Zhu Yu – Chapter 83

Before the army’s departure, orders were given for the kitchen unit to prepare a hearty meal for the troops.

Fan Changyu went to help with slaughtering pigs. An old soldier from the kitchen unit, who had been spreading tales of her exploits, said to a newly transferred recruit, “Miss Fan has the courage of Mulan!”

The recruit, illiterate, scratched his head and asked, “Who’s Mulan?”

The old soldier gave the recruit a disapproving look. “You don’t know about Hua Mulan? She was a great hero during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Her father had no sons and was too old when the court called for recruits. Fearing her father would die on the battlefield, she disguised herself as a man and served in the army for eleven years, achieving glorious military feats!”

The recruit exclaimed in surprise, “How could a woman hide in an army camp for eleven years without anyone finding out?”

This question stumped the old soldier, who impatiently replied, “That’s how it’s written in the plays. She just had that ability. In the end, she even received an imperial title from the emperor!”

The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart.

Since learning of the army’s imminent departure, Fan Changyu’s heart had been in constant turmoil. Hearing the old soldier’s story about Hua Mulan, she paused while wiping blood from the butcher’s knife, a bold idea forming in her mind.

She had previously noticed that Xiao Wu seemed quite close to Yan Zheng, and upon inquiry, learned they had been in the same unit. Knowing Yan Zheng’s bad temper, she feared he might offend others and have no support on the battlefield. When she asked about others in their unit, intending to help Yan Zheng maintain good relationships with his comrades, Yan Zheng revealed that everyone else had died, leaving only him and Xiao Wu.

Now, with the entire army mobilizing, he and Xiao Wu would be assigned to different units.

With the new assignments and no familiar faces, it would be even harder to find support on the battlefield. Given Yan Zheng’s injuries, this campaign might be a one-way trip. If she could take Yan Zheng’s place in this battle, while he helped her look after Chang Ning with the logistics troops in the rear, they might have a better chance of survival.

If she replaced Yan Zheng on the battlefield, he wouldn’t be considered a deserter. Moreover, no one in the new unit except Xiao Wu knew Yan Zheng and Xiao Wu would surely keep the secret. Her substitution wouldn’t be noticed by others, and they could switch back upon return.

Once this idea took root, she couldn’t shake it off.

Throughout this journey, she had lost too many loved ones and friends. Just imagining Yan Zheng being hacked to death on the battlefield made her heart clench.

After leaving the kitchen unit, Fan Changyu went straight to the infirmary.

The physician wasn’t there. A young lad was brewing medicine for the severely wounded soldiers who were still bedridden.

The boy was called Wu Sanjin. It was said that his mother gave birth to him while fleeing from disaster. With adults being skin and bones during the famine, there was little nutrition for children. When he was born, he weighed only three jin (about 1.5 kg). His parents thought he wouldn’t survive, but to their surprise, he grew up well, so they named him Sanjin.

After enlisting, due to his small stature, he was assigned to the logistics unit.

Seeing Fan Changyu, Wu Sanjin greeted her warmly, “Sister Changyu, are you looking for Physician Han? He’s out.”

Physician Han was the one who had examined Xie Zheng.

Fan Changyu said, “I’m here to see you.”

Wu Sanjin, holding a palm-leaf fan, looked puzzled. “Me?”

When Fan Changyu felt guilty, her expression became even more righteous. She asked, “Do you know where the knockout powder is kept?”

Wu Sanjin, who had been doing odd jobs in the infirmary for days, knew exactly where the medicines were stored. He said, “I do. What do you need knockout powder for, Sister Changyu?”

Fan Changyu continued with her righteous facade, “I want to hunt some wild boars to prepare a feast for the army’s triumphant return. Mixing the knockout powder with coarse bran to set a trap will make it easier to catch them.”

Wu Sanjin, unsuspecting, quickly went into the tent and retrieved a packet of powder, handing it to Fan Changyu. “This is enough to catch ten wild boars.”

Fan Changyu thanked him, tucked the powder into her bosom, and left.

Inside the main tent, the personal guards who had been feigning illness for days were now donning their armor.

Xie Wu reported the frontline situation to Xie Zheng: “Our vanguard has intercepted the rebels. We’re just waiting for the main force to surround them. However, scouts have reported that the rebels secretly withdrew part of their troops last night, with Sui Yuanqing among them.”

Xie Zheng’s eyes darkened. “Order Chen Liang to lead a thousand elite cavalry in pursuit.”

Xie Wu saluted, “This subordinate will relay the order immediately.”

Xie Qi, guarding the door, suddenly announced, “Madam is coming!”

Xie Zheng and the guards inside all changed their expressions slightly.

Fan Changyu entered the tent carrying a bowl of soup, only to find all the wounded soldiers fully dressed, as if ready to return to their units.

