High Martial Arts Three Kingdoms: The Incompetent Strategist

How could a garbage strategy possibly be adopted? Are they trying to force me to find a mentally challenged lord?

In 184 AD, Liu Shan (A Dou) hadn't even been born yet!

Tang Ke wanted to slap this broken system twice. Why didn't it activate earlier or later? Now that he's in trouble, it's this garbage talent that he's activated.

Could he possibly fight his way out of Zhang Jiao, a Taoist priest at the Golden Core stage, and thirty-six generals of the sixth rank or above, just by relying on basic spear skills?

"will not."

Tang Ke looked at Zhang Jiao and said, "This disciple is dull-witted and has not learned a single move in the past three years."

"My darling, you are my personally taught disciple, and even you don't believe me?"

Zhang Jiao's expression was full of disappointment, but his eyes revealed a sense of relief.

During the three years that Tang Ke had been with the Yellow Turban Army, he had relied heavily on him. By defying public opinion and appointing a teenager as the chief strategist, he had truly set a precedent in history.

He lived up to expectations, always able to foresee the development of events like a prophet. His concept of "a single spark can start a prairie fire" became a guiding light for the poor, helping him to rapidly develop the struggling Taiping Dao into the number one sect in the Han Dynasty.

As its power continues to grow, the goals of the Way of Peace also change, from initially healing the sick and saving lives to now overthrowing the Han Dynasty. Everything is developing in a positive direction.

The problem is that Tang Ke, like a prophet, always gives himself the feeling that he is in control of everything.

This feeling makes me very uncomfortable!

Moreover, he was very clean, neither vying for power nor being greedy or lustful. He even refused when I offered to marry my daughter to him, citing the freedom of love. He was like a moral exemplar, leaving me with no grounds for criticism.

As his power grew, he seemed to raise more and more objections, and each time he was right, leading to a flurry of internal rumors.

In the past, I cherished his talent and could tolerate it, but for the Taiping Dao, which was about to rise up, the blow to morale from a prophet constantly raising objections was immeasurable.

If he were an ordinary follower, being expelled from the church would be one thing, but he had been with the Way of Peace for three years and knew far too much.

If it weren't for his reputation, I wouldn't have gone through such a long and complicated process.

Fortunately, he still has this shortcoming: despite his extraordinary talent, he can't learn his own Taiping Essentials!

"Considering our past relationship as master and disciple, you may leave the mountain. You have followed me for three years, so I will give you the time it takes for three incense sticks to burn. Before those three incense sticks burn out, no one here will make things difficult for you. After that, the Taiping Dao will not keep you!"

Zhang Jiao's voice was as cold as ice that had stood for millennia, sending a chill down Tang Ke's spine.

"If you are willing to repent and beg your brothers to spare your life, I can show you special mercy. This is your last chance!"

That's it!

Tang Ke finally realized that this was a trap!

Zhang Jiao's offer of three incense sticks' worth of time was not out of any compassion for himself, but simply to project an image of utmost benevolence in front of others.

Given Tang Ke's original frail physique, he wouldn't even have been able to reach the bottom of the mountain in three incense sticks' time, let alone with the numerous obstacles blocking his way.

Tang Ke did not beg for mercy. Since Zhang Jiao and Ma Yuanyi had put on such a grand show, they had no intention of leaving him a way out. If he were to compromise now, it would only make him a laughingstock.

The dignity of a time traveler must remain in this moment, so he stood up and gave a deep bow.

"Disciple Tang Ke humbly thanks Master for your great kindness and virtue; I will surely repay you handsomely in the future!"

A resolute voice echoed through the mountain stronghold.

"Master wants to overthrow the Han, but disciple insists on preserving it. Let's see which side fate is on."

Zhang Jiao watched his departing figure, then sat back down in his chair, his heart filled with extreme anger. He slammed his left hand on the armrest, sending splinters flying.

"Those who show no remorse, kill them! Kill them!"

"Strategist, strategist, how did today's communication go?" Zhou Cang couldn't help but call out as he watched Tang Ke's retreating figure.

Tang Ke waved without turning his head and quickened his pace.

Zhang Jiao was only willing to give him so much time because he thought he was too weak to escape. If he knew that he had already reached the strength of a fifth-rank expert, he might change his mind at any time.

At this moment, almost all the Taiping Dao members with a strength of rank six or above are in the Hall of Righteousness, making it the perfect opportunity to escape.

"Report! Something terrible has happened! The strategist has seized the horses and guns and fled down the mountain."

Zhang Jiao was slightly surprised. Although the disciples in charge of the armory and horse farm were not highly skilled in martial arts, they should have been more than capable of dealing with Tang Ke, a weak scholar. Therefore, he did not make any special arrangements.

The problem is, what can someone who doesn't know martial arts do even if he takes the gun and horse?

The people in the Hall of Righteousness were quite restless. Some people stood up as if they wanted to say something, but when they saw Zhang Jiao resting with his eyes closed, they swallowed their words back.

"What's the panic? He's just a good-for-nothing scholar. Even if you gave him a thoroughbred horse, would he be able to get through four checkpoints?"

Seeing Zhang Jiao's uncertain expression, Ma Yuanyi promptly stopped the crowd.

A cold smile crept into Zhang Jiao's heart: "Tang Ke, Tang Ke, I only said that the people in the hall will not make things difficult for you for the time being, but if the brothers at the various checkpoints on the way down the mountain want you dead, don't blame me!"

The wind howled, the trees swayed, and the Tang traveler rode swiftly on horseback, not daring to linger for even a moment.

Riding a horse down the mountain is inherently dangerous, and the steep mountain path of Lingxiao Mountain is covered with loose rocks. The horse's hooves almost stepped over the edge several times, nearly losing their footing.

Suddenly, a huge rock fell from the sky and blocked their way.

Tang Ke gripped the reins tightly, his face grave. He spurred his horse forward and leaped with all his might, narrowly avoiding a precipitous boulder.

Suddenly, a man leaped up from behind the boulder, a long spear in his hand, creating countless spear shadows. With a trembling spear tip, he aimed straight at the belly of Tang Ke's horse.

Tang Ke had no time to think and instinctively drew his gun to block.

A series of rapid gunshots rang out. Tang Kema staggered several times after landing, almost falling to the ground, and the spear in the man's hand broke in two.

"Huh? So the strategist knows martial arts?" The man looked at the broken spear in his hand with surprise and disbelief.

Tang Ke felt his blood surging. Although he was much stronger than his opponent, he had little practical experience and had suffered a sneak attack, so he was already feeling quite unwell.

He quickly composed himself and shouted, "Guan Hai, I have important business to attend to. Please make way for me immediately."

"By order of the Great Virtuous Teacher, we request that the strategist's soul return to Lingxiao Mountain. What other way is there?" Guan Hai pressed forward and continued to attack with the two broken spears.

The mountain path was narrow, and Tang Ke had nowhere to avoid it, so he simply picked up his gun and met the attack head-on, forcing the other party to fight him head-on with every shot.

With sheer force, he overwhelmed Guan Hai in just a few exchanges, leaving him weak in the knees and breathless.

"I shouldn't have been so arrogant. I should have at least come on horseback," Guan Hai cursed inwardly. "This guy is really good at pretending! He hasn't revealed anything in three years. This fifth-rank official often pretends to ask me, a fourth-rank official, for martial arts advice."