The imperial cause at the end of the Han Dynasty was not one of partial peace.

Liu Bei's army set off from Zhen Ding and marched south, successfully reaching the Zhao state.

At this time, the territory of Zhao had been conquered and pacified by the main force of the Han army. Liu Bei had not yet arrived in Handan. On the way, Lu Shao excitedly led a few riders to Liu Bei.

This surprised Liu Bei somewhat, because his army was a conscripted force, and the soldiers were well-supplied, so the military discipline was extremely strict!

During their marches, the army was disciplined and its ranks were well-organized. Furthermore, Guan Yu led several dozen cavalrymen to patrol the area, and the soldiers dared not make a sound.

Under such military discipline, absolutely no one would dare to leave the ranks or charge past the military flag.

Lu Shao must have some urgent business to attend to.

As expected, before Liu Bei could ask, Lu Shao spoke up: "Brother Xuande, good news! Good news from the front! My clansmen have contacted my father, who has decisively defeated 70,000 Yellow Turban rebels from Wei Commandery and advanced to Quliang. He is about to besiege Zhang Jiao at Julu."

"No wonder you're so happy! It's a great victory for our army!" Liu Bei was also invigorated. He immediately spread out a map, his gaze falling on the direction of Quliang. He couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh. "Quliang is still northeast of our army. We've already passed that area, and now we must turn back east!"

Lu Shao smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "My father is already aware that Xuande has led his righteous army a thousand miles to our aid, and he highly praises Xuande's loyalty and righteousness. He has specially instructed me to convey his message—please come to Quliang immediately and join us in facing this national crisis!"

Liu Bei was greatly encouraged and immediately ordered the entire army to turn back to the northeast, advance at double speed, and head straight for Quliang.

On the way, he received a detailed battle report from Lu Shao. After reviewing it, he couldn't help but sigh.

My mentor, Lu Zhi, truly lived up to his reputation as a famous general of the late Han Dynasty.

Now, the Yellow Turban Rebellion has broken out in eight provinces, and the world is in chaos. Zhu Jun, the Right General of the Household, was defeated by Bo Cai in his campaign against the Yellow Turbans in Yingchuan. He suffered heavy losses and retreated to Changshe. Although Huangfu Song, the Left General of the Household, joined forces with Zhu Jun, he was also besieged by Bo Cai in the city of Changshe and could neither advance nor retreat.

The imperial army that was sent to punish the rebels was either defeated or trapped. Only his mentor was able to stand alone against Zhang Jiao's main force in the heart of Ji Province, winning battle after battle without ever being defeated. Now he has even advanced to Quliang and is about to besiege Julu.

Of course, Lu Zhi's ability to win battle after battle was not only due to his knowledge of military strategy and his resolute and principled character, but also, most importantly, to the elite troops he commanded.

Under his command was the most elite field army of the Han Empire, including the Three Rivers Five Schools, totaling more than 20,000 men.

The so-called "Three Rivers and Five Schools" refers to the knights from the three prefectures of Henan, Hanoi, and Hedong. They were all from good families with hereditary military status, and they learned riding and archery from a young age, and could shoot arrows with both hands on horseback.

The Five Schools were the Imperial Guards under the command of the five Colonels of Tunqi, Yueqi, Bubing, Changshui, and Shesheng. Each of them was fully armed and well-trained, making them the strongest army in the land.

Lu Zhi was able to win battle after battle and defeat Zhang Jiao's main force only because he had such elite troops as his henchmen.

With a well-trained and highly capable army, even an ordinary general can conquer battles and achieve remarkable feats.

This is why Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu Han, was ranked among the Ten Philosophers of the Temple of Martial Arts and was highly respected by the famous general Li Jing of later generations.

Because talented generals are easy to find. But a military philosopher who can establish a military system, determine rewards and punishments, clarify orders, and repair armor and weapons in the wilderness, so that farmers and commoners alike know when to advance and retreat and are willing to fight to the death, is a rare find in the world.

Therefore, half of the book "Six Secret Teachings" is about "generals" and the other half is about "training".

This mentor dedicated his entire life to imparting knowledge, teaching skills, and resolving doubts for him.

On the third day after Liu Bei expressed his feelings about this, the army marched at full speed and finally arrived at the Quliang camp.

