After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 910 - 896: I’m Off-Key

Many refugees have reached their limits, struggling even to move their fingers. As Zhao Hanzhang and her group passed by, they only lifted their eyes feebly to look at them, eyes filled with numbness.

Shi Le had seen many dead people before, but now he couldn’t help but feel shaken, and said in a low voice to Zhao Hanzhang, "They can’t survive."

Zhao Hanzhang remained silent, slowly approaching the city wall, and after a while, she looked towards the direction of the East City Gate, her expression solemn, "Prepare for a surprise attack."

If everyone is going to die, it might as well be for her, as she could save more people.

Just like Zhao Hanzhang, there were others in the city who constantly worried about the refugees outside the city.

Jinyang had been besieged for a long time. Not only was it hard for the refugees outside the city, but the situation inside was also very pressured.

Liu Kun felt distressed and could not sleep for a long time. He went up to the city gate and saw the flickering firelights outside the city, the blurry figures of refugees amidst the firelight, looking like lifeless faces, then looked at the quiet yet persistent Xiongnu on the other side, and the solitary crescent moon hanging in the sky, suddenly feeling a sense of desolation.

He turned his head and asked the people around him, "How’s the soldier’s practice of the Hu Jia song?"

The people beside him respectfully replied, "They’re seventy percent proficient."

Liu Kun said, "Call them up to the city tower."

Zhao Hanzhang was looking toward the eastern direction of the city, discussing quietly with Shi Le about whether to attack tonight after a brief rest or to wait until dawn to kill the enemy. Suddenly, they heard a mournful and distant music start playing.

Zhao Hanzhang paused, lifting her head to look toward the distant city tower.

Shi Le also paused in surprise, "I’ve heard Liu Yueshi’s musical talent is quite high, but to play music at this time..."

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t speak, listening intently, a whistling sound arose, coming from Liu Kun.

He stood on the city tower, raising his head to howl, without lyrics, just a whistling sound, but the tune was sorrowful, very much resembling the Xiongnu’s native sound.

Not just the Xiongnu Clan, the Jie Clan also has such native sounds. Shi Le paused to listen, recalling his mother who wandered outside and his life in the village when he was young. His eyes couldn’t help but fill with tears.

Refugees leaning against the wall raised their heads blankly, looking dazedly toward the direction of the music. If they died at this moment, would they be able to see their family and return to their homeland?

The Xiongnu soldiers holding knives and staring at Jinyang City also couldn’t help but think of their family and homeland. They had been away for a long time and didn’t know how things were at home. They heard that Pingyang City was forced by the Zhao Army, families separated, they wondered if they could still find them...

The siege that couldn’t be broken, the family whose whereabouts were unknown, the perplexing fate and prospect of life and death caused the Xiongnu soldiers’ hearts to tighten.

Some soldiers cried out loud, and after a while, got up quietly, starting to move backward, wanting to return home to find their family, needing to confirm if they were still alive...

Once one person got up, people around him began quietly moving backward with him.

The officers who were wiping tears lowered their heads and reacted, their expressions changing drastically, immediately shouting, "What are you doing, setting up camp at night, do not move recklessly?"

Some people stopped, but others seemed possessed and continued to retreat.

When Liu Sheng, who was leading the troops, saw this, he let out a long sigh and said, "The will to fight is gone, staying here is just sending lives in vain, let everyone retreat, first withdraw twenty miles, wait to restore the morale before returning."

The deputy could only comply, ordering a retreat.

The Xiongnu soldiers retreated to the sound of Liu Kun’s howl and the Hu Jia music.

Zhao Hanzhang snapped out of the music, seeing the Xiongnu Army retreating scatteredly, her eyes shining brightly. She immediately turned to Shi Le and said, "Go gather the troops, you lead three thousand soldiers from twenty miles south to north, I will charge from west to east, and after merging with the center of the Xiongnu, we will fight our way out!"

Shi Le was shocked, "Since they’ve already retreated, why not take the opportunity to bring in the refugees..."

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, "I never place hope on others, especially not on the enemy."

Although historically, Liu Kun’s Hu Jia played to retreat the enemy did occur, what happened afterward, no one knows. If she were the opposing general, she would also pull back temporarily, then use this matter to restore morale. As long as she told them that capturing Jinyang City meant they could bring their family to Jinyang for a reunion, she believed the soldiers would fight desperately.

Therefore, this matter has both advantages and disadvantages. She prefers to keep the initiative in her own hands.

Although Shi Le internally disagreed, after all, they only had five thousand people, five thousand against twenty thousand, the numbers were greatly different, and those were very formidable Xiongnu.

But this was Zhao Hanzhang’s order, his first battle after surrender, he could only comply.

Thus, Shi Le received his orders and left.

Zhao Hanzhang was about to leave when the music on the city tower changed, still distant but with less sadness, more embracing and calling.

Zhao Hanzhang stopped in her tracks, this tune sounded very familiar.

She narrowed her eyes slightly and said softly to Ming Yu, "Mr. Ming, enter the city and have Liu Kun lead troops to support us."

Ming Yu whispered, "The Xiongnu soldiers may not have fully retreated, calling out might attract them. If they launch a surprise attack, wouldn’t that endanger Jinyang?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Then find a way to convey information to the city without alarming them."

Ming Yu:... Where could he find a way out all of a sudden?

"Shoot arrows into the city with information?" Before Zhao Hanzhang could reply, he shook his head, "No, it’s still too much of a motion; Xiongnu are not fools."

Zhao Hanzhang was eager to take Zeng Yue back to rally troops for battle. The more anxious she was, the clearer her mind became. After pausing for a moment, she turned to Fu Tinghan, "This score I sent to Liu Kun, but only the score, no lyrics. If you harmonize outside the city, he’ll surely recognize..."

Zhao Hanzhang paused, then said, "Even if he doesn’t understand, because of your harmony, he’ll regard you as a friend. Given his character, he’ll certainly find a way to send someone to you."

After all, Liu Kun is a music enthusiast.

After speaking, Zhao Hanzhang ran off, leaving her trusted aide with Fu Tinghan.

Fu Tinghan tried to grab her, "But I sing off-key..." Zhao Hanzhang had already disappeared.

Fu Tinghan helplessly watched the direction she disappeared into, could only turn to look at Ming Yu and Zhang Bin.

Ming Yu and Zhang Bin expressed that they couldn’t help; they didn’t know the lyrics.

Fu Tinghan could only clear his throat and, listening to the lingering music on the city tower, tentatively hummed...

He recalled the lyrics, even remembered which lyrics corresponded with the music. He knew what the right tune should be, just... when he hums it, it becomes off-tune.

Ming Yu:...

Zhang Bin bowed his head to hold back laughter, silently retreating two steps, hiding in the shadows so as not to laugh out loud and be resented by Fu Tinghan.

Ming Yu listened through twice, and blocked Fu Tinghan, "Young master, let me."

Ming Yu had a high musical aptitude, although Fu Tinghan sang rather fragmentarily, the music on the city tower was complete, and the lyrics he sang were clear enough to distinguish.

Ming Yu instantly remembered them and compared them to the music, knowing roughly how to sing them. As the music on the city tower dropped, Ming Yu sank his voice followed the music and sang loudly: "Seek the great way to end the war, transcend the myriad things——"