Chapter Eighty-One: Within Guangzong City

As soon as Huangfu Song and the others departed, Zhang Fei leapt to his feet, pointing at Guo Jia and shouting, "You slick-faced fox! After all I've done for you, the tasks have been assigned to everyone, yet only Zilong and I are left out. Is it because you look down on us?"

Zhao Yun also frowned at this, though he did not voice his displeasure as Zhang Fei did; nonetheless, he felt a twinge of annoyance.

"Ah, Yide, don’t talk nonsense," Liu Yao said, furrowing his brow. "With you two formidable generals, how could Fengxiao not use you? Surely he must have other plans."

Guo Jia cast Zhang Fei an amused glance and replied with an easy smile, "The lord understands me best."

"Ah!" Zhang Fei scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Look, pretty boy, my temper’s foul—don’t take it to heart."

Guo Jia, of course, would not quarrel with someone like Zhang Fei. He laughed and said, "It’s nothing, Yide, Zilong; I’ll be counting on you both soon enough."

"We shall obey," both men replied in unison, clasping their fists.

The next day, at midnight, within the City Lord’s residence.

By rights, Zhang Bao and his companions ought to have been resting at this hour. Yet since word spread that Zhang Jiao was gravely ill and unlikely to live much longer, morale among the Yellow Turbans had plummeted. Frequent mutinies had erupted, only suppressed by Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang’s iron-fisted measures. Had it not been for their efforts, Guangzong would likely have fallen into chaos; now, the two brothers were exhausted, struggling to calm their followers.

"Second Brother, what should we do?" Zhang Liang asked anxiously. "At this rate, even the two of us won’t be able to keep control."

"What else can we do?" Zhang Bao replied helplessly. "If we don’t use force, the city will be in turmoil before Liu Yao arrives to attack."

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Liang said, "Second Brother, perhaps we should discuss this with eldest brother."

"No!" Zhang Bao refused immediately. "Eldest brother said his days are numbered. He’s been unconscious more than awake lately—you’d disturb him at such a time?"

Zhang Liang knew well that Zhang Jiao's days were short; if not for their desperate predicament, he would never consider troubling him.

"Report!" A Yellow Turban soldier burst into the room, panic etched across his face. He stammered, "Generals, the Han army is attacking from all four walls—east, west, south, and north!"

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"What did you say?" Zhang Bao cried, pacing with growing anxiety. "That damned Liu Yao! He promised three days—how can he attack today? What are we to do?"

"Second Brother, calm yourself," Zhang Liang said, grabbing Zhang Bao to halt his frantic movements. He turned to the soldier, "Do you know what banners the attacking forces carry?"

"I do not," the soldier replied fearfully.

"Go and find out. Report back as soon as you have news," Zhang Liang ordered, his brow knotted.

"Yes, sir," the soldier replied, hurrying out.

Now Zhang Bao, having been steadied by Zhang Liang, clutched him in turn. "Third Brother, what do we do? You always have ideas—think of something!"

Zhang Liang wore a bitter expression. "Second Brother, what solution is left? Though it pains me, we must consult eldest brother now."

Zhang Bao hesitated before finally biting his lip and agreeing, "Very well, let’s see eldest brother."

Inside a side chamber of the City Lord’s residence, the air was thick with the scent of herbal medicine. A weary, middle-aged man lay powerless on the bed, while a young Taoist acolyte at his bedside fed him medicine. This was Zhang Jiao, attended by his servant.

Zhang Jiao took a sip of the medicine, but immediately coughed violently, spraying it out with streaks of blood.

At that moment, the chamber door opened and Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang entered, witnessing the scene.

Both rushed to his side, anxious. "Eldest Brother, are you all right?"

Zhang Jiao weakly raised a hand to reassure them. "Why are you here? Has something happened?"

For a moment Zhang Bao was at a loss for words. Zhang Jiao had entrusted the vast city of Guangzong to him, and now, in its hour of crisis, he felt ashamed to face his brother.

"You may leave us," Zhang Liang told the acolyte, who quickly slipped out.

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Now, only the three brothers remained in the chamber.

"Speak—what’s happened? Is Guangzong about to fall?" Zhang Jiao’s voice was faint, as if he might expire at any moment.

"How did you know?" both brothers exclaimed in shock. Since Zhang Jiao fell ill, Zhang Bao had ordered that no news reach him.

"Heh, heh," Zhang Jiao managed a feeble laugh. "If Guangzong weren’t on the verge of collapse, why would you two come to trouble a dying man?"

"Eldest Brother, here’s what happened. That Liu Yao, governor of You Province, somehow found out that Ye Yuan was your stand-in. The fool couldn’t keep his mouth shut and let slip your condition. Now the news of your grave illness has spread throughout Guangzong, and morale has plummeted."

"And now Liu Yao leads his army against us from all sides. With our current strength and morale, we can’t hope to match him. The situation is dire, Eldest Brother—what should we do?" Zhang Bao asked, anxiety clear in his voice.

"Ah!" Zhang Jiao sighed deeply, a sound of both relief and regret. His already feeble body seemed even more frail. "Second and Third Brothers, don’t worry about me. If Guangzong cannot be held, then you must flee. Allow those Yellow Turban brothers willing to surrender to do so. I trust Liu Yao will not harm them. Everyone has their fate; I’ve dragged them into this doomed cause, and I cannot take them with me to die."

Zhang Jiao knew well the consequences of news of his illness spreading. That was why he had Ye Yuan pose as himself to steady the Yellow Turban soldiers’ spirits. Now, with the secret revealed, Guangzong was doomed. Whether any would survive depended on fate.

"No, Eldest Brother, we won’t abandon you!" Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang protested. Having grown up together, their bond was deep; to leave Zhang Jiao behind was unthinkable.

"Enough," Zhang Jiao said, closing his eyes. "Go now. I won’t live much longer, and I wish to stay here, perhaps to speak with Liu Yao, the prince of Han, if there’s a chance."

Knowing Zhang Jiao’s decisions could not be changed, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang fought back tears, closed the door for him, and left without looking back.

Once they had gone, Zhang Jiao opened his eyes again, murmuring in his heart, "Second Brother, Third Brother, I hope you both survive." Though he knew their chances were slim, they were brothers, and he could only pray in silence.

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