Looking into the distance, the Han army's camp stretched for more than ten miles, with red flags covering the fields, watchtowers standing guard, and trenches crisscrossing the camp. There were also numerous barricades and crossbowmen patrolling the watchtowers, truly displaying the grandeur of a royal army.

Lu Shao led Liu Bei into the camp, passing through layers of checkpoints. At each checkpoint, Lu Shao showed his tally, and only then did the guards allow him to pass.

Liu Bei nodded inwardly—this showed just how strict his mentor was in disciplining his troops.

Upon reaching the central command tent, even Lu Shao, Lu Zhi's eldest son, could no longer pass. After the guards reported this, a reply came shortly afterward: "General Lu requests your presence. Please lay down your swords."

Liu Bei handed over his sword, straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and stepped into the tent.

The tent was simply furnished, with almost nothing except a lacquered table covered with maps, several bamboo scrolls, and a bronze oil lamp.

Seated behind the table was a man, about fifty years old, with a thin face. He wore a military cap and a dark crimson military uniform with black trim, and a blue ribbon and silver seal at his waist.

This was his mentor—Lu Zhi, also known as Lu Zigan, the General of the Northern Army.

Throughout his life, he was resolute and principled, and always cherished the ambition to save the world.

Liu Bei learned a great deal from him. He may not have learned much academic knowledge, but his lofty ambitions and integrity were definitely deeply influenced by his mentor.

He immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands in front of his forehead, and bowed deeply: "Student Liu Bei greets his esteemed teacher."

Contrary to Liu Bei's expectations, Lu Zhi did not have a deep impression of him.

Lu Zhi recognized his former disciple at a glance!

Although Lu Zhi studied under Ma Rong and was a fellow student of Zheng Xuan, he was a great Confucian scholar of his time.

Unlike other great Confucian scholars who sit in high halls with crimson gauze curtains and have hundreds or thousands of disciples.

Lu Zhi was repeatedly recruited by the imperial court and successively served as the prefect of Jiujiang, the prefect of Lujiang, a court advisor, and a scholar.

During the Guanghe era, he offended the eunuchs by submitting a memorial regarding a solar eclipse and was dismissed from his post and forced to live in seclusion. He briefly taught in Zhuojun.

I still have a deep impression of this disciple who has lofty aspirations and integrity, respects his teachers and values ​​etiquette, and is loyal, righteous and resolute.

Lu Zhi placed the bamboo slips on the corner of the table, looked up and scanned Liu Bei, and said, "Xuande has arrived."

"Back when we were in Zhuojun, I thought you didn't enjoy studying much, but preferred fine clothes, dogs, horses, and music."

"I never imagined you would have such skill in martial arts. In just a few months, you raised an army of righteous soldiers from humble beginnings, defeated the bandits, and beheaded more than ten thousand. What's even more remarkable is that despite such military achievements, you did not covet wealth and honor, but refused the invitation personally extended by the governor and traveled hundreds of miles south to help the country in its time of crisis."

Liu Bei immediately cupped his hands and said, "I have heard the Book of Stories say that a young person who loves learning is like the rising sun; a person who loves learning in adulthood is like the midday sun. Now that the country is in peril, I am studying to support the Han Dynasty, and thus I have achieved some success."

Lu Zhi was slightly taken aback, and rose to his feet, leaning on the table, saying, "To study in order to restore the Han Dynasty?"

"Xuande's words are truly ambitious! They fully express the sentiments of us men of noble aspirations! Only those with great ambition and integrity could utter such heroic words."

"Since you know the stories in the Garden of Stories, I know that you are well-read, and that what you say is true and your ambition is genuine."

"I hereby submit a memorial to the court, appointing Xuande temporarily as Assistant Military Advisor to assist in the campaign against the rebels!"

Liu Bei immediately clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "If it weren't for your teachings, Master, I would not be where I am today. I will personally face arrows and stones, and brave the blade, to help you, Master, quell the bandits!"

Lu Zhi nodded approvingly and beckoned to Liu Bei, signaling him to walk to the map.

The map marks the mountains, rivers, counties, and cities of Ji Province, with the location of Quliang circled in cinnabar.

"Zhang Jiao has retreated to Quliang, and our army has already surrounded him." Lu Zhi pointed at the map, looked up at Liu Bei, and said, "Now that the battle has come to this, what do you think is the next step?"

