Han Ji

Chapter 161 The Yellow Heaven Re-establishes

Chapter 161 The Yellow Heaven Re-establishes itself (Part 2)

Street fighting begins.

Fuxian County was in complete chaos. The defending troops, rebels, and civilians clashed, swords flashing, blood splattering, and cries of agony filling the air. Zhang Ren led his personal guards towards the south gate, but was intercepted halfway by Wu Si and his men.

"General Zhang!" Wu Si grinned. "Surrender, Master Ma said you'll be left with a whole corpse."

Zhang Ren's eyes widened in fury: "Traitor!"

He charged forward with his sword, followed by his personal guards.

Wu Si didn't take the hit head-on, but instead ordered his men to fire arrows. A hail of arrows rained down, and Zhang Ren was hit by three arrows, yet he still managed to cut down two men before finally being pierced through the chest by a spear and falling to the ground.

His eyes were still open, staring at the gray sky.

At noon, Fu County changed hands.

Ma Xiang stood in the county government hall, Zhang Ren's still-warm body at his feet. Wu Si was counting the spoils of war:

Granaries, armories, treasuries...

"Master Ma!" Wu Si exclaimed with delight, "We have 12,000 shi of grain! Over five million coins! Bows, crossbows, swords, and armor—enough to arm three thousand men!"

Ma Xiang nodded.

He walked outside the hall and looked south.

Eighty li away is Luo County.

Xi Jian, you just wait.

He turned to Wu Si and said, "Order the entire army to rest for a day. Tomorrow... attack Luo County."

"yes!"

Wu Si stepped down.

Ma Xiang sat alone in the hall, watching Zhang Ren's body being dragged out, leaving a trail of blood on the ground.

He suddenly remembered Liu Yong's words before he left: "General, do not hesitate, make preparations immediately. When we succeed, we will share the wealth and honor."

Wealth and prosperity... are coming soon.

February 2nd, outside Luoxian County.

The snow has melted, but it's even colder. The wind blows across the Tuo River, damp and biting, whipping up sand from the riverbank that stings the face. The city wall of Luo County is three zhang high, built of blue bricks, with neat crenellations and a majestic arrow tower. It was a well-fortified city, the seat of the prefecture, extensively renovated in the previous dynasty.

But now, the area below the city is a dark mass of people.

Ma Xiang's army had swelled to 15,000 men, and the actual number was likely much higher, as refugees continued to pour in from all directions like locusts. The camp stretched from the riverbank five miles north of the city all the way to the hills to the east, a vast expanse of white tents and thatched huts that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see.

The central command tent was set up in an abandoned local temple in the north of the city. The temple had long since collapsed, leaving only three broken walls. A roof made of stolen door panels and straw mats was erected on top to barely keep out the wind.

Ma Xiang sat on a half-broken altar, with a more detailed map spread out in front of him. It had been seized from the Fuxian County government office and marked the weaknesses of Luoxian's defenses: the west gate was in disrepair and the garrison commander, Wang Shao, was a gambler.

Wu Si stood to the side, rubbing his hands together: "Master Ma, we've found out everything. Wang Shao, the captain of the West Gate squad, is a gambler and has a mountain of debt. He has about a hundred men under him, mostly old and weak. As long as the money is right..."

"Here you go," Ma Xiang interrupted. "How much?"

"The asking price is 200,000 coins."

Ma Xiang pulled a small cloth bag from his pocket and tossed it over: "There are twenty gold ingots inside. Give him half first, and the other half after the deed is done."

Wu Si took it, weighed it in his hand, and grinned, "That's enough! That poor bastard Wang Shao has never seen so much money in his life."

O

"Tell him," Ma Xiang stared at the map, "that at midnight tomorrow, the west gate will open. Our men will infiltrate, seize the gate tower first, and then signal. It will be a coordinated attack from within and without."

"clear!"

Wu Si carefully pocketed the gold ingots and hurriedly left the tent.

Ma Xiang continued to look at the map.

The defenses of Luoxian City were strongest at the North Gate, which had a barbican, a three-story arrow tower, and a thousand soldiers. The South Gate faced the river, with low walls, but government warships patrolled the river. The East Gate was a supply route and heavily guarded. Only the West Gate was remote, and the garrison was lax; the walls had two cracks and collapsed during last year's flood season, and the repairs were haphazard.

