“This is a blessing for the Han dynasty, not just the merit of Qiao Yan alone.“

This sentence was also written by Lu Zhi in the memorial sent to the capital.

After some thought, he added, “Qiao Yan is truly a pillar of talent for the Han dynasty, and I hope His Majesty will treasure and employ her.“

Seeing the results of Qiao Yan defending the camp and witnessing her holding the upper hand in the debate against the Great Virtuous Master Zhang Jiao, Lu Zhi couldn’t help but value her highly.

What was even rarer was that she had the ability to wield power and coordinate from the center, yet she also maintained the humility to uphold the Han dynasty without boasting of her achievements.

The more Lu Zhi observed Qiao Yan, the more he felt that if they were constrained by gender biases, they might miss out on someone who could be a vital minister for the Han dynasty’s revival.

Lu Zhi had a clear view of the current situation.

Even if the Yellow Turban Rebellion was quelled, it wouldn’t necessarily change the fact that the Han dynasty was already in a critical and irreversible state of decline.

However, if His Majesty could reflect upon this uprising and promote such extraordinary talent like Qiao Yan, there might still be a chance to save the situation from collapsing.

“I only wish His Majesty won’t be confined by prejudices.”

The Empress Dowager Dou, who had placed Liu Hong on the throne, might pose an obstacle to Qiao Yan’s promotion.

Lu Zhi thought for a moment and added, “This is the shared wish of both Huangfu Yizhen and myself.“

He called for his personal guards to first send the memorial to Huangfu Song for his seal.

Once it was stamped, it was sent to Luoyang by fast horse.

Despite saying that the Yellow Turban Rebellion was just one of the many chaotic symptoms of the faltering Han dynasty, he couldn’t deny that quickly curbing such disorderly destruction was undoubtedly important.

Now the advantage was on their side.

The refugees driven by the Yellow Turbans across various regions might not understand the contradictions within the Taipingjing, nor the advanced astronomical theories, but they did understand one thing:

While cinnabar talismans hadn’t caused significant harm yet, they were far from the expected divine efficacy, and Zhang Jiao was not a representative of the Yellow Heaven.

After losing this spiritual leader, it became much easier to suppress these Yellow Turban bandits.

Elsewhere, the transmission of news might have some delays, but at least within Jizhou, the pacification work had become much smoother than before.

The uprisings of refugees burning down government offices and looting the aristocratic families would still need to be dealt with by subsequent officials.

Liu Bei and his followers had originally come because of the debate between Qiao Yan and Zhang Jiao…

Due to the responsibility of escorting the Yellow Turban captives, they had to return temporarily, but now they had to set off again.

This time, among the Yellow Turban prisoners from Guangzong they had captured earlier, there were some who expressed a willingness to guide the royal troops in exchange for leniency.

Compared to their previous obstinance, their current attitude was a complete turnaround.

Just as Liu Bei breathed a sigh of relief, he heard Zhang Fei ask, “Big brother, there’s something I couldn’t figure out from yesterday until now. Your knowledge is better than mine, can you help me understand?”

Seeing Liu Bei gesture for him to continue, Zhang Fei said, “You said that mercury extracted from cinnabar by roasting is poisonous, but I’ve heard that past emperors also consumed it. Weren’t they just seeking their own deaths?”

“Watch your words!” Liu Bei was almost startled out of his wits by Zhang Fei’s question.

Fortunately, Zhang Fei still had the sense to avoid directly questioning matters related to the emperor.

Liu Bei looked around to make sure no one else was paying attention to their conversation and let out another sigh of relief.

Zhang Fei’s question was indeed more exhausting than dealing with the Yellow Turbans.

Although the current emperor, Liu Hong, didn’t have a penchant for elixirs like Previous Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the pursuit of immortality and Daoist practices was still quite common among the nobility.

This was not something that could be casually discussed.

Moreover, when Qiao Yan exposed the toxicity of cinnabar in his debate with Zhang Jiao, he was only criticizing Zhang Jiao’s actions.

