Chapter 117: Engaging in Battle

Chapter 117: Engaging in Battle

Zhang Yanghao and the other three requested to join Han Ruzi, their kneeling posture far more respectful than the usual commoners. They prostrated on the ground, addressing Han Ruzi as “Your Majesty,” declaring their willingness to follow the emperor and eliminate the treacherous.

Han Ruzi accepted these four and appointed them as generals, assigning them as deputies to Chao Hua and Jin Chunbao. Seeing them gratefully accepting, Han Ruzi knew they had already been swayed by Prince Donghai. Though noble scions often acted without regard for the law, each one of them held themselves in high regard. They would rather not take official positions than to be subordinate to others. Seeing them now accept without any hesitation, it was evident they had ulterior motives.

Han Ruzi didn’t expose their intentions. Through the past two days, he increasingly understood a truth: these seven to eight hundred “ragtag” rebels were his greatest assurance. Expelling Prince Donghai’s guards was enough. Rather than competing with Prince Donghai to win over each individual over, he preferred focusing on transforming the rebel force into a true army.

He could only lament one thing—time was too short, and the problems were too many.

Shortly after daybreak, Chao Hua returned to the camp with troops, bringing several boats of provisions, resolving their most urgent need. Seven to eight hundred rebels eagerly awaited breakfast; if they couldn’t even eat a meal, many would leave. Even the Heavens couldn’t retain them.

Han Ruzi was hungry himself and planned to eat with the rebels. Prince Donghai approached him and whispered, “Are you going to share their hardships?”

Han Ruzi nodded. Last night, he visited all the hundred-man teams, memorizing a multitude of names. Today, he had to do even more.

Prince Donghai chuckled, “Can I give you a piece of advice?”

“Go ahead.”

“Sharing hardships should be done at the right time. Sharing hardships without joy is not true hardship-sharing; it’s a display of weakness. They look up to you as an emperor, but you insist on lowering yourself among them, exposing your weaknesses.”

“That was more than one piece of advice,” Han Ruzi replied, returning to the room to wait. Although Prince Donghai was cunning, his words were not entirely wrong. Han Ruzi had quickly gained the people’s obedience through the mystical position of “Emperor”. Now wasn’t the time to show them that he was just like that.

Prince Donghai also entered, rubbing his stomach. “I haven’t been this hungry in a while. Last time was in the palace, remember? Whenever something happens in the palace, those guys forget about us.”

“I remember.”

Prince Donghai walked around, “After breakfast, shall we set off?”

“The Capital separates us from the north. We need to discuss the route first before departing.”

“The route is ready.” Prince Donghai approached, took out a scroll from his sleeve, and unfolded it to reveal a simple map. “North of Guaizi Lake leads straight to the great river, and we can take a boat across. Didn’t you send someone to Huailing County yesterday? The mad monk Guangding will go to the north bank of the river to meet you. As long as he sees you, he will feel assured to start the uprising.”

“So, does that mean I don’t have to personally participate in the uprising?”

“Guangding and his followers are a bait. It’s extremely dangerous amidst the army. I advise you to stay in the south. You’ve trained these commoners well, take as many as possible and hand them over to Guangding. This way, the baiting force will be greater, and perhaps more people will join.”

Han Ruzi carefully examined the map for a moment, “When will Grand Tutor Cui’s Southern Army act?”

“Once someone starts a rebellion in the north and south of the Capital under your banner, the Empress Dowager will undoubtedly demand both the Northern and Southern armies send troops to suppress it. My uncle’s army will, of course, not eliminate us but come over to legitimately protect you.” Prince Donghai pointed to the map, “There’s an insider from the Cui family at the south gate of the Capital. After receiving the signal, they will open the city gate. The Southern Army will infiltrate the city at night, take control of each gate, and then surround the imperial palace. The plan will succeed.”

“What about the palace guards?”

“The palace guards do not live up to their name, how can they compare to the Southern Army? Moreover, I’ve inquired—when Shang-guan Xu previously lost his position as Grand Marshal of the Southern Army, his prestige was greatly diminished. Then he was suddenly appointed as the Captain of the Guard by the Empress Dowager, so he does not enjoy the support of his subordinates. When you enter the city, the palace guards may open the gates willingly in your presence. If not, a strong attack won’t be too late.”

Lin Kunshan roamed nearby, strictly adhering to the method of the fate seers of going with the flow. With great changes in the realm unfolding, he was unwilling to say a word.

The watchtower wasn’t very tall. Han Ruzi and two guards stood on top, looking out. They could only see a vast expanse of reeds nearby and dense woods in the distance. They couldn’t even see their own men heading to the battlefield, let alone government troops.

One guard, originally a villager nearby, pointed to a patch of reeds, “There’s a lot of movement there; it must be the government troops.”

Han Ruzi noticed it too. The government troops were not far from the village, and he started to feel nervous. He didn’t know if his plan would succeed. According to theory, an unformed army shouldn’t engage the enemy head-on; they should stay in the camp and train while defending. But he had done the opposite. He dispatched the majority of his soldiers, leaving only forty to fifty men to guard the fort.

If they were defeated, it would be a complete failure.

Prince Donghai below quietly ordered a few soldiers to prepare boats by the lake. If something went wrong, he didn’t want to confront the government troops head-on. Instead, he planned to take Han Ruzi north along the lake.

He somewhat hoped for a significant defeat in this battle. Losing the support of these ragtag rebels would make Han Ruzi easier to control.

The figures in the reeds were faintly visible, less than two miles away. The voices of the government troops came clearly, “The village is just ahead!” “There are people watching us in the village.” “Charge! Seize the false emperor for a reward!”

The government troops shouted loudly, making the reeds sway even more violently. The two guards exchanged glances, whispering, “Your Majesty, maybe we should go down and take cover.”

“No hurry,” Han Ruzi said, scanning the area for the two squads he had sent out.

Suddenly, a thunderous shout echoed from outside the village, startling the people inside. Prince Donghai grabbed the wooden ladder of the watchtower, looked towards the lake. Seeing that a few soldiers had already boarded the boats, his mind was eased.

“It’s our men!” Han Ruzi shouted loudly. He saw that Chao Hua’s squad was launching an attack on the government troops, just tens yards away. The shouting was loud, and the reeds were swaying chaotically.

The government troops, thinking they were just going to capture some unruly commoners, didn’t expect to be attacked, let alone ambushed. It seemed like there were ten times their numbers, and they were in disarray.

Han Ruzi focused on the shaking reeds, trying hard to assess the battlefield situation.

After a moment, another round of battle cries erupted, and Jin Chunbao’s second squad cut off the government troops’ retreat.

Han Ruzi’s heart reached his throat. If the government troops were well-trained, they would quickly realize that the men surrounding them had few weapons and no discipline, just a group of unruly commoners. Whether they chose to counterattack on the spot or continue to attack the Riverside Village, they had a great chance of winning.

The reason Han Ruzi dared to face them was simple: he himself couldn’t see the battlefield clearly from the watchtower, and the government troops in the midst of it had even less visibility. They would panic, and once they panicked, they would flee.

He wanted to capture these government troops alive.

After waiting for a while, the outside shouting grew louder, and finally, there was a change in the position of the government troops. The swaying reeds extended towards the riverside.

Han Ruzi felt somewhat relieved, turned his head, and saw Qingting waving at him from a distance. So, he waved back.

towards returned to the house, “Miss, you don’t need to personally take action. I think the emperor will likely win this battle.”

Prince Donghai below the watchtower sighed disappointedly.

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