Chapter 129 - Pursuit

Chapter 129: Chapter 123 PursuitZhao Hanzhang brought all the cavalry, and only eight hundred infantry, leaving the rest to guard the Wu Castle.

The cavalry went ahead. The Wu Castle is not far from the county town, and fast horses can reach there within fifteen minutes.

Not long after leaving the fortress, they encountered civilians fleeing from the city scattered in all directions. Upon seeing them from afar, the civilians ran into the fields.

Some people’s luggage fell, but they dared not turn back to pick it up. When they fell, they rolled and crawled into the fields, trying to stay as far away as possible.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced and instructed Zhao Ju, "Pass the order: After entering the city, save people only, do not disturb the civilians!"

Zhao Ju acknowledged, selecting two scouts with loud voices to convey the command.

The group of people quickly arrived at the gates of Xiping County. The gate area was in chaos, with corpses lying everywhere. Apart from the occasional civilians fleeing from the city, there was no one guarding it.

Zhao Hanzhang rode into the entrance with her men just as a man was pulling a disheveled woman and a child out, collapsing to the ground upon seeing them.

Unable to see clearly Zhao Hanzhang on horseback, he pushed his wife and child behind him. Zhao Hanzhang pulled her horse and asked, "We are from Zhao’s Fortress. Where are the rebel troops in the city now?"

The pale-faced man slightly regained his composure upon hearing Zhao’s Fortress, looked up to see Zhao Hanzhang was a woman, and immediately burst into tears, kowtowing with his wife and child, pointing shakily towards the city, "In... inside..."

Zhao Hanzhang looked at the empty street, occasionally hearing sharp cries, and summoned the scout, "You go into the city to report, announce that the Zhao reinforcements have arrived."

"Yes."

The scout galloped away, shouting loudly, "Zhao reinforcements have arrived—"

"Zhao reinforcements have arrived—"

Zhao Hanzhang ordered, "Form groups of ten, everyone head towards the county government. Any rebel troops encountered, eliminate them all, primarily to protect the civilians!"

Everyone responded loudly, "Understood!"

Zhao Hanzhang turned to Zhao Ju, "You take one squad with you."

"Third Lady, you..."

"I can lead a team myself."

Zhao Ju glanced at Fu Tinghan and agreed. The group spurred their horses forward, turning into side streets as they heard movement, rescuing people.

Zhao Hanzhang soon parted from Zhao Ju.

The scouts, who reported first, announced loudly, and the civilians hiding in their houses heard that Zhao’s reinforcements had come, gaining hope and hiding more securely.

Meanwhile, civilians whose homes had been intruded by rebel troops struggled outward upon hearing the scouts’ voices, crying for help.

The troops responded to cries for help, turning the county town, initially filled only with sharp wailing, into a cacophony of battle cries.

Xiping County, which resembled a dead city, came back to life.

A dozen rebel troops who had just stolen silver and gold heard the scout’s shouts on the street, immediately hugged their parcels, but as they turned, they saw Zhao Hanzhang’s group on fast horses approaching. Before they could react, an arrow flew over, piercing the chest of the leading man.

His bundle scattered on the ground, eyes wide open, fell in unwillingness.

The valuables, gold, and silver rolled out of the bundle. His companions instinctively squatted to pick them up, but in moments, the cavalry arrived. Zhao Hanzhang drew her sword and killed two with two strikes, and the rest were killed by her soldiers.

The group did not stop, leaving the gold and silver jewelry on the ground, directly moving to the next location.

Qiu Wu led the infantry, and upon entering the city, hearing the chaos inside, recalled the lady’s instructions before departure and immediately said, "Seize the county government!"

"Yes."

The city was filled with looting and arson by rebel troops. Zhao Hanzhang and her group fought their way towards the county government. Halfway there, rebel troops received the news and gathered on the main street. When the infantry arrived, Zhao Hanzhang’s group was blocking them halfway.

Seeing such an unexpected number of reinforcements suddenly emerging, the rebel troops hesitated, hastily retreating.

The county town they broke into last night, despite the County Magistrate being dead, had the prominent families still locking their doors and resisting on their own, so the rebels were busy with killing and looting all night.

Having seized many belongings at this time, they were at their most relaxed state. Zhao Hanzhang’s advance frightened them, and with weariness setting in, the hundred cavalry alone greatly intimidated them. Seeing more reinforcements suddenly appear, they abandoned all thoughts of resistance, turning and running away.

Zhao Hanzhang and her group pushed forward towards the county government, quickly reclaiming it.

Zhao Ju searched the county government inside and out. They had withdrawn thoroughly, not a single rebel troop left. However, Qiu Wu found a barely breathing servant among a pile of corpses.

Fu Tinghan stepped forward to inspect his wounds, finally shaking his head towards Zhao Hanzhang, the knife wound directly at the heart, and the person barely conscious.

The servant slightly opened his eyes, seeing Zhao Hanzhang, his eyes widened, and he grabbed Zhao Hanzhang’s hem, whispering, "Lady, lady..."

Fu Tinghan leaned in closer, asking, "What did you say?"

The servant stared tightly at Zhao Hanzhang, softly murmuring, "Lady..."

Zhao Hanzhang heard, crouched in front of him and asked, "Is it your family’s lady? Where is she?"

"The rebels... took, took away... please, save the lady..." Before finishing his words, the hand gripping Zhao Hanzhang’s hem relaxed, his eyes slightly closing.

Fu Tinghan was leaning very close, but still only heard the word ’lady’ vaguely. He looked towards Zhao Hanzhang.

"They kidnapped County Magistrate Fan’s daughter," Zhao Hanzhang suddenly recalled something, stood up and said, "Gather everyone, Uncle Qianli, you stay with a team to clear out the rebel troops in the county while the rest follow me to pursue the retreating rebels."

Zhao Ju said, "Third Lady, do not pursue desperate enemies."

"They have taken many, we must rescue them." Otherwise, those women wouldn’t survive long in their hands.

Zhao Ju could only obey the order.

Zhao Hanzhang led her men out of Xiping County. Ji Ping dismounted to check the traces and said, "Third Lady, they are heading towards Nan’an County."

Fu Tinghan said, "This is the official road. I remember there is a shortcut that is closer, perhaps we can intercept them ahead."

"That would be too predictable," Zhao Hanzhang said, "We will split into two paths. Qiu Wu, you take Mr. Fu and three teams to take the shortcut and block them ahead, I will lead the cavalry to chase from behind, we will trap them."

"They are carrying people and loot, they cannot run fast. Since they’ve decided to take people, we will take back what they’ve stolen."

"Yes!"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded to Fu Tinghan, "You guide them and wait for us behind."

"Okay, but don’t chase too closely."

"I know, I will herd them towards you, and won’t take action before seeing you."

With these words, however, before sighting them, Zhao Hanzhang still sped up the chase. Being on horseback, their pace was naturally swift, and in less than thirty minutes, they sighted the rebels, laden with goods and women, fleeing.

Zhao Hanzhang then slowed down, neither hurried nor delayed, following them at a pace. Occasionally, she sped up as if to catch them, forcing them to scatter further without actually catching up.