Late Ming Dynasty: Starting with the overthrow of the county magistrate, a rebellion was launched to

The situation hadn't deteriorated to the point where Zhang Da would have to emulate Lan Yu and tie himself to a pillar day and night to supervise the defense of the city. So, after comforting the soldiers on the city walls and arranging for the new garrison, Zhang Da returned to his office in the county government.

Because of the war, Zhang Da brought his father-in-law and fiancée to the county town, while Zhou Nianhui, under the guise of "doing her part to defend the city," came to Zhang Da's inner chamber...

The course of Heaven is constant; it does not exist for Yao nor perish for Jie.

On the second day in Shaoyang County, just as dawn broke, the morning light streamed through the windows of the county government office, casting a few soft, pale golden rays, completely unaffected by the carnage of the previous day.

Zhou Nianhui and Zhang Dasong woke up at the same time.

She adjusted her cloth skirt, her fingertips lightly tracing the shallow wound on Zhang Da's shoulder from yesterday's defense of the city.

"You arrived so recklessly yesterday, I didn't even have a chance to ask you if the city's defenses were secure."

Zhang Da reached out and took her slightly cool hand, kissing and sucking it with satisfaction. "It's alright," Zhang Da said, his eyes showing some fatigue but unable to hide his determination. "The battlements of the East Gate were repaired with bricks and stones overnight, three large pots of hot oil were boiled, and the rolling stones were piled up high enough..."

At this rate of fighting, Shaoyang County can probably hold out for a few more days.

Let's see if we can make them back down.

Zhou Nianhui was very happy to hear this, so she began to help Zhang Da change his clothes. However, the official robes were a bit difficult to put on, and since Zhang Da was quite tall, Zhou Nianhui had to stand on tiptoe and carefully put them on his shoulders.

A faint scent of soapberry wafted from her hair, mingling with the natural herbal fragrance emanating from her, swirling and lingering in the small space. Just then, Zhou Nianhui's fingers inadvertently brushed against his waist and abdomen, causing Zhang Da to stiffen, and his righteous indignation seemed to surge up again.

"Sigh, I wonder how my acquaintances in the countryside are doing," Zhou Nianhui said, frowning as she straightened his clothes. "They absolutely refuse to come to the county. I hope they won't be bullied by those soldiers this time."

Zhang Da raised his hand and patted her back, his palm resting on her slender spine to comfort her.

"Don't worry, as long as they can't take this place, the government troops won't dare to be too arrogant."

Before the officials and soldiers took over Shaoyang County, Zhang Da had already moved the landlords, gentry, their families, and land into the city.

Since officials are less powerful than bandits, they naturally agreed without hesitation, knowing they could always claim they were forced into it later.

As he spoke, his gaze unconsciously fell on Zhou Nianhui's pert buttocks.

Zhou Nianhui was still wearing a loose-fitting cloth skirt today, but since she was in private, she wore something more breathable. Sometimes, when the morning light shone on her, the hazy details would appear, making her extremely alluring.

Sometimes when you bend over and kneel, the fabric clings to your body, outlining a rounded curve and creating a full, tight feel.

Taking advantage of Zhou Nianhui's bent-over moment, Zhang Da had a sudden inspiration and did what every man would do—he raised his hand and gently patted her buttocks.

It has a thick and elastic feel.

Zhou Nianhui blushed, glared at him, and scolded, "This is broad daylight! You're so unseemly!"

After saying that, she hurriedly straightened the area of ​​her clothes that had just been photographed, but then suddenly remembered something and changed the subject, "What exactly do you plan to do with that little bitch from the Wu family?"

Zhou Nianhui's sudden mention of this caught Zhang Da off guard.

Zhang Da hesitated for a moment, then stopped what he was doing, his tone becoming somewhat flatter.

"If the city falls, kill her; if we win, release her." He looked at Zhou Nianhui, somewhat guilty. "Then we'll send her to the governor of Huguang to show our stance. I refuse to believe the court can't tolerate me."

