Liang Zhongning replied with a stern face, “So, what if among the missing is the food I distributed earlier, and… the sack containing the food happens to appear today from the hands of your soldiers? Don’t tell me that my man deserted, and just as he was fleeing, he was discovered by your men, so he simply handed over the food he had in hand as a bribe to turn a blind eye?”

“… Marshal Liang, don’t be so hasty.”

Bo Cai knew his subordinates well, and for a moment, he couldn’t think of a reason why Liang Zhongning would lie to him or frame him.

He felt that it was possible that his men were involved in this.

“Our troops were recruited in a similar manner, and we both know how they were recruited. If we are lax in management and some take desperate measures, it’s not impossible.”

Liang Zhongning didn’t like hearing this, but Bo Cai’s next words didn’t give him a chance to continue.

Bo Cai patted his shoulder. “Marshal Liang’s ability to unify the three factions of Yanzhou is undoubtedly impressive.

What benefit would I have in offending you at this time? We should focus on the task entrusted to us by the heavens, rather than investigate the life and death of a few soldiers.

Otherwise, we will only become a laughingstock for the Han soldiers in Changshe City.”

Liang Zhongning looked at him suspiciously and asked, “Are you lying to me?”

Bo Cai didn’t do this, and he didn’t show any signs of lying.

After staring at him for a long time, Liang Zhongning couldn’t see any reason not to believe his words.

But after this incident, Bo Cai forgot that he originally wanted to cause trouble for Liang Zhongning.

What he forgot to say was—

He could read military books if he wanted, but why did he let his soldiers come to his territory to educate him, even stepping on him?

Both sides had grievances against each other, so friction was inevitable when they camped together.

This attempted siege began at this moment.

“If you only look at the intensity of the siege, you probably wouldn’t think that there were seventeen conflicts between the two camps yesterday.”

Qiao Yan and Cheng Li, the two “strategists,” as well as the instigators of the current conflict, naturally could not be on the front line of the siege.

At this moment, the two of them stood on a high ground outside the camp, looking towards Changshe.

Changshe was not a large city, and its county walls were not as high as the ones Qiao Yan had experienced in the siege of Juye City.

However, in Changshe, there were truly many talented individuals.

Here, there were General Huangfu, who had experienced many battles, General Zhu Jun, who had pacified Jiaozhou, Cao Cao, who was currently the Captain of the Cavalry, and the support of the Zhong clan.

Even though their numbers were far fewer than the Yellow Turbans, they were still a tough nut to crack.

Zhong Yao, the future pillar of the Zhong clan, had just resigned from his position as the magistrate of Yangling County due to illness.

Although he had not yet reached the level where Cao Cao would later compare him to Xiao He for guarding Guanzhong, he was still not a simple character.

Sima Fu, the chief of the guards under Huangfu Song, was also no ordinary person.

With these five people, there would be no gaps in the defense of any part of the walls of Changshe.

If not for this, Huangfu Song would not have found the opportunity to defeat the enemy in a protracted defensive battle.

“With these frictions, at least it can be ensured that the cooperation between the two sides cannot be intimate. Even with five times the number of the Han army, it is impossible to break through this small city.”

The siege, when spoken of, was just two words, but when faced with a real siege with thousands of people pressing in, Qiao Yan tightly clenched her hand in her sleeve, only then did she not show any unusual expression, but instead, along with Cheng Li, watched today’s battle with a calm expression.

She was also waiting for the person who had been moved by her words that day, who was willing to take the risk for the sake of becoming a marquis and being recorded in history, to see if they would dare to try to pass this message into the city.

However, in front of the Yellow Turbans who were in an unusually frenzied attack state, even though Qiao Yan considered her eyesight to be good, it was difficult for her to distinguish whether those who fell were hit by the flying arrows on the city wall or were pretending to fall according to her plan.

Of course, those who pretended to fall, who knew if they would be stabbed in the chaos and lose their lives.

Until the dusk fell, this battle that had never been able to break through finally came to an end, with the sound of drums signaling the troops to retreat.

In Qiao Yan’s sight, she couldn’t tell whether the city under Changshe was covered in a layer of blood or the light of the setting sun.

She blinked, feeling a slight soreness in her eyes.

