stood up and bowed, saying, "I am Cao Cao, Cao Mengde, currently the Commander of the Cavalry."

Dong Zhuo remained amiable, smiling and returning the bow, "When Cao General was the Northern Commandant of Luoyang, I had heard much about you. It is a great honor to meet you today."

Cao Cao smiled faintly.

Dong Zhuo then looked at Qin Feng, who stood up and bowed, smiling, "I am Qin Feng, Qin Zijin, currently the Commander of the Garrison Cavalry."

Dong Zhuo, upon hearing this, immediately showed surprise and admiration, returning the bow, "Ah, it's General Qin. When I was in Bingzhou, I had heard of your fame in suppressing bandits." He looked at Li Ru and said, "Indeed, a young hero. No wonder you are highly regarded by the court and the old generals."

Li Ru also bowed, looking Qin Feng up and down, thinking, "Qin Zijin looks loyal and resolute, but his methods are ruthless. He destroyed the Cui family and pleased the emperor, truly a cunning and ruthless person."

Dong Zhuo stroked his beard and looked at the last person, who had particularly long arms that could reach his calves and long ears that reached his shoulders. Dong Zhuo felt that this appearance was not ordinary. He saw that this person's chest had three large characters, "Imperial Auxiliary Army." By name, he must be related to the imperial family, so Dong Zhuo was very attentive, "May I ask who this general is?"

Liu Bei was particularly embarrassed and did not mention his position, only bowing and saying, "I am Liu Bei, Liu Xuande, a descendant of King Jing of Zhongshan and a great-grandson of Emperor Jing."

He is also a member of the imperial family! Dong Zhuo became even more respectful, bowing deeply and asking, "May I ask what position this member of the imperial family currently holds?"

Because of Qin Feng and the others before him, Liu Bei's face turned red, and he finally said, "Commoner."

"Commoner?" Dong Zhuo was stunned, his expression changing, thinking, "So he's just a poor noble." After four hundred years of the Han dynasty, there were too many members of the imperial family, many of whom were not included in the royal genealogy. These people, due to their ancestors' and their own incompetence, were not recognized by the royal family. Liu Bei's family belonged to this category.

Dong Zhuo cursed inwardly, thinking, "He talks big, calling himself the Imperial Auxiliary Army and a member of the imperial family, but he's just a poor noble." He was very unhappy to have bowed to a poor noble and did not give Liu Bei a good face. Seeing that it was late, he only said to Qin Feng and the others, "Today, we owe our lives to the three of you. It's late, so let's discuss further plans tomorrow at dawn."

"Retreat." Qin Feng and the others bowed again and turned to leave.

Dong Zhuo returned the bow, but when he got to Liu Bei, he did not bow and instead said, "Liu Xuande, right? In the future, you don't need to come to this Middle General unless you have orders."

Liu Bei was very embarrassed and left dejectedly.

After Qin Feng and the others left, Dong Zhuo ordered the tent door to be closed. When only he and Li Ru were left, he sighed, full of worry, "Wenyou, today the Middle General was defeated. The court will surely punish me, and my future is at risk. What should I do?"

Li Ru stroked his beard, pondering. After a while, a smile appeared on his face, "Lord, why not do this. You can submit a petition to take responsibility, saying that your abilities are limited and requesting the court to send another general to take command. You can also request to be sent to the Western Regions as a punishment. Bribe the Ten Attendants, and I believe the court will appoint you as the Inspector of the Western Regions."

Dong Zhuo nodded, "If I can become the Inspector of the Western Regions, it would be a great fortune." However, he frowned, "We have endured great hardships to come from the Western Regions to the Central Plains. Now we have to go back, and all our efforts will be in vain..."

Li Ru smiled, "Lord, you shouldn't think like that. I believe the Ten Attendants and He Jin, Yuan Wei, and others will eventually have conflicts. By staying away from the disputes, you can return to your place of origin to gather strength. When changes occur in the capital, you can lead ten thousand troops out of the pass, and the situation will be in your hands."

Dong Zhuo, a man of intelligence, was overjoyed, "Indeed, if I succeed, Wenyou will be the first to receive credit!"

Thus, Dong Zhuo drafted a petition that night and sent a fast horse to the capital.

Two days later, the battle had eased.

In the central tent, Dong Zhuo, with his strategist Li Ru, generals Li Jue, Guo Si, and Qin Feng, Yuan Shao, and Cao Cao, welcomed the court's envoy.

Qin Feng had no good feelings towards the traitors of the Dong Zhuo group and had not interacted with them in the past few days.

Cao Cao whispered, "It should be the imperial decree to punish us."

Everyone bowed, and the envoy standing in front of the seat unfolded the decree and read, "On the fourth day of the seventh month of the first year of Zhongping, the emperor decrees: The Middle General Dong Zhuo has been defeated by the Yellow Turbans. However, considering his efforts, he is relieved of his duties as Middle General and appointed as the Inspector of the Western Regions. He is to guard the borders and reflect on his mistakes, awaiting further orders."

"An order is issued to appoint the Northern Middle General Huangfu Song as the commander of the Northern Army. He will lead the troops north soon. The Garrison Cavalry Commander Qin Feng and others are to hold the front line until Huangfu Song arrives, without fail..."

Dong Zhuo was overjoyed and quickly took out money to send the envoy away. Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were very puzzled, thinking, "Dong Zhuo is indeed not a simpleton. Even after a defeat, he is still a high-ranking official."

After the envoy left, Dong Zhuo sat back in his seat, smiling, and issued an order, "Li Jue, Guo Si, immediately organize the troops and set out. We are returning to the Western Regions."

Li Jue and Guo Si, hearing they were going home, were overjoyed and left the tent, glancing at Qin Feng and the others with a smile. The meaning was clear: "You stay here and fight, we are going home to enjoy."

Qin Feng and the others looked at each other, and Yuan Shao whispered, "Dong Zhuo is trying to clear himself and run away. As the commander, his departure will shake the morale of the troops. With only us and the demoralized soldiers left, how can we fight?"

Cao Cao was shocked and immediately stepped forward, saying, "General Dong, who will lead the troops to resist the Yellow Turbans if you leave?"

Dong Zhuo sneered, thinking, "I can't hold them back even if I stay, so I must leave," and said, "The decree orders me to return to the Western Regions and does not ask me to wait for Huangfu Song. I must follow the imperial order and leave."

Qin Feng and the others, upon hearing this, cursed the court for being foolish and not writing a better decree, allowing Dong Zhuo to exploit a loophole.

Dong Zhuo, trying to clear himself and run away, was the highest-ranking official here, and no one could stop him.

An hour later, thousands of Dong Zhuo's remaining loyal troops left the camp in a chaotic manner.

"General Dong has left!"

"The commander has left!"

"What should we do?" The nearly thirty thousand government troops were immediately stunned, just like modern soldiers seeing their superiors run away. Their morale was completely lost, and only panic spread.

"Generals, I am leaving!" At the camp gate, Dong Zhuo bowed, unable to hide his joy, and rode his red rabbit horse, leading his troops away. Only Qin Feng and the others were left in the camp, choking on the dust.

Cao Cao and Yuan Shao immediately cursed, "Old scoundrel, may you die a bad death!"

Qin Feng, though silent, was cursing inwardly. Seeing the panic on the faces of the remaining troops, his heart sank to the bottom.

With the commander gone and the troops demoralized, in simple terms, the battle was already lost, and they were waiting to die.