Chapter 240: Tensions Rise, A Dirty Tactic

As soon as the army arrived in Zhangzhou Prefecture, it ran into the enemy and suffered a crushing defeat after two rounds.

Zhang Ting quickly gathered his troops and retreated to Li County, where they set up camp and regrouped.

Inside the main tent, Tang Qiuyue was furious. "Damn it! How could Mo Nan be so familiar with the defenses of Zhangzhou Prefecture! We lost a county as soon as we arrived."

“Something is very wrong. Even if Anyang is located on the frontier and the southern border could possibly detect it, it is absolutely impossible for them to be so familiar with it and move in and out as if it were their own territory.” Han Yunying stroked her chin thoughtfully. After her mother, Han Bingyue, was deposed, she should have been squeezed out of the court as well, but Zhang Ting did his best to protect her, and she was spared.

Zheng Xiaotang, the vanguard, had seen blood on the battlefield and was familiar with the ways of the world. He immediately stepped forward and reported, "Sir, there may be spies within our army who have leaked information."

Han Yunying nodded and added, "Our army has only just arrived in Zhangzhou Prefecture. The problem may not be there, but rather..." She pointed to the north, the implication of which was self-evident.

As we all know, border defense maps are not only available to the military, but also to the Ministry of War.

Tang Qiuyue slammed her fist into a nearby pillar, dark blood mingling with her tears as she cried out, "The Tartars burn, kill, and loot, invading our land! These people are supported by the people, living in luxury, yet they still commit treason!"

He roared, "I will tear them to pieces!!"

The room fell silent. Everyone knew that her sister had died at the hands of the enemy. Could it be that she had been betrayed by her own people?

Zhang Ting sighed, then rose to comfort the general, "It is truly heartbreaking that such a thing happened, but fortunately we discovered it in time. However, traitors must not be tolerated. I will send an urgent message to His Majesty, asking her to severely punish the traitor and comfort the spirits of the fallen heroes!"

Tang Qiuyue, a girl of only eight feet tall, sobbed and knelt down with a thud. "Qiuyue thanks you for your kindness, sir. The Tang family will always remember your kindness."

Zhang Ting helped the woman up, saying, "I'm not doing this for you, but for every martyr who sacrificed their life for the country. They need real justice!"

The enemy's bugle call sounded, and Zhang Ting paused, then looked at Tang Qiuyue with a deep gaze. "General Tang, pick up your sword. Our chance for revenge has come."

The soldiers, who were originally defeated and demoralized, were inspired with the flames of revenge and charged into battle with renewed vigor, fighting fearlessly and defeating the enemy in one fell swoop, winning a small victory.

The entire army sang and danced to celebrate the hard-won victory. Tang Qiuyue and Han Yunying both showed long-lost smiles on their faces. After Zhang Ting finished her congratulatory speech, she left the stage, followed by Zheng Xiaotang.

At this time, the moon was bright and the stars were few.

The small victory did not alleviate Zhang Ting's pressure; on the contrary, it made her heart even heavier. The battlefield is a cruel meat grinder; the enemy suffered three thousand casualties, while our soldiers sacrificed ten thousand.

A victory won at a high cost was never what Zhang Ting wanted. A protracted and costly war would cripple a country's economy, cause widespread suffering, and make recovery difficult even after years of painstaking efforts.

She desperately wanted to end the war quickly, giving the exhausted and already suffering people a chance to catch their breath. But where should she begin?

The following day, in response to the casualties, reinforcements were needed. Notices were posted in Zhangzhou Prefecture and the nearby Tongzhou and Taizhou Prefectures to expand the army and send troops to the front lines.

Joining the army on a campaign is a life-or-death matter. In previous years, people would rather break their hands, cripple their feet, or go blind than go. But this time, the response was enthusiastic, with people signing up stretching from the north to the south of the city, with no end in sight.

The person who signed up was incredibly proud, saying, "I want to follow Lord Zhang to protect our country! I want to follow Lord Zhang to drive those scoundrels out of our homes!"

