CHAPTER 515: CHAPTER 509: BATTLE

"General, Wang Mi has sent a letter."

Zhao Hanzhang, who was resting her head and about to fall asleep, instantly woke up. "Bring it here."

Ting He immediately went to collect the letter and presented it.

Zhao Hanzhang opened the letter and quickly scanned its contents. She suddenly stood up, her eyes wide open. "Quick, quickly send someone to stop Wang Mi. We cannot let him act..."

Just as she finished speaking, a sudden shout of "Kill—" erupted from afar.

Zhao Hanzhang looked out from the window and saw the direction of the Imperial City filled with the sound of battle cries.

She squinted, suspecting, "So urgent, could it be a ruse against me?"

Fu Tinghan and Ji Yuan also heard the commotion and woke up in shock, rushing over to ask, "Where has the fighting started?"

At this moment, Zhao Hanzhang was no longer anxious, mainly because there was no use in being anxious; the fight had already started. With the precarious friendship between her, Liu Cong, and Wang Mi, could she really stop the two of them?

She handed the letter to them and ordered, "Send scouts to see if it’s a real fight or a fake one."

Ji Yuan thought Zhao Hanzhang should be more cautious, but Fu Tinghan believed it couldn’t be a fake fight. "Wang Mi is already unavoidable; he can only choose you."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Hanzhang ordered the troops to prepare while sending scouts to investigate, "Prepare the entire army."

She also pursed her lips and ordered, "Go to the East City Gate to find General Beigong and Xun Xiu, have them prepare, and act according to my command."

"Yes."

Zhao Hanzhang turned in place, Ji Yuan and Fu Tinghan both knew what she was worried about—she was concerned about the people in the Imperial Palace.

Seeing this, Zeng Yue stepped forward to request, "Lady, let me take a team inside to rescue people."

Zhao Hanzhang said, "The palace gates are shut, with Liu Cong and Wang Mi’s large army in the middle; how will you get in?"

Fu Tinghan replied, "If the two sides are truly fighting, it’s possible to slip in during the chaos."

Zhao Hanzhang thought for a moment and nodded in agreement, "Very well, select a hundred strong warriors and look for an opportunity to enter the palace city."

Zeng Yue asked, "Is there any token?"

Zhao Hanzhang was troubled, as she didn’t have any token elements to gain the trust of those inside the palace.

Fu Tinghan thought for a moment and gave his sword to him, "This is Grandpa Zhao’s sword. Although the sword has been reforged, the scabbard and hilt haven’t changed, Zhao Zhongyu will definitely recognize it."

"Yes, Uncle Grandfather recognizes this sword. Take it with you." Zhao Hanzhang thought it was still not secure, so she wrote a letter by hand, "If they still don’t believe you, give them this letter."

Zeng Yue accepted.

Zhao Hanzhang turned to change armor and took out a spear to organize troops.

Just as the troops were organized, a scout rushed back at full speed, "General, it’s a real fight!"

Wang Mi truly wanted to trap Liu Cong and Liu Yao, so he struck with exceptional ferocity.

With sudden aggression, Liu Cong and Liu Yao were caught off guard, luckily both were experienced veterans on the battlefield and managed to escape Wang Mi’s encirclement under the protection of their personal guards.

But the soldiers of both sides were engaged in chaotic fights at one place, Liu Cong who previously wanted to secretly leave now wanted to kill Wang Mi. Pointing his knife at Wang Mi, he cursed, "Deceitful and venomous, no wonder all Han people curse you. A traitor, who would dare use you in the future!"

Wang Mi sneered, "You are merely a barbaric spawn of Xiongnu, yet you dream of acknowledging Han Dynasty as your father. Aren’t you Jin Ministers? Didn’t you also betray the Jin Dynasty, what face do you have to criticize me?"

Liu Cong was furious, raising his large knife he lunged at Wang Mi, and the two large armies fell into chaotic battle on the street.

