While Yuan Shu, who was currently recruiting his personal guard team, was unaware of the conversation between Lu Zhi and the others, he was actually quite uneasy.
He hadn't personally tested Xu Huang's martial prowess, but he had heard some things about it over the past few days. If even that fellow claimed there was a fierce general aiming to kill him, just how formidable must that person be? This was why, even though he was in the main camp of the allied forces, Yuan Shu was desperately trying to recruit people. It was all about survival! Although he was only recruiting common soldiers, a large number of them could still pose a threat! Besides, if things went south, he could let them take the brunt of it while he slipped away. It was just a matter of silver, after all! What, you ask if the Yuan family has that much silver? Nonsense! Even if they did, he wouldn't give it to them! Regardless, if he sent out some people saying they were well-paid, who would dare to track them down to their homes and ask? Even if they did, it wouldn't matter! Once he escaped his current predicament, would he lack personal guards? That would be a joke!
Of course, Yuan Shu’s thoughts were unknown to the eager recruits. In their eyes, the grand reputation of the Yuan family and the allure of being the second young master's personal guard far outweighed the monetary reward. After all, becoming a personal guard for the Yuan family's second young master essentially meant being removed from the battlefield. Had they ever seen a young master personally enter the fray? Even if they did, it would be under the protection of their guards, with a brief appearance on the sidelines. What did this mean? Absolute safety! Since the second young master himself wouldn't go, would they, his personal guards, have to? Obviously not! And what kind of position offered pay without battlefield risk and brought honor? This was it!
Therefore, although Yuan Shu was already contemplating leaving, he was still surrounded by excited recruits, leading Huangfu Song to believe something had happened. After he parted the crowd and inquired, a strange expression crossed his face. No wonder! He had been puzzled earlier as to why that great general under Yuan Shao hadn't completed his mission. So that was the reason? Indeed! Even he wouldn't dare to lay a hand on the Yuan family's second young master in plain sight, let alone an ordinary commoner. However, that fellow was quite clever! A slight smile played on Huangfu Song's lips as he recalled Yan Liang's previous performance. None of them were simple individuals!
Of course, despite his thoughts, Huangfu Song had no intention of reminding Yuan Shao. It was true that the Yuan family held significant power, but there were also many who were displeased with them. Huangfu Song and Zhu Di were among them! Why should someone who understood no military affairs hold the position of Grand Commandant? It was utterly shameless! One had to know that blocking someone's path to fortune was akin to killing their parents, and the same applied to sudden appointments. These military generals detested such people the most. And now? Huangfu Song looked up at Yuan Shu, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Perhaps creating some trouble for the Yuan family at this opportunity would be a good idea? With that thought, Huangfu Song no longer hesitated. He parted the crowd and walked directly in.
“Young Master Yuan, why are you here? You’ve made me search quite a bit!”
“Ah?” The sudden voice made Yuan Shu jump, almost making him draw his weapon. However, upon seeing that it was Huangfu Song, he let out a sigh of relief. This was because no matter who wanted to kill Yuan Shu, it would never be Huangfu Song and his like. These were seasoned generals who understood the influence of the Yuan family. They wouldn't be foolish enough to do such a thing. And indeed, facing Yuan Shu’s somewhat flustered gaze, Huangfu Song smiled and reassured him, “Young Master Yuan, rest assured, with me here, no one will be able to harm you!”
“By the way…” Huangfu Song paused as if suddenly remembering something and asked, “Young Master Yuan, your elder brother also sent a fierce general to find you. It was he who told Lord Lu that you were still alive, which is why Lord Lu sent me to find you!”
“Elder brother?” “Fierce general?” At Huangfu Song’s words, Yuan Shu’s expression turned somewhat grim. He had suspected Yuan Shao earlier! And it turned out to be that guy? Sending someone to find him? Ridiculous! Since childhood, had Yuan Shao ever possessed such magnanimity? Moreover, as the second young master of the Yuan family, although Yuan Shu was not outstanding in other areas, he was quite adept at power struggles. From Huangfu Song’s words, he understood the underlying message. First, his elder brother had dispatched a fierce general, presumably to prevent him from returning. Second, that fierce general had likely seen him just now but, for some reason, had not attacked. Perhaps this was a potential opening. Third, the current commander, Lu Zhi, and people like Huangfu Song were likely neutral. Upon hearing that he was alive, they had quickly sent someone to find him. As for why they hadn't looked for him earlier? It was simple! No one would have expected the Yellow Turban rebels not to kill him but to hope he returned alive. Hmph! They all wanted to use him, did they think he was so easy to manipulate? He wouldn't let any of them, whether Yuan Shao or those Yellow Turban rebels, off the hook!
