After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 808 - 798: Captured

Zhao Hanzhang led twenty thousand troops straight to Shangdang, taking both Gaodu and Xuan Family cities. Finally, she joined forces with Mi Ce and Yuan Li at Changzi County, then split the army again to attack the cities of Shangdang County and Wei County, showing a determination to take over both counties;

Meanwhile, Zu Ti also received Zhao Hanzhang’s letter. He divided his forces from Jizhou into two, with one heading west and the other heading south, encroaching on the territories of Shi Le and the Xiongnu Khanate.

By the time Shi Le received the news, Zhao Hanzhang and Zu Ti had already occupied half of his territory. However, the Jin State did not fare well either, having taken over a third of Yan State’s territory, which was much larger than Shangdang County, though its geographical position was less significant.

Shangdang was extremely important, and Shi Le was naturally reluctant to abandon it. His strategists were also unwilling and urged him to return to aid Shangdang.

However, Zhang Bin had a different opinion and said to Shi Le, "Great General, returning now is too late. Not only will it be difficult to reclaim Shangdang, but we might also lose the cities of Puyang, Linqiu, and Bai Ma that we captured."

Shi Le trusted Zhang Bin very much and quickly said, "Please, sir, save me!"

Zhang Bin then said, "At this point, Great General, you might as well make the best of a bad situation."

He said, "Capture Yan State, capture the Emperor Jin, and kill Gou Xi, then exchange the Emperor Jin and Gou Xi’s heads to reclaim Shangdang."

Zhang Bin said, "Zhao Hanzhang has such a good reputation. She succeeds because of it and will surely fail because of it too. With the Emperor Jin in our hands, she wouldn’t dare defy us."

Shi Le, being a bandit and rogue, never thought highly of people, and directly asked, "What if she doesn’t comply?"

Zhang Bin paused for a moment, then said, "If she isn’t threatened, then we can take Yan State, attack Yu State from there, and trade places with her."

Shi Le felt there was reason in what he said. While Shangdang’s terrain and position were more advantageous to them, Yu State wasn’t bad either; it was part of the Central Plains after all.

Immediately putting aside his heartache, Shi Le summoned a trusted aide and said, "Send a message to the Great Commander and ask how long he plans to lure the enemy. Zhao Hanzhang is close to cutting off our retreat."

Shi Le urged, "Tell him to counterattack immediately and say we will fully support him!"

"Yes!"

Everywhere, battles were raging, and communication was difficult. A letter might cost a dozen couriers their lives to deliver. Some letters would disappear silently along with the couriers, and apart from them, no one knew where they and the letters vanished.

In the army, they could only assume couriers were dead if there was no feedback for a period of time.

Since Zhao Hanzhang arrived in Shangdang, communication had become very difficult, except for the relatively safe path from Yu State, no other letters made it through.

But the letters from Yu State indicated that the battles in Yan State and Si Province were intense. Fu Tinghan and Zhao Erlang had captured the surrounding counties of Pingyang City and seemed to be pressing northward, nearly isolating Pingyang City.

Beigong Chun single-handedly held back the forces of Liu Yuan and Shi Le attacking Luoyang, and whenever they tried to retreat to reinforce Pingyang City, Beigong Chun tenaciously pursued them.

This was also one of the reasons Fu Tinghan and Zhao Erlang could successfully recapture other cities in Pingyang County.

Another reason was that Fu Zhi deployed troops from Chang’an, besieging the west city gate of Pingyang City. Together with the Zhao Family Army at the South City Gate, they launched periodic attacks, keeping the large army in Pingyang City from caring about the cities outside.

Yan State was also doing well. It’s said that Gou Xi won several consecutive battles and recaptured cities seized by Liu Cong. However, Shi Le also went to attack Yan State, leaving half his forces to fiercely attack Yu State.

Although Xun Xiu and Mi Ce’s deputy lacked other abilities, they could defend the city, especially with Yu State behind them and rich resources. The siege machines and crossbows Fu Tinghan made in the past two years were plentiful there. Several strong attacks by Shi Le’s army failed to capture Meng County and Ningling.

Zhao Hanzhang only wanted to take advantage of the chaos to seize Shangdang, and together with Mi Ce and others, divided their forces to attack. Every now and then, they captured a city, enjoying it greatly.

Because of this, letters from Yu State had to pass through two places before reaching Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang had just captured Tunliu County and was standing on the city tower watching the soldiers secure the streets, while her officers were calming the people.

Currently, Shangdang was mainly inhabited by barbarians, especially Tunliu County, where there were more barbarians than Han people. Thus, the city was difficult to capture, taking twelve days of siege.

At this time, many townsfolk looked at her with hatred in their eyes. Zhao Hanzhang did not mind. They were Jiehu, Xiongnu, and Xianbei. Under Shi Le’s rule, they enjoyed a higher status, exempt from being sold and driven like slaves by Han soldiers, so it was only natural they resented her.

However, she had no intention of appeasing them.

Now that Tunliu County was captured, it would follow her rules.

In troubled times, severe measures were needed. Zhao Hanzhang abandoned her conciliatory policy from Yu State and Si Province, implementing strict management in Ji County, Wei County, and Shangdang County.

A Jiehu youth suddenly drew a dagger as soldiers approached him, attempting to stab them. Yuan Li, standing nearby, noticed in time and kicked him down.

Furious, he gave the man no chance to speak, drawing his sword and beheading him, causing blood to spurt out. Fan Ying, standing beside Zhao Hanzhang, was startled, turning slightly away, displeased, and said, "Governor, should we warn him?"

"No need," Zhao Hanzhang said coldly. "If they draw a knife against our soldiers, they deserve to die."

Fan Ying bowed and said, "Yes," as a disheveled courier, led by a trusted aide, ran up to the city tower, and she stepped forward to receive him.

After a few questions, she immediately brought him forward, saying, "Governor, it’s a letter from Yu State."

Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her gaze, swept over the courier, and took the letter, opening it as she asked, "Is the road from Yu State difficult as well? Why so disheveled?"

The courier, still out of breath, nearly collapsed to the ground upon kneeling and hurriedly said, "Governor, something’s happened in Yan State. This is an urgent message."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang could not wait to slowly open the seal, directly tearing the envelope apart. An urgent message like this was rare, even the court only used a less urgent measure when Liu Cong attacked Yan State.

Zhao Hanzhang unfolded the letter, quickly scanning through it, and for a moment, she was speechless.

Seeing her face turn instantly ashen, Fan Ying worriedly asked, "Governor?"

Clenching the letter tightly, Zhao Hanzhang gritted her teeth and said, "Summon Mr. Ming to the central tent for discussion, and also call Mi Ce, Yuan Li, Zeng Yue, and Li Tian."

"Yes." Fan Ying promptly went to give instructions.

Zhao Hanzhang summoned a personal soldier and said, "Help him down to rest well, and have a military doctor look at him."

"Yes!"

Zhao Hanzhang entered the main tent with the letter, saw Ming Yu waiting there, and directly handed the letter over, "Your Majesty has been captured."

Ming Yu’s eyes widened in shock, and he quickly took the letter to read.