The Three Kingdoms: Home Travel

This is the legendary Yellow Turban Army, a formidable force. Even from afar, Jiang Zhe could faintly sense their overwhelming fighting spirit. It truly deserves to be one of the most powerful armies during the Three Kingdoms period.

Jiang Zhe knew very little about the armies in Chinese history, but he did have some impression of the powerful armies of the Three Kingdoms period, such as Zhang Jiao's Yellow Turban Army, Cao Cao's Tiger and Leopard Camp, Liu Bei's White-Eared Elite Troops, Gongsun Zan's White Horse Cavalry, Gao Shun's Trapped Camp, Dong Zhuo's Flying Bear Army, and so on. This does not even include Ju Yi's Back-to-Back Army, Cao Bao's Danyang Army, and so on. However, in terms of military strength, the Yellow Turban Army was second to none.

Of course, the Yellow Turban Army mentioned here is not the Yellow Turban Army during the Warring States period. Could the Yellow Turban Army at that time even be called an army? Most of them were ordinary people who couldn't survive, as well as bandits and robbers, far inferior to the Yellow Turban Army at its peak.

The reason why the Yellow Turbans were invincible in the early stages was largely due to their faith. It was because of their faith that they were fanatical, and it was because of their fanaticism that they were willing to sacrifice themselves in order to follow Zhang Jiao and create a peaceful and happy land without strife.

Afterwards, victory after victory boosted their confidence, and even when they were besieged by government troops and ran out of food, their fighting spirit remained undiminished.

But why did the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which was so powerful in history, suddenly decline after Zhang Jiao's death?

Faith! And more faith!

If you make them think they're capable, they can conquer the world! If you make them think they're incapable, then they won't have much fighting power left. After all, the government army is the only regular army. In terms of weapons, armor, quality, and skills, they are no less capable than those civilians who have only been holding weapons for a few days.

It must be said that when two armies clash, what matters most is the courage to face death; only after that can issues such as equipment and weapons be considered.

People! They are the key!

That's exactly what happened. Facing the murderous Yellow Turban Army, the elite soldiers of Xuzhou, especially the thousand soldiers in the trenches, were extremely nervous. Their hands, gripping their spears and crossbows, seemed stiff and unresponsive.

Having determination is one thing, but the body's natural reaction is another. Even Jiang Zhe was gripping the stone on the city wall tightly, unable to move his hand.

A hint of reluctance flashed in Xiu'er's eyes. She took a step forward with heartache, but frowned and hardened her heart, taking a step back. However, her eyes remained fixed on Jiang Zhe.

What will happen next? Will the Yellow Turban Army retreat a few miles to set up camp, or will they launch a full-scale attack?

Jiang Zhe asked himself the question, but he wasn't sure.

However, no matter how anxious Jiang Zhe was, his face remained indifferent, and even his eyes did not change in the slightest, not to mention those people around Jiang Zhe who were gasping in shock.

Chen Deng was one of them. He glanced at Jiang Zhe with shame, but when he saw that the teacher didn't seem to notice him, he was secretly relieved. Otherwise, he praised Jiang Zhe in his heart, just like everyone else.

Xiuer could only stare at Jiang Zhe's hands, which were frozen and bluish-white, and the veins on them, her heart aching as if it were being torn apart.

Now let's talk about the Yellow Turban Army that came from afar.

The leader of the Yellow Turban Army this time was Zhang Niujiao, who seemed to be a member of Zhang Jiao's clan and also Zhang Jiao's disciple. However, because he liked war and disliked drawing talismans and incantations, he never learned Zhang Jiao's Taiping Daoist arts.

He had four great generals under his command: Zhang Yan, Yu Du, Mu Gu, and Yan Ping. They were all skilled warriors. When they followed Zhang Jiao in his rebellion, Zhang Niujiao led the four of them to defeat 30,000 enemy soldiers with only 10,000 men, beheading more than 3,000 and causing countless others to escape.

Of the four, Zhang Niujiao favored Zhang Yan the most, not because Zhang Yan was his adopted son, but because Zhang Yan was both literate and martial, truly a talented general.

Zhang Yan, courtesy name Zi'an (literally meaning "Yan has peace"), unlike the other three who were brave but lacked strategy, Zhang Yan distinguished himself as soon as he entered the battlefield, once luring and killing more than 3,000 government troops.