Fortunately, Yuan Shu, who was usually somewhat foolish, seemed to have become more strategic after his near-death experience. He didn't even show any emotional fluctuations when he met Yuan Shao. This surprised Huangfu Song. After all, when he first received the news, Yuan Shu’s expression had been murderous. To have controlled himself so quickly was astonishing! This young man was no simpleton! After exchanging a glance with Lu Zhi, Huangfu Song gave him such an evaluation. In response, Lu Zhi nodded slightly, while also making a mental note about Yuan Shu: this child was destined for great things!
Although Yuan Shu's sudden appearance caused some commotion, the overall battle situation did not change much. The Yellow Turban rebels were still at a significant disadvantage! It was unavoidable! Not only was the overall quality of the allied forces superior to that of the Yellow Turbans, but they also outnumbered them. The allied forces numbered over two hundred thousand, while the Yellow Turbans only had a little over a hundred thousand. They were clearly outmatched! However, neither Lu Zhi, the commander of the allied forces, nor Xu Huang, the commander of the Yellow Turbans, paid much attention to the outcome of the battle. They both had their own objectives to achieve! Lu Zhi wanted to break through the Yellow Turbans quickly and reach Luoyang as soon as possible. However, he feared being sandwiched between the Yellow Turbans here and those outside Luoyang. Therefore, if possible, he still wanted to defeat these Yellow Turbans before continuing his journey.
As for Xu Huang, his goal was singular… to buy time, to delay Lu Zhi by any means necessary. Even if all hundred thousand Yellow Turbans were lost, he had to stall Lu Zhi as much as possible. This raised a question: they couldn't engage in a head-on confrontation! If they truly clashed with the allied forces, the defeat of the Yellow Turbans would only be a matter of time. But how could they delay without a direct confrontation? It was simple! As long as the allied forces felt a sense of crisis, they wouldn't be able to move quickly. And this was just one method! Another method? “Heh heh~!” Seeing the first ten-thousand-man unit that had engaged begin to crumble, Xu Huang directly issued an order for a full retreat. The front lines were to be sacrificed! Why? Because Xu Huang did not believe that the imperial army would dare to harm the prisoners. Yes! Prisoners! The Yellow Turban army had already retreated; would you want the prisoners or not? Want them? Then you would have to spend time escorting them, at least assigning guards! Not want them? You wouldn't believe that as soon as your allied forces left, they would regroup? Then, with such a defeated army behind you, would you guard against them or not?
“Lord Lu~!” Yuan Shao, having learned from Yuan Shu that Luoyang had not yet fallen, was eager to return and distinguish himself. He directly suggested, “These Yellow Turban rebels have committed capital offenses; why not execute them directly?”
“Absolutely not~!” Before Lu Zhi or Yuan Shu could speak, the old Cao next to them couldn't help but retort, “Benchu, since they have laid down their arms, they are still citizens of our Great Han! Moreover…” “If you kill them all now, when the empire is restored, who will till the land?”
“Uh…” While Yuan Shao could have argued with the first reason, the second reason completely silenced him. It was understandable! When they marched through the Sili region, they had witnessed scenes of devastation, with "ten houses and nine empty." This had greatly impacted them! After all, the total population of the late Han Dynasty was only fifty million, spread across the thirteen provinces. On average, each province had only a few million people! And these Yellow Turban rebels, numbering tens or even hundreds of thousands, all young and strong. If they were all killed…
“But they are rebels!” Although he knew it was inappropriate to interject, someone nearby reminded them, “My lords, since the Yellow Turban rebels took up arms, they should not be treated as ordinary citizens!”
“But they have laid down their arms now!” Old Cao, who would historically be the first to round up a million Yellow Turbans, was already showing signs of his future actions. He pointed to the Yellow Turban rebels squatting not far away and said, “Since these people have laid down their swords and spears, they are prisoners of war. And our Great Han has never had a habit of killing prisoners of war!”
“This…” Listening to their argument, Lu Zhi, as the commander, also felt conflicted. Whether from a moral or practical standpoint, these prisoners should be executed. And Lu Zhi was not a soft-hearted person. Historically, he and Huangfu Song were both models of iron-blooded resolve, showing no mercy when killing prisoners. But he had concerns now! What concerns? There were still many Yellow Turban rebels! Yes! Although they had captured three to four thousand Yellow Turbans at this moment, the number of Yellow Turbans who had retreated was far greater. At least a hundred thousand? Therefore, if the news of their massacre of prisoners leaked, how would the remaining Yellow Turban rebels fight? They would never surrender! After all, surrender meant death, and not surrendering also meant death, so they might as well fight to the death! In such a situation, how much time would it take for them to reach Luoyang?