His eyes brightened significantly, and his attacks became even more fierce. With one spear thrust, he pierced through Liu Ji. He pulled out his spear and immediately turned to kill the colonel he had just spotted, shouting, “Sir, the rebel is here…”

Liu Cong turned back, thrusting his long spear, his brows heavy as he looked at the excited Zhao Erlang. “When a tiger falls to the plains, even dogs dare to bully it. Now even yellow-haired brats dare to come kill me.”

Zhao Erlang tossed his head, flinging his hair from behind to the front for Liu Cong to see. “I’m still young, my hair hasn’t turned yellow. But you—your hair has turned white. Hmph, white-haired old man, your strength definitely can’t match mine. I advise you to surrender quickly, and I’ll spare your life!”

Xie Shi: …

Liu Cong was furious. Then, seeing Zhao Erlang’s unusual reactions, he sneered coldly, “So the rumors are true—Zhao Hanzhang’s brother is a fool. No wonder she, a woman, takes to the battlefield and monopolizes state affairs. Her family must be bereft of capable men.”

Zhao Erlang grew angry and shouted loudly, “You’re the fool! Your whole family are fools! My elder sister said long ago that I’m not stupid, not stupid at all!”

Having said this, he no longer wanted to capture Liu Cong alive. Filled with righteous fury, he thrust at Liu Cong’s head, his neck, his heart. His long spear swept horizontally, spinning rapidly, advancing quickly, withdrawing, then thrusting again—every move aimed at vital points.

He thought that bringing the man’s head back to his elder sister would also make her happy.

Shi Lei thought the same way. He had old grudges with Liu Yao, so if he captured Liu Yao alive and brought him back, given Zhao Hanzhang’s nature, she would surely try to win him over. Better to bring back his head instead.

So Shi Lei killed Liu Yao and slaughtered all the Xiongnu soldiers who had fled here, then led his troops back.

Zhao Erlang had been suppressed these past few days. His elder sister wouldn’t allow him to appear before others, so his troops could only hide. He had been stifled for so long.

Liu Cong had once been defeated by his elder sister. This time, he too must win.

Zhao Erlang’s fighting spirit surged. Liu Cong, on the other hand, was exhausted in body and mind, wanting only to escape quickly. But the more he wanted to flee, the less he could get away.

In less than a quarter-hour, he had sustained two injuries. Xiongnu soldiers continuously rushed over, trying to shield Liu Cong from Zhao Erlang.

But Zhao Erlang was in the prime of youth, growing more excited as he fought. Moreover, soldiers of the Zhao Family Army were also eyeing Liu Cong’s head. Everyone surged forward, and no matter how many came, most died at Zhao Erlang’s hands. The few who weren’t were intercepted by the Zhao Family Army soldiers who had rushed up, while the youth once again blocked Liu Cong’s attempted escape with his spear.

Liu Cong: …

Even Xie Shi had rushed over, attacking Liu Cong together with Zhao Erlang.

The two wielded different weapons—one used a spear, one a sword, long and short both present. Most wonderfully, they coordinated seamlessly, one in front and one behind, one inside and one outside, preventing the Xiongnu soldiers rushing to protect Liu Cong from getting close. Instead, Liu Cong was pressed back step by step. Unable to dodge in time, he was pierced through the chest by Zhao Erlang’s spear.

This time, with Xie Shi guarding him, Zhao Erlang didn’t pull back his spear to protect himself. Instead of withdrawing the spear, he fiercely pushed forward, pinning Liu Cong to a tree.

Liu Cong coughed up blood in great mouthfuls, staring at Zhao Erlang with a bitter laugh. “I never imagined that I, a hero all my life, would die at the hands of a yellow-haired brat like you.”

Zhao Erlang was unhappy and about to retort when he heard Liu Cong say in a trembling voice, “Don’t… don’t speak. I… I don’t want to hear you speak…”

Before he could finish, his eyes drooped and his entire body went limp.

Xie Shi killed a man with one sword stroke and kicked the body away. Seeing Liu Cong was dead, he immediately shouted loudly, “Han Emperor Liu Cong is dead! Why don’t you all surrender your weapons now!”

He shouted loudly, “The Zhao Family Army’s iron rule—those who surrender their weapons will not be killed!”

At these words, all the soldiers of the Zhao Family Army followed in loud chorus, “Surrender your weapons and live! Surrender your weapons and live!”

