Early the next morning, Zhao Hanzhang and Shi Lei led the vanguard battalion and departed first. The subordinate officials, deputy generals, and others followed with the main army, grain, and supplies a step behind.
Actually, if Shi Lei hadn’t wanted to cultivate his relationship with Zhao Hanzhang, as commanding general he should have traveled with the main army.
They traveled light, each person carrying dry rations. Their movement speed was much faster than the main army. In just three days, they neared Jinyang.
This area was even more desolate. The bones left on the road were more numerous. The more Zhao Hanzhang traveled, the heavier her heart became. The accompanying officials also fell silent.
But Shi Lei and Zhang Bin had long grown accustomed to such scenes. Shi Lei even told Zhao Hanzhang, “Liu Yueshi doesn’t discriminate by rank or ethnicity, sheltering all refugees who seek him out. When I was in Shangdang, I heard about it. At that time, many Han people from Shangdang went to seek refuge with him. I was quite jealous.”
“Youzhou and Bingzhou suffered great drought and locust plague. Jinyang was besieged by two armies. That he’s held out until now shows his ability. These deaths are normal.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded heavily. Precisely because of this, she was so anxious to reach Jinyang.
Jinyang’s situation was special. Not only were the Xiongnu attacking Jinyang, but Wang Jun harbored hatred for Liu Kun, so he was also seizing Liu Kun’s territory. And to the north of Jinyang was the Tuoba Xianbei’s Dai Jun.
Thinking of Dai Jun, Zhao Hanzhang felt a pang in her liver.
Liu Kun and Tuoba Yilu were sworn brothers. Dai Jun was territory Liu Kun had granted to Tuoba Yilu. What made Zhao Hanzhang’s liver hurt was that Dai Jun belonged to Youzhou, and Youzhou belonged to Wang Jun.
This was different from Zhao Hanzhang granting Youzhou to Shi Lei. Because from start to finish, Zhao Hanzhang and Wang Jun had been in conflict. He disobeyed royal commands and took advantage during external invasion, so her stripping him of his inspector position occupied the moral high ground.
Liu Kun… setting aside that he had no authority to give away Youzhou’s Dai Jun to others, Wang Jun had shown him kindness—the great kindness of rescuing his parents.
So Wang Jun was especially furious and had targeted Liu Kun for years.
It must be said, Liu Kun had made a terrible move.
Moreover, it appeared he could no longer control the Tuoba Xianbei. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have recently received news of Tuoba Xianbei making unusual moves.
When they neared Jinyang, they felt the atmosphere of slaughter and desolation. Scouts returned to report: “Approximately twenty thousand Xiongnu are camped outside the east city gate. Below the city walls, nearly ten thousand refugees remain.”
Zhao Hanzhang was surprised. “With the battlefield here, why would refugees gather and not disperse?”
The scout paused before saying, “They’re all refugees. From their appearance, they’ve wandered for quite some time. Reaching here is their limit. They’ve surrounded the city walls near the south gate, all begging Inspector Liu to open the gates. Your subordinate hid in the shadows and watched. In just moments, one person starved to death.”
They could no longer move. Even wanting to leave, they couldn’t. Jinyang was their only hope.
Zhao Hanzhang’s face showed grief. She gripped her reins tightly and asked those beside her, “How many more days until the main army arrives?”
After calculating, Fu Tinghan said, “At fastest, three more days. They’re different from us—their marching speed isn’t that fast.”
Zhao Hanzhang: “What if we abandon the supplies?”
“This already is the speed without supplies.”
Zhao Hanzhang pondered briefly before saying, “Order them to leave the supplies behind and bring only three days’ rations, advancing at forced march.”
Her eyes held only coldness. “Within three days, drive out the Xiongnu and have Jinyang open its gates.”
“Yes, sir!” The messenger received the order and left. Zhao Hanzhang and her group found a place to temporarily camp, then studied the intelligence the scouts had gathered. “There are also Xiongnu soldiers wandering near the southern suburbs. Clearly they want the refugees to draw open the city gates so they can rush in.”
