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墨書 Inktalez
Hearing this, Luzi was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. It is said that true feelings are revealed in times of hardship, and only those who have experienced it can understand. He hurriedly comforted, "Hang in there! We just need to hold on until tomorrow afternoon, and we can go home!"
He remembered the agreed return plan, which stated that the pickup time was during the early hours of the night. Xiao Yu'er was present at the meeting, so he knew the return time. Hearing Luzi's intention to stay and watch the sunrise, he thought he must have misheard. "Aren't we leaving tonight?"
Luzi covered Xiao Yu'er with a thick cloak, shook his head, and said nothing more. The secret infiltration had already been discovered by the Zhao Army, so it was no longer a covert operation. The formations set up along the way had been hindering the pursuers' approach. Without these arrangements, there would likely be a large number of Zhao Army soldiers behind them by now.
On the riverbank, the patrol methods would also change due to someone crossing the river. This meant that the original evacuation plan had completely failed. If they dared to venture into the river now, this small team would probably be shot dead by flying arrows before they even reached the center of the river.
Li Xin returned from his reconnaissance mission yesterday evening with astonishing news. Due to the Qin Army scouts successfully crossing the Dan Shui River, General Lian Po was furious and directly held accountable the captain of the Patrol Team and the Centurion responsible for that division. They not only reinforced Sentinel troops at all possible landing points but also set up numerous torches for illumination along the riverbank.
Now, not to mention swimming across the river, even getting close to the Dan Shui River's bank required luck! If someone looked as ugly as Wang Jian, they would probably be shot full of holes before they even surfaced!
Upon hearing this news, everyone in the room exchanged glances. Setting aside who was handsome or ugly, if any member of the winter swimming team were discovered by Zhao Army Sentinels, it would lead to disaster for the entire team. If that were to happen, it would truly be a case of unfulfilled ambitions!
What should they do now?
Luzi noticed everyone looking at him and quickly tried to lighten the mood. "Since Zhao Army doesn't want us to leave, let's just stay a few more days!"
At this statement, everyone in the room fell silent in disbelief. They were risking freezing to death while crossing Dan Shui River precisely because they had a reconnaissance mission! If they couldn't send out the information gathered this time, then the slaughter from a few days ago would continue. Just thinking about how many brothers might die tragically in icy waters filled his heart with dread.
Luzi sighed heavily in disappointment. "Alright! Everyone who needs to eat should go eat; those who need to sleep should go sleep. If you can't sleep, just lie down and don't move!"
This clearly meant for his brothers to take good care of themselves and rest well; serious rest was only warranted when there was significant business at hand. The brothers looked at their calm General Lu and suddenly realized that this Mountain King already had a plan in mind. So they stopped worrying and dispersed back to their rooms for a good sleep.
Li Xin hurriedly chased after them, shouting, "Don't all go to sleep! We must ensure that someone is on duty!"
Luzi took the rice ball that Wang Jian handed over, but only looked at it without eating. Holding it in his hand, he said, "If we can hold out until spring to face the Zhao Army, perhaps we can achieve victory without fighting. Alas! What a pity!"
The previous text mentioned the importance of supplies for the army engaged in battle, especially regarding the issue of frontline troops receiving New Grain transported from the rear. The troops had already consumed this year's New Grain, indicating that the Zhao Army was on the verge of running out of supplies!
Wang Jian looked down at the rice ball in his hand and asked, "It's really strange! I haven't heard of any disasters in Zhao. For the past three years, the weather has been favorable. We are having a good harvest year; how could they be out of surplus grain?"
Luzi shook his head with a smile and took a bite, savoring the flavor of the rice. "Who says they haven't had disasters? It's just not natural disasters; it's something else entirely!"
The Qin State implemented reforms later than other Feudal States, rapidly rising only after Shang Yang's reforms. With the old system completely abolished, the national economy experienced a qualitative leap. Rewards for farming were introduced, and outstanding individuals could even be exempted from labor duties. This led to a significant amount of land being cultivated, and the timely completion of taxes gradually filled the state treasury.
However, this reform abolished the well-field system, directly shaking the foundations of the noble officials. The power and land of these noble ministers were severely weakened, leading them to harbor resentment against Shang Yang.
After King Huiwen of Qin ascended to the throne, this reformer lost his loyal supporters. While fleeing, he was hunted down by the Qin Army and his body was returned to the country for execution. Despite such a tragic end for the reformer, his comprehensive reform policies continued to be implemented. Coupled with the twenty-level Military Merit Reward he established still being effective, it ultimately laid a strong foundation for the Qin State.
At this time, however, Zhao was in deep trouble. The royal family and nobles were still heavily involved in extensive land reclamation. They forcibly bought and sold land, acquiring countless fertile fields. Wealth often began with how much land one owned, causing many farmers to lose their own land.
This resulted in a widening gap between the rich and poor. The taxes collected by the state only added fuel to the fire; those who should have paid more taxes could evade them through various connections or pay less by substituting inferior goods. Meanwhile, farmers who should have paid little or no taxes were driven to near bankruptcy and forced to sell their children for survival. Over time, the state's grain reserves were transferred to wealthy households' Grain Storage.
Wang Jian looked at the rice ball made from New Grain and sighed deeply, feeling an inexplicable anger and sorrow. He wondered whose household's rations this might be or if it was seed meant for planting in spring next year. Now it had been requisitioned for use as military rations for soldiers on the front lines! The Zhao Army soldiers fighting in harsh conditions were eating substandard or even moldy rice supplied by wealthy families!
Thinking of this, Wang Jian angrily tossed the rice ball back into his bag. He stood up and shouted furiously, "This is truly more ferocious than natural disasters! These Zhao Army soldiers fighting desperately on the front lines—who are they protecting? Whose land are they defending? Why are they fighting? Why are they dying?"
......
Yes! Who are they fighting for!? Sitting in the snow cave, Luzi gazed at the gray sky, feeling an inexplicable sense of oppression. He reached out to catch a pure white snowflake falling from above, watching it slowly melt into a crystal-clear tear in his palm. At that moment, he suddenly understood a truth.
They are fighting for their country! They are fighting for their fellow townspeople, brothers, and sisters! Even if it means becoming a pile of bones in this world, they will resolutely embrace this belief! This belief, forged with their lives and blood, will be reborn like a phoenix rising from the ashes!
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