After awkwardly greeting Fan Changyu, they gathered their belongings and left.

Xie Wu glanced at Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng, then stood up and said, “I’ll go prepare as well.”

With only Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng left in the tent, Fan Changyu placed the soup on the table and asked him, “Have you prepared everything?”

Xie Zheng replied with amusement, “What else is there to prepare for battle besides weapons?”

Fan Changyu picked up the tattered armor hanging at his bedside, examined its poor condition, and frowned, “How can you wear armor in this state? Let me mend it for you.”

This set of common soldier’s armor was previously procured by Xie Wu. Other wounded soldiers in the infirmary all had their armor hanging by their bedsides. If they didn’t have armor there, it might arouse Fan Changyu’s suspicion.

Xie Zheng, originally lost in thoughts about the battle situation, inadvertently looked at Fan Changyu. Seeing her threading the needle, he became transfixed.

The last time he went to war, he didn’t even have a proper farewell with Fan Changyu. This time, he suddenly experienced a bittersweet feeling.

Neither spoke. Fan Changyu lowered her eyes, focusing on mending the tattered armor. A strand of hair fell, clinging to her fair cheek, her small, white ears peeking through her black hair. At this moment, her expression was gentle and serene.

Of course, if one looked at her stitching, it wasn’t quite as gentle or serene.

Unfortunately, Xie Zheng didn’t notice. His gaze lingered on Fan Changyu’s earlobe, half-hidden by her black hair. His heart pounded as if a wild beast was rampaging inside. As if possessed, he reached out to tuck that loose strand behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against her small, white ear. Fan Changyu looked up at him.

The wicked desire in his heart suddenly became uncontrollable. His fingers, which should have moved away, suddenly applied more pressure and slid to the back of her head.

He lowered his head and kissed her, gentle yet not quite gentle.

One hand forcefully tangled in Fan Changyu’s hair. Because she didn’t resist, when they parted, a vein throbbed at his temple, his breath hot, his eyes tinged with red, like a fierce wolf torn between devouring her whole and restraining itself due to the circumstances.

“Wait for me to return,” he said, his clear voice now hoarse.

Fan Changyu’s lips stung from his bite. She wanted to slap him but held back. She sincerely negotiated with him, “Yan Zheng, let me take your place on the battlefield.”

Xie Zheng’s handsome brows immediately furrowed. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Fan Changyu said, “Your wounds haven’t healed. What if you can’t even swing a sword on the battlefield?”

Xie Zheng, remembering his previous lie, awkwardly said, “I’m a sword infantryman in the infantry formation. I’m only responsible for clearing out scattered remnants after the vanguard’s charge. It’s not dangerous.”

Seeing his resolute attitude, Fan Changyu seemed somewhat disappointed. She said, “Then be very careful.”

She then asked, “Which infantry unit are you in? Under which general?”

Xie Zheng hadn’t expected Fan Changyu to become so familiar with the army’s organization during her days in the camp. He knew he shouldn’t continue deceiving her, but with matters at a critical point, he had to keep up the lie: “Third Unit of the Left Guard Army, under General Li Lian.”

Fan Changyu secretly noted this, then went to the table and brought over the bowl of chicken soup. “I caught a wild chicken and secretly stewed this for you. Drink it and then return to your unit with Brother Xiao Wu.”

Xie Zheng, unsuspecting, quickly drank the soup.

Fan Changyu watched him, her expression somewhat complex. She said, “When I’m not around, please help me look after Chang Ning.”

The whole world began to spin. Xie Zheng finally realized something was wrong and his expression changed. “You…”

But his body had already weakened. He had barely taken a step when he collapsed. Fan Changyu quickly caught him and whispered to the unconscious man, “I don’t want you to die.”

Fearing someone might search the infirmary tent and discover Xie Zheng’s identity, Fan Changyu carried him on her back to the tent she shared with Chang Ning.

Seeing Xie Zheng on Fan Changyu’s back, Chang Ning’s face turned pale. “Sister, is Brother-in-law dying again?”

Fan Changyu choked slightly and said, “No, he’s just temporarily unconscious. He’ll wake up in about half an hour. Ning, be good and stay in the tent with your brother-in-law. If you encounter any danger and he hasn’t woken up yet, use a needle to poke him awake.”

The knockout powder Wu Sanjin had given her was enough to knock out a wild boar.

Mainly because Yan Zheng’s willpower was stronger than most, she feared a normal dose wouldn’t be enough to subdue him.

After handing Chang Ning a needle, Fan Changyu untied the dagger strapped to her leg and gave it to her as well. “Just in case, take this dagger too. Remember, if there’s danger, wake your brother-in-law immediately by poking him with the needle, not the dagger. Once he’s awake, he’ll protect you.”

