What one fears most often comes to pass.

After all, these beliefs have been ingrained in the hearts of the people through centuries of Han rule, becoming the deepest roots of their consciousness. To thoroughly change such convictions, one would have to make them lose hope in the Han dynasty itself. The most effective method is to do as Dong Zhuo and his followers did—trample the once lofty imperial dignity of the Han royals underfoot, shatter the hope and faith in their hearts, and only then might the more open-minded among these staunch defenders be persuaded to join.

Those born in humble families, however, are not burdened by such considerations. Having never enjoyed the privileges of the gentry and literati, they are not bound by unwavering loyalty to the ailing Han ruling class. They may even be more enthusiastic and yearning for the tales of heroes rising in troubled times.

Understanding this, Wang Bo realized why, during the chaos caused by Dong Zhuo’s disruption of the Han court, the power of the gentry, represented by Yuan Shao, rose so swiftly, gaining widespread support and soon controlling most of the provinces of Qing, Ji, You, and Bing. Meanwhile, Cao Cao, until his death, dared only be a powerful minister and not openly proclaim himself emperor; it was only when his son, Cao Pi, and the younger, emerging forces grew strong that the process of replacing the Han emperor was completed. As for Liu Bei, he finally fulfilled his long-held ambition by taking advantage of the times, only to end up empty-handed.

After taking leave, Wang Bo walked out with determined steps. Behind him, Ju Shou’s voice called out, "The provisions required by the general have all been prepared, as a reward for your valiant resistance against the Hu and for the soldiers of Xinghan!"

Hearing this, Wang Bo paused, replying without turning back, "In my opinion, this winter the Hu cavalry will surely make a major incursion, and Ji, Qing, and Chong provinces may not escape their calamity. I hope Lord Ju will prepare accordingly—take precautions and make ready! Farewell!"

Watching Wang Bo and his companions depart, Ju Shou coughed lightly. The curtain to the inner room was lifted, and Tian Feng and Shen Pei emerged together. After exchanging glances with Ju Shou, they all let out a long sigh.

Having waited in vain for days, Wang Bo returned empty-handed, his face heavy with concern. He entrusted the large amount of provisions given by Ju Shou to Du Yuan, sending him to join the northern-bound troops of Bai Rao and Zuo Qi Zhangba, and instructed him to lead Wolf Owl Guard Team B to escort them. Wang Bo himself, with Xu Chu and Wolf Owl Guard Team A, set out on the journey home.

Along the way, urged by Ping Han and others, Wang Bo, unwilling to disappoint them, decided to slow his pace and tour the counties of Ji province. This would allow him to observe local customs and divert his restless mind. He was also uneasy about Bai Rao’s Black Mountain army, which, given their previous misdeeds, would surely be unwelcome among the Ji province’s military and civilians. If they encountered the likes of Zhao Yun again, Wang Bo could provide assistance.

After paying his respects at the old Xinghan stronghold, Wang Bo received news from a messenger: the Zhen family, long-time merchants in Wuji County of Zhongshan, had specifically greeted Bai Rao’s Black Mountain troops, delivering large quantities of provisions and supplies and offering much help. Wang Bo, upon hearing this, smiled for the first time in days and decided to visit and offer thanks.

Wuji County is located almost at the center of Ji province, so the Zhen family mainly traded in Ji, You, and Qing. Apart from sending someone to Xinghan City to meet Wang Bo earlier, they rarely interacted with the Xinghan army. This time, their generous act surprised Wang Bo greatly—there are no free gifts from heaven! He wanted to probe the Zhen family’s intentions.

Upon arrival, the Zhen household was exceedingly hospitable, urging Wang Bo and his group to stay for several days. Unable to refuse, Wang Bo accepted. After expressing his gratitude for their assistance, he promised that Xinghan City would reward them well—everything given would be repaid with Xinghan wine, priced at half that of other merchant caravans.

The Zhen family patriarch, Zhen Yi, with his goat beard, firmly declined, stating it was their duty out of respect for the Xinghan army. After much polite conversation, he finally revealed his purpose: the Zhen family wished to monopolize the sales of Xinghan wine in Ji province, meaning only the Zhen family could sell Xinghan wine in that territory.

Wang Bo did not deliberate long and agreed. He then made two requests: first, that the Xinghan army must establish at least one tavern in each county seat within Ji province, selling Xinghan wine only to customers who come in person, and the price would be slightly above market value, with the Zhen family not interfering. Second, all Xinghan taverns would operate under the Zhen family’s name, giving them a tenth of the profits, but the Zhen family could not send staff to interfere.