Some Xiongnu soldiers saw Liu Cong pinned to the tree, cried out in anguish, then drew their blades across their own throats, immediately committing suicide to follow him.

The remaining Xiongnu soldiers, seeing this, some laid down their weapons to surrender, while others followed suit in suicide.

Xie Shi pressed his lips together but didn’t stop those who were killing themselves.

Liu Cong was, after all, an emperor. Though his reign hadn’t been long, with his death, the Xiongnu-Han state established four years ago could be considered destroyed.

Xie Shi said quietly to Zhao Erlang, “The general should treat Liu Cong’s corpse well.”

After all, he was an emperor. His subjects would feel better seeing this and would be more compliant.

Zhao Erlang listened to Xie Shi’s words very carefully. He immediately pulled out his spear, then stepped forward to lift Liu Cong’s body and had someone bring over a stretcher. He placed the corpse on it and had people carry it all the way back.

Seeing Liu Cong’s corpse being treated well, the Xiongnu soldiers who had been about to commit suicide couldn’t help but cry aloud, and the blades in their hands were lowered.

The Zhao Family Army immediately moved forward to collect the weapons, tying them up with hemp rope and leading them away.

Beigong Chun also successfully eliminated his division of the Xiongnu army. He was the only one without reinforcements, but he also didn’t let the Xiongnu army escape from his hands.

As for Liu Kun, although Zhao Hanzhang and Zeng Yue had both opened gaps to let the Xiongnu flee, that still meant over twenty thousand people. Letting a few thousand out for the ambush troops behind, the rest who were surrounded had to be dealt with.

Even without rear troops for ambush, such results would count as a victory.

Everyone thought Liu Kun should fare the same, but unexpectedly he was defeated, and quite miserably at that.

When Liu Kun led the Jinyang Army close to the area Zhao Hanzhang had designated for him, his generals Linghu Sheng and Ji Dan both suggested he divide the army into two parts—one to ambush ahead, and another to remain behind. First, they could provide support, and second, if they won, they could then open a gap to let the Xiongnu soldiers escape and ambush them again from behind.

This method could suppress enemy morale, exhaust their fighting strength, and reduce their own casualties.

Both Zhao Hanzhang and Zeng Yue used this strategy.

Giving the enemy an escape route prevents them from fighting desperately—this was a small technique all commanders knew, but when to use it and when not to required great skill.

Zhao Hanzhang believed that even if Liu Kun couldn’t grasp this timing, the several generals beside him were no slouches—one could say they were battle-hardened veterans who should be able to judge correctly.

But Liu Kun didn’t listen to them. He had no intention of letting the Xiongnu go. At this time, the Xiongnu army was already a routed force—precisely the time to press the advantage and finish them off. So he planned to have the entire army surround and directly annihilate this division of troops attempting to break through.

He stubbornly refused to listen to advice, so Linghu Sheng and Ji Dan could only comply.

Then they encountered Liu Jie’s army charging outward on fast horses.

After fighting for less than half a quarter-hour, Liu Jie discovered he couldn’t break through and immediately ordered his men to retreat. The Xiongnu army abandoned their helmets and armor, fleeing back the way they came. Liu Kun immediately ordered the entire army to pursue.

Linghu Sheng felt something was wrong and hurriedly blocked Liu Kun, saying, “General, there’s deception at play here.”

Ji Dan also said, “Hunu County is under strong attack. They have nowhere to retreat to if they go back. Why would they withdraw? Be careful of an ambush.”

Liu Kun didn’t think so. “Hunu County is not small. Though in danger, it’s a future danger, while we are the immediate threat. That Liu Jie, in his panic, fled back to save his life temporarily—that’s only natural.”

He insisted on having the army pursue, believing they couldn’t let Liu Jie return to Hunu County, lest Zhao Ju fail to capture it after a prolonged siege.

Linghu Sheng and Ji Dan couldn’t stop him and could only follow the army forward. Then they were ambushed.

Ji Dan nearly broke down. They were clearly supposed to be the attacking and ambushing side, yet they were ambushed by the enemy.

The Jinyang Army, suddenly ambushed, panicked for a moment. In just that moment, Liu Kun failed to steady the troops’ morale, and thus the Jinyang Army’s defeat was like a landslide…

—