“Mr. Zhongde, please accompany me back,” Qiao Yan said.

If she stayed here, she might be able to see if there were any survivors among the bodies who had received their mission from her in the dead of night.

Unfortunately, Liang Zhongning had returned from the battle. With his reliance on the “strategist,” he would definitely consult Qiao Yan about some matters.

If she drew others’ attention, it would be somewhat troublesome.

Cheng Li understood her concerns and immediately followed her.

However, while he understood this point, Cheng Li couldn’t quite figure out what emotions were mixed in Qiao Yan’s glance back at the battlefield before leaving.

It seemed not to be the sorrow of the Han dynasty’s prestigious reputation having fallen to its current state, nor the compassion for the casualties on both sides in this battle, nor the hatred for the Yellow Turban thieves who sought to seize power from the Han dynasty.

It was more like…

Cheng Li couldn’t describe this feeling.

He always felt that she did not lean toward either side, but her actions were clearly those of a loyal subject of the Han dynasty.

He didn’t have time to think about it further, as he soon saw this emotion fade from her eyes, because they ran into Liang Zhongning as soon as they entered the military camp.

This guy, feeling like a failure after the failed siege, began to complain to Qiao Yan, especially when he mentioned that the soldiers under Bocai had repeatedly clashed with their own forces in today’s siege, seriously affecting his display of prowess.

He felt extremely frustrated.

“The person guarding the city wall on the side I attacked today is not tall, with a round face and small eyes. At a glance, you can tell he’s not a hero. If it weren’t for the mischief of Bocai’s subordinates, I would have captured the city wall today.” Liang Zhongning spoke angrily, raising his voice as Bo Cai couldn’t hear him.

“…” Although Qiao Yan did not personally witness who Liang Zhongning confronted on the other side, as soon as she heard his description, she inexplicably thought of the eight words “seven feet tall, small eyes and long beard.”

This characteristic obviously did not match the descriptions of Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, and Fu Xie, and was most likely Cao Cao.

Because of this speculation, his phrase “not a hero” was indeed quite subtle.

But Qiao Yan had no time to consider this humorous evaluation for the time being.

Her eyes briefly met Cheng Li’s, and after moving them back to Liang Zhongning’s face, she solemnly said, “Everything is usually accumulated from small things. It’s better for Marshal Liang to pay more attention to the movements of General Bo Cai.”

Liang Zhongning rarely heard Qiao Yan speak in such a tone, which made him more wary.

Amidst the moans of the wounded at night, his already somewhat guarded mind seemed to be further stimulated by the various emotions that emerged.

What he didn’t know was that, while he was tossing and turning, a person crawled out of the pile of bodies under Changshe’s city.

The dried blood on his face made it difficult to see his features, but it could be seen that he pulled out an arrow wrapped in cloth from under the bodies.

He limped a few steps, calling out the names of a few people in a low voice, but did not hear any response.

He pursed his lips, showing a hint of disappointment.

However, it was obviously not the time for him to indulge in melancholy.

He picked up a short bow left on the battlefield and carefully observed the movements of the patrol soldiers on the city wall.

From the cloth bag at his waist, he took out two flints.

He took a deep breath.

Six people had come on this mission to feign death, but only he had survived in the end, yet even now, he couldn’t be sure.

He couldn’t guarantee that when he shot the arrow onto the city wall, the enemy wouldn’t have time to distinguish friend from foe and kill him.

Moreover, to ensure that this arrow would not be ignored, it was an arrow he was familiar with.

On this moonless night, only for a moment did the sparks from the flint illuminate the survivor’s face slightly.

Despite the blood covering his face, it was not difficult to see that this was Tian Yan, the eldest son of the Tian family.

His earlier enthusiasm for Qiao Yan’s mobilization oath was reflected in his actions.

This was a perilous task that could cost him his life, yet he joined without hesitation.

He quickly lit the rocket, strung the bow, pulled the string, and then shot it out, like a shooting star in the night sky straight into the watchtower of Changshe.

This rocket had once been a tool of deception when Tian Yan’s fortress was breached.

Now, in his hands, it became a means of communication to turn the tide of the battle.

