When Zhao Hanzhang and her group reached Xiping, it was already late at night, but the fortified estate was still filled with earth-shaking battle cries, and firelight lit up half the sky red.
Zhao Hanzhang’s group approached closer and discovered that the beans near the fortified estate and some unharvested rice were all burning.
This area didn’t grow much rice—it was mostly wheat, with the remainder being various beans and melons. It was currently autumn harvest time. With this fire, and the autumn wind blowing like this, the beans in the fields were basically all destroyed, not to mention the rice.
Zhao Hanzhang felt heartache just watching, let alone the people on the fortified estate.
So the people on the fortified estate threw stones down while loudly cursing. Much profanity that Zhao Hanzhang had never even heard of drifted freely across the fields, lingering for a long time.
Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze fell on two banners and followed them to find a robust middle-aged man not far away.
He was tall and imposing, very conspicuous among the skinny chaotic troops. He was staring intently at the fortified estate not far away.
Having fought for a whole day, they were already exhausted beyond measure, but they couldn’t stop. He knew the opposition was even more exhausted.
His eyes were full of excitement as he drew his great blade and roared toward the sky, rallying the chaotic troops again, “They can’t hold on anymore. Just one more charge into the fortified estate and this entire fortified estate will be ours. Look at this fertile soil, look at that towering fortified estate—inside there’s endless grain and gold and silver treasures. Everyone, follow me and charge—”
Zhao Hanzhang saw the tottering main gate covered in red bloodstains and knew they had once broken into the fortified estate.
“They can’t hold on anymore,” Zhao Hanzhang looked at the frequency of counterattacks from the fortified estate and said quietly, “Right now is the most fatiguing time of day. Having fought for a whole day, both psychologically and physically they’ve reached their limit.”
She had sharp ears and, though far away, still vaguely heard Shi Lei rallying the chaotic troops to launch a final attack.
She gripped her long spear tightly, “We can’t wait for them. Let’s harass them first and delay their general assault.”
Fu Tinghan said, “We only have fifty-two people. We can’t go deep—we can only cut through from the side.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, “I know. You stay here with two people. I’ll take them.”
Fu Tinghan grabbed her, “I’ll go with you.”
“You stay here and watch for me. If we get surrounded, remember to warn us.”
Fu Tinghan thought about it and realized that was true. After all, this was their first battle. Being in the midst of it, if they weren’t careful and got surrounded, what would they do?
He released his hand and said quietly, “Be careful.”
Zhao Hanzhang acknowledged, turned to mount her horse, and left Fu’an and two retainers to protect Fu Tinghan, “Everyone else follow me into battle. Let’s go—”
Shi Lei had finished his pre-battle encouragement and was waving his great blade, leading the charge toward the fortified estate first.
The people on the tower had nothing left to throw. They had even thrown down wood, furniture and everything else.
Seeing them charge again, the exhausted Zhao Ming said in a deep voice, “Come, let’s go down to meet the enemy.”
Everyone responded with a low “Yes” and was about to follow Zhao Ming down when suddenly, a cavalry unit flew out of the darkness into the firelit battlefield. Zhao Hanzhang led the charge, sweeping her long spear horizontally. One person had no time to react and had his throat slashed…
The rear immediately fell into chaos.
The people on the fortified estate were instantly energized and shouted, “Young master, it’s reinforcements!”
Zhao Ming rushed forward and leaned against the wall to look into the distance, “What reinforcements?”
A retainer with good eyesight barely made out the person on horseback and shouted, “It’s Sanniang! It’s Sanniang! Young master, Sanniang has brought reinforcements!”
Zhao Ming’s eyes widened and he couldn’t help but slap the wall top hard, “Absurd! She only has a hundred-some retainers. Is she coming here to die?”
Then they quickly discovered she seemed to have brought fewer than a hundred people.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t go deep. Leading Ji Ping and others, she only cut through the rear. They were cavalry—cavalry had a natural advantage over infantry.
She charged along, killing four or five people before breaking out of the enemy circle and running onto the fields. Then she turned her horse around, and after the others had assembled, she charged again at the oncoming enemy troops…
Zhao Hanzhang’s spearmanship had only been learned for two or three months, but she had high talent and technique. With each thrust, stab, and sweep, every move was fatal. She also didn’t linger in battle and was very slippery. They had just surrounded her when she accelerated her charge, keeping them from getting close.
If infantry couldn’t form an encirclement against cavalry, there was basically no possibility of victory.
Shi Lei saw the rear suffering heavy losses and his eyes nearly split with rage. But he remained relatively calm. Seeing their small numbers, he shouted, “Break from the middle—those in back surround them! Those in front continue following me to charge and take the fortified estate! Once we take it, the cavalry can do nothing to us! Charge—”
Zhao Ming on the fortified estate clenched his fists, turned and headed downstairs, “Summon all able-bodied males from the clan. We’re going out of the city to meet the enemy!”
All the Zhao clan males were waiting on the street. The chaotic troops had charged into the city three times. Though they had blocked them at the gate area and hadn’t let them mix into the main street, casualties had still been heavy. Of the retainers, fewer than three in ten remained. Now basically everyone holding swords and blades had the surname Zhao.
Zhao Ming came down and saw them. In a deep voice he said, “Everyone, take up your weapons and come with me out of the city to meet the enemy. We must repel them!”
“Yes!”
The tottering main gate was opened. Zhao Ming, holding his sword, was the first to charge out…
Zhao Hanzhang, who had just completed one round, reined in her horse and looked back to see the main gate open. Her eyes instantly widened and she shouted, “Don’t come out of the city—”
Her large force hadn’t arrived yet. It was completely not the time to charge. Why were they coming out?
Zhao Hanzhang turned her horse around and charged deep in, wanting to attract more chaotic troops.
Fu Tinghan immediately stood up. Watching Zhao Hanzhang charge into the crowd, he couldn’t help but pace anxiously in circles. After a moment, he turned to look at the three people with Fu’an.
Fu’an, being looked at by him, leaned back, “Young, young master…”
“Feint tactics. Let’s go!”
Shi Lei wasn’t at all afraid of them coming out to meet the enemy—he feared them hiding in the fortified estate. Seeing Zhao Ming, his whole body became excited. Raising his great blade, he charged to the very front. For ordinary villagers, he could kill one with each blade stroke. Only the trained retainers could withstand a few moves from him.
The chaotic troops, though having fought all day and being very tired, had no other choice. Seeing the main gate open, they were like they’d been injected with adrenaline, sweeping away the fatigue from their faces as they charged into the melee.
Zhao Hanzhang swept her long spear, knocking aside the chaotic troops blocking her side. She pulled the reins, making the horse’s hooves rise and kick away the person blocking the horse’s path. With one leap, she approached the moat.
Ji Ping, seeing she had gone so deep, hurriedly led people to follow closely, shouting loudly, “Sanniang, retreat!”
Zhao Hanzhang ignored him. These chaotic troops were already fighting with their backs against the wall. With Zhao Ming coming out, their morale was suppressed and their ruthlessness insufficient—they were completely coming out to give away their heads.
At this moment, they could only make Shi Lei’s desperate stratagem fail and stimulate their desire to survive before there could be any possibility of victory.