Chapter 1064: Meeting Zhang Yan
Chapter 1064: Meeting Zhang Yan
Lu HaiKong wasn't fully aware of Liu Yu's transformation process, so when he arrived in Guangyang Prefecture and learned about the situation in Youbeiping Prefecture, he was slightly surprised.
After Lu HaiKong had broken through the Mystic Gate and returned to Bei Feng, he had spent more than a day there before reaching Guangyang Prefecture. By then, four days had passed since Liaoxi Prefecture's fall.
Four days was enough time for many things to happen.
Lu HaiKong already had intelligence about Liaoxi Prefecture, so he understood that its fall was largely due to Liu Yu's actions.
If Liu Yu hadn't been soft-hearted in dealing with the zombies, Liaoxi Prefecture wouldn't have fallen so quickly. In Lu HaiKong's mind, Liu Yu had become a liability.
In this situation, Lu HaiKong had pessimistically prepared himself to see a devastated Youbeiping Prefecture.
Lu HaiKong knew that after Liaoxi Prefecture's fall, Youbeiping Prefecture would become the next target for the foreign demons. Soon, Youbeiping Prefecture would face hundreds of thousands of zombies and an unknown number of people who could potentially turn into zombies after being injured by them.
In such a scenario, Youbeiping Prefecture would undoubtedly face an even more challenging situation than Liaoxi Prefecture.
What Youbeiping Prefecture needed was a strong leader, someone who could make tough decisions, to handle this crisis.
The fall of Liaoxi Prefecture had proven that Liu Yu wasn't such a person; otherwise, Liaoxi Prefecture wouldn't have fallen. This was why Lu HaiKong was so pessimistic.
However, Lu HaiKong hadn't expected that Liu Yu would undergo a significant change after the night's events.
After returning from Liaoxi Prefecture, Liu Yu personally executed twenty-seven loyal guards who had escorted him back to Youbeiping Prefecture. This act transformed his mindset, as guilt and a sense of wrongdoing overwhelmed his compassion.
Then, this battered old man sprang into action. Despite his exhaustion, he quickly gathered his forces in Youbeiping Prefecture and Liaoxi Prefecture, setting up defenses and executing any zombies they encountered.
At the same time, Liu Yu publicly disclosed the situation in Liaoxi Prefecture to the public. Overnight, the entire Liaoxi Prefecture was destroyed, leaving millions of displaced civilians. There was no way to cover up such an event, and Liu Yu didn't intend to. He made it all public.
Along with this, Liu Yu also revealed information about the zombies. He shared all the intelligence he had obtained from Lu HaiKong regarding the zombies, including how to identify them and the consequences of being injured by them, without holding anything back.
Subsequently, Liu Yu issued an order in the counties near Liaoxi Prefecture in Youbeiping Prefecture. He formed civilian battalions to patrol the entire county, and anyone who wasn't part of these battalions had to stay indoors. Anyone found violating this order would be executed on the spot.
Outside these counties, Liu Yu also mobilized the commoners to search for zombies. If they found any, they were to behead them immediately. If they discovered someone bitten by a zombie, they could take them to the authorities, and after an examination, the person would be executed on the spot!
Liu Yu was well aware that his actions would lead to chaos in Youbeiping Prefecture, and many innocent lives would be lost. But he had no other choice.
Liaoxi Prefecture had fallen, and they now faced an even more dangerous situation. This was the only way he could control the situation.
On one hand, Liu Yu adopted this iron-fisted approach to control the situation, and on the other, he actively sought help.
Having personally experienced the fall of Liaoxi Prefecture, Liu Yu had a more direct understanding of the danger and power of the foreign demons. He knew that it was already challenging to contain their spread with his forces, and to end this catastrophe, he needed additional support.
After taking these measures, Liu Yu began writing letters, one after another.
He sent letters to nearby Zhang Yan, and even to Liu Bei in the distant West Shu. He wrote to everyone he knew, including a personal letter to Lu HaiKong, indicating the significant impact of that night on Liu Yu.
Lu HaiKong received Liu Yu's letter while in Guangyang Prefecture, and a large part of his surprise came from that letter.
