"Captain,"
"We're now less than ten miles from the Han capital. Are there any orders from above?" Zhang Han looked at Zhao Feng, full of anticipation.
"You want to be the vanguard?" Zhao Feng immediately saw through Zhang Han's thoughts.
"Hehe."
"This is a great opportunity to earn major merits!"
"Whoever leads the charge to break the city will claim the highest credit. How could I not want that?" Zhang Han grinned.
"Breaking through the city means facing the fiercest resistance from the enemy. It's practically a life-or-death mission. Aren't you afraid?" Zhao Feng asked curiously.
"Captain, you must not be familiar with the vanguard system yet, coming from the logistics division." Zhang Han chuckled and countered.
"What's the deal?"
Zhao Feng was taken aback, genuinely unaware. "Tell me."
"Serving as the vanguard comes with double compensation if killed in action, and if you survive, the battle merits are counted as double."
"If one has offspring, they are exempt from conscription, and the court will support them until they turn fourteen," Zhang Han explained solemnly.
Hearing this, Zhao Feng was momentarily surprised but quickly understood. "No wonder every soldier in the combat division scrambles to be in the vanguard. Double battle merits are no joke."
"Exactly!"
"This rule was personally set by the King."
"Before this rule, few dared to volunteer for the vanguard," Zhang Han said with admiration.
"Truly, great rewards breed bravery."
"Qin Shi Huang understood human nature!" Zhao Feng thought to himself.
The incentives for the vanguard were meticulously designed, addressing all concerns of the soldiers. First, it doubled their merits as motivation. Second, it doubled their compensation for the family of the fallen. Third, it provided care for their dependents.
This eliminated any worries the warriors might have. How could they not fight for such rewards?
"From what you're saying, the entire army must be vying for the vanguard position."
"I'm afraid our division won't stand a chance," Wei Quan chimed in.
"True!"
"I wonder if our unit will get a shot at being the vanguard," Zhang Han nodded.
"There's no use speculating now. It all depends on the higher-ups' decisions."
"If our unit does get the chance, I'll lead you to claim that merit!" Zhao Feng said with a confident smile.
Hearing Zhang Han's description of the rewards for vanguard duty, Zhao Feng couldn't help but feel tempted.
Having joined the combat division and taken command as a captain, Zhao Feng's mindset had shifted. He now aimed to earn merits, climb ranks, and prepare for the chaotic times ahead to build his legacy.
There was also his mother to consider, and the rare blood ginseng in the royal palace.
And then, there was Wang Yan.
All of this required power and influence.
Zhao Feng was determined to fight for it with everything he had.
At this moment, a messenger under Commander Chen Tao arrived.
"Is Captain Zhao here?" the messenger called out loudly.
Zhao Feng immediately stood up. "Present."
"By order of General Chen, tomorrow the entire division's archers are to concentrate their fire on the Han capital."
"General Chen has instructed Captain Hu to oversee the deployment," the messenger announced.
"Please inform General Chen that I understand," Zhao Feng replied with a salute.
The messenger returned the salute and quickly departed.
"It seems our general didn't secure the vanguard position. You can all relax now," Zhao Feng said with a chuckle as he sat back down.
"I wonder which division got the vanguard role," Zhang Han remarked, his curiosity piqued.
"Why does it matter which one?"
"Once the city is breached, I'll lead you all into the fray to claim our share of the merits. I've heard the Han forces inside the city are no small number," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
"True!" Zhang Han grinned as well.
"Alright."
"Tomorrow is a big day."
"Everyone, head back to camp and rest. I'll do the same," Zhao Feng said, waving them off before returning to his quarters and lying down.
Back in his tent, Zhao Feng closed his eyes slightly and focused his mental energy.
"I still can't sense any spiritual energy in this world. Could it be that there isn't any? Or am I still too weak?"
"Sigh, forget it."
"Better to continue cultivating the Dragon Elephant Technique."
"It's only been ten days since I started training, but it already increases my overall attributes daily. And this is without the assistance of spiritual energy. If I eventually sense spiritual energy, the daily gains will surely multiply."
With this in mind, Zhao Feng began practicing the Dragon Elephant Technique for the night.
The next day!
Woo!
Woo woo!
Woo woo woo!
The loud blast of war horns echoed outside the Han capital, Xinzheng.
"The Qin army is attacking!"
"Quick, to the walls!"
With the horns blaring, chaos erupted among the Han soldiers within the city.
The Qin forces hadn't yet begun their assault, but the Han troops' morale had already crumbled.
Most within the city understood that their defenses wouldn't hold.
"What's with all this chaos?"
"Why are you panicking?"
"General Cao, are these the troops you're leading?"
Seeing the disarray among the Han soldiers, Zhang Ping strode forward, his brow furrowed.
"Chancellor."
"I have failed in my duties," the lead general, Cao Yi, said with a look of fear.
Han's strength had long waned, and Bao Yuan was the last capable general they had.
Good soldiers are easy to find, but good generals are rare.
This ancient truth rang true, and Han had no capable generals left.
Without competent leadership, their troops were weak.
"You..."
Zhang Ping's eyes were filled with disappointment as he looked at Cao Yi.
But he had no other options.
Cao Yi was the most capable general left in Xinzheng.
"Where are the palace guards?" Zhang Ping shouted.
"Present!"
Within the city, over ten thousand palace guards responded in unison.
"Five thousand palace guards will serve as enforcers. Anyone who abandons their post or deserts will be executed on the spot!"
"Anyone who disrupts the order of our forces will also be executed!"
"Today, as the enemy approaches, I will personally oversee the defense of the walls and repel the invaders," Zhang Ping declared loudly.
"We obey the Chancellor's command!"
The palace guards responded in unison, drawing their weapons and standing vigilantly. Under the pressure of life and death, the defending Han soldiers and even conscripted slaves became more disciplined, restoring order to the chaotic scene.
"Inform all the troops."
"Do not think that Han has already lost. I have received word that the Zhao and Wei kingdoms have mobilized a million troops as reinforcements."
"If our capital holds for a month, we will see these reinforcements crush the Qin invaders," Zhang Ping said loudly, sweeping his gaze across the soldiers.
These words rekindled a glimmer of hope among the despondent Han soldiers, bolstering their morale.