Tiger Guards

Chapter 748: It's Hard to Leave Home
Langya Kingdom, Kaiyang.

This is where Zang Ba's military garrison is located. Most of the areas in northern Langya suitable for settlement and reclamation have been occupied and cultivated by Zang Ba and his group of refugee leaders.

After so many years of mutual struggle and accumulation, the military settlements in northern Langya have all been fortified.

Stimulated by the intense warfare in the outside world, Zang Ba and other displaced leaders had no choice but to unite closely.

Their fellow villagers and followers still had the opportunity to surrender and become slaves, but these leaders of displaced people were often executed unless they were offered a conditional surrender.

Therefore, these people were very determined to resist external invasion, yet they refused to continue migrating.

Leaving behind the fertile land they had cultivated for so long, abandoning the fortified villages they had spent years building, and then leaving their homes and families to travel more than 3,000 miles across the Central Plains to the distant Hedong, Taiyuan, and Guanzhong regions—this was far too dangerous and not worthwhile for the armed refugees who had already settled down.

If a leader of the refugees cannot take care of the fundamental interests and demands of the vast majority of armed refugees, he is easily abandoned or replaced by a more popular subordinate or a leader of the refugees with opposing views.

This put Zang Ba in a very difficult position. If he did not migrate with Zhang Zhao, the native people of Langya, the four tribes of Qingzhou, and some people from Lianghuai who came to Langya to escape the chaos, he would not be able to hold onto this small territory in northern Langya by relying solely on the strength of the refugee leader.

Not only will they be unable to hold their ground, but having lost external support, the refugee commander will also lose his room for maneuver.

Whether it's uniting the strength of all the refugee leaders for a decisive battle, or relying on various fortresses to defend step by step, both are extremely passive and dangerous.

The overall military strength of the refugee leader is certainly no match for Sun Ce's group, which has been fighting across the land and on all sides. In terms of ferocity, they are also no match for Sun Ce's group. Because of their attack on Jiangdong, Sun Ce's group is currently the group with the strongest experience in attacking fortified positions among all parties.

In a decisive battle, the well-organized Sun Ce group would most likely be able to crush the combined forces of the refugee generals.

And relying on the fortress to defend step by step... No one understands the nature of the refugee leader and the bottom line of the armed refugees better than Zang Ba. As long as Sun Ce's side shows reliable attack capabilities, the refugee leader and the armed refugees will naturally support Sun Ce.

As long as their basic interests are guaranteed, armed refugees are willing to serve Sun Ce in exchange for recognition of the current results of the land reclamation efforts.

Therefore, in terms of their inherent structure, there is a natural basis for the alliance between the armed refugees and Sun Ce.

These displaced leaders naturally didn't have many options.

As the armed refugees formed a new consensus and prepared to deeply integrate with Sun Ce's group, these refugee leaders were actually the weakest party.

If you dare to obstruct us, you will be easily eliminated; if you want to rise above others in the future, it will depend on whether Sun Ce appreciates and trusts you.

Under these circumstances, Zang Ba was reluctant to part with the armed refugees under his command, nor with the support of other small and medium-sized refugee leaders.

For someone like Zang Ba, who was used to being the elder brother, he would rather live a hard life than abandon his followers and let them be bullied.

Therefore, the attitude of the vast majority of armed refugees was the same as that of Zang Ba.

His dilemma stemmed from his foresight of the potential bloodshed in future confrontations with the Jin army.

He didn't want to fight Zhao Ji, not only because Zhao Ji's record was terrifying, but also because Zhao Ji had done him a great favor.

He was originally a minor official in Xuzhou, but was later recruited as a Gentleman of the Palace based on his filial piety and integrity. He was then promoted to Imperial Censor, then to Consultant Gentleman of the Palace, and finally appointed Governor of Qingzhou.

During that period, imperial envoys arrived daily, each bestowing new titles, and within five days, they managed to complete Zang Ba's resume, which included information on his background as a candidate for the civil service examination.

Zhao Ji valued and promoted him so highly, which must have meant he faced a lot of criticism and pressure from the court. He could only be considered to have completed his mission adequately; after defeating Beihai and driving out Yuan Tan, he did not pursue further in order to preserve his strength.

