Magistrate Zhang’s purpose was nothing more than trying to persuade the enemy to surrender. Of course, both sides knew this was impossible, so he took a step back and wanted to persuade them to leave.

He displayed his strength—they had over twenty thousand troops, five times the Xiongnu force.

The Xiongnu army expressed they weren’t afraid at all, responding with a contemptuous snort.

Liu Jing sat on his tall horse, gazing at the Jin army opposite. Holding his great blade high, he didn’t even need a messenger to relay words. He shouted directly at them, “If you want to fight, then fight! What’s all this nonsense for? After I finish with you, I’ll deal with those people in the city.”

Liu Jing licked his lips all around, his eyes glowing red. He turned back and roared loudly at the Xiongnu army, “Kill them, charge into the city! Kill whoever you want, plunder whatever you want! I’m going to slaughter this entire city!”

“Slaughter, slaughter, slaughter!”

Zhao Hanzhang’s smile vanished. Magistrate Zhang’s expression also grew somber as he said to everyone, “You all heard him. With such wolfish ambitions, how can we allow him to remain in Yuzhou? We must drive this man out of Yuzhou.”

Zhao Hanzhang stared fixedly at Liu Jing, telling Qiuwu and Ji Ping, “Find a way to kill this man.”

Qiuwu and Ji Ping’s expressions became stern as they responded gravely.

Since Liu Jing had said such things, there was naturally no possibility of continuing negotiations. So they arranged their battle formations and began champion duels.

Actually, Magistrate Zhang didn’t really want champion duels, because in single combat, very few on their side could match the Xiongnu army. He preferred to charge forward en masse and fight it out.

But he needed to give those inside Quyang City time to prepare. So when he saw the enemy wanted champion duels, he naturally agreed, only hoping to delay as long as possible.

Once the city was ready and they attacked from both front and rear, their chances of victory should be quite good, right?

Liu Jing, however, wanted to crush their morale. They had over twenty thousand men, didn’t they? He wanted them unable to muster even the morale of two thousand.

He pointed to a fierce warrior. “Liu Wu, you go.”

A bearded man with a high nose and deep-set eyes rode forward on horseback, responding loudly, “Yes!”

He spurred his horse to the center between the two armies, pointing at the opposite side and shouting, “Grandsons, your grandfather is here! Come eat your grandfather’s obedient stick!”

Magistrate Zhang turned back and asked, “Who will go?”

Silence fell among the crowd for a moment.

Zhao Hanzhang thought to herself: surely it won’t be this embarrassing? No one dares come forward in the very first champion duel?

In the silence, a rider stepped forward, calling out loudly, “This officer volunteers!”

Zhao Hanzhang leaned forward slightly to look. She saw he was tall and well-built. Though somewhat dark-skinned, his features were regular with thick eyebrows—quite a handsome fellow.

She thought carefully back. At last night’s banquet, he seemed to have sat two seats above her position. That meant his status was much higher than hers.

Zhao Hanzhang heard someone nearby say, “It’s Staff Officer Xia. His martial skills are quite good. He should be able to win.”

“Even if he can’t win, he can hold out for a while. Those inside should be about ready.”

“Good!” Magistrate Zhang praised Staff Officer Xia and sent him forward!

Staff Officer Xia wielded a long spear. With a kick to his horse’s belly, he charged out. Liu Wu had been waiting. As soon as he approached, the great blade came slashing down. Staff Officer Xia maintained his speed, raising his spear to block…

The two horses crossed paths, and in an instant three moves had been exchanged.

Zhao Hanzhang watched intently. After observing their back-and-forth for a while, her brow furrowed. “Staff Officer Xia lacks strength…”

Before she finished speaking, Liu Wu dodged his thrust by leaning sideways during another charge, then quickly clamped down on the spear before Staff Officer Xia could withdraw it. His right hand raised the great blade, the blade rose and fell, and a spray of blood gushed forth…

Zhao Hanzhang turned her head slightly, gripping her horse’s reins tightly. “He withdrew his spear too slowly.”

