Liang rode at the front of an army of 300 men, his breathing calm, his gaze resolute. He knew his strength didn't lie in the number of soldiers but in his ability to lead. Xu Anping, his friend and leader, had taught him how to command troops of this size. He was no longer the impulsive young man who fought with only the strength of his sword. Now, he understood the dynamics of command, and although he didn't always share Xu Anping's patience, he had learned to respect it.
In the distance, a small village stood, protected by a rustic wall made of wood and stone. Liang knew the villagers couldn't withstand a prolonged siege. However, he wasn't willing to waste time. He had ordered one of his men to deliver a message of surrender. He knew what to expect: most villages did not surrender easily. They had heard of the rebels, especially the brutality of men like him. But Liang had no intention of showing mercy.
The messenger quickly returned with the expected response: there would be no surrender. The villagers were determined to resist. Liang allowed a faint smile. "Then we will take them by force," he murmured as he signaled the attack.
Liang wasn't one for elaborate tactics. While some commanders preferred the art of deception and clever maneuvers, he leaned toward brute force. He looked at the wall with its defenders armed with rudimentary tools. He knew they could resist, but not for long.
He divided his men into three groups, but instead of a strategic dispersion, he concentrated the bulk of his forces on a single point. Liang believed in numerical superiority in the attack. Hundreds of his soldiers charged toward a weak section of the wall, using improvised battering rams and assault ladders. The defenders did what they could to resist, throwing stones and arrows, but it was futile. The pressure from Liang's army was too intense.
The first group of soldiers broke through the wall's defenses, and chaos erupted. Liang rode behind his men, watching as the wall crumbled and his troops flooded the village streets. It wasn't a prolonged battle. The villagers, seeing the overwhelming force of Liang, quickly surrendered. They knew continuing to fight would only mean death.
When the resistance died down, Liang gave the order his men had been waiting for: "Kill the landowners." There was no mercy for those who ruled with an iron fist over the peasants. The local landowners were quickly captured and executed in front of the villagers. Liang felt no remorse. To him, they were symbols of the corrupt power that kept the people oppressed. With their deaths, control of the village passed into his hands.
Liang knew that his army's loyalty wasn't solely based on his leadership or command skills. The soldiers who followed him sought rewards. After taking the village, he gathered his men and gave them a portion of the confiscated wealth. Unlike Xu Anping, who preferred to distribute all the riches among the local population, Liang was more pragmatic. He knew his troops also needed to feel they were directly benefiting from their conquests.
He distributed land to the peasants, but not before ensuring that a significant portion of the treasures, jewels, and supplies went to his army. Seeing his soldiers receive their share, Liang felt a surge of pride. He knew earning his army's trust was crucial. A well-rewarded army was a loyal one. And Liang needed loyalty, especially when the war was far from over.
His approach had yielded results. Despite the brutality of his methods, his soldiers admired him. They considered him a fair leader who cared for them, but they also knew he would not tolerate disobedience. Liang walked a fine line between being a respected leader and a feared one.
While his men celebrated their victory and enjoyed their spoils, Liang stepped aside momentarily to reflect. He knew his tactics differed significantly from Xu Anping's. His friend was methodical, calculating, and preferred to avoid heavy casualties. Xu Anping believed that building alliances and educating the population were key to long-term victory.
Liang, on the other hand, trusted in the power of force and intimidation. To him, war was not just a matter of strategy but of control. If you took a place with enough authority and violence, that place would be yours. However, he couldn't help but wonder if he was underestimating his friend's approach. Xu Anping had demonstrated an impressive ability to maintain control without resorting to excessive brutality. Perhaps, after all, there was something to be learned from his patience and planning.
But that was a reflection for another day. For now, Liang was determined to continue his campaign of expansion, crushing anyone who stood in his way.
As Liang rested in the newly conquered village, a messenger arrived hastily from Xu Anping's headquarters. He brought troubling news: there were rumors that imperial forces were mobilizing in the region. Though the reports were initial, the possibility of imperial intervention in the territories they had conquered was not something to be ignored.
Liang frowned. He had heard of the imperial soldiers' attacks on villages on their way to the front, and he knew that Xu Anping was concerned about his sister, Xu Sanhua, due to those rumors. Liang, on the other hand, did not fear a confrontation with the imperials. In fact, the idea of facing the empire's army excited him. It would be the ultimate test for his army and his leadership.
However, he knew he couldn't act rashly. If the rumors were true, they would need more information before making any decisions. He sent an order to his scouts to investigate the movements of the imperial troops and decided to wait patiently for the reports to return.
Liang ordered his men to fortify the village and prepare for possible retaliation. He knew that, although his success had been swift, the empire wouldn't take long to respond if they discovered his activities in the region. It was time to think beyond immediate expansion and plan the next move, just as Xu Anping would.
For now, the victory was his, but the war had only just begun.