I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 103 The Real Purpose

The fire in Zhongshan was clearly beyond everyone's expectations.

Not only Zhang Zhao, Lu Kang, and the others were stunned in place, but Zu Lang, who was secretly watching the main city of Jinling, also turned around and looked blankly at Zhongshan, which had sheltered them when they arrived, not understanding why a fire had suddenly broken out.

"Hero! What do we do?"

The fire at Zhongshan completely disrupted Zulang's plans and even cut off his escape route!
Zu Lang was able to launch a surprise attack on Liu Miao from the direction of Zhongshan because his mountain tribesmen were able to cross mountains and ridges and could take advantage of the terrain!

Now, the most important thing for Zu Lang is no longer how to capture Liu Miao, but how to bring his troops back to the mountains!

Is it the raging fire of Zhongshan Mountain? Or the tranquil, snow-covered city of Jinling?

Zulang's fingers tightened their grip on the dagger, turning from rosy to pale in an instant.

"Never mind what's behind us! Charge at Jinling City with all our might!"

"Once a wildfire starts, how can it be so easily extinguished? If we cannot obtain Liu Miao today, we will certainly not survive once Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, and the others return!"

Put yourself to death and survive!
Seeing that his escape route was cut off, Zulang simply stopped thinking about it!
Or rather, as long as they can capture Liu Miao, Liu Miao will be their escape route!

"ignition!"

Zu Lang no longer concealed his presence and ordered his soldiers to raise torches, gradually approaching the still unfinished main city of Jinling!
During this time, Zhang Zhao had already mobilized the able-bodied men in the city!
The moment Zhang Zhao saw the fire illuminating Zhongshan, he knew that Liu Miao must have set it on fire.

This fire was telling itself, and also telling the people of Nanjing—

Liu Miao didn't want to escape!
Since we're not going to run away, then let's fight!
The mighty Han will never bow its head!

Even enemies like the Xiongnu couldn't make the Han Dynasty submit, let alone a mere mountain tribe chief!

When Zhang Zhao went to mobilize these able-bodied men who were only responsible for building the city and not for fighting, he had already come up with various reasons.

Should they be coerced with a moral high ground, or tempted by money?

However, Zhang Zhao soon realized that all his reasons were completely useless.

The newly appointed leaders had already organized their young and able-bodied subordinates to stand together, just as they did during their usual labor service.

"We worked so hard to cultivate this land, no one can take it away!"

"That's right! Governor Liu of Yangzhou promised us that those fields belong to us as our own private land, so how can we leave?"

"Spring planting is just around the corner. If I flee now, where will I farm? If I can't farm, where will I get food?"

"They're just bandits! Let's fight them!"

The crowd shouted, "Let's go for it!!!"

It was only at this moment that Zhang Zhao realized the true power of the Three Chiefs System and the Equal Field System!

Although the three chiefs were not soldiers, they were soldiers because they did their daily labor in the same place and had strict hierarchical discipline. To some extent, they were soldiers as long as they picked up weapons!
The equal-field system, by giving benefits to private land, ensured that the people who benefited from the equal-field system would not abandon their land as easily as the previous displaced people!

After all, no matter how much or how good the land was before, it belonged to the government and landlords. What did it have to do with them?
But now, this land truly belongs to them! If they flee again, they'll really lose the land they've worked so hard to get!

In particular, the majority of the population of Nanjing were migrants from the north who had witnessed the misery of famine and knew what it was like to go hungry. Therefore, they were even less willing to accept the prospect of food that they had been so eagerly awaiting!
You're about to plant crops next spring, reap a harvest, accumulate wealth, get married, and continue your family line, but now you're going to ruin all of that?
I fled Hebei, I fled Guanzhong, I fled the Central Plains! But now that I've arrived in Jiangdong and obtained land, I'm never running away again!

Even someone as assertive as Zhang Zhao felt a little intimidated when he saw the anger in the eyes of these strong young men.

"My lord, this is like raising a ferocious tiger!"

Zhang Zhao couldn't even imagine that once the Three Chiefs and Equal Field System were fully implemented, it would mean that any place in Jiangdong could field such a team in the future.

Alternatively, these people could simply be used as soldiers, with no further recruitment of troops. They could serve as soldiers during wartime and as farmers during peacetime, and then be assigned to military garrisons to guard these areas.
The entire population is mobilized for war, and military camps are everywhere...

Zhang Zhao was startled by his own thought, but the most urgent task at hand was to defend against the Yue tribes outside the city, so he immediately forced himself to forget about it and distributed weapons to the people.

The city walls of Jinling were not yet completed, but houses were already taking shape in the city. Zhang Zhao ordered the militia to take up houses by neighborhood leaders, then to take up streets by village leaders, and finally to take up neighborhoods by party leaders, in order to fight against the bandits!
It was at this time that Zhang Zhao discovered that under the Three Chiefs system, even though these people had not received any training, their daily work and labor had already made them disciplined and able to effectively convey his orders, just like ordinary soldiers!
"My lord, my lord, how many more surprises do you have in store for me?"

