But taking such a big risk, even if it succeeded, many people would probably oppose it.
Compared to achieving merits, it was more important to preserve one's official position and life. Only when these two threats were absent would they consider whether they could achieve merits.
But they were different; they were just a group of low-level soldiers, their lives cheap. Even if they died in battle, they were just dead.
Everyone's hearts were filled with despondency, feeling that some things were not going as they wished.
Seeing their expressions, Liu Jin couldn't help but speak, comforting them!
"Everyone, don't belittle yourselves. After we arrive at Zhuo Commandery, we will send someone to report to the Prefect and see if he agrees to this matter. If he agrees, we can all be happy."
"Even if he doesn't agree, we can think of other ways to end this battle."
Hearing this, everyone felt much better.
So, they continued to discuss, but after a long time, they still couldn't come up with any good strategies.
The main reason was that there were too few troops, and they had to obey the commands from above. Numerous restrictions made it impossible for some of their strategies to be implemented.
Seeing this, Liu Jin decided not to discuss with everyone. He waved his hand, signaling everyone to go down and rest well, as they still had to march tomorrow.
Liu Jin then led his personal guards towards the military camp.
He felt a sense of realization in his heart: without strategists in the army, something was ultimately missing.
With strategists, at least they could offer advice and plans on how to proceed, instead of being flustered and having no good strategies here.
However, there was nothing he could do. Liu Jin was just a Military Marquis; wanting to recruit those literati strategists to assist him was simply a joke.
Which literati strategist, capable of studying military law and tactics, reading and writing, did not come from aristocratic families or powerful clans, with countless officials in their households? Why would they follow a mere military man like him?
In this chaotic Han Dynasty, without a family background to rely on, to rise to power, one could only slowly climb up through military merits, accumulate prestige, and increase strength to possibly achieve a great undertaking.
Only then would those literati strategists gradually make contact with him, deeming him a brilliant and ambitious leader, and choose to pledge their allegiance.
Just like the Jiangdong Tiger, Sun Jian, who came from a humble background, served as a minor official in his youth, and then slowly worked his way up.
He experienced countless major battles, campaigned against Western Liang, suppressed the Yellow Turban, and hovered between life and death for most of his life, earning an official position of two thousand shi, changing his humble fate, and becoming a warlord.
As for those aristocratic scions, like Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, who came from families that produced Grand Tutors for four generations, or Cao Cao, who was a descendant of Eunuchs, they were already famous in their youth. Upon entering officialdom, they started with a thousand shi.
After a few years of experience, they could obtain an official position of two thousand shi, being enfeoffed as marquises and appointed as generals was a given. This was a mountain that these humble and poor youths could never cross in their lifetime.
Liu Jin's emotions were his own, but he did not give up on himself.
After all, he was a descendant of the imperial clan; in this chaotic world, he could still provide some support.
Although he could not serve as a high-ranking official in the imperial court or govern a region like Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.
At the very least, he could use that title to gain some renown in this chaotic world.
Moreover, he wasn't doing badly. As long as he found a way to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Zhuo Commandery, with these merits, he would enter the imperial court's sight.
At the very least, he could be promoted, and his reputation would spread throughout the entire Youzhou region.
Soon, he returned to the main military tent. Liu Jin immediately prepared to take off his robes and go to sleep.
Just then, urgent footsteps and even clamor resounded.
Liu Jin's heart skipped a beat. He leaped from his bed, quickly grasped his precious sword, and looked vigilantly towards the outside of the tent.
A moment later, Zhao Ergou walked in quickly, breathing heavily, with an anxious expression on his face, and said hurriedly!
"Big Brother, I discovered something big!"
"Several villages downstream of this river have actually been occupied by thousands of Yellow Turbans, and the villagers have been massacred!"
Hearing this, Liu Jin's heart tightened. With a solemn expression, he quickly asked!
"Is the news confirmed as true?"
Zhao Ergou quickly nodded and said!
"The news is true, because some villagers escaped and were discovered by the army's scouts."
"After learning the situation, I personally led people to investigate. Now these people are stationed in Li Family Village, estimated to be around several thousand."
Hearing this, Liu Jin frowned, pacing back and forth in the tent, lost in thought.
It was known that there were no Yellow Turbans reported here. Even if there were, Cheng Yuanzhi would have gathered them to attack Zhuo Commandery.
Their appearance here now had a significant motive; it was very likely that this Yellow Turban force came from the Zhuo Commandery main camp.
After all, Deng Mao was killed some time ago, and his troops were completely wiped out. The news spreading would surely cause panic among the Yellow Turbans.
For safety, Cheng Yuanzhi sent a contingent of troops to re-attack Yi County to secure his rear, lest his main army be ambushed from behind.
The direction also matched, clearly indicating they intended to go to Yi County from here.
After clearing his thoughts, a smile appeared at the corner of Liu Jin's mouth.
It truly was a narrow path where enemies meet. Since they encountered them here, he naturally couldn't let this force go; he had to keep them here.
Looking at Zhao Ergou beside him, he immediately ordered!
"Pass on my order, gather all the Tuncuns to come here to discuss a matter."
Zhao Ergou, having received the order, quickly nodded and immediately went to start calling out.
He naturally knew the importance of this matter. There were thousands of Yellow Turbans downstream of the river, which was a rich military achievement that must be annihilated.
A moment later, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, Han Dang, and Wu Xing hurried in, their faces showing no sleepiness, but rather great excitement.
Because before they came, Zhao Ergou had already explained the situation to everyone.
Seeing their expressions, Liu Jin clearly understood the current situation. Without further ado, he immediately spoke!
"There is a Yellow Turban force of several thousand in the villages downstream of the river. Since we've encountered them, we cannot let them go; we must annihilate them all."
"Yun Chang, you lead your troops, and I will allocate two hundred militiamen to you. You will surround the villages from the west."
"Yide, you lead your troops, and I will allocate two hundred militiamen to you. You will surround the villages from the north."
"Yi Gong, you lead your troops, and I will allocate two hundred militiamen to you. You will surround the villages from the south."
"All remaining troops, plus the militiamen, will obey my command and charge into the villages from the direct front, from the east."
"As soon as the third watch arrives, everyone will lead their troops to charge in and encircle and kill these Yellow Turbans, annihilating them in one battle."
"Do you all understand?"
The generals in the tent, their eyes filled with excitement and their blood boiling, bowed in unison to receive the order!
"We respectfully obey the Military Marquis's command!"
Liu Jin immediately waved his hand, telling everyone to go and prepare.