The World Trembles

After a brutal battle, Guangzong City became unexpectedly busy. Medics hurried through the infirmaries to treat the wounded, auxiliary troops expanded the prisoner camps and cleared the corpses from the battlefield, and women were busy washing armor and clothing. He Yi, Huang Shao, Tian Feng, and others did their utmost to persuade the captured Han Army generals to surrender.

Huangfu Song, Lu Zhi, Zong Yuan, Fu Xie, Guo Dian, Li Jue, Guo Si...

Although the Yellow Turban Army already possessed many capable generals, they were all self-taught. If they could persuade the Han generals to defect, it would be a significant boon for crushing the morale of the Han Court and increasing the combat effectiveness of the Yellow Turban Army.

Inside the Guangzong County prison.

Huangfu Song leaned against the pitch-black wall, his eyes vacant. Lu Zhi was also lost in a daze, the image of that young man on the city wall flashing through his mind.

By now, he had learned from the jailer that the youth was none other than the "Sovereign Yellow Absolute God."

The jailer had told him: "The Holy Venerable descended into the world in the form of an infant. He walked five steps and became a five-year-old child. Each day that passed, he aged one year until he reached the form of a youth, at which point he ceased to grow, his appearance frozen for eternity."

Lu Zhi let out an absurd laugh: "In this world, how could there be immortals, gods, or ghosts..."

For thousands of years, history had never explicitly stated that immortals existed. Even Confucius once said to "respect ghosts and gods but keep them at a distance." How was it that in his own time, an immortal had actually descended to earth?

It was too absurd!

It was too absurd!

Lu Zhi let out a low, miserable laugh, startling Huangfu Song. The latter looked at Lu Zhi and said in a strained voice: "I regret not listening to your words, Lord Lu!"

Back at Lieren, Lu Zhi had insisted that they must not engage in battle until they understood exactly what the God Huang Tian was. Huangfu Song had turned a deaf ear and dismissed it with disdain, ultimately leading to their crushing defeat.

Lu Zhi remained silent for a moment before shaking his head: "The God Huang Tian is a true immortal deity. No matter what we do, we were destined to fail."

Huangfu Song sighed.

Indeed, facing a living immortal, what could they, mere mortals, possibly do?

The immortal only needed to wave his hand, scattering beans to summon soldiers, and the Han Army's formations would collapse. No matter the strategy or tactics, they were useless against the divine power of an immortal.

As the two sighed, a tall, upright youth walked over, guided by a jailer.

"Lord Huangfu, Lord Lu." The youth had the jailer open the cell door, stepped inside, and offered a salute.

Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi looked up at the youth, saying nothing.

The youth smiled and revealed his identity: "This Humble One hails from the Tian Clan of Julu. I am Tian Feng, courtesy name Yuanhao, currently serving as the Registrar of Julu Commandery."

Lu Zhi was surprised: "Tian Yuanhao of the Julu Tian Clan? I have heard your name. Before we marched from Luoyang, Grand Marshal Deng petitioned the Emperor to summon the talents of the world to Luoyang. Among them, he mentioned that there was a great talent in Julu of Ji Province named Tian Yuanhao. Could it be you?"

Tian Feng nodded, also slightly surprised: "Grand Marshal Deng Boneng wished to summon me?"

"Indeed." Lu Zhi nodded slightly, suddenly feeling a sense of absurdity.

The talent whom the Grand Marshal of the Han Court wished to summon was now serving the Yellow Turban Army; it was quite comical.

Tian Feng also shook his head with a laugh. If it were before, he would have greatly cherished the opportunity to be summoned into the Grand Marshal's office, but now, he did not care much for it.

In his view, the vast Han Court could not hold on for much longer and was on the verge of collapse. Even if he became a Grand Marshal, what use would it be?

To be buried with the Han Court?

He had no such intention.

Now, as the first scion of a noble family to defect to the Yellow Turban Army, he was deeply trusted by the Great Virtuous Teacher. His future was bright. If he performed great deeds and caught the eye of the Holy Venerable Huang Tian, he might even be taught immortal arts, with a chance at long life and eternal vision. What were the fleeting riches and honors of this world compared to that?

