"How is Shangdang now?" Zhang Xin asked urgently.
As Governor of Bingzhou, Shangdang Commandery was the only place where he could still directly mobilize troops. The rest were either already lost or cut off by blocked routes. If Shangdang fell, he would be left with no forces to command.
"The prefect is holding firm at Changzi and Huguan for now," the minor official replied. "They are safe at the moment. However, Chu Yan's forces are strong—he may not be able to hold out much longer. I urge you to send reinforcements at once!"
"How many troops does Chu Yan have?" Zhang Xin asked.
"I'm not certain," the clerk admitted, shaking his head. "But there are… many."
"I understand." Zhang Xin waved him off. "Go and rest."
"Yes." The official bowed and withdrew.
Zhang Xin turned. "Gongda, what do you think?"
Xun You studied the map, his brows tightly knit.
Guo Da and the Southern Xiongnu rebels were already enough trouble—yet now Chu Yan had struck from behind at the worst possible moment.
Seeing Xun You deep in thought, Zhang Xin remained silent, organizing his own thoughts as well.
For now, the Southern Xiongnu could be ignored. With Zhao Yun and Ma Ridi guarding Longmen Ferry, they would not be able to cross. Upstream lay the Jin-Shaanxi Grand Canyon—narrow terrain and rapid currents made large-scale deployment impossible. Two thousand men would suffice to hold that position.
The real question was this:
Should they first take Taiyuan—or rescue Shangdang?
In Taiyuan, Guo Da's hundred thousand White Wave Yellow Turbans had gathered in the southern basin, forming a formidable threat.
As for Shangdang, although reports claimed Chu Yan had many troops, Zhang Xin doubted it.
He had governed a commandery before. Yuyang, a border region, had barely over a thousand troops. Shangdang, being an interior commandery with difficult terrain and a population of just over one hundred thousand, could not sustain a large army.
Even if the prefect had expanded his forces due to Black Mountain incursions, the total could not exceed two thousand.
Two thousand men defending two cities—yet Chu Yan still hadn't taken them.
That suggested something else: Chu Yan likely had no intention of occupying Shangdang. He was probably taking advantage of the chaos to plunder, not to hold territory.
At that moment, Xun You spoke.
"My lord, we should enter Shangdang via Jieshan. After defeating Chu Yan, we can redirect those troops northward."
"That official claimed Chu Yan has many soldiers, but I believe the prefect could not possibly defend two cities with only local troops. Therefore, Chu Yan's forces must not be overwhelming."
"Although Zhang Yi has fallen, Jinyang still stands. Once Chu Yan is defeated, we can launch a three-pronged attack on Guo Da—from Jiexiu, Shangdang, and Jinyang. Taiyuan can then be reclaimed."
Zhang Xin nodded slightly.
Their judgments aligned.
But Shangdang could not be ignored.
If it fell, the consequences would extend beyond the battlefield. South of Shangdang lay Hanoi, and further south—Luoyang. A collapse here could become a political disaster.
After all, Zhang Xin himself was a former Yellow Turban general, and Chu Yan belonged to the Black Mountain faction. If both forces became entangled, it would give their enemies ample opportunity to accuse and undermine them.
"Very well," Zhang Xin said. "We move to relieve Shangdang first."
He turned to Xun You. "To reach Jieshan, we must first take Jiexiu. Hedong is stable for now—I'll have to trouble you, Gongda, to assist Gao Shun."
"Yes, my lord." Xun You bowed and departed.
—
Soon after, Zhang Xin summoned the Prefect of Hedong.
The man arrived promptly and bowed. "What are your orders, my lord?"
Zhang Xin returned the courtesy. "There are two matters I require your assistance with."
"Please speak."
"First, I would like to borrow one thousand county troops for operations beyond the commandery."
The prefect nodded without hesitation. "That can be arranged."
No matter how this campaign ended, he would likely face punishment from the court. Zhang Xin's recovery of Hedong had already lessened that burden—this was a small favor in return.
"And the second matter?" he asked.
"I will soon depart for battle, but the White Wave Yellow Turbans have yet to be fully settled."
Zhang Xin continued, "My subordinate Niu Feng is familiar with them. After I leave, he can assist you in stabilizing the situation."
"Therefore, I ask that you appoint him as Magistrate of Pingyang."
The prefect immediately agreed. Taking up brush and silk, he drafted the appointment order, affixed the official seal, and handed it over.
"I will also arrange the transfer of troops at once."
"Many thanks," Zhang Xin said, accepting the document.
—
After the prefect left, Zhang Xin summoned Niu Feng and explained everything, handing him the appointment.
Niu Feng stared wide-eyed. "Me? A county magistrate? Really?"
"What, is the position beneath you?" Zhang Xin teased.
"No, no!" Niu Feng shook his head vigorously, then hesitated. "But… how could I be qualified? My lord, you should choose someone more capable. I'll just stay by your side."
Zhang Xin frowned. "Do you plan to remain a scout captain your entire life?"
"Then I'll remain a scout captain," Niu Feng said awkwardly. "Look at me—I don't exactly seem like magistrate material…"
Zhang Xin sighed. "Being a magistrate isn't as difficult as you think. Let your subordinates handle the details—you just oversee the bigger picture."
"I'll also assign someone to assist you. What are you afraid of?"
"Who?" Niu Feng asked.
"A-Meng."
"A-Meng?" Niu Feng blinked. "Isn't he still a child?"
"Don't underestimate him," Zhang Xin snapped. "When I governed Yuyang, I learned a great deal from him. If not for his age, he'd already be qualified to serve as a magistrate."
"Then let him be the magistrate," Niu Feng grinned. "I'll stay with you as scout captain."
"Get out! Get out! Get out!"
Zhang Xin pointed at him angrily. "You call yourself a scout captain, yet you can't even keep your bearings! What use are you to me?"
Niu Feng flushed red, recalling how he had once gotten lost during the Liangzhou campaign.
Zhang Xin jabbed a finger at him.
"I'm telling you—you will take this post whether you like it or not. Otherwise, I'll give you some money and send you back to Yuyang to farm!"
"I have no use for a soldier who lacks ambition!"