As time passed, the resistance on the battlefield grew weaker.
No one wanted to die!
And besides,
Their leaders seemed to have retreated, so further resistance was pointless.
Thus,
The household guards, their will to fight gone, began surrendering in increasing numbers.
Regarding this,
Zhang Bao did not show mercy but simply disarmed them all.
He had more important matters to attend to.
Such as?
Finding the leaders!
Unfortunately,
After searching through tens of thousands of captives, he only found the unlucky Ding Yuan.
It made sense, really.
Although the Yellow Turban Army could sweep through the battlefield with their sheer numbers, they couldn't stop the elite squad's breakthrough.
They were too weak!
Once a gap was torn open, it was hard to mend.
And Yuan Shao and the others?
They took advantage of the moment the gap was torn open to flee with a few generals.
The soldiers?
They didn't care about them!
They abandoned them all!
As long as they could survive, what did it matter if the soldiers were lost?
After all, they still had the main forces of the imperial reinforcement army.
Facing this situation, Zhang Bao felt a headache coming on.
This was difficult!
Once those fellows escaped and returned, they could quickly regroup with their influence.
And what did they have?
Aside from over ten thousand ungrateful captives, they had nothing.
Oh?
No, not nothing!
They had one more thing!
Glancing at Ding Yuan, who was being shoved forward, Zhang Bao was about to speak when Ding Yuan spoke first.
"My lord, as long as you spare my life, I am willing to lead my men to capture Yuan Wei and the others!"
"Hmm?"
Zhang Bao was taken aback. He really wanted to say that he could capture them himself.
After all,
Huangfu Song had already provided their approximate rendezvous point, and they could find them by following the route.
However,
Glancing at Ding Yuan's apprehensive expression, Zhang Bao suddenly had a good idea.
"Do you know why you were ambushed?"
"Hmm?"
Ding Yuan, who was already wondering why the Yellow Turbans had arrived so quickly, widened his eyes.
"There's... there's a traitor?"
"Precisely!"
Zhang Bao smiled and nodded, delivering a bombshell:
"It was your commander, Lord Lu Zhi, who sent someone to inform me!"
"Wh-what?!"
Hearing the name Zhang Bao uttered, Ding Yuan's eyes widened in disbelief. He subconsciously shook his head and retorted:
"Impossible!"
"This is impossible!"
"Lord Lu is dedicated to public service, how could he possibly cooperate with you?"
"Heh heh..."
Seeing the doubt and uncertainty on Ding Yuan's face, Zhang Bao chuckled and said,
"It's this point, do I have any reason to lie to you?"
"Besides..."
"It's true that Master Lu is dedicated to public service, but what he serves is the Liu dynasty!"
Zhang Bao paused here, his tone filled with disdain,
"Those aristocratic families harmed the emperor, and they actually want to frame us?"
"They wish!"
"Although I, Zhang Bao, regret not killing that emperor myself, I am not one to be easily framed!"
"What?!"
As Zhang Bao's words fell, Ding Yuan, who had just recovered his senses, was stunned again.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... he was murdered by the aristocratic families?"
"This is impossible!"
"The aristocratic families... the aristocratic families, though powerful, would not dare commit such a treasonous act, would they?"
"Hmph~!"
Zhang Bao, questioned repeatedly, let out a cold snort, his voice tinged with menace,
"I am assigning you your mission. Interrupt me again and I'll take your dog life!"
"Listen carefully!"
"How the emperor died is none of your concern, and you don't need to lead the way to Yuan Wei. I will personally lead men to deal with them."
"But there is something you need to do now!"
"Do you want to hear it?"
"..."
Glancing at Zhang Bao's drawn longsword, Ding Yuan wisely nodded.
"Sir, please tell me what you need. I guarantee I will do my best!"
"Excellent!"
Zhang Bao flicked his sword with a flourish, then sheathed it, and said with a smile,
"Your mission is very simple: take these men back to find those two young masters of the Yuan family, and reveal Lu Zhi's betrayal to them!"
"Uh???"
As Zhang Bao finished speaking, a hint of confusion flickered across Ding Yuan's face.
What?
Not only am I not going to be killed, but I'm being asked to bring people back, just to betray your partner?
Is this how people betray each other?
Although Ding Yuan still didn't quite believe Lu Zhi had betrayed them, he understood one thing.
Once this message got back, even if Lu Zhi hadn't betrayed them, he wouldn't be trusted by the aristocratic families.
However...
Glancing at the Yellow Turban soldiers beside him, eager to fight, Ding Yuan decisively nodded.
"General, please rest assured, I will definitely deliver this message!"
"Very good!"
Zhang Bao nodded noncommittally and waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to release Ding Yuan.
"Take all those prisoners with you. I don't want any of those useless people here!"
"Also..."
"If I find out you only talked the talk and didn't walk the walk, next time you fall into my hands, it won't be so easy to escape!"
