nycdaug Chapter 97 The Rebellion of King An of Han
Chapter 97 The Rebellion of King An of Han
"Urgent report!" A sharp voice shattered the tranquility of the court. The King of Qin, who was attending court, abruptly stood up, his gaze sharp as he looked towards the door. He shouted, "What's going on?"
A guard rushed into the hall with a nervous expression, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands, and reported: "Your Majesty, news has come from Xinzheng that former nobles of Han have launched a rebellion while the main Qin army is marching east. They are inciting the people in an attempt to restore Han's former rule."
The King of Qin frowned, a flash of anger in his eyes, and said in a deep voice, "These treacherous officials dare to cause trouble in the heart of my Great Qin! Immediately summon all the generals to discuss countermeasures."
An uproar erupted in the imperial court, with ministers whispering and discussing amongst themselves. Some suggested immediately dispatching a large army to suppress the rebellion to prevent the situation from escalating; others believed that the people should be appeased and the situation stabilized first.
After a moment of contemplation, the King of Qin said, "Issue my decree: General Wang Jian is to lead 50,000 elite troops to Xinzheng immediately to quell the rebellion. At the same time, send envoys to various parts of Han to spread the word of Qin's benevolence and policies, so as to reassure the people. In addition, strengthen border defenses to prevent other vassal states from taking the opportunity to cause trouble."
The guards received the order and left. King Qin then addressed his ministers, saying, "This rebellion must be quelled swiftly; we cannot allow it to jeopardize the unification of Qin. My beloved ministers, you must do your utmost to assist General Wang Jian and ensure a complete victory in this battle."
The ministers unanimously agreed, pledging their full support for the suppression of the rebellion. The King of Qin then adjourned the court, leaving several key officials behind to continue discussing countermeasures. A major battle to quell the rebellion was about to begin…
Wang Jian received orders and assembled 50,000 elite troops. Dressed in black armor, Wang Jian stood tall and his eyes were resolute. He gripped the reins tightly, and on two horses, he led his 50,000 elite troops like a black torrent, galloping towards Xinzheng.
Night fell, and only the sound of Wang Jian and his soldiers' hooves broke the silence. Their figures appeared and disappeared in the moonlight, like a group of ghosts moving through the darkness.
Wang Jian was anxious; he knew the importance of this mission. He had to get to Xinzheng as soon as possible to join the other generals there and quell the rebellion.
Wang Jian's face showed no sign of fatigue or hesitation, only determination and resolve. Fifty thousand elite soldiers followed him, their morale high and their steps perfectly synchronized. They knew they were following a victorious general, and they believed that under General Wang's leadership, they would surely achieve victory.
At this moment in Xinzheng, King An of Han sat at the head of the table with a gloomy expression, below him were Han generals and a group of rebel leaders. They had just launched a rebellion in Xinzheng and successfully captured the city, but the situation remained dire.
"Your Majesty, although we have occupied Xinzheng, the Qin army may launch a counterattack at any time," a general said worriedly.
King Han An nodded, a resolute glint in his eyes: "We must formulate our next plan as soon as possible to consolidate our power."
After a moment of contemplation, Han said, "We can send envoys to contact other vassal states and seek their support."
“This plan is feasible,” another general agreed. “But we must also strengthen the city’s defenses to guard against an attack by the Qin army.”
King Han An stood up and looked around at everyone: "Gentlemen, we have no way out. Only by uniting can we fight against the powerful Qin army."
The crowd responded in unison, "We are willing to serve Your Majesty!"
King An of Han smiled with satisfaction: "Good, then proceed according to plan. We must let the Qin army know that the people of Han will not easily submit!"
King An of Han first dispatched a group of envoys to the states of Qi, Chu, Yan, and Wei, hoping to obtain their assistance.
Meanwhile, King An of Han began to strengthen the defenses of Xinzheng. He ordered the capture of men within the city and their incorporation into the Han army to bolster its strength. These men were forced to leave their families and join the war.
The women of Xinzheng were not spared either. King Han An issued an order requiring the women to devote themselves to repairing the city wall. This task was extremely arduous, requiring a great deal of physical strength and time. Reluctantly, the women put aside their household chores and came to the city wall to strive to complete this seemingly impossible task.
King An of Han scanned his surroundings, his heart surging with endless anxiety and unease. He clearly understood that the situation he faced was a gamble, yet he had no other choice at the moment. Deep down, he desperately wanted to prevent the destruction of the state of Han, and he was even more unwilling to become a prisoner of another.
As the king of a nation, he had grown accustomed to the life of being in a high position and receiving reverence. The loss of this sense of superiority would be an unbearable torment for him, like countless ants gnawing at his heart, causing him immense suffering. Therefore, even though he knew the chances of success were slim, he resolutely decided to take the plunge.
The envoys who were dispatched, bearing important missions, embarked on a long and arduous journey. They traversed mountains and rivers, endured wind and rain, and finally arrived at the capitals of various countries.
In Qi, the envoy explained to King Jian of Qi the predicament of Han and the request of King An of Han. King Jian listened and fell into deep thought. Ultimately, King Jian of Qi decided to support Han to a certain extent, but would not send troops directly.
In the State of Chu, the envoy received a warm welcome from the King of Chu. The King of Chu had long been wary of Qin's ambitions and expressed his willingness to form an alliance with the State of Han to jointly resist Qin. However, Chu itself faced numerous problems and needed time to prepare.
In the states of Yan and Wei, the envoys encountered different situations. King Xi of Yan refused to meet with the envoys from Han. As for Wei, the royal family said they would consider it, but never gave a reply.
Despite the differing attitudes of various countries, King An of Han's envoys successfully conveyed Han's wishes and garnered some support for the country. However, unbeknownst to the Han envoys, Wang Jian had already arrived outside Xinzheng City with 50,000 elite troops.
Wang Jian led his army to set up camp thirty miles outside Xinzheng City, maintaining a tight defense against a potential enemy attack. The camp stretched for miles, its banners obscuring the sun. Standing on high ground, he surveyed the distant city of Xinzheng, contemplating his next move.
Wang Jian was well aware of the importance of Xinzheng. If the rebellion in Xinzheng could not be quelled soon, it would be extremely detrimental to the future unification of Qin. Therefore, the conquest of Xinzheng could not be a slow and drawn-out affair; it was necessary to seize the city in one fell swoop and control King Han An.
To understand the situation in Xinzheng City, Wang Jian dispatched a large number of scouts to investigate. These scouts were elite soldiers who had undergone rigorous training; they were agile, adept at concealing themselves, and able to approach Xinzheng City undetected.
The scouts split into several groups and approached Xinzheng City from different directions. They carefully avoided the Korean patrols and quietly infiltrated the villages and forests near Xinzheng City. There, they observed the city walls, gates, towers, and other defensive structures, as well as the city's troop deployment and supply reserves.
After some observation and reconnaissance, the scouts returned to Wang Jian's camp and reported the situation in Xinzheng City. Wang Jian listened carefully to the scouts' report and gained a general understanding of the city's defenses. He knew that Xinzheng City's defenses were now very strong, and that thorough preparations were necessary to conquer it.
Wang Jian decided to first send a small force to launch a probing attack on Xinzheng City in order to understand the combat and defensive capabilities of the Korean army.