Chang Ning held the embroidery needle in one hand and the dagger in the other, nodding vigorously. But she couldn’t help asking, “What about you, Sister?”

Fan Changyu replied, “I’m going to fight those bad people who took you and Bao’er away. I’ll come back after defeating them.”

Chang Ning grabbed a corner of Fan Changyu’s clothes, her grape-like eyes brimming with tears and concern. “Please be careful, Sister.”

Fan Changyu stroked her head. “Don’t worry, Sister is going to avenge you!”

After instructing Chang Ning, she tucked the butcher’s knife and bone cleaver into her waist and left the tent, heading towards the Left Guard Army camp. As luck would have it, she encountered Xie Wu on the way.

When Xie Wu saw her wearing the Yanzhou army uniform, he had an ominous premonition. He stuttered, “Miss… Miss Fan.”

Fan Changyu asked puzzledly, “Brother Xiao Wu, haven’t you returned to your unit yet?”

Xie Wu stiffly replied, “I… I was going to find Brother Yan.”

Fan Changyu glanced around and pulled Xie Wu aside, whispering, “Brother Xiao Wu, you know my husband is still severely injured. His going to the battlefield is certain death. I’m taking his place in battle. Please pretend you don’t know about this. When we return from this campaign, I’ll switch back with my husband. No one will know.”

Xie Wu thought to himself, how could no one know?

Although the battle plan had been set in advance and several army units were moving down the mountain in an orderly manner, it would be suspicious if the Marquis never showed up from beginning to end!

Yet he didn’t dare to reveal Xie Zheng’s true identity to Fan Changyu on his own. He could only advise, “Miss Fan, don’t be foolish. This is a serious military offense punishable by beheading!”

Fan Changyu looked at Xie Wu, her slightly round almond eyes sincere yet determined, with a hint of coolness like a hunting tiger or leopard. She said, “I’m sorry, Brother Xiao Wu, I just don’t want my husband to die in vain on the battlefield. If he wasn’t injured, I wouldn’t resort to this. Sending him to the battlefield now, I’d be more effective at killing enemies than he would. This won’t cause any loss to the army. As for the punishment for violating military orders, I’ll bear it all when I return. My husband was drugged unconscious by me. To avoid implicating you, Brother Xiao Wu, I should knock you out here too.”

Seeing Fan Changyu raising her hand, Xie Wu quickly said, “I’ll help Miss Fan keep the secret. Let’s go kill enemies together. At least we can watch each other’s backs on the battlefield.”

Fan Changyu didn’t understand why he changed his mind so quickly, but since he said so, she lowered her hand and said, “Then let’s return to the unit.”

Xie Wu heaved a great sigh of relief. If it came to blows, he definitely wouldn’t be a match for this young woman.

The only plan now was to send a message to the other personal guards to search for Xie Zheng, while he followed Fan Changyu to protect her.

Xie Wu let out several sharp whistles. Fan Changyu suddenly turned to look at him, “What are you whistling for?”

Xie Wu broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, a hawk was flying across the sky. He pointed at it and said with a forced smile, “I heard an old soldier in the camp say that hawk training uses whistles like this to give commands. I wanted to see if it’s true.”

Fan Changyu asked, “Does it work on untrained hawks too?”

Xie Wu stiffly pointed at the hawk in the sky and said, “I tried it, but it doesn’t seem to work.”

Fan Changyu was very disappointed. She had been thinking that if it worked, she would learn it too and catch another falcon for Chang Ning.

The main force of the central route had already set out. Fan Changyu followed the banners to find the Third Unit of the Left Guard Army. As she and Xie Wu took their places at the back of the formation, the squad leaders were counting their soldiers.

The fully armored colonel stood at the front of the formation, looking imposing and majestic.

When the squad leader at the very back reached Fan Changyu and Xie Wu during the count, he barked, “Which squad are you from? How did you end up in my unit?”

Xie Wu, not intimidated at all, answered loudly, “We were reassigned from the disbanded infantry unit.”

He did this to draw Colonel Li Lian from the Third Unit over.

Sure enough, Li Lian noticed the commotion at the back of the formation and strode over, shouting sternly, “The army is about to move out. What’s all this noise about?”

The squad leader reported, “General, there are two extra people in the formation. They say they were reassigned from elsewhere.”

Li Lian had been part of the personal guard in his early years. Later, when he could handle things independently, Xie Zheng had assigned him to the Left Guard. He naturally recognized Xie Wu.

Those in the personal guard who had been granted the Xie surname were formerly nameless death soldiers, and they were the most loyal to Xie Zheng.

Xie Wu gave Li Lian a meaningful look. Li Lian didn’t question why he and another unfamiliar soldier had appeared in his unit, assuming it was for some secret mission. He just scolded the squad leader, “We lost so many men defending the mountain these past days. We finally got some reinforcements, and you’re complaining about having too many people in my unit?”

