Chapter Fifty-Six: Meeting Lu Zhi
Hearing Xu Kang claim that he was the one who slew Peng Tuo, Huangfu Song became even more delighted. He strode briskly to Xu Kang, then patted his shoulder hard.
“Excellent! Truly a hero in his youth. Tell me, how exactly did you slay this villain?”
“Yes, General!”
Seeing Huangfu Song so flushed with excitement and unable to contain his joy, Xu Kang smiled again and respectfully cupped his hands, recounting the words he had long prepared.
“I launched a night attack, using cavalry to lure the Yellow Turbans west of Chenliu to the banks of the Huai River. Once their forces were exhausted, I struck with fire, dispatched a valiant officer to behead their commander, which threw their ranks into chaos…”
“Ha ha ha ha…”
Before Xu Kang finished speaking, Huangfu Song burst into loud laughter, joyfully slapping Xu Kang’s shoulder once more.
“Splendid! A clever plan and a fierce general. Such a strategy would confound even me—well done indeed. Peng Tuo’s death was no injustice. But I see the blood is still fresh; was he slain just now?”
“General, you are truly perceptive!”
Xu Kang gave a modest compliment, then cupped his hands again.
“To report, General: after defeating the Yellow Turbans, I captured Peng Tuo alive. I then disguised my soldiers as Yellow Turbans and forced Peng Tuo to guide us into Changshe, whereupon he was executed. My troops are now camped three miles outside the city, awaiting your command!”
“Ha ha! Excellent!”
Huangfu Song laughed again, grasping Xu Kang’s hand.
“Come, let us go to Master Lu and bring him this good news. Someone, bring me Peng Tuo’s head!”
“Yes, sir!”
At his command, a soldier behind him quickly fetched a tray, placed Peng Tuo’s head upon it, and followed behind Huangfu Song and Xu Kang as they walked towards Lu Zhi’s residence.
Perhaps from excitement, Huangfu Song began shouting before they were even within several dozen steps of Lu Zhi’s door.
“Master Lu! Master Lu, rejoice! Reinforcements from the court have arrived!”
The words had scarcely left his lips when a middle-aged man in his forties, barefoot and unshod, came running out.
He looked around anxiously, finally fixing his gaze on Huangfu Song. “Reinforcements… Yizhen, where are the reinforcements?”
“Ha ha, the reinforcements are right here!”
---
Huangfu Song laughed heartily, pulling Xu Kang forward.
“This time, he has brought the reinforcements!”
Lu Zhi looked puzzled and bowed to Xu Kang. “May I ask, sir, who might you be?”
Seeing his confusion, Xu Kang hurriedly bowed in return.
“I am unworthy of the title ‘sir.’ I am Xu Kang, the new magistrate of Changshe. Hearing that Master Lu was besieged by the Yellow Turbans, I have led three thousand troops to aid you. I have long admired Master Lu, and it is a great joy to meet you at last. Please accept my respects.”
Xu Kang spoke not only to observe formalities; his admiration for Lu Zhi was genuine.
He respected not only Lu Zhi’s exceptional military talent, but also his steadfastness against the eunuchs, refusing to yield or compromise. In an era when eunuchs wielded power, such integrity was rare and precious.
Lu Zhi, unaware of Xu Kang’s thoughts, was taken aback by his courtesy, then returned the bow.
“Sir Xu, you are too kind. How did you manage to arrive here? What is the situation outside?”
“The situation outside…”
Xu Kang was about to explain, but Huangfu Song interrupted.
“No need to test him, Brother Zigang. Young Xu is a true talent. Someone, present the item!”
“Yes, sir!”
At his command, a soldier came forward, carrying the tray with Peng Tuo’s head.
Seeing this, Lu Zhi’s eyes widened.
“This… Is this… Peng Tuo?”
“Ha ha ha ha, indeed!”
Huangfu Song was evidently pleased with Lu Zhi’s astonishment, laughing again as he tried to slap Xu Kang’s shoulder.
Xu Kang instinctively sidestepped, avoiding the blow.
Huangfu Song, missing his mark, was momentarily surprised, then burst into even louder laughter.
“Ha ha ha ha, young Xu, you are truly amusing… Brother Zigang, Peng Tuo was defeated by young Xu—not only that, he disguised his reinforcements as Yellow Turbans, entered Changshe, and when the time is right, we can join forces and sweep away the Yellow Turban threat in one stroke!”
“What? That is wonderful!” Hearing this, Lu Zhi’s face lit up with delight. “Sir Xu, how many troops have you brought?”
“Three thousand cavalry!”
---
Xu Kang did not mention his artillery corps or the Huai River troops, for one was his secret weapon and the other had been formed from reorganized Yellow Turban forces. Without knowing Lu Zhi and the others’ intentions, he dared not reveal them.
As expected, Lu Zhi frowned at his words.
“Only three thousand? Peng Tuo should have commanded a hundred thousand men. Did you…”
He left the rest unsaid, but Xu Kang understood and quickly bowed again.
“Master Lu, you misunderstand. I am not one to slaughter indiscriminately. At present, over sixty thousand Yellow Turbans have been captured and properly settled. At your command, seven thousand sturdy men can be selected for your use!”
“That is good!”
Hearing this, Lu Zhi nodded, his gaze towards Xu Kang softening.
“Sir Xu, you are young and yet have achieved such merit. I wonder what kind of teacher could produce so outstanding a pupil—it truly inspires my admiration!”
Was he probing for information?
Xu Kang was prepared for this, and he bowed respectfully, replying with humility.
“You flatter me, Master Lu. I am unworthy. As for excellent teachers, who in the realm can compare to Master Lu? My teacher once co-authored the ‘Chronicles of the Eastern Han’ with you, and spoke highly of you as a true statesman of our time!”
“Oh?”
Hearing this, Lu Zhi’s face flashed with surprise and then with delight.
“Your teacher co-authored the ‘Chronicles of the Eastern Han’ with me? Could it be… could it be that your teacher is Cai Yong, Cai Bojie?”
People’s minds tend to leap to their favored possibilities, and Lu Zhi was no exception.
Among those who co-authored the ‘Chronicles of the Eastern Han,’ he was closest to Cai Yong, so upon hearing Xu Kang’s words, Cai Yong naturally came to mind.
This was exactly what Xu Kang intended.
Hearing Lu Zhi address him as “virtuous nephew,” Xu Kang no longer hesitated, bowing deeply.
“Your student Xu Kang greets Master Lu!”