Chapter Nine, The Dignity of the Soldier

Sima Liang from Yingyang County paid his respects to the Grand General! As he spoke, Sima Liang knelt down on both knees. At the same time, he nudged Fu Ge's arm with his shoulder, indicating that he hoped Fu Ge would hold back his temper for the time being and not provoke a significant figure like Zhang Han.

The outcome of this battle has been determined, and such a victory will no longer excite Zhang Han

At this critical moment, Shaofu Zhang Han requested to lead the 100,000 convicts and private slaves armed at Mount Li to engage in battle with Zhou Wen. Zhou Wen, preoccupied with hastily seizing private property, responded to the challenge in a rush, resulting in a significant defeat at the hands of Zhang Han.

Zhang Han's command post was established on a small hill not far from the outskirts of Xingyang City. This location had previously served as a stronghold for the rebel forces during their siege of the city. From this vantage point, one could see the dilapidated city walls and the intense battle conditions in their entirety.

The Southern Army of the Great Qin, led by the commander Fu Ge, is stationed in Lintao! The dignified Colonel of the Qin state disregards honor and resorts to a sneak attack. Such an opponent is not worthy of Fu Ge's respect. Therefore, when making the announcement, Fu Ge called out the number and name of his unit with strength and vigor, showing no sign of humility despite the disparity in status.

The sharp tip of the spear pierced through the armor, leaving a long gash on Fugo's body. No one was more familiar with the use of a spear than Fugo; feeling the fierce wind rushing towards him, he quickly rotated his body at an angle to evade the danger of being impaled.

Kill! Fu Ge roared, grasping the spear shaft with his left hand while his right hand swiftly reached out, aiming directly for the throat of the assailant. After fighting fiercely for an entire night without injury, it was truly embarrassing to be wounded just as it was coming to an end

Zhang Han did not know that at this moment, Fu Ge had long since disregarded life and death. Although he was merely a pawn, it did not mean that he lacked dignity, nor did it mean that he could only obey unconditionally

"Wei of Xingyang County, Southern Army's Lintao Division, where is your Prefect? Where is the Captain? Quickly invite them to welcome the General!" This Captain finally noticed the indistinct color of the armor worn by Fu Ge, and his expression regained the confidence of a victor. It is uncertain whether this conversation would have taken place if Fu Ge had dodged just a moment slower, or if Fu Ge's hand had been a bit quicker.

"Very well! You two will accompany Fu Ge to meet the General!" The lieutenant, who had just hit a hard nail, had a mix of blue and white on his face, and it took him quite a while to regain his composure

Pikes stand tall like a forest, and axes and halberds rise like mountains

"Ha, another one seeking death?" Before Fu Ge could fully regain his senses, a spear, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind, thrust toward his waist.

The vast grasslands beyond the Great Wall instilled in Fu Ge a wildness and tenacity, while the honor of the Qin soldiers constantly reminded Fu Ge that even in death, one must fall with their face to the sky

"Who are you?" The officer, with a look of panic on his face, hesitated for a moment after sizing up Fu Ge and the others before asking.

Fu Ge sneered contemptuously and said without any courtesy: "Are you referring to Li You? At this time, it is still early; he is probably still dreaming sweet dreams with his concubines in the inner court!" Regarding Li You, the corrupt official who led over two thousand brothers of the Lintao faction to their doom, Fu Ge no longer harbored any illusions. He also did not wish to curry favor with him for the sake of his own career, for Fu Ge knew that with such pests within, the grand edifice of the Qin state would inevitably collapse sooner or later

"Hmm, who are you, and why do you not kneel?" Zhang Han nodded and then turned his attention to Fu Ge, shouting angrily. In his view, it was absolutely intolerable for a mere soldier to stand before him, a general commanding thousands of troops, without kneeling.

The imposing and disciplined army of the Qin Dynasty was arranged in square formations. Surrounding these formations was a small contingent of cavalry equipped with powerful crossbows. They were agile and had strong firepower, often capable of breaking through enemy lines with just one charge. If their numbers were sufficient, they could also carry out continuous harassment of the advancing enemy, especially when the enemy was engaged in long-range combat. The cavalry could potentially overcome stronger opponents by gradually wearing them down. This was also the most effective strategy for the Qin army when fighting against the nomadic Di and Xiongnu tribes on the grasslands.

"Hold on! Brother Fu." Fu Ge's hand failed to grasp the enemy's throat, and at the same time that Sima Liang spoke to stop him, he tightly held Fu Ge's right hand, rendering it immobile. The sole reason prompting Sima Liang to act this way was that the assailant was clad in the dark armor of the Great Qin army, with fiery red tassels swaying, indicating his identity as a captain.

Ao Cang, the opponent of Zhang Han, was replaced by Tian Zang. This is the reason why Tian Zang led his elite troops away from Xingyang to the west. As a result, Tian Zang's fate was the same as that of Zhou Wen; he was defeated in a single battle, and his entire army was routed.

In the first year of the reign of the Second Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, in the ninth month, which was two months ago, the rebel general Zhou Wenton led an army of a thousand chariots and hundreds of thousands of troops to launch a sudden attack on the formidable Hangu Pass, advancing to Xiting, which is only a hundred miles from the capital, Xianyang. At that time, the court was in a state of extreme panic. The two elite main forces of the Southern Army were still far away in the Hundred Yue region, while the Northern Army, although closer, was stationed at Shanggu, which was also a thousand miles from Xianyang. If Zhou Wenton continued his offensive, the already weakened city of Xianyang would surely fall.

Sima Liang, the County Magistrate of Xinyang in the Great Qin

"General, the vanguard has captured two spies who claim to be soldiers from Xingyang City!" The guide, the captain, was evidently still resentful about Fu Ge's 'disrespect.' During the report, he secretly played tricks, binding both Fu Ge and Sima Liang tightly. Apart from being able to walk on their feet, they were unable to move any other part of their bodies.

"Since you two are the city guards, why do you not kneel and pay your respects upon seeing this general!" Zhang Han's eyes widened as he scanned Fu Ge and Sima Liang for a moment, then suddenly shouted loudly. According to the etiquette of ranks in the Qin army, a lowly soldier like Fu Ge must kneel on both knees upon encountering the General, to show respect and submission

In early November, the remnants of Zhou Wenling's forces fled to Caoyang and Mianchi. Zhang Han organized his troops to continue the pursuit, achieving consecutive victories. Zhou Wenling was defeated and committed suicide, leading to the disintegration of his entire army. Subsequently, Zhang Han led his large army to advance directly to Aocang, north of Xingyang, capitalizing on his success.

Fu Ge let out a cold snort of dissatisfaction, suddenly loosening his grip and abandoning the spear. The ambushing captain did not expect Fu Ge's movements to be so swift; he pulled back with all his strength and stumbled several steps backward, landing heavily on the ground. Fortunately, he fell onto a soft, lifeless body beneath him, which spared him from the pain of injury.

Fu Ge raised his head without fear and asked sternly, "Why does the General not dismount?"

The sound of hooves echoed continuously, accompanied by a long, resonant cry. The dark banners parted in an orderly fashion, revealing a wide passage in the center. Dozens of robust and strong generals cleared the way, while a general nearing fifty stood resolutely beneath the 'Zhang' banner. His face was aged yet strong, and his gaze was bright and piercing. Even the horses pulling his chariot were full of spirit, exuding an undeniable majesty

Between the infantry formations, there exists only a narrow passage for the messengers to traverse. To reach the command center of the Qin army, it is imperative to continuously withstand the strong pressure from both sides. Should the charge formation become disordered, the entire army would immediately be engulfed in the vast sea of infantry formations.