Chapter 196 Shangdang Taken (2/2)
Wang Kuang and Zhang Yang took 100,000 men back, and Wang Yun took 20,000 to Luo Yang. Currently, Liu Ping had 130,000 soldiers with his main army.
”Move out! We want to reach Jinyang in a week! If I find anyone slacking, I'll execute that bastard's nine generations!”
…
…
October 20th.
Shangdang City.
The massive army of Liu Ping left along with all soldiers from nobles and mercenaries, leaving only a thousand garrison militias behind. The city became quiet and tranquil after the army left as it was winter, and most farmers did not have a side-job. The unemployment issues were common in this era.
Unlike the usual military mobilization where Governors usually conscripted peasants to save budgets and military funds, all nobles and Zhang Yang took their private soldiers away with them.
Because of Liu Ping and his crusade, these nobles seized this chance to contribute to the Han Court in this war to gain achievements and promotions. Therefore, they did not like the idea of having peasants in this royal armies, so they did not conscript the militias.
As a result, unemployed farmers and peasants roamed the streets, begging for food. A few lucky peasants managed to store food for the winter. They shut themselves in their home, waiting for the winter to pass.
Everything changed today.
…
An army of ten thousand men with the flags of ”Wang” approached the Shangdang from the south of the city. All thousand militias were panicked as they thought they were attacked, and most civil officials ran back to their residents, getting ready to evacuate from the city.
A lone rider rushed from the army while he was waving his white flags.
”Who goes there!? Identify yourself!” The guard captain on the wall shouted.
”Zhang He of Henei! We're the logistic troops from Henei City. We're delivering our food to the Imperial Army on the frontline, but we wish to rest in this city before we continue our journey. Please let us enter!”
”Why haven't I heard about this schedule? Let me see your command token!”
”Is this the one?” Zhang He flashed an engraved token which he stole from Henei government hall. He tossed it to the guard captain on top of the wall.
The guard caught it and examined the token. A dozen brave officials were also there to see the situation and helped the guards checking the token authenticity.
”Yeah, good work! Open the gate!” An official confirmed the token.
The gate opened slowly, but the guards still wield their bows and arrows, getting ready to shoot if necessary.
”Thank you, sir! We shall enter the city peacefully. Please don't shoot at us!” Zhang He shouted at them which made the militia guards taken aback.
”They're probably legit. Look at his manner.” The guards gossiped while they were watching the incoming army.
Everything was good as they had expected. The ten thousand men did not show a sign of aggression as they marched into the city peacefully. In addition, they brought supplies, coins, and gold along with them.
The guards on the wall let their guard down as they thought Zhang He and his men were the supply convoys which were parts of Wang Kuang's men.
Zhang He and Ju Shou led this army into the inner city without anyone stopping them.
While they were passing through the city, the soldiers of Zhang He gave food to the beggars and smiled at the citizens, giving them a good impression. The peasants who saw the military parade and their deeds praised them.
The townspeople gazed at these soldiers in admiration. A few scholars and literate merchants looked at the flags of this army to see who the leader was.
Instead of seeing ”Wang” character on the flags, they saw the yellow flags of ”Zhang” and ”Ju.”
The guard captains who protected the gate were confused. When they saw this army approaching, the flags were ”Wang.” However, once they got inside, the flags changed to ”Zhang” and ”Ju.”
Although it was unusual and they felt something was wrong, they did not stop or resist this army since they had not drawn their weapons or shown a sign of aggression. They were merely conscripted militias who accepted this job to leech the government's salary, so they did not care about the politics or who would be their new lord.
”The city is probably taken. But who cares, right?”
”They didn't kill us. That's a good point.”
”Yup, I don't think they are bad guys. Just leave this headache to the higher up.”
”Yup, yup!”
On the other hand, the officials on the wall sweat bullets as they realized that they had been tricked.
”C-Can you fight them.” An official nervously asked the gate captain.
”Nope. We have a thousand men while they have more. Do you think we're stupid? We won't suicide for you lots! Go deal with it yourself.”
”B-Bastard! You're fired! All of you are fired! Guards arrest him! Wait, arrest yourselves, all of you!”
The guards were stunned for a moment before they snickered.
”What are you laughing at!?”
”We're laughing at you. You're the one who's fired, idiot!”
The guards proceeded to behead all officials on the wall and hid their corpses to conceal their crimes.