Clearing his throat softly, Tian Feng said: "I believe you both understand the purpose of my visit. May I ask what your thoughts are?"

The two looked at each other and fell silent.

After a long while, Huangfu Song asked: "If we insist on not surrendering, what will happen?"

Tian Feng smiled: "Nothing much. You would simply spend the rest of your lives in this prison, or face execution by the law."

"In other words, we will surely die?"

"You may understand it that way," Tian Feng said. "I hope you both understand that the Holy Venerable Huang Tian does not lack generals or talents. Even if a million-strong army stood against us, they would be no match for a wave of the Holy Venerable's sleeve.

The reason I am persuading you both is that we do not wish to constantly trouble the Holy Venerable to act. That is why I wish to invite you to serve our army and drill our soldiers."

Lu Zhi pondered for a few breaths, then suddenly asked: "What of Fu Nanrong? I saw him get knocked unconscious by the stone man that day, and then he was bound by your soldiers."

Tian Feng wore a look of regret: "Lord Fu is dead."

"Dead?"

"The stone man did not kill Lord Fu. After the battle, the medics revived him. But upon waking, Lord Fu wept bitterly, crying out: 'The sage upholds his integrity; the next best thing is to guard one's integrity.' Even a tyrant like King Zhou of Shang had Bo Yi, who starved himself to death for him.

The current imperial court is not as cruel as King Zhou, and his own virtue does not exceed that of Bo Yi. Having accepted the court's salary, he felt he must share the court's burdens. Since he had been captured, he felt he must die to prove his loyalty.

After saying this, he struck his head against a pillar and died."

Hearing this, Lu Zhi could not help but redden, letting out a long sigh: "Nanrong, a true hero indeed!"

Huangfu Song's expression moved: "Nanrong possessed the integrity of the ancients; do I not possess the same?"

Tian Feng looked at Huangfu Song: "You do not wish to surrender?"

Huangfu Song sneered: "If I had won and captured you rebels, I would have executed every last one of you and built a monument of corpses to warn the rebels who followed!"

Tian Feng sighed and said no more. He turned to look at Lu Zhi. Lu Zhi did not rush to make a decision, merely remaining silent.

Tian Feng immediately knew that Lu Zhi was someone who could be won over. He gave an order to have Huangfu Song moved to another cell for interrogation, then sat down on his knees and began to explain in detail the land-clearing policy that the Yellow Turban Army was about to implement in Ji Province. He then told Lu Zhi that if he were willing to surrender to the Yellow Turban Army and perform great deeds in the future, he would have the opportunity to be taught immortal arts, and that immortality might even be within his reach.

After speaking his piece, Lu Zhi remained silent. Tian Feng did not press him, instead departing for another prison cell to persuade Zong Yuan and the others to surrender.

The news of the Han Army's crushing defeat under Huangfu Song spread with incredible speed. Because many routed soldiers had scattered and fled the battlefield, they carried the tidings of "Yellow Heaven Descends" and "The Han Army is utterly defeated" everywhere they went, causing the vast Ji Province to boil over in an instant.

Following this, the Yellow Turban Army's scouts rode out from Guangzong, galloping across the various commanderies and counties of Ji Province. Wherever they arrived, they would post proclamations declaring, "The Han Army has been defeated; surrender your cities immediately," and the like.

Terrified by the might of the Yellow Turban Army, the officials and soldiers of the commanderies and counties dared not tear down the notices. In this way, even the common villagers learned that the Han Army had been defeated and their commander-in-chief captured.

Powerful clans and wealthy households fortified their estates for self-preservation, while the great aristocratic families either adopted a wait-and-see approach or relocated to Luoyang.

Upon their arrival in Luoyang, they brought with them the news of Huangfu Song's disastrous defeat.

With forty thousand elite Han troops wiped out, added to the twenty thousand lost previously under Lu Zhi, the entire Han Court had squandered sixty thousand of its finest soldiers. Consequently, Luoyang was gripped by terror, the Emperor was struck with fear, and the hearts of the people were filled with panic.

The entire world was shaken!