After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 909 - 895: Jinyang

Early the next morning, Zhao Hanzhang and Shi Le took the Vanguard Camp and set out first, with the subordinate officers and deputies leading the main forces, supplies, and other equipment following behind.

In fact, Shi Le intended to foster a relationship with Zhao Hanzhang; otherwise, as a Great General, he should have moved with the main forces.

They traveled lightly, each with dry rations, moving much faster than the main forces. In just three days, they drew near to Jinyang.

The area here was even more desolate, with more skeletal remains left on the road. The further Zhao Hanzhang traveled, the more alarmed she became, and the accompanying officials fell silent.

However, Shi Le and Zhang Bin were long accustomed to such sights. Shi Le even said to Zhao Hanzhang, "Liu Yueshi disregarded status and ethnicity to shelter all the refugees who came to him. I heard of this while in Shangdang, and back then, many Han people sought refuge with him. I was quite envious when I heard about it."

"Youzhou and Bingzhou have both suffered severe droughts, followed by locust plagues. Jinyang is besieged by two armies, yet he has held out till now. Such deaths are to be expected."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded heavily. It was precisely for this reason that she was in such a hurry to reach Jinyang.

Jinyang was in a unique situation. Not only were the Xiongnu attacking it, but Wang Jun also hated Liu Kun and was seizing his territory. To the north of Jinyang lay Dai County of the Tuoba Xianbei.

Thinking of Dai County made Zhao Hanzhang feel a pang in her liver.

Liu Kun and Tuoba Yilu were sworn brothers, and Dai County was given to Tuoba Yilu by Liu Kun. What troubled Zhao Hanzhang was that Dai County belonged to Youzhou, which was under Wang Jun.

This situation was different from when Zhao Hanzhang bestowed Youzhou to Shi Le because Zhao Hanzhang had always been at odds with Wang Jun. He disobeyed the king’s orders and took advantage of the invasion to seize power, so she stripped him of his Inspector position on moral grounds;

Liu Kun... and not to mention, he had no right to give away Dai County of Youzhou, and Wang Jun had even saved his parents, a great debt of gratitude.

Thus, Wang Jun was especially enraged, targeting Liu Kun for years.

Needless to say, Liu Kun had made a grave strategic error. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Moreover, it seemed he was losing control over the Tuoba Xianbei army, or else Zhao Hanzhang wouldn’t have recently received news of their movements.

As they neared Jinyang, a sense of bleak desolation pervaded. The scout returned and reported: "About twenty thousand Xiongnu are stationed outside the East City Gate, and nearly ten thousand refugees linger beneath the city walls."

Zhao Hanzhang was surprised, "How can refugees gather here and not disperse when this is a battlefield?"

After a pause, the scout said, "They are all refugees, apparently wandering for a considerable time. Reaching here is their limit. They gather outside the city walls, near the South City Gate, pleading with Governor Liu to open the gates. From my observation in the shadows, in just a moment, there was someone who starved to death."

They have reached a point where they cannot move any further, even if they wanted to. Jinyang is their only hope now.

Zhao Hanzhang’s face showed sorrow, gripping the reins tightly, and she asked those around her, "How many more days until the main army arrives?"

Fu Tinghan, after calculating in his head, said, "At the fastest, it will take another three days. Their marching speed is not as fast as ours."

Zhao Hanzhang asked, "What if they abandon their supplies?"

"This is their speed after abandoning the supplies."

After contemplating for a moment, Zhao Hanzhang said, "Order them to set aside their supplies and bring only three days’ worth of food, then march quickly."

Her eyes showed nothing but cold resolve, "Within three days, expel the Xiongnu and open the gates of Jinyang."

"Yes!" The orderly received the command and departed, while Zhao Hanzhang and her companions found a place to camp temporarily, mulling over the scout’s report, "There are also Xiongnu soldiers lingering near the southern suburbs. Clearly, they intend to have the refugees lead to the gates opening, allowing them to rush in."

This is why the Xiongnu neither disperse nor kill these refugees, waiting to see if those within the city can endure the pleas of the masses outside, refusing to open the gates.

"We have five thousand in the Vanguard Army, plus my one thousand trusted aides. Perhaps we can temporarily open the South City Gate."

Shi Le was not very agreeable to taking this risk, saying, "With so many starving refugees, moving slowly, how long would it take to get them all inside?"

He continued, "Once the gates open, they can’t be closed until everyone is inside."

The surge of refugees could be more fearsome than a chaotic army, impossible to stop.

Zhao Hanzhang lightly tapped the map she had just drawn, pondering, "I can hold them off for two hours."

Shi Le still shook his head, "Two hours is not enough time for the refugees to get into the city."

Even Fu Tinghan said, "The refugees are uncontrollable."

Zhao Hanzhang then snuffed out the small flame of hope in her heart and said solemnly, "Try to contact those inside the city and have the army speed up."

Everyone agreed.

As the others left, Zhao Hanzhang remained crouched over the map, unmoving. Fu Tinghan, beside her, seeing her gaze fixed, asked, "Still unwilling to let go?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "Many renowned generals in history managed to fight against ten thousand with a thousand men. I wonder, if they were here, how would they fight this battle?"

Fu Tinghan said, "It’s not quite the same. They focused on attacking, just killing and breaking through. You aim to protect the refugees."

Zhao Hanzhang then asked with resolve, "What if I don’t consider the refugees? And focus solely on attacking and killing the enemy?"

Fu Tinghan looked at her with surprise.

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes showed no emotion, only coldness, "The casualties indirectly caused by me on the battlefield might not be as many as those starving to death over the next three days. The difference is merely that the former are my responsibility."

And at this moment, she could harden her heart and disregard such responsibilities.

Fu Tinghan did not say whether this was right or wrong. After contemplating with downcast eyes, he said, "Consider going to see how the refugees are doing before making a decision. Perhaps they can endure for three days; the situation might not be as bad as you think?"

Zhao Hanzhang thought he was right; without investigation, there was no right to speak.

So that night, she changed into a set of refugee clothes, took along a dozen trusted aides disguised as refugees, and headed out. At the camp’s gate, she found Shi Le, Ming Yu, and Zhang Bin waiting. To Zhao Hanzhang’s surprise, Fu Tinghan was also there.

She looked at them speechlessly, finally turning to Fu Tinghan, "It’s understandable for them to go, but what are you doing here?"

Fu Tinghan: "To help you calculate."

Zhao Hanzhang then took them along. With nearly twenty people, their group wasn’t conspicuous among the refugees, but each of them was tall and strong, walking with purpose, which made them stand out.

Yet no one dared to provoke them.

Everyone watched them silently as they walked by. At a time like this, who would dare to mess with those who still had the strength to eat their fill?

Zhao Hanzhang intended to gauge the state of the refugees, and it would be even better to get information on the Xiongnu, but she didn’t approach the center of the refugee group and just walked around the outskirts.

Groups of refugees gathered in some places, sitting or lying against the walls, most crowding outside the South City Gate, occasionally knocking on the gate, hoping for a chance to enter the city.

A few dispersed within a mile of the city gate, stretching from the south to near the East City, not daring to get too close to the East City Gate, but also hoping that if the Xiongnu entered, they could rush in as well.

They were close to death, tormented by hunger, wishing for a final meal even if it meant dying afterward. Some, when they couldn’t bear the hunger anymore, would charge the Xiongnu, finding it better to be cut down by them than to starve slowly.

The more Zhao Hanzhang walked, the colder her heart became, and her resolve grew ever firmer.