Shi Lei’s gaze swept over the Zhao Family Army and Western Liang Army behind Zhao Hanzhang, then fell upon the Jin troops.
The Jin army originally had no fighting spirit, but when Zhao Hanzhang and Beigong Chun had fought their way here earlier, they had given them great confidence. So now at least fifty or sixty thousand Jin soldiers stood behind them.
They absolutely could not let them rekindle their fighting spirit!
So Shi Lei directly pointed his long blade and ordered people to set fire to Prince Donghai and his coffin together.
Torches were thrown onto the coffin and Prince Donghai’s body. Fire instantly consumed the corpse. Not only the Jin troops behind Zhao Hanzhang, but also the officials and soldiers captured by Shi Lei all wore expressions of grief. Someone cried out and ran directly toward Prince Donghai’s corpse, only to be cut down by a barbarian with a single stroke. Everyone’s inner grief caught in their throats as they glared at Shi Lei with hatred.
Shi Lei spurred his horse forward, pointing at the burning corpse and shouting, “This man threw the realm into chaos! I act for all under heaven in punishing him, so I burn his remains to inform heaven and earth!”
Shi Lei looked straight at Zhao Hanzhang. Seeing no grief or anger on her face like that on the Jin soldiers and civilians, only detachment, his lips curled. “General Zhao, Sima Yue held a great grudge against you. I have avenged you. Should you not thank me?”
Zhao Hanzhang watched Prince Donghai being consumed by the flames with an impassive gaze, then raised her eyes to Shi Lei’s face. “General Shi, you need not sow discord before the people of the realm. My feud with Prince Donghai was a personal grudge. Even if I sought revenge, I would not need you to do it for me. Moreover, what you have captured now are officials and common people of my Dajin. This is a national enmity.”
Her gaze passed over Shi Lei to fall upon the tens of thousands of officials and civilians behind him. Her spear rose to point at him. “Leave these people behind, and I will let you go.”
Shi Lei laughed coldly. “Does General Zhao think that with your forces you can keep me here?”
Zhao Hanzhang shouted loudly, “I have twenty thousand troops, and now another hundred thousand Jin soldiers, with even fifty thousand behind you. Tell me, General Shi, what do you have to fight me with?”
Shi Lei couldn’t help but laugh mockingly, pointing at the mass of people collapsed on the ground behind him. “Is General Zhao speaking of these soft-legged sheep?”
Zhao Hanzhang roared back, “Yes!”
“It’s them!” Zhao Hanzhang called out loudly, “What man in this world lacks a fighting spirit? Even women know how to resist—what have you to fear? Your lives and families are now in Shi Lei’s hands. Since death is inevitable either way, why not fight once more!”
“He won’t even spare Prince Donghai’s corpse—how could he spare you living people?”
Seeing the Jin people growing agitated, Shi Lei knew they had been roused. He immediately had someone drag out a weak-kneed official and placed his sword horizontally at his neck. “Are you willing to surrender to me?”
The official’s face turned deathly pale as he said, “I am willing!”
“Good!” Shi Lei responded heartily and said, “Then tell them why you’re willing to surrender to me. Speak truthfully!”
The official felt the painful sting at his neck and realized the blade had cut his skin. He dared not delay and quickly said, “Because following her will certainly mean death, but surrendering to the General might preserve my life.”
Shi Lei then laughed heartily and said to the Jin officials and civilians behind him, “Exactly! As long as you all surrender to me, I will spare your lives.”
Wang Yan, who was under close watch, saw this and closed his eyes tightly. They had missed their opportunity.
Many Jin officials and soldiers behind Shi Lei had their resolve weaken. They didn’t want to die. The moment this thought arose in their hearts, Zhao Hanzhang sneered and reached out her hand. “Bow!”
A personal guard presented a bow. Zhao Hanzhang drew an arrow and nocked it. Seeing her aim the bow and arrow at him, Shi Lei sneered, waiting for her to shoot.
But unexpectedly, the arrow suddenly dropped and shot out swiftly, striking with a thud into the Jin official’s neck.
