Chapter 28: The Plan to Capture Zhang Liang
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Six miles southwest of Qingzhou City, a snow-covered mountain range stretched for hundreds of miles. Among these peaks, two towering summits, each standing four to five hundred meters high, faced each other like the humps of a camel.
This was the well-known Camel Mountain among the people of Qingzhou.
Days of heavy snowfall had blanketed the mountains in thick layers of white, leaving no trace of greenery.
In a secluded part of the mountain forest, a group of ragged individuals huddled around a campfire, seeking warmth.
Their faces were gaunt, their bodies frail—clear signs of prolonged hunger and exposure.
“Father, there’s nothing left to eat in the mountains. If this continues, we’re all going to starve,” a young man, around sixteen or seventeen, grumbled while clutching a bow and arrow.
“Shut up!” barked an older man seated to the east of the fire. He had a long, scruffy beard and a deep scar running across his forehead. “If you hadn’t attacked those government people, would we be hiding up here, too afraid to go down the mountain?”
The young man lowered his head, aggrieved. “I didn’t do it on purpose. The snow was so thick—how was I supposed to know they were officials?”
“You ungrateful brat! Still talking back?” The older man grabbed a wooden staff and raised it, ready to strike. “I never should’ve let you handle a bow! I’ll beat you to death today!”
The young man sprawled onto the ground. “Go ahead, beat me! Either way, we’re all going to starve to death!”
Zhang Liang’s grip tightened around the staff, ready to bring it down, but a few clansmen quickly intervened.