Some people laughed at her for rushing to her death, but she was immediately retorted: "What do you know? Do you know who Lord Zhang is? He's a god in our Zhangzhou Prefecture, he'll definitely win!"

The army only recruited 10,000 men, so naturally there were those who failed the exam. They hung their heads and wailed, "It's one thing for the ignorant to be unable to follow Lord Zhang, but how come I, a man of ambition, am a step behind! Even if I die for the country with you, Lord Zhang, I will still be honored!"

In almost half a day, the recruitment quota was filled, and two people were almost forced to join.

After dismissing those who had been forced in, Han Yunying compiled the list into a book and respectfully presented it to Zhang Ting.

Zhang Ting turned the pages one by one, familiar names leaping into view. The hand holding the paper paused in mid-air, then gently fell. "Half of them are people from Fengxian."

Han Yunying was slightly taken aback, and said, "Yes, Li County is closest to Fengxian, so they get the news faster there. Does Your Excellency think this is inappropriate?"

Zhang Ting closed the roster and shook his head. "No. New recruits are being drilled as usual." His hands, clasped together in his sleeves, tightened slightly.

At a command, the new recruits began training in an orderly fashion. However, the veterans couldn't stand the newcomers. The battlefield was a serious place, so why were they all smiling so broadly all the time? What kind of behavior was this!

Not long after, a conflict broke out. It started when new recruit Wang Ermazi went to the river to fetch water and was teased by veteran Li Da. Feeling humiliated, Wang Ermazi started a fight, which escalated into a brawl between new recruits and veterans.

When Zhang Ting arrived, there was a cloud of dust and smoke; the fight had gone on so fiercely that people had forgotten all about love.

She sternly stopped them, and the scene immediately fell silent. After understanding the reason, they were utterly speechless.

When Wang Ermazi saw her arrive, he chuckled twice, his eyes bruised and swollen. "Grandma, you—" Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Ting glared at him, and he immediately stopped talking, shrinking back guiltily.

Seeing this, Li Da sneered. They were old people, so of course the general would stand on their side. What were you little punks compared to them?

Zhang Ting had her own set of rules for handling conflicts. She sternly told the two to get married immediately without fail.

Both new and veteran soldiers were dumbfounded. What?

Li Da was the first to object, hurriedly saying, "General, I...I like men, but she's a woman, no way!"

Zhang Ting said coldly, "If you don't like her, why are you flirting with her?"

Li Da mumbled, unable to speak.

"Look at yourself! Who would want to marry you?" Wang Ermazi said smugly, and the new recruits behind him chimed in with their own tough attitude.

Zhang Ting turned her head away. "A beating is a sign of affection, a scolding is a sign of love. If you're not going to marry me, why did you hit me first?"

Wang Ermazi mumbled something and then fell silent.

The veterans and new recruits on both sides remained silent, behaving obediently and quietly.

Zhang Ting ordered both sides to conduct joint military drills, and that she would officiate at the wedding if things continued as they were today.

As soon as she left, the new and old recruits gave her disapproving looks, sighed, and scattered.

After this incident, the new recruits and veterans who joined the camp got along well and never had any more disputes.

Late at night, Zhang Cun San sneaked into the main tent with his men.

Zhang Ting was about to go to sleep fully clothed when she heard a soft rustling sound. She quietly drew her sword, but when she saw the other person, he suddenly knelt down in front of her, crying his heart out. It was a truly moving scene.

Zhang Ting was speechless for a moment, then sheathed his sword. "What brings you here to see me in the middle of the night?"

What's even more speechless is that the other party said, "I brought my sisters to pay respects to the county magistrate, we're all one of our own."

Zhang Ting's mood was complicated. She pinched her brow and rubbed it lightly. "There is no such thing as factions in the army, and I will not show favoritism to you just because I am familiar with you." Thinking about the recent performance of the new recruits, she emphasized, "War is cruel and merciless. People can die at any time. Now that you have joined the army, you should be mentally prepared. There is absolutely no such thing as desertion here."