The squad leader, having been scolded, immediately fell silent.

The soldiers who had been curiously eyeing Fan Changyu and Xie Wu quickly stood at attention, not daring to look around anymore.

Fortunately, the soldiers Fan Changyu had interacted with before were all from the kitchen and infirmary units. Soldiers from other units had only heard her name but never seen her.

Now, wearing tattered armor and standing with her head lowered in the formation, the soldiers just thought this newcomer looked as thin as a monkey and paid her no further attention.

Li Lian returned to the front of the formation with his hands behind his back. Xie Wu, seeing this, became extremely anxious. He was about to suggest to Li Lian to find a way to kick him and Fan Changyu out of the unit – after all, he couldn’t let Fan Changyu go into battle. But just then, there was a commotion at the front of the army formation. A scout came galloping back with the news: “Shi Yue has led his men to tear open a gap in our vanguard and is trying to escape south. The Military Advisor orders the Left Guard Army to immediately go support the vanguard.”

The commander of the Left Guard Army shouted, “First three units of the Left Guard Army, march at full speed!”

The neatly arranged formation immediately broke into groups of five, rushing towards the battlefield.

Xie Zheng’s guards often used whistle signals to convey simple messages.

The sharp and urgent ones meant that Xie Zheng might be in danger.

Upon hearing Xie Wu’s whistle, the personal guards immediately went to search for Xie Zheng. Not finding him in the infirmary tent where he had been staying, they searched the surrounding area following clues and quickly found the tent of Fan Changyu and her sister.

Chang Ning had been holding the embroidery needle, guarding Xie Zheng. Hearing urgent footsteps approaching the tent, she quickly poked Xie Zheng with the needle.

The unconscious man opened his eyes almost instantly. The guard who lifted the tent flap was overjoyed to see Xie Zheng. Disregarding Chang Ning’s presence, he called out, “Marquis!”

Xie Zheng’s face was terrifyingly dark. He tried to walk out of the tent but, due to the lingering effects of the knockout powder, his body was weak. He managed to steady himself by grabbing a tent pole.

The guard hurried over to support him, “Marquis, what’s wrong with you?”

Xie Zheng noticed the dagger Chang Ning had placed by the bed. He picked it up and forcefully cut his palm. Blood dripped from the dagger’s tip onto the ground. Chang Ning let out a short, frightened cry, her little face turning pale.

The pain clearly helped Xie Zheng shake off some of the drug’s effects, but his expression grew even darker. He asked the guard, “Where is Li Lian’s Left Guard Army unit now?”

The guard answered, “Shi Yue has somehow recruited a formidable general with incredible strength. No one can stop him. Shi Yue is using this general to break through, and he’s torn open a gap in our vanguard. The Military Advisor has ordered the Left Guard Army to fill the gap in the vanguard.”

Xie Zheng couldn’t sit still for a moment. He strode out of the tent, coldly ordering, “Bring me my battle armor! And gather five hundred elite cavalry!”

The vanguard he had sent out this time included some of his best generals. If even the vanguard couldn’t stop Shi Yue, this battle didn’t look promising.

Soon, a guard came carrying his heavy set of dark scale armor to help him put it on. Chang Ning followed out of the tent in a daze. Seeing Xie Zheng’s icy expression, she swallowed the words “Brother-in-law” that had almost left her mouth.

She had never seen her brother-in-law with such a frightening expression before, as if he was about to devour someone whole. He didn’t look like the brother-in-law she remembered at all.

Moreover, these people were calling her brother-in-law “Marquis.” What was a Marquis?

A guard brought Xie Zheng’s war horse. He fastened his dark cloak and coldly instructed the guard beside him, “Send a message to Gong Sun Yin, tell him to tighten the encirclement at the rear. No need to send reinforcements to the vanguard.”

As he mounted his horse, he glanced at Chang Ning, who stood like a little cabbage at the tent entrance, and said to Xie Qi, “Look after her.”

Xie Qi saluted in acknowledgment. Xie Zheng had already spurred his horse and galloped away, with more than a dozen personal guards instantly following.

Chang Ning’s eyes were filled with tears. She wanted to cry but didn’t dare. Why had her brother-in-law become so fierce after waking up?

Xie Qi had no experience with children and awkwardly tried to comfort her. Chang Ning, probably realizing he wouldn’t scold her, suddenly burst into tears, “I want my sister!”

Xie Qi hadn’t seen Fan Changyu and was quite puzzled. He asked her, “Where did your sister go?”

Chang Ning sobbed, “Sister said she went to fight the bad people.”

Xie Qi’s heart sank. He continued to ask, “How did the Marquis… I mean, your brother-in-law, get here?”

Chang Ning sniffled, “Sister carried him back.”

