Chapter 66

"Lord Ming.."

"What should we do now.."

"Send a message quickly and call for reinforcements.."

"Hold your ground.."

"Keep holding on, and we will surely receive aid.."

In the gloomy and somber government office, the flames of the enemy and the various panicked faces around him flickered before his eyes like a carousel, a kind of remorse and regret that eroded his heart like poison. Han Liangchen, ignoring the pain and soreness that seemed to tear his body apart, roared and suddenly sat up. Then he was thrown back down by the restraints. He was startled, had he become a prisoner again? Then he saw the arched stone ceiling and a familiar face.

"You're awake."

I looked at the man, who was covered in ointment and wrapped like a mummy, and said casually.

"It seems you owe me again."

"Great kindness needs no thanks."

"There's no need to be polite, it's just a matter of fate."

Under the Wubridge outside the Jiangning city gate, when I saw Han Liangchen again, he was almost unrecognizable. The gray panda he had borrowed was gone, and he was riding another warhorse, clearly taken from the enemy. Both he and his mount were covered in layers of dried blood and flesh, looking like a blood-soaked monster. It seemed as if he had just unleashed a powerful attack in the enemy ranks, his muscles and veins bulging out of his skin, terrifying to behold. He seemed to have run here with his last bit of consciousness.

Of course, I soon learned the truth from the scattered residents who had fled the city. It was said that in front of the government office, a madman, like a killing demon, had repeatedly slaughtered the surging rebels, but the Ming Gong he respected and loved—Jiangning's military governor Zhou Yi—still died, stabbed by a short knife from the side. The so-called warning and rescue only allowed the remaining forces to hold out a bit longer. Then, with the governor's violent death, everything was destroyed.

So his fierce fighting became a meaningless venting of anger, though he chased the rebel leaders to the point where no one dared to stand against him, and he had cut down several well-known military commanders.

"But still, I owe you for showing me this hiding place."

Who would have thought that a well-preserved black-roofed boat was hidden here, along with stored food and daily necessities. In case of danger, one could row into the reeds, and the supplies on the boat were enough for several people to survive for a while on the water.

"Now can you tell me your story and the details of what happened?"

"It should be so."

He smiled bitterly.

Han Liangchen's official position was the Deputy Commander of the Left Division of the Tiande Army, a relatively important commander in the Jiangning garrison, seemingly at the lower end of the middle ranks. He had previously been a deputy to the chief of the government office, not only leading a unit in the front lines but also frequently entering the inner chambers of the military governor to participate in discussions and provide advice.

He was the type who usually guarded important places, ran errands for superiors, and could communicate directly with the upper echelons. The Tiande Army he belonged to was not an ordinary military unit but a historic and prestigious force with a long history.

The term "army" was widely used in times of chaos, from large military towns with tens of thousands of troops to small bands of dozens or hundreds of bandits, all could call themselves "XX Army."

Therefore, in practice, there were detailed distinctions and conventions. For example, local militias or self-organized armed groups were generally called "righteous armies." Only after gaining recognition from the local government could they be called "local troops" or "righteous brave" of the city or town.

After assisting the official army in combat and receiving commendation, they might be given nominal status, such as "local militia" or "militia," and then further incorporated into the official army or added to the local forces under the command of a military governor, thus entering the ranks of those who received pay and provisions.

However, these local forces, regardless of their size, were generally named after their location, such as "XX Militia," "XX Local Troops," "XX Righteous Brave," "XX Guard." Only the regular troops controlled by the state could be called "XX Army," and they were also named after their location.

Those named with special titles like "Tianxiong," "Xiongwu," and "Wuning" were all prestigious and well-established forces with a long history, or new elite units that inherited the names of famous historical forces.

These special titles also had different ranks, with the most prestigious being the Northern Palace Guard and the Southern Palace Guard. Titles like "Longwu Army" were no longer used, and "Shenwu Army" and "Shence Army" were rarely heard. Titles like "Jinwu," "Qianiu," and "Jiemen" were unique to the two capitals.

Next were the seventeen top-tier military units in the new military system, which, although numbered, each had a unique title granted by the court to show their exclusive honor and grandeur, such as "Taiping Army," "Yongning Army," "Yongxing Army," and "Changning Army."

Then there were the famous frontier military units in history, such as "Zhenwu Army," "Doulu Army," and "Jingbian Army," which generally existed only under specific regions and major towns, many of which evolved into the predecessors of the major strongholds of the various vassal states.

There were also special units with a long history, such as "Pinghai Army," "Fubo Army," "Taohai Army," and "Jinglang Army," which were part of the old naval forces of the court. "Hengshan Army" was a mountain elite unit under the Western Tibetan protectorate of the Qingtang Great Protectorate, and "Duanshui Army" was a cavalry elite unit of the Tangut Eight Tribes.

In the Jiangning garrison, which had several military units, only the Tiande and Qingjiang armies had their own unique titles. The Tiande Army, in particular, was a direct descendant of the famous Western Army, which, after the "Qingxi Northern Expedition," was granted the title and flag by the Emperor Chengguang during the sweeping tide of the "Western Army's Eastern Advance."

"In this situation, I'm not afraid to tell you, this is a conflict between locals and outsiders."

He continued, as if lost in some past memory.

