“Zilong( Zhao Yun ), follow orders.” These resolute words were enough to indicate immediately that Qiao Yan had decisively chosen the latter option.

Should they eradicate the Hedong bandits entirely, or should they enlist them for their own use?

During peacetime, or if they weren’t in Bingzhou, choosing the former might have been acceptable.

It’s important to note the differences in behavior between the bandits rising in Bai Bo Valley and those in the nearby Black Mountain bandits of the Taihang Mountains.

Their actions, whether collaborating with the Xiongnu to invade Bingzhou and Hedong, or maneuvering between warlords like Li Jue and Guo Si, often reflected short-sighted and partisan tendencies.

Killing them wouldn’t be a loss!

However, the current situation was different.

Qiao Yan not only lacked a military achievement that would firmly establish her in Bingzhou, but also lacked essential labor in these troubled times.

Given this, why not try to enlist the Hedong bandits, just as they had with the Black Mountain bandits?

Even if they had to kill, they couldn’t kill them all.

Moreover, although historical memories couldn’t be entirely relied upon, it couldn’t be denied that Chu Yan and the Hedong bandits had clashed several times in pursuit battles, enough for Qiao Yan to judge that Xu Huang, who currently served under Yang Feng, was indeed a potential talent.

After two years of lying low, when she finally prepared to step outside Le Ping towards progress, acquiring talents like this was undoubtedly an especially necessary matter.

“Therefore, we must fight! But we must fight well!”

Upon hearing Qiao Yan’s command, Zhao Yun immediately stood up.

Qiao Yan continued, “You will lead, Lord Cheng Li as your deputy, commanding a thousand men to attack Han Xian and his followers. Ensure Han Xian’s escape and capture or kill more than half of the Baibo bandits. Can you do it?”

Her words were just as decisive.

Although Cheng Li didn’t offer suggestions like Xu Zhicai did at this moment, his gaze didn’t waver from Qiao Yan’s face.

He managed Le Ping’s common affairs and understood Qiao Yan’s current need for personnel better than anyone else.

So it wasn’t surprising that she would choose him.

But this known choice, amidst her firm tone and electrifying gaze as she gave orders, still held a stirring power.

Even he, a strategist over forty years old, couldn’t avoid being affected, let alone Zhao Yun.

He promptly replied, “Zhao Yun accepts the command!”

As for why they needed to let Han Xian go—

Seeing Qiao Yan press the five zhu coin onto another coin, he could guess a bit.

This made him even more certain of his judgment.

Qiao Yan said, “Zhi Shu, heed the command!”

Zhang Yang immediately jumped up.

Suddenly realizing his spontaneous reaction was a bit inappropriate, he promptly stood straight.

He had originally thought that yesterday’s embarrassing incident with Zhang Niujiao might make Qiao Yan temporarily abandon her plans for him.

But now it seemed that Qiao Yan was quite forgiving.

“You will lead five hundred men to join Chu Yan, launching a surprise attack on Hu Cai. Ensure Hu Cai is killed and more than half of his accomplices escape. Can you do it?”

Zhang Yang was about to respond with “I accept the command,” but suddenly realized—

This order seemed different from the tasks given to Zhao Yun and Xu Fu?

Zhao Yun’s task was to let Han Xian go, but his task was to kill Hu Cai.

The difference puzzled him slightly.

He couldn’t help asking, “Why is it to kill Hu Cai instead of letting him go?”

Qiao Yan replied, “The purpose of this surprise attack is not to eliminate the Hedong bandits, but to gather them together.”

Zhang Yang was even more confused now.

If that was the case, wouldn’t it be better to let Hu Cai seek refuge with their leader, Yang Feng?

But then Qiao Yan asked, “In three simultaneous attacks, each allowing the leader of the Hedong bandits to escape. Do you think it’s a mistake on our part or a deliberate trap?”

That makes sense!

Zhang Yang suddenly understood.

But he looked around and asked, “So, does this mean the third group will let Li Le go?”

This sounded good.

His group’s goal was to successfully repel the enemy’s leader, so apart from ensuring not to kill too many people, he didn’t have to worry about making mistakes.

