That night, Zhao Hanzhang launched a night attack on the Shi Army Camp, encountering a counter-ambush. Luckily, there was coordination on the outskirts, as Fu Tinghan commanded two other armies to assault and scatter the enemy forces, preventing them from encircling; they were then attacked separately by the Zhao Family Army until dawn, narrowly claiming victory.
Shi Le fled with over eighteen thousand soldiers; the remaining ten thousand weren’t killed or captured by Zhao Hanzhang. After a night of fierce battle, her best record was three thousand. Most of the others took the opportunity to escape, scattered among the mountains and wilds.
Shi Le was not anxious about his situation, even though he had lost two consecutive battles.
When morale was low, he would brutally kill Jin people to boost morale.
When soldiers dwindled, he would gather scattered generals or directly capture and recruit.
In his worst tis, he was left with only three people; as long as he was alive, he believed he could rise again.
Thus, he feared not failure.
His only fear was the Thunder Shocking Son in the Zhao Family Army’s hands, a true mystical device—when it exploded near his ear, he genuinely felt he was destined to die.
Thus, while Shi Le fled, he arranged for his confidantes to go out. "When the armies clash again, pretend to be captured; Zhao Family Army doesn’t kill prisoners, so watch for the origins of the Thunder Shocking Son."
He said, "I’m not afraid of Liu Cong. Though Zhao Hanzhang is less skilled in martial combat, she gains advantage from timing and resources in their encounters. But I believe the tides won’t always favor her, so we only need to focus on resources."
Saying this, Shi Le gritted his teeth, "Although the Zhao Family Army is elite, they are not as formidable as our Shi Family Army. But due to powerful tools—the newly erged Thunder Shocking Son, their ever-present Zhao’s Spear, Zhao’s Blade, and even their armor being more durable than ours—they have kept us oppressed."
Throughout the years, Shi Le had sent spies to Yu State, but those he could employ were few. Jie people who went were always watched, making it hard to gain Zhao Hanzhang’s trust, leaving them to scout at lower levels.
The information available at lower levels was limited; they only knew Zhao Hanzhang had skilled individuals assisting her in building workshops that produced these items.
Shi Le also had Han people strategists around him, whom he had sent as spies; capable ones initially sent back so information but later disappeared without a trace.
Upon inquiry, it was found they either got caught due to revealing their identity or defected to Zhao Hanzhang, exposing themselves and cutting ties with him;
Those less capable remained at the lower levels, either farming or hauling grain and supplies for Zhao Hanzhang.
They couldn’t even discern the destination of the supplies; they knew nothing of the confidentiality within the workshops.
Otherwise, why would Shi Le find himself in such a passive situation?
Zhao Hanzhang, on the other hand, managed intelligence exceptionally well; Shi Le always sensed she had spies around him, even suspecting her involvent in the recent Imperial Family incident.
Yet it was rely suspicion.
Previously, he hesitated to deploy his most competent confidantes as spies due to the high risk—they could never return.
But the Thunder Shocking Son had frightened him this ti, prompting Shi Le to take risks.
Tasked with crucial responsibilities, Ban Lun, Lu Ming, and Wu Yu felt their lord’s hardships deeply, promising with tearful eyes, "Rest assured, Lord, we will not fail your expectations; we will infiltrate the Zhao Family Army and obtain secrets."
Shi Le added, "Find the skilled individuals around her who created the Thunder Shocking Son. If you can win him over or capture him, that would be best; if not, find ways to kill him."
Lu Ming and the others solemnly responded, "Yes!"
Zhao Hanzhang tallied the prisoners; aside from so recruited to replenish troops, she stripped the rest and gave them permits to seek out Zhao Family Army as captives themselves.
Five hundred-odd prisoners were left with only a shirt and pants, lining up in five teams to receive their two days’ worth of food.
Though for two days, it only ensured they wouldn’t starve for one day and wouldn’t die of hunger for two.
After receiving their food, Zhao Hanzhang handed over captive certificates to the five chosen team leaders, instructing them, "Bring the n back to Zhao Family Army to avoid slave status and be recruited as good n into the military."
Among the five leaders, three were Jie people, solemnly nodding in agreent.
Once Zhao Hanzhang left with the army, they gathered familiar individuals to discuss, "Should we go to Zhao Family Army or seek our lord?"
"How to seek the lord? Zhao Family Army is everywhere, and if we gather, Jie people outnumber Han people; seen by others would arouse suspicion, and Zhao Family Army might co to destroy us; we have no weapons or armor, left defenseless for slaughter."
"Indeed, and the lord’s whereabouts are unknown, separated by Zhao Hanzhang, making him unreachable."
"Should we then defect to Zhao Family Army?"
"Let’s go; we’re following the lord for food, Zhao Hanzhang won’t kill us, won’t let us starve, and hearsay says good treatnt exists within Zhao Family Army; soldiers receive not only food but also pay, and even war slaves can earn their freedom and rit for titles."
"Are you Jie people, dreaming of titles?"
"Why not? Generals Cheng Da and Wei You beside Lord Zhao are Jie people."
"Damn it, last ti at Juye Marsh, encountering Wei You leading as if one of us, tricking us to follow him for ages; that battle cost us over nine hundred lives, lucky if I didn’t lose it there myself."
"In the end, seek the lord or go to Zhao Family Army?"
They decided by a show of hands, obeying the majority.
They hadn’t considered third or fourth options—like returning ho or becoming bandits.
With only a shirt and two days’ worth of food, they were left without anywhere to go.
Especially in tis of war and drought, in scarcity, people eating people, freedom ant death to them.
Thus, limited choices remained; they voted, and Zhao Hanzhang won by an overwhelming margin.
Gazing at one another silently, they mutually lowered their hands.
It wasn’t betrayal of their lord; Zhao Hanzhang ruled over rich Yu State with abundant supplies, reducing the risk of starvation, genuinely caring for the people.
Being prisoners under Zhao Family Army wouldn’t lead to starvation or unwarranted killings.
They weren’t like Zhi Xiong, Tao Bao, Wang Yang, who perversely enjoyed cannibalism.
They were normal people, even if Jiehu, desiring mutton, rice, and normal foods—under the shadow of death, they dared not harm their kind.
Recognizing themselves, they aid to be human, not livestock.
After voting, the five leaders led the group back toward Zhao Family Army Camp.
Zhao Ming checked the certificates and had them registered, drafting their nas before sending them off to work.
Currently, manpower was lacking, extrely limited.
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