After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 840 - 827: Alliance (Part 2)

Zhao Hanzhang stayed behind to speak with Wei Chao alone, and the two walked up to the city tower of Zhencheng under the morning light.

The tower was mottled, and the walls and ground were covered in bloodstains, with knife marks everywhere.

Zhao Hanzhang patted the wall, "This city carries weight. You must think it through. Once you take up this burden, you cannot easily put it down again."

Wei Chao’s eyes were steadfast and serious as he bowed deeply to Zhao Hanzhang, "I understand. I am willing to protect this city and its people with my life."

Thinking about his eldest sister who was taken away, a flash of pain crossed Wei Chao’s eyes, "I will not let them suffer slaughter and plunder again!"

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but smile slightly, looking at him with appreciation, "Good! I only hope you will do as you say. Remember, as you stand here, behind you are the people of a city."

Wei Chao lifted his robe and knelt down, deeply bowing his head in pledge, "Yes!"

Zhao Hanzhang helped him up and turned to go downstairs.

The gentry and village elders of Zhencheng had prepared military rewards for Zhao Hanzhang, nervously delivering them to the army’s front.

After a glance, Zhao Hanzhang divided half of the rewards for Wei Chao in front of everyone, "Place it into storage. The people need reassurance. After we leave, defend Zhencheng well. If anything happens, seek assistance from Dunqiu. May you watch and support each other, advancing together."

Wei Chao agreed.

Upon leaving Zhencheng, Zhao Hanzhang divided her troops into two paths. One was led by the subordinate general Song Xin, attacking southward from the east. She led another army advancing from the west.

Fu Tinghan accompanied Zhao Hanzhang, while Fan Ying went to provide logistical support for Song Xin.

Zhao Hanzhang still ordered Qiu Wu to have the weapons workshop prepare more gunpowder, but transporting it from Chen County would take a long way around. It was better for her to send people to collect materials for Fu Tinghan and his team to produce.

So Fu Tinghan was also very busy, managing logistics for her route, crafting gunpowder with the craftsmen, and distributing some to Song Xin.

However, they were fortunate that in the next three cities, they did not need to use the gunpowder. As soon as they arrived, the people in the city rebelled. When the army approached Dingtao County, the County Magistrate brought the government officials, idlers, and various gentry and village elders together to kill the Assistant General and Colonel stationed at Dingtao County, then opened the city gates to welcome Zhao Hanzhang.

Upon entering the city, Zhao Hanzhang highly praised Dingtao County’s Magistrate Yin Hua, not only pardoning their previous offense of surrendering to Shi Le but also promoting him to Jiyin County’s Sima, a meteoric rise.

Meanwhile, in Linqiu County, led by Shi Wen, righteous men stormed into the county government, killed the new County Magistrate, and occupied the city tower, waiting for Song Xin’s troops to arrive. Shi Wen then led them in opening the city gates to welcome the Zhao Family Army.

Song Xin reported the event to Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang sent a commendation letter and an official appointment document naming Shi Wen as the County Magistrate of Linqiu County, bearing Zhao Hanzhang’s personal seal and the official seal of Yu State’s Governor.

Shi Wen did not question her appointment as Yu State Governor to the Yan State’s County Magistrate. Now it’s known throughout the land that after Gou Xi surrendered to Shi Le, he was killed in battle, while the emperor was seized by Liu Cong. The world is divided in two: one side follows Zhao Hanzhang’s orders, while the other side is loyal to King Langya from Jiangdong.

Yan State is in chaos and adjacent to Yu State. The Northern Land generally listens to Zhao Hanzhang, while the Jiangnan and Huainan regions officially recognize King Langya as the Alliance Hierarch.

With news spreading from Dunqiu and Zhencheng, Zhao Hanzhang’s reputation among the Han people in the Northern Land soared, reaching new heights. The victories in Dingtao and Linqiu were due to her words in Dunqiu being spread.

Before Shi Le could respond, Zhao Hanzhang’s forces moved like breaking bamboo, capturing five cities in just eight days, approaching Meng County.

Shi Le learned of the unrest among the Han people in various cities. He felt he couldn’t do better than Zhao Hanzhang. Moreover, he was from the Jie Clan, while Zhao Hanzhang belonged to the Huaxia Clan, their natural ally. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

So trying to win people over with grace was impossible; instead, he resorted to mass killing, instilling fear that kept them from revolting.

Shi Le’s forces committed massacres outside Xiaxi County, and his subordinate generals followed suit, slaughtering in Meng County and Ningling, leaving everyone in the cities anxious. Even as they saw the Zhao Family Army approaching, they dared not act.

This resulted in Yan State’s counties killing enemies to surrender to Zhao Hanzhang, while Meng County and Ningling, which she had supported, remained cautious, closing their gates tightly.

Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t angry, only worried, "Order all troops to send representatives to meet me. This time, we must work together and strive for an immediate victory."

Otherwise, Shi Le’s counterattack would likely cause severe losses in Meng County and Ningling.

Xun Xiu was in Sui County, Mi Ce in Yangxia, Zhao Ming ordered Wang Nai to guard Wuping, barely resisting Shi Le’s two-pronged army, while Zhao Ju led the Zhao Family Army in holding Xiaxi County. Assisted by Wang Xuan from Jingzhou, Shi Le’s aggression was so fierce that Xiaxi County repeatedly fell but was arduously reclaimed.

Shi Le, in anger, cleared Wu Castle and villages outside Xiaxi County, rounded up the Han people to drive them as a shield to attack the city.

Behind Xiaxi County was not only one city’s people but Chen County. If Shi Le captured Xiaxi, then Chen County would be in danger. There lay years of Zhao Hanzhang’s efforts, so Zhao Ju vowed to defend it, ordering universal arrow fire indiscriminately.

In just half a month, Zhao Ju’s hair at his temples showed white. The pressure on his mind was overwhelming. Upon receiving Zhao Hanzhang’s letter, he immediately called Wang Xuan, requesting he find a way through Sui County to meet Zhao Hanzhang outside Meng County.

The vastness of the world and the breadth of Yu State, even if Shi Le captured Ningling and Meng County, he could not completely sever the routes of communication. Hence, even Zhao Ming sent people to meet Zhao Hanzhang at the camp.

Zhao Hanzhang, while besieging the city, forced Shi Le to send reinforcements and awaited representatives from all sectors. They discussed a battle plan, encoded it, and even without awaiting everyone, she repeatedly dispatched messengers with instructions to deliver it to all sectors.

Each division had three encrypted letters, as long as even one reached them, they could initiate a counterattack on time.

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan sighed, "All communication relies on people. If only we had wireless telegraphs at this time."