Zhang Niujiao trusted him greatly.

"Hmm? Zian, come and take a look!" Zhang Niu reined in his horse and called out.

"Yes, Commander!" As the strong voice of the provincial governor fell, a young man about the same age as Jiang Zhe leaped out on horseback. Upon closer inspection, he had thick eyebrows, big eyes, and an extraordinary aura.

"What is this?" Zhang Niujiao asked, pointing with some confusion to the trench in front of Chengdong Gate in Xuzhou.

"...I don't know." Zhang Yan looked at it for a long time and finally shook his head.

"It seems Xuzhou was prepared all along!" Zhang Niujiao's smile held a peculiar meaning, whether it was praise or criticism.

Zhang Yan smiled upon hearing this, raised his riding whip, and said, "It's pitiful that these people don't even realize they're about to die." Zhang Niujiao shook his head. This adopted son was good in every way, except that he was too bloodthirsty. No wonder his men never captured anyone.

"Zi'an!" Zhang Niujiao said slowly, "We're in this line of work not for that..."

"I understand what Commander Qu is saying!" Zhang Yan frowned and said indignantly, "I just can't understand why the Great Teacher would do such a thing..."

"Silence!" Zhang Niujiao frowned and hissed. Looking at the somewhat sullen Zhang Yan, he smiled and said, "We just need to complete the orders given by the Great Master of Virtue. As for Xuzhou... we can't have come here for nothing! Same rules as before, the people won't be touched..."

"Slaughter all the powerful and wealthy families..." Zhang Yan immediately continued, her eyes flashing with the fire of anger.

Zhang Niujiao stared at Zhang Yan for a long time, sighed inwardly, but said aloud, "Zi'an, don't be careless. Look at the layout of the East Gate; there's a hidden strategy behind it. Don't underestimate the enemy."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan looked towards the East Gate and saw many figures moving about on the city wall, and occasionally a few figures flashed by in the unknown facilities below.

What is this? An ambush? Zhang Yan found it amusing and shouted, "I, your son, am willing to attack this gate alone!"

Zhang Niujiao wanted to say something, but after staring at Zhang Yan for a while, he nodded. "In that case, Yu Du, you attack the west gate; Mu Gu, you attack the south gate; Yan Ping, you attack the north gate. Hmm, you coordinate with the feigned attacks at the three gates... I'll stay here and defend the main camp!"

"Commander!" Yu Du rode forward respectfully and said, "Why not..."

"Don't be hasty!" Zhang Niujiao said with a smile. "How can we uphold the prestige of the Yellow Turban Warriors if we act like that? Let's defeat them in Xuzhou a few times, then take it all in one fell swoop!"

"The commander's idea is good..." Yan Ping said hesitantly, "but I'm afraid that the nearby government troops will come to support us, which would cause some trouble."

"What trouble?" Zhang Yan's eyes widened, and she said with a smile, "We've routed countless government troops on our way here. Are you all afraid of those rabble?"

These words immediately made the other three look rather uneasy. Zhang Niujiao, seeing the situation was dire, quickly shouted, "Zian, hurry up and prepare your troops! We're leaving in a moment! You attack one gate alone, don't be careless!"

"Don't worry, Commander! I'm off!" Zhang Yan cracked his whip and galloped toward the rear guard.

"Commander..." Mu Gu stepped forward and said, "The young commander is so arrogant, I'm afraid..."

"Sigh..." Zhang Niujiao sighed, "This time, the general is indeed talented, but his killing intent is too strong, and he is too arrogant. I'm afraid he will encounter some setbacks. However, in my opinion, apart from those two old scoundrels Tao Qian and Chen Gui, the rest of Xuzhou are not worth worrying about. It's just that one..."

At this point, Zhang Niujiao said somewhat awkwardly, "Gentlemen, my son spoke without thinking, please don't take it to heart. I apologize to everyone here."

"What are you saying, Commander!" The three men returned the salute with clasped hands and said respectfully, "Then we three will lead our troops to the West, South, and North Gates. If Commander has any orders, please send them."

"Take care, brothers!" Zhang Niujiao clasped his hands in a fist salute.

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