Zhang Cun San: "Deserters? We've already reformed and stopped being petty hooligans."

Is that what she meant? Zhang Ting laughed in anger, pointed at her, and said, "If you can't handle things on the battlefield and cause chaos in the army, I'll hold you accountable."

Zhang Cun San opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to shift the blame, but he succumbed to Zhang Ting's tyranny and replied with a wronged expression, "Oh."

Zhang Ting was tired and told them to go and rest, and not to come looking for her unless it was absolutely necessary.

Zhang Cun San ignored her disdain, suddenly stood up, and said mysteriously, "By the way, Madam County Magistrate, we've caught a spy!"

Zhang Ting was jolted awake, his mind clearing instantly and all drowsiness vanishing. "What spy?"

Zhang Cun gestured, and someone went out and dragged a person in. This person was tied up tightly and was struggling and writhing on the ground like a maggot.

Zhang Ting frowned. Her appearance was no different from that of a soldier in the army. How could she be a spy? He asked her if she had any evidence.

"Of course!" Zhang Cun San said confidently, bending down to pull the smelly sock out of the man's mouth, and the man then rattled off a string of gibberish.

The main problem is that I can't understand a single word. What else could I be but a spy?

Zhang Ting agreed with her opinion, but asked, "Do you know what she's talking about?"

Spy: &￥#6@%！ &#@！

Everyone frowned and slowly shook their heads.

Zhang Ting sighed. "Never mind, it doesn't sound like nice talk. Drag him out and kill him."

"Someone come here—"

"I know." The man, dressed in a soldier's uniform, walked in.

There were quite a few people suddenly appearing today. Zhang Ting felt that the person in front of her looked familiar, but she couldn't remember who it was.

"you?"

"It's me." He took off his helmet and smiled at her.

Zhang Ting dredged her memory from the depths of his mind, looking blank and puzzled. "Li An, why aren't you waiting in the capital for your official appointment? What are you doing here?"

Wasn't her lifelong dream to be an official? She finally passed the provincial examination and then the imperial examination with great difficulty, yet she abandoned her official post to fight in the war?

Li An said, "You, Zhang Ting, are allowed to risk your life for the country, but I, Li An, am not allowed to do my part?" After saying that, she pointed to the spy on the ground, "My family has some trade dealings with the border regions, and I know a little about the southern language." She appeared relatively calm, but her palms were sweaty, fearing that Zhang Ting would kick her out because of old grudges.

"It would be foolish not to use talented people," Zhang Ting said, straightening her expression. "Please sit down, Sister Li."

Li Ansong sighed, and upon hearing the familiar address, he couldn't help but smile. He then translated what he had heard to Zhang Ting.

"This person said that the 500,000-strong royal army from the southern desert is on its way and will leave us without a burial place." After saying this, her face turned pale.

Zhang Ting, however, keenly picked up on two words in the conversation: "The royal army?"

Ang Lee received her message and, with a pale face, spoke with the spy, but the spy refused to say anything.

Zhang Ting still couldn't get her to talk? She looked at Li An and pleaded with her, "Sister Li, then I'm afraid you'll have to go through with this."

Ang Lee was a little nervous, but he still nodded.

Before long, Tang Qiuyue arrived and dragged away the spy, with Li An accompanying her.

Before long, screams of agony came from a tent filled with a foul stench.

After a while, the screams stopped. Li An walked out, trembling all over. "The royal army is led by the Crown Prince of Mo Nan, who has gathered all the troops in the country and is secretly marching towards Zhangzhou Prefecture. They are only seven days away from our army."

Zhang Tingming understood that our army had been expanding all along, and currently had a total of 100,000 soldiers. It would be impossible to raise 500,000 in another seven days. Even if we had 500,000, we would not be able to compete with the well-equipped troops of the Mo Nan army.

This defeat is inevitable.

But she had a dirty trick up her sleeve.