Zhao Song’s gaze swept over the others. Someone sighed, “Then let’s defend.”
“Let’s defend.”
Zhao Hu cursed a few times, “It’s just over four thousand people. The able-bodied men in our fortified estate number about the same. Why should we fear them?”
Zhao Ming didn’t mention the difference between the two sides and continued, “Since we’re going to defend to the death, while the chaos outside has just begun, let’s send out the fire seeds.”
“Send them where?”
“To Quyang, to Magistrate He, and ask him to send people to Luoyang to seek refuge with the clan head.”
Zhao Ming said, “No, send them to Shangcai and deliver them to Sanniang.”
Before long, earth-shaking battle cries came from the fortified estate’s main gate. Zhao Ming wrote a letter and handed it to his retainers, then turned to go to the tower. Zhao Song handed the three selected youths and a five or six-year-old little girl to a squad of retainers, having them take the four children and leave from another part of the fortified estate.
Zhao Hu still didn’t understand, “Why go to such lengths? It’s just over four thousand people. Can’t we hold the fortified estate?”
Zhao Song said with a grave face, “It’s different. They are desperate people.”
The moat outside the fortified estate wasn’t wide. Although it was difficult to climb up after jumping down, and people on the fortified estate were shooting arrows and throwing stones, these chaotic troops were dressed in rags and gaunt, clearly driven to desperation. At this moment, they could only see the fortified estate and had no fear of life or death.
Corpses filled the moat. Some people jumped directly over by stepping on the bodies, while others chopped down wood from nearby, carried it over and laid it across the moat. Before they could cross, they were shot by arrows…
Before the bodies could fall, they were pushed aside by those behind them. Then, stepping on the wood, they leaped over the moat. The mounted strongman waved his blade and shouted, “The first one to rush into the fortified estate, I promise him endless white rice! Inside there are chickens, ducks, money, and women! Charge—”
With these words, the soldiers’ eyes turned red, showing only ferocity. They howled as they rushed toward the fortified estate…
Zhao Ming continuously had people replenish arrows and stones. Seeing that chaotic troops had already rushed to the base of the tower and were ramming the main gate, he immediately said, “Bring the boiling oil!”
Barrel after barrel of heated oil was poured down, splashing onto the chaotic troops ramming the gate. Zhao Ming, his expression unchanged, had people throw down torches. The area below the fortified estate instantly became a sea of fire.
The agonizing screams of the chaotic troops rose. The relentlessly attacking chaotic troops finally regained some rationality and retreated somewhat beyond the moat.
Zhao Hu watched and laughed heartily, greatly pleased, “We haven’t even lost many people, yet they’ve already died by the hundreds. What’s there to fear?”
Zhao Ming glanced at him. Though he very much wanted to throw the man from the tower, considering military morale, he held back.
Zhao Song was not optimistic, and the other clan elders also had somber expressions. Looking at the chaotic troops who refused to retreat, they then turned to look toward the county town.
Thick smoke billowed there, flames shooting into the sky, looking much more turbulent than their location. “I wonder if the enemy forces at the county town are numerous. If the county town falls, they will surely turn their attention to us.”
A clan elder pulled Zhao Hu aside, “Nephew Zinian is troubled right now. Don’t make a fuss here. If you’re truly thinking of the clan’s welfare, go back now and gather your household servants. They might be needed for defending the city later.”
“Exactly. In these past two years, how many fortified estates have fallen to chaotic troops and refugee armies? Who knows when we might be exterminated like them? And you’re here causing trouble.”
“How am I causing trouble? Other clans may be exterminated, but can our Zhao clan be exterminated?” Zhao Hu said, “My sons and grandsons are all outside. There’s also the second branch’s family in Luoyang. You people only think of the worst. Can’t you think of the good side?”
A group of middle-aged and elderly people whose ages added up to several hundred years started arguing in a corner of the tower.
Zhao Ming couldn’t be bothered with them. He stared at another tattered banner among the chaotic troops and finally recognized it, “Shi?”
His eyes widened slightly, “Shi Lei?”
“Who?” Zhao Song came forward, “That Qiang-Hu Shi Lei from the refugee army? Isn’t he in Jizhou? How did he end up in our Runan?”
At the same time, beacon fires rose not only in Xiping. Quyang, not very far from Shangcai, also lit beacon fires.
Moreover, because Magistrate He was in Quyang, Quyang’s beacon fires were transmitted and lit at the fastest speed. Zhao Hanzhang was accompanying Fu Tinghan in horse-riding practice on a hillside. Seeing the thick black smoke rising in the distance, she didn’t react at first, “With the dry weather, where has a fire broken out?”
Ji Ping, who had come to let them practice, turned to look and his expression changed drastically, “My lady, it’s a beacon fire!”
Zhao Hanzhang’s smile fell from her face as she looked toward the direction of the beacon fire, “Is that Quyang?”
While she was still uncertain, Fu Tinghan suddenly pointed in another direction, “There’s one there too.”
Zhao Hanzhang turned her head and saw beacon fires rising layer by layer in the distance, gradually spreading outward. She immediately gripped the reins in her hand, “It’s Xiping.”
Zhao Hanzhang controlled her horse and said to those around her, “Go fetch Master Ji and Uncle Qianli. Ji Ping, send someone to the county town to investigate. Professor Fu, let’s go.”
The two galloped back to the villa. The retainers had all seen the distant beacon fires, but because they were still far away, everyone didn’t react too strongly.
Only Ji Yuan and Zhao Ju rushed over because they had both seen Xiping’s beacon fires.
“How could Xiping and Quyang simultaneously light beacon fires?” Zhao Hanzhang was very puzzled, “Luoyang has already been recovered, the chaotic troops have retreated, and the Xiongnu army has also withdrawn. Runan Jun, located southeast of Luoyang, should be the safest.”
Ji Yuan said, “What if the retreating chaotic troops and Xiongnu army didn’t go north but went south instead?”
Fu Tinghan said, “There’s too little data. Whatever you discuss now is speculation with very little analytical value.”
He said, “Better think about what to do. Shangcai is between Quyang and Xiping. Whichever side falls, Shangcai will directly face the enemy next.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Right now we have no walls, not even enough weapons. We only have grain and money. In people’s eyes, we’re just a fat goose. If the enemy army really reaches here…”
Then they would only be able to flee again.
But having finally settled down with everything just beginning, asking Zhao Hanzhang to give up now—she was unwilling no matter what.
Zhao Hanzhang looked at Ji Yuan, “Master Ji, we must hold Shangcai and defend this estate.”
“Then we can only keep the enemy at Quyang and Xiping.”
“Quyang has Runan’s garrison troops and Magistrate He there. It won’t fall in a short time,” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Xiping has the Zhao clan’s fortified estate. I wonder how they’re faring.”
Ji Yuan heard Zhao Hanzhang’s inclination and asked, “Does Sanniang want to go to Xiping?”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded.
“But we only have this few people. Even if we count all the able-bodied men, it’s barely a thousand.”
“We don’t yet know how many enemies there are. Why must you be discouraged, Master?”
“Whether it’s Xiping or Quyang, for them to urgently light beacon fires to transmit messages, the enemies they’ve encountered must be numerous and formidable.”
Zhao Hanzhang had already decided, “I must go see. Not only to block the enemy outside Shangcai, but also because the clan is in Xiping. The beacon fires have risen, the clan members are in trouble. How can I act as if I don’t know?”
Fu Tinghan said, “I’ll help you.”
—