Chapter 9: Han's Hidden Hand

Yangcheng has fallen!

The strategic hub of Han has been breached, which also signals that the gateway to the Han capital has been broken.

Han is on the verge of collapse.

"Reporting to General Li."

"The search within the city is complete."

"There was no sign of Bao Yuan; he has already fled Yangcheng."

"This subordinate requests permission to lead troops in pursuit and capture Bao Yuan."

Wang Yan hurried into the command tent and bowed to report to Li Teng.

Hearing this report, Li Teng, seated at the head of the table, glanced at her and addressed the officers in the tent: "Although Yangcheng has fallen, the enemy forces within the region have not been completely eradicated. I give you half a month to sweep away the remnants of the Han army around Yangcheng. After half a month, we march on the Han capital."

"Understood."

The numerous officers responded in unison and then filed out.

Only after they had left did Li Teng look at the fair-skinned young officer before him with a look of helplessness.

"Yan'er."

"I have already arranged for the pursuit of Bao Yuan, so don't go joining in the fun. The battlefield is not a place for playing house; it is fraught with danger."

"I think you should return to the Supreme General's side."

Li Teng felt nothing but helplessness regarding Wang Yan.

As the daughter of the Wang family, born to Wang Jian in his middle age, Wang Yan was naturally doted upon. Born into a family of warriors, she was spirited and yearned for the battlefield.

This time, when attacking Han, she had stubbornly insisted on tagging along.

"General Li."

"This subordinate received the Supreme General's permission to join the army and contribute. Furthermore, I have been personally appointed as a Military Commandant by the King. Until Han is pacified, this subordinate will never leave the battlefield."

"Please assign me military duties, General; this subordinate will certainly execute them." Wang Yan had no intention of leaving and bowed to Li Teng instead.

Seeing Wang Yan like this, Li Teng was truly at a loss.

As the daughter of the Supreme General, he could not treat her harshly, no matter what he did.

Li Teng then turned serious: "Wang Yan, listen to my order."

"There are still Han troops hiding within Yangcheng. I order you to lead your five hundred personal guards, and I grant you the authority to command ten thousand logistics troops to assist you. You must clear out the Han soldiers remaining in Yangcheng."

"Additionally, assist the logistics troops in escorting grain and protecting the supply lines."

Upon hearing this, disappointment flashed in Wang Yan's eyes, but she could only nod: "This subordinate accepts the order."

She then withdrew.

Inside Yangcheng!

The cleanup was still ongoing.

Under the protection of her personal guards, Wang Yan made her way from the city toward the outskirts.

"Where is the commander of the logistics troops?" Wang Yan shouted loudly.

Although it was a female voice, she deliberately tried to project a masculine tone, though it ended up sounding somewhat awkward.

"This subordinate, Chen Lei."

The commander of the logistics troops immediately hurried over.

"How is the cleanup in the city going?" Wang Yan asked directly.

"Reporting to the General."

"The outer city is mostly cleared, but the inner city will still require three days." Chen Lei reported immediately.

Although the young officer before him only wore the armor of a Military Commandant, her personal guards were from the Supreme General's own guard—clearly a direct descendant of the main camp—so Chen Lei dared not offend her.

"Speed up the cleanup."

"Finish it within two days."

"After clearing, disperse and search the civilian houses. You must ensure all enemy troops in the city are eliminated," Wang Yan said in a deep voice.

"Understood."

Chen Lei immediately went to convey the order.

Not far from where Wang Yan stood, Zhao Feng almost cursed out loud upon hearing her command.

"Damn it, is this little lass crazy?"

"A three-day task, and she's cut it down to two? How many attributes am I going to miss out on picking up?"

"This damn woman," Zhao Feng cursed inwardly, feeling extremely annoyed.

Don't underestimate a single day of cleanup; it would allow Zhao Feng to pick up attributes from at least several hundred people.

Standing not far away, Zhao Feng felt like giving the girl a beating.

"No, I have to change my approach."

"Moving corpses is easy, but digging pits to bury them is definitely not that simple. After these two days are up, I'll go to the burial pits to move them; that way I can pick up more attributes." After a moment of thought, Zhao Feng came up with a solution.

No one could stop him from picking up attributes to become stronger.

With this thought, Zhao Feng suppressed his inner frustration and hurried to clean up; every step slower meant missing out on many attributes.

Zhao Feng was counting on this Yangcheng to push his total attributes toward 400 points.

Secure the four, advance to the five.

...

Xinzheng!

The Han Royal Palace!

"How is the war situation?" King An of Han looked at the person before him with a grave expression.

"Yangcheng has been breached," the Han Chancellor, Zhang Ping, said solemnly.

The King of Han's expression changed drastically, and he slumped into his seat.

"Yangcheng has fallen; Xinzheng has no defenses left."

"The capital has fewer than fifty thousand troops; it is impossible to contend with Qin."

"Has the national strength of Qin reached such a level?"

"They have been campaigning against our Great Han for less than a month, and thirty percent of our territory has already fallen," the King of Han said with immense gravity, filled with fear.

"Your Majesty."

"Qin's mobilization this time was extremely swift, giving our Great Han no chance to react. Our envoys have already gone to Zhao and Wei, but even if they were willing to send troops to help, it would be too late."

"Perhaps we can only adopt the strategy discussed with the Supreme General," Zhang Ping said in a low voice.

"Is the foundation of our Great Han, built over nearly two hundred years, truly going to perish?" A look of unwillingness appeared on King An's face.

"Your Majesty."

"Preserving the royal bloodline and the heritage of our Great Han is the fundamental priority. There may yet be a chance for restoration in the future."

"Furthermore, although Yangcheng has fallen, the Supreme General once mentioned a final desperate plan. If it succeeds, it might severely damage the Qin army, gain the assistance of Zhao and Wei, and ultimately save the nation from destruction."

"However, for the sake of our future restoration, we must first send the bloodline away," Zhang Ping bowed respectfully.

"Very well." The King of Han nodded, looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with prayer: "May the heavens protect our Great Han!"

At this moment, he had no other options.

He could only do his best and leave the rest to fate.

Inside Yangcheng.

A day passed quickly.

Night fell.

The city had quieted down.

The Qin army maintained strict discipline and did not disturb the common people in the city, but almost all the citizens hid in their homes, not daring to come out.

However, as Yangcheng had only just been pacified, several thousand elite soldiers from the main camp were patrolling the city, while the logistics troops had left the city to set up camp outside, digging pits and cooking meals.

Inside Yangcheng!

In various alleys.

Suddenly.

Whether it was a signal or something else, many seemingly flat areas of ground suddenly began to shake. Following that, wooden boards were pushed aside, revealing passages leading directly underground.

Not only that, but the doors of various remote civilian houses in the city were suddenly flung wide open.

Soldiers clad in armor rushed out from the houses and from beneath the ground.

Looking at their uniforms, they were not Qin armor, but Han army gear.

"The Supreme General has ordered."

"Show no mercy to any Qin soldiers in the city."

"Retake Yangcheng!"

In various parts of the city, thousands of Han soldiers emerged from the shadows, launching a counterattack.

The Qin soldiers patrolling the city heard the commotion.

"What is that sound?"

"No, enemy attack!"

"There are still Han troops in the city!"

"Quickly report to the General, form ranks and engage the enemy!"

"Hurry, engage the enemy..."