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

"Dalang, you..."

Zhou Wenqu remained adamant in his refusal. His temples throbbed with anxiety, his hands gripping Zhang Da's arm tightly, his voice trembling. "The entire city depends on you! If anything happens to you outside the city, Shaoyang will collapse in an instant! The brothers have risked their lives to defend it until today, you mustn't..."

"My mind is made up, there's no need to persuade me further. After I leave, I will entrust the city's defenses entirely to you. If I don't return, you will be in charge of civil affairs, and Zhang Wen will be in charge of military affairs; the power over Shaoyang will be in your hands."

"Absolutely not!" Zhou Wenqu hurriedly shook his head, his face pale. At this moment, his focus shifted from refusing Zhang Da's request to leave the city to his own "unwillingness" to take on such a great responsibility.

"You're capable. Shaoyang doesn't just belong to me; it belongs to all the people who followed us in our uprising and received their land. If I'm gone, it'll naturally be your turn."

After Zhang Da's repeated persuasion, Zhou Wenqu finally nodded reluctantly.

"That's more like it... This matter is of great importance and cannot be discussed with others casually." Zhang Da lowered his voice, his eyes sharp. "Also, I'll take fewer soldiers. Go and prepare more three-barreled guns, rockets, kerosene, and ignition supplies for me. Also... bring Wang Chengzhu along."

Wang Chengzhu was familiar with the Ming army's rules and regulations, knew the deployment of the grain camps, and was even more knowledgeable about the methods of the government troops' scouts. Moreover, if he were really dead, leaving him in the city might mean he would use sweet words to persuade him to surrender...

Things are accomplished in secrecy, but ruined by leaks.

Zhang Da has decided to launch a night raid on the Dragon King Temple tonight!

After deciding on the plan and the timing, Zhang Da spent the entire day preparing for this matter.

Zhang Da was actively preparing manpower and weapons, including linen soaked in kerosene, rockets, and fire starters—anything that could be set ablaze. Wang Chengzhu, upon learning he was to join the raid on grain supplies outside the city, was terrified, his legs trembling, but he dared not disobey and could only shakily follow along as they packed their belongings.

What's even more bizarre is that the government army camp was unusually quiet for an entire day.

This caused the soldiers in the city to speculate among themselves: Could it be that the government troops only attacked for one day and then withdrew?

Really? If the officers and soldiers are really this incompetent, how can the country still belong to the Zhu family?

In any case, Huang Chaoxuan seemed to be at a loss today, or perhaps secretly accumulating strength. He only sent a few dozen soldiers to harass and shout insults outside the city, and arrows were sporadically shot at the city walls. There was no large-scale attack on the city.

Zhang Da didn't care about any of this; this suited him perfectly!

The elite troops quietly assembled and supplies were secretly transferred, without attracting the attention of the government troops outside the city.

As dusk fell, the setting sun bathed the city walls of Shaoyang in a dark red hue.

Zhang Da had made all the necessary preparations, and before it got completely dark, he wanted to take one last look at Shaoyang City—a final inspection of the city's defenses.

Zhang Da's steps were heavy, and wherever he went, he carried a sadness and depression he didn't usually feel.

On the east gate, Li Er was leading his men to reinforce the battlements. His shoulder wound hadn't healed, and he was still shirtless, sweating profusely. Seeing Zhang Da arrive, he grinned, his voice hoarse.

"Brother, the government troops didn't dare to use force today. Brothers, rest up and come back tomorrow. We'll drive them back just the same!"

Turning to the south gate, Li Dan was watching the scouts to gather intelligence on the government troops' movements when he saw Zhang Da approaching. He quickly stepped forward to report. Zhang Da gave him some brief instructions, then looked at his fellow villager with a resolute face and said softly, "Take good care of the brothers, guard the south gate well, and be careful in everything."

At the west gate, Liu Binghuo led the laborers back from quarrying stones, their heads covered in dust. Zhang Da looked at his tired but determined appearance and said only, "Supplies must not be cut off, and the defensive equipment must be sufficient. Thank you for your hard work."

Finally, he arrived at the county government office and found Zhang Wen, who was in charge of the entire army.

Seeing his elder brother's grave expression, Zhang Wen quickly stepped forward: "Brother, has the government army made any new moves?"

Zhang Da looked at his own brother, who shared the same mother, and dared not say anything in order to maintain morale. He simply offered a few words of comfort and then left.

Finally, Zhang Da wanted to visit Zhou Nianhui again, even though they weren't officially married yet...

Zhang Da thought about it carefully and decided against it; women might be more perceptive and easier to notice.

The sun sank completely, and the night was as dark as ink.

Zhang Da led 150 elite soldiers and arrived at the North Gate silently.

The garrison commander, Sun Liu, had already followed orders and left the city gates slightly ajar, removing all the horse traps and tripwires.

"Brother, be careful in everything," Sun Liu whispered after receiving Zhang Da's plan.