Xie Qi choked, suddenly understanding why his Marquis had such a murderous expression when he woke up.

He looked at Chang Ning, thinking it would be best to take the child away from this troublesome situation. He said, “Don’t cry. Would you like to go see some wild chickens?”

Chang Ning was still sobbing uncontrollably. She was scared and kept calling for her sister. Xie Qi went through a list of all the wild animals he could think of on the mountain – wild boars, wild oxen – but when he mentioned falcons, Chang Ning’s sobs finally stopped. She looked up with her big, teary eyes and asked, “Falcons?”

Xie Qi, seeing an opportunity, quickly said, “Yes, white-headed gyrfalcons. Their wingspan is this big. Do you want to see them?”

Chang Ning looked at the size he was gesturing and nodded, “Yes.”

To facilitate quick access to messages, the gyrfalcons had been under the rotating care of the personal guards these days. Regardless of day or night, whenever a gyrfalcon returned with a message, the guard on duty would present it to Xie Zheng.

It happened to be Xie Qi’s turn on duty these days. He figured that taking the child along would allow him to watch both the child and the falcon, making things easier.

Fan Changyu didn’t know where the battlefield between the two armies was located. She only felt that as they ran along, what had been mountainous terrain with green trees gradually became barren ground trampled bare of grass. From far away, she could hear the deafening sounds of battle, coming in waves like the tide, each louder than the last.

The wind blowing over the hills carried the stench of blood.

This was Fan Changyu’s first real participation in a large-scale battle. She didn’t feel scared herself, but her heart was inexplicably racing, and goosebumps rose on her arms beneath her arm guards.

Standing in the middle-rear of the formation, she and Xiao Wu couldn’t see clearly what was happening on the battlefield ahead. They only heard some general roar in a voice that nearly broke, “Cavalry, charge!”

Then another wave of battle cries rose up, so loud it made their eardrums ache. The ground began to shake from the direction of the valley ahead, as if the entire earth was trembling.

Fan Changyu felt that Xiao Wu seemed even more nervous than her. He said to Fan Changyu, “Miss Fan, when we get to the battlefield, stay close to me. Don’t take any unnecessary risks!”

Fan Changyu responded with a “Yes,” but the infantry in front of them also let out a roar that instantly drowned out her voice. Everyone was drawing their swords and charging forward.

At this point, it was impossible to hear any orders. Everyone was simply following what the person in front of them was doing.

Fan Changyu’s heartbeat was like a drum. Perhaps due to nervousness, her blood felt like it was flowing backward, and she couldn’t even feel the fatigue from the long march. She followed the army as it poured onto the battlefield like a flood.

The ground was covered with corpses. They were practically stepping on bodies as they charged forward. When they engaged in close combat with the frenzied rebels, the deafening roars seemed to serve as a boost to their courage.

A soldier running in front of Fan Changyu was impaled by a rebel wielding a long spear. The squad leader of that soldier, who had earlier questioned Fan Changyu and Xie Wu’s identities, let out a ferocious roar. He raised his ring-pommel saber and brought it down on the rebel’s face, sending blood and flesh flying.

The remaining three soldiers in the squad, their eyes bloodshot, followed closely behind their squad leader in the charge. When one was knocked down, they worked together to rescue him.

Fan Changyu suddenly gained a deeper understanding of what Gong Sun Yin had told her on the day she raided the supply wagon.

It wasn’t just the generals who took responsibility for the lives of their soldiers; even small unit leaders like squad leaders and section chiefs were doing their utmost to protect their men.

Faced with living, breathing people, she still couldn’t bring herself to strike fatal blows as easily as chopping vegetables. She only aimed for non-vital areas, ensuring that her opponents were incapacitated but not killed.

When the squad leader nearly had his head chopped off, Fan Changyu deflected the fatal blow for him. He turned to look at her for a moment, said nothing, and continued fighting the rebels with his blood-covered face.

A mounted rebel general charged into their group of entangled infantry. Taking advantage of his horse’s momentum, he thrust his long spear, skewering many Yanzhou soldiers.

Even those who weren’t killed were knocked down by him, and the Chongzhou soldiers immediately swarmed in to finish them off. The Yanzhou infantry was clearly at a disadvantage.

Xie Wu, being a military man, was infuriated by the sight. Seeing that Fan Changyu’s martial skills were superior and that no nearby soldiers could harm her, he grabbed the saddle of the charging rebel general’s horse and used the momentum to flip himself up. His long sword came slashing down.

The rebel on horseback quickly raised his long spear to block the attack, but Xie Wu had already landed steadily on the horse’s back. At such close range, the rebel general’s long weapon was at a disadvantage. Xie Wu used his dagger to slit the rebel’s throat and pushed him off the horse.

