Three Kingdoms: Zhang Fei was sent flying by a single spear thrust, leaving Liu Bei stunned.

Outside the city of Ju County in Qingzhou, at Cao Cao's army camp.

After a brief period of euphoria, the atmosphere in the central command tent fell into an eerie silence.

The messenger had already left, and the battle report that Cao Cao had slammed on the table was now being eagerly read by Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Yu Jin, and other generals.

The expressions on everyone's faces were absolutely fascinating.

Shock, admiration, disbelief—all of these eventually morphed into suppressed gasps of amazement.

"Damn it... ten days, just ten days! They've conquered the entire Yu Province?" Xiahou Dun, with his fiery temper, was the first to yell. He slapped his thigh, making the tent shake three times. "I told you long ago, that kid Ziqian isn't human, he's a monster! And you didn't believe me!"

He was cursing and swearing, but the smile on his face was brighter than anyone else's; he couldn't hide his pride and joy.

"This...this can't be explained by mere military genius." Xiahou Yuan held the battle report, tracing its surface with his finger, clicking his tongue in amazement. "Eight thousand cavalrymen, a thousand-mile raid, capturing three commanderies in succession. Most importantly, in the battle of besieging the stronghold and ambushing reinforcements, they annihilated fifty thousand troops and even beheaded Ji Ling...and the casualties were less than a thousand? How did he manage to do that?"

Yu Jin, a calm and meticulous man, pointed to a section of the battle report and said, "It says here that General Ziqian used the cover of night and the uniforms of Yuan Shu's army to trick the gates of Ruyin into opening. This move was incredibly audacious; a slight misstep could have resulted in the annihilation of the entire army."

"It's more than just being brave!" a younger general couldn't help but interject. "Look at the scene where he fought Sun Ce, the son of Sun Jian, the Tiger of Jiangdong, a renowned fierce warrior. And what happened? He was chased and beaten by General Ziqian, and only survived thanks to the veteran Huang Gai's desperate rearguard action. His martial arts skills are probably truly the best in the world."

The tent became lively again as everyone chatted, discussing Zhang Ziqian's incredible skills.

Cao Cao sat back in his seat, the smile on his face slowly fading, replaced by a deep contemplation.

He was naturally delighted, so delighted that he wanted to immediately throw a banquet to celebrate for three days and three nights. What Zhang Ziqian sent was not just a complete territory of Yu Province, but also a shot in the arm, which boosted the morale of the entire Cao army.

But after the joy comes the trouble.

A sweet trouble.

Zhang Ziqian is too skilled in battle, and his achievements are too great. So great that even he, as the lord, doesn't know how to reward him properly.

What does it mean to pacify Yuzhou in ten days?

Back then, in order to take over Yanzhou, he fought countless tough battles against Lü Bu and various powerful clans, lost countless brothers, and devoted countless efforts.

Looking at myself now, I'm stuck in Qingzhou for a month, held up by hundreds of thousands of Yellow Turban soldiers. I can't move an inch, I've suffered heavy losses, and I'm in a complete mess.

The difference between the two is too obvious.

His brothers, Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, and Yu Jin, were all capable generals who could stand alone. But compared to Zhang Ziqian, they seemed... somewhat lacking.

This isn't a matter of ability; it's a matter of... standards. Zhang Ziqian's handling of affairs has exceeded the standards expected of a normal general.

He had just clearly seen that when the battle report was being passed around, in addition to shock and admiration, some people's eyes also contained a hint of bitterness and helplessness.

Yes, with such a brilliant example before us, how can others compete? Even if they win a battle in the future, their achievements will pale in comparison to Zhang Ziqian's.

The human heart is the most unpredictable thing.

Cao Cao wasn't afraid of his generals having ambition; he was afraid of them lacking drive.

"Speak up, everyone," Cao Cao said, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, breaking the murmur of the crowd. "How should Ziqian be rewarded for this tremendous achievement? And what do you all think of his proposed 'Qingzhou troops' method?"

The tent fell silent once again.

This achievement is too great; no reward would be enough. A title of nobility? He's already the Marquis of Champion. Military power? His Flying Bear Army is already the most elite cavalry in the land. Territory? He seems to have little interest in governing local areas; after conquering Shangcai, he immediately handed it over to Cao Ren.

