After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 817 - 807: Proclamation of War

Zhao Hanzhang tilted her head slightly and could see herself in his eyes. She couldn’t help but nod at him and whispered, "This world is broken and tattered, but I couldn’t help falling in love with it. I want to stay."

Fu Tinghan held her hand and squeezed it tightly. Neither of them spoke again, but they both understood—he would help her. He too had fallen in love with this world.

The two leaned shoulder to shoulder, looking up at the stars in the sky. In comparison with the universe, Earth seemed so small, and they were but two specks of dust on Earth. Yet, they would not regret what they were doing now. They believed they would influence this era, leaving a vibrant mark here.

Once the two decided, they released their hands to take action. Fu Tinghan modified the gunpowder sent by Qiu Wu, and on the third day, the army marched towards Pingyang City.

The Xiongnu Army inside Pingyang City learned that the Zhao Family Army was coming to attack the city again, so they prepared bows and crossbows in advance. The general defending the city was Liu Qin, and Liu Huanle had been appointed Grand Marshal, commanding the three armies.

When the scouts returned with the news, Liu Qin hurriedly sent someone to the palace to find Liu Huanle, basically consulting the Emperor, "This time, it’s Zhao Hanzhang attacking the city. Please quickly ask Marshal Liu to command the battle."

Liu Yuan had fallen ill, so by the time the message reached his sickbed, Zhao Hanzhang had already led the army to the base of Pingyang City.

Zhao Erlang, who had been stationed there, occasionally harassing the enemy, immediately rode briskly over, "Sister, you finally returned."

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him, nodded, and said, "Lead the right army well, and soon you’ll be my vanguard."

Zhao Erlang immediately happily agreed, riding back to his position.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded at Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan then turned his horse and left. Shortly, three catapults were brought forward.

Seeing this, Liu Qin hurriedly summoned the colonel, pointed at the catapults, and asked, "Can they reach?"

"Too far, they can’t reach."

Liu Qin: "What about the bed crossbows?"

"The bed crossbows can’t reach either."

"Why can their bed crossbows reach the city tower, but yours can’t? What’s the Ministry of War and Ministry of Industry doing?"

The colonel lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Liu Qin stared at their catapults, feeling that this time the placement seemed closer than the previous times, so he insisted on having them bring out the bed crossbows, intending to give it a try.

While both sides were silently preparing for battle, Ming Yu approached Pingyang City standing on a war chariot, intending to recite a declaration to the people inside the city.

The declaration was personally written by Ming Yu and then revised by Ji Yuan. In reality, Ji Yuan hadn’t made many revisions. When it came to sharp words, Ji Yuan felt that besides Zhao Ming, no one could compare to Ming Yu.

So he just glanced over it and nodded his agreement, regarding it as revised.

Zeng Yue personally drove the war chariot to a spot not far from the moat and stopped. Although Liu Qin on the city tower very much wanted to shoot him, Ming Yu was dressed like a scholar, holding a piece of silk cloth, clearly a messenger.

The rule is—between two warring states, messengers are not to be slain. This rule must be upheld.

So he waited for Ming Yu to speak, also wanting to hear what Zhao Hanzhang had to say.

But unexpectedly, when Ming Yu reached under the city, he directly unfolded the silk cloth and recited, "In bygone Qin wars, dukes and kingdoms attacked one another, causing the people to wander displaced and restless. Once unified by Qin and Han, hearts found stability, thereby longing for Han. Liu Yuan, you son, originally from my vassalage, a hostage of Jin, seized opportunity amidst difficulties, clandestinely occupying the Central Plains..."

The declaration could be an explanation, a summon, or an indictment and declaration of war.

This declaration was Zhao Hanzhang’s war proclamation to the Xiongnu Khanate.

They say a just cause draws support. The righteousness of this war not only boosted her own morale but also demoralized the opponent.