“You little bastard, die!” Another rebel general, seeing this, charged over. He wielded a pair of spiked hammers that whistled through the air. As he charged, countless soldiers on foot were sent flying by his hammers, clearly demonstrating his immense strength.

Xie Wu’s fighting style relied on agility, and he didn’t dare to confront this opponent head-on. He quickly abandoned the horse and dodged. Li Lian, seeing his soldiers being slaughtered mercilessly by the rebel general, tried to stop him.

However, as soon as his horse-lance clashed with the opponent’s weapon, both he and his horse were forced back several steps. His hand was in excruciating pain, and he could barely hold onto his weapon. Li Lian’s face changed instantly.

The rebel general laughed loudly, “Not satisfying at all! Why is your hand as soft as noodles?”

From a distance, some general who had noticed Li Lian engaging the rebel general shouted, “General Li, be careful! That scoundrel has incredible strength. Even the commander was knocked off his horse by him!”

Hearing this, Li Lian was greatly alarmed. When the rebel general charged at him with his hammers, Li Lian managed to exchange a few moves, but he felt that this man truly had inexhaustible strength. Not only were the pair of spiked hammers heavy, but they were also incredibly nimble in his hands. Once hit, it would mean certain death or severe injury.

As the enemy launched another fierce attack, he swiftly raised his spear to block, but it was no match for the opponent’s incredible strength. The hammer still struck his body, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood. Fortunately, most of the force had been deflected, saving him from instant death.

“Not a single worthy opponent among you!” the rebel general roared arrogantly.

As he was about to bring down his second hammer blow, a rope suddenly flew from an unknown direction, firmly looping around his neck. With a powerful yank, the rebel leader dug his feet into the stirrups, dropped one hammer, and grabbed the rope with his hand, engaging in a tug-of-war to avoid being pulled off his horse.

He glanced sideways towards the source of the rope, only to find a frail-looking Yan soldier holding the other end.

Li Lian seized this opportunity and thrust his spear forward. The rebel general deflected it with his hammer, nearly knocking the weapon out of Li Lian’s hands.

Failing to land a hit, Li Lian didn’t linger and quickly retreated on horseback.

The rebel general, a mountain of a man atop his horse, glared menacingly at Fan Changyu. He gripped the rope with both hands and yanked hard, attempting to pull what he perceived as a weak Yan soldier towards him.

Caught off guard, Fan Changyu stumbled forward but quickly planted her feet firmly on the ground, becoming as immovable as if she had taken root.

Refusing to give up, the rebel general pulled with all his might. Simultaneously, a rebel soldier tried to stab Fan Changyu with a long spear. She timed her move perfectly, releasing the rope and kicking away the attacking soldier.

Without resistance on the other end, the rebel general lost his balance and tumbled off his horse.

The sharp-eyed Yan soldiers rushed in with their spears, but the rebel general, despite his bulk, proved surprisingly agile. He rolled on the ground, drew a knife to cut the rope around his neck, then grabbed a soldier’s spear, lifting both the weapon and the man. He swung the unfortunate soldier like a flail, forcing back the attacking Yan troops before hurling the man into the densest group of enemies, knocking down many.

The Yan army suffered heavy losses, and the soldiers’ initial fearless spirit began to waver, showing signs of hesitation.

The rebel general retrieved his fallen hammers and casually crushed Yan soldiers underfoot as he strode towards Fan Changyu. He grinned maliciously, saying, “You skinny monkey, you’ve got some strength in those arms. Let’s see how many of grandpa’s hammer blows you can take!”

Xie Wu, having just sliced off a rebel soldier’s neck, shouted desperately at Fan Changyu, “Run!”

Fan Changyu wanted to flee, but watching the rebel general’s hammers swing and smash, sending Yan soldiers flying with cracked skulls and splattered brains, she found herself unable to move. Xie Wu, in an attempt to cover her retreat, charged fearlessly at the rebel leader.

She discarded the ring-pommel sword she had picked up and drew the black iron cleaver and bleeding knife from her waist. With a sharp metallic scrape, she rubbed the blades together and rushed towards the rebel general, her gaze as cold and piercing as lightning in a raging storm.

Xie Wu, relying on his agility, managed to slash a wound on the rebel general’s body but was quickly knocked to the ground by a powerful blow. Half his body went numb, and as he saw the hammer descending towards his face, he instinctively closed his eyes, expecting his head to explode in a spray of red and white. However, the fatal strike never came. Instead, he heard a tooth-grinding clash of metal.

Xie Wu opened his eyes to see Fan Changyu kneeling on one knee, her two black iron butcher knives crossed to block the rebel general’s descending hammer.

Her jaw was clenched tight, her knee half-buried in the ground.

Xie Wu’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. Fan Changyu managed to squeeze out a single word through gritted teeth: “Go!”

Xie Wu didn’t hesitate. As he rolled away from the hammer’s range, he threw a dagger at the rebel general.

