Chapter 196 Shangdang Taken (1/2)
Chapter 196 – Shangdang Taken
October 19th.
The march to Jinyang was slow and arduous. They had to trek through valleys, mountain paths, and forest on the mountains. Moreover, the weather was torturing the soldiers. The cold temperature of 0 degrees Celsius and the raining snow hampered the speed of the march.
Contrary to the freezing weather, forest games that Lu Zhi had tricked Liu Ping could be found as they had proceeded further. Wild wolves and bears roamed around these mountains at this time, searching for preys. This month was like the last chance for these animals to stock up food before December when snowstorm or blizzard was frequent in these areas.
To the wolves, a large army of Liu Ping did not intimidate them. Instead, they saw it as a large pack of preys that could be hunted as food. Several large groups of wolves stalked the trail of the troops, waiting for the stragglers to isolate themselves.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Army utilized Lu Zhi's contribution system. They searched and hunted these animals as their extra food as they marched into the wilderness.
Because of the interest of the Imperial troops and the wild predators, they hunted each other. Small battles broke out everywhere as the soldiers proceed to the north.
In the aftermath, Liu Ping Army prevailed in the fight of the fittest. The inexperienced soldiers had baptism from this fight and gained some insight from it, but a dozen reckless soldiers left their lives here forever as they became the food for the beasts.
However, as Liu Ping had suspected, the natural resources were limited. After four days of marching and hunting, they could not find any wild animal.
”That Lu Zhi really tricked me! I'll fOOking kill his entire family!”
Liu Ping was furious once he heard that they could not find any animal in the surrounding areas. He ignored his bootlickers and galloped his horse back to the caravans where Lu Zhi's family members were imprisoned.
Before he could reach the cages of the hostages, an urgent report came from a panic messenger.
”URGENT REPORT! DONG ZHUO HAS BETRAYED US. HENEI CITY HAS FALLEN! THEY HAD TAKEN THE CITY!!”
”WHAT!?”
Liu Ping paused and glared at the messenger. He jumped down from his horse and grabbed the forehead of the panicked messenger and gave a light squeeze.
”Say that again! What has happened!?”
”Y-Y-Your Majesty! Henei City has fallen! Dong Zhuo colluded with the rebels and attacked Henei City!”
Hearing the sudden shocking news, the brain of the young Emperor stopped processing for a whole minute. He had never expected Dong Zhuo to be this gutsy by betraying him at the first opportunity he had.
'What's the point of rebelling against me right now? His political influence is not even solid. By taking over the Capital, he will suffer backlashes from the people and the nobles … Damn it! I forgot about his character!'
Liu Ping also learned about the historical events in the Three Kingdoms Period, and he was meticulous when he was using Dong Zhuo. He deliberately sent this fat tyrant with the two loyalists of the previous Emperor so that Zhu Jun and Huangfu Song could keep Dong Zhuo in check.
Yet, Dong Zhuo still managed to return and bared fangs at Liu Ping.
Liu Ping let go of the messenger, and ordered him, ”Summon Wang Kuang and Zhang Yang. I have important tasks for them.”
Half hours later after Liu Ping had summoned the men, the two governors showed up before Liu Ping.
”Dong Zhuo has betrayed us and took over Henei City. I think he's trying to isolate us from our supply line from the Capital. I want both of you to dispatch your men and reclaim the city as soon as possible.”
The face of Wang Kuang paled as a white sheet. Henei City was under his jurisdiction. If the city fell into the enemy's hand, his position as the governor of Henei would mean nothing, and his noble status would be only in name.
”I'll take all of my men and reclaim my city at once!” Wang Kuang shouted in a panic.
”I'll also go!” Zhang Yang also followed suit.
Both governors were about back to their army as they planned to take all their men to Henei City, However …
”Hold it!” Liu Ping stopped them.
”Your Majesty?”
”Each of you is only allowed to take a week of provisions from the main support unit! Leave the rest of the food with the main army!”
”Your Majesty, but it takes half a month to go back to Henei …” Wang Kuang protested.
”There are still grains inside Shangdang City and the nearby villages! I don't care how you procure your resources. It's your business, not mine! The food in the main support unit is for the main army!”
The two governors sucked in cold air as they regretted following this tyrant Emperor. Most of Liu Ping's current provision was from theirs, but this young dictator stole it and shamelessly claimed it his own.
Feeling helpless, they bowed down and accepted their short-sighted and returned to their men with a sullen expression of their faces.
Meanwhile, Liu Ping was so infuriated that he forgot about Lu Zhi's matter. He rode toward Wang Yun and ordered him.
”You take a few trustworthy men and a battalion. Go back to Luo Yang and protect the Capital from Dong Zhuo!”
Wang Yun gazed at the Emperor in confusion.
”Dong Zhuo backstabbed us. He sieged Henei city and cut our supply line!” Liu Ping passed over the news.
”Wha-!?”
”You're the only one I can trust right now. I've told those greedy governors to reclaim Henei with their army, but the Capital was still vulnerable to the uprising from the within. I want you to return there and take care of our logistic supply lines.”
Liu Ping passed his Imperial Seal and the royalty's golden sword to Wang Yun.
”From now on, you'll be my representative during the time I'm away. Go and announce to the public that Diao Chan will be the next Empress once she comes of age.”
Hearing he would be the father-in-law for the Emperor, Wang Yun was elated. He bowed and swore that he would meet Liu Ping expectation before he left.