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"Xiaozhi, distribute the buns to the refugees. Anyone willing to accept Taishan's management gets a bowl of meat soup. Give each soldier three pieces of dried chicken and inform them that if there's no chance to cook tomorrow, they will all eat dry rations. Prepare enough cool boiled water. Tell them they must carry enough dry rations and water, whether in gourds or bamboo tubes. Within three days, I want to see the heads of the Yellow Turban leaders!" Chen Xi instructed Fa Zheng as he looked at the refugees gathered outside the camp.
Zang Ba had sent word that he had become one of Chen Bai's five major generals and knew the positions of Fuyun and Hou Qian. With this information, Chen Xi was ready to abandon any complex strategies. He planned to crush Chen Bai directly, let Zang Ba lead the defeated troops to attack Fuyun and Hou Qian, and then follow up to annihilate the rest.
Chen Xi couldn't believe that Fuyun and Hou Qian could control their troops in such a chaotic situation. If they could, they weren't Yellow Turbans; they were legendary generals commanding elite forces. In this scenario, straightforward brute force was the best strategy. Defeating Chen Bai would start a domino effect, with the fleeing soldiers overwhelming anyone in their path. When humans panic, they become more unpredictable and dangerous than a herd of pigs.
Fa Zheng didn't expect Chen Xi to be this straightforward, planning to herd over a million Yellow Turbans like sheep. Chen Xi didn't bother explaining; the first time something like this happens, it's hard to believe, but he was confident it would work. With Zang Ba leading the defeated, there would be no issues with direction. It was all about chasing and killing.
At the third quarter of the Shen hour (5:45-7:45 PM), the cavalry driving the Yellow Turbans like sheep finally returned under the summons of the messengers.
"Zilong, Yide, Ziyi, you did well. Zhongtai, your military governance was a bit lenient," Chen Xi acknowledged the three while pointing out Sun Guan's slight lapse, though without intending to punish him. "Sometimes, it's necessary to establish authority," he added with a hint of menace.
"Yes, Grand Commander!" Sun Guan stood and replied.
"The reason I've called you all here today is that the Yellow Turban leader, leading about 100,000 troops, plans to defeat us and then seize food from the rear. I want you to crush them with overwhelming force tomorrow. Use the most terrifying moves you have. I want results within a quarter of an hour! Xiaozhi and I will coordinate the army to support you!" Chen Xi declared with a stern expression.
"Understood!" the generals responded loudly.
"Leave 1,000 infantry as a reserve. Tomorrow morning, we'll break camp and defeat the Yellow Turbans!" Chen Xi ordered.
"Yes!" the generals echoed.
After assigning military duties, Chen Xi asked Fa Zheng to come over. "Xiaozhi, are the dry rations ready?"
"I distributed the meat jerky to each unit and instructed them to give it to their soldiers. Zichuan, are you sure this battle will last a whole day?" Fa Zheng asked, puzzled by the sudden distribution of dry rations. "Even if it does, shouldn't we provide hot food? Dry rations aren't suitable."
"Yes, it will last a long time, and there won't be any opportunity to cook. So, dry rations are more convenient," Chen Xi smiled.
"Oh, so we are going to retreat? Have you decided on the ambush location? Such a retreat will hurt morale and exhaust the soldiers. Pure dry rations might not be enough. Oh, that's why you distributed the meat jerky. This should sustain them during the retreat, enough for three to five days," Fa Zheng rattled off, confident in his deductions.
"More or less..." Chen Xi's face twitched. There was no need to explain further; Fa Zheng had already filled in the blanks on his own.
"By the way, did you add salt and sugar to the boiled water as I asked?" Chen Xi changed the topic.
"We have plenty of salt, but not enough sugar. I added all the sugar we had. The amount should be close to what you specified," Fa Zheng replied.
"Good. Make sure all the soldiers' bamboo tubes are filled with this. Tell them to drink it when they're thirsty during the march and not to stop," Chen Xi instructed.
Meanwhile, Chen Bai was gnawing on a pig's foot, planning for the next day's battle. Zang Ba had written the challenge letter since no one else in the camp could write. Zang Ba had also written out the battle plans for Chen Bai's, Fuyun's, and Hou Qian's forces in the letter, which was then sent to Chen Xi. This was how Chen Xi had such detailed intelligence.
Chen Xi's orders were openly written in the challenge letter, boldly transmitting information. Unfortunately, none of the Yellow Turbans could read. If they could, they wouldn't be Yellow Turbans. In this era, literacy was a rare talent, and anyone who could read wouldn't need to join the Yellow Turbans.
"Grand Commander, once we defeat them, with Taishan's grain, we can expand massively and become lords. After all, didn't the founders of the Han Dynasty start as mere ruffians? You could build an empire!" Zang Ba flattered Chen Bai.
Zang Ba, a literate former bandit, had no trouble manipulating the ignorant Yellow Turban leaders. Chen Bai was now blinded by visions of a bright future, entirely unaware of his reality, arrogantly planning to defeat the enemy, absorb their troops, and establish an empire.
Chen Bai's four capable subordinates were equally enthralled by Zang Ba's words. One of them, already somewhat influenced, looked at Chen Bai with strange eyes. This was the effect of "Wang Hou Jiang Xiang Ning You Zhong Hu" (Why can't a king or general be you?).
Despite the promising situation, Zang Ba was still uneasy. The Yellow Turbans were too numerous. After witnessing their destructive power, he doubted Chen Xi's plan. Leading defeated troops to attack Fuyun, then Hou Qian, and finally scattering on the plains? Could Chen Xi really defeat over a million Yellow Turbans? Even capturing so many prisoners would be a challenge.