It had nothing to do with those who invited alchemists to make elixirs; it was merely a matter of maintaining appearances.

“Let’s not talk about it,” Zhang Fei quickly shut his mouth upon seeing the stern warning on Liu Bei’s face, but he still muttered softly, “Let’s not talk about cinnabar.

There’s no problem mentioning that old Zhang Jiao…

To think he caused so much trouble, he probably never expected to be defeated by a mere child.”

Zhang Fei currently had a good impression of Qiao Yan.

Although she had used some mysterious tactics when she took over command of the camp at Quzhou from Lu Zhi, preventing Zhang Liang from engaging in battle and thereby denying Zhang Fei the chance to show his skills, it still led to the fall of Quzhou.

This meant his big brother had tangible merits in suppressing the Yellow Turbans and deserved an official position, especially since he had heard General Lu mention that various local offices were likely to face staff shortages, creating even more opportunities.

Having followed Liu Bei from Zhuo Commandery, Zhang Fei deeply felt that his big brother was a man of talent.

Such a person deserved a position where he could truly demonstrate his abilities.

However, speaking of which—

“Big brother, what kind of reward do you think that Miss Qiao will receive in the end?”

“That’s not something we can decide,” Liu Bei said as he mounted his horse and addressed Zhang Fei. “Let’s go, Yide. If you need to move around, make sure you don’t take action before Yunchang!”

Hearing this, Zhang Fei dared not gossip about anything else.

As Zhang Fei mounted his horse and exited the camp, Liu Bei couldn’t help but glance at the banner bearing the character “Qiao” and ponder Zhang Fei’s question.

Huangfu Song had praised Qiao Yan’s talent as a strategist in a letter to Lu Zhi, saying, “One person can be worth a thousand troops.” Qiao Yan had indeed proven this statement through her actions.

Liu Bei felt that his own performance might earn him a position in Ji or You Province after the chaos, although it wouldn’t be as early as his fellow student Gongsun Zan, who had already secured a position through his father-in-law’s connections.

Still, at the age of twenty-five, Liu Bei believed it wasn’t too late to achieve something significant.

However, Liu Bei wasn’t sure how far Qiao Yan’s merits would take her.

She had accomplished something difficult to evaluate.

Liu Bei had learned from Chunyu Qiong that there was an imperial decree to confer the title of marquis on Qiao Yan, which was temporarily withheld because of her gender.

But now, with her additional contributions, it would be hard to suppress.

If Emperor Liu Hong couldn’t appropriately reward her, it would certainly be difficult for the soldiers who participated in the Yellow Turban Rebellion to accept it.

What she had achieved was irreplaceable, an astonishing record that no one could replicate!

Before the records of Qiao Yan’s three debates with Zhang Jiao, It was meticulously documented by Lu Zhi, reached Luoyang, the first message to land on Liu Hong’s desk was from Zhang Rang, revealing her true gender.

Liu Hong was overjoyed at the news of Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi’s capture of Quyang, Guangzong, and Quzhou, and the death, surrender, and capture of Zhang Jiao’s three brothers.

But then he received this troublesome news.

Based on her accomplishments in the battles in Yu and Yan provinces alone, Liu Hong had decided to confer on her the title of Marquis of Leping.

Her excellence was evident.

In the Ji Province rebellion, though the primary credit for capturing the cities belonged to Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi, Qiao Yan still ranked third.

Ignoring her contributions in the rewards would be impossible.

However, the Han Dynasty had not conferred the title of marquis on a woman for centuries.

Although Han Dynasty had made exceptions in the past, he wasn’t inclined to make such a significant break with tradition.

“This is indeed a difficult problem,” he mused, holding the decree in his hand.

Liu Hong read the memorial on the battles of Guangzong and Quzhou, as well as Zhang Rang’s urgent letter, once again.

He realized he couldn’t place blame on Huangfu Song for this situation.

Nor could he blame the gravely ill Qiao Gongzu, whose two sons had both predeceased him.

Liu Hong pondered for a moment and decided to pass this difficult issue to the court ministers.

