Chapter 20: The Firestarter General

Liu Zhan was exceedingly pleased after recruiting three top-notch strategists. Previously, he had only military officers and no scholars, which meant he had to burden Gao Shun with all the administrative work—a very awkward situation. Now, with these esteemed talents by his side, things were much easier.

Liu Zhan led his troops swiftly towards Lu Zhi, hoping to arrive as soon as possible.

Upon receiving the news that reinforcements from Youzhou had arrived, Lu Zhi was delighted and quickly came out to welcome Liu Zhan into the camp.

"Ah, I heard that reinforcements were coming from Youzhou, but to meet such a young and impressive talent is truly wonderful! It's remarkable that a young man like you has already become a colonel. I'm deeply impressed!" Lu Zhi praised Liu Zhan, showing a demeanor of meeting an old friend.

"Embarrassingly, I am Liu Zhan, here to meet General Lu. I have long heard of your great reputation and have wished to meet you," Liu Zhan responded politely. "I have come under the orders of Youzhou Governor Liu Yan to assist in the defense of Qingzhou. I was concerned about your situation here and hoped to lend a hand. So, I took the initiative to come and check on things. How are matters on your side?"

"Things are manageable here. We've won a few battles recently, but the situation is at a stalemate. However, I've heard that General Huang Pu Song is in a difficult position. The Yellow Turbans are numerous, and there's a significant disparity in strength," Lu Zhi expressed his concern.

"Ah, the area around Luoyang is crucial. The Yellow Turbans are likely trying to seize Luoyang using a strategy of encircling the capital from three sides. You have managed to hold them off in Hebei, but if General Huang Pu's forces are insufficient and there's any lapse, it could be problematic. If you have a chance of victory here, I will swiftly resolve the siege of Qingzhou and move to support General Huang Pu," Liu Zhan said urgently, revealing his intent to minimize his stay.

"How many troops have you brought?" Lu Zhi asked.

"I have been given a thousand regular soldiers by Governor Liu. The rest are recruited militia and farmers to fill the ranks. I only brought less than a thousand soldiers with me," Liu Zhan answered honestly.

"That's too few. Here, I am unable to resolve the situation quickly. The defense of Luoyang is urgent. I will allocate two thousand elite troops to you. You should first resolve the siege of Qingzhou and then hurry to relieve General Huang Pu," Lu Zhi offered.

Liu Zhan was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, General. I will promptly lift the siege of Qingzhou and hurry to General Huang Pu's aid. I will ensure that the Yellow Turbans' plans are thwarted."

Lu Zhi then inquired about the recent battles, and Liu Zhan detailed his recent military exploits.

First, he helped the Zhen family in Zhongshan to defeat the besieging Yellow Turbans, causing their collapse.

Then, Liu Zhan led his troops into Youzhou and fought against tens of thousands of Yellow Turbans, defeating them with the help of his men.

Subsequently, he reported to his superior, Youzhou Governor Liu Yan. Following Liu Yan's orders, Liu Zhan then moved south to support the suppression of the Yellow Turbans in various regions.

Lu Zhi was greatly impressed by Liu Zhan's achievements and praised him for his remarkable contributions. He felt a strong sense of admiration and concern for Liu Zhan's inexperience in commanding troops. Lu Zhi shared his years of experience in leading troops with Liu Zhan.

The two quickly bonded and enjoyed their conversation, as if they had known each other for a long time.

Liu Zhan, with the two thousand elite troops and additional supplies and equipment from Lu Zhi, joined his original forces, totaling three thousand soldiers. After replenishing his supplies, he traveled day and night. By the time he rejoined Zhao Yun and others, they were near the borders of Qingzhou.