CHAPTER 122: CHAPTER 116 TOGETHER

Zhao Hanzhang’s mind was racing, but her hand with the spear did not hesitate. The spear pierced into a person’s chest and fiercely pushed forward, blocking the three behind him. She shouted loudly at the front, "Shi Le, do you dare to come out and fight me?"

"I’ve long heard of your ferocity, Hanzhang has long admired your name. I heard you’re causing a ruckus at Zhao’s Fortress, so I’ve come specially to challenge you to a battle," Zhao Hanzhang shouted loudly while clearing away the chaotic soldiers swarming around, "Shi Le, if you don’t fight now, there won’t be another chance. My army is approaching, and by then you’ll lose the opportunity for a one-on-one battle with me!"

Shi Le didn’t realize she was a female, but when he glanced back, he could tell she was only around ten years old. At this age, it’s hard to distinguish between male and female, even though she looked quite delicate, but are there not many delicate-looking youths in the Great Jin Noble Clan?

Such as the famously handsome Wei Jie.

So Shi Le didn’t want to bother with her, he cut down a person with his blade and rushed towards Zhao Ming, only to be blocked halfway by two of his subordinates.

Zhao Hanzhang continued to shout, "Shi Le, are you afraid? I’ve killed over ten of your men, coward, even a Jiehu, grown so tall for nothing!"

Behind her, guarding her position, Ji Ping: ...

He was about to cry, with such fierce insults, can they still charge out?

Shi Le indeed was enraged by the taunt, he kicked away his subordinate, seeing Zhao Ming being protected retreating behind the others, unable to catch up for the moment, he decisively turned back and charged at Zhao Hanzhang with his blade.

He stepped on the corpses in the ditch and leaped over, swinging his blade at the horse’s leg. Zhao Hanzhang pulled the reins, and the horse nimbly jumped aside, Zhao Hanzhang leaned sideways and thrust her spear...

Shi Le’s slash missed, and he rolled on the ground to evade Zhao Hanzhang’s spear, quickly getting back up, blocking Ji Ping’s thrusting blade with his own. With great strength, he slid his blade upward along Ji Ping’s weapon, terrifying Ji Ping into loosening his grip, barely saving his hand.

But Shi Le took advantage of the situation, grabbed Ji Ping’s arm, and forcefully pulled him down.

Zhao Hanzhang’s spear thrust missed, but she deftly twisted her long spear, slicing through the neck of a nearby chaotic soldier. The horse turned swiftly to charge out, Zhao Hanzhang noticed Ji Ping being pulled down behind her with the corner of her eye, she immediately turned her horse around and deflected Shi Le’s incoming blade with a clang.

Ji Ping rolled on the ground, narrowly escaping death but surrounded by chaotic soldiers. Fortunately, their allies were nearby and quickly came to the rescue, one subordinate reaching out and pulling him onto the horse.

And Zhao Hanzhang was already engaged in battle with Shi Le. Though she lacked his strength, she was agile and cunning, her spear moves swift. Even though Shi Le had captured a horse and could face her directly, he couldn’t gain the upper hand for the moment.

In the heat of battle, a fast horse charged from afar, loudly shouting, "Lady, lady, our army has arrived!"

Shi Le was startled, looking at Zhao Hanzhang, whose eyes sparked with brightness, Professor Fu indeed understood her!

Seeing Shi Le looking on, Zhao Hanzhang eagerly stated, "Shi Le, do you dare to go out and fight one-on-one with me?"

Only now did Shi Le realize she was a lady, shocked and suspicious, "Which family’s lady are you?"

Zhao Hanzhang took the chance to kill another approaching chaotic soldier, trying to open a path for breakout, playfully replying, "Can you guess?"

The subordinate didn’t approach, shouting thrice and then turned his horse, loudly declaring, "I’ll lead them—"

As Shi Le fought Zhao Hanzhang, he glanced in the direction of the horse, vaguely seeing figures moving among the trees in the forest.

Zhao Hanzhang saw him hesitating with his blade and shouted loudly, "What, are you afraid? Rest assured, I won’t let our army intervene, only face you one-on-one."

Hearing her shout, the chaotic soldiers subconsciously looked into the distance. Someone sharp-eyed saw shadows of figures under the silhouette of flames and heard rustling sounds, like people running through a field.

The ragged soldiers instantly felt despair, whether starved to death or hacked to death, that’s the urgency.

Shi Le had struggled to survive till now and equally didn’t want to die. He slashed at Zhao Hanzhang, and as she leaned back to dodge, he immediately turned his horse around, calling to the chaotic soldiers, "We retreat!"

The chaotic soldiers immediately fled in disarray, many dying or injured in the chaos. Zhao Hanzhang chased for a while, seeing them vanish into the fields, she stopped pursuing.

She turned back immediately, Zhao Ming and the clansmen waiting at the fortress gate, upon seeing Zhao Hanzhang, he stepped forward ready to inquire.

Professor Fu got ahead of him, jumped off his horse, and rushed forward, "Are you okay?"

"I’m fine." Zhao Hanzhang looked over Professor Fu, noticing many leaves falling on his head, she raised her hand and plucked them off.

In silence, Zhao Ming stepped forward, "Third Lady, do you really have an army coming to aid?"

"Yes," Zhao Hanzhang replied, "But they’re not here yet, probably have to wait till dawn."

"How many people?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Around a thousand."

Zhao Ming sighed in relief upon hearing, "A thousand is enough. Shi Le has suffered significant losses, if he tries to come back, with these thousand we should be able to drive him off."

Ji Ping, injured, paled hearing this, "Will they come back?"

"Naturally," Zhao Ming said, "After all, he hasn’t seen the army with his own eyes, he’s bound to be suspicious. Moreover, attacking Zhao’s Fortress cost him dearly, even if there is an army, he might want an outcome, he won’t let us off easily."

Zhao Hanzhang: "Uncle knew that, why did you open the gates to meet the enemy just now?"

She said, "It’s the time to slowly wear them down, waiting for their casualties to increase, patience to run out before striking would be the best."

Zhao Ming: "... At that time the fortress gate couldn’t be held, you charged forward, if I didn’t come out to fight, would I wait for them to break into the city, surround and kill you?"

Fu Tinghan seeing they were about to continue arguing, quickly said, "Count the casualties, make haste to rest, they should have discovered the army is fake by now."

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, "Discovering is fine, it was originally a strategy to make them retreat, not intending to deceive for long. But they’ve been fighting so long, tired as much as we are, since they have retreated, they’ll surely need rest."

Zhao Ming thought about it, agreed, and turned to let Zhao Hanzhang enter the gates, "Since you’ve brought people, take the chance to take a few women and children away."

He said, "The army led by Zhao Ju, have him come to save us tomorrow, and you do not stay here."

He then commanded to have children brought from each house, "The little ones are hard to bring, take those above nine years old."

Zhao Hanzhang refused, "Uncle, we’ve reached this point, staking all or perhaps gaining a glimmer of hope, sending children away now will shake our soldiers’ spirit, won’t it?"

She said, "I’ll stay here, since you’ve decided to share life and death with the fortress, then no one leaves."