Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Chapter 54: Is the Yellow Heaven Dead? Nay!

Zhang Jiao looked back at the Zhang River behind him. The sight of the ferry boats rekindled a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Although Lu Zhi led Han troops on the eastern side of the Zhang River, Zhang Jiao could take a ferry down the river directly to Qu Zhou, and then return to Julu to plan his next move.

Immediately, Zhang Jiao moved his feet, wanting to rush towards the ferry boats behind him.

As long as he got on a ferry, all was not lost!

Seeing Zhang Jiao retreating towards the Zhang River, Guan Yu's eyes widened in anger. He wielded his Green Dragon Crescent Blade rapidly, but he was still held back by the constantly swarming Yellow Turban Warriors.

"Don't run! Zhang Jiao, you villain, don't run!!!"

Guan Yu roared repeatedly, but felt a sense of powerlessness.

If Zhang Jiao escaped, even if they annihilated these five thousand Yellow Turban Warriors in this battle, it wouldn't be long before Zhang Jiao could bewitch another five thousand, ten thousand, or even more Yellow Turban Warriors.

Zhang Jiao did not hesitate in his steps at Guan Yu's roar.

Just then, Zhang Fei remembered something, hurriedly pulled out a piece of cloth hidden in his chest, looked at the words on it, and read aloud.

"Zhang Jiao of Julu, my master, Sir Zikun, wants to ask you a question."

Zhang Jiao's steps did not stop.

Zhang Fei's voice did not pause either, but continued to read in a thunderous voice.

"You gathered people to rebel, was it for your own selfish desires? Or did you have great aspirations?"

Zhang Jiao's figure slightly paused, and he turned his head to look at Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei continued to shout loudly.

"You started the uprising after prematurely leaking information, and were blocked outside Sili, which already doomed you to failure. Even if you stubbornly resist to the end, what then?"

"If it is for your own selfish desires, your name will be infamous for ten thousand years;"

"If it is with great aspirations, then look at the countless followers behind you who have lost their lives, and look at the countless people who have been swept into the chaos of war by you…"

Zhang Jiao's footsteps completely stopped, his expression somewhat dazed.

For more than ten years, Zhang Jiao had been preaching.

Zhang Jiao had even unknowingly forgotten what the original intention of preaching was, but Zhang Jiao knew why the Taiping Dao, which swept across eight provinces and had millions of followers, existed.

That was because the world was full of sorrow and the world was dark.

Therefore, Zhang Jiao believed that he was following the will of the Yellow Heaven and the hearts of thousands of believers, and that was why he raised the banner of revolt!

"My master, Sir Zikun, asked me to ask you: Where can you escape to? Do you want to preserve your life in a corner, and watch countless followers die for an impossible goal?"

"You, should already die!"

Zhang Fei's thunderous voice made the words clearly enter Zhang Jiao's ears, causing Zhang Jiao's whole body to shake.

This 'should die' was not that 'should die'.

In an instant, Zhang Jiao seemed to understand the meaning of Sir Zikun, who spoke these words through the mouth of the black-faced man.

Some people, living, are not as good as being dead.

Some people, dying, can live forever.

Even if I fail again and escape, retreat to Julu and hold on, what is the point?

The more embarrassed and unbearable I am, the more it will tarnish this uprising in Zhang Jiao's heart that conforms to the will of heaven and the hearts of the people.

If the military genius Han Xin had died ten years earlier, why would he have suffered the death of "three no see", which would have affected the destruction of his three clans, and he would have become a perfect famous general in history who had made unparalleled contributions.

It seems that I should die…

If I don't die, it will only drag down more followers and believers, and it is meaningless.

Even if I preserve my life and hide back in Julu, can I still have a chance of winning?

"My master, Sir Zikun, tells you again that we came from Julu. Although we have not broken Julu, we have burned the Julu granary…"

This last sentence completely shattered Zhang Jiao's psychological defenses.

This sentence was also one of the key pieces of information that Li Ji had previously gleaned from an iteration of the "strategy simulator".

For Zhang Jiao, Julu had a different meaning.

The countless grains and grass collected in Julu were undoubtedly the pillar of Zhang Jiao's illusion.

When Li Ji was deducing through the "tactical simulation" method, because he was completely unaware that Zhang Jiao had the ability to inspire the Yellow Turban Warriors on a large scale for a short time, there was a deviation in the deduction results.

However, with Zhao Yun's appearance temporarily protecting Liu Bei and delaying enough time, Zhang Jiao undoubtedly lost hope of a comeback again, and could only escape Bo Luojin down the Zhang River by ferry, just as Li Ji had deduced early on.

That was Zhang Jiao's only escape route.

That was also the only way to stop Zhang Jiao's escape route unless Zhang Jiao had a death wish and refused to retreat.

For a time, Zhang Jiao, who had completely stopped, raised his head and stared at the sky, his eyes flickering, not knowing how many past events and thoughts were surging in Zhang Jiao's heart.

Zhang Jiao did not investigate whether the burning of the Julu grain and grass that Zhang Fei said was true or false.

He just suddenly understood one thing, that the pillar that supported his last illusion turned out to be grain and grass, which was really ridiculous, a sad ridicule.

"I am the Great Virtuous Teacher."

Zhang Jiao said leisurely.

Between fleeing back to Julu to survive in the world and waiting for the final embarrassment, and retaining the last bit of decency and sprinkling the last bit of kindness to many followers and believers, Zhang Jiao had already made a decision in his heart.