The man’s eyes widened in disbelief as he fell.
Zhao Hanzhang roared, “Those who disrupt our army’s morale deserve death!”
“Men! Rescue our Jin people and let none become slaves!”
“Roar! Roar—”
Zhao Hanzhang kicked her horse’s belly and led her forces charging forward. Beigong Chun followed closely behind. The Jin troops, their blood stirred by the Zhao Family Army and Western Liang Army’s fighting spirit, also found their battle intent ignited. They raised the swords in their hands and charged forward together.
Shi Lei roared and rode forth to meet Zhao Hanzhang.
The two faced each other and within moments had exchanged seven or eight moves. Zhao Hanzhang had made considerable progress these past two years, and Shi Lei had similarly improved. The two fought evenly matched.
Within the barbarian encirclement, the Jin officials and civilians who had been captured—those who truly were powerless—broke into cold sweat. They feared both that Shi Lei’s troops would accidentally wound them with their blades and spears, and that stray arrows from the Zhao Family Army might hit them. So as the two sides engaged, they scattered in panic, wanting to escape.
When Shi Lei’s troops saw this, they casually cut down those trying to flee. The Jin officials and civilians had already been disarmed. At this moment, they had nothing but their bare hands to resist with. In their terror, they could only crouch back down on the ground.
Zhao Hanzhang, leading her forces in fierce battle with Shi Lei, couldn’t spare attention for them at that moment.
Lady Wang Si supported Wang Huifeng as they ran through the chaos trying to get out, but in the confusion someone pushed her and she fell to the ground, bringing Wang Huifeng down with her.
Wang Huifeng looked up and saw that anyone who tried to run out was being killed by the barbarians. Her face went pale. She pushed Lady Wang Si up. “Quickly, go to Father.”
Wang Yan was a high official and a great scholar. Shi Lei wouldn’t kill him. Si’niang would have a chance at survival staying with him.
But Lady Wang Si was unwilling. She pulled Wang Huifeng along and kept running outward. “Elder Sister, let’s find Sanniang. She will certainly save us. I don’t want to submit to barbarians like Father.”
Hearing this, Wang Huifeng pulled Lady Wang Si and ran outward.
Zhao Hanzhang’s spear stabbed at his neck swift as lightning, but Shi Lei still managed to dodge by tilting his head. His great blade swept fiercely forward. Zhao Hanzhang leaned back to avoid it.
The Jin military and civilians Shi Lei had captured had lost their courage and could only be herded forward by the barbarians. But the Jin troops behind Zhao Hanzhang had their fighting spirit kindled.
Seeing this, Shi Lei knew that continuing to drag things out would only lead to defeat. He decisively had his men sweep up the captured Jin officials and soldiers and depart, while he personally led forces to cover the rear.
In the midst of fierce battle, Lady Wang Si and Wang Huifeng were swept along by Shi Lei’s army in their retreat. They were so close—just a little more and they would have entered the battlefield and encountered the Zhao Family Army.
While being pushed forward by the crowd, Lady Wang Si couldn’t help but look back, shouting toward Zhao Hanzhang’s direction: “Sanniang! Sanniang—”
Zhao Hanzhang seemed to have heard. She drove her spear through a Jie barbarian soldier from his horse while turning her head toward the source of the sound.
Lady Wang Si shouted, “Sanniang, save me—”
Zhao Hanzhang only had time for one glance before numerous Jie barbarians attacked. She immediately recovered her focus and raised her spear to block them.
Shi Lei’s army retreated swiftly. With him personally leading forces to cover the rear, Zhao Hanzhang and Beigong Chun only managed to rescue fewer than ten thousand people. The rest—especially the high Dajin officials and aristocratic family members—were all swept away by him. They simply couldn’t be saved.
Seeing so many Han ministers and Han people being taken by Shi Lei, Beigong Chun’s heart refused to accept it. He led his men to give chase.
Zhao Hanzhang extended her spear to block him. “Don’t pursue!”