Three Kingdoms, Myth

"How are things recently, Han Sheng?" Liu Pan asked as he noticed Huang Zhong standing on the city wall, overlooking the enemy camp below.

"He's still alive!" Huang Zhong knew that Liu Pan wasn't asking about the enemy's situation but rather about his son. Huang Zhong, who had basically given up hope, answered grumpily. His son, Huang Xu, was hanging on by a thread, but Zhang Zhongjing had assured him that his son's life wasn't in immediate danger.

Though Huang Zhong had often felt like killing his local doctor, Zhang Zhongjing, out of frustration, he ultimately trusted the physician. Since Zhang Zhongjing said his son wouldn't die, Huang Zhong believed it.

"Oh..." Liu Pan nodded and didn't press further. In his view, it was already a miracle that Huang Xu had survived this long. He also knew that Huang Zhong had some personal issues; otherwise, he wouldn't be so obsessed with his one son and daughter. Seeing how Huang Zhong could still stand against the world's top martial artist in combat, Liu Pan couldn't help but wonder why he didn't have more wives and concubines to carry on the family name.

It was precisely because Huang Xu was half-dead and the Huang family was on the verge of extinction that Huang Zhong had lost all motivation. What was the point of striving for a title or high office? People might talk about bringing glory to their ancestors, but ultimately, wasn't it all for the sake of their children and grandchildren? Without heirs, no matter how high your rank, it all amounts to nothing. Huang Zhong felt he would have no face to meet his ancestors in the afterlife, knowing that his family line had ended.

Without a goal to strive for, Huang Zhong had no more drive. Whether Jiangling fell or Liu Biao died didn't matter much to him. High rank and great rewards meant nothing if his only son was on the brink of death without leaving a single grandchild. Who would inherit those things?

To be honest, if Yuan Shu were to offer a way to heal Huang Xu, Huang Zhong wouldn't hesitate to join him, even if it didn't mean immediately turning on Liu Biao. After all, Liu Biao wasn't really Huang Zhong's superior or lord.

Because of this, Huang Zhong had little interest in his duels with Lü Bu. He simply engaged him each day to prevent Lü Bu from leading assaults that could crush Jingzhou's morale. But even though Huang Zhong wasn't giving his all, just the fact that he could hold back Lü Bu made the soldiers of Jingzhou revere him like a god. After all, if no one could stop Lü Bu, the damage to morale would be catastrophic.

Lü Bu was like a living siege weapon on ancient battlefields. Though such machines didn't kill many people in stable battles, their terrifying presence greatly diminished enemy morale. This was why siege weapons like catapults and ballistae were so popular—they could drastically reduce the enemy's fighting spirit.

Lü Bu's presence was even more insidious than those machines. As some games would put it, just having Lü Bu on the field automatically lowers the enemy's morale each turn, while his own forces' morale increases without limit.

With one side's morale sky-high and the other's plummeting, it wouldn't be long before the demoralized troops began deserting or even tying up their own commander. Having a fierce general like Lü Bu on the field was an outright disaster.

However, what was initially a disaster was forcibly curbed by Huang Zhong's presence. This time, Lü Bu, the world's strongest general, was stuck outside Jiangling. Whether or not Huang Zhong won the duels, neither he nor Lü Bu had sustained more than minor injuries that healed overnight. Under the leadership of such mighty generals, the morale of the Jingzhou defenders gradually surpassed that of Yuan Shu's troops, who were growing frustrated with the stalled siege.

Liu Biao saw hope in the situation as it developed day by day. Yuan Shu's morale continued to drop while Jingzhou's morale kept rising. The turning point came when Huang Zhong nearly killed the emissary Ji Ling with a single arrow, causing Jingzhou's morale to completely overshadow that of Yuan Shu's forces. After all, Ji Ling, the enemy commander, had been knocked off his horse by that arrow. If not for Lü Bu's intervention, Ji Ling might have been killed instantly by Huang Zhong's shot.

Ji Ling had been wise. The moment he saw Huang Zhong appear on the city wall during the parley, he knew things were going south. He immediately dismounted, but his trusted steed was not so lucky—Huang Zhong's arrow pinned it to the ground. The arrow, nearly the size of a spear, created a hole the size of a large bowl in the horse's body. If it had hit Ji Ling directly, he would have been doomed.

That bloody scene caused Yuan Shu's frontlines to collectively take a step back. The method of death was too horrifying. Huang Zhong's energy arrows usually disintegrated people into dust, leaving no gruesome scene. But now, seeing such a brutal death, the already low morale of Yuan Shu's troops plummeted further.

Because of Huang Zhong's immense deterrent power, Liu Biao had been trying to recruit him, offering high positions, wealth, and beautiful women to entice the unaffiliated warrior. But Huang Zhong remained unmoved, much to Liu Biao's frustration. Was he really that unattractive as a ruler?

"Lord, we've thoroughly investigated. Huang Hansheng is indeed a native of Jingzhou, but he has a hidden ailment. He has one son and one daughter, but his son has been gravely ill for years. Huang Hansheng has not cared much for military affairs during this time, leaving everything in the hands of your nephew. According to Zhang Zhongjing, Huang Hansheng's son won't survive another two years, and Huang Zhong has already given up," Kuai Yue reported, sharing all the information he had recently gathered with Liu Biao.

Liu Biao suddenly understood. It wasn't that he lacked charm, virtue, or generosity; it was Huang Zhong's personal problem.

"Yidu, it seems our recruitment approach was wrong all along," Liu Biao said as he stroked his beard. With the situation improving daily, Liu Biao saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Jiangling had ample supplies, and even if Yuan Shu besieged them for a year or two, they wouldn't run out of provisions. Liu Biao had all the time in the world to wait out Yuan Shu.

"Lord, you are wise. Our approach indeed had a flaw. To a man who faces the prospect of his family line ending, no amount of rank or title matters. As the saying goes, 'Of the three forms of unfilial behavior, having no heirs is the worst.' I believe we should approach this from that angle. Moreover, from what I've learned, Huang Hansheng is a loyal and courageous general. Once he pledges allegiance, he won't betray you," Kuai Yue said solemnly. The battles in Jingzhou had taught him a lot, and he now understood the importance of recruiting powerful generals who could sway the outcome of a war.

"In that case..." Liu Biao whispered a long series of instructions into Kuai Yue's ear. As a man in his fifties who could still father a son with Madam Cai, Liu Biao had no doubt that Huang Zhong's hidden ailment was no obstacle—he was practically an expert in such matters!

After finishing, Liu Biao fumbled in his sleeve, eventually pulling out a small porcelain bottle, which he handed to Kuai Yue with a knowing smile.

As he handed the bottle over, Liu Biao noticed that Kuai Yue kept glancing at his sleeve, making him a bit embarrassed. Blushing slightly, he barked, "What are you waiting for? Go! Yidu, if you don't win over Huang Hansheng, don't blame me for being merciless!"

Kuai Yue, caught between laughter and tears, simply bowed, said nothing, and accepted the porcelain bottle before withdrawing. But as he left, he couldn't shake a nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right.