However, Huangfu Song merely remained silent and indifferent.
Helpless, Lu Zhi could only rise and leave.
In truth, he had long known his efforts were futile.
Huangfu Song was just the sort of man who strictly followed the Imperial Court's procedures.
With an edict, he would deploy his troops and do his utmost to win the battle.
Without an edict, even if he commanded the Northern Army, the most elite force in the realm, he would not use them to do a single extra thing.
That was Huangfu Song, one of the rare classic professional officers of ancient dynasties.
He never relied on the military authority in his hands to deploy troops and act on his own. He only recognized imperial edicts, great seals, tiger seals, and angels.
No matter who held power, and no matter whether they were good or bad, if you issued an edict through the Secretariat Office, he would send out his troops.
His character destined him never to rise to prominence in chaotic times.
It was like when Dong Zhuo threw the government into disorder and someone urged Huangfu Song to lead thirty thousand troops against him.
Huangfu Song refused outright and instead went alone to Luoyang in obedience to the edict.
Dong Zhuo then used an edict to strip him of military command, threw him into prison, and nearly had him killed. Fortunately, one of his sons pleaded for mercy.
Had this happened to Cao Cao or Yuan Shao, the outcome would have been entirely different.
Thus, a most peculiar scene unfolded across Ji Province.
Wenren Sheng was clearly reclaiming land, preparing for war, and recruiting soldiers there.
Huangfu Song merely submitted a memorial. First, he requested a one-year tax exemption because Ji Province was devastated. Second, he mentioned the possibility that Mount Taihang