Chapter 106: Zang Ba Submits

Zang Ba looked at Sun Guan, who was kneeling before him, and a flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes. After all, they were brothers; Zang Ba found it truly difficult to bring himself to strike.

Yet at that very moment, Sun Guan’s face suddenly twisted into a ferocious grimace. He drew a dagger from his sleeve and gripped it tightly.

"Hahaha, die, Zang Ba!" Sun Guan lunged forward, thrusting the blade toward Zang Ba’s chest.

Zang Ba had never expected such a move from Sun Guan. Because they were standing so close, he could not react in time, and could only watch as the dagger grew larger in his vision.

Suddenly, a piercing whistle cut through the air, followed by a long spear as swift as lightning, which struck Sun Guan’s wrist directly.

"Ah!!!" Sun Guan let out a miserable shriek. The spear had pierced clean through his wrist, causing the dagger to fall from his grasp. The owner of that spear was none other than Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun had been keeping a close watch on the two men; as he had anticipated, they were the type who would never repent. Thus, he had been able to act with speed and precision, thwarting Sun Guan’s lethal strike.

"Xuangao, must you still show such womanly mercy to a man like this?" Guo Jia, watching from the side, remarked coldly. He had noticed that Zang Ba was being overly sentimental. While kindness was not inherently bad, in the face of an enemy, such emotions were nothing but a burden. Guo Jia intended to use this incident to teach Zang Ba a lesson.

"My thanks, General Zhao," Zang Ba said gratefully. This was already the third time Zhao Yun had shown him great favor.

Zhao Yun nodded in acknowledgment. In his view, this was merely his duty, and no thanks were necessary.

Zang Ba then turned back to look at Sun Guan, who was clutching his mangled wrist and wailing in agony. "I originally intended to give you one more chance, but..." This time, Sun Guan had completely extinguished the last of Zang Ba's hesitation. No one could calmly let go of a person who had just attempted to take their life.

Sun Guan, enduring the pain, looked on in terror as Zang Ba walked toward him. He retreated until he collided with Sun Kang.

Zang Ba ceased his mercy. Despite their desperate pleas, he raised his blade and, in one stroke each, decapitated both Sun Guan and Sun Kang. "Someone, find a place to bury them," Zang Ba said indifferently.

"Hehe, Xuangao, I believe we don't have to wait until tomorrow. Surely you have already made your decision," Guo Jia said with a smile.

"Reporting to Strategist Guo, I, Zang Ba, will not go back on my word," Zang Ba replied firmly.

"Good! In that case, you are now members of our You Province. Tomorrow, accompany me down the mountain to meet my lord," Guo Jia said, satisfied. He felt a hint of pride; after all, he was only a youth of sixteen or seventeen, lacking the seasoned composure he would later display under Cao Cao.

"Understood," Zang Ba replied.

The next day, Zang Ba organized his men. Due to the events of the previous day, two thousand men had lost their lives while mopping up the remains of Sun Guan's rebel forces. Thus, Zang Ba was left with approximately twenty-five thousand men.

After consulting with his brothers, about five thousand chose to remain in Qing Province. Most of these men had families and were unwilling to leave their homeland. Zang Ba shared the wealth he had accumulated over the years with them, and then sent them on their way.

Finally, Zang Ba selected the five thousand most elite soldiers from the twenty thousand remaining to form a unit to join Liu Yao’s forces. After all, arriving empty-handed would have been somewhat awkward. As for the rest, they were sent to You Province, as per Guo Jia's suggestion.

In the camp of Taishan Commandery, Liu Yao had been waiting anxiously for a day and a night. Without any news of Guo Jia and the others, he was filled with worry.

"My Lord, Strategist Guo and the others have returned," a personal guard reported to Liu Yao.

"What! Fengxiao has returned?" Liu Yao exclaimed, excitedly grabbing the guard. "Are Fengxiao and Zilong unharmed?"

The guard was nearly startled by Liu Yao's reaction, but replied softly, "Reporting to my Lord, the Strategist and General Zhao are both safe and sound. Moreover, they have brought some people back with them."

Liu Yao’s heart finally settled. As long as Guo Jia and Zhao Yun were safe, whether or not they had completed their mission mattered little. He dashed out of the tent in a single stride and saw Guo Jia and Zhao Yun approaching, followed by a large group of soldiers—the Taishan bandits whom Guo Jia had successfully persuaded.

"Jia (Yun) greets my Lord," Guo Jia and Zhao Yun said in unison as soon as they saw Liu Yao.

"No need for formalities. It is enough that you both have returned safely," Liu Yao said, somewhat moved.

Guo Jia and Zhao Yun were deeply touched. Upon their return, Liu Yao had not asked about the results of their mission, but had instead shown concern for their well-being. To serve such a lord was truly a stroke of great fortune.

"My Lord, allow me to introduce you. This is Zang Ba, courtesy name Xuangao. As for these two, they are his brothers, Wu Dun and Yin Li," Guo Jia said, gesturing to the three men behind him.

"We greet our Lord," the three men bowed to Liu Yao. They looked at him with curiosity, wondering how a youth who had not yet reached the age of adulthood could have achieved so much.

"No need for formalities. Among my ranks, such hollow courtesies are unnecessary," Liu Yao said casually. However, he felt a strange sense of confusion as he looked at the three men, for in his memories, Zang Ba had four brothers, but now two were missing. He soon stopped dwelling on it, attributing it to the uncertainties of history.

"Thank you, my Lord."

"Xuangao, since you have joined my ranks, I appoint you as a Colonel. As for your two brothers, they shall serve as Battalion Commanders for now, leading the men you have brought," Liu Yao said, glancing at the five or six thousand men behind Zang Ba.

"Thank you, my Lord," the three replied gratefully. Zang Ba had not expected to be granted the rank of Colonel immediately upon his arrival. As for Wu Dun and Yin Li, although they did not know exactly what a "Battalion Commander" entailed, seeing Zang Ba's position, they figured their roles were not insignificant. And indeed, a Battalion Commander was the leader of three thousand soldiers—a position well-suited to their martial prowess.

"Reporting to my Lord, I have one more request," Zang Ba spoke up.

Liu Yao frowned slightly, feeling a bit displeased, but asked, "Xuangao, what is it? If it is within my power, I shall not refuse."

"Reporting to my Lord, I humbly request that you allow me to serve under General Zhao," Zang Ba said firmly.

Wu Dun and Yin Li understood what Zang Ba meant and also requested, "We beg our Lord to grant this."

Liu Yao was stunned. The request itself was trivial, but he did not understand why the three men were being so solemn about it.

At that moment, Guo Jia walked to Liu Yao’s side and whispered into his ear.

Liu Yao suddenly realized the reason and smiled. "Granted." It turned out that because Zhao Yun had saved Zang Ba’s life several times, Zang Ba wished to serve under him to find an opportunity to repay the debt. Liu Yao had not realized that Zang Ba was such a man of gratitude. How could he refuse such a request?

"Thank you, my Lord," Zang Ba said gratefully. He then walked to Zhao Yun’s side and bowed, and Zhao Yun returned the gesture. Thus, the silent bond of brotherhood between comrades was forged.