When Tian Yan shot the arrow, he couldn’t help but feel a bit absurd, but this strange train of thought was quickly overshadowed by the panic that came later.

The rocket hit the watchtower and extinguished, but it was enough to attract the attention of the defenders.

Tian Yan hastily took out a white cloth from his sleeve and waved it in his hand, trying to let the people on the city wall know that he meant no harm, he was just a messenger.

He was lucky.

The people on the city wall observed his actions carefully, successfully avoiding any accidental killings.

The night watchmen on the city wall tonight were Fu Xie and his son.

Fu Xie picked up the arrow, which still had some sparks left, from the ground and saw the words “Seeking an Audience for an Important Matter” written sharply on the cloth tied to the arrow’s tail.

Seeing the look his father gave him, he immediately handed the arrow to Fu Xie.

Fu Xie’s expression remained unchanged, but he couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.

He hailed from the northern Fu clan and had studied under the Grand Commandant Liu Kuan.

Although he was now the Marshal’s aide-de-camp, his level of education was not low.

Moreover, if calligraphy in Changshe City were to be discussed, Zhong Yuanchang would be considered the best.

He had also once had a look at it, which gave him a certain appreciation for calligraphy.

The torches on the city wall clearly illuminated the cloth strip in his hand, and the four characters written on it were definitely not the standard of the Yellow Turban thieves.

“Father, should we bring that person up?” While Fu Xie scrutinized the cloth strip repeatedly, Fu Gan asked.

This young man was not much older than Qiao Yan, but because he had followed his father in military training, he appeared tall.

He had studied military books for several years and, considering the strange actions of the man below the city, added, “Father, it’s better to be cautious in critical moments. If there’s any deception…”

“Bring him up.” Fu Xie interrupted his son, “It’s just one person. Even if there’s any treachery, we can handle it.”

After finishing his words, Fu Xie immediately ordered the soldiers on the city to fetch a basket and hang it down from the city wall of Changshe to bring Tian Yan up from below the city.

Fu Gan couldn’t imagine how bold the person who came to risk his life to deliver the message was, but he never expected that this young man with an indistinguishable face would just sit on the ground with weak legs as soon as he reached the city wall, which made him chuckle.

Tian Yan couldn’t be bothered to care that he had first followed a child’s instructions, then came to do this dangerous job, and was now being ridiculed by another child.

He finally felt safe now.

The fear he had when lying in the pile of corpses during the day, the anxiety when shooting that arrow just now, and the unconscious sorrow when thinking about the comrades who would forever remain below the city—all these emotions surged up at this moment.

He had been holding his breath to complete this task, but now that he saw Fu Xie, recognized leader who was only thirty years old and had seen him from afar today, knowing that the other party’s position in the Han army was not low, and that his mission was halfway completed, he relaxed.

“What are you here for?” Fu Xie asked, holding the sword at his waist.

Tian Yan took another deep breath, as if gathering some strength, and replied, “I’m here to deliver a letter to General Huangfu on behalf of someone.”

“I know General Huangfu is not easy to meet,” before Fu Xie could ask, Tian Yan continued, “But the person who asked me to deliver the letter said that it involved the Yellow Turban matter and asked General Huangfu to meet him.”

Tian Yan’s words lacked some strength due to the ordeal of the day, but this did not affect his confidence in Qiao Yan.

When he mentioned “it involved the Yellow Turban matter,” his tone showed a sense of certainty.

This made his words sound somewhat credible.

Fu Xie stared at him for a while, then nodded, indicating that Fu Gan should bring the person up, and he would go and inform General Huangfu himself.

Huangfu Song did not underestimate this matter.

At this critical moment of the two armies’ battle, someone with this ability to come up to Changshe City was definitely not here to tell jokes.

He decided to also summon Zhu Jun and Cao Cao.

What none of them had expected, however, was that this matter was much bigger than they had imagined.

The silk pouch Tian Yan carried with him had been stained with blood when he was hiding under the corpses, and the cloth on the inside of the pouch was also stained with blood.

Fortunately, this did not affect the legibility of the characters on the cloth.

The more Huangfu Song looked, the more tense his expression became.

But when he saw the last line, he couldn’t help but slap his thigh and laugh.