Such troublesome matters were naturally for those officials drawing their salaries to consider.

Since the time of Emperor Gaozu of Han, when Shusun Tong petitioned to establish proper court ceremonies, the Han Dynasty had developed detailed rituals and procedures for court assemblies.

Although the usurper Wang Mang had disrupted these practices during his reign, they were restored during the Guangwu Emperor’s revival of the Han Dynasty.

Before the seventh hour of the night watch ended, as it was now summer, ministers dressed in red robes filed into the hall.

After kneeling in order of their rank and saluting, they stood holding their ritual tablets, heads bowed.

Even as they adhered to ancient protocol and showed respect for the current emperor, none of the ministers looked up, though they could all hear the loud yawns from Liu Hong seated at the top.

Minister of Works Yuan Wei frowned.

He had long been aware of the emperor’s indulgence, but now was not a time for negligence.

The emperor should at least make a pretense of diligence.

Yuan Wei glanced at Grand Commandant Yang Ci, and they exchanged a look of shared frustration.

The Yuan family of Runan and the Yang family of Hongnong both held similar status, being families that had produced officials of high rank for generations.

However, no matter how deep the foundations of these noble families, their power naturally could not surpass that of the emperor.

When the Yellow Turban Rebellion first broke out, Yang Ci had nearly lost his position for daring to criticize Liu Hong’s improper conduct.

Now, he had to be cautious with his words.

In their exchanged glances, Yuan Wei could see the inherited forthrightness in Yang Ci’s demeanor.

Even if Yang Ci held his tongue today, it wouldn’t be long before he would likely bring up the issue again.

Yuan Wei, lowering his eyes, felt a sense of concern for Yang Ci.

Fortunately, today’s court session was not focused on admonitions.

With disturbances frequent across the land, each of the high-ranking officials present had reports to deliver, ranging from mundane affairs in Luoyang to the defense of the capital’s eight gates.

The discussion now turned to the Yellow Turban situation in Jing Province, south of Luoyang.

“The Yellow Turbans in Jing Province, numbering in the tens of thousands, have fortified Wancheng under the leadership of Zhang Bao.

General Huangfu Song launched a surprise attack, with his subordinate, Lu Zhi, scaling the city walls and killing Zhang Bao in battle.

The newly appointed Administrator of Nanyang, Qin Jie, ambushed the remnants at Quekou and achieved another victory.

The surviving forces attempted to escape via the waterways but were ambushed and slaughtered by the General Huangfu Song’s troops positioned along the river routes.”

“The remnants of the Yellow Turbans intend to establish Zhao Hong as their new leader, but the General Huangfu Song anticipated this.

He dispatched the Inspector of Jing Province, Xu Qiu, with a contingent to force Zhao Hong into Yicheng.

Yicheng is not as defensible as Wancheng. According to the General Huangfu Song’s report, Zhao Hong will be defeated within ten days.”

“Good, good!” Liu Hong, despite having received this news the previous day, couldn’t help but express his approval now.

He did not conceal his satisfaction with the Nanyang campaign’s results in his words. “Generql Huangfu Song has indeed lived up to my expectations.”

Although the impending pacification of the Yellow Turbans in Jing Province by Zhu Jun couldn’t compare to the decisive victories of Huangfu Song and Qiao Yan, who directly undermined Zhang Jiao, it was still a significant accomplishment.

The urgent reports from Huangfu Song had whetted Liu Hong’s appetite for victory, yet he couldn’t completely disregard the success of pacifying an entire province.

Moreover, the report highlighted the bravery of the Huangfu Song subordinate, Sun Jian, who was the first to scale the city walls.

This detail made Liu Hong keenly aware that this individual was likely exceptional.

Even if not an invincible warrior, he must be a valiant general.

Without such bravery, even with the advantage of surprise attack of the Yu Province rebellion, it would have been challenging to kill Zhang Bao so easily.

Liu Hong knew that Wancheng was a defensible city, even from his long years in the palace.

