Xu He frowned, a trace of confusion crossing his face.
Hadn't Zhang Xin invited him to talk before the battle?So where was he?
Just as Xu He was about to order an attack, a messenger from Zhang Xin arrived.
"He came alone," the messenger reported.
Xu He hesitated, feeling awkward.
Zhang Xin had brought only one man—clearly a sign of confidence. He must have a formidable warrior at his side, otherwise he wouldn't dare act so boldly.
As for himself…
Xu He shook his head, dismissing the thought.
He had a large army behind him. Bringing too many men would make him look afraid, hurting morale. But bringing too few carried the risk that Zhang Xin might abandon all pretense and strike suddenly.
After weighing his options, Xu He decided to bring three men and rode out to the midpoint between the two armies.
Better cautious than dead.
Seeing this, Zhang Xin called Dian Wei. The two advanced together, unhurried, swaying slightly as they rode.
From a distance, Xu He spotted Dian Wei's towering figure—like an iron pagoda—and quietly let out a breath of relief.
Good thing I didn't come alone.
Zhang Xin approached and stopped five paces away.
Xu He was around forty, with the plain look of a farmer. His skin was dark, his back slightly hunched, and his hands were rough with calluses. Dirt clung stubbornly beneath his fingernails as he gripped the reins.
Feeling the fierce, tiger-like aura radiating from Dian Wei, Xu He instinctively wanted to step back. But retreating now would weaken his presence, so he forced himself to stand firm.
Fortunately, Zhang Xin didn't move any closer.
The two commanders faced each other.
Xu He was tense and guarded, as if facing a deadly foe.Zhang Xin, however, looked relaxed, even smiling.
"Xu He, do you still remember me?"
"Have we met?"
Xu He blinked in surprise. The face before him did seem familiar. He studied it carefully—then suddenly realization struck.
"You… you were the guard behind General Di Gong back then?"
He remembered.
At the end of the sixth year of Guanghe, before the Taiping Dao launched its uprising, Zhang Jiao had summoned the various leaders. Back then, Zhang Xin had been thin and small, standing behind Zhang Bao in a rather comical way—it was hard to tell who was protecting whom.
What made him memorable was his handsome face—distinct enough to leave an impression.
And now…
That insignificant youth had become the Marquis of Xuanwei and Governor of Qingzhou.
"It's me," Zhang Xin said with a nod.
Xu He's expression darkened with anger.
"You were once favored by General Di Gong and taken in as his guard. How can you now serve the tyrannical Han and turn your blade against the Yellow Turbans?"
"It was General Di Gong's order," Zhang Xin replied calmly.
Xu He froze.
A rebel leader… ordering his subordinate to defect?
What kind of logic was that?
Zhang Xin continued, recounting the past.
"General Di Gong foresaw that the Yellow Turbans could not yet establish the Yellow Heaven. He ordered me to preserve our strength—to keep a spark alive."
"For years, I have followed his teachings, searching for a way for our brothers to survive."
"I settled Yellow Turbans in Xiaquyang—they now have land and families."
"I placed the White Wave Yellow Turbans as well. With the autumn harvest passed, they no longer worry about food."
"The Black Mountain forces are harder to manage, but I've arranged supplies to ensure they don't starve."
"Now…" Zhang Xin fixed his gaze on Xu He."It's Qingzhou's turn."
"Xu He, will you surrender?"
Xu He stood stunned, his mind reeling. It took him a long moment to respond.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"If what you say is true—if you are truly chosen as the successor—how could General Di Gong allow you to serve the enemy?"
"It makes no sense!"
Zhang Xin smiled faintly.
"Then tell me—what is the Yellow Heaven?"
"The rebellion was meant to give farmers land, to give people homes."
"If I submit to the Han and secure land and shelter for our followers… is that not the Yellow Heaven?"
"Enough of your sophistry!"
Xu He snapped angrily.
"And even if that were true—where will you get land? The powerful clans seize everything!"
Zhang Xin began to respond—
"Stop!"
Xu He cut him off.
"I will not be deceived by a traitor! With both armies already drawn up, are you trying to shake my resolve?"
He sneered coldly.
"The Yellow Turbans have Xu He who dies in battle—not one who surrenders!"
Zhang Xin sighed.
"With your forces, you cannot defeat me. Why waste lives?"
"How dare you belittle me!"
Xu He flared with anger.
"You have two thousand men. I have over ten thousand! How could I lose?"
"The advantage is mine!"
Zhang Xin glanced up at the sun, now high in the sky.
Conditions were set.
Since Xu He refused… so be it.
"Very well," Zhang Xin said. "If your army breaks, shout your name. I'll order my men to spare you."
Xu He laughed coldly.
"Then I'll return the favor. If your army falls, shout your name, and I'll do the same."
"Then let's begin."
Zhang Xin turned and rode back.
"Battle!"
Xu He shouted as well, returning to his ranks.
"Beat the drums! Advance!"
The Yellow Turban army surged forward.
Three hundred paces.Two hundred.One hundred…
"Rise!" Zhang Xin commanded.
At the signal, his soldiers stood ready.
Xu He ordered his vanguard forward.
A few scattered arrows flew from both sides—but neither army had many skilled archers, nor sufficient equipment. The volleys were largely ineffective.
Soon, the distance closed to twenty paces.
"Charge!"
Xu He roared.
"Shields up! Spears ready!" Zhang Xin replied.
"Kill!"
With a thunder of shouts, the Yellow Turban vanguard crashed into Gao Shun's line.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Shields slammed together in a dull, heavy rhythm.
"Thrust!""Withdraw!""Thrust!"
Gao Shun's voice rang out over the chaos.
Under his command, the Han soldiers moved in disciplined rhythm, spears stabbing forward again and again—even if they struck shields, they struck again.
At first, the clash was evenly matched.
But soon, the flaw appeared.
Zhang Xin's formation curved in an arc. To press the attack, Xu He's troops were forced to mirror that shape.
In doing so, gaps opened in their once-solid formation.
Zhu Ling and Yue Jin seized the moment.
"Forward!"
Their troops surged into the openings.
Puff! Puff! Puff!
Blood sprayed as the Yellow Turban ranks began to suffer casualties.