As he spoke, Zhang Bao looked thoughtfully at Ding Yuan, narrowed his eyes, and chuckled,
"When I ascend the throne and become emperor, there will surely be a place for you among the eunuchs in the palace!"
"Hiss~!"
With Zhang Bao's words, Ding Yuan couldn't help but gasp, instinctively clenching his legs together.
Although he was old, that particular part of him was often just for show.
But even so,
Any normal person wouldn't want it to be cut off, would they?
"General, please rest assured!"
To protect his own 'decoration', Ding Yuan raised his hand and swore to the heavens,
"If I, Ding Yuan, do not report truthfully, may I be struck by lightning and die a terrible death!"
"Hmph~!"
Zhang Bao grunted noncommittally but didn't waste any more time with him, waving his hand for him to leave.
Seeing this,
Liao Hua, who had been feeling stifled beside him, couldn't help but ask,
"Great General, are we... are we just letting them go?"
"Otherwise?"
"What about... what about our fallen brothers?"
"Hmm?"
Hearing Liao Hua's almost questioning tone, Zhang Bao turned back to look at him.
"Can't you use that pig brain of yours?!"
"Can these people be kept?"
"Let alone the fact that they would consume so much food and grass every day, can they even be trusted?"
"Perhaps these were deliberately left behind by those aristocratic families to trap us at a critical moment!"
"Do you really think they are prisoners?"
"I, I..."
Liao Hua's face turned a little pale after being reprimanded by Zhang Bao.
Indeed!
These more than ten thousand captives looked like elites, and if they were accepted, they would surely be incorporated into the army.
And if that happened...
"Then why not kill them directly?"
Pei Yuanshao, who was also somewhat puzzled, couldn't help but ask.
"If we kill all these people, won't the imperial reinforcement army lose more than ten thousand elites?"
"Heh heh..."
Hearing Pei Yuanshao's question, a cold smile played on Zhang Bao's lips.
"As you said, these are all elites, isn't it a pity to kill them?"
"Moreover..."
"Don't you all think that just because Huangfu Song came once, we have become allies with the imperial reinforcement army!"
"That's unrealistic!"
"Whether it's with the aristocratic families or with Lu Zhi and the others, we are destined to be enemies for life!"
"And while the enemy of my enemy cannot become a friend, it's not a problem to cause them some trouble!"
"Lu Zhi wants to use me as a butcher's knife?"
"He wishes!"
"I'd like to see how he withstands the accountability of those aristocratic families!"
"This..."
As Zhang Bao's words fell, Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao looked bewildered.
They seemed to not quite understand?
Never mind!
No matter what Great General does, we just need to shout 'awesome'!
With that thought,
The two of them abandoned the idea of asking further and, following the established plan, said,
"Great General, are we going to deal with that old thing from the Yuan family now?"
"Exactly!"
Zhang Bao nodded, signaling his subordinates to reorganize the troops, while he himself went to discuss the details.
He would not allow himself to fail again!
This time, the enemies might be many, but Yuan Wei and the others had few people around them.
If they escaped again, wouldn't his current expedition be a joke?
Even if it caused Lu Zhi and the aristocratic families to clash, it would be a loss.
A military expedition had its costs!
At the very least, food and grass had to be secured!
Although there was a lot of gold and silver in Luoyang City, you still needed a place to exchange it for provisions.
With that thought,
Zhang Bao's once pleasant mood became somewhat irritable.
He missed the old days!
How good were things back then?
Short on grain?
Rob!
Short on money?
Rob!
Short on women?
Rob!
Whatever they wanted, they could get it by robbing the various cities.
And now?
There were too many people!
In the past, a few thousand shi of grain could last a long time, but now it wasn't even enough for a day's meal.
Not only that,
With increased consumption, the places they could rob were becoming fewer and fewer.
Why?
Nonsense!
They had already robbed them once, were they going to go back and rob them again?
Even if he had the nerve to do so, those cities would have nothing left for him to take.
At this moment,
The figure of Ye Feng suddenly flashed in Zhang Bao's mind, and he seemed to understand his thoughts.
War alone could not rule the Han dynasty!
Not to mention anything else,
Once he couldn't supply his soldiers, the first ones to oppose him would likely be his 'loyal' subordinates, wouldn't they?
"Hoo~!"
Growing increasingly agitated, Zhang Bao let out a deep sigh.
It was too late to think about these things now!
He would just have to see what his elder brother would do!
Perhaps,
His elder brother's previous opposition to expansion was the correct approach.
The territory had grown, the people had increased, but problems had also followed.
Zhang Bao felt like he was at his limit.
On one hand, he had to guard against the aristocratic families, and on the other hand, he had to guard against his own generals.
He was tired!
If his elder brother were here now, he would gladly hand everything over to him.
Unfortunately,
While Zhang Bao was worrying, he didn't know that his elder brother was also worrying.