The streets of Luoyang are wide enough to allow four carriages to pass, but in the eyes of the soldiers, this street seemed very small. Cavalry were useless here as everyone abandoned their horses, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with knives and spears.

The cries of battle echoed throughout Luoyang City, making the people in the palace tremble in fear. After waiting for a while, they realized it wasn’t an attack on the city.

So everyone stealthily climbed the city walls to look outside, seeing that not far from the Imperial City Gate, a fierce battle was ablaze.

Zhao Zhongyu swallowed hard, filled with worry, "Is Third Lady fighting with Wang Mi and Liu Cong?"

Fu Zhi was also worried, "Gather everyone here to prepare, ready to assist the Yu State Army."

The other ministers had no objection, so they managed to wake the emperor from bed, dressed him up, and moved him near the Imperial City Gate, ready to rush out at any moment.

When Zhao Hanzhang arrived with her army, Wang Mi and Liu Cong were locked in fierce battle, and upon seeing Zhao Hanzhang, one felt joy and the other felt fear.

Wang Mi shouted, "General Zhao, aren’t you going to help me!"

Liu Cong felt a chill in his heart, knowing if Zhao Hanzhang joined the fight, he would likely be doomed.

Zhao Hanzhang saw such a dreadful sight and knew stopping the two of them was impossible, she loudly responded to Wang Mi, leading her people to charge forward...

Two against one, Liu Cong saw that escape was hopeless, so he screamed, "Liu Yao, set fire!"

"Yes!"

Liu Cong, with reddened eyes, slashed at Wang Mi, pressing his knife down with force, eyes cold, "Even if I die, I’ll drag you down with me!"

Wang Mi didn’t expect he would actually want to set fire, momentarily distracted, Liu Cong’s knife took advantage, pressing fiercely downward, coming perilously close to Wang Mi’s neck.

Wang Mi forcefully withstood the knife, veins bulging in his neck, about to retaliate when a spear thrust forward, forcing Liu Cong to withdraw his blade for defense.

Zhao Hanzhang spun to Wang Mi’s side, having fought desperately before, hurling curses at each other’s ancestors, now stood together again.

Zhao Hanzhang asked him, "General Wang, are you alright?"

"I’m fine."

"It’s good you’re fine," Zhao Hanzhang nodded, her spear moving like a dragon, blocking Liu Yao’s escape, but turned to shout at Liu Cong, "Liu Cong, how about I let you leave?"

"You’re fooling a three-year-old kid."

"I promise on my honor," Zhao Hanzhang said, "The condition is you don’t set Luoyang aflame, Liu Cong, you should know I’m leaving you a way out."

Liu Cong was once again fighting Wang Mi, hearing this he glared fiercely at Wang Mi, "If you’re willing, is Wang Mi willing too?"

Liu Cong was less skilled than Wang Mi, previously distracted and overpowered, now Wang Mi could easily cut off his head as a trophy.

Moreover, killing Liu Cong would also wash away his previous bad reputation among the Han people.

Liu Cong wasn’t foolish, Wang Mi’s blatant murderous intention was evident.

He was even more determined to set the fire.

Zhao Hanzhang gritted her teeth and yelled at Wang Mi, "General Wang, this is Luoyang, it’s Luoyang, let him leave!"

Wang Mi continued aiming his strikes at Liu Cong’s vital points while saying, "It’s a disgraceful act, I don’t believe he dares!"

With his life on the line, what wouldn’t he dare?

Wang Mi dared like this, thinking he could control even if a fire was set.

But...

Liu Cong saw Wang Mi unwilling to give up and immediately shouted, ordering his personal guards, "Set fire!"

Immediately, a personal guard launched a flaming arrow, shooting directly into a large wooden barrel in a courtyard.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced over, kicked Liu Yao away, turned, and thrust a spear through a Xiongnu soldier, grabbing Zhao Erlang who was caught in the heat of the battle, shouting, "Go!"