Your Majesty, please spare Diao Chan; your yang energy is too strong.

Although they knew the person who came was Zhang Ning.

However, Zhou Heng did not go to see them immediately.

After all, sometimes, not seeing someone is also a form of attitude.

Of course... the main issue is my current state. If I were to go see her, wouldn't that make her think I'm not good enough?

How could a man tolerate this?

Therefore, it was impossible for Zhou Heng to see her now.

It wasn't until three days later.

Just as Zhang Ning was feeling restless.

Zhou Heng finally managed to push open the other party's door.

What happened next is naturally not something that can be told to outsiders.

This lover, whom she had only met once, had already stolen her heart.

Zhang Ning could be described as tossing and turning in bed.

Especially that poem, "Why must one's bones be buried in one's hometown? Where in life are there no green hills?"

It touched her heart deeply.

With such ambition, who else in the world could rival me?

In addition, the preceding Qingping Tune helped to open the other person's heart.

It could be said that her heart had long been with Zhou Heng.

Lately, every time I wake up in the middle of the night, I think of that heart-pounding scene.

I saw this man again now.

All the words were transformed into passion amidst the gunfire.

The two already had a foundation of affection for each other.

Now, especially when their own power is in dire straits.

The other party spared no effort in helping.

Under such dual emotions, nothing brings more peace of mind than being together.

"Zhou Lang, now, my Black Mountain Army is trapped in Ji Province by Yuan Shao."

"Without strong support, we probably won't be able to hold out for long."

After a night.

Zhang Ning finally revealed his purpose for coming.

In fact.

This was precisely because the Black Mountain Army was already on the verge of collapse.

That's why she rushed here as soon as Zhou Heng returned to Xuzhou.

Because Zhang Yan was constantly and closely monitoring everything about Zhou Heng.

After confirming that the other party had left Yanzhou.

They immediately set off at breakneck speed, even going so far as to send their own holy maiden away.

Their goal was to get reinforcements from Zhou Heng.

This would solve the urgent problem for their Black Mountain army.

"Oh, although Cao Cao has withdrawn his troops, the situation in Bingzhou is not optimistic. Could it be that Yuan Shao did not transfer Yan Liang to Youzhou?"

Zhou Heng frowned.

Of course, with his intelligence, he knew what had happened.

However, one should still put on an act when necessary.

After all, when I was trapped in Yanzhou, you didn't offer me any help.

If you had chosen to rely on yourselves back then.

Believe it or not, I'll just take Cao Cao down.

You don't think about offering help when someone is in need.

Now that I'm down on my luck, I'm thinking of myself.

What am I supposed to think?

My feelings for Zhang Ning are just that—feelings.

However, Zhang Yan's way of doing things did make him somewhat unhappy.

Naturally, I had to say something to make a sarcastic remark.

"Indeed, 50,000 troops were dispatched, but the fighting strength of my Black Mountain Army... even with only 50,000, they suffered repeated defeats."

"Yan Liang was even more valiant, killing several of our generals in succession."

"The Black Mountain Army's supplies all come from Jizhou, but now the enemy has blocked the passage between Taihang Mountain and Jizhou."

"Our troops are not receiving supplies."

"Relying solely on the Taihang Mountains is simply not enough to support a million-strong Black Mountain Army."

"With our current food reserves, we can probably only last for three more months at most."

"Once food supplies are cut off, the million-strong Black Mountain army will likely collapse in an instant."

Zhang Ning naturally sensed the dissatisfaction in Zhou Heng's words, but still shook his head and said...

As a branch of the Yellow Turban Army, the Black Mountain Army's fighting strength was questionable.

The Black Mountain Army is said to be a million-strong army.

However, the number of soldiers capable of fighting is definitely no more than 200,000.

Moreover, most of these 200,000 were farmers who had not received systematic training, and the weapons they carried were a motley collection.

Those carrying knives cost no more than 50,000.

This was after they had successively captured several major counties in Ji Province during this period.

They acquired a considerable amount of weapons and equipment.

Otherwise, the situation would be even worse.

With just such a rabble.

How could they be a match for Yan Liang's 50,000 elite troops?

This is why many people believe that the Yellow Turban Rebellion would never amount to anything.

There is still a big gap between a rabble and an elite force.

Zhou Heng was in the same situation back then.

However, with the support of the two major families, Zhou Heng's situation can be described as going against the tide.

First and foremost are weapons and armor.

Zhou Heng now commands over ten thousand sets of armor.

Don't assume that armored vehicles are rare.

It should be noted that many feudal lords today wear only cloth and leather armor.

Very few possess iron armor.

Zhou Heng, however, was able to produce 10,000 sets of iron armor in just two years.

What concept is this?

It is now arguably the most powerful force besides the major warlords such as Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Liu Biao.

The rest of his troops were all wearing leather armor.

If there weren't so few people making armor, this number would have increased several times over.

Because of Zhou Heng's mining and iron smelting technology.

Iron means nothing to him now.

The only difficulty lies in the craftsmanship.

after all..........

Ironclad armor was still very difficult to build in this era.

Especially chainmail.

It would take a craftsman two days and nights to forge a single set of chainmail.

Even if it is like the Mingguang Armor of later generations.

Armor of that caliber would be extremely difficult to forge in this era.

Even a craftsman working day and night needs a long time to complete a project.

This limited the number of his armors.

Secondly, there's the matter of provisions.

With the support of two major families, Zhou Heng now has over a million units of grain in his possession.

They have countless riches.

In this era, ordinary soldiers are still paid military salaries.

One can imagine how wealthy Zhou Heng must have been.

You need to know what Yuan Shao is like now.

It was just a meal for ordinary soldiers.

Very little was paid to the soldiers.

Only in the later stages, when a three-way balance of power was established, would soldiers be paid their wages.

Now, apart from Liu Biao of Jingzhou, Zhou Heng is probably the only one who can do this.

Although Boss Cao also wanted to do so.

However, even Cao Cao himself is struggling financially, so where would he get the money to pay the army's salaries?

It can be said like this.

Even if the two major families under Zhou Heng cease operations within the next three years.

Zhou Heng's grain reserves were enough to feed his troops for three years.

One can imagine how powerful they are and how much money they have saved.

Finally, there are the soldiers and horses.

Before leaving Xuzhou, Zhou Heng had nearly 20,000 soldiers.

They robbed the Black Mountain Army of 5,000 men and gained 12,000 soldiers from the Zhen family.

This caused his army to surge to nearly 20,000.

Xuzhou recruited 50,000 new soldiers during this period.

It can be said that if Zhou Heng really puts all his strength into it...

They can muster at least 90,000 troops.