With Yan Ding’s death, there was no one left in the group with disloyalty. Yuan Li felt the air was much fresher, even though his stomach was still growling, his mood was significantly improved.
With a better mood, he found so ti to concern himself with the situation outside.
Unfortunately, there were few people around. The guards needed to travel quite far to gather so information, and even then, their information was not accurate. So even said that there were extraordinary people in the Zhao Family Army who could summon heavenly thunder to break open city gates, dominating over ten cities consecutively.
Yuan Li sneered upon hearing this. The inspectors fought with real skills, not relying on extraordinary people or heavenly thunder; surely those outside were using the na of immortals to undermine their inspectors’ ability.
However, Yuan Li did not know that this rumor had rapidly spread throughout the Central Plains, even Lan’ya’s King Langya and Wang Dao had heard it.
Contrary to Yuan Li, King Langya believed Zhao Hanzhang’s actions showed an aspiration for the imperial throne.
He anxiously spoke to Wang Dao, "Divine right of kings; Zhao Hanzhang is clearly attempting to use the immortal’s na to show she is the true ruler and virtuous monarch. Now she has control over the Central Plains and occupies Si Province, even the Han Kingdom Emperor died at her hands. If she truly declares herself emperor, no one may be able to stop her."
With the claim of celestial assistance, many might agree to submit.
Honestly, sitting in the north and gazing south, whether calculated by population or geographical advantages, Zhao Hanzhang’s chances of victory surpass his.
Wang Dao said, "If she truly declares herself emperor, I am not worried. The Emperor is still here; if she dares to declare herself emperor, the Alliance Hierarch can issue proclamations in the na of the Imperial Family to eliminate the traitors."
King Langya asked, "Is Mao Hong suggesting this information wasn’t released by her?"
Wang Dao shook his head, "I have always been puzzled by one thing. Pingyang City is fortified and is the capital of the Han Kingdom, with abundant food and well-equipped soldiers, how could Zhao Hanzhang capture Pingyang in three days? Even storming the Pingyang Palace in half a day?"
He said, "If there were no insiders, then she must possess a siege weapon, which might be this heavenly thunder ntioned in the rumors."
King Langya laughed, "I have never heard of such things existing in this world; it is likely a rumor. Could it be that there really are immortals assisting her?"
Wang Dao said quietly, "It may not be immortals, but perhaps truly extraordinary individuals. Four years ago, who would have thought that precious glazed glass could be made in Central Plains workshops, in various forms, and you can buy a bright and clear glazed mirror for fifty cents?"
"And the ironware produced in Yu State, Zhao Family Army’s weapons are unmatched in the world; along with their bookstores and paper mills, not only has paper, even books have been reduced in price these past two years, Zhao Hanzhang certainly has nurous skilled craftsn. It’s not surprising that she has created new siege weapons."
King Langya listened and began to worry, "What should I do then?"
Wang Dao said, "While the bloodlines of Prince Yuzhang and the Imperial Family are unknown in life or death, the Alliance Hierarch ought to extend courtesy to scholars and gather Jiangdong aristocrats’ approval, consolidate the South before her, as long as the Emperor is around, she dares to take a step further, she is a traitor; if not, she can only support the Imperial Family in fighting the Xiongnu, while Prince Yuzhang and others remain missing, Alliance Hierarch, you are the most rightful candidate yourself."
King Langya nodded repeatedly and lowered his voice, "What if she finds Prince Yuzhang?"
Wang Dao also lowered his voice, "I have already dispatched people to search all over, as long as we find them before the Zhao Family does, we need not fear."
"That’s one aspect; we can also arrange other setups," Wang Dao said, "It’s a critical mont now; the Alliance Hierarch can command officials and notables from all over to gather in Jianye and discuss major affairs."
Wang Dao added, "Don’t they want a northern campaign? They must discuss the dispatch of troops, and whether to borrow the path through Yu State when the ti cos?"
King Langya imdiately understood, agreeing repeatedly, and promptly ordered invitations for officials and notables everywhere.
Zhao Ming also heard about the rumor, unlike King Langya, he knew the rumor was true, but it wasn’t because of so immortal, it was Fu Tinghan.
Seeing Qiu Wu carefully escorting sothing into the army, he asked, "Is this what opened Pingyang City’s gate?"
Qiu Wu respectfully replied, "That’s what First Master says. We’ve modified the interior according to First Master’s blueprint, when the ti cos, just light it, and launch it like throwing stones."
Zhao Ming circled it, recalling the mountain-breaking scene he witnessed at the mining site, nodded, "Is Zhao Ju prepared there?"
"Yes, we have sent ten barrels over, the rest are here." Qiu Wu asked, "Should we hand it to General Xun?"
Zhao Ming pondered and shook his head, "There’s no rush; hand it to him during tomorrow’s counterattack."
After a pause, Zhao Ming instructed, "In the anti, guard it well, not leaking a single bit."
Qiu Wu solemnly agreed, "You can trust , my subordinates are exceedingly loyal to the lady."
The Weapons Workshop was particularly essential, Zhao Hanzhang chose the personnel from bonded slaves, their entire families’ lives depended on her.
Zhao Ming turned back to the main tent, followed by Chen Si Niang, unable to refrain from asking, "Prefectural Governor, do you not trust General Xun?"
With ng County fallen and Xiaxi besieged, Zhao Ming urgently commanded counties everywhere to bring troops to assist, particularly the central and western areas of Yu State, which currently weren’t under threat, allowing them to mobilize troops.
Chen Si Niang ca in response to the command, currently under Zhao Ming’s leadership, but military matters still required listening to Xun Xiu.
Zhao Ming glanced at her; because she was saved and employed by Zhao Hanzhang, he trusted her greatly, saying, "It’s not about distrust, rather caution; Xun Xiu is overly arrogant, making uneasy."
The mont for the great counterattack arrived, Zhao Hanzhang gave a command, and the Zhao Family Army began recklessly throwing gunpowder at ng County’s gates.
The first blast echoed, causing the entire city to shake twice, those atop the towers and people within the city went pale, so even loudly shouting, "It’s heavenly thunder, it’s heavenly thunder, Zhao Family Army indeed has immortal aid!"
"Shut up!" shouted Zhi Xiong angrily, "Get the bows and ballistae; where are the ballistae, fire, fire!"
ng County’s gate had been modified by Zhao Hanzhang, with iron plates outside enveloped with wood and more iron, essentially a layer of wood followed by a layer of iron, another wood then another iron layer, totaling twenty-six layers, inclining with chanisms, making it as heavy as heaven and earth, practically unbreakable from the outside, even hard to blow apart.
Two barrels of explosives fired only managed to blast through two or three iron and wooden layers.
Zhao Hanzhang never imagined that one day the gate she specifically had built would withstand her own attack.
Shi Le previously conquered ng County with a very substantial cost, reportedly besieging for a month; if he hadn’t drawn Xun Xiu out by attacking Zhao Ju, this gate could hold for half a year.
Seeing the failure to break open the gate, Fu Tinghan decisively focused on targeting the city tower.
Zhao Hanzhang directed the ladder teams to prepare while at the sa ti, on another side of ng County, Xun Xiu comnced a fierce assault, breaking through the Jiehu defense line, only to be swiftly pushed back again.
This was rely a small town within ng County, yet surprisingly housed so many Han soldiers?
Under Zhao Ming’s watchful gaze, Xun Xiu was sowhat irked, organizing another attack, this ti he bravely led at the forefront.
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