Zhao Shen inwardly complained—that was about his grandfather, and this was an external enemy. Who knew if his father could escape this time?
He blocked two enemy soldiers in succession but couldn’t avoid the blade coming from behind. He could only grit his teeth and prepare to take the hit, but was kicked aside by Yan Wenda, saving his life.
Zhao Shen had no time to catch his breath. He turned and unbolted the door, allowing his men to charge in.
Zhao Shen fought his way into the villa. With just one glance, he identified where the main hall was located, so he led his men to kill their way in that direction.
News of the main army’s return reached the main hall faster than Zhao Shen. The officials who had been in despair suddenly revived, and like Zhao Ming, they took up weapons and aimed them at the Xun Family Army, resisting to the death.
Even Zhao Ming felt reinvigorated. He raised the sword in his hand and changed direction to attack Xun Xiu…
Hearing the news of the main army’s return, Xun Xiu’s expression changed drastically. How could there be a main army coming to reinforce them? Had someone leaked their secret?
Surely Zhao Hanzhang hadn’t returned?
But hadn’t they said Zhao Hanzhang was injured in Youzhou and even went missing? Even if found, wasn’t it more likely she was gravely wounded? How could she return so quickly?
Xun Xiu’s rebellion had always been conducted in secret. He was confident in his secrecy and didn’t believe anyone would discover it in advance. He had even carefully calculated the timing.
He was confident he could capture the Emperor before nightfall, leaving them with nowhere to escape. But… the main army had actually returned.
Xun Xiu’s eyes fixed on Zhao Ming and the young Emperor like a hungry wolf. He had to kill Zhao Ming and seize the young Emperor, or he wouldn’t survive either.
That’s what he thought, but not all the Xun Family Army following him thought the same way, especially the ordinary soldiers. Upon hearing the main army had returned, they felt doomed and began hesitating, their movements slowing.
Zhao Ming noticed this. While retreating with the young Emperor, he shouted loudly: “The main army has returned to the city! You are at the end of your strength! Surrender now—those who lay down their weapons will be spared!”
Xun Xiu shouted back: “Don’t listen to his lies! We’ve already rebelled against Zhao Hanzhang! Zhao Hanzhang is petty and will never spare us! Before she reaches here, capture the young Emperor and we can escape!”
He shouted again: “Whoever captures the young Emperor will be enfeoffed as a marquis of a thousand households!”
At these words, quite a few people perked up.
However, Zhao Ming said coldly: “Only if you live to enjoy it! How many Xun Family Army are here? How can you withstand the Zhao Family Army?”
He added: “The General is benevolent and always treats captives well. Lay down your weapons and you’ll be spared!”
Ping Yi and the others also shouted loudly: “When has the General ever killed those who surrendered? Lay down your weapons and be spared! Lay down your weapons and be spared!”
The officials in the room all joined in shouting. The ordinary Xun Family Army soldiers indeed hesitated, but some became even more vicious, joining Xun Xiu in attacking fiercely. Ordinary soldiers might survive, but for people like them, even if they didn’t die upon surrender, they would have no future prospects. Better to gamble while there was still a chance—what if?
There was no “what if.” Just as Xun Xiu broke through Ping Yi and Ping Zhong’s defense and his blade swung toward Zhao Ming’s head, with someone protecting Xun Xiu from behind so he couldn’t kill him from behind and force him to withdraw his blade in defense—Zhao Shen made a split-second decision. He leaped up, stepped on people’s shoulders and heads to fly from the side, finally kicked off a pillar, then shot forward like a cannonball, using both feet to kick his father Zhao Ming and the young Emperor behind him aside. He himself tilted his head back and slid across the ground, passing under the blade…
His flying hair brushed against the blade and was instantly cut off. Zhao Shen’s eyes widened slightly—what kind of blade was this, so formidable?
The thought flashed by. Zhao Shen had already thrust his waist up, spun his body upright, and blocked the following strike with his long sword. His grip vibrated painfully, and he could only retreat two steps to dissipate the force, preventing his hand from being injured.
His movements were agile, his sword nimbly thrusting forward. Xun Xiu swung his blade to strike it, producing a clang, and then his sword broke!
Zhao Shen’s eyes widened instantly. He brought the remaining half-sword before his eyes to examine it, then looked at Xun Xiu’s fierce, bloodshot eyes, turned and ran, still shouting: “Wenda, save me!”
Zhao Ming, who had been kicked aside and escaped disaster, had no time to feel his aching waist. Seeing the Emperor lying on the ground, he quickly got up and shielded him. Looking up, he saw his son’s sword had been cut in half and he was running this way. He immediately shouted: “Don’t come here! Lead him away!”
Then he remembered the blade in Xun Xiu’s hand was specially gifted by Zhao Hanzhang. He also had a spear, also specially forged, but probably felt the mansion was too cramped for spear use, so he used the blade instead.
Thinking of the sharpness of steel-forged weapons, he immediately threw his sword toward Zhao Shen: “This is a Zhao family forged sword, take it!”
Zhao Shen leaped up and caught it, landed with a roll, dodging the Xun Xiu guards who were striking at him repeatedly. Upon rising, his sword slid along their weapon inward and directly severed their palm.
Zhao Shen was slightly surprised, not expecting this sword to be so sharp. He quickly moved two steps left, and as they passed each other, he drew the blade across the guard’s throat, killing him. Seeing Xun Xiu abandoning him and charging straight at his father again, he immediately killed his way from behind: “General Xun, why trouble an old man? Your opponent is me!”
Zhao Ming, who was pushing the Emperor backward to avoid danger: …
Xun Xiu, who was about the same age as Zhao Ming: …
Blade and sword clashed. With this superior weapon, Zhao Shen no longer feared Xun Xiu. The two exchanged blows intensely.
In terms of military ability, Zhao Shen hadn’t fought him before and didn’t know his depth, but in terms of individual martial prowess, Zhao Shen was quite confident. He was so young, in his prime. Even if Xun Xiu fought for a long time, he could exhaust him to death.
Of course, Zhao Shen wouldn’t rely on exhaustion. His sword seemed to have eyes on its tip, striking swiftly and accurately. Before long, he had stabbed three bloody holes in Xun Xiu’s body, while Zhao Shen himself was completely uninjured.
This kind of combat feeling wasn’t unfamiliar to Xun Xiu. When he sparred with Zhao Hanzhang, he had been pressed like this, though back then Zhao Hanzhang used a spear and stopped at the right point.
That hadn’t been anything special, but now, both sides were enemies. Being suppressed everywhere by Zhao Hanzhang had almost become a shadow in his heart.
Suddenly facing an opponent who fought so much like Zhao Hanzhang, Xun Xiu’s mind shook. In that moment of distraction, his arm was pierced through by Zhao Shen.
Seeing this, Xun Ming fought his way over desperately, intercepted Zhao Shen’s attack, and shouted loudly: “General, leave quickly! Go!”
With the main army already here, if they didn’t leave now, they truly couldn’t escape.
Xun Xiu looked at the young Emperor growing more distant, bit his teeth, and covered his arm as he withdrew under his guards’ protection.
Seeing this, Zhao Shen immediately said to Yan Wenda who rushed forward: “Go send a signal. Have them withdraw and hide well. Don’t clash with the rebel army.”
Yan Wenda: … Why did he get assigned everything?
But he still turned to go. He had good skills and was fast, disappearing from sight in just a moment.