Liu Bei knew that his mentor was testing him.

In this era, the bond between teacher and student is the closest of relationships.

The relationship between master and disciple was like that of father and son. Lu Zhi regarded him as a confidant. If he were to be insincere or vague, he would be betraying this trust.

So he did not refuse, but stared at the map directly, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.

"My esteemed master personally led the royal army, defeating Zhang Jiao in succession, killing and capturing over ten thousand men, which terrified the enemy and forced them to retreat to Quliang. With my master's military prowess, Quliang is a small city, and with troops hastily gathered here, it is certainly difficult to defend. Under the fierce attack of our army, Zhang Jiao will not be able to hold the city and will have to abandon it again. This battle is sure to be won."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming increasingly earnest: "However, I believe that my teacher's arrangements this time are too cautious."

Lu Zhi frowned slightly and looked at Liu Bei. He had only wanted to test this disciple, but he hadn't expected him to actually dare to offer some pointers.

But he was extremely composed and did not fly into a rage: "Too cautious? Go on."

"Zhang Jiao rose up in Julu and gathered hundreds of thousands of men, yet he could neither defeat Guo Dian, the governor of Julu, from within, nor defend against the imperial army from without. This rabble relied solely on its numbers."

"With his successive victories, my master has already seized the initiative. Quliang is not his stronghold, and with his hastily assembled troops, he has no resources to defend it. This city will surely be captured. This is not a reckless statement, but a matter of course."

Then he raised his head, met Lu Zhi's gaze, and said with great spirit, "However, my mentor is a general of the court, holding the imperial insignia and supervising the army. He is entrusted with important responsibilities by the emperor. He should focus on the big picture and not just worry about the gains and losses of a single city or place."

"As Bei marched south from Zhuojun, the people of every prefecture and county he passed through were filled with fear. Zhu Jun was defeated by Bo Cai, and Huangfu Song was besieged at Changshe. The imperial army was either defeated or trapped, and the world was in turmoil. It was unknown who would emerge victorious. What the emperor and the court were anxiously awaiting day and night was not just an ordinary victory in capturing a city."

He paused, then looked up intently at Lu Zhi: "It was not a victory, but a resounding one, a victory that would shake the world and reassure the emperor."

This was a situation that Liu Bei had been considering since he marched south.

To put it simply, his mentor's current predicament is that he has no famous battles to speak of, let alone any renowned martial arts skills.

Although he personally defeated Zhang Jiao, he had almost no influence, so much so that he was rarely mentioned in later generations.

The historical records only mention a few words: Zhi Lian defeated Zhang Jiao, killing more than 10,000 people, and Jiao and others fled to Guangzong.

This is indeed a case of a skilled warrior not achieving great feats, but it is also his greatest weakness—it fails to leave a lasting impression on the current emperor. Therefore, he will be easily replaced.

He should have been like his disciple Gongsun Zan, striking fear into the hearts of the Yellow Turban rebels in Qingzhou and capturing 70,000, instantly becoming a legend and a household name.

Moreover, it was clear that at this time, the imperial court was anticipating a resounding victory to reassure the emperor. The entire nation longed for such a triumphant victory.

No one likes a general who is too cautious.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi smiled slightly: "I never knew that Xuande had such confidence in me. I have been supervising the army and managing the troops with utmost caution, fearing only that things would collapse, harm the state, and fail His Majesty's trust. And Xuande actually intends to achieve everything in one battle?"

Liu Bei cupped his hands and said, "I have heard that those skilled in warfare in ancient times first made themselves invincible, and then waited for the enemy to become vulnerable. My esteemed teacher bears the heavy responsibility entrusted to him by the entire nation, so it is only natural for him to be cautious and determined to win."

"However, I believe that we should press our advantage and pursue the fleeing enemy, rather than seeking fame like Xiang Yu! At this critical moment, I firmly believe that my esteemed teacher will break through the city in one fell swoop; this is the general trend. My esteemed teacher should also be firm in this belief."

Having finished speaking, he took a deep breath, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and declared loudly, "If my esteemed teacher still has any doubts, I am willing to lead my own righteous troops to circle around to the enemy's rear, cut off their retreat, and fiercely attack their routed army! Even if we cannot capture or kill Zhang Jiao, we will certainly cripple their wings and annihilate their elite troops, so that the bandits will lose their courage and accomplish this great feat for my esteemed teacher!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi was filled with pride. He scrutinized his former student and exclaimed, "Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Xuande's ambition and integrity today truly impress me!"

