Late Han Dynasty: Did the Yellow Emperor truly descend?

Chapter 82 Our army is now taking over the county town!

He turned to Liu Wu.

"Untie all the brothers, and we'll issue weapons tomorrow morning. Disperse everyone and integrate them into our core ranks. Tomorrow morning, follow me to take Xiapi County."

Liu Wu grinned and clasped his hands in greeting.

"promise!"

After being untied, Chen Ergou moved his wrists, which were numb from being bound by the rope, and walked up to Li Sheng, hesitating to speak.

"Speak freely."

Li Sheng looked at him.

Chen Ergou hesitated for a moment, then whispered.

"Li...Brother Sheng, you said you'd send men to attack those fortified villages and manors outside the city tomorrow...Is that true?"

Li Sheng looked into his eyes and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"What I, Li Sheng, say is never taken lightly."

Chen Ergou stared at Li Sheng for a long time, his tone pleading.

"In that case, could you please ask Brother Sheng to assign me to the team attacking Chenjiawu Fortress? I... I can lead the way for everyone."

Judging from his expression, Li Sheng knew perfectly well that his family was in the manor, but the rules couldn't be easily changed.

So he gently patted his shoulder.

"You should know the rules of the military, so don't overthink it. Go to bed early tonight, eat well tomorrow, and follow orders. That's the most important thing."

Then Li Sheng didn't say anything more, turned around and walked towards the central army camp, as he also needed to rest up and prepare for tomorrow's events.

Watching Li Sheng's departing figure, Chen Ergou's back slumped.

……

"Brother Sheng, with these retainers joining us, the manors and fortresses of those powerful clans will be easier to attack tomorrow."

Li Feng walked to his side and lowered his voice.

Li Sheng glanced at him and smiled faintly.

"This is the principle of unity. Aren't the tenant farmers and relatives of the servants in those manors the very people that our Taiping Army wants to win over? By bringing these brothers who came from the servants into our ranks, we will have both men and soldiers."

Li Feng nodded thoughtfully.

A night breeze blew, and the campfire in the camp crackled.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

After Li Sheng finished assembling his troops, he abandoned all his belongings and supplies, and the entire army marched at full speed toward Xiapi County.

Before leaving, Li Sheng brought up Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan hadn't slept all night; his eyes were bloodshot and his face was ashen.

His hands were still bound with rope, but Li Sheng had someone change him into clean clothes and wash his face, so he didn't look so disheveled.

"Ming Gong."

Li Sheng stood before him, speaking respectfully.

"There's something I need to trouble you with."

Chen Yuan raised his head, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes.

"What is it?"

"We still need your help to open up Xiapi County."

Chen Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted.

"You...you want me to help you trick your way into opening the city gate?"

"It's not a lie."

Li Sheng shook his head, his tone serious.

"It is a restoration. Xiapi County is still in the hands of the imperial court. You know better than I do what the current imperial court is like. We, the Taiping Army, are entering the city to act on behalf of Heaven and to give the people justice. If you are willing to help, I can promise not to touch the Chen family."

Chen Yuan stared at Li Sheng, his lips trembling for a while before finally managing to squeeze out a few words.

"What if I refuse?"

Li Sheng looked at him, his gaze eerily calm.

"The captain is a smart man; he should know the answer."

Chen Yuan fell silent.

He recalled the horrific scene of those powerful figures being slaughtered the previous night, Xu Wen's head rolling to the ground, and the image of Li Sheng standing on the high platform, raising his arms and rallying thousands to his cause. He knew that this peasant from Siyang Township was no longer the village head he had once known.

"it is good."

Chen Yuan closed his eyes, his voice hoarse.

"I'll help you."

Li Sheng smiled slightly, personally untied the ropes binding Chen Yuan's hands, and patted him on the shoulder.

The form of address changes naturally.

"Rest assured, my lord, once this is accomplished, I will ensure the safety of the Chen family."

……

Xiapi County Town.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and there were few pedestrians at the city gate.

The gatekeeper was dozing against the gate when he suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance. Looking up, he saw a group of people slowly approaching from the main road.

The leader was a man on horseback, clad in armor, with a handsome appearance, followed by a hundred or so soldiers, their banners clearly visible.

"Who goes there?"

The gatekeeper became alert and gripped his spear tightly.

"You're all blind!"

A guard-like figure in the group strode forward; it was Liu Lu. He shouted sternly.

"Could it be that the scouts didn't send back any news the other day? The commander led a large army north to quell the bandits and returned victorious! Why aren't you opening the city gates to welcome him?"

The gatekeeper looked closely and recognized the man on horseback as none other than Li Sheng from Siyang Township, who had recently gained the favor of Commandant Chen Yuanxin. He had become a household name in recent days.

The gatekeeper hurriedly smiled apologetically, sending someone to deliver the message while frantically pushing open the city gate.

"Please forgive me, Chief Li! My eyesight is poor, I didn't recognize you!"

Li Sheng, with a friendly expression, nodded slightly and rode his horse into the city.

Behind him, a procession of over a hundred people filed in.

Seeing the proud look on the group, the gatekeeper also puffed out his chest with pride.

After entering the city, the group did not go to the county government office, but suddenly turned and headed straight for the barbican of the city gate.

"Let's do it!"

With a roar from Li Sheng, more than a hundred Taiping soldiers launched an attack simultaneously.

Before the gatekeepers could react, a scimitar was held to their necks.

Li Feng led his men to seize the city gate tower and take control of the gate's winch; Liu Wu led his men to block the city gate opening, preventing anyone from entering or leaving.

The whole process took less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and the city gate fell into the hands of the Taiping Army.

"Send the signal!"

Li Sheng gave the instructions.

Liu Lu raised a flag on the city wall and, following the agreed signal, waved it a few times in the air.

Outside the city, the main force of the Taiping army, hidden in the woods, saw the signal, shouted in unison, and surged toward the city gate like a tide.

More than a thousand people poured into the city, their steps orderly, their swords and spears menacing.

Upon seeing this, the people in the city scattered and closed their doors, only daring to peek out through the cracks in the doors.

Without lingering, Li Sheng led his core team, abandoning the main force, and headed straight for the county government office.

The Xiapi County government office was located in the north of the city. Li Sheng had been there before, so he knew the way very well.

The magistrate was having a meal in the back hall when he suddenly heard a commotion outside. Just as he was about to send someone to investigate, a bailiff rushed in, his face ashen.

"My lord! Something terrible has happened! Mutinous troops have entered the city!"

The magistrate's chopsticks fell to the table with a "clatter".

"What mutinous army? Where did this mutinous army come from?"

"I don't know, I just saw a group of soldiers occupying the city gate, and they're heading towards the county government office!"

Upon hearing the report from the bailiff, the magistrate turned pale.

"No! No! No! No!"

His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

"Didn't Chen Yuan send word yesterday that the army had returned in triumph?"

"Go and investigate immediately, or I will punish you for making a false report!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a loud "bang" came from outside, and the county government office gate was kicked open from the outside.

Li Sheng led his men in single file and immediately took control of all the yamen runners and clerks in the county government office.

When the magistrate was dragged out from the back hall, he was still wearing his official robes, his crown was askew, and his legs were trembling uncontrollably.

"Who...who are you people?"

He asked in a trembling voice.

Li Sheng walked up to him and looked down at him.

"Taiping Army, Li Sheng. Our army has officially taken over the county seat!"