Yesterday’s urgent report mentioned his name—what was it again?

Liu Hong lazily propped his chin as he tried to recall.

He vaguely remembered the name—

Sun Jian, Sun Wentai?

He should bestow some official title upon this man.

Fortunately, this matter wasn’t as perplexing as the situation with Qiao Yan…

Just as he thought this, he saw Grand Commandant Yang Ci step forward.

After bowing once more, Yang Ci said, “Your Majesty, I have something to report.”

Seeing Yang Ci’s face, Liu Hong couldn’t help but rub his forehead. “Proceed.”

Yang Ci stepped forward, and Liu Hong instinctively felt that he was about to hear something troublesome.

Sure enough, Yang Ci continued:

“While it is certainly a cause for celebration that the Yellow Turbans in Jing Province are nearly pacified, the area still harbors many local bandits, and the common people are not supportive.

The right measure against the Yellow Turban rebellion has been taken, but addressing the broader unrest among the local clans is beyond the capabilities of the current officials, Qin Chuqi and Xu Mengyu.

I suggest that Your Majesty send one person to reward the troops and another to assist in pacifying the local clan-based bandits.”

What are clan-based bandits? They are armed groups based on clan affiliations in the southern hills, somewhat similar to the powerful families in the north.

However, traditionally, the powerful families in the north, especially the bureaucratic aristocracy, have been more inclined to integrate into the officialdom.

The southern bandits, despite being outlaws, far surpass the Yellow Turbans in their severity.

With the Yellow Turban Rebellion, these bandits have wreaked havoc across the southern part of Jing Province, making their deeds even more despicable.

Take, for instance, the bandit leader Su Dai, who has entrenched himself in the Changsha region.

Was Yang Ci’s suggestion valid? Perhaps it was.

If they could take advantage of the victory over the Yellow Turbans to further suppress the bandit threat in the south, it might indeed be feasible.

But would Liu Hong listen to this suggestion? He had no intention of doing so!

He planned to use the bandit forces to balance against the influential families of Nanyang.

Since neither side had caused significant trouble that reached his ears, why send Zhu Jun and his troops further south for more campaigning?

First, such a campaign would increase expenses.

Second, if they succeeded, more rewards would be necessary.

Rewarding military generals was not as easy as dealing with civil officials.

But he couldn’t outright reject the idea.

Maintaining an impassive expression, Liu Hong asked, “Whom do you wish to recommend?”

Yang Ci replied, “I recommend Huang Wan of Jiangxia.”

Huang Wan, …

Liu Hong mentally repeated the name.

It was not unfamiliar to him.

Huang Wan’s grandfather, Huang Qiong, served as Minister Steward and held high positions like Minister of Works and Grand Commandant during Emperor Huan’s reign.

When he died in the seventh year of Yanxi, he was posthumously honored as General of Chariots and Cavalry.

Huang Wan could indeed be considered a descendant of a notable minister.

Known for his intelligence and eloquence from an early age, Huang Wan had already become the Lieutenant General.

He indeed showed promise.

However, he was also implicated in the Disasters of the Partisan Prohibitions.

Due to the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Liu Hong had to lift the partisan prohibitions to gain the support of scholars, but that didn’t mean he was entirely comfortable with appointing former partisans.

Yang Ci’s respectful posture did not allow him to see the growing displeasure in Liu Hong’s eyes.

Liu Hong only said, “Huang Wan has been confined in Jiangxia for many years. Though recommended by the Grand Commandant, and I know he hasn’t colluded with the bandits, rumors are unavoidable.”

After a pause and a tired yawn, he continued, “But I value Huang Wan’s talents. It would be a waste to leave him idle at home. Let him come to the capital and start as a consultant, and we will later decide his specific assignment.”

With Liu Hong’s decision, no one dared to interject further.

Yang Ci bowed in gratitude and heard Liu Hong say, “However, the Grand Commandant’s concern about the bandits in Jing Province is not unfounded.”

“Does the Grand General have a suitable candidate in mind?”