The rebel general, who was about to strike Fan Changyu with his other hammer, was forced to use it to deflect the incoming dagger.

Fan Changyu seized this chance to escape, simultaneously flipping her butcher knives upward and pressing the blades down on the rebel general’s hand, cutting a deep, bone-deep gash.

As the rebel general swung his hammer in pain, Fan Changyu leaped backward to avoid it.

The rebel general glanced at the bleeding wound on his hand, his face contorting with rage. He bellowed, “You’re dead!”

With that, he ignored his injury and swung his hammers with even more ferocity, intent on taking Fan Changyu’s life.

His hammers were solid, weighing over eight hundred jin. When Fan Changyu had blocked the blow earlier to save Xie Wu, the impact had nearly split her palms. Her butcher knives were too short and light to effectively counter his hammers.

Now, Fan Changyu no longer tried to block his strikes, focusing solely on dodging. When she absolutely couldn’t avoid a hit, she was forced to parry, causing blood to stain her knife handles. As she found herself unable to dodge once more, one of her knives, the bleeding knife, was knocked from her grasp.

Seeing Fan Changyu lose one of her weapons, the rebel general grew even more excited. “I’ll flatten you into a meat pancake!” he roared.

Fan Changyu kicked up a fallen broadsword to replace her lost knife. However, when it clashed with the hammer, the military-grade broadsword snapped in two.

The Left Guard Army Commander, wounded by the rebel general’s hammer and unable to remount his horse, was dragged to safety by his personal guards. Watching Fan Changyu exchange blows with the rebel general for several rounds, he remarked with surprise, “Which unit is that soldier from?”

The surrounding guards all shook their heads, not knowing.

The Left Guard Army Commander observed closely and said, “If he had a suitable weapon, he might be able to match that rebel general. Someone, bring him my Modao!”

As a guard was about to take his long-handled, ornate Modao to Fan Changyu, the anxious Xie Wu rushed over, shouting, “Where is Left Guard Army Commander Yan Yi?”

Recognizing him as Xie Zheng’s personal guard, the Left Guard Army Commander quickly dismounted despite his injuries and replied, “I am here.”

Xie Wu, his eyes bloodshot, pointed towards Fan Changyu and said urgently, “Quick, send troops to rescue the Madam!”

The Left Guard Army Commander froze in shock. “Madam?”

Xie Wu, no longer caring about secrecy, explained, “The one fighting that rebel general is our Lord’s wife!”

The Left Guard Army Commander felt as if he deserved to lose several heads for this oversight. However, his wounds were so severe that he could barely hold a weapon. He could only dispatch a few junior officers with troops to provide support.

Xie Wu requested a horse from him, intending to return and assist Fan Changyu. The Left Guard Army Commander handed him the Modao, saying, “This might be useful!”

Xie Wu, with no time to waste, took the Modao and cut his way through the rebel soldiers, charging towards Fan Changyu.

Meanwhile, Fan Changyu had picked up several broadswords, all of which met the same fate of being broken. As another hammer blow came her way, she failed to dodge in time, and her helmet was knocked off. Her hair bun remained intact, but it was now clear that she was a woman.

The rebel general seemed surprised to discover that the person who had exchanged so many blows with him was a young woman. Despite her disheveled state, her beauty was still evident. He laughed heartily and shouted, “A woman? Capture her! Every Chongzhou soldier can be a groom tonight!”

The Chongzhou troops cheered and howled, their fighting spirit intensifying.

The rebel general now seemed less intent on killing Fan Changyu, focusing instead on capturing her alive. His hammer strikes, while less deadly, became even trickier to avoid.

Fan Changyu’s face remained cold as ice. She snatched a long spear from a Chongzhou soldier to use as a weapon. With the longer reach, her attacks instantly became more fierce, her moves grand and imposing. She even forced the rebel general to retreat a few steps. However, when he exerted his full strength, her spear snapped in two.

The rebel general threw back his head and laughed mockingly.

A streak of blood appeared on Fan Changyu’s face. She discarded the broken spear, her eyes fixed intently on the rebel general’s right hand hammer—his right hand had been deeply cut by her earlier, making it easier to target.

Suddenly, a voice called out from behind her, “Catch the blade!”

Fan Changyu turned to see a long-handled Modao being thrown towards her.

As she reached out to catch it, the rebel general swung his hammer at her. If she continued to reach for the Modao, she would surely be struck by his hammer.

She feinted as if to catch the Modao, but instead tensed her foot and delivered a powerful kick to the rebel general’s armpit on his hammer-wielding arm. As he cried out in pain, Fan Changyu’s hand, which had pretended to reach for the Modao, swiftly grabbed his hammer. Without pause, she swung it forcefully at the rebel general.

