After a long silence, Xianyu Fu finally came back to his senses.
"Your Excellency's wisdom is beyond that of mortals!"
A surprise raid on a village could be dismissed as the strong preying on the weak. Defeating the opposing leader might be chalked up to luck. But to devise, in such a short time, a scheme that deceived the Xianbei leader and caused a 9,000-strong army to collapse without bloodshed—this required true brilliance.
At Xianyu Fu's words, the others snapped out of their shock and began offering praise one after another.
Zhang Xin waved it off modestly. "There is no heavenly wisdom here—only a desperate gamble. Such a risky plan can only work once. We won't be so fortunate next time."
Cai Yong nodded slightly. He had intended to caution Zhang Xin against such dangerous tactics, but it seemed the man already understood.
Once the matter of war was settled, Zhang Xin asked, "I've been away from the prefecture for quite some time. Have there been any reports from the departments?"
"Your subordinate has a memorial to present."
The officials stepped forward in turn. There was nothing urgent—only routine affairs. Having served as prefect for half a year, Zhang Xin handled everything swiftly and efficiently.
Cai Yong watched with growing satisfaction. Zhang Xin hadn't even removed his armor before beginning his duties—such diligence was rare.
After concluding official business, Zhang Xin ordered that Zuo Bao and Guan Yu's forces be located at the agreed rendezvous point. He instructed them not to rush back, but instead to patrol along the border to guard against any desperate moves by the Xianbei.
With everything arranged, Zhang Xin waved his hand.
"Court dismissed."
"We take our leave."
The officials withdrew one by one, leaving only Zhang Xin and Cai Yong in the hall.
"Your Excellency mentioned earlier that the Xianbei are short on food and may return to Youzhou," Cai Yong said. "Do you have a plan?"
"Yes," Zhang Xin replied calmly. "We wait."
"Wait?" Cai Yong frowned.
Zhang Xin nodded. "If the Xianbei want to survive, they only have two options."
"Which are?"
"First, they invade Youzhou again and seize our grain." He continued, "That's why I've ordered all prefectures to strengthen defenses and implement scorched-earth measures. The city gates are to remain closed except for essential tasks like gathering firewood."
Cai Yong nodded. "And the second?"
Zhang Xin's lips curled into a faint smile. "They turn on their own people."
Cai Yong sucked in a sharp breath.
Even without military expertise, he immediately understood. With Youzhou stripped bare, where could the Xianbei find food?
Bingzhou might offer some relief, but it was far—hundreds of li away. Only the western tribes could realistically make the journey. If they returned with grain, the central tribes would grow envious.
In the end, the Xianbei would have no choice but to fight among themselves.
And if they thought of attacking the Wuhuan in Shanggu—they would first have to get past Lü Bu.
"Do you find this plan inappropriate?" Zhang Xin asked.
"On the contrary," Cai Yong said with approval. "To weaken the Xianbei without losing a single soldier is most effective. Only when they are weak can the Han grow strong."
Zhang Xin let out a quiet sigh of relief.
At least Cai Yong wasn't as idealistic as Liu Yu.
The mere thought of Liu Yu gave him a headache. Over ten thousand Xianbei had died in this campaign—excluding Guan Yu's kills. Once Liu Yu learned of it, there would surely be harsh criticism.
He could only hope Wei You might speak in his favor.
Shaking off the thought, Zhang Xin turned back to Cai Yong.
"When I first became governor," he said, "my chief clerk told me that governing a prefecture comes down to three things: agriculture, administration, and education."
"I now have some understanding of the first two," he continued, "but I am at a loss when it comes to education. Master Cai, as a renowned scholar, what guidance can you offer?"
In truth, Zhang Xin had long been dissatisfied with traditional approaches. Education in this era largely meant teaching basic literacy and classical texts—methods that kept the common people confined.
As someone who knew the course of later history, he saw the dangers clearly. The monopolization of knowledge by aristocratic families would choke off social mobility and ultimately contribute to chaos.
If this pattern continued, the disasters of the future would be inevitable.
He wanted to change that—to open paths for commoners and enlighten the masses. But he also knew that simply copying future systems wouldn't work. Every era required its own solutions.
That was why Cai Yong's insight mattered.
Cai Yong smiled faintly. Without a word, he took out a bamboo scroll from his sleeve and handed it over.
"You will find your answer within this."
Zhang Xin blinked in confusion.
He had asked for advice—why give him a book?
Before he could press further, Cai Yong stood, cupped his hands, and said, "I am old and easily fatigued. I shall take my leave."
"Ah… take care, Master Cai."
With that, Zhang Xin escorted him out.
Back in the hall, he muttered under his breath, "Looking for answers in books? I can't stand riddles…"
He unrolled the bamboo slips—and froze.
The opening line was all too familiar.
"Confucius said: To learn and to practice what one has learned at the proper time…"
"The Analects?" Zhang Xin scratched his head. "I practically memorized this back in elementary school…"
Yet this version was different. Alongside the text were Cai Yong's annotations—insights layered with depth and clarity far beyond anything Zhang Xin had encountered before.
"…Looking for answers in books, huh?"
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xin calmed himself and began reading in earnest.
Before long, he was completely absorbed.
Cai Yong truly deserved his reputation. His interpretations were profound, illuminating ideas that made Zhang Xin feel as though a veil had been lifted.
"So that's what it means…"
Time slipped by unnoticed.
Zhang Xin remained engrossed, unaware that from the doorway, a pair of bright, curious eyes had been watching him all along.