Zhen Yi thought a moment, searching Wang Bo’s face for meaning. Upon seeing Wang Bo nod knowingly, he agreed, setting the term at five years. Zhen Yi repeatedly promised to support the establishment of Xinghan taverns, and entrusted his newly adult son, Zhen Yu, to Wang Bo for training and experience. Both were delighted.

Yet, what one fears most is what fate brings.

That day, just as Wang Bo was enjoying a pleasant conversation with the refined Zhen Yi, a Zhen family servant rushed in, bringing the usual messenger from Bai Rao’s army, sweating profusely as he reported to Wang Bo: Bai Rao’s troops, upon reaching Tang County at noon, were suddenly attacked by a large, unknown force of government troops. In the chaos, they lost much of their supplies, and the enemy, after seizing the provisions, did not withdraw but continued to confront them.

Upon hearing this, Wang Bo was furious, slamming the table and declaring, "Our hot-blooded Han sons journey to the frontier to defend against the Hu—how can petty thieves take advantage of us? If I do not cut down this villain, my anger will not be appeased!" He refused Zhen Yi’s offer of assistance and, with Xu Chu, Zhen Yu, and others, rushed to the scene.

Led by the messenger, Wang Bo’s group raced at full speed, covering over a hundred miles in less than an hour.

Seated atop his tall warhorse, Wang Bo saw the battlefield from afar, the sounds of battle echoing. As they drew closer, he could see Bai Rao’s men in various attire, scattered around a small mound, with the old, weak, women, and children in the center, the able-bodied Black Mountain men on the outside, and a defensive perimeter formed by deer carts and supplies, with grain spilling from sacks.

Du Yuan and the Wolf Owl Guards worked in groups, circling the Black Mountain army’s perimeter, driving away government soldiers trying to approach. Bai Rao and Zuo Qi Zhangba shouted encouragement among their people.

The surrounding government troops, well-armed, were led by a brightly armored general, divided into several units, some wielding spears and attempting to break into the Black Mountain ranks, others firing arrows that whistled into the crowd, causing cries of pain.

A hundred well-equipped cavalry circled between the two sides, like tigers stalking their prey, waiting to pounce. The leading general, skilled in horsemanship, wielded a longbow, and with every shot claimed a Black Mountain life.

The encirclement grew tighter. Whenever Du Yuan and his guards charged, the government soldiers nearby would retreat slightly, but after they left, the troops pressed in again. Du Yuan and the Wolf Owl Guards rushed about, stretched thin.

At first, Wang Bo was dissatisfied with the Wolf Owl Guard Team B—he had painstakingly assembled this elite force, placing great hope in them, yet less than a thousand government troops seemed enough to render them helpless?

But upon closer inspection, he realized they were constrained by concern for the safety of several thousand Black Mountain civilians, forced into a passive, defensive posture. Moreover, the government troops, both officers and common soldiers, had clearly suffered losses to the Wolf Owl Guards before, otherwise they would not so carefully avoid direct confrontation.

Drawing nearer, Wang Bo saw the two government commanders were clearly experienced in battle. First, they continually shot at the Black Mountain troops from the outside to disrupt morale, then slowly pressed in, creating intense psychological pressure within the encircled Black Mountain army. If not for the efforts of the Wolf Owl Guards and Bai Rao, the Black Mountain troops, given their usual fighting ability, would have long since scattered.

Yet, if this continued, the collapse of the Black Mountain army seemed inevitable. Some, fearful, began to panic and crowd together at the cries of their wounded companions.

The fighting ability of the Black Mountain army made Wang Bo frown—they were not only poorly equipped but burdened with non-combatants. Their weapons were varied, but lacked shields to defend against arrows, and armor and warhorses were almost nonexistent. Under the government troops’ relentless arrow fire, they watched their comrades die in agony, powerless to resist, yet managed to hold on. For a force whose soldiers were mere farmers yesterday, this was already commendable.

By now, Wang Bo and Xu Chu had reached within a hundred paces of the enemy, drawing the attention of the government soldiers. The officer leading the infantry, without waiting for Wang Bo to catch his breath, pointed at him with his oxhorn bow and shouted, "Who goes there? What is your purpose? The army of Han’s Hejian Province is here to suppress bandits! All unauthorized persons withdraw at once, or face execution!"

"You boast boldly! I am Wang Bo, magistrate of Xinghan! How dare you commit such shameless violence? Do you not know these Black Mountain troops have submitted to Xinghan?" Wang Bo replied in a voice even louder.