Ji Ping also watched with lingering fear. He had nearly died this way at Shi Le’s hands. If he hadn’t released his spear then…

Liu Wu lifted Staff Officer Xia’s severed head, laughing at them. “Who else dares come?!”

Magistrate Zhang hadn’t expected Staff Officer Xia to fail so quickly. His face turned ashen as he looked directly at Staff Officer Wu. “Staff Officer Wu, what do you think…”

Seeing the rear army growing restless, clearly their morale greatly affected, Staff Officer Wu gripped his blade tightly and rode forward one step. “My lord, this officer volunteers.”

“Good! I’ll beat the drums for you to boost morale.”

Staff Officer Wu stepped forward, saying sternly to Liu Wu, “How dare barbarians run wild in our Central Plains? Today this grandfather will teach you some manners.”

Liu Wu tossed aside the head in his hand with a cold snort. “Come then! Is grandfather afraid of you?”

Staff Officer Wu, seeing his comrade so humiliated, flushed red with anger. He spurred his horse forward, and both attacked with their blades aimed at each other’s vital points. After being blocked, they defended and counterattacked in continuous exchanges. In moments they had traded over ten moves.

Zhao Hanzhang watched very carefully. She soon saw that Liu Wu’s weak point was his right shoulder. Every time he struck, there was an opening at his right shoulder. Unfortunately, Staff Officer Wu wasn’t fast enough, otherwise…

As she was thinking this, Liu Wu’s blade had already struck Staff Officer Wu’s arm. Staff Officer Wu screamed, and risking his arm, he viciously kicked his horse’s belly to charge forward, brushing past Liu Wu’s horse as he fled directly toward their own army.

The drumming that had been continuous paused. The soldiers grew restless. Even Magistrate Zhang couldn’t help crying out, “Staff Officer Wu! Someone, quickly go save Staff Officer Wu!”

The Xiongnu army opposite raised their blades and shouted, excitedly yelling, “Kill! Kill! Kill!”

The Jin army, facing such high morale, turned pale. Some even timidly retreated quietly.

Those on horseback surrounding Magistrate Zhang all shuddered. Facing Staff Officer Wu desperately fleeing toward them, none reacted immediately.

Behind Staff Officer Wu, Liu Wu raised his blade in pursuit. Zhao Hanzhang drew her sword, kicked her horse’s belly, and shot forward past everyone. Qiuwu and Ji Ping cried out in alarm, “Young lady!”

They moved to chase but, remembering the rules of champion duels, held back temporarily.

The young lady could exchange moves with Shi Le. This man was far inferior to Shi Le. She should be fine for the moment, right?

Zhao Hanzhang charged toward Staff Officer Wu, passing directly by him to meet Liu Wu head-on. She raised her sword to block his blade, using her sword to deflect it aside, laughing heartily, “Grandson, your opponent now is your granny here!”

“What bear of a granny! Where did this girl come from? Has Dajin run out of men?”

Zhao Hanzhang saw he’d stopped chasing Staff Officer Wu and reined in her horse with a smile. “We have plenty. Open your dog eyes and look over there—they’re all men. But there’s no need for them yet. Your granny will play with you first. If I still can’t win, then they’ll come.”

Liu Wu’s face darkened as he stared at Zhao Hanzhang. “Don’t think I won’t kill you just because you’re a woman. Dare to make trouble on the battlefield, and grandfather will peel off your skin to make a lantern.”

Liu Jing was even angrier, believing the Jin army dared to use a woman to fool them at this moment—a complete insult. So he loudly ordered, “Liu Wu, take her head for me! I’m going to hollow it out and use it as a ladle!”

Liu Wu’s eyes reddened further, glaring viciously at Zhao Hanzhang and responding loudly, “Yes!”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled faintly. “That depends on whether you have the ability.”