Chapter 360 - 354: Apocalypse
As soon as Liu Yuan issued the order to collect grain, all areas outside the defense line in Yu State suffered, and even the people beyond Yu State in Yan State and Si Province were deeply affected.
The generals of the Xiongnu Khanate each sent expeditions to plunder food and belongings from the civilians. As a result, many small Wu Castles were breached, and the inhabitants inside and outside the castles were robbed, some were directly killed, while others were pushed to the front lines to serve as shields before the Xiongnu.
The troops led by Wang Mi were the most brutal among them. He is now supporting Liu Cong, and his army is stationed near Liu Cong. The villages and towns around Chen County have been plundered layer by layer by him.
Previously, Zhao Hanzhang ordered a scorched-earth strategy, forcing many civilians to relocate into the cities, while others chose to rely on nearby Wu Castles.
The Wu Castle Master adhered to Zhao Hanzhang’s orders, continually dispatching people to fortify the castle structure. Liu Cong sent people twice to requisition grain but failed to harm their foundations.
But this time, when Wang Mi sent forces to requisition grain, he directly led troops to break through these castles, emptied them of their valuables, and slaughtered as many as he could, pushing those he spared to the outskirts of Chen County, using them as human shields before launching an attack on Chen County.
The entire region within and outside Yu State resounded with cries of despair, and Chen County continually received letters pleading for help from various Wu Castle Masters. Zhao Kuan, as he read these distress calls, seemed to see the future of the Zhao Family. He ordered someone to inform Zhao Hanzhang of the situation while trying to rescue as many civilians as possible, bringing them back to Chen County.
Zhao Hanzhang, upon receiving this information, closed her eyes tightly, and when she opened them again, she coldly declared, "We shall go to Guan City!"
Zhao Hanzhang went to bid farewell to Gou Xi, as they had already agreed on a battle plan, demarcating the areas and times for their counterattack.
Zhao Hanzhang said to Gou Xi, "The General’s achievements are as dazzling as stars, bound to be remembered for eternity. I will wait in Yu State for your triumphant news."
Gou Xi slightly curled his lips, nodded in acknowledgment.
Zhao Hanzhang respectfully bowed and withdrew, turning with Fu Tinghan to leave.
Yan Heng watched their backs disappear and spoke to Gou Xi, "General, these two are not ordinary talents. Zhao Hanzhang has the makings of a great leader, coupled with Fu Tinghan’s assistance. I fear few in the current world can surpass them."
Yesterday, they talked all day, focusing on strategies against the Xiongnu, witnessing Fu Tinghan’s vast knowledge and keen memory. Even Gou Xi was tempted to poach him.
But he knew that Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan had a deep relationship. He couldn’t win him over, so the best he could do was try to win Zhao Hanzhang over.
However, as for Zhao Hanzhang...
Gou Xi’s gaze was perceptive; he saw clearly that Zhao Hanzhang promised to repay him with the Yu State, but she wasn’t submitting to him. He also discerned Zhao Hanzhang’s pride; winning her over would require some effort.
Still, for now, it doesn’t matter. As long as Prince East Sea can be defeated, that’s enough.
Thinking of Zhao Hanzhang’s promise to him, Gou Xi curled his lips and said, "He Chang is far inferior to Zhao Hanzhang. If he hadn’t wavered so much, how could Yu State face this calamity?"
Yan Heng didn’t speak. If Inspector He hadn’t wavered, Yu State would be free from the Xiongnu disaster, but there would certainly be other troubles, likely even ending when Gou Xi first fought Prince East Sea this year.
Zhao Hanzhang reunited with her troops left outside the city. Gou Xi proved generous, aware that Zhao Hanzhang and her team didn’t have provisions, so he sent them three days’ worth of rations.
She only needed three days’ rations. Being light cavalry, they typically carried two to three days’ worth of dry food.
After a two-day rest, the soldiers’ spirits improved significantly. Horses were fed, and all soldiers mounted their steeds with Zhao Hanzhang.
With a smile on her lips, Zhao Hanzhang informed everyone, "General Gou has agreed to dispatch troops. The calamity in Yu State will soon be resolved. Now, we shall return to Chen County, taking a detour through Guan City this time."
The soldiers didn’t know why they were detouring through Guan City, but it didn’t stop them from following orders, and they responded in unison.
Zhao Hanzhang then led them towards Guan City. They encountered no enemy troops along the way, only villages burned down by the Xiongnu’s grain requisition teams.
The villages lay strewn with corpses, only the cawing of crows could be heard. Villages along the way were eerily quiet. Zhao Hanzhang led her troops through, not pausing, though tears often welled in her eyes. Yet she did not avert her gaze. Instead, stubbornly turned her head to look at the collapsed corpses by the roadside, their faces already unrecognizable, and urged her horse to gallop past them.
Only when they stopped to rest did everyone silently dig a big pit by the roadside, moving the visible corpses there to bury them together.
Fu Tinghan had seen many corpses in various tragic states along the way, now able to remain calm and assist Zhao Hanzhang in placing them into the pit.
He discovered a pair of mother and child among the grass; the child was only about three years old, a large hole in his chest, clinging to his mother, who also bore a similar wound. A spear seemed to have pierced from behind her, injuring both.
Fu Tinghan didn’t separate them, instead gently lifting their emaciated bodies together and placing them atop the pile. Judging the space insufficient, he suggested to the soldiers, "Bury them. If you dig another pit and place them there, they’ll be easily unearthed by wild animals, so make sure it’s deep enough."
The soldiers complied, finding a nearby spot to continue digging.
After Zhao Hanzhang buried the soil back, she sat on the grass, dazed from exhaustion.
Fu Tinghan sat beside her, silently gazing at the two grave pits. "This rivals the oppression by foreign powers and Japanese invasion periods. I understand you somewhat, Hanzhang. We must strive harder. I wish not to see such an end again."
Zhao Hanzhang held back her tears, softly replying, "Alright."
After a brief rest, the army resumed marching, nearing nightfall when Zhao Hanzhang’s troops finally spotted the Xiongnu Army’s campsite.
The scout returned to report, "Camped twenty miles ahead, roughly counted the tents, about five thousand men, seemingly containing numerous Han civilians."
Zhao Hanzhang looked at Fu Tinghan, "Is Guan City still far?"
Fu Tinghan took out a map to show her, "Not far, only eighty miles west. This appears to be just one garrison. Are there any nearby Wu Castles?"
Zhao Hanzhang turned to the scout, who shamefully reported, "No one was found to inquire along the way. We observed that three miles east of the Xiongnu’s camp seems to have remnants of a Wu Castle, but it’s already breached."
It seems the Xiongnu camp contained Han people plundered from Wu Castles and nearby villages.
Everyone awaited Zhao Hanzhang’s decision.
After a moment of silence, Zhao Hanzhang commanded, "Allow the soldiers to rest here, eat and drink to their fill, and wait until nightfall."
Everyone understood, retreating promptly in response.
The team Zhao Hanzhang led had been fighting relentlessly since they set out, never losing. Each soldier was fiercely courageous. Seeing so many corpses and burned villages along the way, their hearts harbored suppressed anger. Hearing the order above, surmising a night raid on the Xiongnu, they all bit into their dry rations fiercely. Holding onto this resentment, determined to vent it thoroughly that night.