After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 948 - 933: The Rise of the Tide (1)

The rebellion in Lu County lasted for two days. Although Liu Yi and the others ran, they didn’t get far because Beigong Chun directly led his troops into Youzhou, capturing three cities and approaching Lu County.

When Liu Cong issued a notice saying he had quelled the rebellion and temporarily calmed the people, he returned to hear that Empress Dowager Shan had disappeared. He was immediately furious and ordered a thorough search in the palace and city, but no trace of her could be found.

Liu Cong was so angry that his chest heaved. Empress Dowager Shan was crucial, not only for some unspeakable thoughts but also because of her status. With her in his hands, he could not only threaten Liu Yi but also the Di Clan.

She had always been timid and obedient; how dare she escape?

A scout hastily rushed in to report: "Your Majesty, the Xiliang Army and Zhao Family Army have entered Yan Country, capturing three of our cities, and the Xiliang Army is already near Lu County."

Liu Cong clenched his fist, and ministers nearby couldn’t help but ask, "Your Majesty, how many troops do we still have?"

When counting the defecting tribes and population just now, Liu Cong didn’t bring them, nor did he disclose the data.

Liu Cong remained silent for quite a while with a gloomy face before speaking.

Liu Yi was originally the legitimate heir, with many supporters, and combined with Liu Huanle’s forces, he took away quite a few people.

Even the twelve thousand strong army Liu Cong had been grasping ran away by four thousand, some following Liu Yi and others taking the opportunity to flee.

This half year’s war had exhausted them, and they saw no hope at all.

Before this, it wasn’t like they hadn’t fought longer battles, but none were like this—retreating step by step, each time farther from their homeland. Every day, there was no hope to be found.

The weariness of war spread within the Xiongnu, and everyone just wanted to end the war, end the war!

The war no longer brought them glory and wealth but defeat, casualties, and separation from their families.

Imperial Censor Chen Yuanda keenly noticed this change and couldn’t help but say: "Your Majesty, the morale of the troops is scattered, while the Zhao Family Army is at its peak. Why don’t we temporarily retreat to Shanggu County?"

Shanggu County is half south of the Great Wall and half north. Does this mean to go south, or north?

If north, wouldn’t it mean stepping outside the Great Wall, staying outside the pass?

How is this different from the fall of the nation?

Liu Cong’s breathing became rapid, as he could not hear suggestions of retreat at this moment. Wouldn’t it be better to surrender to Zhao Hanzhang?

Liu Cong coldly said: "Disturbing the morale! Even if Wang Jun is captured, he has two sons outside. There are many factions in Youzhou now, making it the perfect time for Zhao Hanzhang to try to control everything. Why are you disturbing morale now?"

He said to those around him: "It seems that Chen Yuanda misses his homeland, thus secretly assisting Zhao Hanzhang."

After saying this, he ordered to have Chen Yuanda dragged away and executed.

This move shocked everyone, and no one dared mention the retreat again.

Liu Cong said to those around: "There are countless victims in Youzhou, starving along a hundred miles. She wants to fight both us and Wang Jun; the supply of provisions is insufficient. As long as we hold Yan Country, it won’t be long before their provisions fall short, and they can only withdraw."

Yet actually, Zhao Hanzhang’s attack on Wang Jun was unexpectedly smooth. Shi Le did not kill Wang Jun, but took him around, holding public denunciations of his misconduct at the city gates, then hoisting Zhao Hanzhang’s banner, and so—the city opened to surrender.

Not only officials but also citizens in the city welcomed them as they entered, and Shi Le took the opportunity to raise his banner high next to the "Zhao" character.

The "Shi" and "Zhao" banners flew side by side, and aside from a few officials, no one noticed Shi Le’s subtle stratagem.

Shi Le quickly captured cities on one side, while Zhao Hanzhang and Tuoba Yilu on the other attacked cities and reclaimed Jizhou and Youzhou. On their way, they encountered Wang Jun’s eldest son, Wang Zhou, who came to rescue him. Not to mention Liu Kun; Zhao Hanzhang didn’t even charge into battle. Tuoba Yilu led the Xianbei army and defeated their 50,000 soldiers, seized horses, provisions, and weapons, and intended to kill all in the camp, only to be stopped by Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang placed all surrendered soldiers into the prisoner camp.

Tuoba Yilu frowned, "Third sister, we already lack provisions. Taking so many prisoners, won’t they compete with our soldiers for food?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled, "These prisoners can serve as labor, and we just captured their provisions. We only need to expend a little, not letting them starve, then we gain labor, why not?"

Tuoba Yilu said, "Managing these people is too difficult. If managed poorly, they will cause chaos in the military, and managing them well requires a lot of talents."

Tuoba Yilu’s army didn’t have many such talents.

But Zhao Hanzhang did; she smiled, "Leave this matter to me. I will not let elder brother worry."

After saying this, she sent Fu Tinghan to take over the prisoner camp.

In the Zhao Family Army, there are strict rules: one centurion for ten people, ten centurions for one squad, ten squads for one camp...

And each centurion has a primary and secondary centurion, veterans leading new recruits. Soldiers in the army, from generals to soldiers, must learn recognition of characters and arithmetic, of course. However, the level varies, and what needs to be learned also varies.

Military tactics and similar subjects are only studied by colonels, assistant generals, and above, but ordinary soldiers know basic characters and arithmetic.

Moreover, the management regulations of the Zhao Family Army are fixed and stringent. Soldiers have early developed muscular habits; they are accustomed to being managed and naturally know how to manage others.

So the talents Tuoba Yilu referred to can be directly drawn from within the Zhao Family Army.

Though she only had one battalion of Zhao Family Army by her side, with the rest being new recruits, it was enough.

From one centurion, draw a seasoned veteran or secondary centurion to manage nine prisoners, then from one squad, draw a secondary squad leader or experienced centurion to be a squad leader for one squad of prisoners. By this analogy, they only need to draw 111 people to manage 10,000 prisoners.

Get several people from logistics to allocate, and the prisoner camp can be put to use. This was drawn from Fan Ying’s subordinates.

Tuoba Yilu watched her give just one order, and then take the booklet Fu Tinghan handed over, marking it here and there. In a short time, Fu Tinghan already had the list to pick people, and less than half a day later, Fu Tinghan had organized the prisoner camp.

The captured assistant generals, colonels, and others came to pay tribute to Zhao Hanzhang, willingly obeying her orders. By their aid, assisting Fu Tinghan, the captured Youzhou Army indeed served Zhao Hanzhang, willingly starving themselves for her labor.

Tuoba Yilu squinted his eyes, his mind stirred restlessly.

He quietly whispered to those close at hand, "Are they so obedient because Zhao Hanzhang is Han, or because she is Zhao Hanzhang?"

Those nearby pondered before saying, "It’s probably the latter; Liu Kun couldn’t quickly subdue so many prisoners."

"Also, she has enough people to manage them."

No matter her prestige, without enough talents to manage those prisoners, just one dissatisfied among them stirring trouble would make it hard for her to subdue them.

Tuoba Yilu said: "That’s what is terrifying. From where does she get so many capable talents and also loyal to her and her cause?"