Zhao Hanzhang wasn’t worried about them using water attacks, but rather feared they might poison the water.

However, poison wasn’t easy to obtain in these times, especially poison that could contaminate an entire river.

After thinking it over, Zhao Hanzhang still sent people to guard and patrol. “Be careful and vigilant. If there are any abnormalities, report immediately.”

Li Tianhe acknowledged the order.

Xun Xiu looked longingly at the telescope in her hands. “Governor, should we summon General Mi to meet with us?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Let him remain in Ningling. Just have his deputy general come to report on the enemy situation.”

At times like these, it was better to be cautious. Although fast horses could make the round trip from Ningling to Meng County in one day, what if the enemy forces timed it so precisely that they attacked right when Mi Ce left? With Ningling lacking its commanding general, who knew what might happen?

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at Xun Xiu and saw his gaze still fixed on her telescope. She handed it to him, saying, “Be careful not to break it.”

Xun Xiu immediately took it and cheerfully promised, “Rest assured, I’ll be very careful.”

He raised it and looked into the distance, adjusting the focus as he did.

The more he looked, the more excited he became. As expected, the telescope personally made by Master Fu was different—not only could it see farther, it was also clearer. He could even see the veins on tree leaves.

If all the scouts in his army could be equipped with telescopes like this…

Unfortunately, Xun Xiu could only think about it. Telescopes were produced by the weapons workshop with limited capacity. That Qiu Wu didn’t know how to handle things—he’d applied for one hundred telescopes a year ago, and only thirty had been delivered so far. Truly incompetent.

Xun Xiu watched with great interest. Zhao Hanzhang stood to the side with her hands clasped behind her back, waiting for him to finish. When he reluctantly lowered the telescope, she extended her hand.

Xun Xiu secretly caressed the leather-encased telescope once more before carefully placing it in Zhao Hanzhang’s palm.

“General Xun has finished looking. Having just returned from battle, what are your thoughts?”

Xun Xiu said, “Outside Meng County is all open plains with few obstructions. We can only fight head-on.”

Xun Xiu felt quite confident with Zhao Hanzhang present. “Governor, I’m willing to serve as vanguard and recapture Zi County.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “No rush. Let’s wait and see first.”

This wait lasted two days. Mi Ce sent his deputy general over. Zhao Hanzhang reviewed the intelligence gathered by scouts from that area and gained a clear understanding.

Zhao Hanzhang stood on the gate tower, gazing at the enemy camp in the distance, then looked down at the enemy forces below the city gate who kept shouting curses, demanding they open the gates to meet them in battle. After contemplating for a moment, she said, “Yuan Li, come. Go out of the city with me for a stroll.”

Yuan Li immediately acknowledged.

Xun Xiu quickly followed behind, urging, “Governor, such minor enemies should be handled by subordinates. If that won’t do, there’s still me. How can you personally go out to meet the enemy?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “I’m going to confirm whether Shi Lei is actually here or not.”

Only then did Xun Xiu stop in his tracks. Standing on the steps, he waved at her, “Governor, rest assured. I’ll cover you from the gate tower.”

Zhao Hanzhang acknowledged and brought Yuan Li out to engage in battle.

The people outside the city had been shouting for two days. Seeing that Meng County kept its gates shut, they felt both triumphant and irritated. Their insults grew increasingly vulgar.

Wu Yi’s throat had gone hoarse from cursing. He reached for his water pouch and took a gulp, staring at the still-silent Meng County gate tower. Furious, he gritted his teeth, “If this doesn’t work, we’ll attack by force. Go get the siege ladders!”

“General, the Great General and Strategist Zhang said to lure the enemy out of the city—don’t attack by force.” His personal guard shouted, “The main army has already arrived. These Han people are formidable at defending cities—attacking by force would cost many lives.”

“We’ve been cursing for two days and they haven’t made a single move. If we keep cursing, I’ll die of frustration first. Go get the siege ladders!”

Just as he was shouting, the Meng County gates creaked open. A cavalry unit swiftly charged out…

Wu Yi’s eyes lit up. Without even looking to see who was coming out, he raised his saber and shouted loudly, “Brothers, follow me to meet the enemy!”

When he saw clearly that leading the charge toward his formation was actually a young woman, he instantly guessed her identity and grew even more excited. “It’s Zhao Hanzhang! Men, follow me and kill her! Bring me her head to claim merit from the Great General!”

The soldiers all became excited, shouting in unison before following Wu Yi to charge at the Zhao family army.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t pause, meeting Wu Yi head-on. Her spear thrust forward. He dodged to the side and was about to close in to strike when Zhao Hanzhang had already leaped past him. She spun her spear, sweeping it across his face before pulling back. The spear moved like lightning, and one of his personal guards behind him was pierced through.

Zhao Hanzhang pulled back her spear with a sharp motion, ignoring the spurting blood. Her spear moved like a swimming dragon through the enemy army, leading the Zhao family troops behind her to penetrate the enemy formation. After breaking through, she wheeled her horse around and charged back.

After Wu Yi passed her, he tried to turn his horse to pursue, but by the time he could turn around, she had already killed her way into the distance. He was held back by other Zhao family soldiers and could only watch helplessly as she diagonally split his formation in two. The Zhao family army inserted themselves into the breach, separating the head and tail of his formation.

Zhao Hanzhang turned her horse and charged back again.

This time, Wu Yi finally managed to forcibly engage her with his saber, bringing his personal guards to fight fiercely with Zhao Hanzhang. Before long, their eyes were red with bloodlust.

Seeing Zhao Hanzhang growing weaker, Wu Yi’s eyes gleamed. He waited for the right moment to strike at Zhao Hanzhang’s neck. At this moment, his defenses were wide open. He was confident he could behead her before she could counterattack. But before his blade could fall, his chest went cold.

Wu Yi stared blankly downward and saw a spear protruding from his chest.

Believing she was exhausted and wanting to flee on horseback due to her vulnerable left shoulder, Zhao Hanzhang had instead actively charged toward him and killed him…

Wu Yi stared blankly as she passed him. Zhao Hanzhang withdrew her spear, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

Two riders couldn’t react in time and trampled over him with their horses’ hooves…

Seeing this, Zeng Yue immediately shouted, “The enemy commander is dead! Why don’t you surrender immediately!”

Yuan Li was leading men to fight their way through to regroup when he heard this and immediately echoed, “Your general has been beheaded! Surrender now!”

The Zhao family troops followed suit in shouting. The enemy soldiers, whose eyes were red from killing, swept their gazes through the crowd but couldn’t find their general. They quickly looked for their battle flag. Yuan Li had already reached the flag and cut it down with one stroke.

With the battle flag fallen, the enemy forces instantly fell into chaos. Once chaos set in, some began charging wildly. Yuan Li seized this moment of pause to kill toward the flag, and the Zhao family’s headcount immediately surged. Seeing no hope of breaking through, some simply threw down their weapons and surrendered. Still others on the outer edges fled directly toward the main camp.

Yuan Li wanted to pursue those who had escaped after finishing off those who hadn’t surrendered. Zhao Hanzhang called him back, “Don’t pursue. Clean up the battlefield immediately and drag our wounded soldiers back.”

Yuan Li had no choice but to stop and lead his men to quickly clean up the battlefield.

Even Zhao Hanzhang dismounted to pick up several sabers. Seeing Wu Yi lying not far away with his eyes wide open in death, she bent down to take his saber. Finding that he held it firmly, she pried open his fingers and forcefully wrested the saber away.

She examined it carefully and was quite pleased. “This blade is actually quite good—sharp without needing to be reforged.”