Chapter 44: Ambition Grows! For the Future!!

After Zhang Han withdrew.

Zhao Feng impatiently opened the treasure chest rewarded for breaking seven hundred in all attributes.

"Opening Tier 1 treasure chest."

"Obtained [500 Taels of Gold]." A prompt appeared on the panel.

"In total, I have five thousand taels of gold in my storage space now. I can't even use this on the battlefield."

Seeing that he had drawn gold again, Zhao Feng felt no particular joy. For his current self, this gold was something to look at but impossible to use.

Even if he had the heart to send some to his mother, there was no way to do so.

In this era, transportation was not convenient, and there was no complete postal system.

During wartime!

Even for soldiers in the army, sending a letter home was difficult. For example, sending a letter from Han back to one's hometown would normally take ten days, but with actual transport, it would take at least one or two months.

And sending gold?

If discovered by the military police under the command of the Army Supervisor, it would definitely be considered a crime.

"This gold still needs to be used; otherwise, it's just useless scrap."

"If I can use this gold to cultivate people of my own, I can not only use them to protect my mother and others, but they can also become my future aids."

"The end of the Qin Dynasty will be an era of great contention."

Looking at the gold in his storage space and thinking of future history, an ambition surged in the depths of Zhao Feng's heart.

Even Liu Bang, a mere Sishui Township Head and a rogue, could rise to kingship and hegemony. His current status was many levels higher than Liu Bang's.

Now that he had entered the combat camp, Zhao Feng was confident that with his own strength, he could continue to earn merits and promotions. When the Qin Dynasty truly unified the world, Zhao Feng could not even imagine what position he might hold.

Regardless, Zhao Feng was confident he could reach the pinnacle of officialdom.

By the end of the Qin, if he held military power and cultivated his own confidants while teaching them basic cultivation methods, sweeping across the world would not be a dream.

Even if there was a so-called "Will of Heaven" in the shadows, would Zhao Feng's abilities not be enough to carve out his own territory?

In history, there was a Qin general named Zhao Tuo, who was dispatched by Qin Shi Huang to guard the Baiyue lands. He controlled hundreds of thousands of Qin troops and eventually established the Nanyue Kingdom, surviving even into the Han Dynasty—enduring from the time of Qin Shi Huang through several emperors of the Han.

Endure?

With Zhao Feng's ability to collect lifespan, who could outlast him?

"Are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born to such fates?"

"This sentence is truly an inspiration!"

"I was wrong before. Since I have come to this world and cannot go back, I might as well integrate into it. When the chaotic times truly arrive, if I truly have no power or influence, how can I protect my mother and sister?"

"How can I marry Wang Yan?"

"The unification of Qin and the chaos at the end of the Qin are unavoidable. In that case, I will fight for my future and strive for kingship and hegemony."

At this moment.

Zhao Feng's mindset had completely shifted. Thinking back to his previous desire to return home in two years to avoid the future chaos, he now felt somewhat ridiculous.

...

Time flew by!

More than half a month passed.

Han Capital, not more than five miles outside of Xinzheng!

Over ninety thousand Qin troops had already set up camp, merging their forces into one.

With the unification of the Qin forces, it was also announced that the many Han cities in front of Xinzheng had all been conquered by Great Qin.

Now, the army was at the very gates of the city!

The Main Camp!

Li Teng sat in the position of the commander-in-chief, with over a dozen generals seated to his left and right, including those from the combat camps and the logistics camps.

"The Han Capital is right before our eyes. What do you all have to say?" Li Teng scanned the room and spoke in a deep voice.

"This general is willing to serve as the vanguard to break through the Han Capital!"

All ten Ten-Thousand-Man Commanders of the combat camps stood up, performed the military salute with clasped hands, and loudly requested the command.

Seeing this.

A smile surfaced on Li Teng's face. Then, he picked up a bamboo slip from the table, held it high, and said: "Back in Yangcheng, the Supreme General issued an order commanding me to break through the Han Capital and capture the King of Han within two months."

"Now, in less than half a month, you generals have conquered all the cities surrounding the Han Capital. This shows the morale of you generals and the sharp edge of our Qin elite soldiers."

"There is still a month and a half left before the deadline set by the Supreme General; there is plenty of time."

"However, that is the deadline set by the Supreme General, not the deadline of our army."

"Half a month!"

Li Teng looked up, scanning the generals: "Can you break through the Han Capital within half a month?"

The generals looked at each other, showing no fear, and replied in unison: "This general will give his all!"

Li Teng nodded and then looked toward the logistics generals: "General Song, is the logistics and grain sufficient?"

"Please rest assured, General Li. Grain and supplies are being transported closely; the supply routes are intact, and there will definitely be no delay for the army's use," replied General Song of logistics.

"Are the military armaments and baggage also intact?" Li Teng asked again.

"Reporting to the General."

"Military armaments and baggage are intact, arrows are sufficient, and all types of siege engines have been deployed," another logistics officer replied.

From this, it was clear enough.

Once war was waged, it was not just the strength of the combat camp's elite soldiers, but also the need for logistics—the need for the rear to give its all, where a single movement could move the entire nation.

"Good!"

"Tomorrow, we shall first use three hundred thousand arrows and five thousand stone-throwers to crush the morale of the Han army, then attack with infantry."

"As for the siege vanguard, General Wu Hua shall take the position," Li Teng announced loudly.

In response.

A general immediately stood up, bowed excitedly, and said: "This general will surely break the Han Capital!"

"Very well."

"Go and make your arrangements."

"Tomorrow is the main event."

"If you can complete the Supreme General's order ahead of schedule, you all shall be meritorious officials," Li Teng chuckled and waved his hand.

"Understood."

The generals stood up one after another, bowed deeply, and then withdrew.

As the generals departed.

Li Teng slowly stood up, staring at the Han Capital and Xinzheng on the map before him, his eyes filled with determination: "The battle at Yangcheng almost resulted in a great mistake. Currently, I am still under a cloud of guilt. Only by breaking the Han Capital can I turn my guilt into merit, and perhaps even go a step further to gain higher rank and title."

"If I miss this opportunity, I may never have another chance to lead troops and earn merit again."

After King Zheng of Qin took full power and began ruling personally, there were no shortage of capable ministers and fierce generals being appointed.

The Wang family.

The Meng family.

These two were the heads of the Qin military families, effectively forming a tripod of power. This opportunity to destroy Han was not something everyone could get; it was something Wang Jian had worked hard to secure for Li Teng.

If he were truly stripped of his command, not only would Li Teng be punished, but Wang Jian would also face criticism.

The Military Camp!

Where Zhao Feng's Commandant Camp was located.

Zhao Feng sat around a campfire with the various military lords under his command.

"It is only autumn, yet I didn't expect the nights to be this cold. If it gets even colder when winter arrives in a few months, people will truly freeze to death," Zhang Han remarked while warming his hands by the fire.

Zhao Feng complained inwardly: "There is no global warming in this era; it really is freezing."