"A letter from that chubby fellow?"
Zhang Xin's heart stirred. He quickly took the letter and unfolded it.
As expected, Cao Cao began by fiercely condemning Dong Zhuo before getting to the point: he and several others had resolved to raise troops in the name of the emperor and eliminate the traitor. He was already selling off his assets in Chenliu to recruit soldiers and gather supplies.
At the end, Cao Cao wrote:
You were an important minister under the late emperor. Now that His Majesty is being oppressed in Luoyang, how can you remain idle? When the time comes, join us.
Zhang Xin slowly exhaled.
He had waited a long time for this moment.
Whether it had been He Jin or Dong Zhuo, both controlled the emperor. If Zhang Xin had raised troops prematurely, a single imperial edict could brand him a rebel, inviting the condemnation of the entire realm.
A secret edict? It could easily be dismissed as forgery.
Calling upon the warlords alone? He lacked the prestige to rally them.
Acting alone would have been far too passive.
But now, with Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and others rising together, the situation was different. Dong Zhuo could not simply label all of them traitors. If Zhang Xin joined them, he would no longer stand isolated.
If he were a rebel, then what of Yuan Shao?
If Yuan Shao were a rebel, then how could Dong Zhuo justify previously praising him?
And more importantly—Dong Zhuo would never dare declare more than a dozen powerful warlords enemies at once. As long as things remained ambiguous, there was still room for maneuver.
Once it turned into open rebellion, however, those warlords would fight him to the death for the sake of their reputations.
"The journey must have been tiring," Zhang Xin said, looking at Cao Ren. "Enter the city and rest. I will gather my officials and give you a reply soon."
"Many thanks, Marquis Xuanwei," Cao Ren replied.
After arranging lodging for Cao Ren, Zhang Xin did not immediately convene a council. Instead, he first sought out Guan Yu, Ju Shu, Yang Feng, and others, informing them that the realm was in chaos and that their assistance might soon be needed.
When he told Guan Yu that the emperor was being oppressed by a traitor, Guan Yu immediately flared with righteous anger.
"This is intolerable!" he declared, striking his chest. "Whenever you require me, my lord, send but half a bamboo slip—I will come at once!"
Zhang Xin smiled and reassured him, then asked him to return to Youzhou to prepare his forces.
Ju Shu also departed for Shanggu to make arrangements.
As for the Wuhuan tribes, they had long benefited from Zhang Xin's generosity. Mobilizing them required no persuasion—only payment.
Turning to Yang Feng, Zhang Xin inquired about the grain supplies.
Before leaving Luoyang the previous year, he had transported 400,000 shi of grain to the Black Mountain. Of that, 300,000 shi had been reserved as a safeguard against Yuan Shao, while 100,000 shi had been given to Yang Feng and his men as reward.
"Rest assured," Yang Feng said confidently. "Every grain is accounted for."
Zhang Xin nodded.
Three hundred thousand shi—even accounting for losses—could sustain an army of thirty thousand for eight or nine months. That was sufficient.
After offering further encouragement and outlining future prospects, Zhang Xin sent the Black Mountain forces back to prepare.
Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang followed Zheng Xuan to Beihai.
Cai Yong came to bid farewell.
"Teacher, why not stay until after the New Year?" Zhang Xin urged. "Allow your student to fulfill his filial duty."
But Cai Yong shook his head with a smile.
"My daughter is still young. I cannot leave her."
Zhang Xin frowned. "Dong Zhuo seeks prestige. A scholar of your stature may be forcibly summoned."
"Hearsay should not be trusted," Cai Yong replied, slightly displeased. "If he values reputation, he will not force me."
Zhang Xin felt a headache coming on.
The old man was simply too naive.
After further attempts failed, Zhang Xin had no choice but to assign twenty former Yellow Turban soldiers to escort Cai Yong home for protection.
Cai Yong accepted, praising Zhang Xin's filial piety.
Zhang Xin could only sigh.
Once Cai Yong departed, Zhang Xin turned to more pressing matters. He summoned the officials of Qingzhou to discuss raising troops.
The response was unanimous.
News of the emperor's plight had already stirred outrage. With Yuan Shao and others taking the lead, no one objected.
Even if rumors of Yuan Shao's actions in Luoyang had spread, they remained unofficial. In the eyes of most scholars, he was still a model figure.
With consensus achieved, Zhang Xin ordered Hua Xin, Guo Yuan, and others to prepare supplies and equipment. He then sent a reply to Cao Cao, agreeing to join the campaign, and had Cao Ren deliver it.
Finally, Zhang Xin personally inspected the army.
Thanks to iron shipments from Yuyang and the tireless work of Yan Jin and his craftsmen, equipment for over ten thousand elite troops had been completed—armor, weapons, bows, crossbows, and shields.
Among the fifty thousand garrison troops, twenty thousand spears had also been produced. Drawing twenty thousand auxiliary soldiers would not be a problem.
"Is this the medical kit?" Zhang Xin asked, examining a small cloth pouch.
"Yes," Hua Tuo replied.
Inside were simple items: a bamboo tube, a folded cloth, and a length of rope.
Zhang Xin poured out a small amount of powder—barely ten grams, with a faint, pungent smell.
"Does it work well?" he asked.
"Very well," Zhang Liao said with a grin. "During training, if a soldier is injured, this powder stops the bleeding immediately."
Zhang Xin nodded.
On the battlefield, wounded soldiers would fall back while others stepped forward. If bleeding could be stopped quickly, survival chances would greatly increase.
As for infection…
One had to survive first before worrying about that.
After completing the inspection, Zhang Xin rewarded Hua Tuo, Yan Jin, and the craftsmen. Then he returned to the prefectural office, announcing that he would tour the region—while in reality preparing for the coming storm.