Chapter Sixty-Five: Journey to Guangzong

Liu Yao was taken aback by Guo Jia’s praise and, feeling a bit embarrassed, rubbed his nose awkwardly.

“Indeed!” Xi Zhicai was not an unreasonable man; he had simply been caught off guard earlier, his judgment clouded by anger. Now, thinking it over, he realized that Guo Jia’s words were true. If one in a position of power was not ruthless enough, how could great things ever be accomplished?

“Zhong pays his respects to my lord and begs forgiveness for my earlier rudeness.” Having thought it through, Xi Zhicai knelt without hesitation, acknowledging Liu Yao as his master.

“Zhicai, please rise. In the future, I will rely on your assistance,” Liu Yao said joyfully, helping Xi Zhicai up.

“My lord is too gracious. Since I have joined your banner, I will devote myself to you with all my strength,” Xi Zhicai replied with a respectful bow.

Looking at the two of them, then glancing at the fine wine on the table, Guo Jia complained, “My lord, Zhicai, let’s not talk business today. Drinking should come first!”

Liu Yao couldn’t help but laugh at Guo Jia’s drunken antics. “Very well, no more serious matters today—only drinking.”

Guo Jia had been waiting for this and immediately filled the cups for all three, downing his own in one gulp.

But no sooner had he swallowed than he coughed violently, his face flushing oddly.

“Fengxiao, what’s wrong?” Liu Yao asked in alarm.

“Fengxiao, you’re at it again! Hurry and take your medicine,” Xi Zhicai said casually, clearly used to this.

Guo Jia nodded, took a cloth pouch from his sleeve, unrolled it, and was about to swallow several solid pills.

Seeing this, Liu Yao’s heart sank. He grabbed Guo Jia’s hand before the pills reached his mouth. “Fengxiao, you must not take these!”

Guo Jia looked at Liu Yao in surprise. “My lord, why not? I’ve been taking these for years.”

Xi Zhicai also looked at Liu Yao, puzzled. Over the years, he had lived with Guo Jia and knew he had long suffered from fatigue, coughing, and spitting blood. No doctor could find the cause, until a wandering Taoist gave Guo Jia these pills. Since then, whenever Guo Jia had a relapse, taking them always brought quick relief.

Liu Yao examined the pills and suddenly understood—no wonder Guo Jia died young; these were the Five-Stone Powder Hua Tuo had warned about. He asked sternly, “Fengxiao, are these called Five-Stone Powder?”

Guo Jia nodded. “Exactly. I was weak and sickly since childhood, but after taking this medicine I finally had the energy to study what I wished.”

“Ah, you are confused, Fengxiao,” Liu Yao sighed. “This Five-Stone Powder does sharpen one’s focus, but it is poisonous. Take it too long and you become addicted, unable to go a day without it. Worse, the longer you take it, the more it damages the body, likely shortening your life.”

Guo Jia was shocked, tossing the pills away. “No wonder my health’s gotten worse—I never knew.”

“My lord, is there any hope for Fengxiao’s recovery?” Xi Zhicai asked anxiously. Their bond was as close as brothers.

Liu Yao nodded confidently. “Fengxiao, do not worry. In Youzhou I have the famed physician Hua Tuo. Once we reach Youzhou, I’ll have Master Hua examine you. I’m sure you’ll recover.” After all, Hua Tuo could cure even the likes of Huang Xu’s near-fatal illness; Guo Jia’s problem should be no challenge.

At this, both Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai breathed a sigh of relief. No one wishes for an early death, especially when their ambitions are yet unfulfilled.

Then Liu Yao turned to Xi Zhicai, speaking seriously. “Zhicai, when we return to Youzhou, you must also let Master Hua examine you. Your health is little better than Fengxiao’s.” Xi Zhicai’s lifespan was even shorter than Guo Jia’s, but Liu Yao could not bluntly say, “You’re dying.” This was the most tactful way he could address it.

Xi Zhicai was moved, knowing Liu Yao’s concern was sincere. “I will follow your instructions, my lord.”

Satisfied, Liu Yao nodded.

With these two now under his banner, Liu Yao returned to Changshe. He still needed to regroup with Tian Feng and the others, then march on Guangzong, where a tough battle awaited.

This trip to Yingchuan had been a tremendous success—not only had he gained the genius Guo Jia, but also the kingmaker Xi Zhicai. And in the future, Xu Shu would also come to serve him. The ranks of top strategists under his command had grown considerably.

On the day they returned to Changshe, Xi Zhicai and Guo Jia easily blended into Liu Yao’s close circle. At first, Tian Feng doubted that Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai could rival his own abilities—his pride would not allow it. But after a night of candlelit conversation, he was astonished by their talents and wanted to yield his post to one of them. Xi Zhicai, being new, refused—he could not take command and risk alienating the others. As for Guo Jia, he was too lazy to want Tian Feng’s position, which meant endless work. “I only wish to be an advisor beside our lord,” he said, shutting Tian Feng down.

As for the warriors, that very night Zhang Fei and Guo Jia had a drinking contest, and Zhang Fei immediately regarded this bold, wine-loving man as a kindred spirit. Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, and Gao Shun had even less to say against the newcomers. For soldiers, obedience is paramount, and they had utmost faith in Liu Yao’s judgment—after all, he had personally discovered each of them, and now each possessed remarkable abilities. Thus, they believed Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai must also have their own unique strengths.

Meanwhile, the Yellow Turban rebels near Changshe were mostly wiped out after several days of relentless campaigns by Zhao Yun and Gao Shun.

On this same day, Liu Yao received intelligence that Huangfu Song had won a great victory over the Yellow Turbans under Peng Tuo at Runan. With Peng Tuo dead, over seventy thousand leaderless rebels were routed, and more than twenty thousand were slain by Huangfu Song’s stratagems. The pacification of Runan was now only a matter of time.

Additionally, Zhu Jun had reached Wancheng, joined forces with the Grand Administrator of Nanyang, Qin Qie, and, with the aid of the “Tiger of Jiangdong,” Sun Jian, killed Zhang Mancheng in a single strike. At present, the remaining Yellow Turbans in Wancheng, now led by Zhao Hong, were holding out with stubborn resistance, and both sides were locked in a stalemate.

Five days later, after settling all affairs in Changshe, Liu Yao led his entire force toward Guangzong in Jizhou. The journey, however, was far from peaceful. Though the three main Yellow Turban strongholds had been subdued—Yingchuan pacified, Wancheng having Sun Jian’s support and thus only a matter of time, and Zhang Jue locked in a stalemate with Lu Zhi—there were still numerous Yellow Turban bands scattered throughout.

The Yellow Turbans were divided into thirty-six factions. Along the way, Liu Yao’s troops encountered five or six smaller rebel bands. Each time, Liu Yao had no choice but to halt and eliminate them before moving on, which frustrated him greatly. He wondered how Cao Cao, who had set out for Guangzong ahead of him, managed to avoid these obstacles.

Thus, by the time Liu Yao’s army reached Guangping, not far from Guangzong, it was already August.