The term "conflict between locals and outsiders" originated in the Eastern Jin Dynasty with the southern migration of the aristocracy, but the conflict he referred to was much more recent, dating back to the era of the "Western Army's Eastern Advance." The so-called "Longwu Old Guard" from the northwest, formed a coalition army that supported Emperor Chengguang in taking control of Luoyang and then continued to advance south, claiming to liberate the south over thousands of miles. They ultimately defeated the Southern Dynasty's forces in key battles such as the Gaoyou battle, driving them to the hot and malarial regions of southern China.

Then, under Emperor Chengguang's mediation and distribution, these Western Armies also divided the rich and fertile lands of southern China and eastern Sichuan, both to rest and to prepare for a potential counterattack by the Southern Dynasty, which had the support of various vassal states.

However, once they settled, the vast majority of the Western Armies, numbering over a hundred thousand, became enchanted by the prosperity and beauty of southern China and were unwilling to return to the harsh and cold northwest. They married and had children locally, continuing to this day.

One of these branches formed the source of the Jiangning Army, but over a hundred years was not enough to bridge the gap between the outsiders and the local residents. To the locals, the descendants of the Western Armies were still considered outsiders, as they maintained certain old customs and traditions that were out of place and monopolized certain powers and benefits.

However, the majority of the population under the Jiangning Army's jurisdiction was still local. Over generations, people with local origins and backgrounds gradually occupied a significant proportion of the military and government positions under the Jiangning Army.

But the upper echelons of power were still mainly controlled by the descendants of the Western Armies. To balance the power, the current military governor, who was the adopted son and son-in-law of the previous governor, though not the most capable, was still a person with ideas and achievements. Internally, he tried to recruit talented people and introduce new blood to balance the internal dynamics. Externally, he shifted the conflict to the Xuanzhou garrison, with whom there were old grievances.

However, one misstep led to his downfall and death, along with over seven hundred people, including his family, relatives, and servants, who were left without a proper burial.

"Wait, your name is Han Shizong?"

I suddenly realized.

"Indeed, Shizong is my real name. I grew up in the military... Lord Ming gave me the name Shizong, meaning to be a leader of the world..."

"When I grew older, he also gave me the courtesy name Liangchen, which I rarely use, so few people know it."

I almost missed something.

Growing up in the military, with rich experience but losing the foundation and loyalty of many years, this is like a wandering general in a strategy game, waiting to be recruited.

"Liangchen, do you have any plans now?"

Though I knew the chances were slim, I couldn't help but ask.

"I misjudged you..."

He looked at me and smiled bitterly.

"I originally wanted to recruit you for my family, but instead, you recruited me..."

"But with such vision and talent, how could you easily serve under someone else..."

He skillfully flattered me while subtly shifting the topic.

"But I still want to try my luck outside the city..."

"Lord Ming has been close to me for many years, there must be some loyal subordinates..."

Though he said this with some uncertainty, it quickly turned into determination.

"Since I still have a body, I want to do something... even if Lord Ming is no longer here..."

"I understand..."

I sighed inwardly, indeed, the recruitment failed. I have no people or wealth, and it's hard to convince someone with just words.

But there's still room for the future, perhaps there will be an opportunity, I consoled myself and continued.

"If one day I control a region with thousands of troops... I hope you will consider my offer first."

"Agreed, let's make it a deal."

He looked at me deeply, reached out, and clasped my hand, sealing the agreement.

"I look forward to that day..."

Though he rejected my recruitment, he still decided to personally escort us to safety until we reached Jiangzhou.

Before that,

He led us to a farm on the outskirts of the city. Though most of the people had fled, he managed to find a mount for each of us and an extra one to carry our belongings.

They were excellent courier horses, suitable for both long journeys and short sprints.

Moreover, as a secret base, they were equipped with appropriate saddles and luggage, showing that he, as someone who often ran errands for superiors, had some resources.

Thus, the Red Tiger VI and Gray Panda II were born.

At this point, the waterways were no longer safe. When we left Jiangning yesterday,

We saw several attacked pleasure boats stranded in the river, then set on fire by rockets shot from the shore, turning them into burning, screaming hells. Or they were dragged to the shore to be looted and brutalized.

We rowed a small boat out through the city gate, which had not yet been closed. The few scattered guards on the gate had not even reacted.

But even in broad daylight, standing on the road to the river, one could see far away,

The city of Jiangning, left behind, was already engulfed in flames, and cries of distress were spreading. The uncontrolled soldiers were looting and terrorizing the residents. The opulence and splendor that had been built with countless resources and labor over the years seemed like a fragile dream.

Indeed, it is a time of chaos, I sighed.

Han Liangchen, or Han Shizong, looked very solemn, as if mourning the false peace that had been maintained for over twenty years by the efforts of the military and civilians.

And this was just the beginning. Although the rebels had seized power, the main forces attacking Xuanzhou and the troops stationed outside might not be willing to submit to the new rulers. Therefore, a long period of internal strife and war would likely return to this land.

Such a prosperous and rising major town in Jiangdong has thus disintegrated.

At a crossroads, we almost collided with another group, and both sides immediately drew their weapons.

"Wait.."

"Hold on.."

"Don't fight.."

Both sides shouted almost simultaneously.