"Today, brilliant quotes abound. We should press our advantage and pursue the fleeing enemy relentlessly, rather than seeking fame like Xiang Yu! Such lofty ambitions could only be uttered by an extraordinary genius."

"The art of war lies in winning by surprise. As your teacher, I bear the weight of the entire nation and cannot afford to fail. If I also fail, then all three armies sent to quell the rebellion will be defeated, and the Yellow Turbans will be completely beyond control."

"And Xuande, as a righteous leader, is perfectly suited to take on this risky and daring mission."

"However..." Lu Zhi was not a heartless man after all, and he could not bear to see his disciple put into this perilous situation: "Xuande trusts me so much? If I fail to capture the city, you will be isolated deep behind enemy lines, surrounded on all sides with no way to retreat. Even if you hide in the tall grass, you will not be able to escape unscathed."

Historically, there have been instances of people hiding in the grass to avoid enemy pursuit.

What is there for Liu Bei to fear? He resolutely replied, "My esteemed teacher is a master strategist, and victory in this battle is assured! I am not taking a risk, but rather relying on my esteemed teacher's prestige to bolster his morale. Since we are confident of complete victory, what is there to be afraid of? Just remember, my esteemed teacher, please do not blame me for stealing the credit for your victory."

Lu Zhi patted the table and laughed heartily, his eyes filled with appreciation and admiration for his prized disciple.

"Why should a disciple be inferior to his master? If that is truly the case, then his master will be pleased to submit a memorial to the emperor and request merit for Xuande."

He paced back and forth a few steps, then turned to look at Liu Bei and said, "I hold the imperial insignia and oversee military affairs in Hebei. Xuande, what assistance do you need on this journey? Please speak freely."

He assumed that Liu Bei's army was a righteous one and would lack banners, armor, and horses.

He had even already made up his mind. This disciple was so courageous and loyal to the country; whatever he needed, he would grant.

Even the Xuanjia heavy armor and Mingguang horse armor from the five schools of the Northern Army, I can give them a hundred sets.

Unexpectedly, Liu Bei immediately cupped his hands and said, "I have heard the ancients say that among a thousand outstanding individuals, one is called 'ying' (英), and among ten thousand outstanding individuals, one is called 'jun' (俊). Are those whose wisdom surpasses that of a prefecture and whose conduct is renowned throughout the country not 'yingjun'?"

"In pacifying the rebellion and bringing order to the world, people are of paramount importance. Tian Feng and Tian Yuanhao, renowned scholars of Julu, are exceptionally talented, possess extraordinary strategic skills, are well-read and knowledgeable, and are highly respected throughout the region. I have long admired them and request to be summoned to join the army to assist in suppressing the rebellion."

Unlike Zhao Yun's statement, Tian Feng was renowned throughout Ji Province.

Liu Bei's statement that he had heard of the man's reputation and asked him for help in the battle seemed perfectly natural.

Once Tian Feng, the strategist, joins the team, the team will be even more well-prepared with his strategic planning, military advice, and assessment of the enemy's situation!

The key point is that he is the top strategist that Liu Bei can reasonably contact at present, and the closest to him!

Upon hearing Liu Bei's words, the entire tent fell silent.

After a moment, Lu Zhi clapped his hands and laughed, "I thought Xuande would ask for armor, fine horses, and elite soldiers, but I never expected you to open your mouth by recruiting talented people. Xuande's ambition is truly beyond the comprehension of ordinary people!"

"In that case, I will send my son Shao with the imperial insignia to Julu to recruit this man. However, whether he will accept the recruitment is unknown."

Liu Bei cupped his hands and said, "If we can defeat Zhang Jiao decisively and shake the world with our might, inspiring the officials and heroes to act righteously, then it will be easy for Tian Yuanhao to be recruited to assist in the campaign."

After discussing the matter with Lu Zhi, Liu Bei did not linger and decisively continued his advance northeastward, crossing Quliang and entering the territory of Julu.

This battle was not only about resolving the predicament of his mentor Lu Zhi, but also about whether his first strategist would be accepted into the government.

He was determined to win and could not afford to lose!