Chapter Seventy-Eight: Exposing the True Identity

Fortunately, Liu Yao was quick on his feet and managed to catch the far-seeing lens just in time.

“Phew.” He carefully examined it, finding it undamaged, and breathed a sigh of relief. If it had broken, that would have been troublesome.

Shi Ah, standing nearby, was drenched in sweat as he watched Guo Jia’s actions. If it had broken, it would mean he’d have to go out running for three more days. Shi Ah’s eyes still bore the traces of sleeplessness, dark as panda eyes.

Liu Yao cast a fierce glare at Guo Jia, his voice edged with anger, “Fengxiao, did you really have to react like that?”

Guo Jia knew he was at fault, and replied sheepishly, “My lord, it wasn’t intentional. I was simply too astonished.”

“My lord, let Old Zhang have a look as well!” Zhang Fei chimed in, joining the commotion.

Liu Yao eyed Zhang Fei with suspicion. He knew well how rough-handed Zhang Fei could be. After Guo Jia’s example, Liu Yao truly hesitated to hand the far-seeing lens to Zhang Fei.

“My lord, I promise, I won’t act like that rascal Fengxiao!” Zhang Fei, seeing the doubt in Liu Yao’s gaze, thumped his chest in assurance.

After a moment’s hesitation, Liu Yao handed it over, warning sternly, “Yide, if you dare behave like Fengxiao, I’ll forbid you from drinking for ten years.”

Zhang Fei took the far-seeing lens with careless ease. “Don’t worry, my lord.” He then imitated Guo Jia and peered through it.

In the next instant, Zhang Fei froze, nearly letting it slip from his hands, but the thought of ten years without wine made him clutch it tightly.

Panting heavily, he handed it back to Liu Yao, exclaiming, “My lord, this thing is incredible! Things so far away seem right before my eyes!”

“Haha, naturally,” Liu Yao replied with a smile.

Curiosity, after all, was universal; Tian Feng and the others were no exception. Liu Yao let them each take a turn, and every one of them marveled at its wonders.

“My lord, could this be manufactured on a large scale?” Tian Feng stepped forward. Being older and more mature than Guo Jia and the others, he considered things with greater foresight.

Liu Yao nodded, “Of course it can. Right now, only one has been made due to time constraints. If time permitted, making a hundred or a thousand would be easy.”

“No, my lord!” Tian Feng cried out urgently.

“Eh, Yuanhao, why not?” Liu Yao did not immediately grasp Tian Feng’s meaning.

“My lord, this item holds great value for the army. Whether for scouting or observing enemy formations, its effect is remarkable. If it were to spread, it would be disastrous. I advise against mass production—just equip your own commanders with one each, that will suffice,” Tian Feng explained.

“Haha, Yuanhao, you worry too much. I never intended to produce them in bulk. As you suggest, when we return, I’ll see that each of you has one,” Liu Yao said with a smile. He understood the importance of the far-seeing lens, which is why he had Shi Ah oversee its crafting separately, lest the secret escape.

“My lord is wise,” Guo Jia quickly flattered, grinning mischievously.

Liu Yao laughed, glancing at Guo Jia; he never expected to change Guo Jia’s nature. If Guo Jia, Fengxiao, ceased to be roguish, he would no longer be Guo Jia.

“Fengxiao, and the rest of you—are you interested in joining me tomorrow to meet Zhang Jiao?” Liu Yao asked.

“We await your command, my lord,” everyone replied, fists clasped.

The next day, outside Guangzong City, another challenge was issued. This time Liu Yao himself led Zhang Fei and others, along with ten thousand soldiers.

Liu Yao raised his battle axe high, shouting, “I am Liu Yao, General Who Pacifies the North and Governor of You Province! Zhang Jiao, do you dare face me in battle?”

“Report...” As before, a Yellow Turban soldier approached Zhang Bao and the others. “Most Revered Teacher, someone outside the city is issuing a challenge again.”

Zhang Bao looked at the Yellow Turban soldier with irritation, waving him off impatiently, “Is it that Sun Jian again? Let him cause a ruckus outside, ignore him.”

“Earth General, this time it’s not Sun Jian,” the soldier replied fearfully, stammering, “It’s Liu Yao, and he’s specifically calling for the Most Revered Teacher to come out.”

“What did you say?! Liu Yao?” Zhang Bao jumped to his feet at the name.

“Yes,” the Yellow Turban soldier answered cautiously, terrified of provoking Zhang Bao, who lately seemed to fly into a rage at anything, making everyone fearful.

“Get out,” Zhang Bao commanded irritably, and the soldier fled as if for his life.

“Second Brother, what should we do? Should we go out?” Zhang Liang asked anxiously.

“Go, let’s see what tricks Liu Yao is up to,” Zhang Bao said through gritted teeth.

Zhang Liang glanced nervously at Zhang Jiao, “But he’s asking for Eldest Brother. What if...?”

“What’s there to fear? Just don’t let him say a word,” Zhang Bao snapped, casting Zhang Jiao a fierce glare. The latter, as if seeing a ghost, retreated a step and nodded repeatedly.

Zhang Liang felt this plan would work and nodded in agreement. The three proceeded toward the city wall.

Not long after—

“My lord, Zhang Jiao and the other two have arrived!” Zhang Fei shouted.

Liu Yao looked toward the wall, and sure enough, the three figures of Zhang Jiao and his brothers appeared atop it. Liu Yao signaled to Guo Jia, who immediately understood, took out the far-seeing lens, and began to scrutinize Zhang Jiao.

“Liu Yao, what brings you here? If you intend to besiege the city, I, Zhang Jiao, will oblige. But if you want me to come out and fight, that is out of the question!” Zhang Bao shouted down, his tone blustering. Seeing Liu Yao always unsettled Zhang Bao, for Liu Yao’s military achievements were formidable. Yet recalling the iron-clad defenses of Guangzong City, his confidence surged anew.

“Zhang Jiao, Zhang Bao, Zhang Liang—do you acknowledge your crimes?” Liu Yao said coldly.

Zhang Bao was so enraged he laughed; he had never expected Liu Yao to ask such a ridiculous question, considering how much he had feared him.

“Liu Yao, our Yellow Turbans follow the mandate of heaven to save the Han! Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise, the year is Jiazi, and the world is auspicious. You defy the heavenly soldiers—do you acknowledge your crime?” Zhang Bao retorted angrily.

For a good while, Liu Yao continued provoking Zhang Bao, engaging him in pointless banter. His purpose was to give Guo Jia time to observe Zhang Jiao carefully.

Thus, half a cup of tea’s time passed in idle chatter. Finally, Guo Jia exhaled a sigh of relief, rode up to Liu Yao, and whispered, “My lord, I can confirm it—this Zhang Jiao is definitely a fake.”

“Oh? Fengxiao, how can you be so certain?” Liu Yao asked, though his heart leapt with delight, for he trusted Guo Jia’s judgment implicitly.

“My lord, ever since I noticed something amiss about Zhang Jiao, I sent people to investigate among the fifty thousand troops left by General Lu. Eventually, a young officer revealed something to me.

In the battle between General Lu and Zhang Jiao at Julu, the officer accidentally shot an arrow that grazed Zhang Jiao’s hand. Though not deeply wounded, it would surely have left a scar.” As Guo Jia spoke, he pointed at the “Zhang Jiao” atop the wall, and said confidently, “My lord, look—his hand is unusually smooth, without any trace of injury. Moreover, the real Zhang Jiao was born in poverty; his hands would be calloused, yet this one’s are not. Therefore, I am certain this is not Zhang Jiao.”