This was also why the Xiongnu weren’t driving away or killing these refugees—they were waiting to see if the people inside the city could withstand the pleas of ten thousand people outside and keep the gates closed indefinitely.
“We have five thousand vanguard troops plus my one thousand personal guards. Perhaps we can temporarily open the south gate.”
Shi Lei didn’t quite approve of this risk. “With so many refugees, starving and weak, their movement speed is slow. How long would it take for them all to enter?”
He said, “Once this city gate opens, if the people don’t all get inside, it can’t be closed.”
The surging refugees were more terrifying than chaotic troops—unstoppable.
Zhao Hanzhang’s finger tapped lightly on the newly drawn map as she pondered. “I can hold them off for two hours.”
Shi Lei still shook his head. “Two hours isn’t enough for the refugees to enter the city.”
Even Fu Tinghan said, “Refugees are uncontrollable.”
Zhao Hanzhang then forcibly extinguished the small flame in her heart and said heavily, “Then do our best to contact those inside the city and have the main army speed up.”
Everyone agreed.
After everyone withdrew, Zhao Hanzhang still crouched before the map, unmoving. Fu Tinghan stayed by her side. Seeing her gaze fixed intently, he asked, “Still haven’t given up?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Throughout history, many famous generals could withstand ten thousand with a thousand. I’m wondering—if they were here, how would they fight this battle?”
Fu Tinghan said, “It’s still different. They focused on attack—just killing, then breaking through. You want to defend, to preserve these refugees.”
Zhao Hanzhang then ruthlessly asked, “What if I don’t consider the refugees? Don’t consider driving back the enemy either, only focus on attack and killing?”
Fu Tinghan looked at her in surprise.
Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes showed not a trace of emotion, only coldness. “Those implicated to die on the battlefield because of me might not outnumber those who’ll die of starvation over these three days. The only difference is that the former would be my karmic burden.”
And at this moment, she could harden her heart enough to disregard this karma.
Fu Tinghan didn’t say this was wrong or right. He lowered his eyes in thought before saying, “Go look at the refugees’ actual situation before deciding. Perhaps they can survive these three days. Maybe the situation isn’t as bad as you think?”
Zhao Hanzhang thought he was right. Without investigation, there’s no right to speak.
So that evening, she changed into refugee clothing and, bringing over a dozen personal guards also dressed as refugees, left. At the camp entrance, she saw Shi Lei, Ming Yu, and Zhang Bin all waiting at the gate. What Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t expected was that Fu Tinghan was also there.
She silently swept her gaze over the group before finally looking at Fu Tinghan. “Why are you going? They’re going anyway.”
Fu Tinghan: “To help you calculate.”
Zhao Hanzhang brought them all along. Nearly twenty people—among the refugee groups, this number counted as a small team and didn’t attract attention. But they were all tall and robust, their steps strong, which was quite conspicuous.
But no one dared offend them.
Everyone quietly watched them pass. At this time, those still able to eat their fill and have strength—who would dare provoke them?
Zhao Hanzhang wanted to investigate the refugees’ situation and, if possible, learn about the Xiongnu’s situation. But she didn’t approach the refugee center, instead only passing by the outer edges.
Some refugees huddled together, sitting or lying against the wall base. Most crowded outside the south gate, occasionally raising hands to knock on the door, hoping those inside would open it and let them in.
A small portion scattered within a li of the city gate, stretching from the south continuously to near the east gate. They didn’t dare get very close to the east gate but also held some hope—once the Xiongnu entered the city, they could rush in too.
They were about to die. Hunger was truly unbearable. Even if it meant dying, they wanted to eat their fill first. Some people, unable to bear the hunger, would charge toward the Xiongnu, pointing at them to be cut down—better than slowly starving to death.
The further Zhao Hanzhang walked, the colder her heart became, and the more resolute that thought in her mind grew.