Chapter Fifty-Six: The Time Has Come

Five days swiftly passed, and now it was early May, the very beginning of the sweltering heat. At this moment, Liu Yao sat beneath the shade of a tree with Tian Feng, the two of them engrossed in a game of chess. It seemed as though they had forgotten the world around them; not a single drop of sweat dampened their brows.

Suddenly, Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun approached. Zhu Jun, ever the impatient one, wiped the sweat from his forehead and anxiously asked, “Your Highness, how much longer must we wait? The rations within the city will last only half a month more. If we delay any further, we risk running out of supplies before we even defeat the Yellow Turbans.”

Liu Yao continued to play without even turning his head, and asked, “Generals Huangfu and Zhu, do you find this weather hot enough?”

Huangfu Song was taken aback, not expecting such an irrelevant question, but he answered nonetheless, “Your Highness, it is indeed unbearably hot.” Both he and Zhu Jun were drenched with sweat, as if they’d been caught in a downpour. Were it not for the threat of a surprise attack by the Yellow Turbans, they would have long since shed their heavy scale armor like Liu Yao and worn only linen robes.

Still not looking up, Liu Yao replied with a hint of deeper meaning, “If you find it hot, why not sit and calm yourselves? Once your mind is at peace, the heat will cease to trouble you.”

What kind of logic was this? Both Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were left speechless, entirely baffled by Liu Yao’s words, and could only stand aside, watching the game unfold.

But their anxiety allowed them no rest; after only a few minutes, Zhu Jun could bear it no longer. Yet before he could speak, Tian Feng burst out laughing, “General, the linked horses—my lord, your general is trapped, and your king cannot be saved!”

Liu Yao, seeing defeat was inevitable, set down his piece. Raising his gaze to the sky and shielding his eyes from the glaring sun, he spoke with a mysterious air, “Indeed, I’ve lost. My general is taken, and so my king falls. But over there, that king won’t last much longer either, will it, Yuanhao?”

Tian Feng chuckled, “My lord sees deeply. It is indeed almost over.”

Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were utterly confounded by this cryptic exchange, unable to discern its meaning, and for a moment did not know what to say.

At that moment, Shi A hurried in, excitement shining in his eyes. “My lord, the Yellow Turbans are on the move!”

Liu Yao laughed heartily, “At last, they act! It seems it is time for that king to fall as well.” With that, he removed the “king” from the chessboard and turned to Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun, “Now that the moment has come, would you two generals care to join me atop the city walls for a look?”

Though still somewhat confused, both generals understood that this was the long-awaited opportunity to strike against the Yellow Turbans, and responded with excitement, “At your command!”

When they ascended to the ramparts, they found Zhang Fei, Zhang Yun, and the others already waiting. Upon seeing Liu Yao, they quickly stepped forward and saluted.

Liu Yao waved them off and walked to the edge of the wall, where he saw the entirety of the Yellow Turban forces unable to withstand the oppressive heat, moving their camps into the shelter of the woods.

“Hmph, these Yellow Turbans are courting death,” Zhu Jun sneered. “Moving the army into the forest—do they not know that camping among the trees is a grave error in military affairs? I have no idea what that fool Bo Cai is thinking.”

“Woods? Fire?” Huangfu Song’s eyes lit up as understanding dawned. “So that’s it! Your Highness, what a brilliant stratagem! With this, no matter how many Yellow Turbans there are, we need not fear them!”

Zhu Jun, no fool himself, had honed a keen intuition over his years campaigning. Looking at Liu Yao and Tian Feng with a measure of admiration, he said, “No wonder Your Highness insisted we wait. You were hoping the heat would drive the Yellow Turbans into the forest, so we could set it ablaze. With fire, we can destroy them in a single stroke.”

Liu Yao smiled, “Exactly. Now the time is ripe. This is our best chance to strike back.”

Huangfu Song cupped his fists respectfully, “Since the plan is yours, Your Highness, I ask you to give the orders.”

Liu Yao hesitated, feeling somewhat as if he were usurping command, but Zhu Jun echoed the request, “Please, Your Highness, give the commands.”

Seeing their deference, Liu Yao nodded and spoke with authority, “Very well. Huangfu Song, receive your orders.”

“At your command!”

“Tonight at the third watch, you will lead your troops, carrying oil and other incendiaries, and sneak into the Yellow Turban camp to set it alight. Once the fire rises, do not fall back—attack at once and cut down their soldiers.”

“Your will be done,” Huangfu Song replied, barely able to hide his excitement. Liu Yao had entrusted him with the vanguard’s task, making him most likely to strike down Bo Cai and claim the greatest merit.

Liu Yao then turned to Zhu Jun. “Zhu Jun, receive your orders.”

“At your command!”

“After the third watch tonight, lead your men to the opposite side of the Yellow Turban camp. Use the flames as your signal—when you see the fire, storm the camp and kill the enemy with all your might.”

“Your will be done.” Zhu Jun’s task was much the same as Huangfu Song’s, and he too was filled with anticipation.

Liu Yao then looked to Zhang Fei and the others. “If Bo Cai attempts to flee, he has only two possible destinations: the main camp at Runan under Peng Tuo, or Guangzong to join the Zhang brothers.”

He fixed his gaze on Huang Zhong and Gao Shun. “Gao Shun, Huang Zhong, receive your orders.”

“At your command,” they replied in unison.

“The road to Runan is largely mountainous and unsuitable for cavalry. You two will take five thousand of the Assault Battalion and ambush the main route to Runan. Should Bo Cai attempt escape that way, do not let him slip through.”

“Understood.”

Only Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun remained. Liu Yao addressed them, “Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, hear my orders.”

“At your command!” they replied.

“You are to take five thousand of the Vanguard Battalion and lie in wait on the road to Guangzong. If Bo Cai passes that way, do not let him escape under any circumstances.”

“Understood!” Their excitement was plain to see.

Huang Zhong, concerned, spoke up, “My lord, with all my men dispatched, what if other Yellow Turbans come to attack?”

“It is of no concern,” Liu Yao replied, waving his hand. “As for defending the city, my own thousand-strong Guard Battalion, together with two thousand men from General Huangfu’s forces, will suffice.”

Huang Zhong was reassured. The Guard Battalion’s strength was not inferior to the Assault Battalion, and with these troops defending the city, even twenty or thirty thousand Yellow Turbans would not be able to lay a finger on Changshe.

“Remember, in this campaign we punish only the ringleaders. If any of the Yellow Turbans surrender, spare their lives. After all, they were once subjects of the Han and rebelled only out of desperation.” Liu Yao cautioned quietly, casting a meaningful glance at Zhu Jun, recalling that in history, Zhu Jun had slaughtered many surrendered Yellow Turbans. Liu Yao could not allow that; these people would be crucial to the future population of Youzhou.

“We obey!” everyone responded. Zhu Jun, though he did not understand, complied with Liu Yao’s command without protest.

With the orders given, the group dispersed to ready their forces for the coming night’s battle.

As for Liu Yao, he stood alone upon the wall, gazing out at the distant Yellow Turban camp, lost in thought.