Zhang nodded, said no more, and with a wave of his hand, the elite troops filed out and disappeared into the night.

……

The atmosphere in the government army camp outside Shaoyang was equally oppressive and tense.

When Huang Chaoxuan heard last night that nine out of ten villages around Shaoyang County were empty, with only a few bushels of grain to be found, and that no local militia could be recruited, he panicked.

Actually, taking Shaoyang County would be relatively easy; it would just require either having the patience to hold it for a few months, or risking everything and exhausting all the strength accumulated over the years here...

The court wouldn't give him that much time if he chose the first option, and Huang Chaoxuan didn't want to do the second.

I had no choice but to beg Zhou Fengqi in a humble manner.

After all, as his nominal officer, he could be arrogant towards him, but he couldn't command him.

"I don't care if my credit is stolen, or if Zhang Da will flee because of this. The most important thing now is to take Shaoyang County first!" Helpless, Huang Chaoxuan gritted his teeth, personally laid out paper, ground ink, picked up his pen and wrote a letter requesting help. His tone was extremely humble, with no trace of his former arrogance as a military officer. He told him everything about Shaoyang County, only asking Zhou Fengqi to lead five hundred light cavalry to join forces and do everything possible to break through Shaoyang.

The messenger rode at breakneck speed, rushing to Longshan Pass overnight.

Upon receiving the letter, Zhou Fengqi first launched into a tirade of sarcasm towards the messenger, his words implying that Huang Chaoxuan was an incompetent good-for-nothing who couldn't even handle a peasant rebel.

But after he finished cursing, his face darkened—he and Huang Chaoxuan were bound together by fate, and if Shaoyang failed to fall for a long time, Yang Sichang would hold him accountable, and he wouldn't be able to escape punishment either.

"Gather the troops! Follow me to Huang Chaoxuan's main camp!" Zhou Fengqi mounted his horse and led his personal guards to the government army's main camp overnight.

……

Inside the large tent, the candlelight was bright, and the two occasionally exchanged awkward glances.

"Lord Huang, your continuous attacks on the city have resulted in heavy losses. The fighting strength of the standard battalion has been greatly reduced, and the garrison troops are even more useless." Zhou Fengqi pointed to the city of Shaoyang on the map. "The rebels have concentrated all their forces at the east gate, holding it to the death. They are defending the south and west gates by relying on their natural defenses. Only the north gate is left open, seemingly an ambush, but in reality, it is their only way out, and their forces are the weakest there."

Huang Chaoxuan stepped forward and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes! I saw it too! But the east gate is too tough to break through, and the north and south gates are likely to be tricked, which is why we've been at a stalemate until now."

"Feign an attack on the east gate, but actually attack the north gate!" A ruthless glint flashed in Zhou Fengqi's eyes. "What does my lord think?"

"We will follow General Zhou's arrangements."

Zhou Fengqi pointed heavily to the east and north gates, and solemnly began to deploy his forces.

"Tomorrow night, Your Excellency will lead all the battalion and garrison troops in a grand and fierce attack on the East Gate. Beat drums, shout, and use ladders to launch a strong assault. The more intense the attack, the better. Make sure the rebels think we are going to break through the East Gate with all our might, and draw all their troops to the East Gate city wall."

I then led five hundred light cavalry, taking advantage of the night to circle around to the north gate. Men gagged and horses with their hooves wrapped, we made no sound. When the fighting at the east gate was raging and the rebels had no time to look north, we suddenly launched a fierce attack on the north gate!

"There must be an ambush at the north gate."

Huang Chaoxuan felt a pang of panic. If he lost all five hundred cavalrymen, he might as well give up being a soldier and surrender to Zhang Da.

"It doesn't matter if they exist, just kill them."

Zhou Fengqi said nonchalantly, "If cavalry can't get onto the city walls, how can they not get into the city once the gates are open?"

"How could that traitor Zhang possibly gather so many elite troops at all four gates? As long as I fight quickly and decisively, break through the ambush, cut open the city gates, and head straight for the county government! The main force of the rebels is tied up at the east gate, leaving the city vulnerable. With our combined attack from within and without, we can decide the outcome in one battle!"

Faced with this simple and brutal plan, Huang Chaoxuan was still somewhat flustered, but at this point it seemed there was no better way.

"Sir, when feigning an attack on the east gate, simply use the militia in the front and the standard troops as a rearguard, creating a show of force but avoiding a pointless, desperate assault. This will preserve your strength and pave the way for a swift takeover of the entire county later!"

"Alright then! Let's do as Deputy General Zhou says!"

Huang Chaoxuan was somewhat pleased, completely disregarding the offensive intent in Zhou Fengqi's words.

……

……

At this moment, the candlelight inside the government army's tent was flickering violently.

Zhou Fengqi and Huang Chaoxuan exchanged a glance.

"It's time to go."

Just like that moment, Zhang Dazheng led over a hundred elite soldiers, under the cover of night, rushing towards the government army's granary at Longwang Temple, fifteen miles away...