After Xun You led his troops to Lengquan Pass, he immediately sought out Gao Shun to understand the situation.
Guo Da had besieged the pass for ten days without success. Then news arrived that Yang Feng had surrendered, forcing Guo Da to withdraw to Qi County, leaving Han Xian behind to guard the front.
North of Lengquan Pass lay a chain of counties—Jiexiu, Wuxian, Zhongdu, Jingling, and Qixian. These five counties stretched along the Fen River, forming the core of Guo Da's control in the south-central Taiyuan Basin.
Further north stood Jinyang.
A fortified stronghold, Jinyang was notoriously difficult to capture. Instead of wasting effort there, Guo Da had shifted his forces to places like Daling and Pingtao, seeking to expand his strategic depth before Han reinforcements could arrive.
Xun You seized this opportunity.
He advised Gao Shun to sally out and attack Jiexiu, while Zuo Bao led cavalry patrols to intercept reinforcements.
As expected, Yellow Turban forces from nearby counties marched to aid Jiexiu—but they ran straight into Zuo Bao's cavalry.
The result was one-sided.
Zuo Bao charged fiercely, scattering them into chaos. Most of these former rebels were poorly equipped peasants, still carrying hoes and wooden clubs, lacking even basic formation. They broke almost immediately.
Fortunately for them, it was Zuo Bao they encountered.
Out of respect for their shared past, he showed restraint—dispersing rather than slaughtering them. Had it been Li Jue or Guo Si, the field would have run red with blood.
Following Xun You's instructions, Zuo Bao captured some prisoners.
Like Zhang Xin before him, Xun You revealed Zhang Xin's identity to them, fed them, and released them.
This happened repeatedly.
Gradually, the surrounding counties stopped sending reinforcements. Even those inclined to help no longer wished to oppose the "young general."
—
Meanwhile, at Jiexiu, Gao Shun pressed the attack relentlessly.
Han Xian struggled to hold on.
Though both sides consisted largely of new recruits, the Han army had structure, discipline, and leadership. Gao Shun was skilled in training troops, and his men were well-equipped and organized. Many had already seen combat under Guo Da and could be considered seasoned.
The White Wave Yellow Turbans, by contrast, were disorganized and poorly armed.
Without the city walls, they would have collapsed long ago.
After days of waiting in vain for reinforcements, Han Xian had no choice but to break out and retreat.
Xun You did not pursue.
Instead, he ordered Gao Shun to hold Jiexiu and sent word to Zhang Xin.
—
After regrouping, Zhang Xin and Xun You devised a broader plan.
Gao Shun would remain in Jiexiu with two thousand troops.
Guo Si would station a thousand cavalry outside the city as mobile support.
Cao Xing would guard Lengquan Pass with five hundred county soldiers, securing the supply line.
Li Jue would lead a thousand cavalry through Qinshui Valley and Gaoping Pass as the vanguard to reinforce Shangdang.
Zhang Xin himself followed with fourteen hundred cavalry and fifteen hundred infantry.
—
Li Jue moved swiftly.
When Chu Yan learned that Han reinforcements had arrived—and that they were cavalry—he immediately withdrew, retreating to Hukou Pass.
Hukou Pass was a critical stronghold.
Located in the northern reaches of Huguan, it connected routes south to Chaoge and north toward Handan. Narrow and naturally fortified, it was easy to defend and extremely difficult to attack.
By mid-April, Zhang Xin arrived at Changzi.
The governor of Shangdang came out personally to welcome him. After formalities, Zhang Xin inquired about the situation.
When he learned Chu Yan had entrenched himself at Hukou Pass, Xun You frowned.
"My lord, it seems Chu Yan intends to hold us here in a stalemate."
Zhang Xin nodded.
Hukou Pass, shaped like the spout of a kettle, was a natural choke point. A direct assault could take over a year—time he did not have.
Chu Yan's intention was clear: delay.
Once Zhang Xin withdrew, he could reemerge and continue plundering Shangdang.
It was infuriating.
Zhang Xin pondered for a long moment but found no easy solution.
"Gongda, do you have a plan?"
Xun You shook his head.
"With our forces, a direct assault is unwise. The only viable strategy is to sow division within their ranks and cause them to collapse from within."
"But such strategies take time—and we may not have it. If Jinyang falls, the White Wave rebels and the Southern Xiongnu may join forces. Recovering Bingzhou would become extremely difficult."
"Division…" Zhang Xin murmured, his eyes lighting up.
That gave him an idea.
The Black Mountain Army was not a unified force—it was a loose coalition of many leaders. Chu Yan was merely the strongest among them, not an absolute authority.
Dozens of other commanders existed, each leading their own bands—some tens of thousands strong, others only a few thousand.
Some sought power and territory.
Others remained loyal to the legacy of Zhang Jiao and the Way of Peace.
That difference… could be exploited.
"Old Zuo!" Zhang Xin called.
"I am here," Zuo Bao stepped forward.
"Go to Chu Yan. Find out his intentions—and observe who stands with him."
"Yes."
—
At Hukou Pass, Zuo Bao was warmly received.
Old comrades gathered, laughing and greeting him.
When he revealed that Zhang Xin was both the son-in-law of the Great Teacher and disciple of Zhang Bao, the reactions varied—shock, doubt, excitement.
Some, like Yang Feng, were overjoyed at the thought that Zhang Jiao's lineage might still continue.
Others remained cautious.
Chu Yan himself stayed silent.
Eventually, he spoke.
"If Zhang Xin still values our ties, then let him send us grain. Two hundred thousand shi—and we will withdraw."
It was blatant extortion.
Zuo Bao noted everyone's reactions before taking his leave.
—
When he reported back, Zhang Xin exploded in anger.
"Chu Yan dares to extort me?!"
"Go tell him to withdraw immediately—or I'll summon thirty thousand Xianbei cavalry, seal the mountains, and starve them all to death!"
"I'll abandon Bingzhou if I must—just to destroy him first!"
Zuo Bao prepared to depart again—
"Wait."
Xun You intervened.
"My lord, do not act in anger. Let us first analyze the situation."
Zhang Xin calmed slightly and listened as Zuo Bao described the meeting.
Xun You nodded thoughtfully.
"There are indeed factions within the Black Mountain Army loyal to you. That Yang Feng… may be key."
Zhang Xin lowered his head, thinking deeply.
After a long silence, he suddenly looked up.
"Li Jue!"
"I am here!"
"Bring a thousand cavalry. You're coming with me to Hukou Pass."
Xun You was startled. "My lord, what are you planning?"
Zhang Xin smiled coldly.
"Letting Zuo Bao scold him isn't enough."
"I'll go scold Chu Yan myself."
"My lord, that's too dangerous—"
Zhang Xin raised a hand.
"In strategy, I may not surpass you. But when it comes to understanding the Yellow Turbans… you are not my equal."
"I won't go alone. With a thousand cavalry, do you think they can touch me?"
Li Jue grinned. "Our Xiliang cavalry aren't so easily dealt with."
After a moment's hesitation, Xun You relented.
"Then I will accompany you."
"Fine," Zhang Xin agreed.
—
Soon, Zhang Xin led a thousand cavalry to Hukou Pass, halting five hundred paces from its gates.
Inside, the defenders braced themselves.
Zuo Bao rode forward and called out:
"Commanders! The young general requests a meeting before the pass!"