Chapter 44: Ambition Arises! Preparing for the Future!

After Zhang Han left, Zhao Feng couldn't wait to open the treasure chest he received for breaking through 700 in all attributes.

"Open the Tier-1 Treasure Chest."

"Obtained [500 taels of gold]," the system prompt appeared.

"Adding it all up, I now have over 5,000 taels of gold in my storage space, but I can't even spend it on the battlefield," Zhao Feng muttered to himself.

Seeing yet another haul of gold, Zhao Feng wasn't particularly excited. To him at this stage, the gold was nothing more than shiny, unusable wealth.

Even if he wanted to send some to his mother, there was no feasible way. In this era, transportation was far from convenient, and there was no proper postal system. During wartime, even sending a letter home was difficult. For example, delivering a letter from here in Korea to his hometown would take about ten days under normal circumstances. However, in reality, the process could take one or two months.

As for sending gold home? If the military law enforcers under the central army's Sima division discovered it, Zhao Feng would undoubtedly face severe punishment.

"This gold needs to be used. If not, it's just wasted potential," Zhao Feng thought. "If I could use it to nurture my people, they wouldn't just serve to protect my mother and sister they could also become crucial allies for my future ambitions."

"Qin's unification will inevitably lead to the chaos of the Qin's end. I can't avoid it, so why not prepare myself and seize the opportunity?" Zhao Feng's mind raced.

The thought of the future history stoked a spark of ambition in his heart. Even Liu Bang, a mere village magistrate and scoundrel, had risen to power and achieved dominance. Zhao Feng's current position was leagues ahead of where Liu Bang had started.

Now, having joined the main battle corps, Zhao Feng was confident that he could continue earning merits and climbing the ranks. When Qin ultimately unified the land, Zhao Feng couldn't even fathom how far he might rise.

If the day came when chaos broke out, and he already held power, Zhao Feng was confident in his ability to carve out a place for himself in the world. Even if the heavens truly had a will, wouldn't his strength be enough to defy it?

Historically, there was a Qin general named Zhao Tuo. Dispatched by the First Emperor of Qin to govern the southern regions, Zhao Tuo commanded tens of thousands of Qin troops and ultimately established the Kingdom of Nanyue. He survived the transition from the Qin dynasty to the Han dynasty, outlasting several emperors.

"Endurance?" Zhao Feng sneered. "With my ability to collect life force, who could outlast me?"

"'Kings and princes, are they born to rule?'" Zhao Feng whispered, repeating the phrase. "It's not just an inspiration it's a call to action."

"Previously, I thought I'd return home in two years and avoid the chaos of the future. Now, that idea feels laughable. If I lack power in the upcoming turmoil, how could I possibly protect my mother and sister? How could I marry Wang Yan?"

"Qin's unification and the ensuing chaos are inevitable. If that's the case, I'll make my move, stake my claim, and fight for my place in this world."

At that moment, Zhao Feng's mindset completely transformed. He now saw his earlier hopes of retreating as naïve and shortsighted.

Time flew by. After more than half a month, the Qin army camped less than five miles from Xinzheng, the capital of Han.

Over 90,000 Qin troops had gathered, uniting into a single force. With this, it was clear: all the surrounding cities of Xinzheng had been captured by the Qin army.

Now, they stood at the gates of the Han capital itself.

Main Command Tent

Li Teng, seated as the commanding general, was surrounded by more than a dozen officers, both from the main battle corps and the logistics division.

"The Han capital is within reach. What are your thoughts?" Li Teng asked, his gaze sweeping across the room.

"General, I am willing to serve as the vanguard to breach the Han capital!" Ten battle corps commanders stood and saluted, their voices ringing out in unison.

Seeing this, a smile appeared on Li Teng's face. He picked up a bamboo scroll from the table and held it high. "When we were at Yangcheng, the Supreme General ordered us to capture the Han capital and capture the King of Han within two months.

"Now, less than half a month has passed, and you have already captured all the surrounding cities of the Han capital. This speaks not only to the valor of our officers but also to the unparalleled might of the Qin army."

"Although the Supreme General gave us two months, that is his deadline, not ours," Li Teng continued, raising his voice. "I now ask you this: can we take Xinzheng within half a month?"

The gathered officers exchanged glances, none showing hesitation. In unison, they declared, "We will do our utmost!"

Li Teng nodded, then turned to the logistics officers. "General Song, is our grain supply sufficient?"

"Rest assured, General. Supplies are being transported continuously, and the supply lines are intact. There will be no delay in supporting the army," the logistics officer replied confidently.

"And our weapons and siege equipment?" Li Teng asked another officer.

"All intact, General. Arrows are plentiful, and all types of siege equipment are in position," the officer replied.

Hearing this, Li Teng nodded with satisfaction. "Very good. Tomorrow, we'll begin by firing 30,000 arrows and hurling 5,000 flaming stones to weaken the Han soldiers' morale. After that, the infantry will attack."

"For the vanguard, Wu Hua will take the lead," Li Teng announced.

A burly officer immediately stood and saluted with excitement. "I will ensure the Han capital falls!"

"Excellent," Li Teng said. "Everyone, prepare. Tomorrow is the decisive moment. Completing this mission ahead of schedule will make you all heroes of Qin."

With that, Li Teng dismissed the meeting, and the officers left to prepare their respective units.

Once alone, Li Teng stood before the map of Xinzheng, his gaze firm. "The blunder at Yangcheng nearly cost me everything. Now, I wear the mark of shame. Only by taking Xinzheng can I atone for my mistakes, reclaim my honor, and rise even higher."

"This opportunity was not easy to come by. If I fail, I may never command troops or gain merits again."

Qin Army Camp – Zhao Feng's Unit

Zhao Feng sat with his commanders around a campfire.

"Autumn's only just begun, yet the nights are already this cold," Zhang Han said, rubbing his hands by the fire. "In a few months, winter will truly be unbearable."

Zhao Feng smiled faintly, thinking to himself, This era doesn't have global warming; of course, it's much colder.