Zhao Hanzhang led the pursuing troops on a running chase. Passing by where Zhao Ju had set his ambush, she didn’t stop for even a step but continued running forward. Zhao Ju’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the barbarian soldiers approaching with thundering hoofbeats. Seeing them draw closer and closer, he raised his hand. Once they were near enough, he immediately ordered, “Pull!”

The horse-tripping ropes instantly rose up. In the darkness, the ropes possessed natural concealment. The barbarian soldiers in the very front suddenly pitched forward. Those who reacted quickly immediately ducked and rolled off their horses, while those who couldn’t react in time broke their necks when they fell, or were trampled by the horses.

Zhao Ju immediately followed up with the order, “Release arrows!”

A rain of arrows shot forth from both sides!

Tonight would be an unforgettable, chilling night for Liu Cong’s great army. The pursuing barbarian soldiers had originally still held some confidence, determined to capture these audacious Jin people, but now this suddenly appearing ambush shattered their courage. Some turned and fled, while others ran wildly into the forest in confusion…

Zhao Ju saw they had lost heart. Not to strike now would be to disrespect all the time they’d spent feeding mosquitoes in the forest.

So he led his men in the attack.

Zhao Hanzhang led her troops in a non-stop charge back to Chen County. The soldiers guarding the city confirmed it was them before immediately opening the main gate to welcome them inside.

Fu Tinghan immediately brought people down from the city tower to meet Zhao Hanzhang. Seeing her grave, cold expression, he paused.

Zhao Hanzhang saw him, and her expression eased slightly. She nodded at him, then turned back to look behind her. After all the soldiers had entered the city, Zhao Hanzhang said to Qiu Wu, “Count the numbers.”

Then she turned to look at Zhao Erlang and lifted her foot to kick him down. Zhao Erlang fell to the ground, looking up at his sister with a bewildered expression.

The soldiers all watched anxiously.

Zhao Hanzhang’s face was dark as water as she said coldly, “Next time you’re this reckless again, I’ll cut you down!”

Zhao Erlang lowered his head and acknowledged.

Zhao Hanzhang snorted coldly, then turned to see Governor He and the others. Her face immediately showed a warm smile as she raised her hand in salute. “Your Excellency, when did you arrive?”

Governor He and the others: …This smile looked so insincere no matter how you looked at it, completely different from her earlier coldness.

Naturally they had rushed over immediately upon hearing news of their return. After all, hardly anyone had been able to sleep tonight anyway.

Seeing their gazes fall on Zhao Erlang behind her, Zhao Hanzhang explained gently, “My younger brother was disobedient, so I disciplined him a bit. I’ve made Your Excellency and the generals laugh.”

“Not at all,” Governor He finally remembered the main issue and asked, “How were the results of the night raid?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Qiu Wu has gone to count the troops. There’s also Zhao Ju providing support and two squads that went to burn grain supplies who haven’t returned yet, so I don’t dare report achievements immediately.”

Governor He’s eyes lit up. “You found their grain supplies?”

Though there was no definite news back yet, Zhao Hanzhang trusted her own judgment, so she nodded. “Yes!”

Qiu Wu quickly returned from counting the troops and reported with a bow, “My lady, we should have eight hundred and six returned, actually present are seven hundred and thirty-four. One hundred and sixty-eight wounded, of which twelve are seriously wounded.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Have the military physicians treat them. I’ll go see them shortly.”

“Yes!” After reporting, Qiu Wu glanced at Governor He, bowed slightly, then withdrew.

He wasn’t the court’s military force but Zhao Hanzhang’s retainers, so he only recognized Zhao Hanzhang as his master.

Governor He didn’t mind. Hearing that Zhao Hanzhang’s troops had light casualties, his heart sank as he asked, “Did you only harass their perimeter?”

“No, we struck two-thirds of their camp and at one point charged to the central tent,” Zhao Hanzhang said, pointing to Zhao Erlang, who had already gotten up from the ground. “The first to charge before the central tent was him.”

Governor He and the others didn’t know whether to believe her or not, but they smiled and listened anyway.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t care whether they believed her or not—they would send scouts out to investigate anyway.

Zhao Hanzhang was waiting—waiting for Zhao Ju to return, and also waiting for news from Ji Ping and Li Tianhe.

The wounded soldiers were taken away for bandaging. Zhao Hanzhang simply went to see the wounded as well. Those who could be brought back on horseback naturally still had a chance at life.

It was just that some were seriously injured and might not be able to save their arms or legs—they might need amputation.

And with such large wounds, they might very well not survive.

More of the injuries were blade and spear wounds on their bodies. As long as there was medicine, Zhao Hanzhang could treat them, so she rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

Fu Tinghan stood beside her, passing her scissors as he asked, “Why did you strike Erlang?”

Zhao Hanzhang snorted. “Striking him is getting off lightly. That reckless brat got overexcited fighting without regard for weight or measure, ignoring my orders to charge at the central tent.”

At this moment, Zhao Erlang sat on the ground weeping, his upper garment half-removed so Lu Hu could bandage him.

He too was wounded, just not seriously. His armor had been very effective—though he’d been struck with a blade and the armor was damaged, his body only bore a not-very-deep gash. After cleaning and stopping the bleeding, bandaging it would suffice.

The army’s medicine was all much the same. Lu Hu had been training with Zhao Erlang for the past half year and also knew how to bandage, so with the military physicians too busy to spare hands, he could bandage Zhao Erlang.

Lu Hu bandaged him while consoling, “Erlang, don’t be sad. My lady’s anger comes quickly but leaves quickly too. Tomorrow if you personally serve her tea, she won’t be angry anymore.”

Zhao Erlang shook his head, tears falling. “Zhu Dabao and Fang Dali are both dead. Especially Fang Dali—he died right beside me. If elder sister hadn’t pulled me back, I would have died too.”

Lu Hu immediately fell silent.

Zhao Erlang had always been a squad leader with ten men under him. Later when Lu Hu came, he had eleven under him.

Each squad of soldiers moved following their squad leader, and squad leaders followed their company commander. At that time, Zhao Hanzhang was effectively their company commander.

Zhao Erlang had killed with red eyes, charging toward the central tent, so the soldiers under him could only follow him inward. This time, his squad suffered the heaviest deaths and injuries.

Lu Hu didn’t know how to console him and could only say, “Erlang also achieved great merit. I heard them calling that person ‘Great General’—maybe it was Liu Cong. You and my lady seriously wounded Liu Cong. That’s a great achievement.”

Zhao Erlang pursed his lips. “That was elder sister’s achievement, not mine.”

Just as he was feeling dejected, Zhao Ju returned with his men.

Governor He and the others hadn’t left, waiting at the city gate not far away. Seeing the returning men not only carrying the aura of blood and killing intent but also casually leading many horses—and those saddles were clearly Xiongnu saddles at a glance.

Several people narrowed their eyes, scanning those saddles that were clearly not theirs. Their hearts stirred slightly with excitement. “That’s… over a hundred horses, isn’t it?”

To capture over a hundred horses, one could imagine how many enemies they’d killed.

Even Governor He couldn’t sit still. He immediately summoned the army’s best scouts and had them depart at once to gather intelligence.

Ji Ping and Li Tianhe returned together following Zhao Ju. Both were very excited, loudly reporting to Zhao Hanzhang, “My lady, their grain supplies were burned!”

The corners of Zhao Hanzhang’s mouth lifted slightly as she nodded. “The sky is about to lighten. After counting the casualties and injuries, go rest.”

“Yes.”