Zhao Ju and Ji Yuan held the right flank, unable to see Zhao Hanzhang and naturally unaware that she had gone wild with bloodlust, completely absorbed in pursuing Liu Jing. Seeing the central army charging forward with high morale, Ji Yuan said, “We can fight. Let’s wait quietly.”

Vice General Cai was also waiting. When the drum rhythm reached the second section, the gates of Quyang City opened, and a contingent of soldiers rushed out from within.

Seeing this, his spirits lifted and he was about to order the charge when Ji Yuan stopped him. “Vice General Cai, wait a moment longer. We’ll advance when the Xiongnu forces scatter to the sides. For now, it’s best to maintain the encirclement.”

“Our morale is soaring, and we’ve already achieved a pincer attack. If we wait any longer, we won’t even get our share of the spoils. Wouldn’t completing the encirclement now be even better?”

Ji Yuan insisted, “Wait until they spread out a bit more before attacking. If we strike too fiercely later, we’ll need to leave them an opening to escape, so they won’t fight too desperately.”

Vice General Cai didn’t want to listen to him, but unfortunately, the Zhao family’s troops only obeyed Ji Yuan and Zhao Ju. Without their orders, the three thousand soldiers remained steadfastly in position.

Vice General Cai didn’t believe his two thousand men alone could stop the Xiongnu forces attempting to break through. Though his face darkened, he could only remain in position for now. Still, he expressed his anger: “Before Zhao Sanniang left, she gave orders for you all to follow my commands. Yet you disobey orders in the midst of battle. When this is over, I will definitely report you to Magistrate Zhang.”

Ji Yuan smiled and replied, “Vice General Cai, please do as you wish.”

Zhao Ju merely curled his lip. Magistrate Zhang had no authority over them anyway. What good would reporting to him do? If he had the ability, he should report to their lady instead.

When the garrison from within Quyang City surged out, the Xiongnu forces, who had been steady and fierce until now, finally grew fearful and hurried to find their general.

They then discovered their general was thoroughly enjoying his battle with that young lady from the Jin army, having completely forgotten about commanding his troops.

It wasn’t that Liu Jing didn’t want to break away—he was a veteran general and naturally sensed the situation was turning unfavorable. But Zhao Hanzhang clung too tightly. Not only could he not break free, he could barely even afford to be distracted.

The moment he lost focus, Zhao Hanzhang, who already held a slight advantage, could immediately cut him down.

Unlike him, Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t commanding today. She simply led Qiu Wu in charging and killing like an ordinary soldier, following the drum beats to relentlessly pursue Liu Jing.

“General, we’re surrounded! We need to retreat!”

Liu Jing: !!!

Damn you! If you can shout, why don’t you come up here and help? What good does shouting at me from ten men away do? Without someone blocking Zhao Hanzhang for me, how can I retreat?

The speaker finally realized Liu Jing’s predicament and led men to cut through the Jin soldiers, trying to push forward to block Zhao Hanzhang.

But Qiu Wu quickly killed the surrounding Xiongnu soldiers and met them head-on. “I’m your opponent!”

Zhao Hanzhang slew a Xiongnu soldier who tried to block her and spurred her horse after the fleeing Liu Jing. Hearing the sound of cutting wind, Liu Jing could only turn and raise his blade to block. At that moment, he finally couldn’t help but curse aloud: “You’re absolutely determined to kill me, aren’t you? If you’re so capable, come chase me!”

With that, he pushed hard, using his blade to force her sword aside, then roared loudly: “Retreat to both flanks and break through…”

With those words, he led the charge toward one side, and Zhao Hanzhang led her men in pursuit…

Finally, Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Ju met amid the chaotic battle.

Ji Yuan only agreed to close the encirclement when the Xiongnu forces broke out from the flanks. Thus, the Xiongnu army, having just barely shaken off the Jin central forces, immediately encountered them.