"My lord," Xun Yu spoke first, his expression calm, as if he had already prepared his words, "The Marquis of Champion's achievements this time surpass the entire army. The matter of rewarding him should not be rushed or too heavy. In my opinion, we can first issue an order to commend him and reward him with gold and silver to appease him. After you have pacified Qingzhou and returned to the capital in triumph, we can then discuss his merits and bestow additional titles. In this way, we can show the great favor you have bestowed upon him."

Cao Cao nodded; Xun Yu's words were wise and experienced. Giving Zhang Ziqian a grand reward now would only make him stand out more and fuel resentment among the other generals. The best approach was to let things cool down and allow everyone's enthusiasm to subside.

"As for the 'Qingzhou Army,'" Xun Yu continued, "I believe this is a foolproof plan. The Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou are mostly starving people, and their hearts are pitiful. If our army can defeat their leader Guan Hai with swift and decisive action, and then use appeasement to recruit the refugees and select the strongest to train into an army, we can not only quickly pacify Qingzhou, but also add a powerful ally to our lord. This move kills two birds with one stone and is truly a brilliant strategy."

"Yes, Wenruo's words are exactly what I was thinking." Cao Cao agreed, then looked at Guo Jia on the other side, "Fengxiao, what about you? What are your thoughts?"

Guo Jia was tilting his head back and chugging his wine when he heard Cao Cao's question. He smacked his lips, still not quite satisfied, and let out a burp.

"My lord, Lord Xun is right, but I have a small concern," Guo Jia said, his eyes narrowed and slightly drunk. "Ziqian is a fine blade, a peerless blade capable of splitting mountains and cleaving rivers. Now that Yu Province is pacified, isn't it a bit... a waste of his talent to leave such a blade there to appease the local people?"

He stretched out his finger and drew a line on the map from Runan in Yuzhou to Beihai in Qingzhou.

"We've been dragging this out by the Yellow Turbans for a month. What kind of fighting have we been doing? Dragging things out, suffering heavy casualties. Why? Because we lack a sharp blade that can cut through all the trouble in one fell swoop!"

Guo Jia's voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the tent could hear it clearly.

"In my opinion, it would be better to issue a military order for Ziqian to bring his Flying Bear Army to Qingzhou immediately! Let him be the vanguard, and our main force will follow behind. Forget about Guan Hai or the million Yellow Turbans; once Ziqian arrives, one charge and they'll all scatter! We can then follow behind to gather the surrendered soldiers and train the Qingzhou army. In less than half a month, Qingzhou will be pacified!"

Guo Jia's words made the breathing of the generals in the tent quicken.

They'd been fighting a grueling battle for a month and were seething with anger. If Zhang Ziqian really came, it would be a clean sweep, a truly satisfying victory.

Xiahou Dun slammed his fist on the table in excitement: "Fengxiao is right! My lord, transfer Ziqian here! Let him lead our troops. I've had my eye on those Yellow Turbans for a long time!"

Cao Cao's eyes lit up as well.

Guo Jia's proposal was very tempting.

Fast, efficient, and a one-time solution. This suited his taste perfectly.

He was almost about to give the order on the spot, but when his gaze swept over Xun Yu's still calm face, the impulse in his heart was suppressed.

He knew that Xun Yu would definitely have a different opinion.

"Wenruo, what do you say?" Cao Cao asked.

Xun Yu bowed respectfully and said calmly, "Master Guo's strategy is indeed a good way to defeat the enemy. However, I have three concerns."

"Firstly, Yu Province has just been pacified, and the people's hearts are not yet settled. Although the Marquis of Champion has taken three counties, the remnants of Yuan Shu's forces still exist, and Sun Ce of Jiangdong is also watching us with covetous eyes. If the Marquis of Champion is transferred away at this time, and if there is another change in Yu Province, our army's previous efforts will be in vain, and the losses will outweigh the gains."

"Secondly, the Flying Bear Army consists entirely of cavalry, and after days of continuous raids, both men and horses are exhausted. The journey from Yuzhou to Qingzhou is long, and forcibly conscripting them would be of no benefit to the troops. They should be allowed to rest and recuperate for future use."

"Thirdly, and most importantly," Xun Yu's gaze swept over the generals in the tent, his voice steady and powerful, "It is our duty to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion. If even a mere Yellow Turban requires the assistance of the Marquis of Champion, wouldn't that make the world laugh at the incompetence of the generals of Yanzhou? Where would our army's morale stand?"