Chapter 121 - No Understanding

Chapter 121: Chapter 115 No UnderstandingWhen Zhao Hanzhang and her companions arrived in Xiping, it was already deep into the night, yet the shouts and cries of battle resounded from Wu Castle, and the flames dyed half the sky red.

Zhao Hanzhang and her companions stealthily approached and only upon nearing did they discover that the beans and the yet-to-be harvested grains near the castle were burning.

The crops around here consisted mainly of wheat, with few rice fields, most of the remaining were various beans and melons. It was harvest season, and with this fire, coupled with the autumn wind, the crops would be mostly ruined, especially the rice.

Zhao Hanzhang felt heartache just looking at it, let alone the people inside Wu Castle.

The people on the castle were throwing stones and shouting curses, many of which were vile words Zhao Hanzhang had never heard before, lingering over the fields.

Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze fell upon two flags fluttering in the distance and followed them to a robust man standing nearby.

He was tall and stood out among the smaller soldiers of the disorderly army. He was intently watching Wu Castle.

Having fought all day, they were utterly exhausted but could not afford to stop. He knew the opponents were even more weary.

His eyes were filled with excitement, and he drew a large knife and shouted to the sky, regrouping the disorderly troops, "They can’t hold it anymore! Just one more push into Wu Castle, and this entire fortress will be ours! Look at this fertile land, at the towering castle—within are endless supplies of food and treasures. Everyone, follow me!"

Zhao Hanzhang saw the castle gates, stained with red blood and about to collapse, and the piles of corpses under the walls, realizing they had breached the castle before.

"They can’t keep defending," Zhao Hanzhang observed the frequency of the castle’s counterattacks and whispered, "Now is the time of day when people are most fatigued. They’ve fought all day; they are at their psychological and physical limits."

Her ears were sharp; though far, she could faintly hear Shi Le rallying his troops for a final assault.

She clenched the spear in her hand, "We can’t wait for them. Let’s disrupt them and hold back their total assault."

Fu Tinghan said, "We have only fifty-two people; we can’t dive deep, only insert from the sides."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "I know. You stay here with two others, and I’ll take the rest."

Fu Tinghan grabbed her, "I’ll go with you."

"You stay here and keep watch for me. If we’re encircled, remember to signal us."

Fu Tinghan thought for a moment—it was indeed their first battle, and if surrounded, what then?

He released her hand, whispered, "Stay safe."

Zhao Hanzhang agreed, mounted her horse, leaving Fu An and two guards to protect Fu Tinghan, "Let’s charge—everyone else, follow me!"

Shi Le finished his pre-battle rallying, waved his large knife, and led the charge towards Wu Castle.

The people on the castle had run out of things to throw; they were hurling wood and furniture.

Seeing the oncoming charge, the weary Zhao Ming said gravely, "Go, fight them off."

The group replied softly, "Yes," and followed Zhao Ming down, when suddenly a cavalry emerged from the darkness entering the battlefield lit by fire, led by Zhao Hanzhang, who swept with her spear, catching one off guard and slicing his throat...

The rear immediately descended into chaos.

The people on Wu Castle perked up and shouted, "My lord, it’s reinforcements!"

Zhao Ming rushed forward, clutching the wall trying to spot them, "Where did the reinforcements come from?"

A sharp-eyed guardsman barely recognized the riders, shouting, "It’s Third Lady, it’s Third Lady leading the reinforcements!"

Zhao Ming widened his eyes and couldn’t help but smack the wall, "Ridiculous, she only has a hundred soldiers, did she come here just to die?"

They quickly realized she hadn’t even brought a hundred.

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t venture deep, only flanking from the rear with Ji Ping and others; being cavalry, they naturally had advantages over foot soldiers.

Slashing through, she killed four or five before breaching the enemy lines, reaching the fields, then spun her horse around; after regrouping, she charged at the enemy advancing again...

Zhao Hanzhang had only learned spear techniques two or three months but showed high talent and skill; with each stab and sweep, her moves were lethal. She didn’t linger in battle, sly as she was, quickening her pace as they surrounded her, keeping them at bay.

If foot soldiers couldn’t enclose the cavalry, they had little chance of victory.

Seeing the rear decimated, Shi Le’s eyes bulged, yet he remained calm. Seeing their numbers few, he shouted, "Break them from the center; encircle from behind, while the front continues with me. Capture Wu Castle; cavalry can’t handle us—Charge!"

On Wu Castle, Zhao Ming clenched his fist, turned, and descended the tower, "Gather all young men of the clan, go out to meet the enemy!"

The Zhao Family’s men gathered in the street; the disorderly troops had charged three times into the city, although stopped at the gate and prevented from reaching the main street, casualties were heavy, and only one in ten guards survived, most wielders now bore the Zhao name.

Seeing them, Zhao Ming spoke solemnly, "Everyone, pick up your weapons, follow me out, and repel them!"

"Yes!"

The fragile gates were flung open, Zhao Ming leading the charge with sword in hand...

Having charged once already, Zhao Hanzhang pulled back her horse and saw the gates open, her eyes widened instantly, she shouted, "Don’t leave the city—"

Her main force hadn’t arrived, it wasn’t time for assault yet, what were they doing?

Zhao Hanzhang turned her horse and charged deeper, wanting to draw more of the unruly troops.

Fu Tinghan stood up, watching Zhao Hanzhang enter the fray, growing anxious, then looked back at Fu An and the others.

Fu An was leaning back under his gaze, "My lord..."

"Feign maneuver, let’s go!"

Shi Le wasn’t afraid they’d engage, fearing only them hiding inside Wu Castle. Seeing Zhao Ming made him thrilled, waving his large knife and leading the charge. Common farmers fell swiftly before him, only trained guards could withstand a few moves.

The unruly troops behind, though exhausted after a day’s fight, had no other choice; seeing the gates opened lifted their spirits, sweeping away fatigue as they plunged into the fray.

Zhao Hanzhang swung her spear wide, knocking aside the unruly soldiers blocking her path, pulled the reins, raised the horse’s hooves to kick away those in front, and quickly approached the ditch.

Ji Ping saw her venture so deep, anxiously followed, shouting, "Third Lady, retreat!"

Zhao Hanzhang ignored him, these unruly troops were fighting desperately with nothing to lose, Zhao Ming emerging dampened morale; they were not fierce enough, only risking their lives.

Now the only way was to thwart Shi Le’s desperate tactic, stir their self-preservation instincts, which offered a chance for a fight.