He was not like Lu Zhi, a scholarly general. Born into a noble family, he had a dignified and imposing aura.

When Tian Yan first saw him, he felt that the other party was indeed worthy of the title of commander of the Han army. But just now, seeing him smile so openly, showing the straightforwardness of a frontier youth, Tian Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

“Gongwei, take a look at this.” Huangfu Song did not express his opinion but simply handed the cloth to Zhu Jun.

Zhu Jun’s reaction was somewhat different from Huangfu Song’s.

He first showed a bit of amazement and then a touch of emotion as he read to the end.

Even Cao Cao, who before becoming a cavalry captain had killed an eunuch’s uncle with a five-colored stick and had petitioned for justice for Dou Wu when he was a court officer, felt a bit curious.

What was written on this cloth that caused such a reaction from Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun?

Zhu Jun had already folded the cloth in his hand. “How does Yizhen see this matter?”

“Gongzhu has gotten a good grandson,” Huangfu Song replied.

Seeing Cao Cao and Fu Xie looking at him, he explained, “Gongzhu’s grandson is now in the Yellow Turban army, planning with an Eastern scholar to cooperate with us inside and outside, to break the current stalemate.”

The two were stunned, but then he continued, “Risking his life by entering the enemy’s camp… even an adult might not dare to do so, let alone a ten-year-old child. This is a truly talented individual.”

“Hold on!”

Tian Yan, the man brought into the city by Fu Xie, was naturally more cautious than the others.

Huangfu Song had just finished speaking when he asked, “How can the general be sure that this person has come to deliver the letter for Gongzhu’s grandson?”

Huangfu Song at the head of the table was not surprised that Fu Xie, who was accustomed to being cautious, would ask such a question.

He gestured to Zhu Jun and said, “Gongwei, please read the last paragraph to them.”

Zhu Jun complied.

He unfolded the cloth again and read, “The letter says—In the past, when Xiaoshu traveled near the gate, he encountered bandits who kidnapped him. Yang Fang, fearing the repercussions, did not dare to capture them, only Uncle Yun said, ‘Would you let the country’s enemies go for the sake of one son?’ Xiaoshu was killed by the bandits, but the capital was peaceful. Grandfather has no regrets.”

“Now that I am in the enemy camp, I am not afraid that General Huangfu cannot see through people or understand the situation. I am only afraid that the general will fear putting me in a dangerous situation and dare not act rashly, so I leave my grandfather’s words on the silk—Would you let the country’s enemies go for the sake of one son?”

“This was true in the past, and it is true now. I hope the general will understand.”

At the end of the cloth were the four characters “Qiao Yan bows down.”

When Zhu Jun saw these two paragraphs, he was deeply shocked.

Now that every word and sentence was read out loud, he felt that the person who wrote this was truly an extraordinary individual.

She mentioned the kidnapping case in the capital that Yang Qiu handled years ago.

Qiao Xuan, Gongzhu’s grandfather, sacrificed his young son’s life with the sentence “Would you let the country’s enemies go for the sake of one son?”

Yet, he ensured peace in the capital as no bandits dared to kidnap the sons of officials and then escape after being caught, making this incident a legend in the capital for many years.

The grandson of Qiao Gong actually compared himself to the current situation, urging Huangfu Song not to worry about “his” safety and just focus on eliminating the traitorous Yellow Turbans.

Such words could not be spoken by the Yellow Turbans intending to deceive them into leaving the city.

But when he thought of their departure from the capital, Qiao Xuan was already seriously ill and might not live for more than half a year.

This unavoidable sigh of relief for his successor added a few more points of helplessness.

Zhu Jun’s expression had not yet calmed down, and Huangfu Song had already drawn his sword in response. “Even a child dares to do this for the country and eliminate the enemy. How can we be afraid and delay the opportunity for battle! Mengde, please write a letter for me to give to this person, arranging the time to attack.”

Cao Cao responded with a “yes”, but when he sent the letter, he suddenly realized that something was wrong.

Qiao Xuan, his close friend, naturally knew who was in the family.

This Qiao Yuan, the son of Qiao Xuan, has no sons?

This name, Qiao Yan, was clearly given by him to his daughter!

This is not the grandson of Qiao Gong, but his granddaughter!