In the evening, inside the County Government, Zhang Chen was listening to Gao Shun's report.
"What? Han Xuan drove away Pan Feng?" Zhang Chen couldn't help but be startled, then sneered, "Heh, this Han Xuan is narrow-minded. He must suspect Pan Feng is colluding with me, hence the expulsion. Hmph, a fellow who can't achieve great things!"
"Lord, Han Xuan also sent two people secretly out of the city. Your subordinate has already sent men to follow them secretly."
"Very good. Keep a close eye on them. Before they leave the city, every move must be closely monitored. Report any unusual activity immediately!"
"Understood!"
...
Han Xuan drove away Pan Feng, and thinking of being whipped by Zhang Chen in public today, he felt he had utterly lost the Han Family's face. If this matter reached Loyang, the Han Family's reputation would surely be damaged, and at that time, his father and uncle would certainly scold him.
The more Han Xuan thought about it, the angrier he got. He had originally wanted to summon those two singing girls to vent his anger, but his whip wounds hadn't healed, and his body was in pain. Even if he summoned them, he would be powerless.
Zhang Chen, you just wait!
A moment later, the secretary came in to see him and reported to Han Xuan, "Gongzi, I have investigated thoroughly. All the military strength in Guangping County consists only of those seven hundred county Soldiers."
"Seven hundred? Hahahaha!" Han Xuan laughed, "I thought you were so formidable, but it's only a mere seven hundred men. Zhang Chen, this time, you are doomed!"
"Gongzi, rest assured. The Black Mountain Army has gathered tens of thousands of men. Even if only a small contingent is sent, it will be enough to flatten Guangping County. This time, they are certain to die!"
After hearing this, Han Xuan revealed a cruel sneer and immediately said, "This matter must be kept absolutely secret. No one must know that my Han Family is involved with the Black Mountain Army. When those two who went to deliver the message return, hmm!"
As Han Xuan spoke, murderous intent appeared in his eyes, and he made a cutting gesture across his neck with his hand.
The secretary felt a chill down his spine and quickly replied, "Yes, this humble one... this humble one understands."
For two consecutive days, the city was calm. Zhang Chen was not in a hurry to have Ju Shou and Gao Shun visit Tian Feng and Zhang He. Anyway, they wouldn't run away anytime soon. He planned to wait until Han Xuan had left.
But there was one thing that made him feel subtly uneasy.
That day, the Soldiers of the Trapped Camp tracked two of Han Xuan's subordinates. They followed them out of the Guangping County territory, all the way to the mountains near Qi County, and discovered they had entered a camp.
That camp was surprisingly vast. It looked like a bandit camp, but it was significantly more imposing. Compared to the four bandit camps around Guangping County, it was truly like a firefly compared to the bright moon, a world of difference.
Moreover, unlike typical bandit camps, there were flags erected on the camp towers, and shouts of killing could be heard from time to time within the camp. It looked more like an army encampment.
Taking advantage of the night, the few men approached to observe and found that there were hundreds of military tents within the camp, housing approximately no less than ten thousand men.
Seeing this, the few men were worried about alerting the enemy and did not dare to venture further. Thus, they had no choice but to return and report to Zhang Chen.
They did not know the origin of these men, but they could be certain that they were definitely not imperial troops.
When Zhang Chen heard the Soldier's report, his heart immediately sank, and a name flashed through his mind instantly.
Black Mountain Army!
In the second year of Zhongping, although the Yellow Turban Rebellion was suppressed, the Great Han court's authority was greatly damaged by this event. Coupled with consecutive years of natural disasters and corrupt officials, uprisings and rebellions emerged one after another in various places.
Ji Province was originally the source of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Zhang Jiao had operated here for several years, misleading people and causing the populace to desire change for a long time. Furthermore, after the Yellow Turban, many remnants still lay dormant here, making uprisings particularly prevalent. Among these, the Black Mountain Army was the most prominent.
The Black Mountain Army is actually a general term, not a single force, but a collective name for multiple Rebel Armies in the Black Mountain area. Most of these people were active in areas like Changshan, Zhao Commandery, Zhongshan, and Shangdang. Large contingents numbered twenty to thirty thousand, and smaller ones six to seven thousand. They fought independently and were not subordinate to each other.
Historical records state that the Black Mountain Army had "a million men," which, although a rough estimate, shows that their scale could not be underestimated.
In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the Black Mountain Army frequently caused trouble, bringing heavy blows to successive rulers of Ji Province. If not for this, Ji Province's strength would likely have been even greater.