"Magistrate of Xinghan? Who is that? I only know that Xinghan City in Dingxiang is built by moth thieves and refugees!" the officer retorted disdainfully.

"Nonsense! The men of Xinghan are valiant sons of Han, who have slain countless Hu dogs at the frontier! Their illustrious achievements shine through history! How dare you slander them? I ask you: what have you done to protect the people and resist foreign humiliation?"

"Hmph! Mere boasting! How can moth thieves and bandits claim such achievements? Killing a handful of Hu people and calling yourself Xinghan? As for rumor and gossip, I laugh and dismiss them! Only by exterminating the Black Mountain thieves who plague Ji province can the warriors of Hejian be said to protect the people!"

"Hahaha..." Wang Bo, enraged, laughed coldly, seized his short halberd, pointed it at the enemy general, and shouted, "Ignorant fool! How dare you slander our valiant sons of Xinghan! Watch how our warriors take your head! Wolf Owl Guard Team A, where are you?"

"At your command!" Zhou Cang and the others replied in unison.

"Follow me—break the enemy encirclement, then slaughter their shameless cavalry!" Wang Bo ordered loudly.

"Yes, my lord! Rest assured! Witness how we take the enemy general’s head and present it to you!" Zhou Cang beat his chest and roared.

Then, Wang Bo and a dozen riders, led by Xu Chu and guarded by the Wolf Owl Guards, brushed aside the few arrows shot at them, broke through the thin encirclement effortlessly, and entered the struggling Black Mountain ranks, leaving a dozen headless bodies in their wake.

Their ferocity struck fear into the government troops, whose morale had been high.

Since following their two generals, whether confronting mountain bandits or large groups of Black Mountain raiders, victory had come swiftly and easily. Even when faced with a difficult opponent, the two generals, with their masterful marksmanship, dispatched them within a few rounds. Yet today, these Black Mountain thieves were strangely resilient. Despite immense pressure and constant casualties, the common bandits fought to the death. Especially the riders, who, with skilled martial prowess and coordination, charged into the government ranks and slew many. Even the two generals, revered by their men, nearly suffered defeat and were forced to adopt a step-by-step approach, hoping the Black Mountain bandits would panic and scatter, so they could pursue.

Just when victory seemed imminent, more enemy generals appeared, seemingly even more formidable. The lead, with eyes like copper bells and a roar like a tiger, wielded a blood-soaked long blade, sweeping left and right without need for technique—anything struck, be it weapon, armor, or head, went flying.

Heavens! Is this even human? Why not call him a beast in human form? The rising fear from within seized the government troops’ hearts, and for the first time, they doubted whether their revered generals could lead them to victory.

The cavalry commander, seeing fear on his soldiers’ faces, furrowed his brows tightly. Though tempted to abandon the hard-won glory, he could not decide.

If he retreated before a tough opponent, it would not only shatter the confidence of his newly trained elite, but foster a tendency to flee in future battles, making his dream of forging a tiger army an illusion. Besides, his youthful pride would not allow it! Even at a heavier cost, he was determined to prevail!

With this resolved, the young Han cavalry commander straightened the red tassel on his helmet, shook his shining armor, found nothing amiss, and shouted to the stout officer commanding the infantry, "Brother! Quickly lead the men to break the enemy lines! Leave these few to me!" With a flick of his long spear, the tip trembled thrice, and with a light squeeze of his horse’s flanks, the blue warhorse neighed and charged straight toward Zhou Cang and the others who were slaughtering government troops.

The stout officer, burning with rage at his men’s deaths, understood that the Black Mountain army was strong in generals but weak in soldiers. To win, they must break the enemy troops and then surround and kill their leaders. He focused all his efforts on breaking through.

Upon close observation, he was shocked to see that as the dozen riders violently entered the fray, the Black Mountain army, once on the verge of collapse, regained confidence like the spring wind sweeping the wild hills. The timid no longer panicked, and the brave began to resist the arrows and shout encouragement to their comrades.

The stout officer realized that if this continued, the Black Mountain thieves would recover morale and, led by these skilled generals, launch a counterattack. Even if they could not defeat his force in one go, it would render the past days’ efforts futile. Now, his brother would stall the enemy generals while he led the infantry to break into the enemy ranks, hoping to change the situation.

He immediately ordered that the scattered soldiers be gathered together, divided into three groups, each led by their respective commanders, to launch an assault on the Black Mountain defensive line.