After discovering the ingenious use of the Three Chiefs system, Zhang Zhao was immediately filled with confidence!

We can win this battle!
……

Zu Lang led his men into the main city of Jinling, but before he could even feel happy, he was horrified by the scene before him!
Han soldiers could be seen everywhere in the densely packed houses!

Once inside, a ring-pommel sword might suddenly appear from any door or window and stab them in the chest or abdomen, severing their tendons!
Not only that, Zulang could also occasionally hear some whooshing sounds in the air!

That kind of force clearly wasn't from a bow and arrow, but from a Han crossbow!

The thought that Han crossbows might be fired from these small rooms at any moment made Zu Lang panic. He kept his eyes on the doors and windows, hesitant to move forward.

"Didn't Liu Miao's army leave? What's going on with these people?"

"Should it be the common people?" "Bullshit! Have you ever seen a common people family with such strict discipline!"

Zulang looked northwards unwillingly.

That place is the Prefectural Governor's Mansion under construction in Jinling, and it is also the place where Liu Miao is in Zu Lang's heart!

As long as we can get to that place and capture Liu Miao, then everyone can survive!

But strangely enough, in this short area of ​​only one or two miles, there is such a great formation!
Those houses were clearly meant to be the homes of ordinary people in the future. On the eaves of some houses, some people had even painted cute little fish that symbolized "abundance year after year"... But in Zulang's eyes, they had become ferocious beasts that were about to devour people, which was terrifying!
"Rush over!"

Zulang gritted his teeth.

"Fortune favors the bold! Liu Miao must be just ahead! As long as we can get through this perilous place, we can capture Liu Miao!"

Rush!
Rush over!
Even if many people die, we have to rush over!

Zu Lang knew that if he didn't charge forward and Zhou Yu blocked him, even more people would die!

"rush!"

At Zulang's command, even those soldiers who were unwilling were swept up and rushed into the impenetrable formation made up of houses!
The Han army was hidden inside the house, where there were walls to block their way, giving them an advantage. They were also able to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out. Even without training, they could still inflict considerable casualties!
Some honest farmers were too afraid to stab people with knives, and these temporary officers, acting as lieutenant colonels, didn't make things difficult for them: "If you don't dare to stab with a knife, then throw stones!"

They wouldn't dare stab someone with a knife, but they'd be quite bold if they were just playfully throwing stones at someone!

In an instant, a large number of stones flew out of the windows of the house and crashed heavily onto the enemy soldiers outside!

The act of throwing stones may seem silly, but the effect is anything but!
Some enemy soldiers had their bones broken and their eyes injured. Some unlucky ones were even hit on the back of the head and fell headfirst, losing all life!

"Heroic!"

Even Zulang's own leaders couldn't stand it anymore.

"Commander! Let's retreat! This isn't fighting a war, it's sending them to their deaths!"

Although Zulang's heart was bleeding, he still gritted his teeth and said, "Hold on! Charge through!"

"As long as we rush over and find Liu Miao, we'll be the ones who win in the end!"

"..."

At this moment, another commotion was heard behind Zulang.

There were so many unexpected events tonight that Zulang had become numb to them, so he didn't pay much attention to them.

He now has only one thought in mind: to capture Liu Miao!
"Commander! Behind us..."

"Don't tell me what's happening back home! I only want Liu Miao right now!"

A scout came to report, but was reprimanded by Zulang.

The scout felt somewhat aggrieved, but still braced himself and reported, "Commander! A troop of soldiers suddenly appeared behind us, and judging from their banners... it seems to be Liu Miao himself!"

"impossible!"

Zulang has completely lost his voice!

The reason he persisted in moving forward, regardless of the cost, even after many people died, was because he firmly believed that Liu Miao was just ahead!
And now you're telling me that Liu Miao appeared behind me?
What is the point of so many deaths now? What is the point of everyone sacrificing themselves one after another?
"It must be one of Liu Miao's officials who flew his flag and pretended he was behind him! That must be it!"

Zulang didn't believe it, and even came up with a reason in an instant.

Tonight has already seen far too many unexpected events!

First, they set fire to Zhongshan Mountain, blocking their own retreat.

Then, out of nowhere, a team appeared and began to ambush them in Jinling City.

When I finally decided to go all in and risk my life to capture Liu Miao in the city, you actually told me that Liu Miao was right outside the city?

Zulang didn't believe it.

In war, there can't be so many unexpected events!

However, a strong sense of unease made him decide to go outside and take a look.

After all, Liu Miao had insulted him in the camp that day, and he would never mistake Liu Miao's appearance! If someone were impersonating him, he would definitely be able to see through it at a glance!
But when Zu Lang came out and saw that it was indeed Liu Miao's face that he found so repulsive, and that even Zhou Tai and Chen Wu, who were by his side, looked exactly the same, his vision went black and his consciousness went blank.

"It really is Liu Miao?"

"Then why did I just... send my men to their deaths within the city? Why?! Why?!"

(End of this chapter)