This is it.

He looked up and gazed outside the tent.

The sky was overcast; it looked like it was going to snow again.

Fifteen thousand men sounded daunting, but he knew in his heart that less than three thousand were truly capable of fighting. The rest were just there to make up the numbers, starving refugees who would follow him if given a bite to eat. They might be able to fight well when things were going well, but once they suffered a setback, they would crumble instantly.

We must act swiftly and decisively.

Taking Luoxian would bring grain, money, weapons, and the ability to control even more civilians. At that point, the number wouldn't be 15,000; it might be 30,000 or 50,000.

"General of Heaven".

Inside Luoxian County, at the Prefectural Governor's Residence.

Xi Jian hasn't slept well for three days.

His eyes were sunken, his face sallow, and his beard unkempt. His official robes were wrinkled, his belt hung loosely, and his belly seemed to have shrunk overnight. He sat in the main seat in the hall, clutching a scroll of urgent reports in his hand, his fingers trembling violently.

"My lord..." Chen Bo began cautiously, "General Zhang Ren has died in battle, and Fu County has fallen. The rebel vanguard has already reached ten miles north of the city..."

"I know!" Xi Jian roared, his voice hoarse. "Do you need to tell me?!"

Chen Bo shrank back, not daring to utter a sound.

Several subordinates and generals were standing below the hall, all with their heads bowed, not daring to utter a sound.

Xi Jian, panting heavily, threw the urgent report on the ground.

The bamboo slips unfolded, detailing Zhang Ren's death in battle: the south gate fell, street fighting ensued, and he was struck by three arrows and a spear.

0

"Useless!" Xi Jian cursed. "Three thousand county soldiers couldn't even hold Fu County?! Wasn't Zhang Ren supposed to be a fierce general? Huh?!"

No one dared to speak.

Xi Jian slumped in the chair and closed his eyes.

It’s over.

With Fuxian lost, Luoxian's defenses are wide open. That scoundrel Ma Xiang will definitely attack Luoxian next. How many troops are left to defend the city? A thousand county soldiers, plus the private armies of various powerful families, that's about three thousand.

Three thousand to fifteen thousand.

How to defend?

"Chen Bo." He opened his eyes.

"Your humble servant is here."

"What did the powerful figures say?"

Chen Bo smiled wryly: "The Zhang and Li families both said they would send people, but... they want food and money. The Wang family is even more direct, saying they want us to open the armory so they can take the weapons themselves."

"Give them to us!" Xi Jian slammed his fist on the table. "Give them whatever they want! Just hold the city!"

"But my lord," an official couldn't help but say, "once the armory is opened, the powerful and wealthy will have weapons, and..."

"What if what?!" Xi Jian glared at him. "What time is it now? The rebels are right outside the city! Who cares about this now?!"

The subordinates should shut up.

Xi Jian then looked at a general: "Commander Zhao, how is the city's defense?"

Commander Zhao clasped his hands in a fist salute: "The North and East gates have been reinforced, and there are ample logs and stones on hand. Ten warships are patrolling the river near the South gate. Only the West gate..." He paused, "...the West gate wall has cracks, and the garrison...is lax in discipline."

"Change the personnel!" Xi Jian said. "Remove the man and replace him with one of your capable subordinates."

"yes!"

"And another thing," Xi Jian rubbed his temples, "has there been a reply to the letter sent to Liu Bei in Hanzhong?"

"not yet."

"Write again! Urgent!" Xi Jian gritted his teeth. "Just say... say that Yizhou is in imminent danger, and beg him to send reinforcements as soon as possible, out of consideration for our shared Han loyalty! I'll agree to whatever conditions he asks for!"

The subordinates quickly took notes.

Xi Jian waved his hand: "Get to work!"

Everyone left, leaving him alone in the hall.

The fire in the charcoal brazier was almost out, and the room was chilly. Xi Jian got up, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack.

The sky outside was overcast, the streets were deserted, and only the footsteps of the patrolling county soldiers could be heard, orderly but dull.