Ji Yuan understood the principle that desperate soldiers fight hardest, so he didn’t want to press the Xiongnu forces too severely. Seeing them fighting with rising ferocity, about to start throwing their lives away recklessly, he had his men leave a gap for them to escape.

As long as that one gap of hope existed, they would value their lives and not fight quite so desperately.

Liu Jing was the first to spot that opening and led his men charging toward it.

Zhao Hanzhang, pursuing from behind, also saw the gap and immediately shouted loudly, “Master Ji, seal the opening! Keep Liu Jing here!”

But Liu Jing had already charged through ahead of her.

Zhao Hanzhang spurred her horse in pursuit.

Ji Yuan hadn’t expected his lady to pursue the enemy all the way here and hurriedly called out, “My lady, never pursue a desperate enemy!”

Zhao Hanzhang charged out, watching Liu Jing and a few riders galloping away. She sheathed her sword and took her bow in hand. While riding in pursuit, she drew the bow. Her gaze grew focused, her heart completely calm, seeing only Liu Jing fleeing ahead—even the sound of wind in her ears fell silent.

Zhao Hanzhang released her hand. The arrow shot out like a meteor, striking with a thud into his back and piercing through from behind. Liu Jing swayed on his horse but didn’t fall, instead continuing to ride onward.

His guards cried out in alarm, “General!”

Zhao Hanzhang watched them flee into the distance, realizing she couldn’t catch up. She reined in her horse and gazed after them with infinite regret. “I wonder if he’ll die from that.”

Ji Yuan caught up, slightly out of breath. “My lady, never pursue a desperate enemy!”

“I know. Didn’t I stop just now?”

Ji Yuan also looked into the distance, then turned back to see the Xiongnu soldiers breaking through and got a fright. “My lady, let’s move to the side first…”

Zhao Hanzhang had already rehung her bow, drawn her sword, and charged into the fray. “Qiu Wu, protect Master Ji and withdraw to the side…”

Ji Yuan: …

He couldn’t help asking Qiu Wu, “Does our lady love battle too much? Shouldn’t one fear seeing blood and killing?”

Qiu Wu replied proudly, “How can our lady be compared to ordinary women?”

Zhao Hanzhang fought her way back to the battlefield, shouting loudly, “Liu Jing is dead! Will you not surrender?”

Whether he was dead or not, she’d first undermine the Xiongnu army’s morale.

Sure enough, once these words spread, the Jin army began clamoring loudly, everyone echoing the cry that Liu Jing was dead…

The Xiongnu forces still struggling to break through didn’t want to believe it, but first, the one making this claim was Zhao Hanzhang, who had just defeated their general in combat.

Second, as they stole glances around while fighting, they couldn’t spot their general. They said he’d broken through, and their banner was still there, but… their hearts grew uneasy.

Thus, the Xiongnu army collapsed. Under the pincer attack from front and rear and encirclement from left and right, only about a hundred managed to break through. The rest were either killed or captured.

Vice General Qiao from Quyang County, covered in bloodstains, came to see Magistrate Zhang. “Magistrate Zhang, the Governor requests your presence.”

His gaze swept over the others, finally settling on Zhao Hanzhang in the distance. “The Governor also wishes to see that young general.”

Magistrate Zhang turned to look, fell silent for a moment, then said, “That is Sanniang of the Zhao clan of Xiping.”

Vice General Qiao’s eyes widened slightly. “A lady?”

Magistrate Zhang nodded. “That’s correct.”

Just then, Zhao Hanzhang rode over. She too was stained with considerable blood, all from others.

She cupped her hands toward Magistrate Zhang and asked, “Uncle, are you well?”

Magistrate Zhang smiled. “I wasn’t injured. But you, niece, have been charging at the forefront this whole time. Are you injured?”

“No,” Zhao Hanzhang laughed. “Those petty villains couldn’t harm Sanniang.”

Magistrate Zhang sighed with feeling. “I never imagined you possessed such martial prowess.”