This declaration did not contain a single foul word, yet all it did was accuse Liu Yuan of taking advantage of others’ misfortune, causing chaos under the heavens, falsely borrowing the name of Han to harm the people, and as a Jin minister, daring to attack Jin land and hurt Emperor Jin—utterly intolerable!

"Garbed goats and sheep, lands drowned by barbarians. Anyone with blood and breath feels no less than pained and bitter towards the chieftain... Life and fortune hang by a thread; immortal fame contended for within an instant. The army does not rise again, the times do not return, proclaim far and wide, let all hear and know."

After reciting, Ming Yu rolled up the silk cloth and handed it to Zeng Yue, who then bound it to a specially made arrow and shot it towards the city tower.

The arrow entered the city tower, Liu Qin took it with a stern face, eyes fixed heavily on Ming Yu below.

Ming Yu raised his hand and said, "Please, General Liu, deliver this declaration to Liu Yuan, and tell him my lord is waiting outside Pingyang City for him to revert to right from wrong!"

Liu Qin: "Damn you, Ming Yu! You’re just a two-family slave, how dare you talk about our Emperor?"

Ming Yu didn’t mind, responding directly, "Ming Yu is of humble status, a petty man; by comparing Liu Yuan with me, is the General saying he too acts as a two-family slave?"

The colonel beside, with limited education, hurriedly asked, "General, what does all that gibberish mean?"

Liu Qin nearly erupted in fury—not imagining he would perish not on the battlefield, nor be angered to death by the shameless strategist opposite, but by his own subordinate.

Seeing Ming Yu already turn to leave, Liu Qin vented his anger on the colonel, using the silk cloth in his hand to fiercely knock his head, "Told you to read more, you don’t! You can’t even understand the war declaration delivered to you!"

Despite his anger, Liu Qin still sent the declaration to the palace.

Liu Yuan unfolded it, his chest heaving, but he quickly calmed down, sincerely praising, "The person who wrote this possesses great talent, even superior to the famous scholars of Jin State."

Xuan Yuxiu finished reading and nodded, "Indeed, great talent."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, the matter of attacking Jin might be unwise. Why not negotiate with Zhao Hanzhang and have the Great General withdraw?"

Liu Yuan smiled, saying, "We’ve already captured Yun City, even Emperor Jin is seized. Chief Historian, don’t worry. Once Xuanming leads troops back for reinforcements, Zhao Hanzhang will have to retreat even if she wishes not to."

He was now waiting for Liu Cong to bring back Emperor Jin, then announce to the world that Emperor Jin offered the realm to him. By then, he would grant Emperor Jin a title, raising him well, thus the realm would change surname to Liu.

Yet, Xuan Yuxiu had a foreboding feeling, whispering, "Since her emergence, Zhao Hanzhang has never suffered defeat. Her current formidable momentum implies she won’t easily relent, Your Majesty. If she breaks through Pingyang before the main force returns, what then?"

Liu Yuan said, "She can’t break in. We have a force of one hundred thousand here, ample provisions, enough to hold for three months without issue, and within those three months, Xuanming will surely arrive."

This was one reason why Liu Yuan didn’t support other towns in Pingyang County, only holding Pingyang City.

He wasn’t afraid of being besieged by Zhao Hanzhang; being besieged was excellent. This way, he could drag enough forces for the army attacking the Jin State.

Although Liu Yuan was ill, his mind was clear. He handed the silk cloth to Xuan Yuxiu, reassuring him, "Don’t worry, Zhao Hanzhang cannot trouble us. Though her catapults and bed crossbows have far range, those things can’t suppress my soldiers; her scaling ladders can’t be set up."

Liu Yuan spoke with a gleam, but as soon as he finished speaking, a thunderous noise "bang" startled him. Hastily looking outside, only seeing a clear sky, surprised, he propped himself up from the sickbed, eyes wide, "How is it thundering in clear weather?"

Could it be that Zhao Hanzhang’s declaration received divine endorsement?