Zhang Xin felt a splitting headache. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the Prefect of Pingyuan, ordering him to mobilize laborers at once and prepare the city's defenses.
The Yellow Turbans would certainly return—and next time, their numbers would likely exceed five or six thousand.
Fortunately, the uprising in Qingzhou had erupted only after the autumn harvest. The granaries were still full, so provisions were not an immediate concern.
Once the officials withdrew, only Zhang Xin, Xun You, and Dian Wei remained in the hall.
"Gongda, do you have a plan?" Zhang Xin asked.
Unable to find a solution himself, he could only turn to Xun You.
After a moment's thought, Xun You replied, "Our forces are insufficient. Why not borrow troops from the great clans of the province?"
During the Eastern Han, powerful families often maintained private armies—retainers and servants trained for combat. These forces could be considerable. If gathered together, they could easily form a sizable army, fully equipped and ready to fight.
Zhang Xin, however, shook his head.
"That is not acceptable."
He paused, then spoke slowly:
"What I want is a Qingzhou where a single command is enough to decide everything—not a fractured land where I must bow to powerful clans."
Borrowing troops might solve the immediate crisis, but it would bind him to those clans forever. Qingzhou would become a shared domain, not his to command alone.
And beyond that—what of the million Yellow Turban rebels?
If he relied on the great clans, he would lose the freedom to deal with them as he wished. Land would be scarce, resettlement impossible, and the only remaining option would be slaughter.
But suppressing them by force would take years.
With the Mount Tai region to the west, the rebels could always retreat into the mountains and wage guerrilla war.
Historically, Xu He had relied on exactly this terrain to resist for over a decade—until finally crushed by Xiahou Yuan.
Zhang Xin could not afford such a delay.
If he became bogged down in Qingzhou for years, he would lose all initiative—and face mounting pressure from figures like Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.
Even if he eventually won, Qingzhou would be reduced to ruin.
So the goal was clear:
Pacify quickly—and preserve the land.
Xun You nodded in agreement, but the situation remained difficult.
"If we cannot fight them directly, perhaps we can win them over," he suggested. "Do you know the Yellow Turban leaders?"
Zhang Xin considered.
"Guan Hai and Sima Ju are uncertain—but Xu He may be approachable."
He explained Xu He's ties to Zhang Jiao, then added:
"But even if we succeed, we lack the land to settle a million people."
The problem was fundamental.
Unlike the Black Mountain rebels, who had the Taihang Mountains as a base, the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans had no stable territory.
If they surrendered, they would need land immediately.
Otherwise, Zhang Xin would be feeding a million idle mouths—an impossible burden.
Xun You fell silent, deep in thought.
At last, he raised his head—and glanced at Dian Wei.
Zhang Xin understood at once.
"Stand guard outside," he ordered.
Dian Wei obeyed and withdrew.
Only then did Xun You speak:
"If land is the issue… then let the Yellow Turbans seize it."
Zhang Xin's eyes widened.
"Have them attack the great clans—kill them, take their lands."
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Zhang Xin was stunned.
Had this come from someone like Jia Xu, it would not be surprising. But from Xun You—refined, composed, and born of a great clan—it was shocking.
And yet… it revealed something important.
Xun You had chosen him.
Still, the cost of such a plan was immense.
"It would damage my reputation," Zhang Xin said slowly. "And be difficult to conceal."
Xun You nodded. "The decision rests with you."
Zhang Xin thought carefully.
Even if he used the Yellow Turbans, could he truly control them afterward?
Without land granted by him, why would they obey?
A million rebels were not easily commanded.
In the end, Xun You proposed a more balanced approach:
"Suppress and appease simultaneously. Win over Xu He, negotiate for land, and proceed gradually."
It was the safest strategy.
But it was too slow.
Zhang Xin did not have the luxury of time.
After a long silence, he raised his head.
"I have another idea."
Xun You gestured for him to continue.
"I still have forces in Yuyang—1,800 cavalry and over 1,000 naval troops."
Xun You's eyes widened. "A navy?"
Zhang Xin smiled faintly.
"I built it to deal with coastal bandits. I never expected to use it here."
His plan was bold:
Use the navy to blockade the Yellow River.
Use cavalry to intimidate and pressure Xu He.
Win him over—then combine suppression and appeasement, while quietly weakening the great clans.
Xun You considered carefully—then nodded.
"It is feasible."
If the river were sealed, the Yellow Turbans north of it would be isolated.
With fast-moving cavalry and strategic pressure, Xu He could likely be persuaded to surrender.
And once incorporated, his forces would become Zhang Xin's strength.
Xun You added, "If Xu He joins us, there may be no need to destroy the great clans. You can pressure them into selling land instead."
Zhang Xin, however, shook his head.
"That takes too long."
His decision was made.
Without hesitation, he took up his brush and wrote two letters.
One to Zhang Niujiao, ordering him to lead 1,800 cavalry south.
The other to Taishi Ci, commanding him to sail south and enter the Yellow River, joining forces at Pingyuan.
With the letters dispatched, Zhang Xin turned back to Xun You.
The strategy was set.
Now, only the details remained to be refined.