Zhang Xin's mind raced.
For this escape, he had carefully selected ten people to go with him. In the chaos of war, traveling alone with Liu Hua would be far too dangerous.
The men he chose were those he had observed over time—people who were never truly devoted to the Way of Great Peace, or who simply sought to profit from the turmoil. By now, they all understood that the Yellow Turbans were doomed. Since they had agreed to leave with him, there was no reason for them to betray him.
The shouting outside the courtyard grew louder. Urgent knocking followed.
"Since someone's looking for you, go quickly," Liu Hua said softly.
Zhang Xin glanced at her. There was worry in her eyes.
"Wait for me," he said.
He got up, threw on his clothes, and opened the gate.
A young man stood outside—just over twenty. Zhang Xin recognized him immediately.
Chen Ji, one of Zhang Bao's personal guards.
Zhang Xin quickly swept his gaze around. No one else.
A trace of relief flickered in his heart.
If his plan had been exposed, Zhang Bao wouldn't have sent just one man.
"Well, A Xin," Chen Ji grinned, eyeing his rumpled clothes, "no wonder you took so long. So you were with Sister Hua again…"
"What is it?" Zhang Xin cut him off.
Chen Ji shrugged. "The General of Earth has summoned you. There's a discussion."
Zhang Xin frowned slightly.
Zhang Bao… looking for him?
Ever since assigning him to the city walls, Zhang Bao had never called for him again. Why now?
Seeing him silent, Chen Ji waved a hand. "A Xin?"
Zhang Xin came back to himself. "Do you know why he summoned me?"
"I'm just a guard," Chen Ji said with a grin. "How would I know? But the General seems urgent—you'd better hurry."
Zhang Xin nodded, went back inside, briefly explained things to Liu Hua, then closed the courtyard gate and followed Chen Ji.
No matter what, he had to go.
Especially now—when he was preparing to leave—he could not afford to arouse suspicion.
They soon arrived at the county office hall.
Inside, besides Zhang Bao, five others were present.
Zhang Xin recognized three of them immediately—Zhang Niujiao, Hu Cai, and Li Yue, all commanding generals within the city.
The remaining two were unfamiliar.
One was a burly middle-aged man, with long whiskers flowing from the corners of his mouth. Without his armor, he would look more like a Daoist sage than a battlefield general.
The other…
Was a little girl.
She looked no older than ten, delicate as carved jade, sitting quietly beside Zhang Bao, her expression timid.
Zhang Xin suppressed his surprise and stepped forward, bowing.
"Your subordinate greets the General of Earth."
"A Xin, you've come." Zhang Bao smiled faintly. He gestured toward the whiskered man. "Let me introduce you. This is Zuo Bao—once a chieftain under my elder brother. He possesses the strength of ten thousand men."
Zhang Xin bowed. "Xin greets General Zuo."
Zuo Bao returned the gesture, though his gaze lingered on Zhang Xin with curiosity.
Why had Zhang Bao summoned a mere youth?
Zhang Bao then turned to the little girl.
"This is my elder brother's daughter—Zhang Ning."
Zhang Xin's eyes flickered.
Zhang Jiao's daughter…
He had heard of her only in scattered accounts—some called her Zhang Ning, others Zhang Meiniang. None were certain.
He bowed again. "Xin greets Miss."
Zhang Ning returned the bow shyly. "Ning greets General Zhang."
After the greetings, Zhang Xin took his seat.
Zhang Bao looked at him. "A Xin, the Han army attacked today. How is the South Gate?"
"It is holding—for now," Zhang Xin replied calmly.
Zhang Bao nodded, then sighed.
"You are in charge of the South Gate. You know the situation well. We are trapped in an isolated city—no reinforcements, and morale is low."
He paused.
"Do you have a strategy to repel the enemy?"
"No," Zhang Xin answered without hesitation. "General Zuo and the others are seasoned veterans. Why not ask them?"
Zuo Bao let out a bitter laugh. "We've already discussed it. There is no solution."
Zhang Xin lowered his head and said nothing.
If there were a way to win, he wouldn't be planning to flee.
Outside the city were over thirty thousand elite Han troops, led by Huangfu Song—one of the empire's finest generals—along with capable officers like Li Que, Guo Si, Niu Fu, and Xu Rong.
Inside the city?
Though they claimed tens of thousands, most were old, weak, or untrained. At best, ten thousand could fight—and even they were little more than militia.
As for the generals present…
Just minor figures barely remembered by history.
How could they possibly win?
This battle was already lost.
Silence filled the hall.
After a long moment, Zhang Bao spoke again, his tone heavy.
"A Xin… you once warned us that Tang Zhou would betray us. My brother and I did not believe you. But you were right."
"That betrayal led to the destruction of my clan… forced us to rise unprepared… and brought us to this siege."
He let out a self-mocking laugh.
"You also warned me about Lower Quyang—that it would trap us. Again, you were right."
"Now, a mere three thousand Han troops under Guo Dian block the river, and tens of thousands of us cannot move. We could only watch as Guangzong fell… my third brother died… and even my elder brother's corpse was dug up and desecrated…"
His voice grew hoarse.
"If we had listened to you then…"
He stepped forward.
Then, to everyone's shock—
Zhang Bao bowed deeply.
"A Xin," he said, "you have been right twice. I know you are resourceful. At this critical moment… can you save us?"
"If Lower Quyang falls, the people of this city will not survive. If you can offer a strategy, the entire populace will owe you their lives!"
"General!"
"General, you mustn't!"
The others cried out in alarm.
Zhang Xin was equally startled and quickly stepped aside, reaching out to support him.
"General, please—do not do this!"
No matter what, Zhang Bao had saved his life—twice.
He could not accept this bow.
"A Xin!" Zhang Niujiao stood up, pointing at him. "The General saved you, and now he humbles himself to ask for your help. Why are you still silent? Do you want to be ungrateful?!"
Zhang Xin helped Zhang Bao upright, then let out a cold laugh.
"Easy for you to say. If defeating the Han army were so simple, why ask me?"
"You—!" Zhang Niujiao's face flushed with anger.
"Me what?" Zhang Xin cut him off, no longer bothering with him.
He turned back to Zhang Bao.
"General… I have no way to defeat the Han army."
Zhang Bao's expression dimmed.
"But," Zhang Xin continued, "if it is only to ensure your safety…"
"I do have a plan."
Zhang Bao froze.
"…Only my safety?"
"There is more," Zhang Xin added after a brief pause. "It can also preserve part of our forces."
Zhang Bao's eyes lit up instantly.
"What plan?" he asked urgently. "Speak! If it truly works, I will reward you greatly!"