Zhou Nianhui rolled her eyes and pursed her lips, clearly finding his words hypocritical, but she didn't say anything more.

At least I won't have to see that vixen again in the future.

Zhang Da felt he had passed the test and immediately beamed with joy. He then moved closer and began to grope Zhou Nianhui, even gradually lifting her skirt...

Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly intimate, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door, followed by Zhou Wenqu's shouts.

"Brother! It's urgent! Come out quickly!"

Sigh, I should have gotten up earlier to do it.

Zhang Da stood up helplessly, Zhou Nianhui smiled and pushed him out.

"Go on, business is important. I'll have dinner ready for you when you get back."

Zhang Da strode out of the inner room, where he saw Zhou Wenqu rushing forward excitedly.

"Brother! Wang Tui has come to report!"

Wang Tui was not involved in the defense of the city. He had been assigned to reconnaissance and scout work in the main hall, specifically leading twenty scouts, divided into several pairs, to set up hidden observation posts outside the city to observe the movements of the government troops. The letter that arrived now must mean that he had made some discovery.

Zhang Da quickly stepped forward, opened the letter, and read that the government troops had indeed sent several hundred men to the surrounding villages to conscript men and requisition grain last night, but they hadn't captured many able-bodied men or found much grain.

Left with no other option, the government troops could only impatiently urge their own supply convoys.

This allowed Wang Tui's men, who were secretly following them, to discover the most important thing—the government army's granary!

The government troops' supply scouts traveled all the way to the Dragon King Temple, fifteen miles south of the city!

Experience showed that the government troops had stored all their provisions there, and only one hundred guards were assigned to watch over them, and they were even garrison soldiers!

Zhang Dayue became increasingly excited as he watched, and finally his eyes widened suddenly, a glint of light flashing in them, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

"Okay! Okay! Okay!"

He paced back and forth, his voice trembling with excitement, "Grain delivered right to our doorstep! How can we not seize this grain route!"

"Whom does the eldest son plan to send to raid that granary?"

At this moment, Zhou Wenqu had some doubts, so he asked...

Zhang Wen is in charge of the entire army and needs to be stationed to direct operations; Li Er is guarding the East Gate and cannot leave for even a moment; Sun Min is only in charge of logistics and supplies and is not good at attacking strongholds... The other three gate guards cannot leave their posts either, right?

Several candidates were either assigned to guard key positions and could not be easily moved, or lacked the combat strength to launch a surprise attack; for a time, no suitable candidate could be found.

"Oh my god..."

"No! Brother, you absolutely mustn't!"

Before Zhang Da could finish speaking, Zhou Wenqu rejected the proposal outright.

"Dalang is the backbone of the entire army. The people of Shaoyang and all the brothers look up to you. Now that we are facing a formidable enemy, how can you personally risk going out of the city to seize grain? If you fail, the morale of the army will collapse instantly, and the city will surely fall!"

Besides, the Dragon King Temple is only a few miles from the main camp of the government army. What if Da Lang is caught beforehand? Reinforcements will arrive in half an hour. Moreover, you led the elite troops out of the city, leaving the city's defenses weak. If Huang Chaoxuan takes the opportunity to attack, how can we resist? Da Lang, the risk is too great, it's not worth it."

Zhou Wenqu rattled off a long string of reasons, and under normal circumstances, Zhang Da's resolve would have been drowned out by his spittle.

But this time was different; he had a reason he couldn't not go:

Zhang Da wanted power and wanted to firmly control the narrative in Shaoyang County.

Unfortunately, he lacked the legal consciousness of Emperor Chongzhen, and unlike Chongzhen, he could not remain the ruler of the land despite numerous defeats, with everyone kneeling before him and addressing him as Emperor.

If Zhang Da cannot make some outstanding contributions at this time, he may be replaced in the future...

"Instead of betting that the government troops will retreat, let's take a big gamble... Little Zhuge, my mind is made up, don't mention it again!"