Then, Zhang Jiao signaled the two boys beside him to each hold a fire starter, flicked his Taoist robe, and walked towards the ferry boat on the Zhang River.

This scene made Guan Yu and Zhang Fei angry and unwilling, but they were deeply trapped by the heavy obstruction of the Yellow Turban Warriors and could do nothing but watch Zhang Jiao step by step across the ferry boats, and then walk to the most marginal leaf boat.

Immediately, Zhang Jiao tidied up the Taoist robe on his body, sat cross-legged, and then asked the two boys behind him to pour fire oil on the boat.

"Even if the Great Virtuous Teacher dies, will the Yellow Heaven die? Nay!"

Along with a loud laugh, a spark lit up from the boat, and then, in the shocked eyes of everyone, Zhang Jiao, along with the leaf boat, instantly ignited a raging fire.

After that, the leaf boat burning with raging fire went down the Zhang River, taking Zhang Jiao's figure, which gradually disappeared in the fire, and finally drifted farther and farther in everyone's eyes.

"Great Virtuous Teacher~~"

"Great Virtuous Teacher… Why did you abandon me and return to the Yellow Heaven first!"

"Woo woo woo…"

For a time, those Yellow Turban Warriors who were originally like crazy demons were first stunned, and did not know where the crying started, and then it completely spread among the Yellow Turban Warriors.

Finally, those Yellow Turban Warriors completely ignored Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and the soldiers they led, and rushed to the Zhang River one after another, kneeling and kowtowing, crying incessantly.

The sorrowful cries also attracted a large number of Yellow Turban Warriors who were originally besieging Liu Bei on the front line.

When they learned that Zhang Jiao had immolated himself to death, those Yellow Turban Warriors were also like souls lost, completely disregarding being on the battlefield, and rushed to the Zhang River one after another, kneeling and kowtowing, crying non-stop.

This scene made Liu Bei also look dazed, with a complex expression.

Zhang Jiao, a demon, a man who brought disaster to the Han Dynasty.

However, if he was really a great evil person, would he really rely solely on bewitchment to make these Yellow Turban Warriors cry bitterly for his death?

And Zhang Jiao immolated himself to death, is he really the kind of villain who is greedy for power and wealth?

But if Zhang Jiao is not wrong, then who is wrong?

At this moment, Liu Bei's originally distinct three views in his heart were greatly impacted.

Compared to Liu Bei, who was greatly shocked in his heart, Zhang Fei didn't think so much.

After rushing to Liu Bei's side in a hurry and confirming Liu Bei's safety, Zhang Fei pointed to those Yellow Turban Warriors who were either lost in thought, or buried their heads in pain, or fainted from exhaustion, and asked.

"Brother, what should we do with these Yellow Turban Warriors? They seem to have completely lost the will to resist."

Hearing this, Liu Bei's heart rose with some entanglement and hesitation at this moment.

If they were all captured, not to mention the problem of food and grass burden.

The most important thing is that Liu Bei glanced roughly. Now that more than half of the soldiers under his command have been killed or injured, the risk is extremely high if he wants to guard a large number of prisoners while holding Bo Luojin.

But if these prisoners are allowed to leave, it may be an endless result.

Unlike the Yellow Turban believers in Liu Bei's eyes, most of whom were innocent civilians involved, these Yellow Turban Warriors were truly fanatical believers of the Taiping Dao.

As for killing prisoners, Liu Bei's morality made him instinctively resist this choice.

Subconsciously, Liu Bei blurted out.

"Zikun, what do you think…"

Suddenly, Liu Bei's voice suddenly stopped, his eyes widened, and he exclaimed.

"Zikun! Is Zikun safe and sound?"

"That…"

Zhao Yun, who was standing beside Liu Bei, asked in a low voice. "Is the thief Cao asking about a white-robed scholar?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Liu Bei replied repeatedly.

"I know the location of the thief Cao. It was the white-robed scholar who pointed it out. At that time, I heard his breathing was weak, his voice was sluggish, and his face was pale and bloodless. After pointing it out to me, he fainted."

When he heard the end, even Liu Bei, who had been fighting for a long time, had always had a firm face, suddenly lost the highlights in his eyes, and the whole person shook and retreated a few steps, almost falling to the ground on the spot, and cried bitterly.

"Zikun, ah, Zikun, why did you abandon me and leave…"

Seeing this, Zhang Fei quickly supported Liu Bei and shouted.

"Wait, brother, I know you are in a hurry, but don't be in a hurry. Just now, this brother Zilong said that Sir Zikun is not dead, but Sir Zikun fainted."

Suddenly, Liu Bei had a feeling of "suddenly sitting up in shock from a dying illness", his body straightened up suddenly, and he hurriedly said to Zhang Fei first.

"Yide, dispatch some of your cavalry to scout and stand guard outside of Boluo Ford immediately. Also, work with Yunchang to keep a close watch on these Yellow Turban Warriors. Carefully collect their weapons first, to prevent them from causing trouble again."

After a pause, Liu Bei turned and gave Zhao Yun a hurried bow, saying.

"Zilong, I, Xuande, will certainly repay your kindness in saving me tonight. However, I am currently extremely anxious and find it difficult to sincerely thank you. Please rest for a moment."

Afterward, Liu Bei, with the twin swords of male and female in his hands, flipped onto his horse and headed towards the main gate of Boluo Ford.

"Zikun! Zikun! If anything untoward has happened to you, how am I to live out the rest of my days? Wait for me…"