Now, forced into this situation, if he were to join the opposing camp, and the two armies were to clash on the battlefield in the future, he truly wouldn't know how he would face Zhao Ji.

Because Zang Ba was still hesitant, Zhang Zhao had to come and persuade him personally.

Perhaps Zhao Ji's deterrent power was too strong, because even though some refugee leaders were already restless, they still dared not intercept or capture Zhang Zhao.

Inside Zang Ba's residence as General of Andong, Zhang Zhao saw that there were quite a few guards on duty, and naturally understood that this was not a show of force from Zang Ba, but rather a sign that the situation had deteriorated to this point.

Even Zang Ba himself wanted to strengthen the security of his residence.

Otherwise, if they were kidnapped by some refugee leader or military officer, they would truly become a laughing stock of the world.

In the backyard, inside the waterside pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, Zang Ba was playing the zither alone when Zhang Zhao came from the waterside corridor, standing right behind Zang Ba.

The two were already acquainted. When Tao Qian was in charge of Xuzhou, he repeatedly recruited Zhang Zhao, but Zhang Zhao refused to serve. However, he still moved around under Tao Qian's nose. At that time, Zang Ba, who had been recruited to surrender, would also come to Tao Qian's side on official business. After attending several banquets, they naturally got to know each other.

In fact, the two had known each other for much longer, but at that time one was not yet a rising star whose talent impressed Xu Huai, and the other was not yet a chivalrous hero who rescued his father from a prison cart.

At this moment, Zhang Zhao listened to Zang Ba's music and understood some of Zang Ba's inner thoughts.

When the music stopped, Zhang Zhao moved to the side of the pavilion, facing the water and looking at the large lotus leaves and the unopened lotus buds that were still above the water. He said to Zang Ba behind him, "Things have come to this point. Although it is a calamity that has transformed Xuan Gao's body, is it not also a kind of rebirth?"

Zang Ba turned to look at Zhang Zhao's retreating figure and simply smiled: "How easy is that? If you can change your appearance like this, then you're still me, Zang Xuan Gao?"

His background as a leader of displaced people was too strong, which was very detrimental to his normal career path.

But without the support of the armed refugees, what would be left for him?
Zang Ba understood Zhang Zhao's meaning, but he just couldn't bear to part with his troops.

Zhang Zhao turned and stared at Zang Ba: "General Xuan Gao should understand that the Grand Tutor will definitely lead his army to this battle in person. Petty men are driven by profit and have no long-term vision. If the Grand Tutor leads his troops back to his hometown, those petty men will switch allegiances again and turn their backs on Xuan Gao. Why bother with that?"

Zang Ba fell silent upon hearing this. If Grand Tutor Zhao really fought back, then all the big and small rebel leaders would surely vie to support him!

Survival and development are the priorities of the refugee leader, not morality.

After hesitating for a long time, Zang Ba couldn't help but say, "Master Zibu, now that the Grand Tutor is at odds with all the people of the world, his personal wisdom and thinking must have some shortcomings. How can he possibly surpass all the heroes in every aspect? It is only natural that he will make some mistakes. In my opinion, that day is not far off."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhao became even more puzzled and angry: "These are the words of a sorcerer! Have we not seen the lessons of Jiao He and Zhang Jin who were misled by sorcerers?"

He had naturally heard similar opinions, believing that Zhao Ji rose to power by taking advantage of the fate of the Han dynasty, and now that he was rebelling against the Han, Heaven would not protect him and he would surely perish.

Zang Ba remained silent, and Zhang Zhao, being upright by nature, would not lower himself to repeatedly persuade him. Seeing that Zang Ba was stubborn and unrepentant, Zhang Zhao turned around and cupped his hands, saying, "Now that things have come to this, I hope General Andong will take care of himself."

After saying that, he turned and strode away. Zang Ba wanted to raise his hand to call him back, but felt that would be even more embarrassing. He could only watch Zhang Zhao's departing figure with a blank expression.

(End of this chapter)