Chu Yan was stunned when the report arrived.
Zhang Xin… had come in person?
"Let's go take a look."
Rising at once, Chu Yan led her subordinates, Wang Dang and Sun Qing, toward the fortress wall. By the time they arrived, most of the Black Mountain commanders had already gathered.
"Commander Chu."
"Commanders."
She acknowledged them with a nod before stepping forward to observe the situation.
In the distance, the Han army stood in formation—small in number, no more than a thousand men. All cavalry.
Not a siege force.
Sun Qing frowned. "Commander, what is Zhang Xin trying to do?"
Chu Yan narrowed her eyes.
"I don't know… but we'll find out."
It was not unusual for opposing commanders to meet before battle. Since Zhang Xin had issued the invitation, refusing it would only weaken their own morale.
Chu Yan led two thousand troops out of the pass, forming ranks with their backs to the fortress walls.
Across from them, the Han army completed its formation. Then Zhang Xin stepped forward, accompanied by Dian Wei, Zuo Bao, Zhang Liao, and Xu Huang.
They stopped roughly two hundred paces apart—far enough to avoid arrow fire.
Seeing this, Chu Yan also advanced with a dozen chieftains.
Behind Zhang Xin, Zuo Bao quietly introduced them one by one.
"My lord, that is Yang Feng… Huang Long… Ping Han… all former followers of the Great Teacher."
Zhang Xin nodded slightly.
Chu Yan halted about ten steps away.
She was just about to speak—
When Zhang Xin suddenly exploded.
"Chu Feiyan, I'll fuck your mother!"
Silence.
Total, stunned silence.
Chu Yan: ???
The other commanders: ???
Before anyone could react, Zhang Xin continued, voice like thunder:
"You're from the Yellow Turbans too—under my father-in-law's command—and you dare try to extort me?!"
"Two hundred thousand shi of grain? Let me tell you—I don't have it!"
"You either get back into the mountains right now, or I'll call down Xianbei cavalry to seal every pass of Black Mountain! Let's see what your men eat then!"
"I don't even care about Bingzhou anymore—I'll kill you first!"
Zhang Xin exhaled.
That… felt good.
Chu Yan stood frozen for a full ten breaths before rage finally surged through her.
"You insolent bastard!"
She drew her sword in fury. Sun Qing and Wang Dang followed suit.
Across from them, Dian Wei and the others also moved, weapons in hand.
For a brief moment, the tension was suffocating.
Then Chu Yan hesitated.
Her gaze flickered over Dian Wei's towering frame, Zhang Liao's sharp composure… and Zuo Bao—once a fierce general under Zhang Jiao himself.
Then she glanced at her own side.
If a fight broke out… could she really count on absolute loyalty?
Slowly, she lowered her blade.
Zhang Xin sneered.
"What if I insult you?"
"I've spent years in court, thinking day and night how to carve out a path for our Yellow Turban brothers!"
"Now that I've finally secured Bingzhou, I'm preparing to take land—real land—to settle the Black Mountain brothers so they won't starve in those cursed mountains!"
His voice grew colder.
"And what do you do?"
"Instead of helping, you stab me in the back—and try to extort me?"
"If we weren't of the same roots, I'd have killed you already!"
The words struck hard.
Several commanders shifted uneasily.
Yang Feng's eyes lit up.
"Is… is that true, Young General?"
No one doubted Zhang Xin's identity. With Zuo Bao at his side, his connection to Zhang Jiao was unquestionable.
And more importantly—
The Black Mountain army was suffering.
Despite their numbers, life in the mountains was harsh. Poor land, scarce food, brutal winters.
If they could live on fertile plains…
Who would choose hardship?
"The Yellow Turbans do not deceive the Yellow Turbans," Zhang Xin said firmly.
"You can ask Zuo Bao. Or him." He pointed at Xu Huang. "When have I ever mistreated our people?"
Zuo Bao stepped forward, explaining the favorable treatment of Yellow Turbans under Zhang Xin.
Xu Huang followed, describing the current stability in Hedong.
Hope flickered across many faces.
"Of course," Zhang Xin added, "resettling millions cannot happen overnight."
"Return to the mountains. Give me time. Once Bingzhou is recovered, I will send for you."
The commanders reacted differently—some hopeful, some doubtful.
Chu Yan's expression hardened.
But Zhang Xin had already taken note.
Who could be won over.
Who needed to be suppressed.
Finally, Chu Yan spoke again, forcing a smile.
"Young General… I was wrong to raid Shangdang. I apologize."
She bowed slightly.
Zhang Xin waved a hand dismissively.
"Good. Then go back."
"But—"
Chu Yan straightened, her smile tightening.
"We came down because we lack food. Since you speak for the Yellow Turbans… you wouldn't let your brothers starve, would you?"
"As long as you provide supplies, we'll withdraw immediately."
She had learned quickly.
If Zhang Xin used righteousness—she would use it back.
Zhang Xin's eyes turned cold.
"Feiyan… have I been too kind to you?"
Chu Yan said nothing.
"If I give you grain, what will my army eat?" Zhang Xin pressed. "How do I retake Bingzhou? How do I settle our people?"
He turned sharply.
"Yang Feng. Huang Long. Ping Han. Are you also here to take advantage?"
They shook their heads hurriedly.
"Feiyan, let's withdraw," Huang Long urged. "We can seek food elsewhere."
"Yes, yes," Yang Feng added. "This isn't the time to pressure the Young General."
Chu Yan's face twisted with anger.
Even the way they addressed her had changed.
At that moment, Wang Dang stepped forward with a sneer.
"Young General, you speak of righteousness—but when we starved in the mountains, where were you then?"
Zhang Xin glanced at him.
"Who are you?"
"Wang Dang."
Zhang Xin nodded slowly.
"Understood."
He turned slightly.
"Old Dian—kill him."
Before anyone could react—
Dian Wei's hand moved.
A small halberd flashed through the air.
At such close range, Wang Dang had no chance.
The blade pierced his throat.
He collapsed from his horse, clutching at the wound, choking on blood.
Dead within moments.
Shock rippled through the ranks.
Even Chu Yan froze.
Zhang Xin looked at her calmly.
"I told you before."
"If we weren't of the same roots… you'd already be dead."
He paused.
"Now—do you believe me?"