Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield

Chapter 176: Chapter 110: Ying Zheng’s Concern

A soldier from the Penal Battalion stood up and shouted loudly.

After he finished speaking, both the soldiers of the Penal Battalion and the Sharp Warriors handed over the strips of fabric they had picked up to him.

Having collected a large bundle, the Penal Battalion soldier walked over to Zhao Feng.

"General."

"These strips of fabric are covered in the enemy’s seditious words. This subordinate has collected them to present to you," the soldier said respectfully as he came before Zhao Feng.

A smile touched Zhao Feng’s face as he looked at the man. This person is certainly sharp-eyed.

"Rise." Zhao Feng waved his hand.

"Thank you, General," the soldier immediately responded.

"You can read?" Zhao Feng asked with a smile.

"I know a few characters," the soldier replied honestly.

"What is your name?"

"And what was your position in the Han army?" Zhao Feng inquired further.

"Reporting to the General, this subordinate is named Han Chenyan," the soldier responded with reverence.

"Han Chenyan?"

Zhao Feng glanced at the soldier. The name seemed somewhat familiar.

I know history. For this name to sound familiar, it must have been recorded somewhere. Otherwise, I would have no way of knowing it.

"Are you from the Han Royal Family?" Zhao Feng asked with a smile.

"I once was, but due to my father’s actions, I was stripped of my status and made a commoner many years ago," Han Chenyan replied respectfully. In front of Zhao Feng, he did not dare to lie.

"Han Chenyan. Not bad."

"This general will remember you."

"You’ve been freed from your slave status, have you not?" Zhao Feng asked with a faint smile, studying Han Chenyan intently.

Han Chenyan appeared to be around thirty years old, with ordinary features, but his physique seemed strong and robust.

"It is thanks to the General’s grace that this subordinate is no longer a slave," Han Chenyan said, his face full of gratitude.

"Do you want to become a true Sharp Warrior of Qin?" Zhao Feng asked tentatively.

"I do."

Han Chenyan did not hesitate for a moment, his eyes filled with firm resolve.

"This general will give you a chance," Zhao Feng said with a smile, patting Han Chenyan’s shoulder. He then shot a meaningful glance at Zhang Ming, who was standing nearby.

"Brother, please come with me," Zhang Ming said with a smile.

"Thank you, General!" Han Chenyan was incredibly excited. He never expected that simply collecting some strips of fabric would earn him such a reward and gain the General’s esteem.

The many men on the city wall looked on with unconcealed envy. With a single action, Han Chenyan had surpassed countless others. It was clear that Zhao Feng had taken notice of his performance. In any era, many people simply lack an opportunity, and now, Zhao Feng had given one to Han Chenyan.

「The Wei Army Camp!」

"Your Majesty."

"The surrender notices have been shot into the city," the Wei General in charge of the operation reported respectfully. "We just don’t know what effect they will have."

"Their effect will be revealed in tomorrow’s battle," Wei Wuji said gravely. This was the greatest opportunity he could seize.

"If the garrison in the city is truly composed of reorganized Han Surrendered Soldiers, then Your Majesty’s surrender notices will land like a heavy blow, inevitably causing chaos within Wei City," another Wei General immediately added.

"However," a different general began in a somber tone, "one must admit that this Zhao Feng is truly formidable. This Wei City is no great fortress, yet it has managed to withstand our army’s ferocious attacks for seven consecutive days. Its defenses show no exploitable weaknesses. To think that our mighty army has been halted by such a small city."

Hearing these words, Wei Bo’s expression turned exceedingly sour. Upon arriving at Wei City, he had boasted that they would breach the city in five days at the latest. Tomorrow would be the seventh.

"Your Majesty," Wei Bo said, standing up. "This general requests permission to deploy the Wei Wu Troops!"

At his words, all the Wei Generals turned to look at him.

The Wei Wu Troops.

They were the strongest army in the state of Wei. A formidable force selected from hundreds of thousands of soldiers, every man was a powerful warrior clad in fine armor, wielding a shield in one hand and a ge-halberd in the other. Their combat prowess was peerless, and their name was renowned throughout the lands.

The Wei Wu Troops were created by Wei’s former War General, Wu Qi. After their founding, they achieved an undefeated battle record. They even nearly brought the state of Qin to its knees, and their might became feared far and wide. Although Wu Qi was long dead, the training methods he established had been passed down to this day. The Wei Wu Troops still existed, hailed as Wei’s final guardians.

In this war for the nation’s fate, Wei Wuji had naturally brought the Wei Wu Troops. However, he had kept them in the rear, un-deployed. This was a tactic to conceal the true strength of his army, to be used for decisive effect at a critical moment.

"Tomorrow, we will first test if this psychological tactic is effective. If not, we will deploy the Wei Wu Troops," Wei Wuji declared loudly after a moment’s thought.

"When the Wei Wu Troops march, this general wishes to personally lead the charge to besiege the city," Wei Bo spoke up again.

Hearing this, Wei Wuji’s brow furrowed. "Wei Bo, do you understand the way of a commanding general?"

"The way of a commanding general is to prioritize command and direction," Wei Bo replied immediately.

"Since you know this, why do you speak such rash words? Our forces may have suffered losses, but we are far from the point where you, the Deputy General, must personally lead a charge," Wei Wuji rebuked coldly.

"But..." Wei Bo was still unwilling to concede. He truly wanted to prove himself—to prove that he was Zhao Feng’s equal and, more importantly, that he had the ability to protect the state of Wei.

"Wei Bo," Wei Wuji said gravely, his tone softening slightly, "you are not only my Deputy General, you are also my nephew, the younger brother of the current Great King. You need to be clear about your own status."

After this, he said no more.

「The next day!」

As the first light of dawn broke.