After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 838 - 826: Recapture (Part 2)

Fu An looked at the lord who was laughing heartily and silently stopped in his tracks.

Ting He saw that he wasn’t very happy, so she leaned in and whispered, "What’s wrong? Aren’t you pleased to see the two masters getting along so well?"

Fu An snorted twice and said, "You ladies said they would marry this year. It’s already June, and there’s no sign of a wedding date."

Ting He comforted him, "The war came suddenly, our lady couldn’t help it."

"See how happily our lady smiles at the young lord? Tell him to rest assured, once this battle is over, our lady will definitely bring up the wedding date."

Fu An didn’t respond, but his expression improved somewhat.

After dinner, with some washing up, Zhao Hanzhang looked around and saw that the soldiers had already fallen asleep, squeezed together snoring except for those patrolling.

Zhao Hanzhang moved closer to Fu Tinghan and whispered, "You rest first, I’ll take a walk around."

Fu Tinghan nodded, holding a cloak as he lay on the ground, his head resting on a book wrapped in clothes, with a bonfire beside him, and in the midsummer, it wasn’t cold.

Zhao Hanzhang took her trusted aide for a round around the camp and, grabbing the head of a soldier, instantly caught two mosquitoes.

Zhao Hanzhang frowned and asked her trusted aide behind her, "Where is Fan Ying?"

A trusted aide immediately ran to find Fan Ying.

Fan Ying hurried over, Zhao Hanzhang whispered instructions, "The army needs to prepare things to repel mosquitoes. In situations like today where we’re too hurried to set camp, we should use something for widespread mosquito repelling to ensure better sleep for the soldiers."

Fan Ying thought for a moment and said, "Use mugwort?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "We can try it, consult the military doctor, and if it doesn’t work, think of other methods."

Fan Ying noted it down.

Zhao Hanzhang then walked with her, speaking softly, "Tomorrow we’re going to attack Zhencheng. You’ll stay at the rear to prepare new dry rations. After tomorrow, we’ll split forces, the Vanguard Army needs to carry three days’ rations, you must prepare quickly."

Fan Ying agreed, and after returning to her campfire, she found it hard to sleep, so she called her subordinates together to make work arrangements.

The next morning, they rushed to Zhencheng, only to find its gates tightly shut, ignoring the Zhao Family Army’s taunts below.

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t anxious. Having rushed here, they needed some rest.

After two hours of taunting, the Zhao Family Army had rested enough, and as the sun set, Zhencheng thought the day would end thusly. When the guards were at their most relaxed, Fu Tinghan and Le Si stood at the catapult, adjusted their angles, and installed explosive barrels.

Zhao Hanzhang sat on her horse, waved her hand, and the war drums beat furiously. The invigorating drumbeats echoed through the army, their spirits lifted sharply as their eyes fixed keenly on Zhencheng, determined to take it.

With the sound of war drums, Fu Tinghan and Le Si simultaneously signaled to ignite, and almost synchronously they launched the explosive barrels.

The ladder team also carried their ladders, shouting as they charged towards Zhencheng.

At the sound of war drums, those on Zhencheng’s tower became alert and relayed down that the Zhao Family Army was attacking the city.

As they prepared crossbows and archers, two explosive barrels fell over them, exploding before they hit the ground.

The rushing archers and officers commanding from the tower were blasted off their feet by the heat wave, suffering from ear-ringing dizziness, then felt piercing pain, many injured by iron fragments from the barrels, cried out loudly in pain and despair.

Some had sparks catch their clothes, instantaneously igniting, panicked and screaming as they ran about, setting the tower aflame.

The Colonel, holding his dizzy head, struggled up from the ground. He couldn’t hear but saw the chaos. Seeing soldiers running down from the tower, he drew his sword and killed one to deter escape, shouting, "Cowards die, no one is to flee!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Just as his voice fell, a wooden ladder clattered against the wall. He tensed, still hearing no sound, but shouted, "Stones, boiling oil, spearmen, hurry!"

Some brought stones, but fearing the explosive, few dared to act swiftly, and only a small number of stones were tossed down before Zhao Family Army soldiers leaped onto the tower, drawing swords for combat.

The tower quickly descended into chaos as long as the first person climbed up, countless others followed behind.

Meanwhile, the Vanguard Army under their cover reached the gate, repeatedly crashing it with logs.

Zhencheng, like Dunqiu, wasn’t strategic. Its walls weren’t particularly high, nor its gates particularly strong. With the ladder team capturing the tower, they soon descended to assist the Vanguard Army in opening the gates.

When the sun had completely set, and darkness began to blanket, Zhao Hanzhang rode into Zhencheng.

Shi Le once stationed in Zhencheng, so the previous County Magistrate was killed, and the current one left behind by Shi Le.

Zhao Hanzhang met with him, seeing his defiant spirit, granted him a release.

Even the Shi Le soldiers who, although held captive, refused to surrender looked on with glazed eyes.

Zhao Hanzhang sat beneath the county government’s "Mirrors High Suspended" plaque, calmly said, "I, Zhao, am adept at understanding people, not fond of forcing others. Anyone wishing loyalty to Shi Le simply needs to speak up; I’ll escort you all on your way."

No one dared speak, and even the Assistant General, Colonel, and others who held their heads high lowered them.

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, ordering them to be taken down to the POW camp.

Most were forcibly taken away, then she looked at those kneeling below.

Here were all other officials in the county government, as well as a few notable village elders.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, allowing them to rise, then said, "Go invite the gentry and elders in the city, tell them I, Zhao, wish to discuss important matters concerning Zhencheng."

After the Zhao Family Army entered the city, every household closed their doors tightly, afraid to venture out. The Zhao Family Army didn’t disturb civilians, instead sitting on the streets.

Upon receiving orders, the soldiers took the list from Fan Ying, and went door to door knocking according to the list.