The Yellow Turban Rebellion has been quelled. The only group that could gather such a large-scale civilian armed force is likely the Black Mountain Army!
The people Han Xuan sent actually went to the Black Mountain Army's camp?! Could it be that the Han Family and the Black Mountain Army have been colluding for a long time?
If that's the case, he has to be on guard.
After all, the Black Mountain Army's combat strength is not something those four bandit camps can compare to.
This day, Zhang Chen was at the County Government, discussing countermeasures with Gao Shun and Ju Shou, when suddenly a messenger came to report that a strong man named Pan Feng was asking to see him outside the gate.
Pan Feng?
Zhang Chen was surprised. Didn't he leave? Why is he back?
He came back not to find Han Xuan, but instead came to the County Government to find me?
"Please invite him in quickly."
The messenger took the order, and before long, led a person in. It was indeed Pan Feng.
As soon as Pan Feng entered, he immediately bowed to Zhang Chen and said urgently, "Lord, disaster is imminent."
"General Pan, please speak slowly. What exactly happened?"
Pan Feng said, "After returning that day, Gongzi Han felt disgusted and therefore sent me back to Loyang. Unexpectedly, when I reached the outskirts of Cheng'an County, I discovered traces of a bandit army. I then quietly infiltrated them and only then learned that their target was precisely Guangping County!"
"Is this true?!" Zhang Chen was greatly alarmed upon hearing this. Ju Shou and Gao Shun, who were beside him, also furrowed their brows.
Although he had already guessed, he didn't expect it to come so quickly.
"Lord, the bandit army is powerful, no less than ten thousand men, and they even have three thousand elite cavalry. Guangping County will be absolutely difficult to defend. Lord, you should quickly write a letter requesting reinforcements and ask the Prefect to send troops to suppress the bandits."
"May I ask, General, do you know who the commanding General is?"
"The commanding General is named Yu Du. I have already tested this person; his martial skill is average and not worth fearing. However, they are numerous and powerful, Lord, you must be on guard!"
Yu Du? So it's this fellow.
Zhang Chen understood.
This Yu Du is one of the leaders of the Black Mountain Army. In the history of the Three Kingdoms, his most famous achievement was taking advantage of Yuan Shao's conflict with Gongsun Zan to lead his army and capture Yuan Shao's stronghold, Ye City.
Unfortunately, he was ultimately just a bandit leader. How could he be Yuan Shao's opponent?
After defeating Gongsun Zan, Yuan Shao immediately returned with his army to suppress Yu Du. After five days of siege, he finally routed the Rebel Army and killed Yu Du and over ten thousand of his troops.
Although this Yu Du couldn't escape the fate of defeat, being able to successfully launch a surprise attack on Yuan Shao can be considered having some capability.
Zhang Chen stepped forward, holding Pan Feng's hands, and said, "General Pan, thank you for coming to inform me of this matter. You have saved the lives of the people of Guangping County!"
Pan Feng said, "Lord, you are too kind. I also come from a poor background. How could I watch bandits rampage without doing anything? I just didn't expect Han Xuan to actually collude with the Black Mountain Bandits!"
As Pan Feng spoke, he couldn't help but reveal a look of sighing.
"Given the situation, General, do you still want to protect him?"
"Lord, although I, Pan, am loyal to the Han Family, I am not someone who lacks understanding of righteousness. Han Xuan colluded with rebels, harming the people of this region. This has already violated the laws of the Great Han, a crime punishable by death! Lord, please feel free to act. I, Pan, will absolutely not obstruct you because of my Lord's command!"
"General Pan is truly a man of great righteousness!" Zhang Chen said excitedly, "Han Xuan colluded with rebels, a heinous crime. But this matter has nothing to do with you, General. You can return to Loyang first, lest it be difficult to explain to Lord Han at that time."
"Lord!" Pan Feng heard this and quickly said, "The bandit army will arrive momentarily. Although I, Pan, am not talented, I am willing to contribute my humble strength. Why must you make me leave first?"
Zhang Chen said, "General, you are a retainer of the Han Family. If you get involved, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to Lord Han in the future."
"Lord, you worry too much. Lord Han is a reasonable man and will certainly not blame me for this." Pan Feng said, "Han Xuan colluded with rebels, harming the Han Family's reputation. In this battle, I, Pan, am willing to be the vanguard, first beheading the bandit General, to avenge the Han Family's shame!"