Liu Yu's letter was sincere and heartfelt. Lu HaiKong saw in it an old man filled with guilt, determined to fight the foreign demons to the end.
Lu HaiKong wasn't sure what had caused Liu Yu's transformation, but he was glad to see it. After all, a reliable ally was far better than a liability at this critical time.
After receiving Liu Yu's letter, Lu HaiKong immediately took action and prepared to lead his large army to Youbeipingzhou.
Before his departure, Lu HaiKong paid a visit to Zhang Yan, which was necessary. After all, Zhang Yan would be his ally for the foreseeable future, and he needed her to secure his logistics route. Thus, he had to ensure they were on the same page, especially regarding their stance against the foreign demons.
After a brief communication with Zhang Yan's side, Lu HaiKong successfully arranged a meeting with her at the Daoist temple where she cultivated.
When Lu HaiKong saw Zhang Yan, he was slightly taken aback by her appearance.
In the blink of an eye, three years had passed since the end of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and they hadn't seen each other during this time. In these three years, Lu HaiKong had undergone significant changes, not in terms of temperament or strength, but purely in his physical appearance.
When Lu HaiKong first arrived in this world, he was around sixteen or seventeen years old. Over the past six years, he had grown from a teenager into a young man. Yet, Zhang Yan before him seemed to have not aged a day.
The first time Lu HaiKong met her, she appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen, and even now, she still looked the same age, which surprised Lu HaiKong.
However, Lu HaiKong quickly set aside this matter. He was well aware that this woman had her secrets, and he hadn't come to uncover them. So, Lu HaiKong quickly adjusted his focus to the matter at hand.
Lu HaiKong's visit to Zhang Yan was not just to test her; they didn't engage in small talk when they met. Lu HaiKong got straight to the point and asked Zhang Yan for troops.
Despite their last meeting being over three years ago, Lu HaiKong vividly remembered Zhang Yan's straightforward personality. Being in a hurry himself, he didn't want to waste time with pleasantries and directly asked for troops!
Lu HaiKong had come in haste, bringing with him only three cavalry units: Black Wind, Blood Bath, and Yellow Turban.
However, this wasn't the main reason Lu HaiKong sought troops from Zhang Yan. He wanted to ensure her commitment to the matter and didn't want to fight alone while she rested and recuperated in the rear.
Lu HaiKong had assumed that Zhang Yan wouldn't readily provide him with troops, and even if she did, they wouldn't be her main forces. But to his surprise, when he asked for troops, Zhang Yan agreed without hesitation.
"I've already ordered Zhang Yan to prepare for battle," she said. "One thousand Yellow Turban warriors, five thousand NPC indigenous soldiers, and Zhang Yan and Zhou Cang are ready to depart with you at any time!"
Lu HaiKong was stunned by Zhang Yan's response.
He had prepared for a tough battle and was ready to use both soft and hard approaches, but before he could make a move, Zhang Yan readily agreed and offered even more support than he had anticipated.
Zhang Yan wasn't finished yet. As Lu HaiKong stood in surprise, she continued, "In addition to this sixty-thousand-strong army, my legions are still gathering. Within half a month, I should be able to provide you with a hundred thousand elite troops. You can take these legions with you, and all the resources I have. Feel free to ask for anything you need, and I won't refuse!"
Zhang Yan's generosity left Lu HaiKong's eyes narrowed in surprise.
Lu HaiKong was clearly shaken by Zhang Yan's grand gesture and couldn't help but wonder why. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Why?"
Zhang Yan answered straightforwardly, "First, even if I don't give them to you, you'll take them by force. It's better to hand them over willingly than to have you resort to harsh measures later. I can't outwit your schemes, so this is the only option.
Second, the enemy is in Liaoxi Prefecture, which is closer to me than to you. If you suffer a defeat, it's not the end of the world; you can always try again. But for me, it would be a catastrophe.
Most importantly, I know you. Even if I can't defeat you, by giving you my resources, I can ask for favors in the future as long as they don't severely infringe upon your interests.
For example, I have a request for you right now."
As Lu HaiKong heard these words, his eyes narrowed even further...
(End of Chapter)
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