The rebel general quickly raised his other hammer to block. The two massive hammers collided with a resounding “weng,” a metallic screech that momentarily deafened those standing nearby.

The spikes on the hammers were flattened on impact, and the rebel general staggered back a step, nearly losing his grip on his weapon.

His face twitched, finally realizing the gravity of the situation. With a weapon of equal power, this woman before him might actually defeat him.

Fan Changyu didn’t give him a moment’s respite, continuing to swing the hammer at him. The second blow caused the rebel general’s palm to split open. She grinned at his shocked expression and taunted, “Let me show you how to make a meat pancake!”

With those words, she gripped the blood-soaked hammer handle with both hands and brought it down hard on the rebel general. He instinctively tried to block with his own hammer, but the force sent both him and his weapon flying.

One of the hammers embedded deeply into his abdomen, truly pounding him into the ground.

He struggled to sit up but only managed to cough up a mouthful of blood before his eyes widened, and he fell back, lifeless.

The vast battlefield suddenly fell silent.

The rebel soldiers who had been eyeing Fan Changyu lecherously moments ago now looked as if they had seen a ghost, their faces pale as they scattered across the battlefield.

Even her own troops now regarded Fan Changyu with a hint of fear, the soldiers gathering at a distance, not daring to approach.

Several severely wounded generals lay on a nearby low hill, swallowing hard.

One of them said, “As expected of our Lord’s wife.”

Another quietly asked, “How did the Madam manage to send that mountain of a man flying with the same type of meteor hammer?”

This question was met with silence from the group.

Could their Madam possess even greater strength than the formidable general the rebels had brought?

After confirming the rebel general’s death, Xie Wu rushed to Fan Changyu’s side and asked, “Miss Fan, are you alright?”

Fan Changyu looked at him, feeling as if everything in her vision was tinged with a layer of blood. She felt nauseous, the world seeming to spin around her, yet she couldn’t faint.

She bent over, supporting herself with her hands on her knees, and dry-heaved for a while before managing to say, “I’m fine.”

Xie Wu quickly grabbed a water flask from his horse, unscrewed it, and handed it to Fan Changyu. “Miss Fan, drink some water and rinse your mouth. New recruits experiencing their first battle often have nightmares for a week or two afterward.”

After rinsing her mouth and drinking some water, Fan Changyu finally managed to suppress her nausea somewhat.

She had never witnessed such a large-scale and brutal killing field before. It seemed as if the swords and blades in their hands were no longer piercing humans.

But on the battlefield, if you don’t kill, you’ll be killed.

There was still some commotion among the troops in the distance. Xie Wu glanced in that direction, then picked up a sword and walked towards the fallen rebel general.

Fan Changyu asked, “What are you doing?”

Xie Wu replied, “Cutting off the enemy general’s head to intimidate the remaining troops into surrendering.”

Fan Changyu looked at her butcher knife lying nearby, remembering how her weapons had been knocked away several times and the insults she had endured. She said, “I’ll do it.”

Xie Wu was about to bring down his blade when he heard Fan Changyu’s words. He stepped aside.

Fan Changyu had killed before, but beheading someone was a first for her.

The black iron cleaver was incredibly sharp. With one stroke, it cleanly separated head from body.

However, as the man had been dead for a while, there was no spray of blood from her cut.

Xie Wu picked up the enemy general’s head and shouted towards the area where there was still unrest, “Your general is dead! Those who lay down their weapons and surrender will be spared!”

The distant rebels first looked at each other in confusion, then gradually began to drop their weapons.

A rumbling sound of hoofbeats, like distant thunder, approached from afar. The Yan army, though exhausted from the recent battle, forced themselves to be on alert once more.

Fortunately, a scout climbed the low hill to check the approaching army’s flags and shouted down, “It’s friendly forces!”

From the commanders to the common soldiers, everyone let out a long sigh of relief.

If not for the battlefield being littered with corpses and blood, Fan Changyu would have liked to sit down right there.

She was exhausted, experiencing true fatigue for the first time in her life. At that moment, she didn’t want to move a single finger.

The sound of hoofbeats drew closer. The setting sun looked like blood, and wild geese cried in the vast sky.

Fan Changyu looked towards the friendly forces approaching through the yellow dust cloud they had kicked up. They too seemed to have just been through a fierce battle, with fresh blood on their horses’ legs, armor, and weapons. Even the wind blowing from their direction carried the scent of blood.

Her gaze swept over the leading general riding a jet-black warhorse. It was just a casual glance at first, but her eyes suddenly darted back. She squinted and pulled Xie Wu aside, asking, “That general at the front, wearing the Qilin-shouldered Mingguang armor and riding the tall horse, why does he look a bit like my husband?”

Xie Wu looked at Fan Changyu, opened his mouth, but couldn’t bring himself to say a word.