For someone as straightforward as him, this was the most suitable task.

Besides teaming up with the scheming Chu Yan, everything else suited his taste.

At this moment, he couldn’t help but inwardly remark that following Qiao Yan had indeed been the right choice.

Though he couldn’t compare to warriors like Zhang Liao in terms of status, he had been involved in frontier battles and enjoyed the unique advantages of Le Ping.

Moreover, now he had a military command of his own!

Just as he thought this, Qiao Yan said, “Correct, I will personally lead the third group to release Li Le.”

Seeing Cheng Li furrow his brow, a hint of concern flashing across his face, as if to remind her about safety issues, especially given the recent rumors, Qiao Yan quickly added, “Dian Wei will accompany me.”

Apart from Zhang Niujiao, who was still tasked with copying books as a punishment by Qiao Yan, everyone who could be useful in this upcoming battle had already been deployed.

Well, to be precise, there was one more person.

After Qiao Yan had arranged the two thousand five hundred soldiers of the Black Mountain Army and the County Guards, and had mounted her horse ready to depart, a figure suddenly rushed to her horse’s front.

Qiao Yan immediately reined in her horse to a stop, noticing who was blocking her path—none other than Fu Gan.

“Why are you here, Fu Gan?”

Although she knew that at this starting pace, there wouldn’t be any problems with collisions, the sudden appearance still left her momentarily stunned.

The young man in front of her had a tense expression on his face.

When he looked up at her, there was a hint of pleading in his eyes. “Lord Qiao, could you take me along in this battle? If it’s about killing enemies, I am capable enough and will not cause trouble for Lord Qiao.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but cast an admiring glance at the soldiers accompanying Qiao Yan.

He naturally understood that according to Qiao Yan’s arrangement, studying within the Le Ping Academy to continue learning military strategy and physical training as per her prescribed regimen until the age of fifteen before joining the ranks in Le Ping was the better choice.

That was also why his father had not allowed him to participate in battles in earlier years.

However, he also knew that every engagement before facing the rebels of Liangzhou was precious.

If he missed this battle due to his age, he would surely regret it later.

Instead of that, he might as well risk offending Qiao Yan to make his request.

The young girl on horseback carried a long bow on her back, and beside her was her long spear, split into two pieces for easier carrying, with both spearheads reflecting a sharp gleam.

Her gaze was equally sharp and commanding, more imposing than usual from her elevated position.

Fu Gan struggled to meet her eyes to demonstrate his insistence on accompanying her.

Qiao Yan looked at him for a long moment before finally saying, “You may come along.”

Fu Gan breathed a sigh of relief, but then heard Qiao Yan ask, “But what if I need you to lose ?”

To lose?

Fu Gan had not been present for the earlier discussions Qiao Yan had with her subordinates and did not understand her intentions regarding the Hedong bandits.

However, having spent years in military service with his father, he naturally understood that some defeats were necessary, and even in defeat, there were lessons to be learned.

Furthermore, orders were like mountains, and Qiao Yan was the leader of this troop.

Fu Gan immediately replied, “Losing is also acceptable. Fu Gan is willing to be at Lord Qiao’s disposal.”

Qiao Yan gestured behind her, signaling him to return to his unit.

Being a sacrificial lamb seen among the Hedong bandits wouldn’t be a bad idea, rather than being at the forefront.

As she had mentioned to Zhang Yang, even though her objective was to gather the Hedong bandits together, she couldn’t afford for any faction from Le Ping to face failure in suppressing them, or for all three leaders of the factions to escape.

That wouldn’t be a strategy, but a mistake.

Therefore, these three routes must have their own distinctions and reasons.

As for Zhang Yang and Chu Yan’s route—

Chu Yan had clashed with Hu Cai several times before, and both sides knew each other’s strengths well.

If Chu Yan failed to achieve substantial results in the direct assault on Huanglong with external support, it would undoubtedly raise suspicions.

Therefore, Hu Cai had to be eliminated!

Once Hu Cai was dead, his subordinates would become a leaderless force at this critical moment, a resource that others would vie for.